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Story Starters
Writers of fiction are often asked where they get their ideas from. Most of us would answer, ‘anywhere and everywhere’. That’s true, of course, but it’s not a very satisfying response. And what the...
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My New Online Life…
Hi everyone, I’m sorry because I’m having trouble with the video I wanted to post…so I’m afraid that because I still haven’t sorted out the problem, I’m going to have to toot my own horn (!) and say...
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Under the stars with not a cloud in the sky (wishes)…
This year we are taking our dogs camping for the very first time. Not my idea – my mum and dad said they were going and so did one of my brothers and his partner and little girl and before I could stop...
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Being part of a zombie invasion (or how to scare cricketers)
I recently did a Mindfulness course. One day our teacher taught us ‘mindful walking’. This involves walking incredibly slowly, paying close attention as each part of the foot touches the floor,...
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These are a few of my favourite things…
Do you have a few favourite things in your bedroom? A special book or photo? A poster? At around 8 or so, I remember having one on a cupboard door of Bodie (at least the actor who played him in the...
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Why you should know about the children of Gaza and Israel
Extra note from Jo at 2.48pm: Since posting this article I have heard from two friends who were concerned that I wasn’t being quite even-handed enough about the complicated situation. I have made a few...
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I Heart NYC!
Hi everyone, Right now I’m super excited to be counting down to the September 1st publication date of my next book, Model Under Cover: Stolen with Style – not least because it takes place in a city I...
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World of Wonders (on your doorstep!)
Hi girls! I hope you’re having a fab summer, and getting to read loads of books! I was supposed to be on holiday for the last two weeks, but guess what? Freddie got chicken pox and then Holly got it,...
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Why I Do and Don’t want to be Grown-Up!?!
Wendy Quill (the main character in the books I illustrated) is constantly writing lists – so I thought I’d join in the fun by writing my own list. This one’s about why I DO and why I DON’T want to be...
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The Mysterious Nothing-Thief
A few weeks ago I got home late and turned on the lights, only to find rooms in disarray. We had been burgled! As you can imagine we called the police, then started sorting through our scattered...
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On Monday last…
[Today's post is by Deirdre Sullivan, but her computer is pretending not to work, so I'm posting it for her instead. Jo] On Monday last, my pet died. His name was William Butler Yeats the guinea pig...
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Dr Who and Finding Paradise
You know when summer is almost over when new drama comes on TV (they don’t waste it on the holiday months). Welcome back Dr Who with a new Scottish doctor. I rather enjoyed Peter Capaldi’s angry...
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Mix excitement with dread. And stir.
Exactly a week from now my first novel gets published. I am beside myself with dog-shown-the-lead, night-before-Christmas excitement. And yet at the same time…heart-plunging dread. Admittedly, I’ve...
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Frankfurt Kitchen
If you are not already in there, go to your kitchen and answer the following questions: Does it have a cooker? Are there fitted cupboards? Is there lighting from an external window? Is there an...
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A Booky Letter to my Daughter on her First Day of Senior School
Hello, I’m Rachel Hamilton, author of The Case of the Exploding Loo, described, to my delight, by Wondrous Reads as ‘the most bonkers debut of the year’. I’m thrilled to be joining the bloggers at...
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Flamstead Scarecrow Festival
You know how sometimes you go along to something thinking it will be good and it turns out to be way better than you expected? That happened to me in August when I went to the Scarecrow Festival at...
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Driftwood Horses and Pebble Pandas
What could you do with a big pile of driftwood like this? If you’re like me, your answer will be: “Um, I could make a bonfire. Or… no, that’s pretty much it, actually.” Most people probably wouldn’t...
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Writing Tips I Have Ignored No. 1: Write about what you know.
Start out by writing what you know: that’s what new writers are often told. The thing is, I haven’t had that many adventures. Why would I want to write about someone like me – and why would anyone else...
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It’s Good to Talk
My son dropped out of college last May. He’d failed his Christmas exams and was pretending to go to lectures for months. Every day he’d get up, shower and leave the house. Every late afternoon he’d...
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Friendships rooted in LAND
My book received its official ‘welcome to the world’ last Friday with a launch party at the amazing Toppings bookshop in Bath, where I live. I could dedicate this whole blog to talking about the cake...
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