[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":11},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-post-fairford-festival-of-fiction-2017":3},{"_type":4,"body":5,"bodyHtml":6,"excerpt":5,"featuredImage":5,"publishedAt":7,"slug":8,"tags":9,"title":10},"blogPost",null,"Thanks to writer \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/Paul_Cornell\">Paul Cornell\u003C/a>, Fairford in Gloucestershire had its first Festival of Fiction last weekend! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/fairford_flipchartposter_zpsm8896fnx-660fcbab15.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nI was thrilled take part and get to hang out with these fab people! The guy on the left is \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/marekkukula\">Marek Kukula\u003C/a>, Public Astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, and on the right, writer and BBC documentary producer \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/0tralala\">Simon Guerrier\u003C/a>. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/fairford_poster_zps6uw6vurc-7df306070e.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nMy event was first thing Saturday morning, so Stuart and I went up early on Friday as a sort of mini holiday to Gloucestershire. Fairford turned out to be a gorgeous town, so we were glad we did! (That's Paul on the right.)\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/fairford_group_zpsa2judjh5-21e7439140.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nFairford has an abundance of large hares, so Marek and I took turns STARING THEM DOWN. As you do. (They looked pretty freaked out by it.)\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/Fairford17_hares_zpshjc1u4qw-dd428a756f.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nStuart and I got to sit in on Marek and Simon's talk, discussion their joint book, \u003Ci>The Scientic Secrets of Doctor Who\u003C/i>. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/fairford_simon_marek2_zpsjgsn6unp-30045e1976.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003C!--more Click here for lots more under the cut!-->\\r\nAnd we had a parade! Here I am with two drummers from Swindon in front of \u003Ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairford#St_Mary.27s_Church\">St Mary's Church\u003C/a> (where Paul's wife, \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/Carolinesymcox\">Caroline Symcox\u003C/a>, works as the vicar). They kept a wonderful beat for the parade; we could've danced to it without any other music. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/fairford_drummers_zpshp8mlsyb-9ae3ac6244.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThis chappie in front kept a close eye on the Daleks, who exterminated no one but squirted several unsuspecting onlookers. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/stu_fairford_parade6_zpsi5omlakj-eaf0afad4a.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nHa ha, a Massey is always a good second line of defense! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/stu_fairford_parade_massey_zpsoxrinayv-4da2762cc2.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nDaleks contained! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/fairford_daleks1_zpslk40kluu-e166b7432c.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nSince the book festival was mostly aimed at grownups and I was the only children's book event, I wasn't quite sure what ages people in the audience would be. So I did a general sea-themed event, so I could bring in a picture book - \u003Ci>\u003Ca href=\"http://www.jabberworks.co.uk/theres-a-shark-in-the-bath/\">There's a Shark in the Bath\u003C/a>\u003C/i> - and a longer book with chapters, \u003Ca href=\"http://www.jabberworks.co.uk/oliver-and-the-seawigs/\">Oliver and the Seawigs\u003C/a>. My co-author \u003Ca href=\"http://philip-reeve.com/\">Philip Reeve\u003C/a> wrote a great bit about Sea Monkeys, so I read from that. (That's my impression of the villain, Stacey De Lacey, cracking his seaweed whip.)\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/fairford_sarah_event2_zpskil76wnt-1ea6c4457a.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd I taught everyone how to draw Sea Monkeys! (Here's an \u003Ca href=\"http://www.jabberworks.co.uk/seawigs/seawigs_draw_seamonkey_A4.pdf\">printable tutorial\u003C/a> or a \u003Ca href=\"http://www.booktrust.org.uk/programmes/primary/the-write-book/sarah-mcintyre-video/\">BookTrust video\u003C/a> if you missed it.) \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/fairford_sarah_event3_zpshfnweffh-ebee224e86.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nMy favourite bit is at the end, when I get to see everyone's drawings. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/fairford_seamonkeys4_zpsmahcnlak-ee8affffd1.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/fairford_seamonkeys2_zpsvjvyuwem-1768c4f40b.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/fairford_seamonkeys1_zpsx4i2qttc-df297e5d67.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/fairford_seamonkeys3_zpsn5wgtpwn-e72b1c37a7.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nI love how different and characterful they all turn out! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/fairford_sarah_event4_zpsd3r7indi-76babf5ec6.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nHere's poet \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/shaguftakiqbal\">Shagufta K\u003C/a>, talking about and reading from her book \u003Ci>Jam Is For Girls, Girls Get Jam\u003C/i>.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/fairford_shaguftaK_zpsz3fg07cc-6e061cf171.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nNovelist \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/EmApocalyptic\">Emma Newman\u003C/a>, giving a very helpful, insightful talk on how to conquer a fear of writing. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/fairford_emma_talk_zpsakxtbgkj-4e39c2406c.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nEmma's fifth and final '\u003Cb>Split Worlds\u003C/b>' novel is out today, and you can \u003Ca href=\"http://www.splitworlds.com/about/about-the-books/the-series-in-order/\">find out about all the books here\u003C/a>! (Congrats, Emma!) Emma and her husband produce a great podcast called \u003Cb>Tea & Jeopardy\u003C/b>; it's definitely the most creative interview I've ever taken part in. (Check out \u003Ca href=\"http://teaandjeopardy.geekplanetonline.com/\">all the episodes\u003C/a> and here's the \u003Ca href=\"http://teaandjeopardy.geekplanetonline.com/podcast/tea-and-jeopardy-35-sarah-mcintyre-visits-the-tea-lair/\">one with me\u003C/a>:) \\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"http://teaandjeopardy.geekplanetonline.com/podcast/tea-and-jeopardy-35-sarah-mcintyre-visits-the-tea-lair/\">\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/teajeaop_zps0nx1ejc8-80cfb720ed.jpg\">\u003C/a>\\r\n\\r\nStuart and I also got a quick peek at the old church, built in the 1490's; check out this great little dragon. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/fairford_grotesque_zpsttnxvdcr-cb0518c026.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairford#Churches\">St Mary's Church\u003C/a> is famous for its complete set of medieval stained glass, and wow, those windows are \u003Ci>amazing\u003C/i>. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/fairford_cathedral_glass1_zpstqs0obrc-bfde857379.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nCheck out that freaky demon in the bottom corner! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/fairford_cathedral_glass2_zpsused8nnk-d6a743516f.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd I love this one with the Ascension of Christ:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/fairford_cathedral_feet1_zpsq9zasdnc-c26ff7de1f.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nCan you spot his little feet going up into the air? \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/fairford_cathedral_feet_zps2x0rd63m-72f29e4fe6.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nHere are a few more photos of Fairford, just because it's so pretty. It's the sort of Cotswold village that foreign visitors imagine when they think of England. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/fairford_town_zpstn77gomr-8d9727d3cb.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/fairford_town2_zpspz0fyufl-0f49041a8f.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThis post office cafe does amazing cupcakes. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/fairford_town5_zpsnyghnudo-48b1692bb4.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/fairford_simon_marek_zpsefi0r60s-3be89e5e16.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nBig thanks to everyone who made this festival happen! Including the appropriately gauged military presence: \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/stu_fairford_parade4_zps0kunawtx-c9466c1c87.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nStuart and I went absolutely nuts dancing to the rather fabulous band on Friday night. (But thankfully there aren't any photos of that.) Here are Adriana Pray Haines and her partner from \u003Ca href=\"http://peagreenboatbooks.co.uk/index.html\">Pea Green Boat Books\u003C/a>, who provided all the bookshop stock for the festival (and they're happy to come and stock your festival or school event, too)! You can follow them on Twitter: \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/peagreenboatbks\">@peagreenboatbks\u003C/a>\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/fairford_peagreenboatbks_zpsnmpx8bwa-4fe4f4d241.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd finally, thanks to Paul and Caroline for organising and even giving us lifts to and from the station. A fab weekend! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/fairford_poster_paul_zpshgjzhxmf-c8194a9fb7.jpg\">","2017-06-06T12:52:00.000Z","fairford-festival-of-fiction-2017",[],"fairford festival of fiction 2017",1776628729071]