We take so much for granted. Well, it’s natural, isn’t it? You can’t spend every minute of every day going, ‘Gosh, aren’t I lucky to have a roof over my head? Food in my fridge? Money to pay for the heating? A car that I can drive? Education that means I don’t struggle to read … More I (and some friends) launch the Blackwells Giving Tree in Oxford
The half term break is always welcome in the autumn because the term is just too damn long, isn’t it? My family and I went away this time; to a holiday park called Mill Rythe, on Hayling Island. A perfect 2 hours away – just far enough to feel you’re on holiday but not so … More What I Did On My Holidays
Last Saturday I popped into Blackwells in Oxford – a lovely bookshop with loads of character and wonderful staff. Books Are My Bag is an annual event that aims to raise the profile of local bookshops and show people just what treasure troves they really are. My friends Susie Day, Sally Nicholls and Julia Golding … More Books Are Definitely My Bag!
So ONE of my pieces of good news can finally be revealed – LOOKING AT THE STARS is on the longlist for the UK Literacy Association Book Award! I am really, really thrilled about this. Everyone likes to be nominated for an award, and for some writers it happens a lot. For other writers, hardly … More I reveal one of my secrets! UKLA book award longlisting!
Last week I was on holiday in Ryde on the Isle of Wight with my family. We’ve been before, but this year I needed to seek out a bookshop. We had to (absolutely HAD TO) order in a copy of the just-published second book in John Dougherty’s brilliant Stinkbomb and Ketchup-Face series (this one subtitled … More My visit to the Amazing Ryde Bookshop
Recently, Penguin announced that it was bringing out a new edition of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. So far, so ordinary. Except that the new cover is THIS: A lot of people have expressed opinions about it. Some people have claimed it’s a ‘sexualised’ cover; others that it has nothing to do with the story. … More My problem with the new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory cover
Books for children are the best; they’re the ones that stay with you forever. The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Where The Wild Things Are, the Narnia books, Just William… I think adults sometimes forget just what books MEAN to children, which is silly because they were all children once too. I am SO lucky to be … More How to do books properly: The Story Museum, Oxford
Whew! Let me pause for a moment to catch my breath… …that’s better. I’ve had a flurry of booky events over the past few days; all fantastic! First of all there was my great author pal Susie Day’s book launch at Blackwells Bookshop in Oxford last Friday. Susie’s series of books about Pea and her family … More A booky few days! Two launches and a festival!
“You were so funny!” said a teenager* in some surprise. “You’re like a cross between Michael McIntyre and Miranda!” That was the BEST feedback of the weekend 😉 I love it when people think I’m funny. They don’t expect it. I don’t write funny books, and if you meet me in person, I don’t immediately … More My Wonderful Wychwood Experience!
Last time I wrote, I was in the dumps. And to be honest, the days and week or so that followed were HARD WORK. A not-very-enjoyable part of being a writer. I started the manuscript again, the one that wasn’t working. And it was SLUDGY. Very, very hard going, and kind of BORING. I BORED … More On the Up again…!
Jo Cotterill 