Has it really been three weeks since my last blog post? I can't believe how the time has flown by so quickly... I've been having so much fun!!! Still... that's no excuse for not updating my blogspot on a more regular basis, so I'll try to bring you up to speed on what's been going on since the third Bradley Baker book was released on 29th September!
Well... the Pathylon Trilogy has finally been completed and judging by some awesome responses from some of the children I have met at schools, the adventure books are going down a storm! The demand for Bradley Baker and the Pyramids of Blood has been high with most of the first edition paperbacks sold. A second print run has already been scheduled to meet the expected demand from my busy author visit tour planned for November and December leading up to the Christmas break.
The marketing activity for my Halloween storytelling showcase on 3rd November at Crealy Adventure Park near Exeter is gathering pace too. I was invited to attend the venue to discuss the event itinerary with a photo shoot held for the press release and brochure photo's... here are a couple of the pics taken on the day;
I really liked the pictures, which were taken by a professional photographer and I even used one of them for my new Facebook profile :)
Onto the schools now and more visits over the past few weeks; with two assemblies of celebration to recognise the achievements of some very talented students at two schools in Devon. The first was held at Torre Primary School in Torquay. An area literacy competition was won by Ruth Garner, who visited her old school to receive a signed copy of Bradley Baker and the Pyramids of Blood. Ruth's written work has been edited and features in some of the chapters in the book. Here is a picture with Ruth and her parents together with Sue Julyan the Area English Lead for Torbay.
My second school visit involved a return visit to Our Lady & St Patrick's Roman Catholic Primary, where I to presented certificates and prizes to some of the students. Here are the three winners of the KS2 Bradley Baker writing competition...
More fantastic school visits followed... with Eden Park Academy in Brixham hosting an author presentation (I'll be returning next week to meet the children again and sign copies of my books). Then Whipton Barton Junior School in Exeter invited me to present to the whole school and what an amazing reception I received upon arrival. The children were so enthusiastic... I was signing autographs as I entered the reception foyer. I also revisited Shiphay Learning Academy in Torquay, which resulted in more enthused children being inspired by the Bradley Baker adventures during a book signing event for Bradley Baker and the Pyramids of Blood.
I arrived home from another day of busy school visits earlier this week to receive a mind-blowing email from Shiphay Learning Academy officially inviting me to become their Vice Chancellor for the Children's University. I feel totally humbled and knocked-for-six by this invitation. Apparently since my author visit to the school before the summer break, they have been championing me from the start and they believe I am a real inspirational role model for the children. There will be a grand launch on Thursday 26th October at Shiphay from 6-8pm and I have been invited to speak at the opening to tell the children and parents a bit more about myself and to promote the importance of extra curricular activities.
The Children's University (CU) Trust is managed through a network of over 80 local children's universities in England, including the Service Children's Education Schools CU. Each one is distinctive in character, responding to the needs of the local community within the quality assurance framework of the CU Trust. In addition to a growing CU presence in the Isle of Man, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, international CU Trust development is in progress in the Netherlands, Malaysia and Australia.
The Children's University aims to promote social mobility by providing high quality, exciting and innovative learning activities and experiences outside normal school hours to children aged 7 to 14 (and 5 and 6 year olds with their families) and engaging the wider communities as learning partners in the realisation of this. At the heart of its work is the ambition to raise aspirations, boost achievement and foster a love of learning, so that young people can make the most of their abilities and interests, regardless of the background into which they were born. Although open to all, the CU aims particularly to reach children and young people facing socio-economic and educational disadvantage through the targeting of grants to, and the promotion of activities in, areas of deprivation. It is here, we believe, that the benefits of high quality provision and opportunities will be felt most.
Finally, back to Crealy and a call to all children in Devon... The tourist attraction is offering local schools the chance to take part in a writing competition that will see the winning child's entry read out by me during the Halloweek event. The competition is aimed at school children between the ages of five and 11 and the child crowned as the overall winner will receive £50 of Waterstones vouchers, and the school attended by the winner will also receive £100 worth of Waterstones vouchers too, plus a signed copy of my latest book. Here's a link to a press article that provides more information:
http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/Devon-s-Crealy-launches-Hallowe-en-story-contest/story-17089758-detail/story.html
Well I guess that brings everything up-to-date and I look forward to posting more about my author activities next week.
Take care for now... Regards DLJ
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