Reading 1 v 0 Xbox

The last two weeks have proved very interesting indeed and I feel my writing career has taken an incredible positive turn... mainly due to the receipt of feedback from a (up until now) silent voice. I have been creating and writing children's stories for over fourteen years (the last two years as a full time author)... up to now fantastic reviews and testimonials have been readily supplied by appreciative booksellers, librarians, teachers and journalists. And let's not forget the most important critics... the children who actually read and enjoy my books. It was a message sent to me personally by a parent (who's son attends a school I presented to this week) that really provided me with the confirmation that I've been yearning since I started to pen my Bradley Baker adventures!!! Here's what I'm referring to and proud to make a huge fuss about...

"My son met you last week at his school. He was so inspired, he hasn't stopped reading Bradley Baker and the Curse of Pathylon. I'm sure you've had similar feedback, but my son was behind in literacy for the last few years, and we've always struggled to get him to enjoy reading at home. Given that his mum is also a primary school teacher, we've still found it tough. In this last few days he's already connected that reading helps to improve his literacy all by himself, and even stays in bed when he wakes up to read instead of waking everyone else! I hope he continues with this new found enjoyment and motivation to read. Thanks so much for visiting, you've made a big difference to Daniel where we as parents and his teachers alike have not been as inspirational."

Now let's take a look at the fabulous showcase events I presented during the past few weeks (all in my home county of Devon)... my first school visit took place at Manor Primary in Ivybridge and special thanks to Caroline Sargent for organising everything. It was a great success and I'll be loading some interactive pictures from the event as soon as the school's website has been updated.

The school visits continued further up the M5 with two schools in the Culm Valley enjoying author presentations and book signing events. Children were left inspired at Willand and St Andrew's with hundreds of Bradley Baker books signed... there was a real buzz created by some much appreciated pre-visit preparations by Tanya at Willand and at Jemima St Andrew's.... the children were really primed, which is so important to me when I visit schools. Here's a picture of Niamh from St Andrew's who wrote me a really nice letter;

A break from author showcases when I paid a visit to Eden Park Primary in Brixham. Two workshops with the Year 5/6 students was very productive. We developed characters for their Murder Mystery stories and it was lovely to work with teacher Chris Hallett again.

Then it was time to head back down the A38 to Plymouth and another superb event at Victoria Road Primary. Many thanks to Becky Ferguson who arranged for the local press to be present during the book signing event. Here's a great picture taken after the showcase presentation with some of the children dressed as characters;

Well the half term break is now upon us... but please don't forget I'll be undertaking my first outing as Patron supporting Families for Children Adoption at Devon's Crealy Adventure Park on Friday 1st November. I'll be reading extracts from my latest Bradley Baker adventure "The Gullfather of New York" and hopefully signing copies of the book inside the FFC marquee!!!

 

 

Before I sign off... here are some more dates for the diary. Hope to see you at either Brixham Library on Thursday 14th November between 2pm and 5pm... or Coffee#1 in Torquay 14th November...

 

 

Catch up again after the half term break. DLJ :)



Record breaking week...

WOW!!! What a fantastic week! Things just keep getting better and better!!!

 

My school visits are proving even more popular with the children and teachers. I performed my showcase at Elburton in Plymouth and it went down a storm with record breaking book sales during the signing event. Here's what teacher and event organiser Emma Marriot had to say:

 

"Thank you so much for arranging the author visit, the children were enthralled, inspired and really enjoyed the opportunity to meet an author and have their booked signed.  I was amazed at the audience participation during the showcase and think that nearly every child volunteered to become part of the show.  WOW!  The next day I was speechless at the number of children who wanted to get their own booked signed...I really didn't think we'd have enough time!  The next day (and throughout the next few days) the children have been busy reading the adventures of Bradley Baker in their freetime - they were certainly inspired! I have written a piece for our school website, which the ICT technician should have uploaded.  Please take the time to have a look."

 

This is a great testimonial and I'm really pleased that everyone enjoyed the event. But the week didn't stop there... St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School in Devonport also recorded the following comments on their website; "We had such a wonderful time together, he came back on Tuesday 8th October to sign our new books! The show was fantastic and the children were all enthralled, as were the staff! We were all very curious about the beautiful but curious Victorian bath but soon everything became crystal clear!"

 

Here are a few pictures taken during the event;

 

 

School visits were concluded this week at Willowbrook Primary in Exeter. Massive thank you to all the staff for a very warm welcome and again another amazing response to the showcase presentation.

 

I received some great news this week too... I'll be revisiting the Gloucester area in November and it will be great to catch up with some old friends and new schools. I love the Cotswolds and here's a chance to view the TV coverage during my last two visits to Waterstones and Abbeymead Primary:

http://www.furryfeet.tv/mobile/tabletvideolist.php

 

And here's a "Date for the Diary"... don't forget I will be making my first official appearance as a new Patron for "Families for Children Adoption" at Devon's Crealy Adventure Park on Friday 1st November during the Halloween Celebrations. I'll be supporting the charity and also signing copies of my new Bradley Baker adventure ... "Bradley Baker and the Gullfather of New York"

That's all for this week folks... hope to catch up with you again very soon! Best wishes DLJ

UK launch date set for new BB book...

It's been another very busy week with more visits to schools and also meetings to set the date for the UK launch of the new Bradley Baker adventure book.

 

I started the week at St Michael's C of E Primary School in Newton Abbot. In the morning, the children and teachers enjoyed my popular showcase presentation, which was followed by a full day of workshops with the year six students. I returned the following day to complete the literary workshops and sign lots of Bradley Baker books during a library event.

 

A visit to Plymouth on Wednesday and I met with some very excited children at St Josephs RC Primary School in Devonport. Everyone enjoyed another author performance and the children who joined me on stage were particularly animated (I even jokingly suggested a contract for them to join me on tour... they were so good at improvising the parts of the main characters!!!). I look forward to a return visit on Tuesday next week and I'd like to offer my thanks to Finola Gill for organising a brilliant event.

 

A meeting with those lovely folks at "Families for Children" produced another inspiring topic of conversation. We agreed that the fourth Bradley Baker book (which supports and plotlines the theme of adoption) would receive its official UK launch at Crealy Adventure Park in Devon. The location is very appropriate, as this is where I met with Ally Colton (fundraiser for FFC) last year during the Halloween celebrations... I was keen to support the charity and a year down the line I have now been appointed a vice patron. I am very proud of my new appointment and look forward to working with the team at Buckfast.

A cuddle with Buddy Bear at Crealy... pictured with Caroline Davies CEO for FFC

A day out with some of the kids from Families for Children Adoption

 

 

I hope some of you will be able to visit Devon's Crealy for the book launch of "Bradley Baker and the Gullfather of New York"... look out for the "Families for Children" marquee on 1st November during the Halloween celebrations, where I will be signing first edition copies of the new book :)

 

 

Catch you all again next time. Have a great week folks!!!

Best wishes, DLJ