Falling in Love Again...

Next month is the submission window for the SCBWI Work in Progress Grants and in my Internet meandering this morning I came across an interview with Karen Cushman whose grant is also up for grabs in March - if you're old enough!  But we're still in February and some of what Karen was talking about fits so well with this month's  theme. She quotes Ray Bradbury, who said so many great things, here's one of them:

"To sum it all up, if you want to write, if you want to create, you must be the most sublime fool that God ever turned out and sent rambling. I wish for you a wrestling match with your creative muse that will last a lifetime. I wish craziness and foolish and madness upon you. May you live with hysteria and out of it make fine stories. Which finally means may you be in love every day for the next 20,000 days and out of that love remake the world."
Ray Bradbury via Karen Cushman

It's not the passion for writing but the being in love with the story that gets me. The writing of it is the hard but necessary bit. As bleak as it is, I do love my story and I'm hoping someone else will too. The thought that stories have the potential to 'remake the world' is mind blowing.

I'm reading a story that I love, too. I've broken last week's duck and read half a book in just a few hours. I can't tell you what it is because we can only review craft books on W&P  but you can guess if you like. Daughter handed me the book, I started reading and was hooked - fantastic feeling. It was as if the author was there, speaking to me. Tomorrow we have an interview with Sarah Lean and her tips on Voice. For me, like every agent I've ever read or listened to, my passion for a book is all for the voice and hearing one is magic.

This week, I loved Philippa's suggestion to consider what 'ignites' our characters' passion, in The Blog Break Nick highlighted the aid to passion for writing - goals and targets, and Nicky interviewed wonderful SCBWI member Morag Caunt whose passion is overflowing, specifically into the young drama group from West Yorkshire who are acting her stories out. On Friday, it was brilliant to see all the featured illustrator quickfire answers together and find that what binds them is tea! And of course, many congratulations to Nick Cook who's kept the faith with his story for seven years and is now being published in May! Faithfulness and Passion go well together, I think.

Next week with Sarah Lean, we have Catriona with another brilliantly wordy post When Words Get Together and Friday's illustrator feature is all about Pop-Ups.

Here's the lovely Karen Cushman's interview, which works great as a podcast but I thought you'd like to see her.


Podcasts? Hmmm... wouldn't it be great if Words & Pictures did some of those….

Have a great week!

Jan Carr

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Jan Carr is the editor of Words & Pictures. Her fiction is all over the place, she blogs occasionally and loves to write in magenta. You can contact her at editor@britishscbwi.org.

Nick Cook rides the clouds to success

@CloudRiders

Hearts, flowers and chocolates galore go to SCBWI debut author Nick Cook this week, as we celebrate his deal with Three Hares Publishing. His novel Cloud Riders is the first in a YA trilogy to be published on 1st May 2014.








Nick signed with his agent Eve White in 2012. He says “It’s taken little over a year since signing with Eve to securing a publishing deal. It’s a journey that I haven’t spoken much about in public before, because there’s been so many highs and lows, false dawns and crushing disappointments. But I have to say, being able to announce the publishing agreement with Three Hares has, without doubt, been one of the best moments of my life. The idea that at last I’ll soon have an audience for my work still seems like a dream – but like they say, dreams do sometimes come true.”

When the first twister in months appears from nowhere and an airship emerges from the spout, Dom’s world is turned upside down. The ship's pilots are explorers who make Dom an offer beyond his imagination. But the pilots are hiding a terrible secret. Can Dom uncover the truth and make the right decision before everything he cares for is destroyed? 

Nick’s publisher, Yasmin Standen of Three Hares Publishing says: “Every now and then a book comes along that grabs hold of you and you cannot put it down, you find yourself thinking about it all the time. Cloud Riders is that book. I fell in love with Dom's voice, I think a part of me fell in love with Dom! Cloud Riders is a fast paced steampunk adventure and an emotional roller coaster ride all in one. I am waiting with bated breath for book two! Three Hares is delighted to have acquired this superb trilogy.”

So how did Nick's journey to the clouds begin?

After completing his degree in sculpture back in 1985, rather than face the artist’s traditional garret Nick took the plunge into the emerging computer games industry. For something that was meant to be a brief detour, it became a way of life. For more than 21 years he worked as a graphic artist and creative director, helping to create over forty published titles, including many chart-topping hits.

As fascinating and intoxicating as it was, increasingly a little voice kept nagging away at the back of his head. At the end of 2006 he finally gave into it and was ready to pursue his other passion - writing - as a full time career. So, on a chilly December morning, he started scribbling in earnest. His latest manuscript is Cloud Riders, a tale set in Tornado Alley where twisters are a way of life. Then one day a tornado hits and a strange airship emerges from the spout…

Nick has a passion for science and astronomy, often blogging about the latest mind-blowing discoveries made in quantum physics. He once even solo-ed a light aircraft, an experience he’s tapping into now for Cloud Riders. Not needing any excuse to travel, he recently completed a writing research trip to the volcanic landscape of Iceland and is starting to wonder whether he should set his next book somewhere slightly warmer like the Bahamas.

You can follow his ramblings on his blog www.nick-cook.net and watch the first in a three-part trailer for Cloud Riders. So sit back, crack open the bubbly and join me in wishing Nick a huge congratulations!

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Tania Tay is an ex-advertising copywriter and has been published in Sable LitMag. She is currently writing a YA romantic thriller, is a member of The Golden Egg Academy and is on the editorial team at Words & Pictures.

Quickfire Illustrators

Sally Kindberg

What's the one thing that illustrators have in common? With all the variety of techniques and approaches we have, what's the single thing that connects the disparate creative sensibilities of freelance artists? Read on to find out!

Words and Pictures is in celebratory mood, for next month is our first anniversary in a web based format, a year that's seen the cyber-journal develop with an ever-expanding readership. This past year has been a great success with some tremendous features, hats off to the contributors and editors, and a special cheer for our chief editor Jan Carr.


 

Bridget Strevens-Marzo

Next month also marks the anniversary of the new Featured Illustrator Gallery, which every month over the past year has shone a spotlight on artists ranging from some of the brightest, most established names in SCBWI to up and coming new talent, namely....

Bridget Strevens-Marzo

Layn Marlow

Amber Hsu

Julia Groves

Jane Heinrichs

Nicola L. Robinson

Mike Brownlow

Rachel Quarry

Nicola Patten

Amanda Hall

Shana Nieberg-Suschinsky

Sally Kindberg

(Click on each name to go to their Featured Illustrator Gallery page)

 Every month, alongside the gallery of each illustrator and showcase in Words and Pictures, we posed the same seven quick-fire questions to each artist, requesting short responses. The replies were often unusual, and always eye-opening. But it's when we bring them all together for comparison that they become the most revealing, the broad range of answers to the same set of questions shows what a completely varied bunch illustrators can be!

Layn Marlow

Question 1.    What  fuels your day?

Bridget My bicycle, tea, coffee, new rock-folk on Austin Independent Radio (AIR), and talk radio.
Layn Mugs of tea.
Amber These days it seems to be worrying fear or anxiety over upcoming deadlines.
Julia Tea of course!
Jane  A cup of tea, 15 minutes of meditation and my imagination; I have to sprint to keep up with it!
Nicola Robinson Coffee, peppermint tea and music.
Mike If I’m illustrating, coffee, tea and an unhealthy relationship with Radios 4 and 4 Extra. If I’m writing, coffee, tea and Spotify.
Rachel Earl grey tea and chocolate.
Nicola Patten It used to be Jeremy Kyle and Chinese tea, but now I'm doing the 9-5 I don't have time for such luxuries. I've discovered the magic of the office tea run though.
Amanda One GIANT LATTE and Radios 4 & 4 Extra.
Shana That moment of golden silence after the hustle and bustle of the school run, coupled with the first cup of tea.
Sally Rooibos tea.

Amber Hsu

 

Question 2.    Favourite Colour?

Bridget  Orangey-red.
Layn If I’m feeling quiet it’s a light greyish aquamarine;  if I’m feeling more gregarious it’s a deep earthy red.
Amber BLACK to wear, BLUE to think.
Julia Duck egg blue
Jane Impossible to answer.  I love colour, and I love finding new and exciting combinations.
Nicola Robinson Black and also green, always the first colours/crayons/paint to run out on me since I was a small child.
Mike Mizzle 266/ Farrow and Ball.
Rachel Peacock blue and gold.
Nicola Patten Dark muted colours,  deep tealy blues and earthy coppers. They're not terribly commercial though so the Illustration world is turning me slowly onto Carribbean blues and fuchsia pink.
Amanda  I don’t think of colours in the singular, it’s amazing colour combinations that do it for me and the possibilities are endless.
Shana It's a tie between Liquitex Quinacridone Red and Teal.
Sally Sea.

Julia Groves

Question 3.    Inspiration or Muse?  

Bridget Matisse and the Golden Books.
Layn Nature.
Amber Secret voices. Random thoughts.  Found objects. Overheard conversations. Scientific discovery.
Julia  I find creative inspiration in museums and galleries and can get really emotional over children’s picture books.
Jane The colours and gestures of Michelangelo's frescos. The world around me. What I see inspires me, all the time.
Nicola Robinson  I find my inspirations come from a range of places including cities I've visited, the natural world, history, mythology and things I find funny.
Mike  I do believe in the muse reaching down and tapping you on the shoulder. It’s happened to me on several occasions. Unfortunately I can’t make it happen when I want it to. More usually I keep a notebook and hammer out any promising ideas in the old, boring way, discarding what doesn’t work and building on what does.
Rachel Gustav Klimt.
Nicola Patten Artists like David Downton and Quentin Blake. There'll always be a special place in my heart for Aubrey Beardsley and his decadent Victorian buddies.
Amanda Images that echo in my dreams.
Shana Family Life, both the chaos and the humour, as well as constantly observing and recording life around me.
Sally Looking/reading/chatting.
 

Jane Heinrichs

Question 4.    How old is your inner child?

Bridget 5.
Layn 5.
Amber About 6 years old. But I think I was a bit odd for a 6 year old.
Julia 10, the same age as my daughter, old enough to be a bit independent, but young enough to still be carefree.
Jane I have more than one inner child. The younger one is about 5 or 6, the older one is 12 or 13.
Nicola Robinson 7, although probably not a typical 7 year old...
Mike About 13. He’s a shy little chap.
Rachel 4 ¾.
Nicola Patten I think most people feel like they're about 6 inside and pretending to be a real person.
Amanda 6.
Shana I have two, one is a fun loving 5yr old and the other is a dark, brooding 15yr old.
Sally 9-ish.

Nicola L Robinson

Question 5.    Tell us one thing you love about your workspace.

Bridget Light!
Layn The walk-in (for small people) cupboard under the eaves, where I can hoard all the bits and pieces I might one day need for making things.
Amber I have the most beautiful books, zines, comics, vintage ephemera. They are everywhere. I am lost in them and it’s a total clutter, but I love them and could never live without them.
Julia The big window.
Jane My workspace travels with me. I love my sketchbooks and my box of watercolour tubes. They're always by my side.
Nicola Robinson Its convenient access to kitchen, garden and bookcases.
Mike It looks out over our garden to a beautiful 14th Century Somerset Church. I’ve just checked. It’s still there.
Rachel The view over the garden.
Nicola Patten My Grandad's typewriter. It was made around the 1930s and he still used it right up until he died.
Amanda It is near to, but separate from my house – perfect!
Shana My most favourite element of my workspace is my door: it shuts out the world whilst taking me into my own, personal universe.
Sally Robots (on a shelf above my desk).

Mike Brownlow

Question 6.    Favourite subject to draw?

Bridget  Movement & gesture.
Layn Animals with attitude.
Amber Rabbits and outer space. The night sky.
Julia Animals.
Jane Faces. Gestures. Action. Relationships. 
Nicola Robinson I love drawing things that are a little bit sinister and archaic, particularly architecture. I also love drawing animals and monsters, things with teeth and claws!
Mike Robots. Faces. Robots’ faces. Pirates. Parrots. Owls. Ogres. Cavemen. Cave women. Anything really. But not horses.
Rachel Cats and bumblebees.
Nicola Patten It will always be the human form - I go to life drawing classes every fortnight.
Amanda Probably characterful, older faces.
Shana I love painting dramatic skies and at present, I am loving creating animals, mainly penguins and raccoons.
Sally The undrawable (I like a challenge).

Rachel Quarry

Question 7.    Favourite Book?

Bridget The Philharmonic Gets Dressed  - illustrations by Mark Simont,  text by Ruth Krauss.
Layn The House at Pooh Corner by AA Milne, illustrated by Ernest Shepard.
Amber The King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry. 
Julia Moomin: The comic strip by Tove Janssen
Jane The Brambly Hedge series by Jill Barklem. I got lost in the tiny world as a child.
Nicola Robinson As a 7 year old, The Hobbit by J.R.R.Tolkein and a little later Watership Down by Richard Adams.
Mike I’m not good with favourite lists, because my favourites change all the time. I currently love I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen, It’s a Book by Lane Smith, and The Pirates! In an Adventure with the Romantics by Gideon DeFoe.
Rachel No Roses for Harry by Gene Zion.
Nicola Patten This Moose Belongs to Me by Oliver Jeffers. I really like Claude by Alex T Smith though - he's got such a brilliant natural sense of humour.
Amanda  In particular BB's Fairy Book: Meeting Hill, because of the wonderful illustrations by DJ Watkins Pitchford.
Shana Growing up I loved Beverly Nichols, the Woodland Fantasy trilogy, which included my absolute favourite book, The Stream that Stood Still.
Sally Alice's Adventures in Wonderland/Through the looking Glass.

Nicola Patten

Twelve illustrators, twelve very different responses. Make of it what you will.

So, what's the one thing that illustrators have in common? 

Amanda Hall

Tea, it seems!

A new Featured illustrator and a new set of quickfire questions will be online very soon.

Shana Nieberg-Suschintsky

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John Shelley is the Illustration Feature Editor of Words & Pictures and current Central East Network coordinator. 
He's illustrated over 40 books for children, many of them published in Japan where he lived for many years. His latest title The Stone Giant is out in Japan now, and will be released in English by Charlesbridge in the US in Spring 2014.   www.jshelley.com       

More than words on a page

Nicky Schmidt

Morag and Nicky

Everyone keeps reminding us; writing is tough, as is getting published. For those writing short stories and poetry it can be even tougher. So when I met Morag Caunt, of the SCBWI-BI’s North East region, I was fascinated to hear what she was doing with her short stories. As I listened to this unassuming but enthusiastic woman I knew Morag’s story had to be shared.

Morag, I’m so glad you agreed to this interview. You’re doing something remarkable and heart-warming - something that other SCBWI members might consider too. Could you start by telling Words & Pictures readers what you write, where you draw your inspiration, and why you write what you do?

I started writing three years ago after retiring from a career spent working with children, primarily as a paediatric nurse, and latterly as a family support worker for Social Services. A lot of the young people would not, could not or had never been given the encouragement to learn to read. I write short, quite gritty stories aimed at reluctant teenage readers. My stories are always taken from my own personal life experiences. My hope as a writer has always been that a teenager would read one page of my stories, then, want to read on.

You told me you were finding it tough to find a publisher for short stories – but that hasn’t put you off – instead you’ve done something really enterprising… 

Eighteen months ago aided by a grant, I was fortunate enough to attend an Arvon Residential Course - Writing for Young People. My fantastic tutors, Celia Rees and Martyn Bedford, encouraged me to continue writing short stories but also suggested that I involve myself with a youth group. Shortly afterwards I had a cold call from West Yorkshire Playhouse, telling me about a Youth group called First Floor. I asked if I could donate - and volunteer. They agreed. The minute I entered the door at First Floor, I knew I had found the right place to be. At First Floor young people can attend a variety of creative workshops, drama, writing, music, art, learn new skills, and make friends. Most importantly they can feel safe and supported by the amazing staff who work there.

Tell us a little bit about the teens you met at First Floor.

The young people who attend come from many different backgrounds, and abilities. Some lead difficult lives. Quite a few have left school early without gaining any qualifications, and First Floor offers programmes which help them get onto training schemes. Everyone is respected and treated as an individual, and newcomers are always made welcome. To watch them blossom from shy, nervous, sometimes angry youngsters, to confidently performing on stage when they realize they can be good at singing, acting or writing poetry, is a mind-blowing experience.

Morag with some of the young people from First Floor

What sort of work do you do with the teens at First Floor?

I volunteer weekly with the Tuesday Night Drama Group. We often have 20 per session, so it’s quite lively - and I love the way that they look out for each other if someone is upset or ill. We split into groups to act out scenes or themes, and I help with a group, encouraging them to explore their feelings and make up stories.

You were invited to read your short stories to the young people - how did it feel the first time you did that?

I was invited to read one of my stories to a mixed group at the end of my first term. I was very nervous, but the young people never made a sound and listened intently for fifteen minutes. Then they were split into three groups and acted out the beginning, middle and end. As a writer it was the most incredible moment to see them act out their interpretation of my stories.

The children who participate in the First Floor drama programmes also make videos which are posted on YouTube. They’ve recently taken two of your stories and begun dramatizing them in this way, and the first one was recently posted to YouTube. What were your thoughts on seeing the dramatization of your story?

I've watched the clip, called A Night in the Park, several times. It took a while to fully appreciate that it really was my work as interpreted by the young people who produced it. But it was such a thrill to see what they’d done, and to see my name on the piece. All I can do is sit back and say, “Wow!” and I realise how lucky I am to be able to volunteer with such an amazing group of young people.


A Night in the Park, by Morag Caunt, as scripted, directed and produced by First Floor 

I’ve often said, and I blogged about it recently, that everything is first and foremost about story rather than the specific means of telling the story. As a writer whose work has gone off in a somewhat different direction than you first anticipated, how do you feel about there being more than one way of presenting a particular story?

Who needs to be published when you can actually see your work being acted out, and know that for some of the youngsters, they are acting their real life experiences?

Any final thoughts?

Volunteering for First Floor has been an incredible learning experience for me, and I have been very privileged to have become an accepted member of the team both by the amazing young people and their dedicated staff. I’m also really delighted that at the end of January this year, First Floor won the title of best place for children and young people, in the Child Friendly Leeds awards, receiving many nominations for the activities and support they provide!

In true SCWBI Tradition, my lemon drizzle cake and brownies, will once again be part of our celebrations!

I asked Morag if she’d be willing to ask the young people she works with a few questions – and here’s what they had to say:

What made you join First Floor?

• I joined because I already had friends there.

• My Mother found it on the Internet - I am interested in becoming an actress.

• I wanted more experience in drama and singing.

What do you like best about First Floor?

• I can be myself; nobody is judgemental - and I love drama and singing.

• Everyone is very accepting and friendly - and there’s cake!

• Performing and chilling out with friends.

• The opportunities that you don’t get normally.

• The staff are very supportive.

What surprised you most when you first read/heard Morag’s stories?

• I was surprised, because I thought they’d be boring, but they were amazing!

• I liked the style of writing, I thought it was good.

• I thought a professional had written them.

• Amazing!

What did you like about Morag’s stories picked for YouTube and how did you relate to them?

• They’re all based on real life. They’re amazing and easy to act because you liked the characters.

• We related because they were about our age group.

• At least one person in the group could relate to a real life situation.

• I liked that Zac met the tramp.

What do you think Morag’s stories offer teens and what will your YouTube video give other teens not involved with First Floor?

• Lots of teens can relate because it’s true.

• They don’t feel so alone.

• They can do real stories and enjoy it.

• They help teens relate to similar problems.

• Great music!

And a final word…

• Morag, you can’t leave Tuesday Night Drama!

A huge shout out to Morag for the wonderful work she is doing! 

For more information about First Floor, you can watch their promo video and you can visit their page on the WY Playhouse website.

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@NickySchmidt1

Born and raised in South Africa of central and northern European heritage, Nicky is an ex scriptwriter, copywriter, and marketing, brand and communications manager who "retired" early to follow a dream. Although she still occasionally consults on marketing, communications and brand strategies, mostly she writes YA fiction (some of which leans towards New Adult) in the magical realism, realistic and supernatural genres.
When not off in some other world, she also writes freelance articles - mostly lifestyle and travel - for which she does her own photography. Her work has been published in several South African magazines and newspapers. As well as being a regular feature writer for Words & Pictures, Nicky also runs the SCBWI-BI YA E-Critique group.
Nicky lives in Cape Town with her husband and two rescue Golden Retrievers.

Ten-Minute Blog Break - 11th February

It's nice to emerge from my hermit hut for a quick blog-reading break, as I've had my head down writing this last week. It's kind of weird not blogging myself at the moment, but also great to be spending so much more time in the world of my story.


Despite my current productivity, reading Julie Day's review of her 2014 writing goals made me feel positively slothful! It's great to see Julie following through with this and using the monthly SCBWI goal-setting brunches to stay on track.

There seems to be a motivational theme in the air, because Kathy Evans is sharing Eight Ways to Trick Yourself into Writing (BTW Kathy, I agree on gateway techniques - mine is taking a fifteen-minute walk every day before I start writing). Bryony Pearce, meanwhile, has the opposite problem, because she's stuck at the Procrastination Station and finding a myriad ways to prevent herself from writing! Perhaps these two should compare notes?

Another pair of posts turned up at Big Little Tales. In the first, Trish Phillips tells us about her trip to the Houses of Parliament as part of the "Born to Read" campaign. In a very different blog post, Anne-Marie Perks shares some colour roughs from her wordless picture book on domestic violence, showing how she creates drama through careful composition. The pictures certainly made me wince, which I guess is rather the point!

As creative people, we sow seeds all the time, without knowing if they'll bear fruit. A case in point is Nick Cook, who was one of the most enthusiastic attendees of the Transmedia session I ran at the 2012 SCBWI conference. Nick has really taken the idea of Transmedia and run with it, and the very tip of the iceberg is the amazing first teaser trailer for his forthcoming Cloud Riders opus. Strap in, people - I think we're in for a thrilling ride.

Nick.

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Nick Cross is a children's writer, blogger and all-round techno-ninja. In 2010 he was a winner of Undiscovered Voices with his zombie comedy Back from the Dead and currently writes short fiction for Stew Magazine, an event that was recently celebrated on this site.

With a Passion

During February, the retailers encourage us to think of passion in its later romantic definition. But before it was borrowed, it had a broader meaning. If someone was in a passion then they might well be in a rage – hence a ‘crime of passion’.


There’s a sense of profound emotion that overwhelms. Unsurprisingly, artists have often used the colours of blushes and blood and flames to convey this visceral meaning.

We might not go as far as Cromwell’s impassioned plea: I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it possible you may be mistaken – but we say ‘fired up’ and ‘heart-warming’ still. Just think of all the fleshy pinks and sanguine reds on Valentine’s cards!

And there’s a further religious connection – the passion of Jesus. In the Christian faith, the suffering of Jesus before death is called the Passion. The passion flower is so-named for the resemblance to the Crown of Thorns and the nails used at the Crucifixion. In that belief system, as in many others, profound emotions led to deep joy – eventually.

Originally, the Latin word meant ‘suffering, enduring’ – and was related to the Greek pathos from which we get sympathy and empathy.

So there’s definitely an element of coming through pain and emotion that most writers and illustrators can identify with.

Two suggestions:

1. For your characters
Consider what ignites them. What brings a glow to their cheeks; makes their heart beat faster; makes them willing to suffer? And how will you convey this emotion, this liveliness, this urgency?

2. For you
Reflect on the words of Nelson Mandela:
“There is no passion to be found playing small—in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”
and of Martha Graham:
“Great dancers are not great because of their technique; they are great because of their passion.”

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K. M. Lockwood is a writing name of Philippa R. Francis. As well as being a regular contributor, Philippa (@lockwoodwriter) is also part of the Words & Pictures team as the @Words8Pictures Tweetmaster, growing our following and maintaining our 'Industry news' feed.

In Praise of TV

Yesterday was National Libraries Day and confession time, I realised that so far this year I have not read a single book cover to cover and my Goodreads account is hopelessly out of date.

But on the way to Swanage today, to catch some wild sea wind, I remembered how I used to hang out in the PG Wodehouse corner of my local. I'd like to say that I discovered him by accident while browsing shelves looking for a new author, from an inspiring English teacher or that an old uncle introduced me while loitering in his own musty library but no. It was the TV.

It was the TV too that introduced the teenage me to Arnold Bennett, Emily Bronte, Dorothy Sayers, Thomas Hardy and joy of joys Winston Graham's Poldark - my young adult reading. A few weeks ago, the BBC reported that 'watching movie adaptations of books inspires children to read books above their reading age thereby challenging, improving and expanding their reading abilities.' Thank you Sally Poyton, who picked up on the report so brilliantly here.

While I'm not dyslexic though, my kids have to get it from somewhere, I was slow to read but having seen a story on the telly, helped me to enjoy the reading. It also inspired me to read non televised stories by the same authors. Anyone heard of The Riceyman Steps? Where did I find these works? In the library and the TV took me there.

This week I loved Beverly Birch's encouragement to trust our subconscious, our other life. I imagine Beverly's wisdom applies as much to illustrators as well as writers or indeed anyone in the business of creating. I was so glad that among other great posts, Nick picked up on, The Hourly Comic Day. Last year we introduced our own wonderful Duck & Bear webcomic created by Amanda Lillywhite.

If anyone needs reminding, this Friday is Valentine's Day; last Wednesday Celia gave us a Year 6 perspective on 'The Yuk Factor' i.e. romance or the 'slushy bits' in books.

Gill described the benefits of cross genre critiquing in the North West and on Friday we had Graphic Design from Gillian McClure, another in the brilliant Book Basics series. On Saturday it was a big cheer for Andy Shepherd who's bagged herself an agent as a result of The SCBWI Agents Party in the Autumn and I'm just about managing to sneak in at the last minute here on Sunday, listening to a calmer sea in an IPhone hotspot waiting for some chips to arrive.

Next week we have passionate and no doubt inspiring words from Philippa, K.M. Lockwood, and Nicky Schmidt is back - hooray! And the illustration post for Friday is intriguingly entitled 'Quickfire Summary' on the planner.

Peveril Point, Dorset, Sunday 9th February 2014

Chips scoffed, it's dark outside the van and the Iphone's on the last bit of battery, so we're off home to be inspired by Sunday evening TV.

Hope you're all dry and safe in this weather and on the brink of a great week!

Jan Carr

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Jan Carr is the editor of Words & Pictures. Her fiction is older middle grade, she blogs occasionally and loves to write in magenta. You can contact her at editor@britishscbwi.org.