I quite like writing. I may not be all that good at it, but I always hope for the best. Someone who should know better, suggested I start blogging. Particularly about my favourite subjects, authors and their books. And anything else vaguely related. Writing in my second language can cause interesting problems, but never mind. I try. Apart from children’s fiction I like crime, but only in books.
Here is a link to my profile on Normblog which may or may not provide clues to who I am.
PS From September 2008 I have another blog, which is not about books.
44 responses so far ↓
adele geras // February 23, 2007 at 15:14 |
Big welcome to the Blogosphere ,Bookwitch! You neglect to say that you are an EXCELLENT READER….not very many people are!
Meg Rosoff // March 1, 2007 at 12:13 |
Well I’m glad the Bookwitch has finally got her act together and started up this terrific blog. Never met such a fanatical children’s book reader, and all I ask is for lots of gossip and scurrilous rumour to come. As I don’t get a chance to read 1/10th of the books coming out at the moment, I look forward to hearing what the witch has to say. She’s also pychic, and always knows who’s going to win book prizes, and is only occasionally wrong!
Ian // March 6, 2007 at 20:38 |
Crime only in books? I think not. I’ve seen the Bookwitch many a time steal a cup of tea because as she was on the verge of paying, she spotted an author, and simply disappeared…
Lee // May 7, 2007 at 20:31 |
There’s obviously a secret initiation rite here, but I’m going to assume that even strangers and aliens and ghostwriters are also welcome.
bookwitch // May 7, 2007 at 21:06 |
Yes, Lee, you’re welcome. Nothing secret here, just nice people who make comments. The stranger the better. I seem to recognise your name from somewhere. Looked you up and will try to read a bit of that book of yours, except I hate reading a lot on screen.
Lee // May 8, 2007 at 5:33 |
Hi Bookwitch, thanks for the welcome. I only meant that everyone seems to know everyone else, but nothing nasty implied! I came over from Dina’s blog.
If you want to give my book a try, you can always download the PDF file and then print out a small bit.
grannyp // May 29, 2007 at 9:46 |
I also came over from Dina’s. Will keep an eye.
Ann // June 21, 2007 at 8:18 |
Hi Bookwitch,
Thanks for coming over to the site. I’ve added you to my daily list and will visit regularly as it’s always good to find another children’s lit. fanatic.
bookwitch // June 21, 2007 at 9:52 |
Welcome Ann. I got confused and thought you were me for a moment. With a bit of luck none of us will ever have time to read anything but blogs…
Annika // June 21, 2007 at 15:02 |
Kollar din blogg då och då. Bara så du vet.Bra jobbat!
enid richemont // November 8, 2007 at 12:04 |
Hi Bookwitch,
I found your site through Scattered Authors (or the alternative SAS). You ARE a writer – you write beautifully.
Try my website sometime. There’ll soon be three more books to be added (for fairly young readers), but please check out my older stuff, mostly with Walker… much of it now out of print but still obtainable.
Enid X
Sadie Jones // November 8, 2007 at 18:34 |
Bookwitch is great! Keep it up
Its me! // January 14, 2008 at 19:59 |
At long last I’ve accessed your blog!!! Very interesting, I like the idea of all these blogs, looks like a good way to communicate and keep in touch!! Hope you’ve had a good Christmas and a happy new year!!!
Cant wait to read more.
Col // February 5, 2008 at 8:56 |
Just found your blog through Bridge to the Stars, and added it to my Favourites at once.
Alistair Spalding // February 8, 2008 at 13:50 |
Hi Bookwitch,
You can see our logo on your home page banner image!
You seem to be very well connected in Children’s book publishing already, but I was wondering if you’d like one more connection?
I’d be pleasedto send you some of our advance reader copies to review.
There is a new Catherine Forde I’d like your reaction to.
If you are interested please drop me an email and I’ll send you one.
Best wishes,
Alistair
David Thorpe // March 28, 2008 at 10:17 |
My friend the fantastic children’s writer Malachy Doyle alerted me to your column on Nick Green’s Cat Kin. I am a writer with a similar fate – the author of Hybrids – Winner of the HarperCollins-Saga Magazine 2006 Childrens Novelist competition.
In November HarperCollins declined to publish a follow-up as their numbercrunchers didn’t think Book One had sold enough copies. V.
disappointing. I too was distinctly underwhelmed with the launch publicity compared to what was promised. I have two further Hybrids books planned which I still hope will see the light of day.
It too got great revews: The Times “A stunningly clever novel. Hybrids will get boys (and girls) talking and thinking about a brave new world without technological stimuli.”
James Lovegrove, Financial Times: “There is vigour and validity in Hybrids… a commendable first novel.”
Orange-prize winning author Helen Dunmore: “The writing is sharp, the dialogue good, and the action pacey and page-turning. But there’s a real depth to this story, too. Like all good fiction it makes the reader see the world in a different light.”
and many more.
Also -
• Hybrids has been shortlisted for the Sefton Super Reads award in the Sefton borough of Merseyside.
• Hybrids is being adapted for the stage by The Comedy Trust, Liverpool
• In Lewisham school librarians and their students shortlisted Hybrids for the second annual Lewisham Book Award.
• Hybrids is currently being adapted for comics by Brazilian artist Felipe Cunha.
I did have an agent. But she was so awful I let her go. I am now without an agent or publisher – but with several very exciting book proposals I am trying to pitch to publishers, and trying to find a new agent.
I agree with a lot of the comments on your blog. If you have any advice on which publishers or agents I might approach, or if you want to feature my story on your blog, that would be much appreciated.
bookwitch // March 30, 2008 at 23:14 |
Thanks David, for your long comment. I’m sorry to hear about your predicament, and it seems this is not unusual, which is a shame.
My understanding is that it’s no longer worth contacting publishers direct, so you have to charm an agent. I’m afraid I don’t know a lot of them, and I’m puzzled as to how some can be so useless. If they get paid a percentage, it seems strange not to work for your money.
DesertIslandBookworm // May 18, 2008 at 20:08 |
Hello! I just discovered your blog when doing search for Siobhan Dowd whose London Eye Mystery I just requested from library.
My favorite reading tends to be catagorized as “for children”–but I think are much more interesting than a lot of books for adults!
I’m in the USA, so much of what is mentioned on this blog is unavailable to me
— especially as I don’t have access to a large library, being stuck out in a literal desert.
My screen name was inspired in part by my feeling marooned marooned on a desert island away from the libraries and bookstores in Los Angeles where I used to live (I had cards at 14 library districts in LA!)
Favorite quote from Edward Eager’s very amusing book HALF MAGIC after character gets only half of wish to go to Crusoe’s desert island–but ends up in the Sahara instead–”Desert, yes; island, no.”
My own blog doesn’t have much to do with kids books (so far) and I haven’t had time or energy to post in a while, but it still might interest the curious.
Will try to respond to your query on kids books on handicapts.
DesertIslandBookworm // May 18, 2008 at 21:35 |
Oops! Actually I had cards from eight (8) different library systems when I lived in Los Angeles–but that included many individual branch libraries (maybe my brain thought “More than 7 equals 14 somehow…
LA County is huge tho–bigger than some small states in the USA!
bookwitch // May 18, 2008 at 22:50 |
Nice to meet you, bookworm.
No matter how many library cards you have, I’m sure you’ll like The London Eye Mystery.
Isobel Lee // May 21, 2008 at 10:50 |
Dear Bookwitch,
What an inspiring site! I spent hours yesterday reading all your great author interviews. I’m an aspiring children’s writer who has just found an agent and it’s lovely to look through your window on the literary world.
bookwitch // May 22, 2008 at 19:52 |
Welcome, Isobel. Hope your writing goes well, and maybe I can blog about your best-selling book one day.
Anna Wilson // June 5, 2008 at 12:47 |
What a fab blog! Good to see you have a Doctor Who fan in the family and that you’re not ashamed to mention it, although I have a feeling he’s probably a good few years younger than I am. We’re known as Whovians. We’re not all weird though. Some of us write children’s books about sensible things such as desensitising your dog to vets with beards (Puppy Love, pub Macmillan, Jan 08, two more books to follow – Pup Idol and Puppy Power). Talking of beards and Doctor Who, I notice you are an Ardagh fan. Who wouldn’t be with a beard like that? He also follows the Doctor on his travels. Has beard, will travel. If you like Mr Ardagh’s beard, you’ll love my bag o’ beards which the afore-mentioned hirsuite beauty kindly bought me to liven up a dull afternoon. They come in useful when reading from the appropriate passages in Puppy Love…
bookwitch // June 5, 2008 at 16:47 |
I’m afraid he is a she. But I’m not afraid to admit to the problem…
Nice to meet you.
Anna Wilson // June 5, 2008 at 17:54 |
Don’t be afraid! That is even more fabulous news, indeed something to celebrate. I raise my glass to a fellow female Whovian. Am counting down to my next visit to the Library… BTW, I wonder if anyone else thought last week had undertones of The Time Traveler’s Wife lurking in the plot?
Ian // June 5, 2008 at 20:06 |
I certainly thought so AW (your remark about time traveler’s wife), and I wasn’t certain whether it was deliberate or not. I suppose that that kind of thing is pretty much an established rule/plot device in ‘time travel’ so it would be bound to come up. After all, the Children in Need special was the modern Dr performing a task he’d taught himself…
Misrule // July 7, 2008 at 6:59 |
Hello! I stumbled upon your blog–and column–after someone, somewhere in my online life linked to your column about children’s self-selecting age-appropriate books. (I am very late on a deadline for an article for parents about choosing books for their children, which is I imagine how I came across your blog.)
I’m an avid Guardian Books reader (and a children’s and YA lit blogger), so I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to come across you! I’ve just spent a happy hour reading back over recent entries (my, you’re assiduous!) which I am glad to say I can justify as work.
I’ll look forward to reading you regularly!
bookwitch // July 7, 2008 at 7:40 |
So do I. You reading me regularly, I mean.
T.O. // August 7, 2008 at 14:03 |
Hi, Bookwitch
I’ve found your blog ‘via your Cat Entry’, and I love it!
I don’t write for children but I really enjoy reading your blog and interviews.
bookwitch // August 7, 2008 at 14:10 |
Thank you. Cats are definitely popular around here. I have a feeling most of my customers/fans/readers are adults, so I’m sure you will fit in nicely.
T.O. // August 7, 2008 at 14:53 |
I forgot to ask – What is your first language?
)
(‘Feline curiosity’ – so to meow)
T.O. // August 7, 2008 at 15:42 |
I know the answer! – I’ve just finishws reading all the previous entries. Did I tell you that I love your blog?
;o)
bookwitch // August 7, 2008 at 19:09 |
Yep. You’re allowed to say it often, though.
Mjau.
Sara O'Leary // August 8, 2008 at 16:26 |
Hi there – If you send me your address (to 123oleary AT gmail DOT com) then I will be happy to send you some postcards.
S.
Steve Lovering // October 8, 2008 at 13:58 |
What a brill blogster you are. Keep up the good work.
Steve
bookwitch // October 8, 2008 at 18:48 |
Thank you, Steve. Normally I’d be happy to agree with you (I believe in modesty!), but recently I feel it’s all pretty rubbish. Feel free to tell me I’m wrong.
Mary Cavanagh // October 15, 2008 at 7:23 |
Dear Ann
I have put in touch with you by Karen Cornflower and Elaine Random. I am writing a book called ‘A Seriously Useful Author’s Guide. Publicity, Marketing and The Book Industry’. Both Karen and Elaine have written articles for me on ‘why I am a bookblogger and the pleasure I get out of it’. My deadline is end of October for a publication date in February. I wondered if you would have time to write me a similar piece from a children’s blogger viewpoint? If not, can I have your permission to mention the blog on the chapter devoted to BookBloggers?
With very best wishes
Mary Cavanagh
Charlotte Berry // November 5, 2008 at 15:50 |
Hi bookwitch!
Vanessa from Fidra Books suggested that I get in touch with you as a source of inspiration! I am doing some research on the translation of Scandinavian children’s books into English, and she thought that you might be able to help with some ideas. I am new to the publishing world, but can read Scandinavian, which helps somewhat. Perhaps you could drop a line, if you have a moment?
Tak paa forhand,
Venlig hilsen,
Charlotte
Georgia Lawe // December 1, 2008 at 18:11 |
Hi Ann
I’d love to send you some info about new fantasy/sci-fi books we have coming out in Spring from Random House Children’s Books. Maybe you could drop me an email and I can tell you more?
Thanks,
Georgia Lawe, RHCB
Debi Gliori // January 9, 2009 at 15:04 |
Dear Bookwitch
Your blog is beautiful. Lawless, uncensored, not created with one eye on future sales, not written in the sure and certain knowledge that one second after it hits the shelves it will be deeply discounted Elsewhere, and not trying to be anything but itself. Unto itself it is being true. Or something like that.
May the Force be with your keyboard and hexenkessel too.
Respect, good Bookwitch, respect.
Debi
bookwitch // January 9, 2009 at 17:11 |
Ah, my favourite Scottish-Italian witch! How nice to see you here.
I read your first three books about the lovely family with the frozen Granny and the babies in nappies tumbling through the internet. Red, purple and green, I believe. Then time overcame me, and I found that it’s impossible to keep up with every new book by every author I like. It’s so unfair! I see your name, and want to read more…
I don’t hit any shelves at all, except my own when they are too full for new books. And as I get no money for anything, it’s quite nice (no it isn’t) not to worry about discounts.
Cheap witch going cheaper…
Philip Hunt // April 17, 2009 at 11:24 |
Hi Bookwitch – I’ve an update on the LOST AND FOUND animated film I wrote to you about at Christmas. The half hour film, which is based on the book by Oliver Jeffers is available on DVD from this Monday 20th April from Amazon, Borders and all good retailers… The DVD includes a ‘making of’ featurette.
Sue Birch // May 19, 2009 at 23:59 |
Hi,
Erm, I’m a bit nervous about intruding here so please forgive me if this is rude.
I was swept off my board while “surfing” & landed with a splosh on your site.
Couldn’t help but notice you’re interested in children’s stories, crime & Asperger’s Syndrome. My first book, “Dead Puzzling” has just been published & guess what? It’s a children’s story. A murder mystery. And one of the three young heroes has Asperger’s! Now that’s what I call a coincidence.
I’m donating half my royalties from “Dead Puzzling” to the National Autistic Society because when our eldest son was diagnosed with Asperger’s the NAS gave him incredible support.
I would really welcome any help or advice you can give me to help promote the book as I feel it is vitally important to raise awareness of this condition.
Thank you so much for a great site & for reading this.
Sue
Martin // May 26, 2009 at 12:00 |
Hi. Really interesting blog. I don’t read nearly enough and I tend to blame lack of time – which to be honest is just an excuse. This blog is what blogging in general SHOULD be about – people writing about things they have a passion for in a way that they clearly enjoy.