Seven Stories in Newcastle is an absolute gem of place even if children literature isn’t your forte. I first heard about them three years ago via Twitter and since then I’ve been pining to visit.  All I knew was they had so many events and activities, and indeed children’s authors visiting that I wanted to meet and be part of.

As I was up in Newcastle to see Tynseide Cinema’s creative activity, I finally had a chance to see what I’ve been missing  and lucky for me there was an Adult Tour available that day.

What. A. Treat.

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I’ve been writing for a few years, and though my agent has had some success with my work, inevitably there have been obstacles, the most frustrating of which is the interminably long timeframes involved while you wait for the powers-that-be to pass judgement.

I’m naturally hardworking, relatively prolific and pretty ambitious too. I’ve always been absolutely determined to earn a living from my craft and I guess that got me thinking about self-publishing at the time when e-readers were first coming onto the market.

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I was sent this book by Usborne yesterday. Last night, I picked it up to read the blurb before bed.  I read the whole book in one sitting – I just couldn’t put it down.

Author Kathryn demands your attention from the go and maintains the momentum throughout each of the 223 pages. Read the rest of this entry »

Did you know Jan van Eyck was the first person (known) to do a self-portrait?  Or the Master Wenceslas created the first ‘weather in art’ painting?

13 Art Inventions Children Should Know is 45 pages of griping, fun, quirky and oh so interesting facts on inventions that we take for granted but were so important to today’s artists. Although the book is geared towards kids, best for 8+, I could see this book being used for college art courses for beginners.

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Was Jaan Vermeer a Photographer?  Who is Banksy?

These are a couple of the mysteries author Angela Wenzel poses in this intriguing book by Prestel Books.

13 Art Mysteries  Children Should Know is 45 pages of unsolved mysteries that date back thousands of years.  This book is more geared to Children (as opposed to 13 Art Inventions Children Should Know) but still best for 7+.  The mysteries themselves are interesting regardless that they are related to art!

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This book starts with a powerful question:

 What is a sculpture?

Then it goes on to state:

‘The word ‘sculpture’ comes from the Latin word ‘sculpere,’ which means ‘to chisel’ or ‘to carve’. Read the rest of this entry »

Straight away author Alison Baverstock answers a question we had:

‘It was very difficult to choose just 13 British Artists to explore in this book.’

The British Artists chosen represent a range of eclectic people who influences, training, and family encouragement also varied. One common thread they all seem to have is that they weren’t particularly famous in their own time.  This is something that is often the case with artists with exceptions like Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst and Banksy.

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Being American, I was really interested in this book. I must admit that some I didn’t recognize but that was the point – each of these American Artists belong in this book and it was for us to learn why they are important. Even if you’re not American, this book is an insightful and fun book to have. Read the rest of this entry »

Ever look back on your school life and think ‘Glad I don’t have to do that again!’  Imagine dealing with the typical school issues (opposite sex, hierarchy of groups, invites to parties … this is before we even get into grades) when you also have a disability?  Then imagine the disability is a physical one.

That is the challenge that meets August.  August was born with a facial deformity. He is approaching grade 5 and after dealing with surgeries and hospital visits most of his life, his parents feel he is ready to bridge from home schooling to main stream school.  August lives with his very loving parents, older sister Via who is ‘normal’ and his dog Daisy.

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Charlotte and I had a fun filled weekend in London.

After a lovely journey on Virgin Trains, we headed over to Bloomsbury Thistle Hotel.  The last time we went to London we were a little disappointed in this hotel as the elevator and key lock stopped working.  This time, they more than made up for it!  The room was large, with all the amenities you expect and then some.

We barely put our bags in the gorgeous room before heading back out as we were meeting Laura Porter from GoLondon.about.com and her daughter A at the Science Museum to see the Hidden Heroes exhibition. The exhibition explores everyday items that we use almost everyday and invites you to think of where you’d be without them.  Most of the items (if not all) have been mentioned in Justin Pollard’s book Boffinology (which is a brilliant book).

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