Not one, but two...

... chapters of Mad Cap are visible by all and their grannies on the Little Island website right here. Go, go, go!
(Meanwhile, I'm working on my teacher's notes, my future workshops and school visits, and the artichokes growing in our garden. You?)

First review!

If you don't know Mary Esther Judy's blog at Fallen Star Stories, shame on you! Mary works for Dubray in Galway and is, in short, great. Her blog is full of all the good stuff they get up to in the West and it also features a wealth of brilliant reviews of picturebooks, YA novels and other reads. And this week, Mary is reading Mad Cap!

Here's what she has to say about it:

This is a thoroughly enjoyable read for young, confident readers. Mad Cap is personable, funny and the kind of girl you'd want to have around. The setting and events provide great excitement. It can be difficult to find a book with a central girl character that is strong, likable and true to life. But here she is! The flow of the story and the relationship between the characters make it highly suitable for boys and girls alike. And the presentation of the book adds to this notion, as the illustrations and cover do not rely on a feminine 'pink-girly' image, even though the central character is a girl. A great, new read... but be prepared for your own little super-heroes to be inspired into action. Utterly recommended!!

Blush and chuffed, thanks Mary!

Mad Cap on her way

See what I mean?

Not to miss: Read for the world at the Irish Writers Centre

I'll miss it as it's tomorrow and I'll be busy tucking in more Parisian delicacies, but it sounds deadly!

The Irish Writers' Centre are attempting to break the world record for "most authors reading consecutively from their own books"! From Friday 15th June at 10am right through to Bloomsday 16th June at 2pm, 111 writers (including children's favourites Sarah Webb, John Boyne, Carlo Gébler, Conor Kostick, Alan Nolan, Jane Mitchell, Marita Conlon-McKenna, Sarah Rees Brennan, 2012 CBI Awards shortlistee Roddy Doyle and winner of the CBI Book of the Year Award Celine Kiernan) will read for 15 minutes each, for 28 hours straight! Phew! The event will be broadcast LIVE online at www.writerscentre.ie.

Chop-Chop, Mad Cap!

And so, here it is, the fantasmegaglorious cover of my very first novel and actual book in English: Chop-Chop, Mad Cap!
It's all there: the psycho cat, the spuds of doom, the chocolate stains, the mystery, the crazy hair and er... Mad Cap herself!
The art is by Sadie Cramer, the design by Paul Woods and the publishing by Little Island.
While the printers are busy running their press, I'm taking a MOSTLY DESERVED break in lovely Paris, where I am thinking about school and library visits, reading great books, eating intriguing ice-cream and devising ways to achieve world domination. The usual.

Chop-Chop, Mad Cap! will be available from the bestest bookshops (real and virtual) from July 6th. Can't wait!

The Greenhouse literary agency funny prize

It sounds a bit like the title for one of those romantic novels, but this is a very real prize and a very exciting opportunity for unagented writers of funny stuff for kids. Whether you write picturebooks, junior fiction or prose for teens, this is one for you.

The Greenhouse Funny prize is open to un-agented writers who are currently resident in the UK and Ireland. Entries will be judged by me and guest judge Leah Thaxton, Publishing Director of Egmont Children’s Books (and discoverer of Andy Stanton).

The winner will get an offer of representation from the Greenhouse and a full weekend ticket to the wonderful Festival of Writing that runs 7-9 September ’12 (worth £525). The winner will also be presented with a bottle of champagne at the Festival’s gala dinner on the Saturday night.

Everything you need to know is here. The deadline is Monday 30 July.
On that note, I'm off to see what funny manuscripts I may have sitting in my drawers...

An artist in Paris: it could be you!

A residence is on offer! Check it out!

The City of Paris and the Institut français, France’s international agency for cultural policy affiliated to the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, offer a programme of residences dedicated to established writers and artists in the fields of visual and performing arts who have already achieved international recognition. The residences take place at the Recollets International Exchange and Accommodation Centre, a magnificent building in the centre of Paris, opened in 2003.

More info over here. Deadline for applications: 17th of June.