It's Nearly Christmas

... and my house is always stuffed full of books so I thought I'd give a few away.  I've just today finished reading Sally Gardner's fantastic new novel, 'The Door that Led to Where' and I thought I should pass it on so somebody else can enjoy it.  It's out in January 2015 and it's a very beautiful hardback containing a story you just can't leave alone until you've got to the end.  I'll also throw in a couple of John Greens, a Malorie Blackman and a couple of Hayley Longs.  Those last two I can get signed for you - or for someone else.  To be in with a chance of getting all these posted to you all you have to do is follow these three simple steps:

1.  Go to www.hayleylong.org
2.   Find my email address on the contact page.
3.  Send me an email with the subject heading 'Books' and tell me that you'd like them.

Do it by 12 midnight Thursday 18 December and I'll send out a parcel to the randomly picked winner on Friday 19 December*.  If it doesn't reach you by Christmas, it'll still be a nice little bonus box of books to welcome in 2015.


Happy Christmas!

*UK addresses only.

There Can Be Only One!

Yes.  Just as the rubbish 1986 film Highlander once taught me, ‘There Can Be Only One.’ 

Winner of the Costa Children’s Book 2012 that is. 

And it wasn’t me or Dave Shelton or Diane Hendry.  It was the brilliant Sally Gardner for her unique dystopian novel, ‘Maggot Moon.’   Very big congratulations to her.

I won’t say I wasn’t disappointed.  Because I’d be lying.  In fact, for a little while I totally understood how Joey Tribbiani felt when he didn’t win best actor award for his role as Doctor Drake Ramoray in the stunning hospital drama Days Of Our Lives.

Click here to watch!

But that didn’t last long.  And you know what?  I’m just so chuffed to have got on that shortlist in the first place.  It feels like an achievement bigger than my degree and my driving test and my A Levels and my basic food hygiene certificate and my BAGA gymnastics award Level 4 all rolled into one.  And it’s been good for me.  Because it’s made me begin to believe that I can be up there with the best.  And now I’m reworking the manuscript for my next book like my fingers are on fire.       

I once heard someone on the telly saying that success isn’t supposed to be easy and it’s all about the struggle.  It was the singer from the 90s band, The Bluetones.  He was talking about how a teacher at his school told him that a caterpillar needs to struggle out of its cocoon in order to change into a butterfly.  Without that struggle, the newly emerged butterfly would never fly.  It was the most memorable episode of The Chart Show I ever saw.  

Anyway, I suppose what I’m saying is this:  Writing books isn’t easy.  Neither is winning awards.  I’m amazed at how far I’ve managed to get in this game and I intend to keep trying and trying and trying to get further and further and further.  Because it’s what I love to do.  And I bloody well want to be shortlisted for a big book award again. J

Winner of the box of stuff described in the last blog is Melissa Marshall of Peterborough.  Hooray!

Happy New Year to her and Happy New Year to you all!