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Summer Reading Challenge

Summer Reading Challenge

The Summer Reading Challenge for 2018 is called Mischief Makers in honour of the much-loved children's title Beano, which celebrates its 80th anniversary this year. Children will follow clues and explore a map of Beanotown to find the mysterious buried treasure, with...

Creative Writing Workshops – Summer 2018

Creative Writing Workshops – Summer 2018

Storymakers is a creative writing club for kids. UPDATE: THE CREATIVE WRITING SUMMER WORKSHOPS HAVE NOW FINISHED. FOR DETAILS OF WEEKLY GROUPS FROM SEPTEMBER, PLEASE GO TO THE STORYMKAKERS WEBSITE: http://www/storymakersclub.com In addition to weekly groups, we offer...

An introduction to the Time School series

An introduction to the Time School series

‘Time School: We Will Remember Them’ is book one of a series of four and is available to pre-order now.   "A power cut and a series of mini disasters means friends, Jess, Nadia, Tomma and Ash barely make it to the station to catch their train to school. What they...

Data protection and the new GDPR legislation

Data protection and the new GDPR legislation

On 25th May 2018, the Data Protection Directive will be replaced by the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Although the UK is in the midst of BREXIT, these regulations are likely to be converted into British law and with that in mind, organisations need...

5 Mother’s Day gifts for bookish mums

5 Mother’s Day gifts for bookish mums

As it's Mother's Day soon (11th March in the UK), I've compiled a list of gifts that would be perfect for mums who love reading and writing. I'm not hinting at all, promise! Coffee and book club subscription I've seen a number of these. You can choose from book plus...

Writing challenge – 100 words – no more, no less

Writing challenge – 100 words – no more, no less

A snow day is the perfect excuse to stay indoors and catch up on some writing. Having a snow day, it seems, is no excuse for not doing any work and my middle daughter's school gave her enough to do to last at least a week (not sure how long they think they'll be...

Writing prompts for young writers

Writing prompts for young writers

One of my groups at the Storymakers Club is the Young Writers. They are aged eleven or above and get together once a fortnight for some writing practice and to work on their current project. It's a great little social group too. This week I used music as a writing...

Book recommendation – Cogheart

Book recommendation – Cogheart

Today marks the start of #NationalStoryTellingWeek and in honour of this, I’m sharing my book recommendation for February and asking the question, do you still read with your children? I’m not talking the dreaded book scheme reading, that from my own personal...

Book Review – Nondula, by Ana Salote

Book Review – Nondula, by Ana Salote

Nondula is the second part of the 'Waifs of Duldred' trilogy and it's shaping up to be the most interesting trilogy I've read in a long time. If you haven't read book one, 'Oy Yew', I suggest you add it to your reading list immediately! You can read my review here, if...

Why are so many children reluctant to write?

Why are so many children reluctant to write?

I write children’s books, I love stories and I want to share my passion for writing and creating stories. That’s why I set up, Storymakers, my creative writing club. I’m not a teacher, but does that make a difference? At the start of a new term or course, when I...

Reducing plastic waste

Reducing plastic waste

Whilst a certain politician thinks the environment isn’t worth bothering with for him and ‘his country’, I have been both shocked and ashamed to learn of the damage plastic waste is doing to our oceans. Towards the end of last year, I began to make small changes in my...

What happens when you dare to follow your dream?

What happens when you dare to follow your dream?

When you are little, you're encouraged to follow your dream. ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ When you ask this question to a child, you'll hear all sorts of amazing, weird and wonderful answers, from Superhero and Princess, to Premier League Footballer and...