FIRST CHICKENS, NOW BEES AND DOGS!

I'm excited to report the Chicken Wizard launch went amazingly well. Hope I haven’t jinxed anything by saying that. I’ve already sold over quarter of the large print run, and I’ve yet to attend several large events booked for 2023.

Locally, the uptake as been humbling, with friends, schools and shops accepting copies. I took a couple of copies to Birchington Primary on behalf of local author Kaz H who donated them. I donated two copies to Holy Trinity & St John’s school, in part to thank them for hosting the Lausanne School Reunion and because I went to the original Holy Trinity Primary school myself.

I’m so glad school holidays are here because I’ve a lots to get through these next few weeks, having not one, Shea Pingle and the Swarm with the illustrator Ellie, but also Mustard and Marmalade Dachshund Dog Detectives; their first case, The Missing Fillet Steak. I was delighted when Ellie told me, and then showed me that she could illustrate these characterful dogs. Seems there are no limits to her skills.

I plan to feature a page of photos of Dachshunds inside the back cover, so if you have such a doggy and would like them to be part of this exciting adventure feel free to send me a lovely photo of them. Bear in mind there is no payment, and by sending the photo you are agreeing to it being shared in the book without copyright. On the positive side, your dog will be around for years and lots of folk will admire and enjoy their image.

Inspirations Writers Group is going from strength to strength with Indigo nearing completion. Every members is working hard to get this, our sixth anthology off the ground. There are a lot of exciting pieces and poems which highlight how much the members skills have increased since joining the group.

In-between critiquing Inspirations work, I continue apace with my own work nearing the end of my current novel, Between Here and Hell. I’m also involved with developmental editing work elsewhere.

I’m pleased that I’ve a short break coming and plan to re-commence my Sackful of Dragons novel during that time. It’s about twins in foster care who find a sack of baby dragons in an alley in Margate, and decide to raise them without their foster carer, Grace, finding out. Not as easy as it seems, especially when the local gang get a whiff of Terri and Todd’s shenanigans.

And if you know any traditional agents or publishers, give them a push in my direction.
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Till August.

PS - click on the photo to see it in full.

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