It's yellow fluorescent and 528 pages…

Lauren Child's new Ruby Redfort novel Feel the Fear is now off to the printer. It's fantastic. The manuscript was as colourful as the writing itself, and there's a secret message in the binding and clues all over the place but you'll need to use the grey matter. 

This is the fourth in the series. What will she think of next?

If you've got any sense you'll get one.

I'm not good with names…

At Tales On Moon Lane yesterday, after we read Lucky everyone drew some pictures like pineapples, pizzas, and self portraits. Some people even designed their own shirts. Thanks for coming along and making it a fun afternoon. I liked the all orange drawing in particular. I'm glad names were written on the drawings so I can remember who did them.

Walking and talking…

Yesterday we did a drawing workshop at the Storystock Children's festival in Shepherd's Bush, then a reading of Lucky at Tales On Moon Lane in South London. In the evening a panel discussion at Waterstones Piccadilly with Oliver Jeffers and Rob Biddulph which i enjoyed immensely. Melissa Cox asked the questions. Afterwards we signed books and I met two girls named Stevie: one named after Stevie Nicks, the other Stevie Smith. They didn't know each other, didn't meet, and were standing in the same queue. What are the chances of that?

Thank you to everyone at Waterstones, Tereze and Rebecca at Tales on Moon Lane and Claire at Storystock.

Scissors, paper, flock...

Dozens of pigeons are underway and will be available in the near future or sooner. There is also a turtle dove and two budgerigars but they're more tricky for some reason.

Common or garden pigeon with typical markings in acrylic. Shoes: model's own.

Common or garden pigeon with typical markings in acrylic. Shoes: model's own.

Lake interior…

Have been painting all of my books. My favourite is the Veronica Lake hardback because she is one of my favourite film actors.

Featuring Veronica Lake in Acrylic

Featuring Veronica Lake in Acrylic

The Forest is on the case.

The Forest is on the case.