I'm just back from holiday and still catching up on stuff, but I've prioritised the two most important activities - booking my place at the November Conference and writing this!
The SCBWI Picture Book Retreat seems to have triggered a massive burst of creativity, inspiring three very different blog posts. Sue Eves gives some nifty advice on making mini books and talks about her adventures with colour. Candy Gourlay finds that time spent with illustrators gives her sudden insight into her writing. And Sarah Broadley? Well, she's written a poem all about the weekend.
Space on the Bookshelf are moving away from traditional books this summer, to focus on some alternative routes to literacy. Their WOW! series promises to celebrate children’s comics, magazines and graphic novels.
Katie Dale is also taking a sideways look at her bookshelf, trying not to judge a book by its cover. There are many wonderful stories out there, which you might never spot if you went by their blurb or their position in the book store. Why not take up Katie's challenge to go Discovering Diamonds?
The ever-busy Sam Zuppardi has contributed an illustrated story to a new music-themed anthology comic called Radio On from indie publisher The Analogue Press. Sam shares a page of his story on his blog, and you can get your own copy of the comic by contributing to the publisher's Kickstarter campaign.
Sarah McIntyre has (of course) written loads of blog posts while I've been away! I particularly liked this one about the American inspirations for her Oliver and the Seawigs drawings, and these very silly unicorns inspired by her Summer Reading Challenge.
Nick.
Nick's most recent blog post is a guide to writing flash fiction, to celebrate the latest issue of Stew!
