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
Ever wondered how to write a children’s book? Find out what goes into it...
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
Exciting news (for me)! It's Book Week Scotland this month (don't know what that is? Look here) and I will be reading both of my wee stories to eleven primary school classes in my local area during the celebrations! This will be the first time I've taken The Kilted Coo to read in a school, … Continue reading Book Week Scotland 2017
The biggest news in Scottish books this week is the release of everyone's favourite yogi Finlay Wilson's Kilted Yoga which was published on Thursday. I'm a big fan of Finlay on Instagram (and his dog!) and so in tribute to a fellow Scot's new book, here's a little parody poem about when my Kilted Coo … Continue reading Drew the Kilted Coo Tries Kilted Yoga
I suppose I should begin by confessing that I've set myself a challenge - in a very short time I will be attempting a PB cycle distance. I'm not taking part in an event or asking for sponsors, nor am I really making it all that public (blog post aside...) but I have decided to … Continue reading Mythical metal horses and artificial islands…
I asked my good friend and fellow blogger last week for some inspiration and ideas for what to put on here, since I don't like to blow my own "I've written a couple of kids books" trumpet all to often. She told me, in what I hope was not an exasperated tone, that perhaps I … Continue reading Out and about on two feet or two wheels
