Tuesday 21 September 2010

SUDDENLY VERY BUSY!

Well, it's suddenly getting very busy here! The Journey to the Centre of the Earth adaptation is now off and away. But - hooray - I now have my set of author copies of A Boy Called Mouse, and very handsome they look. They seem to have arrived at the Amazon warehouse too, as someone's just called me to say their copy has now been dispatched.

Though I haven't had time to read my copy through yet, which I'm longing to do. Suddenly I'm writing a Mouse-related short story for the next Puffin Post. Deadline Friday! Be back soon.

Thursday 9 September 2010

So it's not only me!

Oh, Jules! At the moment, I am working most briskly on an adaptation of Journey to the Centre of the Earth, and was amused, working my way through the pages, to find a plot full of small holes, and by that I don't mean Verne's Very Bad Science.

For example, the luggage that filled a garden in Germany and a cottage on arrival in Iceland becomes small enough to fit on the back of two Icelandic horses for the cross country journey. Then, after hardly more than a hint about the kit being carried UP the volcano by a few local men (and the horses never mentioned again, munch, munch) there is no account of these helpers going back!

So is this why Hans (the strong-but-silent-man-of-all-work and guide) ropes Axel and Uncle Otto together as they descend the crater? Had the porters already fallen into the fiery crucible? Or is it a cover up? Were the porters pushed? Must avoid such ripples in the imagination and pace onwards.

Must add that, studying my notes, I feel faintly relieved that I am not the only one who repeats phrases over and over again when writing. Yours, trembling again with fear and terror, Penny

Tuesday 7 September 2010

It's here! It's here!

It's here! It's here! A ring at the doorbell and there is a postman, bemused the odd woman in a dressing gown who welcomed his parcel delivery by crowing with delight. Hooray! My author copies of A BOY CALLED MOUSE have arrived!

A highly welcome event, especially after a few weeks of family emergency which was thankfully sorted out by Leeds General.

Er, what happens now? Must get my "Journey to the Centre of the Earth" adaptation completed - it's going well - and start on some proper Mouse work.