And the winner is...

A while back, I held a competition to find a blue or yellow story for a second book of Granny Rainbow stories because I was stuck. I said I'd post the winner on the first of September - but I'm posting a teensy bit early because I can't wait any longer!

There were some fabulous entries - I think I could have written a third book, just using the ideas that were sent in! The great thing about all of them though, was the fact that the children 'got' Granny Rainbow and how she worked; her new problems were always fun and sometimes a bit wacky too. I asked Laura to help me choose a winner, because she'll be drawing the character(s) from the story. Fortunately there were no arguments; can you believe, we both picked the same entry?

Although everyone who entered is a winner in my eyes, there is unfortunately only one prize; the winning story idea will be published as a complete story in the new book and the winner will receive not only a signed copy of the book when it's published, but also a unique, full colour picture of the new character they've created. They'll even get a mention in the acknowledgements for their winning idea...

So, the winner is...drum roll, please...

Well, actually, there are three of them! 

Congratulations to Christopher, Cameron and Catherine Cocks, who worked together on their blue story idea while on a sailing holiday! 

It all starts when Old Tom's bees are unwell and their honey doesn't taste like it should - which leaves Tom in a bit of a pickle because the Mayoress is coming for tea and wants toasted crumpets and honey! Can Granny Rainbow help get Tom's bees fit again in time - and will the honey taste right?

Sounds fab, doesn't it? The outline is already planned and I can't wait to see what the Mayoress will look like. Bet she'll have a HUGE chain!

The prize can't be sent immediately as I'm still working on a couple of stories - but it will be sent out as soon as it's ready. Well done, Christopher, Cameron and Catherine!

We (almost) have lift off!

The stories are all set in Leicestershire pubs - on the day of the first commercial space flight to the moon - and this volume will be available to download from the 10th September, either from the KLiC site or Amazon.

Submissions are now open for Volume 2...

For information about all the authors in volume 1 (you're allowed to skip mine 'cos you probably know all about me already if you read the Scribbles!) AND how you can submit to Volume 2 click here. 

My really lovely author pic for the anthology, taken by Pamela Raith at  www.pamelaraith.com. Hadn't realised just how silver my hair is...

Blood on his hands

If you follow this link, you can read a short piece of FREE flash fiction written by me. It introduces Lord Baraat, a character from my story Thread, published in the anthology A Seeming Glass. Please note; it's not suitable for children.

If you enjoy Blood on his Hands, or any of the other free flash pieces that have been posted on the Random Writers site, you'll probably love the anthology. It's certainly getting some ace reviews over on Goodreads and Amazon - check them out if you don't believe me!

But for now, step into the mind of Baraat...

Enjoy.

When a story just won't work

Been working on a story for the next book of Granny Rainbow stories - had the title all sorted: Granny Rainbow and the Pear Tree Pirate.

I had the broad outline, in terms of where the story was going to be set, the problem Granny faced and how she would solve it. Fabuloso!

What I can't work out is how to realistically get my secondary character into a position where he does what he's supposed to, thanks to Granny's intervention. Try as I might, it just doesn't sound...believable. Now, those of you who've read GR will probably say that the premise of some of the first stories were somewhat wacky and wouldn't happen in real life anyway. But they were written in such a way that the solution didn't come out of the blue and have you and your little ones saying 'well, that's just not going to happen!'

So at the moment I'm stumped. I have six stories, but need a longer seventh to match the format of the first book. I have no idea what to write! I wondered whether to have another Black Shadow story...what dastardly way could he use to capture colour next? But you'd see colour disappearing again and know who was responsible straightaway. There'd be no surprise element.

It all feels a bit up in the air...and a bit disappointing because I love the title of the Pear Tree Pirate but it doesn't seem to want to work with the story I thought I was going to write. Never mind. I'll keep thinking...something will crop up.

At the same time, I can't help thinking thank goodness for the competition I held to find ideas for the blue and yellow stories, or I'd be even more stuck. Incidentally, I shall be announcing the winner, as promised, on the 1st September, so do pop back then to see whose idea will be written up. It's going to be a corker!

Maybe Professor Funkelburger's next invention will have to be a Story Ideas Machine...'for all ze very gut stories to be written, ja?'

And Monkey came too...

Remember I mentioned a photoshoot, earlier in the week? Well...been and done it!

Nathan, fellow writer and producer, met me at the station as promised and whisked me off in a taxi because I was late arriving (emergency signalling work on the train lines). Pamela Raith, the photographer, was already at the pub; I was glad to see a distinct lack of photographic paraphernalia like wind machines and light reflecting umbrellas and background screens etc etc. Just a bloomin' big camera with a lens THIS big. *holds hands out as far as they'll go* Well that's how big it felt when it was pointing at me, anyway.

Before we started, Pam showed me some pics of the KLiC authors who'd already been photographed - and they were flippin' brilliant! All very individual - you could almost see the personality oozing out of the pic. So I was fairly confident that Ruth'd be able to make a silk purse out of this particular sow's ear...

It was great fun actually taking the photos - we had a lot of laughs and the finished pics (when I wasn't blinking) were really natural and very 'me'. I think I'd rather be a writer than a model though.

I took Monkey along with me, as my nod to the Blue Monkey Brewery. Their Loughborough pub, The Organ Grinder, is where my story for the anthology is set. We sat Monkey on the table for the photos, next to my cider.

In jest, I suggested we ought to get him a drink too. Cue shot glass filled with the same tipple...

The final author pic might just possibly be the one where Monkey and I are chinking glasses...

If you want to find out exactly how Monkey features in Moon Rocks, why not put the 18th September in your diary? That's one of two KLiCbait launch parties, where I'll be reading an extract of my story at The Parcel Yard, (right next door to the rail station) in Leicester. There's an earlier launch on the 10th at the Western - both pubs are run by the same brewery and they're brewing us our own KLiC beer so we can celebrate in style.

Would be great to see you there...and maybe you can Monkey a drink.

The box of mysteries - and when to reveal them

Can I run a quick question past all you lovely Scribbles readers?

I have a bit of a dilemma. In StarMark, there's a box:

A bit like this one.

The box contains a few items of sentimental value. Their stories can never be told because the owner of the box has died. The reader will 'look' inside this box very early on in the story and 'see' the objects. However, there is one item 'seen' at this point whose significance is revealed much later.

This is a deliberate ploy on my part as the writer: to apparently reveal everything from the start. But recent comments have forced me to rethink whether a big reveal up front is the best way to handle this particular situation.

So - as a reader - would you be disappointed that you'd seen everything straight off? And if you were disappointed initially, would you feel better when the 'Aha!' reveal moment occurred? Or, would you prefer to keep dipping into the box to see a little bit more each time? Prolong the suspense of the reveal?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Say 'Cheese'...

This Friday, I'm heading into Leicester for a photoshoot. I'm sure it won't be as glamorous as it sounds; it's in a pub for a start.

Remember the KLiCbait volume 1 I mentioned a while back? I was one of the lucky ten selected to write a short story to a specific theme for it - Moon Rocks is my title. Well, all the authors are going to have their photos taken for it. Originally, we were all going to be photographed in the pubs we'd chosen to set our stories in, but plans have gone awry and so the ten of us are being split between two pubs and a couple of photographers.

I don't know Leicester city centre that well, so had no idea of where 'my' pub is. I've arranged to meet one of the KLiC folk at the train station. Apparently, he'd always wanted to be the person at arrivals, holding up a placard with a name on it. I, on the other hand, have always wanted to have a secret symbol. Y'know, like a carnation in the buttonhole or a rolled up Guardian under my arm.

We settled on 'Look for a short, silver haired lady with a rainbow bag and a toy gorilla, arriving at 2.30pm'.

Yep. Really. You just couldn't write this stuff, could you?

And the monkey? He features in the story - but you'll have to wait for publication day to find out how...