Pre-orders for Pyramids of Blood...

With the schools now on holiday it's time to concentrate on the finishing touches to Bradley's third adventure... the Pyramids of Blood. Pre-orders are coming in thick and fast through the distributors and the initial print run will have ro be increased to meet the demand. Publication date is still on schedule for 29th September and an air of anticipation is swelling via the Bradley Baker website from readers eager to sample the next thrilling installment of the Pathylon trilogy. Looking forward to working on the book over the coming weeks and I'll keep you updated as it progresses through the painstaking editing process to print. You can pre-order signed copies via http://www.bradley-baker.com/bradleysshop or order from Amazon or Waterstones online in readiness for the release in Sept. Thats all for now. Catch you next week. Best wishes, DLJ

Torbay "Bradley Baker" Literacy Competition Winners announced...

Apologies for the delay in posting this weeks blog... finally got round to collating all the information and pictures so I can officially announce the Torbay "Bradley Baker" Literacy Competition Winners!

Let me remind you about the competition. All schools in Torbay were invited to take part and the literacy exercises were split into two catagories - KS2 and KS1.

KS2
Six children were then shortlisted for the main prize - the chance to have their work edited and inserted into the third Bradley Baker adventure book, which is to be released on 29th September 2012;
The shortlisted literacy work was from the following schools;
Ilsham Academy (Torquay) - represented by Gabriel Ross
Torre Primary (Torquay) - represented by Ruth Garner
Brixham Primary (Brixham) - represented by Hannah Neal
Shiphay Learning Academy (Torquay) - represented by Samuel Jones
Sherwell Valley Primary (Torquay) - represented by Leo Donaghue
White Rock Primary (Paignton) - represented by Max Bowden

I spent four days reading the children's work over and over before I finally came to a decision... the overall winner of the Torbay "Bradley Baker" Literacy KS2 Competition is RUTH GARNER (Torre Primary)

I visited Torre Primary to meet the Winner - Ruth Garner

The remaining five entries were of such a high standard that each pupil was awarded a "Highly Commended Award"...

I visited Brixham Primary to award Hannah Neal with her Certificate and a Waterstones Gift Card

I also managed to visit Shiphay Learning Academy and met with Samuel Jones (no relation)

The remaining Highly Commended Awards were delivered to the schools but unfortunately I was unable to meet the remaining children personally... Gabriel Ross (off school poorly), Leo Donaghue was in a Year 6 leavers assembly and Max Bowden had already finished for the summer break. However, all six short listed children received certificates and Waterstones Gift Cards for their tremendous efforts.

KS1

The second category was entered by KS1 students at selected schools and there were three "Highly Commended Awards" issued... theses went to Jack Camplin (Brixham Primary), Billy Harker (Torre Primary) and Toby Paul Leaver (Sherwell Valley Primary).

Here is Jack Camplin posing for a picture with me

...and here is Billy Harker at Torre School

Unfortunately we don't have a picture of Toby Paul Leaver, but I was invited by the Headteacher to join him at Sherwell Valley School and Toby was really brave and read out his work in front of the KS1 assembly.

oooOooo

Finally, I have to mention something that really blew me away when I visited Brixham Primary School. I was escorted to the school library and this is what was presented to me...

... a Bradley Baker display... Brilliant stuff!!!

Catch you all next week folks and thanks for looking.

Regards DLJ

Week Ending 15th July 2012 - Schools visits finish on a high!

What a fantastic week that was!!! My last school visit for the academic year was held at Our Lady & St Patrick's Roman Catholic Primary School in Teignmouth... and what a way to finish before the summer break. A wonderful school and the children absolutely loved my Bradley Baker presentation and book signing event.

Here's a testimonial sent to me from the school's Literacy Leader...

"David’s visit to our school was inspirational! The children were spellbound during his presentation and asked lots of questions afterwards. David took the time to talk to each child as he signed copies of his books and also visited each class and spok...e to the children about his books and their own stories as well. He showed a genuine interest in each and every child and created a real buzz of excitement around school. Children as young as 6 were avidly reading his books – even at wet playtimes! Even our most reluctant readers and writers were inspired – one told David his presentation was ‘brilliant’. I would highly recommend a visit by David!"

Tamsin Kennedy FS/KS1 Leader and Literacy Leader,
Our Lady and St Patrick’s RC Primary School, Teignmouth

You can imagine... receiving statements like this filled me with very warm feelings indeed! I'm so pleased that the children enjoyed my visit to their school and that my adventure books continue to inspire so many young readers.

I received all the entries for the Torbay Literacy Competition, which have been set during visits to schools in Torquay, Paignton and Brixham. I will be judging the six short listed pieces of work over the next few days and I'll announce the winner next week. All six entries win a £10 Waterstones Gift Card... however the ideas and written work from the winning entry will be edited and included in my third book "Bradley Baker and the Pyramids of Blood"... to be published on 29th September.

Look out for a new arrival this Friday coming... this is definately going to turn a few heads, please check out my Bradley Baker FB page to find out more. Be great if you would "like" the page too. You can access the page with the following link:- http://www.facebook.com/thebradleybaker


I have a very busy week ahead and I'm really looking forward to telling you all about it. I'll catch you at the same time next week.

Best wishes for now, DLJ

Week Ending 8th July 2012 - It's on its way?

This week seems to have passed by so quickly... and next Friday can't come along quick enough either! Not going to reveal on this particular blog entry what exactly will be arriving on that particular day but it certainly will put what most super-heroes get around in to shame! My new boy hero character "Bradley Baker" will certainly be catching some serious attention very soon indeed!

Anyhow, enough about that... let's concentrate on what has been happening over the past week in the world of Bradley Baker. I received a fantastic welcome from the teachers and children at Harbertonford C of E Primary School near Totnes on Friday. Everyone was really pleased to see a real life author presenting in their small village school, which boasts just 72 pupils. The place had a familiar feel to it and reminded me very much of my own boyhood primary school back in the 60's when I attended Braithwell Junior Infants in South Yorkshire. The children at Harbertonford listened intently about where the idea for my book series originated and we even re-enacted some scenes from the first few chapters of Bradley Baker and the Curse of Pathylon.

I received the first few competition entries this week from some of the schools I have been visiting over the past month. Should receive more winning school entries in the post tomorrow morning for the Bradley Baker Torbay Literacy Competition... then it's on with the judging over the next two weeks! It's been great working with so many school children in the Torbay area and I can't wait to read the students work. All winning entries will receive a Waterstones Gift Card with the overall winner will also have their work edited and some of the ideas will be included in my third adventure book... "Bradley Baker and the Pyramids of Blood"


More updates on the competition in next week's blogspot. And don't forget to look out for the "new arrival" by checking out the Bradley Baker facebook page http://www.facebook.com/thebradleybaker

Catch you all next week. DLJ

Week Ending 1st July 2012 - Thank you letters

Another great week working with school children and their teachers in Torbay. I attended Ellacombe C of E Primary School on Friday to support their literacy exhibition. It was fabulous to see all the year 6 Bradley Baker work posted on the wall and a lovely surprise to receive a thank you card and a bottle of wine from the head teacher.

Here is a photo showing the children's fantastic written work;

A humbling experience also presented itself this week... a brown A4 envelope landed on my doorstep! Inside were 11 letters from children thanking me for attending their school last week. The pupils of Brixham C of E Primary had taken time to write to me to thank me for inspiring them to read my books... the best testimonial a writer can get!

Here are the letters;

I also visited Sherwell Valley Primary for a book signing event following a presentation to the KS2 students last week. I'd like to convey a big thank you to Alex Briddon, Tyler Ledger and Lawson Higgins for helping me on the day.

A couple of workshops completed this weeks school activities with children at Torre Primary learning how to construct a chapter for a competition I am running throughout Torbay. Really looking forward to receiving the shortlisted entries by the end of next week. Winners from each competing school will receive Waterstones Gift Cards and the ultimate winner will have their work featured in Bradley Baker's third adventure... the Pyramids of Blood;

That's all for this week... catch up with you again next Sunday! Best wishes, DLJ