The unicorn really is an unusual mythical beast. Built like a horse, it is a large and strong animal but it is also gentle, fairy-like and (nowadays) most often rainbow coloured. It’s fairly well known, up here anyway, that the unicorn is Scotland’s national animal – we won’t thank you for a bull or an … Continue reading The Story of the Scottish Unicorn
I have a few close friends who are teachers, which means that occasionally I receive some reliable, usually humorous and always honest reviews of my stories from them when my stories have been used for carpet-time reading. This week, my lovely friend 'Mrs K' sent me the following her Friday afternoon story time. This is … Continue reading A magical review for The Unicorn in the Castle
I love this time of year because it's around about the Scottish Book Trust's Book Week Scotland that I'm usually able to visit some primary schools and meet their fab kids - definitely one of the best things about writing children's books! I have two visits lined up for November this year - the fabulous … Continue reading School Visits
Goodness, it's been a age since I've written a blog post on here! I'd love to say that that's because I've been beavering away on a new book - and I have - but alas, life-work-health-exercise-house-move-dog-walking-full-time-job-family have also gotten in the way of fully dedicating my time to this! I've also just recently discovered that … Continue reading Writer’s Blo(g)ck
Ever wondered how to write a children’s book? Find out what goes into it...
I would assume that any of you who stumble upon this post are writers. Most blog readers, in my experience, are. I don't really consider myself to be a writer (in spite of what I'm currently doing). I have written and had published three books; I have written and not had published a further one … Continue reading Finding the write time
Being a children's author, I want to do what I can to help promote my books and get my name out there. I know all too well that the children's market is absolutely inundated with fantastic authors, illustrators and fabulous books. It is an exceptionally difficult genre to get into and competition is huge. So … Continue reading What makes for a “successful” author – and what should I do online?
Hello website visitors and blog readers! It's been a while, but I'm back online and I have some very exciting news to share... My third book has just been sent off to print! Yep, third. That must make me an almost-proper author now, right? I'll be posting updates about my new book over the next … Continue reading Book news
Unsurprisingly, I enjoy writing. It's not always particularly easy, and sometimes ideas and inspiration can be hard to come by. I'm sure most writers will know the feeling of looking at a blank page and wondering what happened to all those brain cells they used to have. But inevitably an idea will befall you, and … Continue reading Inspirational places to write
So, I didn't really think I'd ever appear at a book festival, other than having my books on sale in the big white tents in Edinburgh. But in my hometown of Linlithgow, the wonderful bookshop Far From the Madding Crowd organises a children's book festival for the town's primary schools, in the community's very own … Continue reading Further From Festival
Rachel McGaw 