Bear Blog

The leaves are falling, the schools are back and authors go out on the road again. In September I opened a new school library in Felixstowe and held a meet-the-author session in the Norwich Millenium Library (attendance very small, but enthusiastic – book sales =1 – first copy of Ships signed!).

The following Saturday was the 'Big Book Bash' in Aylsham for Marilyn Brocklehurst of the North Norfolk Children's Book Centre. She had assembled a lovely bunch of authors – the one and only Kaye Umansky, Peter Kavannagh, David Bedford and Paeony Lewis among them. Again sale of books not great, this credit crunch does bite hard.

During book week there was a visit to our village school – I am the tame local author of course. One boy in reception class asked about sliding mechanisms – I showed them how it was done and after I left they made some – far too hard for their age group, but somehow they produced lovely examples.

The following Sunday was a visit to the Polka Theatre in Wimbledon: I accepted the invitation because I thought it would look good on my CV!

A very knowledgeable young crowd turned up for the workshop – one boy knew my books inside out and his mother threatened to become my stalker!

Then a visit to an excellent school in Lancaster, high on a hill overlooking Morecambe Bay. I was asked to take assembly – always a bit frightening. Somehow I worked the children into a frenzy by showing them the bathroom in House of Inventions: what is it about showers, bare bottoms, toilets and big bras that seem to get them so excited?!

Another great venue the following Saturday – the Baltic Art Gallery in Newcastle for 'The Big Draw'. I could have held my workshop in a rowing boat high up in a gallery overlooking the River Tyne but I declined!

Some student art teachers from the University of Northumbria were my helpers for the workshops and it was rewarding to talk to them about their hopes and ambitions for the future. A lot of pop-up boats were created during the day! There was a great display of my books in the gallery shop – VG sales this time!

I also went to Ipswich Town Hall for The Big Draw: there was a wonderful exhibition of work by 15 established and new illustrators. Suffolk Libraries are so enthusiastic about books. There was a Q&A session with three big guns in children's illustration – Michael Foreman, Anthony Browne and Nick Butterworth – Ben Norland was there too! It was an interesting meeting, although very little time allowed for students and the general public to ask questions.

My final Big Draw event was in Whittlesey library, with two very good groups of talented children and decent book sales! This event was brilliantly organised by Richard Young from Cambridgeshire Libraries – I was taken out for a slap-up lunch, which always gets extra points in my book!

My final event of the year will be three days at the Northern Children's Book Festival, one of the best events in the country in my opinion. It is always great to go back to the North East, where I spent some time as a boy, in Peterlee and Sunderland. It is not perhaps the most prosperous area in the UK but the people are always warm and friendly. Staying in hotels with fellow authors is always fun: after a few drinks we always get around to discussing publishers!

Best wishes
Robert