tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31052722344766188862012-01-21T17:31:45.500ZAuthor of the Wintercraft series.Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.comBlogger631100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-2718548508993735432012-01-19T23:29:00.000Z2012-01-19T23:29:50.566Z

Poor, forgotten January often ranks near the bottom of my list of favourite months. It's been a busy one for me, but instead on concentrating on the bigger things that have happened this month, I thought I'd focus on the smaller things that have made January shine so far. Sherlock Series 2. I very rarely watch TV by appointment. If there's something I'm interested in, I'll record it or catch up

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-2617449450150890412012-01-05T23:17:00.000Z2012-01-05T23:17:40.518Z

A brand new year has pulled on its sparkly jacket and strutted out to dance under the disco lights! Thank you to everyone who visited this blog throughout 2011.  2012 has lots of excitement lurking on the horizon, so I hope you'll join me here on the run up to Wintercraft: Legacy's release here in the UK in May, and Blackwatch's release in the US in June, plus more potential book news later in

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-61989741133681604002011-12-09T18:09:00.001Z2011-12-09T18:10:23.653Z

I've been quite quiet since my last blog post, partly because I have two stories competing for attention in my brain and partly because life in general has cranked up a gear and become hectic, leaving less time for sitting down and catching up with things. So far this month, I've been experimenting in the kitchen (which is always a scary time, because I can't bake anything without it looking as

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-84757797091953299322011-11-09T16:10:00.000Z2011-11-09T16:10:08.487Z

Set your watches, mark your calendars. Wintercraft: Legacy is coming to the UK on 10th May 2012. And here is its beautiful cover. Silas and Kate are about to find themselves on opposite sides during Albion's darkest night. Will you join them?

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-46670927448353117042011-11-03T17:48:00.002Z2011-11-03T17:49:46.614Z

Lots of you have sent in beautiful pieces of Wintercraftian artwork over the past couple of weeks, and you've all chosen to draw either Silas or Kate! Here are two of my favourites chosen from a fantastic selection. The first is by Colleen, who drew this (rather handsome) picture of Silas after reading Shadowcry. Thanks, Colleen! The second picture was drawn by Sophie, who lives in my home

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-216787781593291372011-10-31T18:31:00.000Z2011-10-31T18:31:14.917Z

There's a mysterious visitor lurking in my house tonight... Don't step too close now.

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-53633383479246642752011-10-08T16:42:00.003+01:002011-10-16T19:40:33.331+01:00

Hello! October is once again living up to its reputation as my busiest month.  My desk is being overrun by the Blackwatch manuscript while I get it ready for America.  Its pages are jostling for space next to the first drafts of two new stories that I absolutely love, and I'm expecting the UK copy edits of Wintercraft 3 to arrive any day now.  I'm also catching up on blog requests, so I haven't

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-45689200647798874672011-09-12T21:15:00.000+01:002011-09-12T21:15:19.132+01:00

The Wintercraft family gained a new brother today. One freshly printed manuscript, finished and ready to go!  

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-12290761675753007712011-08-25T21:52:00.004+01:002011-08-25T22:35:20.254+01:00

August.  The month technology turned against me. I have had my share of typical technological troubles over the years (printers that regurgitate chewed up paper, that sort of thing) but this month, my electronic gremlins have upped their game and my writing space has come under all out attack. Firstly, I was locked out of my email account thanks to hackers breaking their way in and using it for

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-78659464300753420382011-08-04T13:42:00.000+01:002011-08-04T13:42:50.637+01:00

One of the highlights of my week arrived in the form of an email that really made my day. It came from a reader who read Wintercraft/Shadowcry last month and passed it around his friends.  Some of them are reading Blackwatch right now and while they wait for each other to catch up, these fans of the series have given themselves a name. Most of them picked Silas as their favourite character, so

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-85224874879990606172011-07-27T13:34:00.000+01:002011-07-27T13:34:37.987+01:00

Last week, Wintercraft and I were invited to our first awards ceremony at the Master Stationers' Hall in London.  The hall itself is literally a stone's throw away from St Paul's Cathedral, and while Wintercraft may not have come away with the prize on the night, it did give me the chance to tick off one of my travelling goals the next morning... Firstly, the awards night.   The dinner and prizes

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-71761446590117818872011-07-04T18:56:00.000+01:002011-07-04T18:56:07.970+01:00

Shadowcry has been out in the wild for just a couple of weeks now.  Huge thanks to everyone who has bought a copy and to all those who have emailed me to say hello. (I always reply to emails and it is lovely to hear from everyone.)  If you have enjoyed the book, please go out and spread the word.  And if you haven't read it yet, Silas Dane is out there waiting for you to hunt him down... Today

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-90533712130514155292011-06-26T23:32:00.001+01:002011-07-02T16:03:51.923+01:00

The results of the seasonal heats of The People's Book Prize 2010-2011 are in and Wintercraft has made it through to the final! Silas and Kate now get to battle it out against eleven fantastic finalists in the children's section.  The winners will be announced on the 20th of July, and voting is now open. There are no judges; the winners are decided completely by readers.  So, if you enjoyed

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-43294420263039161542011-06-12T21:22:00.004+01:002011-07-05T00:41:07.611+01:00

There are just a few days to go until Shadowcry makes its way over the Atlantic to America! As a special hello to all my American readers, I think it's time for a giveaway... The top prize for the first name drawn will be: A signed/dedicated hardback copy of Shadowcry. A Scruffy Crow mug. (I have one of these myself.) A Moleskine notebook with a crow cover design. Second and third place will

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-57326216650351789552011-06-08T12:32:00.000+01:002011-06-08T12:32:00.523+01:00

May was definitely a rollercoaster of a month, but the best part of it had to be the Blackwatch Book Tour. During the second week of May I caught the train to London to spend the week with my publicist Maura, zipping to and from the capital, visiting schools, libraries and bookshops around southern England. One of the towns we visited was Worthing on the south coast, where we met this dapper

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-90710915551034844122011-06-01T15:39:00.000+01:002011-06-01T15:39:13.582+01:00

I'm sorry that things have been a little quiet on the blog recently.  As some of you may already know, one of my dogs, Belle, died a short while ago.  She was my furry writing buddy.  She always laid beside me while I was working and my room now feels empty without her.  I miss her, and I wish she was still here. I will never forget my beautiful girl. Belle. 13th August 2001 - 19th May

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-30987957465231993602011-05-14T16:14:00.002+01:002011-05-15T14:31:28.350+01:00

Just a quick post to say that I'm back home after a week of school & library events on the Blackwatch UK Book Tour! I want to to give a big hello to all of the fantastic pupils, teachers, librarians, Waterstone's booksellers, book bloggers and library goers I've met this week.  It was wonderful to meet you all!  Thank you for making me feel so welcome in your schools, libraries and shops. And an

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-43456322893614250612011-04-23T07:38:00.000+01:002011-04-23T07:38:15.596+01:00

The Blackwatch Blog Tour train has made its final stop, bringing its trundlings around the internet to an end.  The train is now safely parked just behind this blog post, resting its wheels until the day it is called upon again.   For those who missed its journey, here are links to all the stops it visited along with way. Day 1 - Q&As at The Book Zone for Boys. Day 2 - Article about Silas Dane

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-76304621183224961112011-04-14T21:00:00.002+01:002011-04-14T22:39:32.373+01:00

April 14th has arrived, the boxes have been opened, and Wintercraft: Blackwatch is out in the world! I want to send a huge hello to everyone who has sent me publication day messages and good wishes.  You are all wonderful! You may have noticed a new addition to the sidebar today -----------> Blackwatch and I are going on a blog tour! Take a look at the fantastic UK book blogs and bloggers who

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-82533272909296785762011-04-10T21:45:00.001+01:002011-04-14T20:40:33.963+01:00

We are now moving swiftly into publication week and Blackwatch is ready and raring to go. A few copies may have already sneaked out of their boxes and deviously taken their places in bookshops around the UK, but they are just being keen.    Blackwatch is Lovereading.co.uk's 'New Gen Book Of The Month' for April (Hurrah!). I've had messages from readers who have already read the book and

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-25446681874517753042011-03-27T13:22:00.005+01:002011-04-06T17:36:36.000+01:00

Would you like the opportunity to bid on some fantastic sci-fi, horror and fantasy items in aid of a great cause?  Then read on... A group of fabulous people have got together to create Genre For Japan: an online charity auction where all proceeds are donated to the Red Cross Tsunami Appeal to help the relief effort following Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami. The lots include rare

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-76068589901049873322011-03-16T19:21:00.003Z2011-03-16T19:30:37.813Z

If the countdown clock on my sidebar could have a musical accompaniment, it would start to sound a little more intense today, complete with pounding drums and suspenseful violins. There are only four weeks left until the gates of Fume open again and Wintercraft: Blackwatch strides out to take its place upon bookshop shelves in the UK. Thank you to everyone who has emailed me over the past few

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-17567832256190031112011-03-09T20:42:00.002Z2011-03-14T23:46:03.126Z

Despite long-running oppostition from The Badger Trust, Save Me, animal charities and many other people who respect wildlife across the UK, the killing of badgers has now been given the go-ahead in Wales. To say this news disappoints me would be an understatement.  A few months ago it appeared that the cull was not going to happen - now that seems to have been only a temporary reprieve. I am

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-81067863300576380112011-02-26T11:04:00.008Z2011-03-01T17:12:01.867Z

Yesterday I jumped on a train and headed off to my first book signing of 2011. My destination: Durham. It's been a few years since I had a wander around Durham, but the main shopping street is fantastic.  I'm not even talking about the shops.  I wasn't looking at them, I was looking at the winding cobbled roads, the wonderful River Wear and the architecture. On my way to the bookshop, I walked

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-51729262902701464772011-02-21T11:01:00.000Z2011-02-21T11:01:13.924Z

Last Thursday I received a wonderful surprise through the post... A beautiful proof copy of Blackwatch! Not long to go now...

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-78300469458928484652011-02-13T15:42:00.000Z2011-02-13T15:42:24.003Z

In what is fast becoming a very busy month for Silas and Kate, Wintercraft is now available in Portugal! Its new title is 'O Livro Dos Dons' or 'The Book Of Gifts'. Olá to everyone in Portugal, and if you would like to see the book trailer in Portuguese, you can find it here.

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-88950524879277318972011-02-08T10:21:00.000Z2011-02-08T10:21:53.048Z

Wintercraft celebrates a new book-birthday today. The wardens' birds are settling over Poland as Wintercraft creeps onto the shelves for the first time. I just want to say 'Witam' to any Polish readers, and if you would like to see the wonderful book trailer in Polish, you can watch it here!

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-82364712803728988302011-02-06T17:36:00.001Z2011-02-21T15:29:45.413Z

Is it me?  Or is England going just a little bit crazy? If you have read my older posts on this blog, you might remember the badger cull that was planned in Wales last year.  Not long after that, in September 2010, England decided that, hey, that sounds like a good idea, why don't we have a badger cull too? Now, in 2011, there are proposals being put forward calling for a cull on crows,

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-82163462675227624302011-01-21T19:49:00.000Z2011-01-21T19:49:37.090Z

Now that the 21st century has grown up a little, it's interesting to realise that we are now living in 'The Future'. If you were to take someone from 1911 and drop them into 2011, they would probably be shocked at the speed of it all, intrigued by the little machines that everyone carries around it their pockets and no doubt very confused by modern dress sense. It's strange how change can creep

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-88777047523412849442010-12-31T16:24:00.003Z2010-12-31T19:59:23.864Z

As I am writing this, the sun is just starting to go down on the last day of 2010. I have never been a fan of New Year.  I don't like the idea that we are leaving an old year behind, never to see it again.  It is quite a sad time, really... but this time I will be quite glad to say goodbye to 2010.  It hasn't been the best year, yet amongst all the darker days, there were also some sparkling

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-59890080774511201412010-12-15T19:33:00.001Z2010-12-16T00:35:19.285Z

Here's a quick picture to show off the sparkliness that is our 2010 Christmas tree. I hope you are all having a wonderful December!

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-86258544121890615942010-12-10T10:49:00.004Z2010-12-13T16:56:38.505Z

It is still freezing outside, icy snow is thick on the ground, and feeding the local birds has almost become a full time job now they are struggling in the cold.  An old starling who isn't strong enough to fly with the others is taking shelter in our garden shed, and crows have started visiting our tables to take away suet and grated cheese. Most of the smaller birds are happy to flutter about

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-51838008536081899512010-12-01T15:51:00.002Z2010-12-01T15:56:51.646Z

The snow here is getting thicker and showing no sign of melting away. Our resident robin is more than happy to pose for pictures whenever a camera is in sight. Nella doesn't know quite know what to make of it all. Maisie is enjoying rolling about and digging holes in the snow piles. The local pigeons wait patiently on the roof, hoping to snaffle some seed... ...and the world is a

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-90302571943638863552010-11-27T14:16:00.000Z2010-11-27T14:16:22.289Z

Today I've been out walking my dogs in the November snow. It's freezing out there! There are children on sledges trundling along the paths and dog walkers' dogs are all dressed in their finest outdoor gear. Nella went out in her red jumper and tartan coat, but she was not impressed by the cold and is glad to be back home again.   We made it home just before another snowfall, so now it is

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-1018207204841217602010-11-13T14:53:00.001Z2010-11-13T15:31:13.105Z

When I think of bookshops, I think of tall shelves, dim lights and rows of books that curl into secret dusty corners where new worlds lie ready to be discovered.  They should be quiet and peaceful: a place to wander around and lose yourself in the adventures and knowledge that sit there waiting for you to carry them away. When I visit a bookshop, you are unlikely to see me again for at least an

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-48900755310964462082010-10-31T19:22:00.000Z2010-10-31T19:22:43.943Z

Behold! The gruesome creatures that are haunting my Hallowe'en this year. The skull is my minion and the werewolf was summoned by my brother. Fear them, mortals... for they are watching you. Mwa-HAHA-haaaaaaaa.......!

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-43526294694558173692010-10-25T23:34:00.003+01:002010-10-26T00:34:46.734+01:00

October is always a busy month. No matter what year it is, or what I am doing at the time, October always seems to be particularly hectic, and this year has been no exception. The most exciting part of the month was taking part in Writepath 2010: a fantastic international event where pupils from different schools around the world take a starting paragraph written by an author and add their own

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-82633815109930052542010-09-21T14:24:00.000+01:002010-09-21T14:24:27.806+01:00

I love spending time in the garden.  When I need to think or read, or just relax, I often head out there and sit underneath the trees, listening to the birds and watching my dogs wandering through the plants in search of cat trails.  My garden has thirteen mature trees in it, along with a selection of young fruit trees and some rowan saplings grown from fallen berries.  I  enjoy being near them

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-57639455502372381152010-09-13T14:07:00.000+01:002010-09-13T14:07:37.046+01:00

Whizzpopper!  Snozzberry!  Scrumdiddlyumptious! Without Roald Dahl, those words and many more would not have become engrained within my childhood memory.  I would not have known that children could become sealed inside paintings, or that a Big Friendly Giant wandered the streets delivering dreams to children as they slept.  On the other hand, if I hadn't read The Twits, I could still eat

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-88163565903371729282010-09-05T17:43:00.000+01:002010-09-05T17:43:07.773+01:00

When September arrives, I can't help feeling a little bit envious of all the students heading back to school for a new term. Not that I'd want to lug a school bag around and trudge through the rain to face the endless horror that was P.E. - *shivers* - but because September means just one thing for me: stationery shopping. Who else couldn't wait to stock up on pens, pencils and cases for the

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-79227767208947511802010-08-29T17:43:00.011+01:002010-08-31T22:04:34.106+01:00

It is a truth universally acknowledged that one cannot and should not enter a bookshop and leave empty-handed.I was at Waterstones in Darlington for a signing on Saturday and - since I was surrounded by the ever-tempting bookshelves of the YA section - this is what I left with:Add to that the bursting list of book recommendations that have come to me via blog comments & emails over the past week

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-3930050815357379442010-08-20T13:47:00.006+01:002010-08-20T14:57:23.259+01:00

A few paper cuts and many cups of tea later & Blackwatch is officially winging its way back to my editor.It's always exciting to go back to a story you haven't worked on for a while. I've heard whispers of possible cover ideas already and I'm really looking forward to seeing Blackwatch dressed up in its travelling clothes and heading out into the world next April.Hurrah!Now it's time for

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-63810615475306010092010-08-06T19:12:00.009+01:002010-08-06T19:46:28.212+01:00

Hello everyone!Sorry for my terrible lack of blog posts recently.I've been staying away from the internet for a while so I can finish editing Book 2 in the Wintercraft series. I'm not out of the editing jungle yet, but lots of you have been asking about the title and the release date - so here goes...Book 2 is called Blackwatch and it will be published in the UK on the 14th of April 2011!You can

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-8106075239888509272010-07-19T11:20:00.005+01:002010-07-19T12:02:45.245+01:00

If any of you have been to my school talks, or have ever talked about books with me at all, you will know that whenever I'm asked about my favourite authors one name in particular always pops up: Jonathan Stroud.I am a huge fan of The Bartimaeus Trilogy (The Amulet Of Samarkand, The Golem's Eye & Ptolemy's Gate) so when I heard last year that there was going to be another book featuring the '

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-518708849183077992010-07-14T18:14:00.030+01:002010-07-14T20:05:12.022+01:00

Things have been a little bit quiet on the blog recently, so I thought I'd write an update of what's been going on during the last few weeks.Firstly, some HUGE news that I forgot to share with you all was that Wintercraft was mentioned in the June 12th edition of The Times! There was a lovely article in the book section written by Amanda Craig, who wrote that Wintercraft is 'Huge fun and

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-58617156175440123042010-07-13T12:09:00.004+01:002010-07-13T12:29:52.570+01:00

Great news for badgers!The badger cull I wrote about earlier on the blog has been stopped! The legal challenge against it was successful and badgers remain protected in Wales. You can read more about the ruling here on the BBC news website.I think this is great news and I want to send huge congratulations out to everyone at the Badger Trust who have succeeded in helping to protect these

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-19970595187666165002010-07-03T09:35:00.003+01:002010-07-03T09:40:10.182+01:00

For anyone living in the Darlington area, I'll be signing copies of Wintercraft at Waterstones in Darlington from 12-2pm today - Saturday 3rd July.Bring along your own copy if you have one, or grab one at the shop!It would be lovely to meet you.

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-14381851790109216812010-06-22T11:22:00.013+01:002010-06-22T12:46:05.197+01:00

Last week, Maura and I were out and about again, zipping around the sunny North East, meeting more fantastic readers and librarians alike.Our first stop was Houghton Kepier Sports College in Houghton-le-Spring. The school had a lovely airy library and I could quite easily have spent hours there. The school group asked lots of great questions and the session there was great fun.After that it was

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-21551895097372460392010-06-12T16:23:00.007+01:002010-06-12T17:21:47.390+01:00

If you are from the UK, you may have heard about the badger cull that is meant to start very soon in parts of Wales.You can read more about the cull here... but the basic idea is that killing badgers may (or may not) help to prevent the spread of bovine tuberculosis in cattle.Many people are opposed to the killing - including me - and the Badger Trust is mounting a legal challenge against it.If

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-11860283400025785582010-05-30T13:44:00.010+01:002010-05-30T17:10:47.049+01:00

The past couple of days have been very exciting!On Friday morning, me and my publicist Maura (@Red_Books on Twitter) headed to Stockton-On-Tees for my very first set of book talks. The librarians there made us very welcome (Hi Helen!), the two school groups I spoke to asked some brilliant questions and every copy of Wintercraft sold out!In the afternoon we were whisked off to Egglescliffe School

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-25630708150762645462010-05-27T12:13:00.005+01:002010-05-27T12:41:26.574+01:00

If anyone is in the Darlington area on Saturday I'll be at Waterstones in the Cornmill Centre signing copies of Wintercraft from 12-2pm.It would be great to see you there!

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-81262067213223879892010-05-21T21:20:00.005+01:002010-05-21T22:02:22.587+01:00

Thank you to everyone who put their name into the hat for the signed book giveaway!As promised, I did indeed devise a highly scientific method of selecting the winner. One that I am certain no one in the history of humankind has ever used before, featuring:a) a small box.b) names written on rolled up pieces of paper.c) a willing member of my family to make the draw and oversee the result.(I had

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-50669059042524047182010-05-13T17:47:00.002+01:002010-05-13T22:44:55.919+01:00

The countdown has ticked out its final seconds and the day it has been waiting for has finally arrived!I have received balloons, flowers, emails and tweets today, and read lots of fantastic reviews from readers and book bloggers who have enjoyed the book!Silas Dane certainly seems to be collecting a legion of fans!I want to say a big thank you to everyone who has posted reviews of

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com62tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-54546551305552072642010-05-12T10:05:00.001+01:002010-05-12T10:07:14.981+01:00

Tick... Tick... Tick... Tick....

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-1053135803135376652010-05-03T11:06:00.014+01:002010-05-03T15:21:07.361+01:00

Summer is really starting here. The rabbits are out enjoying the garden. Maisie, Belle and Nella are running about in the sun and every one of them looks happy - just doing what they really love to do.Which made me think...Humans are often a lot more restrained in how we spend our time. We might want to go and run in the sun, but we don't. We do something else instead. We spend our day -

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-57319854033754462672010-04-27T08:59:00.007+01:002010-04-27T09:44:56.246+01:00

Today is a day for BIG book news.And as book news goes, it doesn't really get much bigger.I've been sitting on this for a little while now, but now seems to be a good time to share it with you all.The Wintercraft series has just found a fantastic new home across the Atlantic in the USA!Greenwillow/HarperCollins have welcomed Wintercraft and the next two books into their fold and they will be

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-303387168385428712010-04-20T10:53:00.008+01:002010-04-21T11:54:49.280+01:00

I got a fantastic surprise in the post on Monday.Nestled snugly inside this box are my author copies of Wintercraft, fresh from the printers!What a great way to start the week!Just 21 days to go now...

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-32053900459594580622010-04-16T17:33:00.005+01:002010-04-17T20:12:04.239+01:00

This week something very unusual happened in my garden.The sun came out!For the past few days it has actually been warm enough for me to grab my laptop and work outside. Last summer was completely miserable weather-wise, so it was great to finally get out there and enjoy a bit of nature.But nature - I soon remembered - can be very distracting.Firstly, there are bees everywhere this year. Not

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-51917299277543464892010-04-13T17:28:00.008+01:002010-04-13T18:28:22.592+01:00

...to visit Wintercraft's brand new online home! - www.wintercraft.co.ukThere you will find book news, reviews and a sneak preview of important characters and places in Kate Winters' world. There's also an author section, downloads and even a competition to win copies of the book!Thanks to the team at Headline for putting the site together (particularly Angie Solomon - website wrangler

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-72124086354367732472010-04-09T16:25:00.005+01:002010-04-09T18:11:48.039+01:00

Today I held a finished printed copy of Wintercraft in my hands for the very first time. *glows with pride*I couldn't be more pleased with it. The cover is just beautiful, some of the pages are framed with flakes of frost and the symbols on the cover shine in the light. It is, quite simply, a book that wants to be touched.But less of this 'finished copy' talk, that's for next month. This

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-49633045519617909692010-04-07T20:53:00.004+01:002010-04-07T21:28:18.084+01:00

Today is an exciting day!These purple stacks of loveliness are UK early reading copies of Wintercraft - each one ready and waiting to make their way out into the world and invade unsuspecting bookshelves.Am I excited? Just a little.Thanks in advance to everyone who reads and reviews the book.Keep your eyes peeled for the postman.One of these could be with you very soon.(image taken from @

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-4689073004450758132010-04-05T15:27:00.005+01:002010-04-05T16:17:04.821+01:00

It may be time to admit something - to myself more than anyone else.I like detective stories.It may not seem a groundbreaking thing to admit, but I've never really thought about it before.The Jonathan Creek Easter special was on BBC1 last night. There I was, sitting in the dark with a coffee in hand, ready to figure out the crimes or be baffled trying. Then I realised... I was not just there to

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105272234476618886.post-83530051218002780272010-04-04T02:58:00.000+01:002010-04-04T03:05:20.864+01:00

After months of chattering away on Twitter I've finally taken the plunge and started my very first blog! There's not much to see right now, but it won't be long before I get into the swing of things. Please bear with me until I get a feel of the place.My main reason for starting this blog is to say hello! *waves*There are just 40 days until Wintercraft is published in the UK (hurrah!) and I

Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908582188839291567noreply@blogger.com11