February 04, 2013

Let the UK 2013 Tour Begin!

Hello from chilly London.  We arrived very early Thursday morning and have already spent a morning at beautiful Danes Hill School in Oxshott, Surrey on Friday.  It was such a pleasure working with the Year 5 students on the development of characters – part of a larger study they’ve been undertaking on narrative.   There were some seriously good writers too – wonderful ideas and voices that shone.  I am looking forward to seeing some of their finished work once they have a chance to bring all the elements of their stories together after half term. 

I’ve been working on Alice-Miranda Shines Bright too, so not much sightseeing, although I have spent two days working in the education centre of the V&A which allows for a few cultural interludes between writing stints.  We’re staying in Chelsea on Sloane Avenue, a wonderful location, with The King’s Road five minutes walk in one direction and South Kensington, the V&A, the Natural History Museum and a fantastic range of restaurants five minute walk in the other.  We have found a stunning cafe for breakfast in South Kensington where the coffee is giant sized.  And right at the minute I can’t remember the name of it and it doesn’t come up on the maps – will add later.

 
Tomorrow begins the tour with Random House Children’s Books and we’re off to a Charlotte House School in Hertfordshire.  I’m looking forward to meeting lots of readers and potential readers.  We’ll also be taking Alice-Miranda with us so she can make new friends too.  She hasn’t been out much yet!