[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":11},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-post-edinburgh-book-festival-2015":3},{"_type":4,"body":5,"bodyHtml":6,"excerpt":5,"featuredImage":5,"publishedAt":7,"slug":8,"tags":9,"title":10},"blogPost",null,"\u003Ci>Once a lonely hunter ventured out upon the ice\\r\nThe wind was howling fearful cold\\r\nIt wasn't very nice\\r\nThen out of the swirling snow some tiny dogs burst forth... \\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"4\">PUGS.... OF THE FROZEN NORTH!\u003C/font>\u003C/i>\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest15_lizpichon_costumes_zpsvro1t6e8-f0b995d4f5.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Photo tweeted by Tom Gates author \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/LizPichon\">Liz Pichon\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\n\u003Ci>They said... \u003Cb>\u003Cfont size=\"4\">YIIIIIP! yip YIIIIIP! yip YIP YIP YIP YIP YIP YIP YIP YIP!\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\u003C/b>\\r\n...And thus begins the theme song of the new Reeve & McIntyre book, which launched at this year's Edinburgh Book Festival! \\r\n\\r\nNow, \u003Ca href=\"http://www.philip-reeve.com/pugs-are-go/\">Philip Reeve\u003C/a> and I might get taken more seriously by grown-ups as Proper Authors if we turned up for events wearing black turtlenecks, stroking our chins, and taking turns giving dour gazes into the middle distance. But that's been done before and isn't half as much fun.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/gwyneth_pugs_zps08lw4rmz-5c3434bdba.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Photo tweeted by writer \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/gwyneth_rees\">Gwyneth Rees\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nLast year we came space-themed (\u003Ca href=\"http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/658873.html\">photos here\u003C/a>), and this year we started with a handy shirt my husband, Stuart, had bought years ago in a market in Moscow, and built up the costumes from there. We thought we'd avoid blue (too much like another Frozen) or red (I'm not Mrs Claus) and I love the yellow on our book cover, a look I'd borrowed from the Japanese edition of our earlier book \u003Ci>Oliver and the Seawigs\u003C/i>! I seldom think foreign publishers actually \u003Ci>improve\u003C/i> on our covers, but the Japanese totally did. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/pugs_cover_evolution_zpsjpuzbvqz-d348f0fc37.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nHere's our Pugs cover evolution. (And I just saw that our American publishers have gone public with a \u003Ca href=\"http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/236800/pugs-of-the-frozen-north-by-philip-reeve-illustrated-by-sarah-mcintyre/\">blue cover\u003C/a>.) \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest14_pugs_costumes_zpstf7rp2je-62ff89fd3f.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Photo by Stuart\u003C/font>\u003C/i>\\r\n\\r\nOf course books aren't ALL about cover colours and costume. But there are millions of books in the world and somehow we have to figure out how to make ours jump off the shelves. Besides, dressing up makes going on stage much easier somehow. It's like being in a play. This time the excellent \u003Ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/EstherBlessedUK\">Esther Marfo\u003C/a> sewed my dress to my drawing of it. Here she is in her workshop: \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest14_esther_marfo_zps0je2zyc7-a33230b0bc.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd here's the icicle tiara I made, with plastic soda bottles, a comb, scissors, a candle and a glue gun.  \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/pugs_tiara_zpsudbpm16c-65e1e7c7ef.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nYou can learn how to do almost anything on the Internet. Here's a tutorial I adapted to make the tiara. It was a lot of fun to make, and not too tricky, after I'd messed up the first couple icicles. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Clj-embed id=\"3172\"/>\\r\n\\r\nAnd my Aunt Joy just happened to give me this dog-paw necklace on my recent trip to the USA, so thank you, Auntie! Selfie with Stuart in our Edinburgh hotel lift: \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest14_stuart_lift_zps657vkrrc-53f74d9644.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd yes, we did look a lot like traveling balalaika players. Which is GREAT, everyone loves a good long balalaika album, or two, or twenty-two. Our Oxford University Press designer, \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/9peace8\">Jo Cameron\u003C/a>, created this terrific album cover for us: \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/pugs_balalaika_JoCam_zpssaqrmskt-73e233258b.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd Philip created a special edition of our standard anti-yeti spray. Very important to take along, when you're journeying to the Frozen North. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest14_yeti_b_gone_zpshjdiqvfu-6099f0ddd8.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003C!--more Click here for more under the cut!-->\\r\nAh, a chance to try it out in the Author Yurt, on one of Edinburgh's most famous yeti, \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/PhilipArdagh\">Philip Ardagh\u003C/a>! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest14_yeti_b_gone3_zpsizoyjdlw-0f1f70c020.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nHmm... did it work? \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest14_yeti_b_gone2_zpswx3rj2z9-3b591e7d51.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nOh dear. Not only did it not work, but it seems to have caused that yeti to REPLICATE. ...Or wait, is that writer \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/afharrold\">AF Harrold\u003C/a>? It's hard to be sure. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest15_chrisclose_zpsmmaneruf-d613417cf3.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Printed photo by festival photographer \u003Ca href=\"http://www.chrisclose.com/\">Chris Close\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nI was thrilled to bits that illustrator \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/2dscrumptious\">Steven Lenton\u003C/a> came along to our event and took this Pugs-in-action photo. He's the first speaker in Nosy Crow's Illustrator Salon, hosting its first event in London on 14 Sept (with plans to feature non-Nosy Crow illustrators, too). Nosy Crow's \u003Ca href=\"http://www.thebookseller.com/futurebook/tom-bonnick-309311\">Tom Bonnick set it up\u003C/a> partly in response to the #PicturesMeanBusiness campaign to get illustrators credited for their work, and encourage people to take an interest in talking about a book's pictures and finding out more about who made them. You can book tickets to the \u003Ca href=\"http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/nosy-crow-illustrator-salon-steven-lenton-tickets-17392805349\">Illustrator Salon here\u003C/a>, and read more about the campaign at \u003Ca href=\"http://www.picturesmeanbusiness.com\">www.picturesmeanbusiness.com\u003C/a>. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest15_stevelenton_stage_zpsm8qscgyk-57da9e432c.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nPhilip and I can't imagine not bigging up both the writing AND the pictures in our book, and we love how kids get excited when they discover they can make a simple drawing and have it come out well. Here are some of the audience's pug drawings that we got to see when we met them afterward at the book signing.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest14_pugdraw1_zpsw685owwk-9b61347efc.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nYou can learn how to KNIT your own pug over \u003Ca href=\"http://www.jabberworks.co.uk/pugs-of-the-frozen-north/\">on my website here\u003C/a>.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest15_pugdraw2_zpsbnx55zao-77fb173d3e.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest15_pugdraw3_zpsb5ixgmgr-c814166ad7.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nI love this girl's drawing of me, and Philip and me in our preferred way of arriving at book festivals. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest14_pugdraw4_zpsz8xjdh3f-c6c0480906.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAfter we finished our first event, Stuart, Philip and I popped over to \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/BlackwellEdin\">Blackwell's Edinburgh\u003C/a> to meet Fiona and sign some copies of our various books. (You might still find a few signed Pugs books there if you're quick.)\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest15_blackwells2_zpsskbmnw9k-76d92d8430.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThanks for the lovely write-up, Fiona! :)\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest15_blackwells1_zpsqndvtj5i-01b1bf6de9.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThen it seemed appropriate to pay our respects to Edinburgh's own canine hero, Greyfriars Bobby. (You can \u003Ca href=\"http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/Greyfriars-Bobby/\">read his story here\u003C/a>. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest15_greyfriars1_zpseeisoila-ab464bd27a.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest15_greyfriars2_zpsqagbhwnr-8baee3f26f.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nBut it wasn't all PUGS at Edinburgh, that was just the latest book! I also had a storming DINOSAUR POLICE event to do. Here was the view of Edinburgh Castle on the second morning, from the stairwell in our hotel.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest14_hotel_view_zpsropugzj7-0ab900f30a.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nI donned a vintage frock and yellow gloves I'd found last week in Seattle with my sister and met up with Dinosaur Dave, aka \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/davesanger09\">David Sanger\u003C/a> from Scholastic UK. Dave made a great dinosaur, roaring, rampaging around the tent and falling asleep on the floor and snoring loudly, right in the middle of the stage. Thanks, Dave! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest15_sarah_dinodave_zpsyqg1g3fl-3a6f4babac.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nI wore my lucky Officer Brachio badge, stitched by \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/teasemade\">Sami Teasdale\u003C/a>.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest15_teasemade_zpsbsrzjtb9-fb8d4e9035.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd here are some T-Rex drawings! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest15_dinodraw2_zpsu4rcoudb-c02cc50f2b.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nIn \u003Ci>Dinosaur Police\u003C/i>, Trevor the T-Rex escapes from the pizza factory with pizzas still stuck all over his body, so a lot of these dinosaurs had food stuck to them, too. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest15_dinodraw4_zpsscllhzw2-5a2309fbbd.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nRAWWRRR! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest15_dinodraw1_zpskzbhum5g-eb1cc7c49f.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nOne of the coolest thing was seeing kids who were repeat visitors, either from previous years or from the previous day's Pugs event. Thanks for coming back, guys! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest15_dinodraw3_zpsccxla7wz-7ccebe0e6e.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd I love it when everyone draws, not just the kids! Here's a fab T-Rex tweeted by writer \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/Pamela_Butchart\">Pamela Butchart\u003C/a>. Big thanks to everyone who came along! You can learn how to draw your own T-Rex and more on my website \u003Ca href=\"http://www.jabberworks.co.uk/dinosaur-police/\">right here\u003C/a>.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/pamela_dinosaur_zps0sfknltp-3851a8d119.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nMy one big disappointment about this year's Edinburgh Book Festival was that my event was on at almost the exact same time as Philip Reeve's event with his co-author \u003Ca href=\"http://www.kjartan.co.uk/\">Kjartan Poskitt\u003C/a>. They worked together years ago on the Murderous Maths books, and recently have been doing the \u003Cb>Borgon the Axeboy\u003C/b> books together, with Reeve illustrating and Poskitt writing. (Poskitt's name also appears as a god in the Mortal Engines books.)\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest14_reeve_poskitt_zpsxapee6x6-1cec386db2.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nOf course, I pestered them as much as I could before and after our events...\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/poskitt_reeve_sarah_zpsjnxt42sd-f1e88dd216.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n...But I saw this photo tweeted by their Faber publicist of Philip lying on the floor on stage, and was GUTTED I hadn't seen it myself. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/faber_reeve_floor_zps7oiln91y-d6826b81e4.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nWhen we were out and about with Stuart, we caught sight of the bus to \u003Cb>Clovenstone\u003C/b>, the name Philip borrowed for the land where he set his \u003Ca href=\"http://www.philip-reeve.com/goblins/\">GOBLINS trilogy\u003C/a>. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest14_clovenstone_zpsno5bvk70-8c5382570e.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nGo read the GOBLINS books, they're ace! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/clovestonemap_zpsftztlvak-9597cae2a1.png\">\\r\n\\r\nA few other sightings of writers and illustrators whose names you may recognise... here's writer \u003Ca href=\"http://moirayoung.com/\">Moira Young\u003C/a> with Philip Ardagh:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest14_moirayoung_ardagh_zpsishh8o7b-a2b6ae4806.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd writer \u003Ca href=\"http://galewarning.org/\">Patrick Gale\u003C/a>, who hosted us at last year's \u003Ca href=\"http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/669750.html\">North Cornwall book festival\u003C/a>! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest14_patrick_gale_zps3yorrewn-3a1b1180d4.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd here in the centre is the excellent person who runs the whole show, the children's book section of the festival, \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/janet_smyth\">Janet Smyth\u003C/a>! I got to meet all three generations! Here she is with her mum and daughter, who was also working for the festival. Huge thanks for making it so fabulous!\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest14_janet_smyth_zpsgjdyqstc-fb02facee9.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nOo, it's the always-super-photogenic comic creators, the \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/EtheringtonBros\">Etherington Brothers\u003C/a>! (Who are actual brothers and make comics together, which is the coolest thing ever.) \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest14_etherington_zpsxpevltbm-b15f09c3dd.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/NaomiAllthenews\">Naomi Alderman\u003C/a>, who writes the scripts for \u003Ca href=\"http://www.naomialderman.com/zombies-run/\">\u003Ci>Zombies, Run!\u003C/i>\u003C/a>, among many other things. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest14_naomi_alderman_zpsjzzjoskp-64844e56c4.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nWith writer-illustrator \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MrSteveAntony\">Steve Anthony\u003C/a>:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest14_steveanthony_zpsvoqeglov-773339f977.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nComics creator \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/jamieillustrate\">Jamie Littler\u003C/a>, who recently illustrated a book with writer Danny Wallace:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest15_jamie_littler_zpszpefay25-dafffe1cb8.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/LizPichon\">Liz Pichon\u003C/a>'s Tom Gates fingernails:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest15_liznails_zpsbum3ewky-74470723e5.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nWriter \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/nicolamorgan\">Nicola Morgan\u003C/a> has done loads of work for the Society of Authors CWIG committee (Children's Writers & Illustrators Group) and done research into why Author Visits to schools are such an important thing in getting kids excited about reading, writing and drawing, and advice on Author Visit fees.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest15_nicola_morgan_zpsu7vpjdbr-cfe9ecf542.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAmazing double-act, illustrator \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/2dscrumptious\">Steven Lenton\u003C/a> and \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/TraceyCorderoy\">Tracey Corderoy\u003C/a> (and friends):\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/IMG_steventracey_zpsmdrq1sfd-5c45c6628e.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nIllustrator \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/emmadodd2\">Emma Dodd\u003C/a>: \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest15_emmadodd_zps0odconxg-737669cd99.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd I even got to catch up and draw with some of my Scottish relatives! Here's a picture I drew of Eve and Callum at dinner:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest14_evecallum_zpsk8lime4o-b6bb6cee37.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nStuart and I were so busy at this festival that we didn't get much time to wander about, but we did take a good walk along the Royal Mile and see all the other performers, which made me feel very normal in my own costume. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest15_sarah_stu_zpsxbzqcnrg-aa28c002ce.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nExcellent elephant puppet:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest15_royalmile_zpsynuayoxp-a4d718611a.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nBig thanks to Janet Smyth, my Scholastic team Dave Sanger and \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/sophiapemberton\">Sophia Pemberton\u003C/a>, our OUP team Elaine McQuade and \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/keobaxendine\">Keo Baxendine\u003C/a>, \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/JoelyBadger\">Joely Badger\u003C/a> and all the staff and volunteers who made the festival run so smoothly.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest14_OUPteam_zpsgulszmsg-a900814c80.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd biggest thanks to lovely Stuart, who read through my Pugs script with me, listened to my ukulele practicing, helped me zip up costumes, helped carry luggage, and generally made the trip more pleasant. My hero! :)\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest14_stuart_train_zpsvllvyodn-49ec50e4f3.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nI meant to draw a nice festival round-up picture on the train, but I was so shattered that this was all I managed:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/edbkfest14_dribble_zps0t3rp4mj-65daec6e69.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nIf you missed our events in Edinburgh, we're gearing up for the PUGS ROADSHOW, so check on my \u003Ca href=\"http://www.jabberworks.co.uk/events/\">Events page\u003C/a> to see if we stop near you! \\r\n\\r\nYou can read Philip's Edinburgh blog \u003Ca href=\"http://www.philip-reeve.com/pugs-are-go/\">here\u003C/a>, and the Bookwitch has already blogged about our Pugs event \u003Ca href=\"https://bookwitch.wordpress.com/2015/08/23/yip-yip-yip/\">here\u003C/a>.","2015-08-25T16:36:00.000Z","edinburgh-book-festival-2015",[],"edinburgh book festival 2015",1776628727771]