OMG! I'm exhausted! Just got back from a full-on signing, sketching and spookin' afternoon at Waterstone's Crawley. Thanks to everyone who posed for my character sketches ESPECIALLY Vicky and Nicky!!! You girls are... words fail me! Safe to say, you are going STRAIGHT INTO MY NEXT BOOK! I haven't laughed so much in years and your hilarious (Haribo-fueled?) chat is still making me chuckle! I was certain that at any moment the Waterstone's staff were going to call security and have you removed from the building... just like when the same thing happened to Nicky yesterday, and they had to peel her off Tom from The Wanted at Tescos!! (Apparently!) Now THERE'S a story! He he he... see, still chuckling! Oh, BTW, N and V, make sure you go back to collect your books... with some money! Meh!

I've been drawing like a lunatic this week, having been inspired by so many very cool people on the streets. Suddenly, everyone is dressing like goths and rock stars in leather jackets, high-heeled boots and lashings of black eyeliner! Well, not everyone. I guess I've not seen many little old grannies wearing black eyeliner, but teenagers are looking amazing - very dark and moody. I expect I'll have enough characters for my next book in no time if I keep scribbling like this.

Here are some of the things that scare students at Redbridge School, Southampton. I wish I had space to post them all, but I've chosen my faves. Great drawing and very chilling imaginations!!

Visit Scarlett Dedd's blog next week and you'll be able to watch an exclusive world premiere of her 'rents' extraordinary animation series, 'Sunshine Street'. http://scardeparted.blogspot.com

I know it's more than a week away, but I'm starting my Halloween themed workshops this week. Wooooooo! I have some really scary creative tasks for everyone and a 'true' ghost story to share! Check out YA blogger Book Chick Cityhttp://bit.ly/c6RtPv for my Halloween guest post and a cool review of 'Scarlett Dedd'.

I had a lovely morning at Guildford High School today. Thanks to everyone, especially Mrs Skene. The girls were so inventive and creative, some showing an enormous talent for writing (very impressive) and drawing (I've scanned some of my faves and included them here). We seemed to have a bit of a Goth obsession (probably my fault) but the character ideas were great - bubble gum force fields being a particular highlight. Oh, and the fish and chips I had at lunch were delicious!

Astonishingly, my wardrobe is lacking something (I thought it was far too vast and extensive). What, you ask, do I NOT have squashed into cupboards, drawers and suitcases under the bed (where you'll find 9 coats, 7 denim jackets, 12 pairs of black trousers, 37 tops, 12 dresses, 9 cardigans, 10 skirts, 70 pairs of shoes, pashminas, scarves, t-shirts and so on...)? The answer, as you may have guessed, is anything pink. Nothing. Nil. Nowt. Plenty of blue, grey, black and a bit of green and beige, but absolutely no pink. I don't even have pink accessories. And why is this the subject of my blog? Well, I'm visiting a school on Friday where all the students will be wearing this particular colour and I've been invited to join them. Hmm... might have to go shopping and build another extension on my wardrobe.

10:10 on 10.10.10! 'nuf said?

I just spent most of the afternoon with fellow writer friend, Emma, swapping thoughts on our current book projects. She gave me pages and pages of insightful and intelligent criticism of my 3rd teen novel (all spot on), for which I am SO grateful. Thanks Emma! Her own project is fantastic - inspired storytelling - and deserves to be snapped-up by a publisher... immediately! So do the sequels (brilliant) and all her other amazing ideas for further books. How does she ever find the time to be a mum and work too?

I've just had a brilliant morning at The Ashcombe School. Thanks so much to everyone (especially Mrs Page). I had a wonderful time and didn't want to leave. Not only were the characters developed in workshop simply amazing (shape-shifters, lethal saliva and a megalomaniac who wanted total God powers!) but I got chatting with a group of cool girls about one of my fave subjects - Suffragettes! When I left, they were searching online for the shocking film footage from Epsom Race Course (which is just a few miles away) in 1913, when a Suffragette, Emily Davison, leapt in front of the King's horse. Her dramatic, and fatal, protest is probably one of the earliest examples of the type of newsreel footage that is now very familiar. It's grainy and black and white but no less dramatic, powerful, upsetting and, ultimately, opinion-changing.

The girls have inspired me to get out my 'suffragette' book manuscript again. Perhaps I'll include a Suffragette character…

Rain, rain, more rain... Well, at least those shrubs I planted last week have had the perfect weather. I, on the other hand, have been wickedly increasing my carbon footprint by keeping my lights and heating switched on for a large part of the day. Ooo, that's weird! As I write, the sun has come out and is pouring down on my desk. Just a sec while I turn the lights off and take off my cardi...

That's better.

I've had a familiar problem this week - too many small jobs to do - which always makes me rather confused and indecisive. Am I in a serious paperwork mood or a fun drawing mood? Do I want to get the domestic jobs done that I've been putting off all summer? Shall I update my digital portfolio or design a new promotional flyer? Or should I get really creative and throw myself, head first, into a new book idea? Mmm... I've just remembered it's Sunday afternoon, that I finished my accounts and tax return yesterday, and that I should reward …