Back in Devon for another eventful week...

The recent visit to Gloucester was superb but it was great to be back home in Devon to enjoy another eventful week visiting more schools.

Monday got off to a great start with my first author visit of the week to Bishopsteignton Primary near Teignmouth. I sensed an air of excitement as soon as I arrived in reception with posters advertising the event pinned to every wall and window... and my intuition proved correct when I passed a crowd of waving children, as I made my way through the dining hall. Enthused whispers of "it's the author" could be heard from pupils, as they huddled together in anticipation of what my visit would hold. The showcase that followed was superb and I can't thank Emma Humphrey enough for organising such a well run event... the children sat for over an hour totally hooked on every word and action!!!

Tuesday's return to Bishopsteignton proved very popular with the students. A terrific book signing event was held in the school library with lots of well-thought questions about being an author fired at me from every angle. Fantastic stuff!!!

A change to my usual school format on Wednesday with a visit to a secondary academy in Newton Abbot. The literacy coordinator at Coombeshead organised a theatre-style presentation for me to lecture a select group of year 7 students. Harriet Turner also invited some feeder school pupils to attend the event with Canada Hill and Haytor View being represented. The occasion was a great success with a return visit on Thursday to speak further to the whole of year 7.  It was also great to secure yet another school event during my visit to Coombeshead with one of the primary schools requesting an author visit too. I'll be sure to tell you all about my impending visit to Haytor View when I showcase my Bradley Baker adventures.

My third event of the week was spent at a wonderful independent school in Paignton. Tower House Juniors enjoyed my author showcase and Bradley Baker secured another legion of fans. During the signing event on the following day, the headteacher informed me that the children were asked to share their experience during morning assembly. Apparently they were all able to explain the presentation... scene by scene! A great testament to their concentration during the event and also a great assurance that my showcase is certainly hitting the right notes!!!

Another exciting event happened this week... my TV interview in Gloucester was aired on Friday and I'm really pleased with the broadcast and the crew at Cotswold TV.
Here's a link so you can watch the video... hope you enjoy it :)
http://www.furryfeet.tv/cotswolds/venue_video.php?footprint=851

Finally... I received the first rough sketch for the recently commissioned Bradley Baker character figurines. The five limited edition sculptures and sketches will be available in the summer but here's a quick glance at the first character "Bradley Baker"...

 

That's all for now folks... catch up again this time next week.

All the best

 DLJ

A week of brilliant events in the Cotswolds

With another hectic schedule of school visits in Devon planned for the week ahead... I still haven't quite recovered from last week's venture into Gloucester. I have to take this opportunity to thank Debbie Silvester from Abbeymead Primary School for organising three fantastic events... this is the stage set ready for one of my presentations and what a show it turned out to be with an audience of over 300 enthusiastic children in attendance!

As well as Debbie's own school, I also visited and presented to teachers and pupils at Heron and Coopers Edge with all three primary schools providing a fantastic reception. Here are just a few of the great pictures taken by Sue Smith during the showcase event at Heron, which hosted an audience of over 400 excited students...

As well as the Gloucester schools showcase events, I also enjoyed a half day of workshops working with pupils from years 3 and 4 at Abbeymead. All the children displayed a keen willingness to improve their literacy skills and it was really fabulous to work with such a positive group of polite students.

On a slightly different note, there were a couple of new arrivals this week. Two of my Bradley Baker characters joined the showcase cast in the form of life-size cut-outs to enhance my presentations. Here's a picture taken with Grog to demonstrate just how impressive they are;

Finally, I am pleased to announce that five Bradley Baker character sculptures and related sketches have just been commissioned. I'll be posting more updates soon about these limited edition collectibles but for now here is a little taster of what's in store. This is the first draft sketch in plasticine of the Bradley sculpture by the talented artist Abie Greyvenstein.

Look forward to catching up with you all again next week... best wishes for now. DLJ