I have four deadlines to hit in two weeks, so this will be short! But firstly, HOW NICE for me to have so much work on! Really, it’s great to have projects in different stages of ‘production’ and I’m enjoying them all (well, mostly – I mean, when they involve edits, I’m afraid there’s no hope of enjoyment where I’m concerned). I even had a lovely piece of news about a book acceptance last week but will stay schtum until contracts are signed!

On Tuesday last week I managed a dash up to London for the launch of Lockwood & Co: The Hollow Boy, the third in the stupendous series by Jonathan Stroud. I’ve raved about the first two books here and here, and I’m going to rave about this one too, once I find a way to write the review that doesn’t involve prostrating myself on the floor and wailing, ‘We are not worthy!’

Ahem. As I said, I went to London on Tuesday (though failed Basic Travel Rule #1 by leaving my purse at home) and had a really lovely time. Jonathan’s whole family was there (when I arrived, he was sporting hip accessory New Baby with extra Muslin Attachment) and he talked about the book and about how his kids tell much better ghost stories than he does.

It was lovely to meet up with other booky people there too – Jonathan’s (and my) editor Ruth Knowles, Cheltenham Lit Fest organiser Jane Churchill and Oxford Lit Fest organiser Andrea Reece. And good to meet Philip Daws, Reading Champion for Bury Schools, who reminded me that I had been due to visit Bury at some point but for some long-forgotten reason, it didn’t happen. Hopefully next year I can remedy that!

It was also lovely to meet Luna from the brilliant blog Luna’s Little Library – Luna was sporting some beautiful blue hair!

But now I must get back to work! Thanks to Jonathan for inviting me to his fab launch!