[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":11},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-post-2014-year-in-review":3},{"_type":4,"body":5,"bodyHtml":6,"excerpt":5,"featuredImage":5,"publishedAt":7,"slug":8,"tags":9,"title":10},"blogPost",null,"\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/2014hamster_zpsdfa053fd-cb0f6f190b.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n2014 started with a hamster. Superhamster, Stuart and I called him. We were good hamster babysitters. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/superhamster_submarine_zps53857bd1-518804300b.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nOne of the main reasons I keep this blog is so that the year doesn't rush by and leave only me with a few smudgy memories. I've been going through the blog posts of 2014 and rather staggered that so much happened only in this year. It's been both an amazing year and a very difficult one, because I've packed in so much travel and book events and still had the same amount of books to make. I got a bit overwhelmed, and for 2015 (and most likely 2016) I've decided to cut way back on doing events, so I have have more time to make books and let my brain work. But I'm not complaining, finally for the first time in my life I feel like I'm really doing the job I want to be doing more than anything in the world, and I only wish I had more time to do more of it. \\r\n\\r\nSo what happened this year? \\r\n\\r\nFOREIGN CO-EDITIONS: One of the most amazing things was seeing \u003Ci>Oliver and the Seawigs\u003C/i> start coming out in different languages. Our rights team at Oxford University Press sold that book and the follow-up \u003Ci>Cakes in Space\u003C/i> to twenty different countries. Here it is in Japanese! I love what they did with the cover:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/seawigs_japan3_zpsf6e6fc24-acd3407326.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003C!--more Click for more under the cut!-->\\r\nWhile I think that's my favourite foreign edition, the German edition has a few extra page and Colin the crab thinks the Germans do it best. (He didn't get to give his speech in any other language, poor chappie.)\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/schwupp_colin_speech_zps1a39a8eb-ffc1298455.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnother thing this year, I discovered DRY SHAMPOO in a big way. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/sarah_big-hair_zpsadb9a636-3164a0a236.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nCOMICS: In February I documented each hour of a day for Hourly Comics Day, in a comic \u003Ca href=\"http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/2014/02/02/\">which you can read here\u003C/a>!\\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/2014/02/02/\">\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/mcintyre_hourlycomic14_1_zps140f755d-1c05285811.gif\">\u003C/a>\\r\n\\r\nI kept going with my \u003Ci>Shark and Unicorn\u003C/i> comic strip in The Funday Times, appearing in The Sunday Times six times a year. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/sharkunicorn6_lores_zps2fb6da54-0866e895a4.gif\">\\r\n\\r\nHere's my editor, Karen Robinson:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/karen_fundaytimes_zps97833d4f-b0b41871b9.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nEVENTS: This was the year of events. Mainly big stage events, and mostly with my fab friend and co-author \u003Ca href=\"http://philipreeve.blogspot.co.uk/\">Philip Reeve\u003C/a>. Here are kids who arrived dressed up in their own Seawigs!\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/Uherts_groupshot_zps0e246ce1-8968461a6c.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nIn fact, dressing up was one of my favourite parts of the year, and I got such a buzz from seeing kids dressed up as my book characters. Check out this great Shark in the Bath! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/cosplay_shark_bevis_zps9919cb9b-e3566fd0b1.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd a lovely Iris the mermaid:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/oxlitfest14_Helen_mermaid_zpsa94ee71e-08a99bf3ea.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nTRAVEL: This year I got to go to Norway, which is somewhere I'd always wanted to visit, but I could never afford to go. (Norway's rather expensive.) I got invited out by John and Helga Rullestad (who run the town's November book festival) and I totally fell in love with Skudeneshavn, the town where it's based. The first time I went out with a bunch of Welsh teachers and Heather Salisbury from the Hay Festival, as a sort of EU exchange program.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/skudeneshavn_drawing_zpscf7fa7c3-fffdbf64a9.gif\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd I also got to go to the Emirates Lit Fest in Dubai! And ride a camel!\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/dubai_sarah_camelselfie_zps757d53f7-86f9b0911d.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nOne of the highlights was getting to spend a decent amoung time with other authors I only usually say hello to in passing. Here are writer-illustrator Sally Gardner and journalist Katie Adie on a camel:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/dubai_sally_kate_camel_zps05b65d62-ad6bb8506a.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd Francesca Simon (author of the 'Horrid Henry' books): \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/dubai_francesca_camel2_zpsac112eec-a280728ea7.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd Joanne Harris (who wrote \u003Ci>Chocolat\u003C/i>), with the only disappointing bit of food on the whole trip (a pea jelly). \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/dubai_disappointing_jelly_zpsa2ff36b8-e236c857a1.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nSCHOOL VISITS: This one was to Hay-on-Wye, in exchange for the Norway trip.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/hay_primary_lunch_zps94ad10f4-58a59186af.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nSHARKS! Here's the fab Scholastic UK team who worked with my on \u003Ci>There's a Shark in the Bath\u003C/i>: designer Rebecca Essilifie (who's originally Ghanaian) and editor Pauliina Malinen (who's Finnish). I love it that we're all from somewhere else way back when, but publishing books together in England. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/shark_team_zps06a9d246-03dac0c20b.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd I wouldn't be anywhere without my shark-blower-upper, the excellent publicist David Sanger. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/hay14_shark_diva_zpse0ab57ee-e78e051fb3.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nWhat else? Lots of mucking around with Stuart. He puts up with me making lots of stupid drawings and taking silly photos. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/pikachu_mouth_zps43ce3943-09b5e2d93d.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nFAMILY: In the spring, my parents came to visit from Seattle and we rented a cottage in Derbyshire with them. This is my favourite sketch from the trip, when they're crashed out on the sofa after a day of sightseeing. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/parents_sofa_zps000c211b-ebea8ad70a.gif\">\\r\n\\r\nStuart and I decided we could make do living at Chatsworth, that would be just fine.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/peaks14_chatsworth_stu_me_zps5bbba506-5c50f7f2ab.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nUnfortunately Stuart didn't get to spend time with his dad this year as he died in January. It's been hard for him, and just yesterday he was listening to one of his dad's old answering machine messages. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/fatherinlaw_zps9b512827-9ef2812999.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnother passing: right before my parents came to visit, my grandfather died (my mother's dad). There was a mixture of sadness and relief, as he'd been ill for a long time, but I will always remember him zipping about - a bit too fast - on his mobility scooter. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/grandpa_scooter1_zpse7854cb5-c703224561.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nMy next trip was to Spain, to do a whole week of international school visits, and my grandpa would have LOVED the showgirls of Benidorm Palace.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/benidorm_palace_2_zpsc809edd9-dbd60bd324.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nSoon after Spain, I \u003Ca href=\"\\r\nhttp://jabberworks.livejournal.com/2014/05/15/\">wrote a blog post\u003C/a> about the trials of going running in my neighbourhood. This has not been a good year for exercise. I need to do something about that next year. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"\\r\nhttp://jabberworks.livejournal.com/2014/05/15/\">\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/morning_run_zpsd92c4663-cf1ef46090.jpg\">\u003C/a>\\r\n\\r\nIf I didn't eat so much cake, I probably would've been burning off all these calories on stage, doing these high-energy events. Here's one at the Hay Festival, when Sam Reeve came up and helped his dad and me.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/hay14_telegraph_clara_molden_zpsf666f2fe-2086e6ef7e.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd for a second year at Hay, Philip and I managed to complete a whole giant comic strip on stage with Martin Brown (of Horrible Histories) and the audience's help.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/hay14_comicsjam_sarahreeve1_zps23c90054-8cd8851318.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nIn the meantime, I wasn't doing as many daily doodles as I usually have done, but I did get a set of Letraset markers and had fun trying out new pens. Here's Stuart reading the paper:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/felttip_stuart_newspaper_zps564998e6-ee2fbe2256.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nSEA MONKEYS: Sea monkeys aren't actually the main characters of \u003Ci>Oliver and the Seawigs\u003C/i>, but they're the ones that most caught people's imagination or whimsy, or maybe they're just the easiest to draw and knit. Manchester Children's Book Festival made their whole festival Sea-Monkey-themed! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/mcbf14_parade_stairs_zpsae15b6d0-0c40aa7fad.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nWe also got involved with a charity called \u003Ca href=\"http://www.readwell.org.uk/\">ReadWell\u003C/a>, who bring new books to children in isolation wards in hospitals (since often they can't read books other children have touched). Writer John Dougherty introduced Philip and me to them at the Cheltenham lit fest, and it's a wonderful charity to support. (They're \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/ReadWellUK\">@ReadWellUK\u003C/a> on Twitter.) \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/mcbf14_hospital3_zps15e90ef9-2c786c296f.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nNow, I had NO IDEA what a big deal the Summer Reading Challenge was going to be. Design a few characters, do a few illustrations... ha ha, the Summer Reading Challenge was HUGE! Over 800,000 kids took part and it was mega. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/src_mythicalmaze_poster_zps299afa3a-6d026536d8.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nI think my favourite thing was watching the librarians get really involved in the Mythical Maze theme. So many dressed up, created incredible displays and set up exciting-looking craft workshops. I loved this unicorn:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/src_unicorn_staff_zps87b628e1-0e712c811b.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd one of the most amusing things was drawing a Sea Monkey with Camilla. She's a big supporter of children's books and was a very good sport.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/bbc_devon_src_camilla_zps959b915c-0d02db7fc2.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThe Summer Reading Challenge led to so many other things, such as creating this \u003Ca href=\"http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/gallery/2014/jul/30/how-to-draw-a-unicorn-summer-reading-challenge-sarah-mcintyre?CMP=twt_gu\">How to draw a Silly Unicorn\u003C/a> piece for The Guardian:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/gallery/2014/jul/30/how-to-draw-a-unicorn-summer-reading-challenge-sarah-mcintyre?CMP=twt_gu\">\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/guardian_opening_zpsa0654028-5ef017e611.jpg\">\u003C/a>\\r\n\\r\nAnd I had good backup in Damian Kelleher (who organised so much of my Summer Reading Challenge activity with the Reading Agency) and Liz Scott and Philippa Perry (below, in the blue shirt). Actually, Stuart and I got to go visit Philippa near Chichester on a mini break. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/phil_stuartmap_zps2ea4077c-e27583c73f.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nHOLIDAY: So yes, we did take time away to relax! Well, it was Stuart's idea of relaxing. We cycled 63 miles in three days. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chich14_unicorn_zpsa54efa7e-4b60a15a65.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nPedal, pedal, pedal. But gosh, it's gorgeous down there. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chich14_cycling_zps8ae53b71-aced2fc06c.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nWhen I got back, it was JAMPIRES time. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/jampires_portrait1_zpsa4e1bd3e-a96782438a.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nJAMPIRES: My comics friend \u003Ca href=\"http://davidoconnell.uk/\">David O'Connell\u003C/a> and I had been working on this book with David Fickling for absolutely ages - at least four years - and we were thrilled that it was finally going to see the light of day. (And Jampires are not like vampires; they're totally fine with daylight, as long as there's jam nearby.) \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/jampiresblog_books_zps6ab6d4c9-9af558899c.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nHere's our fabulous publisher David Fickling, and our jam expert, Emma Preston-Dunlop of the \u003Ca href=\"http://www.thebutchinstitute.co.uk/\">Butch Institue\u003C/a>. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/feastival_jampires_bowtie_zpsecf20498-442655088e.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nDavid built us a brilliant website at \u003Ca href=\"http://www.jampires.com\">Jampires.com\u003C/a>, and you can find out loads of interesting stuff about how we made the book, and get stuck into some fun activities. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"http://www.jampires.com\">\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/comic_zpsfcfae15e-6f3d1159fc.jpg\">\u003C/a>\\r\n\\r\nDave even made sure we printed up the comic that our picture book was originally based on! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/jampiresblog_comic_cover_zps87cbb74b-3c72a2e8b3.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nBack in the Fleece Station studio, \u003Ca href=\"http://garynorthfield.com/\">Gary Northfield\u003C/a> had a new book! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/gary_studio_zpsfdc55bbf-3aad7ccac2.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nIt's so fun watching books come together across the desk, and \u003Ca href=\"http://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/product/garys-garden-book-one/\">\u003Ci>Gary's Garden\u003C/i>\u003C/a> is brilliant. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/garys_garden_zps6b6b0425-021aefee43.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nHere's the Fleece Station assembled to give the book a great send-off at Bookseller Crow bookshop in Crystal Palace. Our studio mate \u003Ca href=\"http://elissaelwick.co.uk/\">Elissa Elwick\u003C/a> and I both arrived Chompy-the-caterpillar-themed. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/garysgarden_fleecestation_zpsc4078922-e6fdd2ad09.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nHaving Elissa at the studio this year has been brilliant; she's converted me to soya milk (it doesn't go off as fast!) and been such a good laugh. She'll have an exciting big book deal to announce in 2015, so keep an eye on that lady. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/elissa_elwick_biopic_1_zps1ae18e0c-d81ebaa877.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nOne very big thing happened at the studio... Gary got A DOG. A dog that started out very small and grew and grew and grew! He's now a powerful and hyperactive staffie-boxer mix and it means Elissa and I see a bit less of Gary as he looks after Stan. But we're hoping Stan will settle down and let Gary come back to work more often. We miss Gary very much and we even made a cardboard version of him to put in his chair. He's been working on a new book with Walker Books called \u003Ci>Julius Zebra\u003C/i> which looks like it's going to be ACE. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/gary_bday14_zps8cdf3af9-0c2de0a23b.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Ci>Gary's Garden\u003C/i> wasn't the only new book coming out... Wait, is that a spaceman at the end of the garden...?\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/reeve_spaceman_barrow1_zps096fdaf7-fe3f939b5d.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nWhy yes, it's my fellow space cadet, Philip Reeve, who created a smashing space-themed book with me. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/cakedrop_heads_zps1d99f762-df9cb741b4.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nCAKES IN SPACE: We went ALL OUT with the \u003Ci>Cakes in Space\u003C/i> outfits. As they say, you only live once. Created by fab studio-upstairs costume designer \u003Ca href=\"http://www.wendybenstead.com/\">Wendy Benstead and team\u003C/a> and cake hat by good friend and sculptor \u003Ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/EddieSmith3D?ref=ts&fref=ts\">Eddie Smith\u003C/a>. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/cakes_reevemcintyre_zps6069ee05-f9cd115dee.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd here's our \u003Ci>Cakes in Space\u003C/i> editorial team, all in magnificent headgear! That's our designer, Jo Cameron (who made the fascinators), publisher Liz Cross, and editor Clare Whitston. We're already working together on Book 3, so stay posted! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/reeve_mcintyre_cakesinspace_edteam_zps93debfeb-f8cecffee4.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThat Reeve is such a goofball, we had so much fun dressing up. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/space_sarah_philip1_zpsd861af20-f50709eec1.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd Dartmoor, where he lives, looks almost like an alien planet, so it's perfect. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/reeve_mcintyre_bonehill_zpse733ad80-a637e85425.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nBut we didn't stay on Planet Dartmoor, we ventured over to the Isle of Man for the Manx lit fest (and shot our album cover, in case we ever decide to record an album). \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manxfest_album_zpsf626b7e6-7f50ba7595.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAll the kids drew Pilbeam the robot with us, it was pretty awesome. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_famlib_group2_zps853d5d91-1920d6fcb2.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nPhilip and I hit quite a few festivals this year, including the Southbank's Imagine festival, Oxford Lit Fest, Cambridge Lit Fest, Edinburgh Book Fest, the FCBG and CLPE conferences, Hay Festival, Nine Worlds, Budleigh Salterton Lit Fest and North Cornwall Lit Fest. And I also did Leicester Author Week, World Con, YA Lit Con, and the Big Feastival and Oxford Story Museum with David O'Connell. More fun with wigs... (Here's Elaine McQuade from our OUP publicity team, while we were in Edinburgh.)\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/mcintyre_birdwig_zps48048c97-a9d31af9f3.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnother big thing I took part in was the 24-Hour Comics Marathon, in Kendal at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. Seven of us made a whole 24-page comic book each, in 24 hours! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/24hr_comic_group_zps936e535d-24a92bcfd2.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nYou can read my book, \u003Ci>Scribble\u003C/i>, \u003Ca href=\"http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/668539.html\">online here\u003C/a>. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/668539.html\">\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/scribble_01_zpsd7f23d50-91b3aef5d4.jpg\">\u003C/a>\\r\n\\r\nThen it was back to Norway! This time Stuart came with me and we took part in Skudeneshavn's big annual book festival, called SILK. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/haugesund_avis_zpsd55cbdab-818ed8fcc2.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nWhen Maggie Djoennem, the librarian on the nearby island of Utsira, found out we were coming to SILK, she asked us if we wanted to stop over for another couple nights. Did we ever! We got to stay by the Lighthouse, in the island's artist residence:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/utsira_lighthouse_residence_zpsd5000f7b-94a05eb76b.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd Stuart looked ever so good in his Norwegian jumper.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/utsira_stuart_jumper_zps8a9f510b-82c3878c35.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThe people on Utsira were so kind and \u003Ci>interesting\u003C/i>... we were very sorry to leave and I miss them. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/utsira_marit_daughter1_zps1db8fa77-2de1f77cca.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nI made so many new friends in Norway, I hope I get to see them again.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/avaldsnes_john_lene_sarah_zpsea7ede0e-04bda87104.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nBack in London, Scholastic UK threw the first-ever party that anyone could remember! It was sparkly and amazing, on the top of the Centrepoint building. Here I am, with my \u003Ci>Shark in the Bath\u003C/i> editor, Pauliina. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/scholasticparty14_pauliina_zps900bead1-93a3be367b.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd Thought Bubble! David O'Connell and I took part in one of the world's best comics festivals, held every year in Leeds. We ran the children's activity area - Jampires-themed - with the wonderful Matt Badham and Molly Bruton. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/tb14_team_jampires_zpsdb6e7393-553ac12efe.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nOne of the highlights of the festival for me was seeing kids making comics, and some of them even running their own tables. I really hope to see a lot more of this in the future; these kids are pioneers. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/tb14_jordanjonny_zps68da54f1-898c729106.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nJordan Vigay and Johnny Toons were some of the most focused and energetic young comics makers and the stuff they make is really good; we'll be seeing a lot more from these guys. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/tb14_comicsjam_winner_zpsb872fae0-35191b8875.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nKNITTING: Our studio-mate-at-large Lauren O'Farrell (aka Deadly Knitshade) designed us a pattern for making a knitted Jampire! Lauren's been crazy-busy with commissions this year, so we haven't seen a lot of her, but exciting things keep popping up online from the whirr of flying balls of wool and the frenetic clacking of needles. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/674052.html\">\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/jampire_pattern_prev_zps2e95a106-f8055ad5ec.jpg\">\u003C/a>\\r\n\\r\nCakes in Space IN THE TUBE! This is hugely happy-making, I still can't get over it. People keep spotting the posters at stations all over town. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/cakesinspace_camden_SAhickman_zps22e2f5ed-e61468d033.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd NEW BOOKS! I felt hugely honoured to be able to listen to all of Philip Reeve's upcoming book \u003Ci>RAILHEAD\u003C/i>, as he proof-read it before sending it to his editor. It's coming out next autumn and it's absolutely brilliant. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/Railhead_skype_sm_zps4c6aed07-dccf3ad095.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd next spring, my new Scholastic UK picture book, \u003Ci>Dinosaur Police\u003C/i> will be rampaging across Jurassic Britain! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/dinosaur_police_peek1_zps90dca227-7d81d78118.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nWe're SO excited for this one, get ready for a great dinosaur romp. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/dino_police_team_zps17e1e49c-7b9d9bb430.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nSo what do I want to do next year? Well, I'd like to watch more films. I didn't get to see many this year, and almost the only telly I watched was two box sets Philip lent to me: \u003Ci>Orange is the New Black\u003C/i> and \u003Ci>House of Cards\u003C/i> (the American version). I recently saw \u003Ci>Maleficent\u003C/i>, which I loved SO much. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/Maleficent_raven_zps22e24a7e-35334f9fff.jpg\"> \\r\n\\r\nAnd the best thing Stuart and I saw at the theatre was \u003Ci>Jeeves and Wooster\u003C/i>, which we went to see with the Reeves. Although Stuart got to see comics friends Emma Vieceli and Andrew Ruddick act in \u003Ci>Oklahoma\u003C/i> while I was laid low with 'flu, and he said it was a great show.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/jeeves_and_wooster_play_zps4768ebde-8b6ee16603.jpg\"> \\r\n\\r\nNext year I need to be careful not to get too distracted by the Internet. But I also love the way I can get inspired by it. Like yesterday, Joanne Harris (whom I met earlier in the year in Dubai), was tweeting a new story for '#storytime':\\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/Joannechocolat/status/546594980605988864\">\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/joanne_tweet_zps4e478497-5ddce32dd0.gif\">\u003C/a>\\r\n\\r\nAnd while she typed out the story, I got busy doing a illustration to tweet at the end of it. That was fun! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/clockwork_tiger_joanneharris_zps5d2a4a5f-cdc9403ed3.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nSo yes, I hope in 2015 I do a lot more drawing and post a daily drawing here on the blog. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/sarah_drawing_on_sofa_zps07c8b593-0696fc8982.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd I'll leave you with some \u003Ci>Cakes in Space\u003C/i> caroling Poglites. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/poglite_xmas1_zps034d5dbd-1b4b510e99.gif\">\\r\n\\r\nHave a happy Christmas! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/stuart_sarah_zpseace6f59-34134e9cc6.jpg\">","2014-12-22T07:58:00.000Z","2014-year-in-review",[],"2014: year in review",1776628727098]