Today's the day! Taraaaaa!

Well, it's here! Today's the day that my novel, A Boy Called M.O.U.S.E, is officially published.

I am just so very pleased and relieved that several people who have read the book seem to like it, and that the older KS2/junior children seem keen to read it too.

No party, fireworks or champagne, though might try a couple of those later when its not such a busy week. Instead I spent the day at a very nice school over near York that had a most interesting spiral staircase and some spooky stories that made my writing shoulderblades get itchy. (Mouse also got a great reception over in schools in Huddersfield last week too.)

Morever, to my surprise, I also feel as if I've been freed up to continue with the next book in the sequence too, now.

Just a few visits to go before now and then . . .

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.

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

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.

Mystery Reviewer, Aged 9

Oh dear! What a long gap since my last post. Have been busy working, visiting, holidaying, writing and also discovering Facebook which does seem to eat away at a person's time.

But - hooray! - I'm here to share what feels like the first real review of my novel A BOY CALLED MOUSE. It came on a postcard from a most kind reader aged 9. I don't want to give his name as I haven't yet checked that he wants me to post this up. But I'd like to commend him for working his way all the way through the bound copy. It is definitely not a quick read.

"A BOY CALLED MOUSE is a really interesting book. It has a really good story with lots of funny bits and peculiar parts as well. I really enjoyed it."

By the way, I'm very much hoping that "peculiar parts as well" means good things about MOUSE which is out on 4th October.

Although I've had some very positive grown-up comments, a book never feels quite real to me unless someone young has read it. Now my new novel feels as if it exists.
Thank you hugely, my mystery reviewer!

Maybe it worked?

Had a great time last week, and now I've recovered, have just had a sudden idea about an important linking scene, and suddenly Tome Two is waking up again. The relief.

Was it last week's inspiring company? The sessions, the talk, the giggles, the late nights? Certainly it all helped.

Or was it possibly the choice of at least three plentiful home-made puds (or more) twice a day for four days? Maybe both factors, and maybe also the space to think.

But something plottish has at long last clicked.

An inspiring situation.

Looking forward to a week away at Charney Manor, an old manor house in the deep grassy countryside well west of Oxford. I am hoping my stay will include some time to think and work on Tome Two. Just now I'm playing with the "voice" of the story once my two heroes meet. Do I do one chapter in one and one in another? And do I mix in third-person too? The only true answer is to try it, becuase you're thinking about the story as you write too.

My mind's been too full of other things. I've had a busy time catching up on tax returns, admin, a couple of shorter pieces of writing, and various odds and ends for an organisation I belong to. But they are all done - including putting the cover of A BOY CALLED MOUSE up on my website - so maybe my mind will be free enough to move the new story on a bit? Hope so.