The Snow Sister on Tour!

A few months ago The Reading Agency asked me to go on tour. Not in the One Direction sense to stadiums full of fans (phew!), but to libraries to talk about… snow.(excuse the weirdo in the hat- I’ve no idea who she is but she insisted on being in the photo).

Now, I confess I’m rather partial to a flake or two, something I’ve probably mentioned once or twice on here. It also features heavily in Frost Hollow Hall and The Snow Sister.
So of course I jumped at the chance. The only problem was squeezing a library tour in to what was already shaping up to be a very hectic November. In the end, we had to narrow it down to four days.

And what brilliant days they were.

On Monday, I went to Coventry library, where I was welcomed with the most fantastic displays and the loveliest library team, who gave me flowers and reduced me to tears.

I spoke to school pupils and members of the public about my love of snow, frost fairs, record breaking winters and how snow flakes are formed. And i signed many MANY copies of The Snow Sister and Frost Hollow Hall.

Tuesday was Slough library. Again, lovely librarians and a brilliant bunch of years 6 and 7 who were so up for talking all things snow.

Wednesday was Rugeley library where the displays were gorgeously wintery and the audience brimming with great ideas for their own celebrity snow people. Liz the librarian also took me for one of the nicest pieces of cake I’ve ever eaten. Win win!

The final leg of my library tour was South Gloucestershire, which I made the mistake of thinking was within easy driving distance. Especially as Google Maps tantalisingly suggested my destination was only 1hr 25 mins away.

After two hours 20 mins of driving in torrential rain, I arrived at Yate library to the most beautiful, snowy displays. They’d even created a ‘snow seat’ for me to sit on! The audience of local primary children were a great bunch who loved trying on ice skates and asked some brilliant questions. Then, after a quick cuppa it was time to drive 6 miles to Emerson Green library for my final event.

Remember what I said about driving? Already this week my own car had protested at going to and from Taunton station every day, and had broken down. So I’d borrowed my dad’s car for the day. Which happens to have its headlight switch in a weird place and in my excitement I’d left them on and blah blah blah… one dead battery. 

Two hours, three helpful ladies who tried to push me, more torrential rain and a delayed but awesome breakdown man -‘ I got called out to Helen Dunmore last week. She was on her way to a  book signing.’- later, I made it to Emerson Green Library. I was 20 mins late. The library was packed with years 4,5 and 6 students from the local school. Thank goodness for their teacher who was keeping them entertained with a reading from The Snow Sister! Suffice to say they were a lovely crowd. We had a great time talking all things snow- with a few Frost Hollow Hall ghosts thrown in for good measure. Once I got inside that snow igloo all my car stress vanished. It was a magical end to the best of weeks.

Which leaves me only to say a HUGE thank you to all the libraries who worked so hard to welcome us. YOU made it happen!

A WEEK OF UPS AND DOWNS (or downs and ups)

It’s been one of those weeks.

I’m currently 40k+ words into the first draft of my WIP and I DON’T KNOW HOW ITS GOING TO END!! Well, I’ve got the very final chapter sorted, but its the ‘how we get there’ part that’s doing my head in and making me have all sorts of ‘arrrrgggghhh’ hair pulling moments. It’s probably why I’m writing this blog post. If things get much worse, I might even tackle my ironing pile.

Luckily though, this week has also been full of the loveliest ‘up’ moments. On Wednesday evening I was invited as the Guest Author to speak to aspiring children’s authors on a writing retreat at the Arvon Foundation’s Totleigh Barton Centre in Devon.You may know from previous blogs how dear to me Totleigh Barton is, so any opportunity to visit reminds me of all that is good with the world.

Suffice to say it was a wonderful evening of stories, laughter, wine (quite a bit of that!) and a genuine shared passion for children’s books and writing. I met some truly lovely folks, and felt very humbled and honoured to be part of their writing week. It was also fantastic to catch up with my MA mentor Marcus Sedgwick and fellow Hay festival panellist Gillian Cross. Though I admit it was pretty nerve-wracking to speak about my books in front of two of my writing heroes! *Gulp*

On Thursday, bleary eyed from my late night at Totleigh, I stumbled into school for my one day a week of teaching. Between lessons and via a very dodgy WIFI connection, I discovered that Frost Hollow Hall had won the Hillingdon Libraries Book of the Year Award!

http://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/article/29864/Hillingdon-Primary-Book-of-the-Year-2015

Local schools had to choose their favourite book from a shortlist of 8 and perform/present aspects of it to the (rather large) audience. The whole ceremony was live-tweeted, with pics! I’ve never seen so many Tillys and Gracies and Dorcases in my life! Fabulous!

The week isn’t over yet so I can’t write the ending. Which reminds me…. I can’t put it off for ever.

THE NORTH EAST BOOK AWARDS 2013

Until last Thursday evening, I’d never won anything. Winning £2.50 on the Lottery doesn’t count. Nor does the prize of a mouldy fruit basket in our school raffle. And let’s not forget my one red rosette for showjumping, won thirty years ago, and now lost in a box full of seconds and thirds and fourths.
So as I boarded my train to Newcastle last Thursday for the North East Book Awards, I didn’t seriously think I’d win. It was a massive honour just to be going.

The shortlist consisted of four brilliant books: My Friend The Enemy by Dan Smith, Chasing The Dark by Sam Hepburn, The Poison Boy by Fletcher Moss and Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell. Two of these books had already won big literary prizes- and for very good reason. So I was pretty certain of the outcome before I’d even arrived.

The event itself was fabulous. We gathered at the Newcastle Centre For Life to meet 250+ students, librarians, teachers, parents. Pairs of students introduced each author by making a strong case for why that book should win. Ellen and Mrugaya, whose pitch for Frost Hollow Hall made me blush, introduced me. And what a treat to hear the other authors talk about their books. I could’ve listened for hours.

But this was an awards ceremony, and that moment had arrived. The gold envelope was opened. I heard a sentence I’ll never forget: ‘ The winner is… FROST HOLLOW HALL!’
It was like being hit over the head with a frying pan- cartoon style. I truly did not believe it. I think I said a little swear word. I also had to fight the tears. Here was a book prize voted for by students, who’d read my book and thought it was all right. Pretty all right. It was the most amazing feeling.

Congrats were also due to Dan Smith whose brilliant My Friend The Enemy won ‘ Highly Commended’, and to Fletcher , Sam and Katherine for their shortlisting. Not forgetting the amazing Eileen Armstrong, school librarian extraordinaire, who is the force behind this prize

The rest of that lovely evening passed in a daze. I’m still not completely daze-free yet. Maybe I shouldn’t be so sniffy about that £2.50 on the Lottery or the mouldy fruit basket. After all, a winning streak has to start somewhere, right?

To find out more about the event and the shortlist

http://northeastbookaward.wordpress.com

SECOND BOOK SYNDROME

As I blog, the very final version of The Girl Who Walked On Air is at the printers. ARCs are already in circulation, promotional events being planned. It doesn’t seem five minutes ago that Frost Hollow Hall was taking its first wobbly steps into the big wide world. And yet here we are, eight months later, with book 2 about to hit the shelves (the 7th August to be exact).
Does it feel different this time round?
Yes. And no.

Frost Hollow Hall was special. It was my very first taste of being published. I’ve been reviewed- nicely and not so nicely. I’ve walked- all right, raced  – into bookshops to look for MY BOOK, squealed when I’ve found it, sighed when I’ve not. I’ve gone cross-eyed over the weird magic that is Amazon rankings. I’ve met some truly inspirational people in the industry, and plenty more WONDERFUL readers. I’ve been longlisted, shortlisted…. I won’t go on. Suffice to say it’s been a massive learning curve. It still is.

 

With The Girl Who Walked On Air I’m no longer a shiny debut. Readers of Frost Hollow Hall might have expectations. So might my publishers: I don’t want to let anyone down. I suppose I have my own expectations too. Perhaps the two books will be compared- hang on, aren’t I doing that myself? The truth is I don’t know how this will all play out. I expect you can hear my anxiety. Just like last time, it’s there.
Yet with that anxiety comes excitement. Massive, fizzing, punch the air excitement. I’ve written the best story I could. I’m proud of what my editor and I have achieved. This book feels like the real deal- I wrote it under contract, under pressure. Unlike Frost Hollow Hall, it didn’t come easily. It took discipline, focus and sheer hard work. Yes, the tightrope metaphor wasn’t lost on me! And now, with it’s glorious cover, it’s ready for the world.
The rest is for you, the reader, to decide.

THE GIRL WHO WALKED ON AIR COVER REVEAL!!

I’m thrilled- and a little bit nervous- to share with you the cover for The Girl Who Walked On Air ( due 7 August 2014). The cover for Frost Hollow Hall was pretty special. So many people commented on it, and not just because it sparkled! So, GWWOA did have a hard act to follow. Yet once again, Faber have done me proud. Hope you think so too!

           

(Blurb from Goodreads)

Abandoned as a baby at Chipchase’s Travelling Circus, Louie dreams of becoming a ‘Showstopper’. Yet Mr Chipchase only ever lets her sell tickets. No Death-Defying Stunts for her. So in secret, Louie practises her act- the tightrope- and dreams of being the Girl Who Walked on Air. All she needs is to be given the chance to shine.

One night a terrible accident occurs. Now the circus needs Louie’s help, and with rival show Wellbeloved’s stealing their crowds, Mr Chipchase needs a Showstopper- fast.

Against his better judgement, he lets Louie perform. She is a sensation and gets an offer from the sinister Mr Wellbeloved himself to perform in America. But nothing is quite as it seems and soon Louie’s bravery is tested not just on the highwire but in confronting her past and the shady characters in the world of the circus . . .

Fans of Frost Hollow Hall will love this epic adventure, where courage takes many different forms.

CELEBRATION TIME!

Last week was a week of BIG NEWS. News so lovely I’ve only just calmed down enough to share it.

Ready to hear it?

Deep breath.

Here goes.

I am delighted…no, thrilled… no, ECSTATIC to announce my new book deal. I’ll be writing three more books for Faber Childrens. I’ve had such a brilliant time working with the team on Frost Hollow Hall and The Girl Who Walked on Air, so this is just the finest of fine news.

And as if the week couldn’t get any better, on Friday I was then told that Frost Hollow Hall had been shortlisted for the North East Book Award. WHOOP! It’s my very first shortlisting and caused much shrieking in the Carroll household.

And yes, a cork or two did pop.

The Downs and Ups of 2013

There aren’t too many years I’ve got to the end of and thought ‘ wow, I really DID something this year.’ 2013 is one. It is and always will be the year I got published.

Yet 2013 didn’t exactly start full of promise. In January I had a health scare that stirred up old worries. Luckily, all was fine. Then I caught cold after flu after cold and was beginning to think I’d never be well again.

It didn’t help that my day job as a secondary school teacher got even more stressful. In April, Ofsted arrived, armed with their ‘new’ criteria. The experience was so soul-destroying, many brilliant teachers considered resigning on the spot.

During all this, I was struggling with book 2. Writing to contract felt different; no more contemplating a single sentence for three hours. I worked to a strict weekly word count. Many times when I felt ill or tired or totally uninspired, I had to force myself to write. It was a good experience, because in the end I still produced a story I’m proud of.

And yes, eventually the sun did come out. By May, Frost Hollow Hall had the most gorgeous cover. In July, I received my very first copies. We had a long, hot summer, and I finished book 2 a week ahead of deadline. Hoorah!

By the end of the summer, the first reviews for Frost Hollow Hall began appearing. Let me tell you, this was probably the most nerve-wracking part of the publication journey. I kept thinking of all my book’s flaws- what wasn’t quite right still, what could’ve been better- and hoped other readers would see it differently.

When the 3^rd October finally arrived, I was buzzing so much I couldn’t sleep. Those next few days of launch party and book signings were among my very best times EVER.

A big high came from working with my local indie bookshops. They were all so supportive of the book, and an absolute joy to do events with. Also, the bloggers- online I met many great people who are a credit to the world of literature. Their passion for books is astounding. So too the brilliant librarians who know SO much it’s humbling!

Through October, November and December, I did school visits, a festival, a candlelit reading, a Waterstones signing. I did a book tour of Essex schools with the Just Imagine Story Centre. And I’ve LOVED every minute. Beforehand, I’d felt quite nervous about sharing something as personal as my book. It’s very different to teaching. Now I realize that maybe that’s the appeal!

So, 2013 has been quite a year. I hope 2014 is too- it’s got big boots to fill.