It was reassuring to hear that Claire Fayers, who introduced this Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival event, was actually in the audience five years ago, when it first took place, wondering if she’d ever get her work published. She now has two children’s books published (the Accidental Pirates series), which proves that these things can happen! She introduced us to author Horatio Clare and literary agent Philippa Milnes-Smith, who shared their advice on writing for children and getting published.
Month: April 2018
How to Start a Book Blog – My Book Blogging Story
Have you ever thought about creating your own book blog? Or maybe you’ve considered putting together an official ‘writer’s website’ to market your own published books? It’s not as complicated as it sounds. I’ve done it, and so have thousands of other people, so why not give it a try, using my brand new, super helpful guide to book blogging…
Book Review: Albi by Hilary Shepherd
Set during the Spanish Civil War, and beginning in 1938, this is a novel which captures perfectly the mixture of fear, excitement and uncertainty experienced by ordinary citizens in rural Spain. Albi is nine years old when the soldiers arrive in his village. Some say the war is over, and some say that it’s not, but it seems like everyone else knows what’s going on apart from him. They say he’s too young, but he’s determined to understand. Told from Albi’s perspective, the story is vivid and, though fictional, it feels very real. Continue reading
Interview with a Book Blogger: Katie Scott
Book bloggers are fascinating people, and they each have their own individual story. I’ll be posting a series of interviews with fellow book bloggers, to find out how they began blogging, what they look for in a good book, and what advice they wish they’d had when they first started. This week we hear from Katie Scott, who blogs about crafts (cross stitch, knitting etc) as well as books… Continue reading
What makes a good book cover?
What makes you pick up a book? I am unashamed to admit that the cover and title of a book always have an impact on whether or not I decide to read it. They’re what I see first, and first impressions count, to the extent where, even if a book is highly recommended, an unappealing cover will put me off for a long time.
So what is it that attracts you to a book? And what puts you off? Here’s a quick analysis of book cover science… Continue reading
Book Review: The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
This book may seem like an ordinary story about a fairly ordinary man to whom nothing particularly interesting is likely to happen, but it’s far more than that. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry follows in the footsteps of its protagonist: a recently retired man who has led a fairly unremarkable life. It is when he receives a letter from an old colleague whom he hasn’t seen in twenty years, that he sets off on a rather long and spontaneous journey, on foot. Continue reading