How to Write Children's Fiction: Masterclass for How to Academy

 

I'm back teaching at the How To: Academy this year, with a three part Masterclass in Children's Writing. You can sign up here.

How to Cook Game in the Ancient World

 As Christmas approaches, our thoughts naturally turn to the dinner table. I've written a piece on how the Romans cooked for the Christmas issue of Shooting Times - get the festive issue in print.

Nicholson Baker's The Mezzanine

Nicholson Baker's debut novel, published in the late 1980s, has been reissued by Granta in a handy pocket-sized paperback. It's about an office worker who buys a new pair of laces - and that really is all the plot. I've reviewed it for the Times Literary Supplement.

Literary Review Christmas Children's Books Round Up

I've been reviewing children's books for Literary Review for about 15 years now... and it never fails to please me how many powerful and wonderful books there are. I wish I had space to cover more. This year, I've reviewed:

 

The Monsters of Rookhaven by Padraig Kenny

The Midnight Guardians by Ross Montgomery

Voyage of the Sparrowhawk by Natasha Farrant

I, Ada by Julia Gray

The Midnight Swan by Catherine Fisher

The Haunting of Aveline Jones by Phil Hickes

The Great Godden by Meg Rosoff 

You can read the review here, but do get the December/January issue - a bumper double one. 

One other small item of news: I received the CD audioboook of How to Teach Classics to Your Dog. I always enjoy the physical versions, rather than the digital ones - somehow it makes a more satisfying experience to load the CDs into the machine. My lurcher, obviously, is already listening...

Write Your Own Myths

 I'm absolutely thrilled with this beautiful cover by Anette Pirso, who has also illustrated WRITE YOUR OWN MYTHS throughout, making the book a rich and beautiful experience. It's a non-fiction title for 12+ - a guide to creating your own myths with creative writing prompts.

Signed Copies

 If you'd like a signed copy of any of my books in print, please do get in touch (see CONTACT)
and I can arrange to have them sent to you via a local bookshop.

The Arrow of Apollo - myth based adventure for 10+

The Double Axe - retelling of the Minotaur myth for 10+

How to Teach Classics to Your Dog - light-hearted introduction to the Classics for adults.

Reviews: How to Teach Classics to Your Dog in Wunderdog; The Arrow of Apollo in Argo.

 Today we give thanks for the existence of specialist magazines. The brilliant Wunderdog has reviewed How to Teach Classics to Your Dog; and Argo, the magazine of the Hellenic Society, has reviewed The Arrow of Apollo.

Leonie Breeds in Argo was very perceptive about The Arrow, and finishes her kind review: "As you read, you find yourself immersed in a fastmoving but well-structured plot. This is a book to be enjoyed."