Busy busy busy!

Well, here beginneth a couple of rather busy weeks for yours truly. Lots of exciting things coming up though, starting with a Gifted and Talented day up at South Milford tomorrow. I've not been there for a couple of years, but it's one of my favourite schools. The staff there have always been really supportive of me, and I seem to remember the lunches are pretty decent too! I'll also be doing a poetry reading and book signing there. Good job really, as this weekend I received a delivery of 2030 of my poetry books. There is a large quantity of boxes in my attic at this point...

POETRY COMPETITION WINNERS!

After yesterday's poetry competition that I ran at the Wrenthorpe Methodist Church, here is the winning poem. I've also posted the poem that I chose for second place (I wasn't going to choose a second one, but it was such a close run thing that I felt it was only fair to). Thanks to Alice (my four year old) for her insightful comments on all the poems!

THE WINNING POEM...

Sweetys, sweetys as sweet as can be
Please buy a bag of sweetys for me.
A fruity one, a chocolatey one and marshallow too
It's a shame none of them are good for you!!!

By Aimee and Kacey


SECOND PLACE...

Bags are cool
Bags are great
Bags you can hold in any way

Girls bags
Man bags
Have an evening out bags

Purses and crossovers are lots of fun
Fashionable and girly
They make you glow in the sun

You need a bag every day
Every outfit
In every way.

By Alice (not my Alice, but the 9 year old Alice on the stall next to me yesterday!)


Well done to you girls, they were great poems! Keep writing, keep having fun.

Grumbling Grannies

After assembly today at a (hitherto unnamed) school, I made my way out to the playground, where a table had been set up for me to display my books for the parents. As I wandered over, I noticed 2 grannies sitting behind the table. Here's a transcript of our conversation...

Me: Oh, don't move ladies. I'll be fine on the end.
noticing one of my books in front of them...
Granny 1: We've been having a look at this.
Me: What did you think?
pause
Granny 1: I wasn't very impressed
Granny 2: No, she wasn't.
Granny 1: I like the flowers, and the wandering clouds.
Me: Oh dear. Well, everyone has their own opinion.
Granny 1: Yes, they do. They're all just so, so, so dumbed down. There's one - I shan't be able to find it now - but there's one...
Here it is. All about sick. Really.
Me: That's one that I'm really proud about. I really like the rhythm in it. Took me a long time to get that right.
Granny 1 as realisation dawns... Did you write this book?
Me Yes
Granny 1 Well, yes I can see that with the rhythm. But still...
Me thinking 'that's shocked you - finding out you're sitting next to the author after unwittingly slagging off his book!'

CONCLUSION: Five minutes later she came and bought a book, and said 'I told you he'd like it.'


What was she on? If I arrived at school with Wordsworth I don't think I'd get very far. I'm GLAD I write the sorts of poems children want to read. But it's a good job I haven't marketed my book to grannies - at least, not those two anyway.

Pyjama poetry

I can't tell you just how pleased (and at times - amazed) I am by how many books I am selling. I did a wonderful event tonight at Normanton All Saints Infants School - pyjama poetry - and sold about 40 books. I sold so many I ran out and had to promise delivery of some more over the next few days. It was brilliant, and the kids were so hyped up about coming to school in their pyjamas.

Not only that, but I'd already sold some in the playground after school at Horbury Bridge, earlier the same day! Every time I think 'that must be it - surely it won't keep going like this?' it just does! Thank you to everyone who bought one of my books today. I have loved writing in every single one.

The cover!

Poetry Pottiness!

Unbelievably, I have sold 400 books in the first two and half weeks of selling. Imagine that?!!! I never thought it would go so well. But it is doing, and I've still got 4 more schools to go before the holidays. But better even than that is the feedback. The kids genuinely seem to be enjoying what they are reading. And that is the highest praise for me. I have heard of children sitting in the playground, reading my book whilst all around them carries on as normal; children bringing their book to school the following day to read; children copying the drawings; children writing their own poems. It is absolutely brill! At Wombwell Park Street in Barnsley last week I did a poetry day with the children. Apparently the following day the Year 5 children illustrated the poem that we created together, and then had it judged by the head. I just love to hear things like that - I don't often get to see the finished article as I'm gone before it arrives. I guess I'm the facilitator, not the finisher! But it's wonderful for me to hear these stories. And the most incredible thing about it all is that I've done it myself. Well, that's not strictly true - without David my printer and designer; Lilian my illustrator, and Clare, my wife, I'd not be where I am now. But it's come about because of me. So well done me!!!

How it feels

So, how does it feel having my own book in my hand and selling it to others?

In all honesty, it feels better than I could ever have imagined. I can't tell you how wonderful it has been seeing people walking away with my book, reading the poems and coming to tell me which ones they liked. I never imagined I'd actually be at this point, and yet here I am, feeling confident, proud and excited.

So far, particular favourites seem to be 'Sick Sid', 'Hand in the Sand' and, 'Animals with Attitude' (thanks Phil - I like that one too.). I've had a mum of three suggest that our hilarity at 'Sick' is due to the change in perspective one gets of said vomit after raising three little ones! And, so far the best comment by miles, is from Rosie, my niece. When I asked her which poem she liked best, she said, without a hint of irony or sarcasm, 'About the Author' - the bio bit at the end of the book.

Classic!