[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":11},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-post-ireland-mountains-to-sea-2017":3},{"_type":4,"body":5,"bodyHtml":6,"excerpt":5,"featuredImage":5,"publishedAt":7,"slug":8,"tags":9,"title":10},"blogPost",null,"There's an incredibly friendly festival called \u003Ca href=\"http://www.mountainstosea.ie/\">Mountains to Sea\u003C/a> that happens on the outskirts of Dublin every year, in Dun Laoghaire, and my co-author \u003Ca href=\"http://philip-reeve.com/\">Philip Reeve\u003C/a> and I were thrilled this year to be a part of it! (Because we like to show off, internationally.) \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_flipchart_zpsdik523ao-3b23020bcd.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nI've just written a couple blogs for BookTrust about\u003Ca href=\"http://www.booktrust.org.uk/books/writing/online-writer-in-residence/blog/1096\"> not being afraid to draw badly\u003C/a>, and about \u003Ca href=\"http://www.booktrust.org.uk/books/writing/online-writer-in-residence/blog/1108\">the fun of drawing with other people\u003C/a>. So our very first even played right into that, a big six-way speed draw! Here was our team: former Irish Children's Laureate na nÓg \u003Ca href=\"http://www.niamhsharkey.com/\">Niamh Sharkey\u003C/a>, \u003Ca href=\"http://philip-reeve.com/\">Philip Reeve\u003C/a> and me:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_stagedraw_team1_zpsfoqhvwjp-4fe22ee3d3.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd our opposing team: \u003Ca href=\"http://www.chrisjudge.com/\">Chris Judge\u003C/a>, \u003Ca href=\"http://www.oisinmcgann.com/\">Oisín McGann\u003C/a> and \u003Ca href=\"https://margaretannesuggs.wordpress.com/childrens/\">Margaret Anne Suggs\u003C/a>! (You may have \u003Ca href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/pig%C3%ADn-of-howth-book-award-controversy-three-sides-of-the-story-1.2876690\">read in the Irish Times \u003C/a>about the Irish fight to credit illustrators when Mags's name got left out of a big award and we all went 'WHAT?!'.) \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_stagedraw_team2_zpsw8uvgcij-753010b386.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnyway, there was no talk about credit on stage because 350 school kids could see exactly who was drawing! And not even necessarily our best drawing, just our FAST drawing. Which is very fun in its own way, almost like playing Pictionary.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_stagedraw_ger1_zpskseijcls-1de04b71e3.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/GHollandPhoto\">Ger Holland\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\\r\n\\r\nHere we are, venting our nervous energy backstage with our host (and author), festival coordinator \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/sarahwebbishere\">Sarah Webb\u003C/a>.\\r\n\\r\n\u003C!--more Click here for lots more under the cut!-->\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_stagedraw_ger2_zpsalhdhh7e-7d88857a9c.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/GHollandPhoto\">Ger Holland\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\\r\n\\r\nThis photo's by Philip; there's something about those backstage mirrors with big lightbulbs around them that make us feel like SUCH BIG STARS. :D Let me have my Marilyn moment here...\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_dressingroom1_zpsroej2lww-5acce611b5.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nFor our second event, Philip and I were presenting our new book together, \u003Ci>Jinks & O'Hare Funfair Repair\u003C/i>. We think up ideas for the story together, then Philip writes and I draw, but there is a lot of swapping around, helping each other at every stage. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_jinksshow_Sarahwebb_zpsvknycofn-93db8de3e9.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/ERMurray\">Elizabeth Rose Murray\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\\r\n\\r\nHere's Philip describing the Learny-Go-Round, a much more exciting version of school if you happen to live on Funfair Moon, where our story's set. (\u003Ca href=\"http://jabberworks.co.uk/jinks-o-hare-funfair-repair/\">Click over to my website\u003C/a> if you'd like to see some free Jinks & O'Hare activities.) \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_jinksshow_ERMurray_zps7cxv6hv8-5b0b3f21dc.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/ERMurray\">Elizabeth Rose Murray\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\\r\n\\r\nThen we taught everyone how to draw Jinks, O'Hare and themselves riding upside-down on a roller coaster! We saw some fab results from kids and grownups alike. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_rollercoasters_zpshpeo5yfv-bbca7a6fa9.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nFor our third event, \u003Ca href=\"http://www.chrishaughton.com/\">Chris Haughton\u003C/a> joined our drawing teams (well, the opposing team) for another round of Ready Steady Draw! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_chris_haughton_zps0dirdhec-f33b6b830c.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nSome of the briefs set by people in the audience were quite complicated! I'm trying to remember this one, something about a cake and a cat and a mouse in a kitchen. Anyway, it was also quite a task trying to cram Niamh's, Philip's and my hands above one picture all drawing at the same time in two minutes, but very funny, too. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_grouppic1_zpsvoyvmoaf-e59ec8eb4a.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nHere you can see a few examples of what we were dealing with... \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_drawingcards_zpsy2mdfwnf-d5fe238f33.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nI think this one was 'a man on a boat, slipping on a banana peel and being rescued by a butterfly with a bunny's head'. Or something like that. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_grouppic2_zpskm8ek88w-c5bf9ca069.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nSome of the fun challenges were having two dads come up and draw against each other, two kids, and two mums. Then we had a portrait challenge and I had to draw Ashling in two minutes, with everyone watching. Not easy! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_grouppic3_zps67agrijq-c66442bc18.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAfter our mad session, we hopped across the road from the Town Hall to the Pavilion Theatre to see a much calmer, but just as fascinating session with writer-illustrator \u003Ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Kerr\">Judith Kerr\u003C/a>. She's 93, and still going strong! I grew up with her book \u003Ci>Mog the Forgetful Cat\u003C/i> and I'm always chuffed when I run into her at festivals. But this was the first time I had a chance to go to her event, and I'm so glad I could. Her editor, \u003Cb>Ian Craig\u003C/b>, was leafing through a picture album the whole time, which I think matched up with many of the slides, and I must find out which book it was; I'd love to get a copy. These are some photos of Judith with her real-life Mog cat, who really did love hardboiled eggs. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_judith_kerr_zps9ftkhfhq-8ad352c9f2.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnother fun thing about the festival was getting to see an exhibition of artwork by illustrators Chris Haughton and \u003Ca href=\"http://www.beatricealemagna.com/\">Beatrice Alemagna\u003C/a>. (She's Italian, so it's pronounced 'Bee-ah-TREE-chay'.) \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_songsea_exhib_sign2_zpsmmsjcw5x-cd232f86fd.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nHere's Beatrice and her partner at dinner: \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_beatrice_alemagna_zpsdy4jwmsp-e55e5c094a.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd one of her lovely books: \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_alemagna_book1_zpsxwizw0qa-55e1d6b38e.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nI got into the immersive aspects of the exhibition and viewed it all like a grown-up. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_alemagna_copy4_zpshiq7udgt-d37c939b6c.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_alemagna_copy1_zpsndcvfara-e4ab23a2fd.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_alemagna_copy3_zpsf2kcypgp-6f084b7dde.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_alemagna_copy2_zpsk8hlsaeo-fbe3aa2d3d.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nJust next door to the exhibition in the Lexicon DLR library was another exhibition of artwork supporting Irish animation \u003Ci>Song of the Sea\u003C/i>, by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.cartoonsaloon.ie/\">Cartoon Saloon\u003C/a>. I still haven't seen it, and absolutely MUST now. Beautiful work! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_songsea_exhib_sign_zpsewhcxwwj-dd4aff1a7b.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nHere's the trailer: \u003Clj-embed id=\"3953\"/>\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_songsea_exhib_panel2_zpssb2nty4b-f5a35f5244.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_songsea_exhib_panel4_zpszpke7wsz-0681d26d8c.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_songsea_exhib_panel3_zpskk93gak6-85e6a04a41.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_songsea_exhib_panel5_zpsoeibmgwe-0cc3e11624.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_songsea_exhib_panel6_zpsctuoywwk-bd8a7cf1e9.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nHere we are in the beautiful library space, in front of Chris's and Beatrice's exhibition, with UK Children's Laureate Chris Riddell and Irish Book Doctor/bookseller/academic/librarian/radio presenter \u003Ca href=\"http://www.kimharte.org/\">Kim Harte\u003C/a>. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_songsea_exhib_kim_chris_phil_zpssrb95yzx-f86d199043.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nWe also got a chance to go to one of Chris's live drawing events, hosted by author and festival coordinator \u003Ca href=\"https://www.sarahwebb.info/\">Sarah Webb\u003C/a>: \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/221123_original-c973be38c6.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nBig thanks to Bob Johnston and Jenny Duffy from \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/gutterbookshop\">Gutter Bookshop\u003C/a> for stocking books for our events! Here's Jenny, who did a few excellent turns down our stage catwalk, bearing various books aloft. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_jenny_bookshop_zpscashmyys-f31857e5c6.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nI reckon I've been to Mountains to Sea four times, and each time it's been as sunny as the French Riviera. Irish people assure me this is not always the case, but I'm quite happy to live in ignorance on this point and trot my way down the pier. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_bandstand_zps0qaoswab-167ed35939.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nI love festivals where you get time to meet and hang out with other people taking part in the festival. Here's Oisín and a new writer friend, \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/ERMurray\">Elizabeth Rose Murray\u003C/a>, at breakfast. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_breakfast_zps1dylyxo8-e388ed3865.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nA little group drawing we made after the second Ready Steady Draw session:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_cardrawing_zps6frcp2z2-b142fa4611.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nIllustrator \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/drawingmatt\">Matt Robertson\u003C/a> and his wife, Amy:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_matt_robertson_zpsbcxfb8ic-70aaa647a4.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nIrish writer legend \u003Ca href=\"http://www.judicurtin.com/\">Judi Curtin\u003C/a> and her husband: \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_judycurtin_zps8zngtutc-9079aee68a.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nUK YA writer \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/holly_bourneYA\">Holly Bourne\u003C/a>, bookseller Dave O'Callaghan, Chris Haughton: \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_dinnerpic2_zps1fljrhgy-17baf721e7.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nDesigner \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/GrainneClear\">Grainne Clear\u003C/a>, Keelin Murray from \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/KidsBooksIrel\">Children's Books Ireland\u003C/a>, Irish YA writer \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/SarahCrossan\">Sarah Crossan\u003C/a>, and across from Sarah, her recent co-author \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/BrianConaghan\">Brian Conaghan\u003C/a>.  \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_dinnerpic1_zpssirsdli2-be343d6550.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nHere's a picture I drew of a bunch of people at an earlier dinner, when I was trying to explain that you don't always have to make photo-realistic pictures of people for them to look engaging. I wish I'd drawn Joanna Trollope, who sat at our table, but she's left by then and I was too surprised earlier to snap a photo. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_dinnerdraw_ERMurray_zps7htqftr3-c414286f2c.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nHuge thanks to Sarah for organising, Kim for meeting up, and everyone on the festival team who made it such a brilliant success! xx\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_sarahwebb_kimharte3_zpsiaq73rva-dee979114e.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/m2c17_sarahwebb_kimharte2_zpsofkhlstq-c9bcd8b67c.jpg\">","2017-03-28T12:23:00.000Z","ireland-mountains-to-sea-2017",[],"ireland: mountains to sea 2017",1776628728922]