Introducing the Gullfather of New York...

The busy schedule of school visits is now over till the start of the new academic year in September... so it's time to focus on the launch of the new BB book, which will be available on general release from 30th September 2013.

 

I still have lots more to do till then and I'll be spending the next few weeks putting the finishing touches to the manuscript for Bradley Baker's fourth adventure... the Gullfather of New York!

Bradley Baker fans will be able to purchase the book from the official website before the general release (earlier in Sept)... please look out for more updates on Facebook, Twitter and www.bradley-baker.com

The BB brand will soon be adding a new merchandising line... BB mobile phone covers will be exclusive to Bradley's Shop on the official Bradley Baker website. Feedback has been great so far and the 4 book covers will be depicted and will prove a welcome addition to the new range of mobile phone covers, which will be made available in various sizes to suit most smart phones very soon... so watch this space!

 

 

My time during the summer will also be spent working on a new literary project in association with Families For Children... I'll also be announcing some special news about my new role within the charity too very soon, so again watch this space for further updates!

 

Hope you will keep in touch over the next few months and I look forward to posting more updates relating to the above!

Best wishes for now, DLJ

A hot week in 'sweltering' Swindon!

I spent the penultimate week of the school academic year in Wiltshire... and boy it was hot in sunny Swindon. As with many parts of the UK, the temperatures soared above 30 degrees but my author visits to four schools proved a great hit!

I arrived in South Marston on Sunday evening to be greeted by a wonderful eccentric landlady at "The Old Post Office Guesthouse" (which proved to be perfect base for my working week). Jackie offered me a tour of her well-presented abode, including the vintage rolls in the garage. Then I was afforded an operatic rendition, as she opened her arms in the middle of the garden to deliver high-pitched notes that rattled the windows on the 18th Century cottage. What an unusual but lovely welcome start to what turned out to be an absolutely fantastic stay in Wiltshire.

On Monday I paid a visit to two schools near the city centre of Swindon... in the morning I showcased my Bradley Baker presentation to the pupils at Oliver Tomkins and then later in the afternoon I met with children from King William Street. Thankfully both school halls were kept cool with open windows and the students displayed a heightened level of enthusiasm as I introduced the main characters in the books. The signing events that followed were a great success with hundreds of new Bradley Baker fans receiving signed copies of the books.

Even Swindon Primary was my next port of call on Tuesday and tour organiser Tracey Badenski had arranged a fantastic event. The stage in the hall was put to good use with my smoking bath taking centre-stage! More record breaking queues of eager youngsters lined up to get their hands on the boy hero and his amazing adventures! Even the children from both classes in year 5 wrote me some fantastic letters to thank me for presenting at their school... brilliant to read such wonderful messages of support - it makes what I do so worthwhile!!

My final author visit took place back in South Marston on Wednesday, so it was a short journey from the Old Post Office to the village school. Wow... what a reception from the 90 children. We had a blast and the event proved to be a big hit with both the students and the teaching staff. I was even asked to sign some of the year 6 leavers school shirts!!!

 

Here's just a few of the many pictures taken by the pupils during the two days I spent at the school;

So, with the Wiltshire tour completed... I headed back to Devon and finished the week with a visit to Start Road Primary in Plymouth. We celebrated the opening of the new library with a fantastic show and all the 300 students were very excited during the presentation. I'm looking forward to a return visit on Monday to meet the children again in the library to sign their Bradley Baker books.

With the end of term fast approaching, I'll be visiting a few more schools during the early part of next week... including a rescheduled event at St Margaret Clitherow in Brixham. I'll let you know how I get on and bring you right up to date this time next week.

Thanks for popping by again folks. Best wishes for now, DLJ

A wonderful week in Sunny Devon!

Following my trip up North to my birth county of South Yorkshire last week, it was nice to be working closer to home in Devon this week. Quite an eventful week it was in fact with a triage of showcase events in Plymouth, Exmouth and Newton Abbot... then a couple of great events in my home town of Torquay to complete another creative writing project and attend a local speech day, as guest of honour!

Let's start with the first showcase presentation at Haytor View Primary in Newton Abbot on Monday. I knew this was going to be a successful visit because of the effort demonstrated by the event organiser at the school. Graeme Hankin made sure everything went to plan... and boy did the students appreciate the show. The atmosphere inside the school hall was tremendous... and the enthusiasm lasted throughout the showcase. It was a hot day and with all the windows wide open, a popular signing event ensued with lot's of new Bradley Baker fans enjoying their new signed copies.

 

My next stop was in Exmouth... I thought Haytor View were organised!!! Well, Ben Humphries at Brixington ensured that I had an equally tremendous author visit, as I presented to over 350 pupils in the sweltering heat inside the school hall. The showcase proved very inspiring and another legion of Bradley Baker followers queued patiently to have their books signed. This was my first visit to the Exmouth area but I will definitely be back during the new academic year.

The third showcase event of the week took place at Ernsettle Community School near Plymouth. Charlotte Parry arranged another fantastic visit and again the children were brilliant, as they sat enthused through a very entertaining show. Another long queue for signed copies of the Bradley Baker adventure books formed along the corridor, as the library hummed with air of excitement.

On Wednesday I revisited Cockington Primary in Torquay to complete the final book publication project of the 2012/13 academic year.... "Adventures of a Lifetime" was my sixth successful school book publication created during a series of workshops, which have helped to publish over 200 new young authors. I'll be returning to Cockington next year to work with another group of talented pupils. All the books produced this year by the students are available online and you can find out more information by clicking on the following website http://www.authorvisitstoschools.com

The week ended with a wonderful speech day at the Livermead House Hotel in Torquay. I was invited to attend as guest of honour by the senior management team at Tower House School in Paignton. Following a short speech and prize giving, I was invited to a special celebratory lunch at the No7 restaurant in Torquay and enjoyed a fabulous seafood meal.

Next week I will be visiting schools in Wiltshire and the week will conclude with a trip to Plymouth for the penultimate showcase of the academic year... catch up you all again this time next week!!!

Best wishes DLJ

Turning over a new "Leif" in Rotherham!!!

Another brilliant week on tour... sharing my journey as an author and showcasing the Bradley Baker books to more excited primary school children. A return visit to Rotherham enabled me to visit four more schools.... two within the Clifton Partnership; East Dene and Coleridge. I also presented to students at High Greave and Whiston Worrygoose (it was great to meet up with one of my cousins, who works at the school and organised the event)!

 

One particular pupil really caught my attention at Coleridge School... here is Leif, who purchased all three copies of the Pathylon Trilogy and then asked to have his picture taken with me;

 

I also took the opportunity to call in to St Ann's Primary to meet my good friend Zoe Croot. Whilst chatting she mentioned an article that appeared in the Clifton Community News about my last visit to Rotherham... so I headed over to Clifton Community Arts School and met with Rachael Grice, who kindly supplied copies of the publication and here's a link to the news story http://cliftonschool.org/index.php/393-author-visit

I returned to Devon on Thursday for an early night, as I had to be 'fit & ready' for my final event of the week on Friday in Exmouth. Brixington Primary School hosted my author visit with over 300 children in the audience. It was a very hot day but all the children sat brilliantly through the showcase and I'm really looking forward to returning on Monday for a very special signing event. Big thank you to Ben Humphries for an extremely well-organised visit.... much appreciated!

 

My recent visit to Whitchurch Primary in Tavistock also made the headlines... the event was featured on the front cover of the Times Gazette...

 

...and here's a link to the article; http://www.tavistock-today.co.uk/news.cfm?id=22540&headline=Author%20visit%20for%20pupils

 

Thank you for reading this week's BlogSpot... hope you enjoyed it. I'll be working closer to home next week with more author visits in Devon, then I'll be heading to Wiltshire to visit four schools in Swindon the following week... so lot's to catch up on and share with you.

Best wishes for now, DLJ :)