The Global Heroes Are Here!

As well as working on lots of little books during the past year, I've been busy working on a new series called Global Heroes. You can find out more about them HERE on my website. The first two in the series have just been published - and I think you'll agree, they look GREAT! The illustrations have been done by the excellent Alex Patterson and he's done a great job bringing the characters and settings to life. 

The heroes are a group of children - each with specialist skills - that go on missions around the world to help tackle environmental disasters and problems. The first book, Bushfire Rescue, is set in Australia where a wild bushfire has swept across the countryside. The Global Heroes mission is to help rescue wild animals that have been affected by the fire - but they also have to keep their wits about them as a group of villains, known only as Evilooters, have been seen in the area. What are the Evilooters up to and have they got anything to do with the fire? 

In book 2, Waves of Waste, the heroes are sent to Brazil to find out why mountains of plastic waste are being washed up on the beaches. As well as action filled adventure stories, the books are full of fascinating facts and will be great for children who have an interest in science and the environment - especially in connection with current global issues like Global Warming, and Animals in Danger. Two more books in the series will be coming out in November. 

Each book is a story on its own and they can be read in any order.

Happy World Book Day

 Hello everyone and a huge HAPPY WORLD BOOK DAY to you all...

I know that not all of you are in school, but wherever you are I hope that you have fun sharing books and stories. This is the first World Book Day for years and years where I have not been in school and it feels very strange.

I want to share a book with you that I have just read - Vi SPY by Maz Evans. I really enjoyed it and I think that you will too - especially if you are in year 5 or 6. 

Valentine Day (Vi for short) lives with her mum and her nan. She's convinced that her mum is a spy or a secret agent. This isn't quite true though... her mum 'was' a spy/secret agent but she is retired now. So is her nan. She thinks that her dad died when she was very young... this isn't true either. When her dad reappears (just as mum is about to marry her school teacher) she discovers that he is a super villain. Can you imagine what it would be like to have a mum that's a secret agent and a dad that's a super villain??? Can you imagine what it would be like if you mum was going to get married to your teacher???

I don't want to tell you any more about this book other than that it is very funny and very exciting. I think you will enjoy it so I have sent a copy to school for you to read. Let me know what you think of it.  

Have fun reading...

Poetry Slam

Hello everyone... I just want to say how fantastic it was seeing you all this morning. Your poems were fantastic and it was a real pleasure hearing them - I know how scary it can be reading out something that you have written yourself.

I am really sorry that you couldn't actually see me, I have no idea what went wrong there. Hopefully I will have it sorted out soon.

If you are reading anything really good, please let me know - I would love to hear about it. 

I've been busy doing lots of writing recently and I am just about to start a very exciting new writing project with a publisher. I've been told that I can't talk about it at the moment as it is top secret - I will be able to tell you about it when I see you next time.

Something different to read...

I love reading fiction - stories that have been made up by authors with fantastic imaginations - but you don't just have to read fiction. There are other kinds of books too, so please let me know if you are reading anything that is a bit different.

 

Amelia kindly told me about a book that she has been reading - Strong is the New Pretty by Kate T Parker - A Celebration of Girls Being Themselves - it's a book that she has already read a few times and I am sure that she will keep on going back to it (I know that I would). 

This is quite a different kind of book. It isn't a story and it's not a normal non-fiction book full of facts. Kate T Parker is an American photographer who specialises in taking photographs of people - and does a lot of family portraits. She is a great photographer and has produced a few books. 

Every page in this book has a picture of a girl doing something that they like to do. And each of the girls has said something about themselves. This is a very positive book that girls especially will love. Reading it can make you feel good about yourself. The photographs are interesting and all very different from each other. It is a great book to just look at (especially if you are interested in photography or art) and it's also a great book to talk about. 

Just because the book focuses on girls it doesn't mean that boys won't be interested in it - but just in case... there is aother book that does focus on boys (The Heart of a Boy - Celebrating the Strength and Spirit of Boyhood) and it is just as good as this one.

The Heart of a Boy is very similar to the girl's book but - as you can probably guess. It's full of wonderful photographs. 

Books like this can be really good to read as you do not need to read them from start to finish. They are great to just dip into from time to time. I would be interested to hear what you think of them if you've looked at them too.

Secret Agents, Wizards and more...

The first book suggestion today is from Mrs Allen and it sounds as if she is really enjoying this. SilverFin by Charlie Higson... 

I read this book when it first came out (I actually read the first chapter before it came out) so I know that it is really good. A very exciting book about the young James Bond before he became the 007 secret agent that we all know. SilverFin is the first in the series and there are lots more.

Here's what Mrs Allen says about it "Oh My Goodness! - even before the first chapter STARTS, someone has been dragged to the bottom of a Scottish Loch, perhaps killed, by a mysterious eel man! Exciting or what? I am definitely addicted to this one already."

Julia has been reading The Beast of Buckingham Palace - a book that was recommended a little while ago. With a mixture of adventure and friendship in the story, Julia said that she could not wait to see what happens next. 

This sounds like two recommedations for this book from David Walliams... I might have to add it to my reading list too.

Alice has been reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by an author called J.K.Rowling - you might have heard of her. I know that you have probably all see the Harry Potter films but there is a lot more in the books than in the films... SO... if you loved the

films and want to know even more - why not give the books a go. Alice describes it as a really good page turner - and says that there are 'sad parts, scary parts' and even 'heart pounding scenes.' 

Amelia has also recommended a book that she has read a few times... I am going to write about that seperately as it is a very different sort of book. Thank you for telling me about it...  

I Am Back...

Hello everyone and thank you for leaving messages for me... 

First let say how sorry I am that I have not put more on this blog yet. 

It is not a very good excuse, but I have been busy working on a book that has been written online and read by people in different countries around the world - Spain, Mexico, Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala and other places. It has been a fun and exciting book to write but I had to write it quite quickly - and also talk to hundreds of readers and answer messages and questions... Phew! I have just finsihed that now.

I will tell you a bit about the book very soon. I will be interested to hear what you think of it. I have just started writing a science fiction (spaceships, robots, aliens) book and would be interested to hear what you think of that. I wonder if you would like me to send the first chapter to you to read? 

From now on I want to try and write a few new things every week. 

Here are some things that I will be doing 

1. Suggest books to read that I have read or heard of.

2. Suggest books to read that you have told me about.

3. Answer any questions you have about me or writing (have you got any questions?)

4. Add some things to do - word searches, puzzles, story starters (so you can carry on and write your own story).

5. Anything else that you would like me to add... let me know what you would like to see here.

More Excellent Books to Read

Hi again - I hope you are all well and reading lots of great books. I am still reading the one that I mentioned a couple of weeks ago - the science fiction book. It's a big book and I'm quite a slow reader :-) . I keep on trying to snatch a few minutes in the day when I can read - even if it just a few pages (sometimes only three or four pages). As well as reading, I am busy writing too. I will tell you what I have been working on very soon.

Here are a couple more excellent recommendations -

Mrs Allen is now reading The Owl Service by Alan Garner. I have not read this but it is one book that almost every writer that I know has read and really loves... 

I can't wait to hear what Mrs Allen thinks about it but I have already added it to my list of books to read.










Sophie in Year 6 is reading Wonder by R.J. Palacio - and it is one of her favourite books she has read in the last month. 

I have not read this book either - but my wife Vicky read it as soon as it came out. She said it was fantastic and that she really enjoyed it. 














The last recomendation for today is from Julia in Year 6. Her choice is Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens. Robin is a really good writer and if you like a good mstery story then I am sure you will enjoy this. There are quite a few books in the series and each one is as good as the next... I've only read one of them so far but I will be reading more. Let me know what you think if you read one.