Jig and Saw .... first reading at Buckfast!

David Lawrence Jones paid another visit to the headquarters of Families for Children Adoption at their offices in the picturesque grounds of Buckfast Abbey. Following a meeting to discuss the launch of the new "Jig and Saw" book, which will help to raise awareness and funds for the charity... David entertained the staff with a storytelling session.

 

The newest patron and author read from the final draft and demonstrated the theme of the story by showing everyone the rough sketches for the book.

 

"Jig and Saw" also made an appearance and everyone loved the new characters that will front the charities marketing campaign for 2014 and beyond.

 

For more information about the new books please click here.

Wow... it's all happening so fast!

Press Release via BlogSpot...

 

Wow... it's all happening so fast!

With so much progress made over the past two weeks... it's very likely that the new picture book about Jig and Saw will be published by the end of March 2014.

David Lawrence Jones visited the headquarters today of Families for Children Adoption to introduce Jig and Saw to the team. Everyone loved the new characters, who will be helping to raise awareness and funds for the charity during the trust's events and activities.

 

Here are some pictures taken in the beautiful grounds of Buckfast Abbey showing the author with CEO Caroline Davis OBE, Deputy CEO Graham Pellew and Fundraising Manager Ally Colton... and of course Jig and Saw!

 

 

David Lawrence Jones, Caroline Davis and Graham Pellew

 

David Lawrence Jones and Caroline Davis OBE with Jig & Saw

 

 

David Lawrence Jones with Ally Colton and Graham Pellew

 

The original ideas for the main characters in the book were conceived by the children's author. As the newest patron of the adoption trust, David has created two "Jigsaw" pieces that don't fit into a family puzzle (inspired by the charity's logo). 

 "Jig and Saw" live in a dark house where sadness surrounds them. The story's rhyming prose takes them on an incredible journey to find happiness in a brand new home with a brand new family... and where they fit into a brand new puzzle!

 

For more information please visit the Jig and Saw website.

 

"JIG and SAW" are on their way...

I have completed the rhyming prose for a brand new series of adventure books, which will be illustrated by the very talented Abie Greyvenstein. The first "JIG and SAW" picture book will be published later this year (during the early part of the Summer term) in support of my charity "Families for Children". As patron I am hoping the books and characters become a great success and I am already planning a second book in the series.

I'll be taking "JIG and SAW" on my travels when I visit primary schools... I'm very excited about this new project and it's going to be a real thrill to present to the KS1 pupils, who normally miss out on my "Bradley Baker" showcases (which is more suited to the KS2 students).

There will be more pictures and news updates very soon and I'll be sure to keep everyone posted here and on my social media sites.

If you'd like to find out more, here's a link to the "JIG and SAW" website.

 

Catch up again very soon

DLJ

It's my 50th year on this beautiful planet...

Hey... it's my 50th year on this beautiful planet and so to celebrate I'm going to dedicate my first blogspot of 2014 to the 50 things I would like to achieve over the next 12 months.

I've no doubt I may be slightly over-ambitious on some of the listed items but I seem to be one of those people who achieve their goals (when I set my mind to it) and 99% of the time I do tend to make things happen!..

I have to say my wife will be amused with this... she knows I hate lists! Anyhow, here goes (in no particular order);

1. Say 'hello', 'good morning/afternoon/evening' to as many people I meet... whether I know them or not!
2. Raise as much money as possible as patron for my charity 'Families for Children Adoption' (and you never know I might just get to meet ALL my fellow patrons at some stage during the year)
3. Walk my adorable 'labby' more (love you Flo)
4. Drink less coffee (no I'll rephrase that...) spend less time and money in coffee shops (sorry Costa, Coffee1 and Nero...) and whilst on the subject 'Starbucks' pay your UK taxes!
5. Avoid supermarkets and try to share my hard earned cash with my local community shops (Butchers, Bakers and Candlestick Makers watch out)
6. Revisit New York City as many time as possible!
7. Persuade 'Apple' to include a 'hashtag' key on their wireless keyboard... arrrrghhh!
8. Secure the publication rights and literary representation for my Bradley Baker series of books in the United States of America
9. And if its not too much to ask... the movie rights too :)
10. Succeed Daniel Craig as the next James Bond (I am jumping out of a plane from 15,000ft for charity... does that count?)
11. Have a family holiday
12. Complete my fifth Bradley Baker children's adventure book (only 84,000 words to go, so should be a steal!)
13. Invest more of my precious social media time to Twitter (to avoid the constant annoying advertising/gaming requests/spam on Facebook)
14. Make and paint the Escort Mk1 Airfix model that was given to me as a gift last Christmas.
15. Fix the downstairs loo!
16. Thank the primary school children/teachers/literacy co-ordinators/teaching assistants/parents/headteachers who constantly recommend my school visits to other primary school children/teachers/literacy co-ordinators/teaching assistants/parents/headteachers... these lovely peeps keep my diary full for two thirds of the year :)
17. Go back to a few of the friendly Waterstones and sign a few books... if they'll have me!
18. Wear a bow tie when the occasion suits.
19. Encourage my wife to take sneezing control therapy!
20. Not get too annoyed with my youngest daughter as she approaches her teenage years.
21. Take care of my new boots (I love my boots... did I tell you that I love my new boots?)
22. Get my tennis elbow fixed... or learn to play tennis!
23. On that subject... get healthier... exercise more!
24. Go to bed earlier (oops forgot, I'm an author... quality writing time at 2am)
25. Enjoy a city break in Europe with my closest friends to celebrate the big five 0
26. Take part in the 'Tough Mudders' challenge and run side by side with (or be dragged along by) my two fantastic sons and two stepsons... (and raise some money for Families for Children Adoption in the process).
27. Continue to love my two daughters with all my heart!
28. Fill as many Jack Daniels bottles as possible with 5p coins (two completed so far... each one holds £54.50 if you really want to know!)
29. Let my very very very talented illustrator know he is very very very talented at all times to ensure BB series continuity... all hail Abie Greyvenstein!
30. Visit my Mum and Dad in Yorkshire as many times as possible.
31. Have a beer with my one and only brother in a pub... on our own for at least an hour (and have some quality bro-time!).
32. Visit a new exciting part of the world (I'll let my wife choose).
33. Get rid of the petrol-guzzling V12 2.8 litre sports coupe (breaks my heart every time the petrol gauge dips... time to get more 'eco' man).
34. Walk through more of the open doors that are waiting for me in the literary world (create more time to concentrate and visualise to ensure this happens)
35. Continue to follow my mentor, who has inspired me for the last 15 years and never let me down (your advice and guidance is priceless... you know who you are J.C.)!
36. Keep my fingers, toes, legs and every other digit/limb/thing that can be manoeuvred into position, crossed... (a lot of seeds planted in 2013, it's time to see those little shoots appear).
37. Stop putting clothes in the wash bin that don't really need to go in there (just because I left them on the floor and they're a bit creased)!
38. Remove the huge meteor that is lodged in my 'Writing Shack' roof (put a new roof on the shed and recreate the special space that I can call mine, mine, mine.... sorry, slipped into a Finding Nemo moment there).
39. See how long I can grow my hair before the Peter Stringfellow quips kick in again!
40. Help two more schools publish their very own adventure books! (all the workshops are in the diary so this is going to be fun!)
41. Continue to refuse to buy anything from Amazon (UK tax issues revisited... slight double-standards on my part because my BB books are on there - message to my readers; "don't buy them from Amazon, there's plenty of other great places where you can get your hands on them.... support your local bookstore!")
42. Take the chance to apologise in advance for all my charity requests and the self promotion of my books on social media sites... I'm an author, it's what I do!
43. Rack my brain and do everything possible to remember the door I closed some time ago... what was it? (...think, think, think!)
44. Reduce my road rage to 0% tolerance (keep reminding myself that I'm the one driving the big RED van and they WILL get out of the way!)
45. Remember to show the maximum amount of enthusiasm when the wife and future daughter-in-law talk about the up-and-coming July wedding!
46. On the subject of future daughter-in-laws and her talented fiancé... thank you for producing little D Bear and allowing me to share what will be precious moments during 2014.
47. Reduce the clutter (from my desk and my life)
48. Welcome and endorse the positives... ignore and incubate the negatives!
49. Paint more Warhammer!!!! (therapeutic personified) and buy a house with a room big enough to build MY very own train set... thanks for the inspiration and nod of approval 'Rod Stewart'! (boys and our toys... we never grow up, speaking of which; did you know I'm fifty this year?)
50. Wish peace, love and good health to everyone... especially those very near and the ones I get the privilege to touch!

There's plenty more....

Love to all... have a great 2014!
DLJ

It's been a while...

It's been a while since my last blogspot... five weeks to be exact. I've been so busy but that's no excuse for not writing about what I've been up to! Anyhow, enough of the excuses, to be honest it's the first time I've had a chance to collect my thoughts and assemble all the information to write my final blog entry for 2013... so here goes!

Let's start with the last four school visits of the year... during November I travelled to the Cotswolds again for a second tour of primary schools in Gloucester. These included Dinglewell and Kingsway with both events producing a record amount of Bradley Baker fans. This also resulted in the highest number of book sales since I started visiting schools with my author showcase presentations. The last two school visits this year took me nearer to home in Devon during the first week in December. Meavy and Mary Tavy near Tavistock hosted the events... much smaller audiences but equally as enthusiastic about my Bradley Baker adventure books. Here's a great picture sent to me by teacher Cherylynn Barlow at Meavy following their book signing session;

 

 

My duties as patron of Families for Children Adoption continued into December. I was invited to open the Christmas Bazaar at Michelmore Solicitors in Exeter. Over £1000 was raised during the event and special thanks to Ally Colton (FFC fundraiser) and Megan Wright (Michelmore's event organiser) for asking me to join fellow patron Michael Caines. Here's a few pictures taken on the day;

 

 

I then flew out to New York to launch my latest book. Bradley Baker and the Gullfather of New York was received very well during my first visit to the big apple and I like to thank everyone involved for their huge support. Visits to the New York Public Library and Empire State Building provided two great iconic locations to officially launch the book. Special thanks to lovely peeps at NYPL for allowing me to utilise the library bookshop. Here are some pictures of the events.

 

 

I also had chance to visit some very special landmarks in NYC that appear in the book. The experience at Bethesda Terrace and with the statue of Balto in Central Park were made extra special when it snowed producing a winter wonderland.

 

 

I returned from New York to attend another very special event... the Families for Children Christmas Lunch at the Abode Hotel in Exeter. I joined my fellow patrons Michael Caines and Mark Tyler with CEO Caroline Davis and Ally Colton and members of staff around the table.

 

 

We all enjoyed a fabulous lunch but one of our other patron's was missing. Caroline Quentin had to attend ITV's studios in London to prepare for a very special appearance on "Who Wants to Be A Millionaire" with co-fundraiser Carol Vorderman and host Chris Tarrant. Caroline was joined by FFC's Ally Colton after the event with Families for Children benefiting from a share of the £50,000 winnings. Well done Caroline, Carol and Ally... brilliant job!

 

 

Well it's time to put my feet up for a well earned rest over Christmas... but not for long as I will be representing my charity as patron again on 29th December. I hope to raise lots of money by skydiving from £15,000 feet when I jump out of a plane. Yikes... please help if you can by donating.

You can donate by clicking on the following link.... please give what you can!

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/DavidLawrenceJones

Here's to another great year in 2014... my diary is filled to the brim with more school events and the visit to New York produced some very exciting prospects so watch out for a few announcements over the coming months. Also look out for the fifth Bradley Baker adventure book due for release in 2014... here's a sneak preview of the cover;

 



 

Thanks for popping by folks to read my latest blogspot... catch up again after the holidays. Till then stay safe, have a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!

DLJ x

Two outings as Patron... including an Xmas pud "stir-up"

I enjoyed my first outing as Patron supporting Families for Children Adoption at Devon's Crealy Adventure Park on Friday 1st November. I read extracts from my latest Bradley Baker adventure "The Gullfather of New York" and signed hundreds of copies of the book inside the Adventure Zone!!! Special guest appearances by Bradley Baker and Crealy's Buddy Bear proved a great hit with the audience too :)

The first week back after the school holidays and I travelled to my birth town of Rotherham to visit four new schools. Bramley Sunnyside, Kimberworth Community, St Bede's Roman Catholic Primary and Wath C of E hosted the showcases with unbelievable signing events to follow. I left South Yorkshire with a very aching hand... I've never signed so many books in a week!!!

Another outing as Patron followed on Sunday with a visit to Darts Farm in Topsham near Exeter. I joined my fellow patron and 2 star Michelin Chef Michael Caines to help children with the big Xmas Pud stir-up. We all had a great time... here are some pics;-

 My granddaughter Darcie dives into the xmas pud making

 

 Ally Colton from Families for Children Adoption with me getting ready to wrap the puds!

 

 2 Star Michelin Chef Micheal Caines MBE with me, Hattie and D Bear

 

Even managed to sell a few books with all sales going to the charity

 

More events next week; including a public appearance at Brixham Library on Thursday 14th November. If you're in the Torbay area please call in to say hello!

 

 

Catch up again with more updates next time. Best wishes DLJ :)

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 :)