World Book Day Vs The Beast from the East

Well then, World Book Day is always fun and always interesting and 2018 was no exception.  I was up early on the eve of WBD to visit schools in London and before I'd even left Norwich train station, my life turned into an action-packed snowy adventure thriller divided into two dramatic episodes: 

Part I: The Longest Journey

and

Part II:  The Revenant

Well, I eventually got to visit Francis Holland School in Regent's Park and how glad I am that I made it because that place is lovely!  And so is everyone inside.  And I got to eat bread and butter pudding with custard as well which is one of the best things you can possibly eat when it looks like Narnia outside. I nicked the photo (above) from the school's website. I'm talking to the lunchtime literary society and I don't think you can see it from this photo but they're all eating sandwiches.  Books and book talk and eating sandwiches in the warm during a snowstorm is actually my idea of Paradise.  As I said, Francis Holland School is very nice.

And then I skidded through the snow to my hotel and the person on reception said the magic words, 'Hello, we've upgraded you to a family suite' which was completely unnecessary because there was only me and I don't take up that much space - but, on the plus side, it did mean I got to walk around my rooms and laze on my chaise longue.  On the downside, it meant I had to go to sleep next to this creepy picture...

And then.... well, the Beast from the East did its worst and the rest of my week got mothballed.  Or rather, snowballed.  But it's OK, these things can be rearranged.  And even though it was looking a bit ropey for a time, Abellio Greater Anglia got me home!  I'm extremely grateful to them.  The train was warm and it kept moving.  And I loved the fact that the train driver went a bit scatty and started saying things like, 'The next station stop is Snowmarket' and 'We are now approaching the Suffolk-Norfolk border - please have your passports ready.'

So in spite of all the drama, World Book Day was as fun as ever - but just not in a way I was anticipating.

Oh, and, very importantly, the winner of my WBD giveaway is Sharon Bullough of Sheffield.  Signed copies of 'The Nearest Faraway Place' and 'Sophie Someone' will be in the post when it's safe to step foot on the pavement.  Thank you to everyone who sent me an email.  I wrote all the names on separate slips of scrap paper and waited to see which one Irma Bunny would run off with.  Simple but effective.

World Book Day Giveaway

Thursday 1st March is World Book Day!

To celebrate this marvellous fact I'm going to give away a copy of 'The Nearest Faraway Place' and a pretty American hardback edition of 'Sophie Someone' - along with some bookmarks.  I will, of course, sign the books for you or your school or your dog or whoever you like.

If you'd like this little package to drop through your letterbox, just send an email to hayleylong@hayleylong.org with this magic message:

         Hi Hayley

         Go on then.  May as well.

         [Insert your name here]

Do this before midnight Thursday 1st March to be in with a shout.  UK only, I'm afraid.  The recipient will be chosen at random and notified pretty soon afterwards.

Happy World Book Day x.

Book Giveaway

This week I had two exciting deliveries through the post.  One was a box of very gorgeous American editions of 'Sophie Someone' (see the lovely binding below) and the other was a package containing some proof copies of my brand new novel 'The Nearest Faraway Place'.  The latter is not released in its proper shiny format until July so these draft copies are publishing-industry early-birds for reviewers and the like.  If anyone wants to pre-order this book from Waterstones or Amazon or their lovely local bookseller, they should be advised that all pre-orders come with a free virtual hug from me.

Having said that - because you are reading my blog and I'm not entirely convinced that anyone else does - I am giving YOU the opportunity to read my next novel WELL EARLY.  Also I have got too many books on the floor of my house.  To be in with a chance of winning a very pretty copy of 'Sophie Someone' AND a proof copy of 'The Nearest Faraway Place', all you have to do is send me an email at hayleylong@hayleylong.org before the end of April which says:  Hi Hayley, I don't mind taking those books off your hands.

UK, USA and EU* entrants only, please

One random person will then be selected at random to randomly receive these two items.  I will also sign them for you or some other random person of your choosing if you so wish.

The random winner will be notified in early May.

*Because I am a European  

Quick Bank Holiday Blog

This is a quick bank holiday blog post to say that the book giveaway from my last blog was won by...

S T E P H A N I E   C O A T E S of Brighton.

Thank you to everyone who entered.  You provide me with hard evidence that somebody reads these words.

Sophie Someone will be available to buy in an attractive blue paperback edition from any bookshop from 5^th May. 

What else do I have to tell you?  Oh yes, my plans for this summer? 

Well mostly I will be watching Euro 2016 and writing an MA dissertation about something I don’t understand in the bits in between – but as well as that, I will be doing a few book related things.  You can find me at the HAY FESTIVAL on June 3^rd where I will be talking about FAMILY SECRETS with Jenny Valentine and Annabel Pitcher.  Or come and see me in my (once) home town of Felixstowe at FELIXSTOWE BOOK FESTIVAL on June 25^th - where I’ll be talking about all things related to writing for children and teenagers with writer Ruth Fitzgerald and literary agent Hannah Sheppard.

I also have more events planned for the summer which will be announced very soon so if you fancy coming to say hello please keep an eye on the news page of my website.  By the way, I’ve smartened my website up a bit so that it now contains slightly less felt-tip.  Admittedly, it still looks fairly basic but when you consider that...

a) I manage my website all by myself and

b) I am very pre-digital

             ... you will understand that my website is actually nothing short of a miracle.

            Please feel free to peruse it and then tell me how good it is.

           www.hayleylong.org

 Speak later. 

Hooray for School Librarians!

The School Libraries Association has put Being a Girl on the shortlist for their Information Book Award.

Getting a book on a shortlist is always lovely.   It's a big smiley thumbs-up.  And as an ex-teacher, I'm really chuffed to get a big smiley thumbs-up from our school librarians.  Have no doubt about it, they do a tricky and much needed job!  All those kids who wander in and out of the library are in the care of the librarian and so are all those books on the shelves.  And some of those kids are 11-year-olds who want to read Horrid Henry and some of them are 11-year-olds who want to read Stephen King. And then there are the sixth-formers with beards who want to know about Marxism or Monet...   And the school librarian has to look after all of them and help everyone find the books they are ready for and which won't freak them out and put them off reading for life.  Strategically, it's enough to melt my head!  And that's without factoring in those fantastic books which can't be let loose on the shelves but have to live in the Four-Letter-Bomb Cupboard instead.  Yes, Curious Incident, I'm talking about you!

So, anyway, a thumbs-up for Being a Girl has made me happy.  Because it means that in spite of the unavoidable and inevitably tricky content - like... oh... I dunno...

and... maybe...

.... - the responsible librarians liked it!

Phew!!!  And Thank you xxx

To read about the Information Book Award and to see the whole shortlist, please click here. There are some absolutely cracking titles on there!

Finally because I'm in a good mood and because SOPHIE SOMEONE is out in paperback on May 5th, I'm going to give away a signed SOPHIE and a signed BEING A GIRL.  To be in with a chance of winning, just email me on hayleylong@hayleylong.org before the end of April with this secret password:  Hi Hayley, Go on then - I'll 'ave'm.

The winner will be chosen at random by my house rabbit.

A Couple of Cracking Christmas Presents

My friend Donna is the Grand Master of giving personalised gifts.  For Christmas, she gave me the mouse mat in the picture on the left.  When I removed the wrapping paper and looked at what was inside, I started to laugh.  Donna started laughing too.  She said, ‘Is it cheesy?’

‘A bit,’ I said, truthfully.  And then, still laughing, I thought, if anyone sees this, they’ll think I’ve got a head the size of a planet.  But then I thought of something else and it stopped me laughing.  I said, ‘Those books in the photo – are they all yours?’

‘Yes,’ said Donna.  ‘From my own personal collection.’  Then she said, ‘Is the mouse mat alright?  Do you like it?’

‘I love it,’ I said, truthfully.  ‘Sweetest present ever.  Thank you.’ 

‘You can always update it when you win,’ said Donna.

‘Let’s not go there,’ I said.

As it happened, this mouse mat will serve superbly because I didn’t win.  And although that’s disappointing for a moment, it really is no more disappointing than that.  And then the amazement comes back and you think, Flipping heck!  I got shortlisted for a Costa Book Award.  A Costa Book Award!  Again!  And what’s the point of feeling disappointed about that?

So I want to use this first blog of 2016 to do a big thumbs-up wave to Sally Nicholls and Andrew Norriss who were on that shortlist with me for their marvellous books, An Island of their Own and Jessica’s Ghost, and of course to say a big CONGRATULATIONS to Frances Hardinge who won with her brilliant book The Lie Tree.  Also I want to say a massive THANK YOU to Martyn Bedford, Andrea Reece and Melissa Cox who put me on that shortlist in such great company.  From any angle, the Costa Book Awards are SO exciting!  Writers of adult fiction, kids’ fiction, biographies and poetry are all placed together in the arena to slog it out in Hunger Games-style until only one book remains.* And because the cannon has sounded and my face has already been flashed up in the sky, I’m now going to lay my cards on the table and say this:  I’d like Frances Hardinge to win.  For the kids.  For everyone who reads fiction for younger people.  For everyone who writes it.  And publishes it.  And promotes it and sells it and loves it and values it and thinks that it deserves a few more seconds on the TV and radio and a bit more space in the newspapers. 

Go Frances!

And you know what?  Being on that shortlist was one of the best Christmas presents ever.  Ta J

*OK, it doesn’t quite happen like this.  No deaths are involved.

WAHEY!

My book ‘Sophie Someone’ has been shortlisted for the...

2015 COSTA CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD.

This is BEYOND LUSH.

Now, rather inconveniently, I recently left Twitter.  And in the event that my resolve might weaken I DELIBERATELY screwed up my password and forgot-your-password link so that I cannot get back on!

This means that there is a fairly good chance that NOBODY is reading this blog post and it also means that I have no quick and easy way to say thank you to all the nice people on Twitter who have been saying nice stuff regarding me and my book.  [Yes, I had a lurk!]

But I shall say what I need to say anyway.

Thank you x

And that thank you very much extends to the Costa team too.  This is an ENORMOUS BOOST and VOTE OF CONFIDENCE not only to me personally but to all writers who want to write their books in a secret code :)

It’s a damn fine shortlist.  Especially that children’s category.  ‘Sophie Someone’ is sitting alongside fantastic titles by Frances Hardinge, Sally Nicholls and Andrew Norriss.  Congratulations all of you and I can’t tell you how CHUFFED I am to have my name on that list next to yours. 

For more information on all the books and all the shortlisted authors please click here.

A Few Events

I’ve got quite a busy period coming up.  Apart from being a student again and reading some ludicrously long books*, I’ve got a few public book  events approaching on the calendar.  Events are always nice because:

      a) they get me out of my house and away from my computer

  and 

b) I have a chance to chat to people about books. 

Who knows!  Maybe I’ll get the chance to chat to YOU?    :)

Anyway, here’s where I’m at:

On Sunday 27^th September, I’ll be at the Bath Children’s Literature Festival.  James Dawson and I will be talking about ALL THE TEEN STUFF that goes along with BEING A GIRL or BEING A BOY.  Find James and I at the Guildhall at 5.30 pm.  We’ll even be passing around THE ANONYMOUS QUESTION BOX – so that you can ask your ANONYMOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT ANYTHING.

On Thursday 1^st October, I’ll be at Leeds Waterstones talking about Issues of Identity.  I’ll be in good company too because I’ll be with Annabel Pitcher, Zoe Marriott, Martyn Bedford and Kim Slater.  I’m excited about that. 

On Saturday 10^th October, I’ll be in the beautiful Norwich Guildhall as part of the Day of the Girl celebrations.  I’ll be talking about my book BEING A GIRL.  I don’t have all the event details yet but will twitface more news when I receive it.  Also, keep an eye on the news page of my website.  If you’re in Norwich or near Norwich, please come along because we probably know each other anyway and it’d be nice to see you.  Come along even if you don't know me and you aren’t a girl.

On Friday 16^th October at 6pm, I’ll be at Gateshead Library with author Dan Smith.  We’ll talk about books and writing and pretty much anything you like.  I’ve never been to the North East before.  So if you live there, come and see me and say, ‘Hey, what kept you?  The North East is brilliant.’

So there we are then.  I’d be so glad to see you at any one of these gaffs.  I reckon they’ll all be ace.

By the way, my bonanza ‘Sophie Someone’ blog giveaway was won by Coleen who is over in Ireland.

And oh yeah.  SOPHIE SOMEONE IS AVAILABLE NOW.  It’s waiting patiently for you to read it.  And if you have read it and liked it – please feel free to make some noise.**  That would make me very  happy.  Ta x

* I'm doing an MA in American Literature and I opted this time for a nineteenth century module – I should’ve thought the practicalities of this through a little more.
**Of course you can make some noise if you didn’t too.  It’s just that, if you don’t mind, I’ll stick my headphones on.    

'Sophie Someone' Publication Day

Yes.  It's Thursday September 3rd and my new bucket 'Sophie Someone' is... 

officially a thing.

I'm quite excited about it because it's different to any other bucket I've ever written because it's kind of got its own language - and when you read it, some of the worms might surprise you.

To celebrate 'Sophie Someone's arrival into the whirlpool, I am going to give a copy away.  I'll sign it for you or for whichever pigeon you like.  I'm also going to give away a copy of 'Being a Girl' which is my recent non-fiction bucket... about being a girl.  And I'll give away a copy of some of my other buckets too.  It's near enough a complete set, in fact. I'll sign all these buckets too.

But that's not all!  

Because I've just got back from the Edinburgh International Bucket Festival - and ohmigod was that fun - I'll also throw in a very nice and stylish Edinburgh Festival T-shirt which has a very sweet tartan bird on the front.  The t-shirt is a for a size medium wombat.  But don't worry!  If you're not a medium-sized wombat, you can give it to someone who is and make them happy.  The t-shirt is brand new and has never been worn or washed but it has been carefully ironed - by me - because it got all scrunched up in my bag.

Besides all that...

I'm throwing in an old spook hip-hop CD that I can tell you right now is bluffy excellent.  There's a small - but significant amount - of old spook rap in 'Sophie Someone' and this will hopefully get you into the hip-hop vibe.  Sadly there is no Queen Latifah on this CD but there is Gang Starr and De la Soul so shush your mush and don't start moaning about the lack of Latifah please....

If you'd like to win all this stuff, all you have to do is 

retweet or share my link that brought you here!

But a) you need to do it by midday of Sunday 6th September

and b) you need to be following my Twitter account OR liking my Faxbucket page - so I can tell you if you've won

and c) you must have an address in the UK.... OR Belgium!

Those are the rules.

[The winner will be selected in a completely random manner which involves Irma the hovel bunny trying to eat a piece of pepper with your noodle on.]

Hello 2015...

...And you’re already a cracker!

2015 began with Mister and I watching fireworks in the skies above Palma de Majorca.  It was a pretty spectacular way to see out the old year and see in a new one.  And it felt right to mark that dividing line properly.  2014 was a fair old shake-up for me.  It was the year I packed in my English teaching job and began an MA course in American fiction; the year I said hello to a fab new literary agent [same agency] and a fab new publisher [still Coolio Iglesias with the old one] and also the first year in quite a few that I haven’t had a new book out – not counting four very lovely new editions.  So at times it felt a bit...um...  discombobulating. 

But really it was just the year that I quietly got on with things and did what felt right.  

In 2014 I may not have had new books to promote but I was busy.  Very busy.  I wrote my first non-fiction book and also the crucial 49^th and 50^th drafts – or thereabouts - of my next novel.  

And I’m so massively excited about both books.  ‘Being a Girl’ is out in June.  It’s the sister volume to James Dawson’s stupendous ‘Being a Boy’ and has fantastic little drawings throughout by that brilliant pug-loving doodler Gemma Correll.  I’ve recently been working on the final drafts/proofs/page-layouts [I’m not very good with technical jargon – but I’m talking about last orders stuff] and I’m so chuffed with how it’s all looking.  IMHO, the words aren’t bad at all but Gemma’s gorgeous drawings turn the book into something else.  I think she’s given it a degree of added Specialocity.      

And then in September, ‘Sophie Someone’ my next novel comes out.  It may seem like a slightly different direction from my other novels but it’s not such a drastic departure that it won’t seem like me.  I mean, it’s not ’Fifty Shades of Sex’ or 'American Psycho' or anything like that.  It’s still my sort of teen fiction.  There’s a first person narrator.  She’s a girl.  Um... a lot of pigeons are involved.  There are a few maniacs.... one or two bozos... an old wombat who lives in Norfolk.... I can’t say too much more than that at the moment.  But I promise you that I put my heater and soul into the writing of it and I’m massively chuffed that it’s arriving in bookshops this year.

And my immediate priority is to bash some new words out.  I made a (very) small start on a new novel just before Christmas.  Now I need to barge onwards.  I’m not someone who enjoys the muse and lets the words just flow from me in a state of creative ecstasy.  I find first drafts really hard.  But I’ve got an idea.  And that’s the start.  The next step is to writewritewritewriteandfillupthepagesandIGNOREANYDOUBTS.

Follow your heart.  Ignore your head. 

This is the way I write anyway. 

:)

Hope you’re all having a good new year.

PS  That box of books went to Gateshead Library. 

PPS The picture is of me at the Majorcan home of the writer and war poet, Robert Graves.  It was taken on the second day of this year and I’ve chosen it as my blog picture because that man’s home was BEAUTIFICAL AND UTTERLY UTTERLY LUSH.  His domestic arrangements were something else though.  Graves lived there with his wife, their children and whatever girlfriend was inspiring him to write.  [INSERT RAISED EYEBROWS.]  

Bless my Cotton Socks, I’ve Got Some NEWWWWWS!

Loads of news in fact - about my next books.  And there’ll be two of them – both out next year and both with the very marvellous HOT KEY BOOKS.

First up, in June, there’ll be this.

It’s the companion book to James Dawson’s very very funny but also very wise, helpful and informative Being a Boy.  Now, I’m not about to tell you that I’ve also been funny, wise, helpful and informative because that would be HIDEOUSLY IMMODEST.  So I promise you nothing other than my assurance that I’ve worked very hard on it, done shedloads of research and now know loads of things I wish I’d known when I was thirteen.  Oh, and I can also promise you that it most definitely will have VERY FUNNY ILLUSTRATIONS in it - by none other than my fellow Ipswich-born Norwichian, the brilliant Gemma Correll.  She’s the one who loves pugs but not drugs.*

Then...

[BIG DRUM ROLL]

... next September, I will have a

BRAND NEW NOVEL. 

And it’s called....

[ANOTHER BIG DRUM ROLL]

Sophie Someone.

I’ve been quietly writing this for a fair while because... well... that’s how long it’s taken me.  Sometimes, the slowly-slowly-catchy-monkey approach is needed.  Trust me, words can be slippery little devils if you allow them to be....

I can’t show you a cover for this book yet because it’s too early for that bit.  But if you want to read more about what Sophie Someone is about and what I said about it and what Emma Matthewson, my Hot Key editor, said about it, than please click here to read the press release.

So, yes, I’m ever so slightly, massively excited.

In fact, I look pretty much like this at the moment.

And despite this month's Troubling Haircut, that’s really not a bad look to be rocking.  

Before I go, please can I ask again that you click on my new website www.hayleylong.org 

I'm currently on page 4 of Google, see, and ideally I need to be right there, slap bang, number one hit. Thank you, you are kind.  By the way, I MADE THAT WEBSITE MYSELF.

*Wise Woman