Friday already? How did THAT happen?!

This week has been intense. I've been writing. Properly writing in a way I haven't done for a very long time. I don't want to go on about it too much in case I jinx it. Let's just say it's going well so far.

Something nice happened this week: ENTANGLED was reviewed in Books for Keeps. BfK is pretty much the most important children's book magazine we've got over on this side of the pond so I was particularly chuffed that my little book got a mention. If you want to check out the full review, have a look here. Here's the last little bit though... the bit that's helped me get through this week's writing:


Grace is a psychologically convincing troubled teenager and her strange predicament is in itself the stuff of dreams. Cat Clarke handles her multi-layered story with skill and introduces a bold twist at the end but Reader, you must read it yourself... A most accomplished and daring debut novel.


How nice is that?! Thanks, Books for Keeps!

In other news... well, you'll just have to watch this space for other news. *adopts secret smile*

Here's Taylor Kitsch to wish you all a happy weekend...

Happy weekend, y'all? Don't I look mighty fine in eye-liner?!

Hello, Taylor Kitsch!

'What's that?' I hear you cry.
Why, that's an entirely gratuitous photo of Taylor Kitsch aka Tim Riggins in Friday Night Lights, of course.
'Why do you have an entirely gratuitous photo of Taylor Kitsch on your blog today?' I hear you cry. (Please stop crying. It's OK, don't fret. Taylor Kitsch is here to make everything OK.)
Why indeed? Because. I. Can. You can find another one here.

There's nothing much to report on the writing front I'm afraid, and there probably won't be for a couple of weeks. My excuse: I'm going to New York! New York City, baby! But when I come back, I will be On It. I'm sure all those books and trainers and jeans and tops I'll be buying will help me with my writing. In case you can't tell, I'm hugely excited about the NYC visit. It's my favourite place in the world.

Things I'm planning to do in NYC:

1. Shop
2. Eat
3. Drink (ice-cold Coors would be ideal)
4. Go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (best museum ever)
5. Er... shop a bit more

I think that just about covers it. I'm looking forward to checking out the YA sections of various bookstores. Oh, and I really want to pick up a copy of Going Bovine by Libba Bray.

I'll be posting again before I go. Next time, no gratuitous photos, I promise. Oh, and if anyone's got any suggestions for things I absolutely must do/see/eat in New York, please let me know!

Hey y'all

This is Tim Riggins here, linebacker of the mighty Dillon Panthers. Cat asked me to step up to the plate (aw crap... that's baseball, not football) to apologize sincerely to you good people for the lack of blogging action over the past few days. See, she's been real sick, unable to even think, let alone type out words for y'all to read. But don't you fret now, 'cos she'll be back before you know it. Trust me (even though I do wear double-denim, like, A LOT). 

OK, that's all for now. Bye y'all.

Remember: Texas forever!

Cough... splutter... urgh

I didn't plan on being ill this weekend - I had fireworks to watch, family to see and delicious food to be eaten. But all that went up in flames (much like the bonfire I missed out on last night I expect) when I got pretty poorly pretty quickly on Friday.

But it's OK, don't worry, the weekend hasn't been a total bust. I have managed to achieve some things (OK, achieved might be pushing it a little). I:

1. Got started on Friday Night Lights, season one. Tim Riggins, where have you been all my life? You sort of look like one of the main characters in my novel.

2. Got thinking about Christmas cooking and how to make brussels sprouts more palatable.

3. Read more of Tender Morsels, by Margo Lanagan. Beautiful and disturbing in equal measures. That lady can do amazing things with words.

4. Consumed more orange Lucozade than can possibly be good for a person.

5. Read lots of blogs. Children's/YA writers are ace. Fact.


Song of the day: Fortress, by Pinback