BOOKWORDS

Hamish McHaggis 20th Anniversary Celebrations 2005-2025

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Strachan) — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 16:23:00 +0000

Exciting summer ahead with all sorts of great things coming up.

A brand new website www.hamishmchaggis.co.uk has all the details of the upcoming Hamish McHaggis anniversary tour with events starting on

at the Boswell Book Festival as part of their children's festival1

on 11th May 2025

Boswell Book Festival

The fabulous Falkirk Wheel day

on 14th June 2025

Falkirk Wheel

A wonderful Hamish McHaggis Family Day at the amazing Glamis Castle

on 5th July 2025

Hamish Hamish McHaggis Day at Glamis Castle

There are more events coming see the website for details and later in the summer Hamish will be heading further north towards Loch Ness and Skye's amazing Dunvegan Castle

Hamish McHaggis has enjoyed many adventures with his friends across some of the country’s most famous landmarks including Glamis Castle, Falkirk Wheel, Loch Ness and the Falkirk Wheel.

Every day is different!

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Strachan) — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 22:51:00 +0000

Last week was a marathon of a week but enjoyable for all that!

I do love it when I get the chance to do a variety of things and last week was particularly interesting.

On Monday I travelled over to Glasgow to take part in the Aye Write book festival which takes place in Glasgow's magnificent Mitchell Library. This is the 10th Year of the festival.

Aye Write is in two halves and in past years I have taken part in Wee Write, the children's festival which is usually a few weeks earlier. But this time I was asked to run a workshop for adults on Writing for Children. I was delighted to discover that it was sold out, and it was a lovely group of interesting and interested people.

'Writing for Children' is such a wide subject that it is difficult to do it justice in a two hour workshop as those coming to it might be interested mainly in one area or another, although many writers who write for children write for more than one age group and more than one genre. It is part of what makes it so fascinating and rewarding. I hope those who attended enjoyed it and found something that worked for them.

There were quite a few interesting questions and as always there is rarely only one way to do something so I find myself being contradictory and hoping that I can get across that this is how writing works, there were very few absolutes and almost always someone will be able to show an example of how the opposite has been done and it has worked, often spectacularly!

At the end of the week I was listening to a panel of writers being asked which is the most difficult to write, the beginning, the middle or the end of a book. Each writer had a different answer and very good reasons for them.

On Tuesday I travelled up north to Aberdeen for two days of school visits in the city.

I like Aberdeen and it is just as well as I spend quite a lot of time there!

I was visiting primary schools on Wednesday and Thursday, 5 of them over two days so there was little time to stop in between.
All of the visits were with Hamish McHaggis books and it is always a joy to see how the schools and the children take to Hamish and his adventures, In some schools my visit was to launch them into a period of exploring Scotland with the books which works well, especially as there are Scottish Book Trust resources for teachers and the schools seemed to know all about them. Some of the children already had Hamish books at home and delighted in telling me which ones they had.

In one school, when I mentioned another of my books, part of a reading scheme. I wrote it some years ago, and I was delighted to discover that they were using it and two others of mine in the school. It is a favourite , part of the Rigby Stars called The Giant and the Frippit.

On the Thursday it was World Book Night and I had been invited to the Aberdeen Central Library to speak to parents and children as part of the celebrations.

It was fun!

There was also a Teddybear Sleepover in the library that evening, but Hamish decided he wanted to come home with me even though he and Library Ted were getting on fine!

Seems like they had a wild time in the library, when everyone else went home!

That night I headed home because the next morning the final day of the week was going to be more challenging than many in the recent past.

Soon it was Friday morning and the launch of Scotland's first YA (Young Adult) festival.

It had been quite a while in the making but all of a sudden it was here and I was going to be spending a good part of the day with 10 groups of teens ( anything between 5 and 15 at a time) in a constant changeover between 6 authors. At Cumbernauld Theatre this first celebration of Scottish YA authors was taking a fairly novel approach. While three of the authors did big auditorium sessions the other 6 of us were to have a chance to chat to small groups. I was a bit daunted but excited by the prospect even though I wasn't sure how it was going to work.

But it did work well as you can see on my ABBA blog on 28th April 'Yay YA! What a great day!'

http://awfullybigblogadventure.blogspot.co.uk/

It was a great end to a very busy week.

Now I plan to spend quite a lot more time writing! Hopefully the weather will be kind and I can get out to my shed.

Time - a complex idea.

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Strachan) — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 21:10:00 +0000

Time is something we take for granted. 'What time is it?' How often have you asked or been asked that question? There are so many commonplace questions or statements relating to time.

How long does it take?

How long do I have?

Isn't time flying.

Never enough time.

Give me time!

Time to go.

I wish time would stand still.

I could go on. We mark time, watch it, our lives are often ruled by the clock, appointments and schedules. we have timepieces in our homes, in cars, on our wrists, on our phones, in public places and it is often difficult to be anywhere without knowing or being able to find out what time it is. Clocks through the ages have been huge and tiny, magnificent and ultra modern, even clocks made of flowers. From fashion statements to design icons they are as varied as man's imagination.

But time, and time travel, is the fabric of many stories and that is something I am thinking about at the moment. I love playing with the idea of time, how we can or cannot change things, and in fact as a writer you are the master of time.

You can start a story at any point in time, you can jump forwards, and backwards in time, leading the reader along a winding road through lifetimes, before revealing the answer to the question that kept them reading.

But some stories use time as a main element of the plot. The ability to go back and change things is a tempting idea for all of us. How often have you wondered what would have happened if you had said or done something differently, with the benefit of hindsight or even just enough time to make a considered decision?

I have been considering time recently and finding it an exciting concept filled with problems to solve but opportunities to explore.

Time to go now, but I will be back...

Edinburgh Book Festival 2014 My event dates

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Strachan) — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 17:46:00 +0000

It's almost August and that means in about 10 days or so it will be time for the Edinburgh Book Festival 2014 to open its doors.

The site is being prepared from the grassy private square at the end of Edinburgh's Geroge Street that is Charlotte Gardens, into the tented vibrant book festival complete with Spiegeletent, bookshops event and party tents and of course the wonderful author's yurt that is the green room.

This year I am going to be there for two events - one in the public programme and another for younger children in the schools programme.

in the main children's programme is for 14+ and is called 'Motive and Intention' and I will be appearing with fellow YA author Laura Jarrett, and chaired by Julia Eccleshare.It is on Saturday 23rd August 7-8pm. We will be discussing our latest books -

Laura's 'Louder than Words' and my 'Don't Judge Me'

So if you are interested in reading or writing YA, why not come along and ask us some questions!

With a complete change of subject matter my second event is in the schools programme, where schools are invited to bring classes to the Book Festival to meet their favourite authors.

On 20th August I will be speaking to school classes in Charlotte Square about Hamish McHaggis and the Skirmish at Stirling.

In the programme it shows that this event was to be with my good friend and Hamish McHaggis illustrator,, Sally J. Collins, who sadly passed away a couple of weeks ago.

She had been looking forward to this event and I will miss her involvement but intend that it will be a celebration of all things Hamish, as Sally would have wished, including bringing up some children to hold the beautiful mini beasts that Sally created.

One of these creatures is hidden on each page, in each Hamish McHaggis book.

Sally J Collins 1951-2014

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Strachan) — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 09:37:00 +0000

Sally J Collins 1951-2014

‘Fluffy’ is a word that has been used often in the last few days as people share their memories of my dear friend, the talented illustrator of the Hamish McHaggis series. Sally was fluffy and gentle, kind and thoughtful but when it came to her artwork she was a consummate professional, with an incredible eye for detail.

We worked together for 10 years on the Hamish McHaggis books. Hamish McHaggis and the Great Glasgow Treasure Hunt was the latest, and now sadly the last of the ten books we did together.

I remember the fun we had going on trips to Glasgow’s Kelvingrove, Transport Museum and Pollok House so that Sally could do research for her illustrations.

Sally was always delighted when she heard of children who had taken Hamish to their hearts, sending us pictures, ideas for stories and families who told us Hamish was their favourite bedtime story, or cuddly toy.

Clan Gathering July 2009

We had an amazing time together working on the Hamish McHaggis books, which were a close collaboration; we were very much a partnership. We had huge fun over the years with book launches and events in Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle, Glamis Castle, at Balmoral, and on the Falkirk Wheel, and at the last Clan Gathering in 2009, when Hamish was the children’s mascot and we met people from all over the world who became dedicated Hamish fans.

We painted up a car as Hamish’s Whirry Bang and there is a full size Hamish

as well as the little soft toy Hamish, which Sally just loved to cuddle.

Sally was a kind and generous friend and colleague, and a delightful person to be around and she will be sadly missed but her delightful images will live on in the books to remind us of her.

Making bread - taking time to plot...

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Strachan) — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 13:51:00 +0000

When I am writing I often take a break and nothing makes me relax more than cooking, and especially making bread.
When my children were small for more than a year, between my second and third child, I never bought a loaf of bread. Instead I baked about 3-4 smallish loaves every few days.
I worked out a way to make it fit easily into my routine by starting after tea in the evening putting the ingredients together and kneading the dough and putting it away in a large bowl, in the fridge overnight.

The next morning I would knock the dough back while the children were having breakfast which only took a few minutes, and put it away somewhere warm to rise again. After lunch I kneaded it again and placed it into loaf tins to rise a final time. After tea was out of the oven I popped the loaves in and they were ready to leave cooling while the children were put to bed.

I even had fun experimenting with different flours, but in the end the most practical for us was a third strong white flour, a third wholemeal and a third berrymeal (which had seeds in it.) This made a delicious loaf that sliced easily and everyone was happy to eat it.

There is something very satisfying about kneading bread and then seeing it rise. Even more wonderful is that delicious smell of newly baked bread permeating the house.

I find that breadmaking has made its way into my writing every now and then. It can be an interesting way to occupy a character while something is happening, or a discussion is taking place, the kneading of the bread can be used to highlight the emotional turmoil of the character or spark memories that the smell evokes.

Oe of the other wonderful things about breadmaking is that it has no strict timescape, it can rise for longer or shorter, as time demands, and there are so many variation that it is never boring.

So I am off to check and see if my bread has risen yet and kneading has already given me time to work out a kink in the plot I am working on, so win-win!

NZ 3 Off to the farm... There be sheep!

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Strachan) — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 21:06:00 +0000

Continuing the blogs about our recent trip to Australia and then New Zealand, where we were lucky enough to be invited to visit friends at their farm, just in time to see them shearing some of their sheep.

Here they are in the pen waiting their turn.

I was very impressed with the speed and dexterity of the sheep shearers.

And the quantity of wool they were producing that all had to be swept aside and collected in large canvas sacks that were compressed before being closed.

This is a tally sheet from 27th Dec 1952!

Then it was time for a trip around the farm. Those look like Hobbitses hills!

After the farm we headed up to Lake Taupo.

If you are looking for a way to entertain your kids why not stop at McDonald's and let them look inside their plane.

But I think I prefer the lakeside, and the peace and quiet down at Oruatua

But soon we were heading back to Auckland where the view from our hotel made me a trifle dizzy at times!

We took a ferry trip, and went for walks, and found some quite amazing trees

While we were in Auckland we met up with the lovely Trevor and Diane who were on holiday there, too. They run the Kids Lit Quiz in Newcastle.

And we also had a lovely evening and a delicious meal with Wayne Mills, the quiz master himself, who was touching base at home in between his international travels to bring the quiz to even more countries than ever before. I have no idea where he gets the energy! Hope to see you all later in the year when the UK heats are on.

Before we knew it time had come to catch our big white bird and take to the skies on the way home.

NZ 2 The arrival of the 'City of Adelaide'

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Strachan) — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 10:21:00 +0000

We were on our way to Adelaide when I discovered that an old friend who lives close to us at home was due to sail into the port while we were there.

Rita Brad is a writer from East Lothian in Scotland who had been researching the story of the cutter 'The Carrick' other wise known as 'The City of Adelaide'.

This is Rita, with Peter Christopher who was director in charge of getting the clipper back to Australia

This old lady of the sea had been in Glasgow but funds were raised to return it to Adelaide. Rita travelled on the container ship transporting the cutter, all the way from Rotterdam, across to the USA and then on to Australia.

They had been due in the same day as we arrived there but due to a quite dangerous storm just off Port Hedland Australia, they were delayed.

But thankfully they arrived safely into Adelaide Port.

It was lovely to catch up with Rita and hear all about her amazing journey and also to see the clipper up close.

Sadly it was all too soon time to leave Adelaide and head off to New Zealand, where it was a little cooler!

IN Auckland the skies were blue and the weather was a very pleasant 25-26degrees. Perfect!

We went to stay with friends in their lovely house in the north

and arrived just in time to help celebrate their little one's second birthday! She just loves Elmo!

We had a great time there and also went a little further up the coast and had a walk along wide deserted beaches.

After a bit we headed off towards Mount Maunganui, but on the way there I was interested to see this decoration of what could so easily have been just an eyesore!

and then we arrived at Mt Maunganui, sparkling water and beautiful scenery.

Austalia 1 - There and back again.....

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Strachan) — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 01:32:00 +0000

It's only been two weeks (OK so a busy- around World Book Day events- 2 weeks) but already it seems as if we've been back for ages!

Our trip to Australia and New Zealand began as such things often do, with a series of fairly long flights.

We usually like to fly through Singapore, and even if, as this time we don't get out of the airport, it is in my opinion the best airport in the world - not that I've seen quite that many but it would take something to beat Changi Airport. Last time we were there a chap was playing a grand piano in the middle of a seating area and this time there were these amazing flower displays

and places where large goldfish swim in tranquil waters. there is even a butterfly enclosure.

This was a very GREEN leaning tower of Pisa!

The airport also has an outdoor swimming pool on the roof of one of the terminals.

But if you get the chance it is also well worth getting out of the airport and taking a trip into Singapore.

We stopped in Adelaide, South Australia, first but in what has become a bit of a habit we arrived jsut as they were about to experience their hottest weather for 100 years!! (We'd had a similar experience last time we visited Melbourne a few years ago!)

Adelaide (what we saw of it when not trying to avoid the heat) was lovely. Wide open streets, some thankfully had overhanging shelter so you can walk about even when ti is so very hot!I loved this small park area with its sculptures.

And the giant cockroach seemed to be quite happy with the temperature, or was that the easy reach of the shops and arcades around it, perhaps?

There are a lot of parks and green areas, and this is the view at dusk,(or was it dawn?) from our cool air-conditioned hotel room. (oops forgot to put it in!! (Updated now!)

We met up with the lovely 'catdownunder' a blogger and writer who lives in Adelaide and sweetly kept on apologising for the uncomfortable weather, as if she could have done something to change it!! We had a lovely afternoon chatting under a very large tree in the botanical gardens and on another day she took us to visit the migration Museum and discovered what life was like for the early migrants to South Australia

We found a lovely little coffee shop where everything was home made and the morning coffee was very good,

and enjoyed wandering around the old style arcades, too.

I am often amazed by the juxtaposition of the old and the new, the traditional and the modern. Is this sacrilege or beauty? I can't decide!

Winner of the' Where would you take your Hamish?' Competition

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Strachan) — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 09:20:00 +0000

We had a lovely morning on 1st December in Looking Glass Books in Edinburgh, when Sally J Collins and I told Hamish McHaggis stories and drew the winners of the ‘Where would you take your Hamish?’ competition, with the help of our young audience.

And, of course Hamish came along too! Here he is with a wee Hamish, and Sally!

Lauren Peattie was the lucky winner of the Hamish competition. Her picture was drawn from all the many entries.

Pictured here with Fiona from Longniddry Library, receiving her prize of a cuddly Hamish, a signed book (she chose Hamish McHaggis and the Search fro the Lost Prince) and other Hamish goodies.

Well done, Lauren!

Miriam Jeavons, from Newington Library in Edinburgh, took Hamish to Fairyland and was runner up winning the Hamish McHaggis Activity and Story Book.

Here are some of the Hamish McHaggis entries…

From Prestonpans Library

From Longniddry Library

And from Gullane Library

……………………………………………………..

Where would you take your Hamish McHaggis? It's a competition!

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Strachan) — Fri, 08 Nov 2013 21:17:00 +0000

Ever since the Hamish McHaggis toy arrived earlier this year I've had some lovely photos sent to me of Hamish with his new friends. Hamish seems to get everywhere!

So I decided it would be fun to run a competition with a bag of Hamish goodies as a prize.

Libby

Here are some of the wee Hamish fans and where they take their Hamish!

Libby

Little Libby in New Zealand is a great Hamish fan. He goes everywhere with her!

Libby and Hamish

When her grandparents came to Scotland this summer they were under strict orders to get another Hamish for her, just in case he got lost or worn out!

Matthew and Hamish

Little Matthew from West Lothian in Scotland likes to take his Hamish to bed with him, to ensure he has sweet dreams!

Zoe

Zoe was visiting from Northern Ireland when she was delighted to spot Hamish in Waterstones window in Princes Street, Edinburgh.

Eilidh with her Hamish

And this is the lovely Eilidh who loves her Hamish so much that when she was going to be a bridesmaid at her auntie's wedding she had to take Hamish along.

He is looking very smart in this photo with his tartan bowtie!

Eilidh

And doesn't Eilidh look gorgeous in her bridesmaid dress!

Lucy and Alan - Congratulations!

Hamish decided he just had to get his photo taken with the bride and groom!

Sheonad, Eilidh's mum, has a great blog. Do drop by and have a look. www.touchandtickle.blogspot.co.uk
Eilidh has Spinal Muscular Atrophy and her mum Sheonad is working to raise awareness of the condition.

Poppy with her Hamish in the Woods

And this is Poppy who loves to go for long walks in the woods with her mummy and daddy, but Hamish often insists on going along, too!

So where would you take your Hamish?

The two winners will each get a Hamish cuddly toy, Hamish goodies including a Hamish McHaggis book which will be dedicated and signed by both myself and the illustrator Sally J. Collins.
There will also be some runner up prizes of signed copies of the Hamish McHaggis Activity and Story book.

In conjunction with Looking Glass Books in Edinburgh we are running the competition for young Hamish fans. All you have to do is download and print out this picture of Hamish

There will be a list of participating libraries on the lookingglassbooks facebook events page you can also enter the competition by handing in your entry there, The libraries will also will be putting up displays of the entries.

All the information about the competition is also on the poster below
Once you have coloured in Hamish you can decide where you would take him.
and....

Either draw and colour in the background of the picture with where you would take Hamish, and take a photo of your picture

OR cut out Hamish and take a photo of him in your favourite place.

Then click on the link below and upload your photo onto the competition page of the website Lookingglassbooks facebook events page before midnight the closing date of St Andrew's Day - 30th November 2013. Winners will be drawn on Sunday 1st December at a special event in the Looking Glass Books Bookshop, Quartermile, 3 Porters Walk, EH3 9GG Edinburgh.

Hey diddle de dee -a writer's life for me

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Strachan) — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 12:30:00 +0000

Hey diddle de dee -a writer's life for me- is a blog post I wrote for the Awfully Big Blog Adventure blog over a year ago... in case you missed it, I thought it was a bit of fun and worth sharing again!

We writers are emotional beings. We live in our heads but our emotions rule.

Perhaps it is because we spend so much time living our characters' lives, feeling their joys and sorrows and getting angry or sad for them.

We journey through their roads of despair and frustration when we make things go wrong in their lives - as they always must, or there would be no story to tell.
For that very reason it is only on rare occasions that we can share their elation and joy when everything is going well. Because as soon as we do we are plotting ways to make it all go horribly wrong again.

While all these emotional roller coasters are swooping around in our heads as we play God with our characters, in the big world outside we have families, commitments and other pressures to contend with.

As if that was not enough there are the emotional highs and lows, the joys and frustrations of being a writer....

8.30am Full of enthusiasm for the day, determined that lots will get written which will, without doubt turn out to be a bestseller.

9.00am Phone call from publisher who says YES! to a new book- Celebratory wild dance around the house- until a neighbour is looking strangely at you through the window. Make coffee and prepare to start writing.

10.00 Notice that someone has written a scathing review on Amazon - depths of despair.

11.00 An invitation arrives by email to take part in a great new project, praises abound for your skill and expertise. no one else will do.

12.00  The morning is over and not a word written - It is surely all rubbish anyway- can't write at all, should give it all up. Decide to give it one last try and find the flow.... just as the phone rings.

1pm   It is a call from mother she is unwell and needs to be taken to the doctor, NOW!

2pm  Check email on phone while at doctor's to discover there has been a spelling error on an advertising brochure for a festival you have been invited to. Unfortunately thousands have been printed already calling you not a writer but a Best Selling WILTER! You check the dictionary to find out what a wilter is.

3pm Arrive home determined to get an hour or two of solid writing before the day becomes a complete disaster and settle down, losing yourself in the domestic mayhem that surrounds your characters following the car accident you created yesterday ' just to spice things up a bit'. You discover you have incapacitated a main character and written yourself into a corner. Aaargh!

4pm Stomping around the room you step on the cat's tail, knock over your half drunk cup of coffee onto a pile of new books you had forgotten to put away and an important letter you should have posted yesterday.

5pm. After clearing up the mess you decide to take your mind off it to see if your subconscious can work out the problem with the plot while you mess about on facebook, and Twitter,and read a few blogs.

5 mins to 6 You have the solution. Elated and typing furiously you are completely lost in the best thing you have written for ages, it is really happening on the page and nothing can stop you now...

6pm The door bangs and your partner arrives back from work tired and hungry, asking if you are ready to leave because the reservation for the restaurant is for 7 and the traffic is dreadful.

Your characters are in limbo, half reaching for each other, in mid argument, freeze framed.

With your head still in their world, you close down the computer and attempt to look delighted as you prepare to leave them behind for an outing that had seemed like a good idea just a few days before.

Little wonder that at times we feel we have writer's block, that nothing will work and ideas seem to turn to dust,when every plot line rolls off uselessly, like tumble weed blowing haphazardly into the wilderness.

Perhaps, as we live in our heads this is our subconscious telling us that it is time for a rest, a break from the constant highs and lows, time to re group, to let ideas float around in the air without trying to pin them down.

Even when it seems like there will never be another idea worth chasing to the rainbow's end, eventually, like rising from a good sleep our creative self emerges unscathed.

It is as if nothing has happened and we are ready to dip into other worlds and explore our characters and their emotions again.

What a delight!

Interesting meetings at Edbookfest!

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Strachan) — Wed, 09 Oct 2013 19:51:00 +0000

I had a lovely audience at my Edinburgh Book Festival event, lots of great questions and it was
good to chat to some of the young readers afterwards in the signing tent.

One young lady said she was half way through Don't Judge Me and was really enjoying it but she already knew who had started the fire in the story.

When she told me who she thought it was, I suggested that she might change her mind as she read further on!

After my event I was going to be away for the rest of the first week of the book festival, tutoring a course for adults on Writing for Children at the Arvon Foundation Writer's Centre in beautiful Monick Mhor near Inverness, but more about that in my next blog.

In the second week of the book festival I had some interesting times.

I went to listen to Sophie MacKenzie who I was to be speaking with at the Bloody Scotland Crime Festival in September.

I was keen to hear her speaking about her latest YA novel Split Second. It was fascinating and her audience were obviously keen fans of her books.

I also had some interesting moments in the Author's Yurt, the 'green room'. You never quite know who you will meet there.

These characters were perhaps stranger than most, although they did seem friendly!

I also met up two excellent writers Liz Kessler and Joanna Nadin and I went to listen to them talking about their very different books.
They were being introduced by Julie Gamble from Blackwells Bookshop.

Joanna Nadin and Liz Kessler

Jo Nadin, Liz Kessler and Julie Gamble

With Cat Clarke

Afterwards we all had fun catching up in the lovely sunshine outside the Yurt, where we were joined by local Edinburgh YA writer Cat Clarke.

Nicola Morgan was looking far too serious. I wondered if she was trying to work up a bit of a spell here, so I had to take a picture!

Not sure if it was the glorious sunshine this year but it seemed as if everyone was in playful mood!

Francesca Simon

Lots of fun was had by all until, for another year, the Edinburgh International Book festival drew to a close.

Summer festivals have been fun and it started at the seaside!

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Strachan) — Wed, 09 Oct 2013 19:09:00 +0000

I am finally back at my desk after an incredibly busy couple of months and some interesting events and experiences.

At the beginning of August I started the festival season off in East Lothian at North Berwick's lovely Fringe by the Sea festival.

North Berwick and the white tents of The Fringe By The Sea Festival

This excellent festival runs for a week, just before its much bigger cousins in The Edinburgh International, Fringe and Book festivals get going. It is a vibrant mixture of music, books, comedy and much more, all happening in the sunny seaside town of North Berwick.

It was really lovely to be at a festival somewhere so close to home and the sun always makes it even better.

The Bass Rock

The very next day I was off to Charlotte Square for the start of the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Some of my recent blog posts elsewhere...

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Strachan) — Sat, 31 Aug 2013 11:43:00 +0000

I regularly blog for a couple of collaborative blogs such as ABBA

and also Picturebook Den

and in case you have missed them here are a few of my more recent blogs

It's all up in the air- creativity is so fragile

on ABBA about....how fragile creativity can be

'It is a fragile thing this bubble of creativity and it can so easily be burst by negative thoughts and worries. '

and

'...the real joy, and angst..' of being a writer.

Some of the other things a writer does when they are not actually writing the 'book words'.

On Picturebook Den the post Getting to the heart of a picture book

Busting some common misconceptions about how easy it must be to write a picture book evidenced by comments such as

'there are so few words' and 'it is just a story for little children'

How do you get to the heart of a picture book text?
Do you need rhyme? How trying to make the text rhyme can push the story out of shape and make the text unwieldy.

Talking about where to start, and how hard it can be to make it work with so few words.

There are lots of great posts by the other contributors on both ABBA and Picturebook Den, all members of the 'other SAS' the Scattered Authors Society, so why not drop by !

Bloody Scotland - International Festival of Crime

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Strachan) — Fri, 23 Aug 2013 13:43:00 +0000

A spatter of blood as a map of Scotland - it can only mean the Bloody Scotland Crime Festival

13th-15th September 2013 If you love reading crime it's a weekend to DIE for!

I am delighted to have been asked to take part in Bloody Scotland this year and I am sharing the stage with Sophie McKenzie, a fantastic writer and the award-winning author of a whole range of teen thrillers.

It looks like being a really interesting afternoon. Our event is called Breaking the Boundary and will give us a chance to chat about how we go about writing our books and what the challenges are when writing teenage crime novels. Come along and ask you own questions!

http://www.bloodyscotland.com/breaking-the-boundary/

There is such an amazing programme of events, welcoming a fabulous array of crime writers from all over the world as well as a host of our own fabulous Tartan Noir. There is something for everyone to enjoy, discover new books and another writer to add to your reading list.

There are events with Lee Child, Jo Nesbo and Arne Dhal, Lin Anderson, Alanna Knight, Quentin Jardine, Alex Gray, Denise Mina, Christopher Brookmyre and Val McDermid and a host of other great writers.

On the website www.bloodyscotland.com you can vote for the Scottish Crime Book of the Year award and the Short Story Competition. You can book tickets and find out more about all the wonderful events and authors.

Definitely not to be missed!

A picture book for wee Prince George.

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Strachan) — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 18:25:00 +0000

With all the excitement over the new arrival it seemed timely to look at a book set in Balmoral. The Queen is about to set off for her annual holiday at Balmoral and, when he is a little older, William and Kate's new baby will no doubt join the rest of Royal family there for a holiday.

Hamish McHaggis and the Lost Prince

This Hamish adventure is not only set in the grounds and hills around Balmoral but Angus, the pine marten, has a chance encounter with the Queen and her corgis!

Hamish and his friends are asked by Shona, the red squirrel, if they will come up to Balmoral to help the other animals find the lost prince. Rupert is very excited because he is looking forward to meeting royalty so he is a little disconcerted to discover the prince in question is a deer prince, the son of the Monarch of the Glen. (on the cover!)

Hamish McHaggis cuddly toy

Angus manages to get lost, as often happens, and meets the Queen out walking with her corgis. A lovely heart warming story for all ages with delightful illustrations by the talented Sally J. Collins.

Hamish spotting!!! Have you spotted Hamish McHaggis?

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Strachan) — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 08:56:00 +0000

Cuddly Hamish McHaggis toy has been out and about for a couple of months now and he is turning up all over the place.

Poppy and Hamish (Scotland)

Little Hamish fans have been spotted taking him on walks to the woods.

Libby and Hamish (New Zealand)

Taking him out shopping (Dashing out to avoid the paparazzi!)

and Zoe, who is visiting from Northern Ireland, spotted Hamish in the window of Waterstones, Princes Street, in Edinburgh

HAVE YOU SPOTTED HAMISH?

There are10 books in the series about Hamish McHaggis and all his adventures!

Giveaway- A copy of Writing for Children

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Strachan) — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 20:58:00 +0000

There's a giveaway of my book about writing and it is happening as part of the 5th birthday celebrations on ABBA the Awfully Big Blog Adventure But you will have to be quick!
I will be drawing the winner on Monday (15th July 2013).

WRITING FOR CHILDREN
'... everything a beginning author could possibly need to know, in the straightforward and unassuming manner of one who has been doing it for years.' Rosalie Warren

The winner will get a signed and dedicated copy of my book Writing For Children. It is aimed at aspiring or newly published children's writers. So if that is you, or you know someone who would like a copy, why not drop by my birthday post on ABBA - P.A.R.T.Y. Time and a giveaway

Writing for children is not just one kind of writing. If you are writing a picture book or a book that is to be used to teach children to read they are quite different and there are things you need to know about what makes it a children's book. What is different about writing for different ages of children? What works and what doesn't? What about format and length and how to present it to a publisher?

The beginning of this book looks in some detail at the various kinds of writing and markets you may be writing for when writing for children of all ages.
It looks at writing picture books and novels - writing books used to teach reading - writing series fiction - non fiction and what works for different ages of children.
There are lots of great hints and tips from some amazing and successful children's writers.

The second section is all about the craft of writing for children - such as ways to spark ideas, about plot and POV, about how to make characters come alive. At each part of this section there are exercises to try.

It looks at submitting your carefully written book. How to approach a publisher and an agent and how to present your manuscript in a professional manner.

The final section is all about what happens when you get that all important publishing contract. The reality behind the hype. What it means to be a working children's writer and things you need to know about finances, contracts, publicity and promoting yourself. It tells you about organising school visits and other events and how to make sure it all works well for both you and the organiser.

There is also a glossary and some lists of useful information.

So if you are keen to get your hands on a copy pop along to the giveaway. Good luck!

‘Linda Strachan is one of those authors who not only nails it on the page, but is also a master at explaining how and why she writes what she writes.’ Philip Ardagh (The Guardian)

Summertime catch up - 1

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Strachan) — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 16:43:00 +0000

It is lovely to have some summery days again. Blue skies, puffy white clouds and the windsurfers out on the water.

'Tuscany' - my shed

At the moment I am busy writing in my shed,
losing myself in a story.

It's been really hectic these last few months so perhaps it is time for a bit of a catch up!

March and April were very busy months when I was away a lot visiting schools and libraries all over the country. You can fine out about some of my events on my website and on the two other blogs I contribute to Awfully Big Blog Adventure.blogspot.co.uk (ABBA) and Picturebook Den

In February I went to watch a play Running on the Cracks in Glasgow.

It is taken from the book by Julia Donaldson and afterwards Julia and I went for a meal with some other great children's writers - Cathy McPhail, Vivian French and Theresa Breslin who have all had at least one of their books made into a play or a film- Well done, girls.
Made me wonder about how one of my YA novels would work if it was made into a play or a film.
[Any young film makers out there, do get in touch! :) ]

You can find out more about Running on the Cracks by reading my blog about it When is a book not a book? on ABBA

In March I had a special delivery! The new Hamish McHaggis Cuddly Toy - available in bookshops

Hamish 10" cuddly toy

The Hamish McHaggis series now has 10 books - 9 story books and one that is a story and activity book.

Hamish has fans all over the world and he loves to hear from them.

The books are also used in schools and there is a set of free teachers' resources Scottish Book Trust that can be downloaded from Scottish Book Trust website Free Resources - Hamish McHaggis

In March I also visited the Aye Write Festival in Glasgow's wonderful Mitchell Library and along with Hamish we had a lot of fun with the school children who came to the sessions to meet Hamish and listen to the stories. You can read more about it on my website www.lindastrachan.com

What Colour do you think Love is, on this Valentine's Day?

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Strachan) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:12:00 +0000

Here is your question for Valentine's Day.

Does Love have a colour? If so, what colour do you think it is?

Whatever colour you choose ...

Have a Happy Valentine's Day

Give someone you love a hug today!

......

Starting on a positive note!

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Strachan) — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 22:36:00 +0000

Tuscany

Tomorrow I need to get out to Tuscany (my shed - for those who missed that!) and open it up ready for the new year -I've been hibernating with a nasty bug for company since the year turned!

It's always good to get back to my desk after the festivities are over, even if the first task is to clear away the mess and prepare for the year ahead.

I have made a start with a new diary and I have started on a new book (actually two new books, and several other ideas are trying hard to push themselves forward) but I am determined to be more disciplined and so have made a few resolutions.

I found last year that too many days slipped by when I was not actually doing any writing. I was asked at a school at the end of the year if I wrote every day and I mumbled and then had to admit that recently I have found days/weeks going by when I have not actually written anything other than a blog such as this or for either of the two collaborative blogs I write for, ABBA (Awfully Big Blog Adventure) and Picturebook Den .

SO these are my resolutions....
1 To make sure that each and every day I will write for at the very least 30 minutes! More of course would be better, and I will naturally write for much longer if I have a deadline, but this is the absolute minimum.
2 To make sure I am not writing more than one thing at a time (or two possibly- sigh, seems discipline is slipping already and I can't make myself keep to just one after all!)
3 Not to take on too many things that interfere with writing.....
4 To keep those above (because making any more resolutions will just mean I won't keep to them!)

Meanwhile there have been a some lovely comments coming in about Don't Judge Me now that people have got their copies. It seems I may have succeeded in keeping them guessing, which is great. You can read The Bookwitch review on the link on the right. Below are a couple of comments left on Facebook for me, thanks for these - makes it all worth while!

From Gerry (the Mole) 'I'm reading "Don't Judge Me" by Linda Strachan and writing the review in my head already... ' (Looking forward to reading it, Gerry!)

***
'Last night I was up until 3.30am because I couldn't put down Don't Judge Me. If ever there was an award winning book, this is it. I'll acknowledge up front I know and like Linda and generally admire all her work, but I can honestly say this is an extraordinary book. From the breathless opening to the satisfying conclusion piece after piece of a puzzle drops into place examining how easy and how dangerous it is to misjudge one another. Excellent Y A book that will also appeal to adults.'
Caroline Dunford

***
'Hi, just wanted you to know I really enjoyed Don't Judge Me! So many twists and so many complex, difficult social issues addressed. Really entertaining and I had to keep reading as the characters get under your skin and you want to know who did what. Thank you :)'
Lindsey Mizen

Happy New Year - It's 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Strachan) — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 10:34:00 +0000

I wish you all a happy, healthy and successful 2013 - and may the road ahead be calm and peaceful.

A book's journey- from idea to launch

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Strachan) — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 00:29:00 +0000

I find that writing a book is a mixture of delight and despair, depending on which part of the process I'm at when you ask me.

I find delight in the initial idea, which is greeted with a quiet bubbling excitement that grows as I begin to see it take shape in my head. The cast of characters emerge, warts and all, as if coming out of the mist and gradually taking shape. Showing me their true nature as I slowly learn more about them.

The dismay usually comes in about half or three quarters of the way through the book when I become convinced that it is terrible and should be consigned to the bin. Thankfully it is usually soon after that when I begin to see the end and the delight creeps back. I get all excited about the story again because I can see how it is all going to come together.
It is a real emotional rollercoaster.

Writers approach their books in different ways and I don't think there is a right or wrong way to write a book, there is just the way that works for you. Some plan and some don't.
I don't really plan, at least not much. I prefer to see where the book takes me.
I knew what I wanted to do with Don't Judge Me. I wanted to look at the way we all make judgements about people around us, our friends, our family, even people we meet in the street.
I wanted to look at how these judgements can affect the way we react to people. How even family or friends will underestimate each other, or have preconceived ideas about what someone is capable of - good or bad.
These ideas people have about us might be so different to the way we feel inside; who we feel we are or could be, given the chance. It is a 'whodunnit', but for a long time while I was writing it I could not decide exactly who had done it. I kept changing my mind.
So the book took a bit longer than I had expected, that is when you need a patient publisher. My thanks to Keith at Strident for believing in it, and me!

Once I did get to the end the next thing was to make sure I didn't give away too much too soon- that the suspense is kept up, and basically that the book works! That is when you need a good editor who understands what you are trying to do and keeps a clear and calm head when you are losing the plot, figuratively as well as literally!
So, my thanks to Alison, whose voice is always smiling, as she is here, standing at the back of this photo!

I often need to do research for the books I write and I always enjoy that part of it. When I discover just how much I don't know about the subject I am writing about, that is when I start to ask people. I go out and about, and try to find experts.

Members of the Fire Service checking up on me!

I have to say at this point no one is responsible for the way I use the information they give me, because it is after all a work of fiction! And sometimes writers have to use a bit of creative licence in interpreting reality to make it fit the plot.
The hope is that if I do my job well enough most people- aside from the aforementioned experts - will not notice or realise where I have been economical with the facts.

Also I hope that where I have cut corners it is not something that will misinform my young readers in any to any great extent.
I feel there is a responsibility to give them a reasonably accurate view of the world, but most of all I hope to give them a great story that they will not want to put down, one that they will want to read, and tell their friends about.

The book is finally ready and the cover design has to be finalised. Despite the fact that I have had some great book covers over the years, I still get nervous until I see the finished version.

With Don't Judge Me I loved the cover images the designer came up with and then it was only the choice between two or three that were similar but had slight differences.
I was absolutely delighted with the finished cover. It is really dramatic!

The lovely thing about having a book launch is that you can have a party and CAKE and you can share the excitement of launching a new book into the world with friends and readers.
I was especially delighted that we had so many young readers at the book launch from library and school reading groups, along with their teachers and librarians. Some had travelled quite a distance to be there. These are the readers the book was written for and hopefully they will find something in it to interest, intrigue and engage them.

Thank you to all the lovely readers, writers, teachers, librarians, members of the fire Service, also family, friends and neighbours, who came along to share this great evening with me - it would not have been as much fun without you!

The youngest person at the launch

Thanks also to Caroline and the great staff at Waterstones who helped to make sure everything went so smoothly.

Holding the finished book in my hand it always seems as if it is a familiar stranger. The ideas that began this journey tossing about in the seas of my imagination have finally reached land and in doing so transformed themselves from intangibles to the physical, tactile thing that is a book.

Now you can hold it in your hand, turn the pages and read the words, hopefully turning it back into those intangible emotions and ideas.

Dip into the book and you will find out about Suzie, Jack, Jenna and Malky and the people in their lives. But they would each ask of you - DON'T JUDGE ME!

Books and cakes

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Strachan) — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 21:56:00 +0000

DON'T JUDGE ME Launch cake -

I think a celebration deserves a cake.

A book launch is a celebration so there needs to be cake, at least I think so.

With the launch of DON'T JUDGE ME last week I thought it was time for another celebration cake and the lovely people who came along seemed to agree with me!

The first book launch I ever had was in 2003, for my picture book
WHAT COLOUR IS LOVE?

I was keen to have the front of the book on the cake and the only way I could think of doing it was to ask a good friend of mine, who made wedding cakes, to make me a cake and paint the cover on the cake,(in edible food colour of course)

.I think she made a great job of it.


What colour is Love? Cake and some of the cuddly toys I use for school visits..

When I had my book launch for SPIDER in 2008 I discovered a great on line company (Caketoppers) who send you an exact copy of a photo printed on icing, It comes through the post and works wonderfully!

2008 was a busy year and my second book launch that year was for WRITING FOR CHILDREN and the lovely Mary Hoffman was staying with me and she showed that she is not only a great writer, she bakes a mean sponge cake!
We had a few laughs messing about in the kitchen but thankfully the cake was ready in time for the launch party and quite delicious!

The same year saw the launch of a new Hamish McHaggis. The Hamish books have been launched in various great venues such as the Falkirk Wheel, Edinburgh Castle, Glamis Castle and also Stirling Castle. But in 2008 we had the launch of The Lost Prince, in the grounds of Balmoral, on a beautifully sunny day. Back at home we also had a small launch party at Waterstones in Edinburgh and it was time for another cake!

Dead Boy Talking was launched at North Berwick High School in 2010 - by the great team of Platinum Pages Publication Promotions and their teacher who organised and promoted the launch, wrote reviews and even wrote and performed a short scene from the book. So once more a cake was the order of the day and was enjoyed by all.

BOOKS and CAKES - I think they go together really well!