I am working furiously on my latest picture book.  It's really taking shape, and is so exciting I'm almost out of breath!  Come on Albie.  You can do it!

Well I don't know where I got the name Ryelands from - according to Natalie, it is a breed of sheep, and here is a picture to prove it.
I am hoping that I'm not going to be talking to a cinema full of bleating sheep on Tuesday!  Perhaps I'll bring my dog Roo, just in case!!

I'm off down the road to Uttoxeter on Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 June to take part in the Uttoxeter Festival of Reading organised by Thomas Alleyne's High School.

On Monday, I'll be working with Julia Jarman, Author of Class 2 at the Zoo and other fab stories.  We'll be visiting Picknalls First School where we are planning all sorts of fun activities for around 200 infant school children. 

Then on Tuesday I'm visiting Windsor Park Middle School to work with 3 classes of Year 3 and Year 4 children, then in the afternoon, I'm speaking at the Cinebowl to lots of children from the Ryelands cluster of schools. 
Should be fun!!

By the way, don't bother ringing me on Wednesday, I'll be in bed!!

Yesterday Lynne Chapman and I went to talk to some students at a recently opened Independent Art School in Huddersfield, which is run the artist John Ross. We were invited to the artsy hub of Halifax by Chris Mould, Children's Writer & Illustrator and Artist in Residence at Dean Clough Mill. 

After a great discussion with the students, we were treated to a tour of Dean Clough, where we met some artists at work and had a sneaky look around Chris Mould's studio! 

Visit Chris Mould's Website: http://www.somethingwickedlyweird.com/

Visit Lynne Chapman's Website: http://www.lynnechapman.co.uk/

Find out some of my secrets at the Author Hotline!
http://www.authorhotline.com/carylhart

My good friend Rob who lives in sunny California just sent me this picture.  He says the book is "awesome" - hope he's not just being nice!

Q:  What do you get if you mix 30 very small children, a trolley of percussion instruments, scissors, glue, sparkles, string, stories and songs.... and what do you get?

A:  Lots and Lots of Fun!!
(Oh, and quite a lot of noise!)

Check out the Gallery to find out more about my time with Fairfield and St Peter's Nursery Schools in the Building Foundations Project:

http://tinyurl.com/3xzbgyn

Knock their Socks Off

If you want to get a picture book published, its going to have to be good.  In fact, not just good, it has to be OUTSTANDING!   

You must have original content, strong characters and a believable story.  If you’re thinking of writing a tale about a poor animal who can’t find a comfy place to sleep, or has lost its nest, or has lost its oink, baa or moo, then you might need a re-think! 

Picture books have progressed beyond all recognition since the days of Peter and Jane, so make sure your story is a real belter!

Here I am having a fun time with the Rainbow Magic Fairies!

Here we are, all very excited, waiting to go into the Rainbow Magic Premiere!  If you haven't already heard of them, Rainbow Magic is a series of hugely successful books published by Orchard Books, and written by Daisy Meadows.  HiT entertainment have just released a Rainbow Magic film on DVD and we were invited down to Leicester Square in London to walk up the pink carpet and enjoy the first screening of the film.

We had a great time laughing at the silly goblins, hiding from the scarry snowman and eating popcorn.  Afterwards the children had a great time at the Rainbow Magic party, with pink party food, face painting, balloon sculpture, photographs, more balloons, magic tricks, crafty stuff and more.  And as if that wasn't enough, we each got a bulging party bag with a copy of the DVD, books, CDs, and a lovely sparkly snowstorm to put in photographs we had taken with the Rainbow Fairies.

What a great day.  Thanks Orchard for inviting us!!

More pictures to follow!