I love this time of the year, autumn into Hallowe'en and then straight on til Christmas. So I'm especially pleased to be out and about a bit over the next few months. If you are around, why not come and say hello.
On Friday 28th October, I'm in Greenock Central Library from 4 - 5, sharing some spooky tales as part of the Galoshans Festival.
On Saturday 29th October, I'm hopping on the ferry, to take part in the Dunoon Book Festival - actually on Dunoon pier!
November is of course Book Week Scotland, and I'm delighted to be popping down to Eastgate Theatre in Peebles on Wednesday 23rd November, for the Read-A-Licious book festival. Then it's off to Johnstone Library on Thursday 24th November to meet the Chatterbooks, with a wee detour via Inverclyde Academy school library to chat with their awesome comic club.
I was delighted to read some really lovely reviews of The Superpower Project on Toppsta, a review site which encourages young readers to post reviews. It's a smashing site, and a great way to discover new books too.
And finally, Mhairi Robertson and I have a new graphic novel out this month, The Skeleton Key, which is ideal all ages reading for the season of the witch...basically, Dad's Army, but with witches. You can get your hands on a copy from Saturday 29th October at the Dutch Gable House from 2pm, and it will be available to purchase online shortly afterwards from Magic Torch Comics shop and via amazon and comixology. Mhairi and I also have a new edition of our first book Wee Nasties out this month too.
Enjoy going your Galoshans...what's that? What's Galoshans?! It's a folk-play, traditionally performed around the houses on Hallowe'en and other seasonal occasions. Magic Torch have been part of a Heritage Lottery supported project to help rekindle that tradition in the Inverclyde area and I've created a new version of the play, which you can read, download and perform for free. The project is part of the wider Galoshans Festival happening 29th / 30th October in Greenock.
Merry Galoshans!
