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I've been thinking a lot about sharing. Not just the boasting FB status update variety, nor those ubiquitous AfterEight Challenge Instagram pics. And I'm not talking about Chrissy prezzies either. That's not sharing, it's shopping. No, what I'm banging on about is something more emo, more philosophical and a bit... well, cheesy.

Last week I was in Oxford for a lunch meeting with some publishers about the collaborative project I'm doing with Jo Cotterill, called ELECTRIGIRL (see previous post). As Jo and I said goodbye to our OUP team, the two of us walked away down the street arm-in-arm, beaming from ear to ear. It was a 'that was great' tingle moment, a stomach flipper. We almost skipped (but we are middle-aged and erm, sensible, so didn't!)  I'll be honest and say I've not walked arm-in-arm with anyone (except perhaps my nieces or my Mum after her hip op!) for absolutely years. Not since I …

Yesterday I travelled up to Oxford to meet up with the team who are shaping my new collaborative project, ELECTRIGIRL. Jo Cotterill was there, of course. She's the writing genius who came up with the original idea and has written all the text (many times over!) You could say I'm a sort of illustrator Robin to her writer Batman. Or something like that. Anyway. I digress.
I got to meet our OUP team for the first time including our editor, Kathy, and art editor, Holly. I was particularly eager to show them all my artwork ideas so I spread them out across the meeting room table. In fact, there was so much of it (Jo and I have been working on this for over a year) that it covered the table almost entirely! That meeting room instantly resembled my chaotic studio.
The plan was to discuss all the illustrations I'll be doing for a couple of hours and then pop out for lunch but we got so involved and kept adding more pages so, four and a half hours later we were finishing the last …

I was asked a very interesting question last week. I was visiting the Saint Joan of Arc School in Rickmansworth, which I was astonished a delighted to discover has an actual moat, like a castle or something, and a literary claim to fame (George Eliot wrote Daniel Deronda there). I was also delighted by the pupils and their questions.
"Do you design your own covers and is it different when you are designing a cover for someone else's book?" "Yes," I replied. "I am lucky enough to design my own, with the help of an art editor. And yes, it's quite different when I'm designing one for somebody else." This started a whole discussion about the publishing process, how brilliant art editors are, how I get inside the head of an author and how publishers often need a cover finished before the author has even finished writing the book! I am in the fortunate position of having a commission to illustrate a second book by an author I both admire and like ve…

I'm just back from doing a talk and mini workshop at a school not far from my home. I've not been there before and it's always a bit exciting visiting a new school, seeing their library and checking out their lunches!! (It was roast day today! Yum!)
My talk was just an hour with Year Seven and, as usual, I got carried away and over ran. Oops! (Nobody wanted to go to maths anyway) My excuse is that I was loving the task I'd set (based around the letters sent by soldiers during the First World War) and also the task that the pupils had set for me - live drawing. It's a fun challenge for an illustrator, to draw whatever the pupils shout out and I'm starting to get good at it. Today it was a werewolf teacher (easy-peasy) and a zombie baby (rather disturbing but hilarious). I got a round of applause for the baby!
Here is a drawing one of the pupils gave to me before I left. I love it. Especially the 'fun' hashtag and the curly eyelashes. I THINK it's a z…

This week I did a school workshop at the amazing British Postal Museum and Archive in London after a fascinating tour and talks by the archive staff where we were able to look at actual letters sent during WW1. I found out from the experts all the things I got wrong in EVERYTHING IS FINE AND OTHER LIES I TELL MYSELF, i.e. Freddie's letters would probably have been sent in 'honour' envelopes and been censored, or were not letters at all but postcards!!! I know where to do my research next time!  :)
https://twitter.com/postalheritage/status/488698732029173761

It's the first ever Young Adult Literture Convention (YALC) this weekend, part of London Film & Comic Con. It starts TODAY! I'll be there tomorrow and can't wait to find out if it's anything like the Comics Convention I described in my book VERITY FIBBS. Life imitating art, or what?!

Q: If your sketches came true, what would you draw?A: A lottery winning zombie and Justin Beiber getting guillotined by the Queen, obviously!  Well, that's according to year 6 pupils at Tudor Court Primary. I visited their school yesterday as part of POP UP ESSEX and, not only was the building (and number of pupils) MASSIVE, but their welcome was too. Thank you everyone for inviting me and for being so awesone at writing tweets to Amelia and Edgar, drawing, colouring in and asking me why I hate Christmas! ;)

I've been quite busy with illustration projects and have been neglecting this blog a bit. Now that most of those projects have gone to press (publishing dates to follow) it's allowed me to focus on some more personal stuff. I completed a picture book proposal (which now needs some additional work) and I've been getting on with my next YA novel (aiming to get a completed manuscript off to my agent by August). But that's just afternoons! In the mornings I've been painting... Mostly portraits like these.  So, I thought you might like to follow my progress. Here is today's portrait... Come back soon and I'll show the completed portrait.

...and another

Another bloodle...

Up and out very early this morning. Too early to be properly awake.

Do you love art shops as much as I do? Check out my post on GHB today. http://girlsheartbooks.com/2014/04/16/on-my-desk-not-just-art-materials/

I've just joined the list of AUTHORS ALOUD UK. Woohoo! Pop over there and check out who I'm rubbing shoulders with. It's quite impressive - Carnegie winners, Children's Laureates, Facebook friends. Excellent!

I've been devising a new workshop to take into schools next term and it's a little different. Usually I visit a school as Cathy Brett author and illustrator, but this workshop will be delivered by Cathy Brett Edwardian writer and artist (who just popped over from 1914 to 2014 in her time machine).
I won't just be dressing up, I'll be attempting to inhabit the character completely, using phrases from 100 years ago and commenting on all the amazing differences I've encountered in 2014 like technology, transport, fashion and girl power! I can't wait to try it!

Scorchio!
Yes, it's the middle of MARCH and yes, that is sunburn! I've had to come in from the garden as my paler than pale blue skin can't take it!

I visited my first book group last night. Not as a member or reader, but as a special guest, because the book they'd chosen to read this month was 'Everything Is Fine (And Other Lies I Tell Myself). Another first.
I've met adult readers of my books in the past - mostly librarians, teachers or friends - but the prospect of a whole roomful of well-read book addicts filled me with a little trepidation. I shouldn't have worried. They were a lovely bunch... ...and had oodles of excellent and valuable questions and comments for me. Even those who would never usually pick up teen fiction, especially teen fiction WITH PICTURES, admitted to a surprised enjoyment of Esther and her antics!
Thank you Peter (back row, right) for suggesting my book to the group and for inviting me to Barton's, and thank you Barton's Bookshop Book Group for being so welcoming and friendly. wwww.bartonsbookshop.co.uk

East London is full to bursting with authors this week. It's an event called Pop Up Hackney and I was at Clapton Girls Academy this morning to talk with year 7s. It was one of my best workshops EVER! The pupils had already read my book, Graphic, and I suspect they actually knew the story better than I did. We chatted about drawing and how I started writing. They seemed to like my illustrations but the girls pulled faces when I showed them some of the comedy horror books. Clapton girls are not fond of flies, spiders, slime and squished ghost 10-year-olds! They asked me some excellent questions, particularly about how to get better at drawing. Here is a link to my 10,000 Hours blog for the answer. http://girlsheartbooks.com/2014/02/16/10000-hours/ We then tackled 'what we would draw if our drawings became real' (which was more of an opportunity to draw cats and cool fashion - always My fave activity) and here are some of the results... I have always wanted to have a pair of wing…

Ventured into the garden today. Found it a little overgrown...

I've left my studio and set up in the kitchen today. Bread to mix and birthday cakes to bake...

Fringe doodle...

I've a HUGE stack of drawings on my desk today after a marathon of character development sketching for my new project. I've just finished rubbing out all the pencil lines (ouch!) and am about to start scanning them. Wish me luck.Here's rather a grumpy character. The others are happier! Mostly.

Today I'm sketching a brand new character. He's awfully stylish. Look, waistcoat and flares! What a dude!

Sunday chez Ginger is usually a stay-in-onesie-catch-up-on-TV-on-the-sofa day... ...but this week it was a seven-am-call-to-carry-out-emergency-tween-sitting day... ...which isn't as unpleasant as it sounds. I'm home now and back on the sofa. Shall I put the onsie back on?

Today's sketches are my very first scribbles for a new project. Pre rough, pre development, pre anything. Chances are none of the characters will look anything like this.

There was a strange and lovely phenomenon around here today - smiles on every face. And I'm pretty sure this happiness epidemic was caused by the return of something we've rather missed this winter. Sunshine! It was so sunny and so warm (out if the wind) that I even sat on my back door step drinking tea and soaking up a massive dose if vitamin D. It was bliss.

Planned a lovely day with the nieces and took sketchbooks, pens and the brand new project briefs for their input (they are my own personal creative/editorial team). However, after enthusiastically reading Karen McCombie's book manuscript (which 11YO niece thought was awesome), we actually ended up watching funny kitten videos for... well... the rest of the day.

My fave look from the London catwalks. Every wardrobe needs wellies and balaclavas.

While kneading bread dough this afternoon I marveled at the process that causes flour, water and yeast (and a large pinch of salt) to rise... it's ALIVE!

A discussion of Men's Olympic Figure Skating inspired today's doodle. Apparently, the boys' costumes are prettier than the girls'. And so is their hair.

Watched Star Wars with the nieces last night...

I LOVE YOU! x