Deadlines and distractions

It's been a while since I blogged-and if you had noticed-then I apologise! I have had a load of excuses to allow me to put off writing to you all, none of them very good I'm afraid!

So, what have I been doing? I am trying very hard to complete my new book for Amberley Books- Barrow-in-Furness Through Time. I have been busy sourcing old photos, writing the text and taking new photos. All very time consuming. However it is exciting to be writing a more serious history book. I hope to finish by the end of April.

https://www.amberley-books.com/discover-books/local-history/area/cumbria-lake-district/barrow-in-furness-through-time.html

Then, as usual at this time of year I have been training for the 40 mile Keswick to Barrow Walk. This is another thing which takes up lots of spare time-but I love it because I can use the thinking time (when I am not talking to my walk partners) to develop ideas for the books. 

At the end of March I started back at Furness Abbey-I am setting back in for my second season! That went really quickly! It is great to be back because of anywhere you could think of this place is where many of my ideas come from. So it has been rather hectic-but by mid May I will be back in touch with my Patron of Reading schools and look forward to some brilliant summer activities! See you soon!

Me with a couple of K2B Teamies

Busy Book Week activities

Weeks like this are quite exhausting! It started with a long day at York for some English Heritage training for my work at Furness Abbey -I was so tired when I got back I went to bed at 9-30pm-and event so rare it hasn't happened since I was twelve! Then a lovely visit to Lindal and Marton Primary School for some Patron of Reading work. However, a detour was required due to excessive rain (don't we always have excessive rain?)but I finally got there and met KS2 children.

We had a read through of my new book-"THE BAT WHO WAS AFRAID OF THE DARK" and then I suggested they edit and critique it for me! So, after some encouragement they got stuck in and edited like mad with purple pens! This was worse than sending it to the publisher! After all they are the audience! However, despite many suggestions and improvements they said it passed muster!

Editing hard

Today I have been working with Functional Skills English students and learning how to use suffixes and prefixes-quite a change of pace. Tomorrow I am judging reviews at Dalton St Mary's and then onto Broughton working with KS2 and on Friday back again for the poetry competition! Somewhere in there I have to tidy up after the decorator has been and do some more writing! 

I will post some pictures from the other two visits as I get them-.

So, what did you like about World Book Day? I have seen lots of ideas and activities. It would be nice to see yours