Big Issue, Ladies

Something Mark Haddon, author of The Curious Incident of the...you know, that one, said in the paper the other day struck a chord with me. Like my late friend Siobhan Dowd, he'd written a book with a central character who has Asperger's Syndrome – which, to quote Siobhan delightful term, is "like having a brain that works on a different operating system from other people's". Haddon said he wished he hadn't allowed his publishers to put the word "Asperger's" on the cover, because it then became an 'issue book', and he found himself constantly protesting "it's not really about Asperger's, it's about difference. It's about acceptance of others. It's about that sidelong, Martian view of the world." (Would it have made any difference to people's perception of Curious Incident if the word 'Asperger's' hadn't been put on the cover? Personally, I doubt it. I think maybe Haddon should trust his readers a bit more to 'get it.')

Now, the last thing in the world I want to write is "issue" books. Perish the thought! The very term conjures up the image of an angry, frustrated teacher with greasy hair haranguing their class to "PAY ATTENTION NOW,  while I tell you something IMPORTANT, OK?". Argh; heaven save us from Worthy Folk Imparting Knowledge! I just want to tell a cracking good story.

HOWEVER I also think this: you're damned if you do, and you're damned if you don't. Not highlighting 'issues' has problems of its own.

I was recently at a publishing party and I mentioned to a well-known (male) author who shall remain nameless that I tackle some pretty big issues in my books, and he quipped, 'what? Like choosing which dress to wear?' Something tells me this author hasn't actually read any of my books; he's making assumptions based on the undeniable girliness of the covers.

So here, just for fun, I've mocked up some alternative covers for some of my titles – just in case you were wondering if my books really were about anything else besides choosing a frock:

OK! That's that cleared up, then! Any questions, see me at the end of class.

Incidentally, speaking of Siobhan Dowd: as it's Easter and you might be wondering what to do, I may as well remind you that the stage play of her book-that-features-someone-with-Asperger's-but-isn't-'about'-Asperger's, The London Eye Mystery, brilliantly adapted for the stage by Carl Miller, is on in London NOW – but be quick! It closes on April 18th.You can read Culture Witch's piece about it here, and Bookwitch's piece, which I'm linking in spite of the fact that it includes an extremely unflattering picture of me, here. Below is a picture I took at the (belated) launch party, of Siobhan's sister Oona (mother of the nephew who inspired the book!) with actors John Cockerill (Ted) and Samantha Adams (Aunt Gloria):

Oh, and another "incidentally": for reasons I can't divulge without giving the plot away, Toonhead is the perfect read for Easter. We're in for a cold, wet one, so curl up in front of the fire with a nice Fair Trade chocolate egg (see what I did there? Issues!) and read this.

And finally...

Jinx update! If you're a fan of the program, do join the Jinx Facebook fan page! We're hoping there might be a second series.

Happy New Year!

And what an exciting year it's going to be. So many of my friends have wonderful things happening, I decided I'd have to blog about them!

I'll start with my two FIRST-TIME AUTHORS!! Candy Gourlay and Keren David.

Candy you will know about by now; very possibly you have been following her excellent blog for longer than you have mine. Given that the blog's title is Notes From The Slush-Pile, she may need to change it; the slush-pile, in case you didn't know, is the heap of unsolicited and not-yet-read manuscripts that grows on publishers' and agents' desks. And Candy's work will no longer be sitting in any slush-pile; her first book, Tall Story (David Fickling Books) is to be published in June (NB: this is not the actual cover: it is a temporary design by Candy herself).

I've read it, and it is an absolutely captivating and original tale, both funny and touching. The story is alternately narrated by Andi, in London, and her giant (yes, really!) brother Bernardo, in the Philippines (where Candy herself originates from), but on his way to join her in London. You're going to love it.

Keren David is another brilliant writer (as well as star blogger: puts me to shame!) and her book When I Was Joe, (Frances Lincoln) out now(ish: you may have to order it) is already creating a buzz among readers. It's about a 14-year-old boy who has to go into police protection after he witnesses a stabbing. He assumes a new identity...but all does not go smoothly, and he is in danger. It's a hard-hitting novel that I wouldn't advise for anyone under 12 – this couldn't be more far removed from my own stories! – but if you've outgrown my stuff anyway, then read this.

Next up, two more fabulously talented writers who have feature film adaptations of their books coming out this year: Cressida Cowell and Sally Nicholls.

Cressida's series of Dragon books have been making readers laugh out loud for a long time, and now her work is transferred to the screen in How To Train Your Dragon, which opens in March. Here's a still from it, which I think is lovely; look at that CUTE dragon!

To be honest, I am slightly blinded by the shimmer coming off Cressida right now, and not just because every time I see her, she out-blings me (see evidence of out-blinging below); I mean, this film is BIG HOLLYWOOD stuff. It's Dreamworks, for heaven's sake! Yes, THAT Dreamworks, the Steven Spielberg one, that brought you Shrek! Ha! Like she need publicity from me. I'm just trying to bathe in the reflected glory.

Sally Nicholls is going to have an amazing year; not only is she getting married, but her first novel Ways to Live Forever is being made into a film. If you don't know the book, and I tell you it's about a boy who's dying of leukemia, you might think 'argh! Depressing!' But you'd be very, very wrong; Sam is a funny and engaging character. Yes, of course there's sadness too, but in that really good tear-jerky way, not a weighing-you-down-with-grief way.

I think the film's going to be good as well: it's crammed with really good actors like Emilia Fox and Ben Chaplin and director Gustavo Ron has stayed faithful to the book and set it in Newcastle. Get your hankies ready. No release date as yet, but will definitely be this year; will keep you posted!

One of the friends I want to mention here is sadly no longer around. My lovely friend Siobhan Dowd died of cancer in 2007, so has missed seeing her novel The London Eye Mystery being made into a stage play, at the Unicorn Theatre, London (6th March - 18th April).

She would be thrilled. I'm looking forward to seeing it; absolutely loved the book, and am intrigued to see how the London Eye itself will be realised on the stage.

Finally, but no less excitingly, I have news of forthcoming books by my friends Jo Cotterill and Lee Weatherly. I have lots of friends with new books coming out, but these two stand out because they are new directions for both.

Despite the demands of a full-time job (until very recently) and a small child (still!), Jo Cotterill (nee Kenrick) is already racing ahead with her new romance series for 10-13s, Sweet Hearts (Random House). The first story, Star Crossed, comes out in June. I'm particularly curious about this one, because as with my own Cupid Cakes (Lulu Baker), it has a plot centred on a Shakespearean school play – in this case, appropriately, Romeo & Juliet. Jo used to be an actress, so she has a wealth of experience to bring to this theme! Other stories in the series of six will feature different characters and themes.

Writing under the name of LA Weatherly, Lee (who has also published under the names of Titania Woods and Kitty Wells) has new trilogy coming out, starting with Angel (Usborne) in October; it is set to do for angels what Twilight did for vampires. Need I say more?! Lee is a superb writer (um...dare I say it? Yes I will: better than Stephanie Meyer) and I'm excited to see what she does with this theme. Again, it's aimed at a slightly older age group than my own books. I don't have a cover to show you, so here instead is a rather silly picture of me with Lee (and that's Candy Gourlay on the left):

Books, films, a play...what a lot to look forward to! Happy new year.

IDEAS!!
Revealed at last!
Where I get my ideas from.

PLUS: Your ideas!



I've made a movie! Of course, it's not the first. I was in a film called The Music Machine (1979. "So bad it's good!"*) but seeing as that came and went faster than a recent glimmer of economic hope, and as I'm one of about 200 dancers and on screen for all of about five seconds, you could be forgiven for having missed that one. [If your mum happens to be Patti Boulaye and you have a copy, I'm the one in the moss-green pencil skirt suit from Bus Stop, and some highly impractical heels.]

The great thing about the world of YouTube is that you get to make your own movie, and be the STAR!! Nobody out-shines me in this film, because...well, because there's nobody else in it. Though the editor, Candy Gourlay, is the hidden star and it would have been rubbish without her wit and technical wizardry. *Little bit of trivia*: the music is by a band called Bon Bon Kaotikai, featuring, on the accordion, Geoff Morgan, the widower of the lovely late author Siobhan Dowd. Here are the Bon Bons playing in their swimming costumes, like you do:

Anyway, do take a look at my vid. And I'd love it if you posted a comment too!

*Wrong. So bad it's bad, actually.

You Clever Lot

Well done to all of you who won copies of Tiger-Lily Gold! I hope you enjoy the final romp home, and all the surprises along the way...well, I certainly hope they are surprises. Some of you also submitted your ideas about what might happen in this book. Thank you; I enjoyed reading them and can reveal this much: you're all wrong, ha ha! But you are also very clever in that you've really thought about all aspects of the plot so far, and have some interesting angles on the possibilities:

"Rorie and Elsie escape again and they steal more worn clothes and more types of transportation, this time they take Nolita with them and they continue on their quest to find their parents. On the way they get caught stealing something and it goes to the police, Nolita has to go to court, but with a helping hand Rorie and Elsie manage to smuggle her out. Once they have tiptoed past the rexco guards, they find their parents, but it isn't that easy to do. After a day of planning they manage to break in and reunite with their parents!"

Jessica Lavery, Chorley Lancashire

"I'm going to work with what i know as i've only read the first book (Excellent book by the way). I think maybe the silk sisters might go on the hunt for another relative or discover something else Rorie can do with her abilities. Maybe Rorie might have a problem keeping her secret or they might find another lead which will take them closer to the mystery of their parents...The list is endless really!"

Hannah Abban, Hackney, London

"I think that Nolita Newbuck played a part in their parents disappearance because I have always thought that she seemed a bit suspicious and thinking about it now, I think that she heard about them inventing really cool clothes, therefore seeing it as a threat to her that they might become bigger and better than her and become the new King and Queen of fashion instead of her!!"

Charlotte Mullarkey, Exeter, Devon

"I think that Rorie & Elsie will look every-where for their parents and uncover some awful secrets about Uncle Harris, Rexco, the machine that robs people of their identities, Minimerica and maybe more about Nolita Newbuck! And when they can’t find their parents, inspector Dixon will say in the news that they have miraculously appeared in their own home and when Rorie & Elsie see them again and they’ll say, “We’ve been here all the time!”And they will both wake up from their wonderful dream, and realise that they are once more in the back of a car, but their parents rescue them with their new invention."

Madeline Helyar, Wagga Wagga, Australia* *Madeline qualified as she is visiting relatives in London, where her copy has been sent. But I love the fact that it will end up in Wagga Wagga.