More than Writers

Image Credits: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. With this title, I know I’m preaching to the converted here, literally! But books are amazing in every format. I owe a huge debt to my late mother for encouraging my love of books early. I also think every writer, especially of fiction aimed at adults, needs to appreciate what children’s authors do because they grow our audience.  Most readers come from a background of having always loved reading. That’s fabulous. What is tricky is persuading those who don’t read for pleasure, or see the point of it, to discover the wonderful world of books for themselves, especially as adults. How do we persuade people there are books for everyone? How do we persuade people Christian fiction and non-fiction can add to their faith by sharing insights in different ways? I have known people who would only read the Bible, for instance. I always thought (and still think) they miss out on special writing by not reading, say, C.S. Lewis or...

Come on, you totally did this, right? The other day I read Nikki Salt's post about writers who inspire us. It got me thinking about some of my favourite books, and I quickly realised most of the ones that came to mind first were from childhood. I binged on Enid Blyton -- climbed the Faraway Tree, met Moonface and Silky and explored the lands in the sky, joined the children on the wishing chair, imagined the endless hot summers with all those lashings of ginger beer. I feasted on Narnia, dreamed of the Chalet School, went on adventures with the Three Investigators, went ice-skating with Noel Streatfield, found secret gardens in my soul and went on tramps through Tanglewood forests. When I thought about all these things I got that feeling of freshness, the excitement I would feel when I picked up a book or sneaked one under the covers with my torch at night (my mum totally knew.) I even loved to take books to the table and read while eating, it wasn't allowed in general but we we...

  I've been thinking a lot about covers recently, mainly because I have several books coming out soon and I've been knee deep in covers and discussions with both cover designers and publishers. I would like a clanging of cymbals here as this is the first sighting of the cover for the new Bertie the Buffalo Book - Bertie Goes to the Worldwide Games . The reason I include this is because it has gone through several iterations. My publishers - Malcolm Down and Sarah Grace have worked hard to bring this cover and to make sure it fitted the book. The tartan is important because Bertie and his friends are representing Scotland and will be wearing kilts. So, why no kilt on the front I hear you ask? One of the original covers did have him in a kilt on the front but it was felt a little too fussy. So, here's a screenshot of part of the back cover.  Our wee escape artist is exploring his Scottish heritage. Before you say, a water buffalo isn't very Scottish, Bertie was born on a ...

Do you remember being read to when you were a child? I suspect for some, that process kick started a passion for books and for writing. Those bedtime stories were perhaps the catalyst for you being here, right now, reading this blog post. So, I think we can agree that reading to children is important. I wrote a poem recently for an arts exhibition at the request of an ex-pupil now at university. The students organised the exhibition in support of a small charity called United Through Reading. It helps keep military parents on tour in touch with their young children via books, reading to them on video. Of course, now, more and more mothers are in the armed forces, and this idea was the inspiration for my poem. Quite a balancing act, being a mother and a soldier, I would have thought. Her military mummy can do all the right voices Her military mummy can do all the right voices. The Stepmother. Guttural and bitter-black. The Ugly Sisters. As sneaky as the Reaper. ...

My eldest grandson is eight years old.  Having been read to from his earliest days, he has always loved books and over the past year has begun to read for himself.  He still likes to be read to, but realises he can devour many more books on his own than if he has to wait for someone else ’ s availability.  At family gatherings he can often be found stretched out on the floor, chin on hands,  a book in front of him.  He is in another world, oblivious to what is going on around. His six year old brother is reading beginner books and his two year old sister thinks she can read everything. As a lifetime bookaholic, it brings joy to my heart to watch my grandchildren reading.  I delight in introducing them to books I have loved over the years.  And I love reading the stories they are beginning to put together themselves.  I look back to my childhood attempts at telling stories and writing plays for my friends to act out and...

As this is the blog for the Association of Christian Writers we have produced a lot of books between us. As Christmas is coming several blogs will be dedicated to the books which members have written. This should help with the book buying this Christmas. There is something for everyone in here. To make it easier I have broken them down into categories. The photograph above is just a few of those I already have at home.  Children and YA   The Village by Eleanor Watkins -  An evocative book looking at the effects of the plague, as seen through the eyes of three children.  Buy from: Amazon  Losing Face by Annie Try - A teenager comes to terms with disfigurement through talking to her friend via email. A story of hope and overcoming tragedy.  Buy from:  Amazon Tales from the Jesse Tree  by Amy Robinson - 25 Bible stories for Advent. Includes downloadable videos. Buy from: Kevin ...