One of the loveliest things about writing books is hearing from readers who enjoy your stories. I have selected some of the pictures I’ve been sent to share with you. Two young readers, Kitty and Willow (above) are holding their favourite Victoria Mouse books. I’d love to see your pictures too, so please do e-mail … read more
Posts
Sketch Development
I was recently asked about sketch development for the Chilli and Pickles books, so I’ve posted some original drawings along side their final counterparts, to show how illustrations change from initial concept to final print. There are numerous reasons why pictures change and I have selected a few different ones. Alterations due to safety concerns … read more
Free and Easy Indoor Children’s Games
Playing is not only fun, it is also an essential part of a child’s development. Following on from my previous post about Fun Drawing Games, I have put together some more ideas for indoor children’s games. They are all free and involve items you already have around the house. The Pictionary Game Give children a … read more
Moon Lane CPID Festival Event
I will be participating in the Moon Lane CPID Festival next week. The event is from 3pm – 4pm on Tuesday 27th August at Moon Lane Books, 300 Stanstead Road, London, SE23 1DE. I will be reading from two of my books. The first story will be ‘Chilli and Pickles Out Fox the Fox.’ This … read more
Workshops for Children
I have recently run some workshops for children which combine reading, story telling and drawing. They encourage little people to be as creative as possible, allowing them to make the most of their imaginations. The Format I usually start by telling them a bit about the characters, so I might introduce them to Victoria and … read more
Victoria Mouse goes to Buckingham Palace
In Victoria’s first adventure she goes to Buckingham Palace. Not only does she make a friend called Gerald the horse, but also gets to meet the Prince and Queen too. She is one lucky mouse! Here’s a bit of trivia about Buckingham Palace. John Sheffield built Buckingham Palace in 1703. It was his London house … read more
Behind the Chilli and Pickles series
Finally the time has come to announce the launch date of my new ‘Chilli and Pickles’ children’s books. There are three new books, all of which are due out on 31st October 2018. The Chilli and Pickles stories follow two black and white dogs on their adventures. The big, colourful illustrations are by the very … read more
The Year of the Dog
2018 is the Year of the Dog. What better time to launch my new series following the adventures of two mischievous dogs called Chilli and Pickles? A bit of information about the Dog Within the Chinese Zodiac, the Dog is a true companion, associated with loyalty, honesty, intelligence, and a strong sense of right and … read more
Encouraging reading
Reading is Fun Encouraging reading is essential, but the most important thing is to make it fun! It is fun and should not be a chore. Children can create amazing fantasy world’s in their head, where anything is possible and it is important to nurture this imagination, not crush it. A love for books and … read more
Fun Drawing Games
My Top Fun Drawing Games Drawing is Fun. There is nothing quite like putting a pen or pencil to paper and seeing what emerges. I grew up playing fun drawing games and have developed more along the way. Here are my top 3 drawing games. They are simple but amazing fun. They can also be … read more