[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":11},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-post-manx-lit-fest-2014":3},{"_type":4,"body":5,"bodyHtml":6,"excerpt":5,"featuredImage":5,"publishedAt":7,"slug":8,"tags":9,"title":10},"blogPost",null,"So Philip Reeve hijacked \u003Ca href=\"http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/663729.html\">my previous blog post\u003C/a> and turned it into a Manx Reeve & McIntyre pop quiz. But it wasn't \u003Ci>exactly\u003C/i> a comprehensive look at my visit to the \u003Cb>Isle of Man\u003C/b> for the \u003Ca href=\"http://manxlitfest.com/\">Manx Lit Fest\u003C/a>. The main reason I blog is so that I don't forget things, and Manx Lit Fest was so fabulous that I absolutely must go back and record it. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_douglas_prom_zps3e79da40-c1d2b30cdb.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nWriter \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/rakie\">Rakie Keig\u003C/a> plunged me straight into a Manx cultural lesson when she drove me from the aiport to Douglas, where I would be staying for the weekend. We drove over the \u003Ca href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy_Bridge_%28Isle_of_Man%29\">Fairy Bridge\u003C/a> and she urged me to greet the fairies (as everyone does on the island, I learned from asking around). She also advised me never to say the word r-a-t, and subtitute the wod 'longtail' if I needed to say it. Her third tip was never to say I had come over from 'the mainland', but to call it 'the adjoining island'. Thanks for the tips, Rakie! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_douglas_prom2_zpscc228b69-e2095b7324.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nDouglas has a lovely long promenade along the beach, with a sort of faded grandeur that makes it easy to imagine the old days, when it was a prime seaside holiday destination. The \u003Ca href=\"http://www.regency.im/\">Regency Hotel\u003C/a> had lots of quirky old features, including a beautiful but tiny lift. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_regency_lift1_zps78d19812-5dd1594e21.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003C!--more Click here for LOTS more under the cut!-->\\r\nThe lift had those sorts of grated gates you see on Russian lifts, and of course, I had to take a photo down the shaft. And then I imagined the pile of dropped camera phones at the base of it. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_regency_lift3_zps523be67b-ea39b80756.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThe lift became a major feature of my stay, and got tinier and tinier as my costumes grew larger. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_regency_lift2_zps76d73bc4-cc159161a7.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nMy first event was a reception for the festival's sponsors, and one of the nice surprises was getting to meet a young author named \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/HGSansostri\">Harri Sansostri\u003C/a>. I meet a lot of kids who write, but I'd connected with Harri a year ago, when he was just beginning to try to promote his book on Twitter. He was sending the same promo tweet to everyone and I at first thought it was spam, but then realised his age, and we had a good conversation about promotion, which led to me writing \u003Ca href=\"http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/590358.html\">this blog post for him\u003C/a>. There was too much to say on Twitter, and I thought it might help Harri and other kids (possibly even adults!) who are trying to walk the fine line between promoting their books and being annoying. I'm sure I often go about it the wrong way, but Harri is proof that just getting out there and trying \u003Ci>something\u003C/i>, even if he got it wrong at first, can pay off in the end. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_receptn_harri_zpsef5ff134-7746ca6d3a.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.babbphotography.com/\">Steve Babb\u003C/i>\u003C/a>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nHarri's learned so much since then about using social media and his mother came up to me and thanked me for giving him that advice, and he tweeted me later to say how helpful it had been. (Which was good to hear; some people would just get angry if another person referred to their early tweets as spammy!) \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/sansotri_twitter_profile_zps5f317dee-ccf3f73123.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nI was so pleased to see he's ploughing forward with his books, having finished the second one and working on the third. Here's an \u003Ca href=\"http://www.hgsansostri.com/latest-news/\">update\u003C/a> about it on his website, and it's great to think he's already being invited to a literary festival. He's also done quite a few \u003Ca href=\"http://www.hgsansostri.com/my-school-book-tour/\">school visits\u003C/a>, which is very impressive! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/sansotri_manx_blog_zps8e32af57-66f1b4d5fa.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnother person I met at the reception was teacher-turned-rap-battler, poet \u003Ca href=\"http://www.markgrist.com/\">Mark Grist\u003C/a>. The only things I knew about rap battles are from watching Eminem's film \u003Ca href=\"http://youtu.be/X9-hxfcklGs\">\u003Ci>8 Mile\u003C/a>\u003C/i>, but talking with Mark so intrigued me that I went to see his event later, which was undoubtedly the most entertaining poetry evening I've ever been to.   \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_mark_grist_zps2e1e3026-e2b38473df.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.babbphotography.com/\">Steve Babb\u003C/i>\u003C/a>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nThe actual rap battle videos are quite sweary (one of them has over 4 million views), but you can see a family-friendly version here, where Mark talks about taking rap battles into schools. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Clj-embed id=\"2831\"/>\\r\nhttp://markgrist.com/video.php\\r\n\\r\nThe thing I loved most about his gig was the way he wove stories about his teaching experiences in between poetry recitations; it was great comedy.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_gristnight_zps246a4fab-bf1e90cd2b.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.babbphotography.com/\">Steve Babb\u003C/i>\u003C/a>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nAfter the reception, my \u003Ci>Oliver and the Seawigs\u003C/i> and \u003Ci>Cakes in Space\u003C/i> co-author \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/philipreeve1\">Philip Reeve\u003C/a> and I hosted the annual \u003Cb>Book Fanatics' Quiz Night\u003C/b> (see \u003Ca href=\"http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/663729.html\">the previous post\u003C/a>). The next day was \u003Cb>Schools Day\u003C/b>, and I spent the morning with the kids at \u003Ca href=\"https://www2.sch.im/groups/marownschool/\">Marown Primary School\u003C/a>. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_marown_poster_zpsa889c102-e44480d16c.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nI led an \u003Ci>Oliver and the Seawigs\u003C/i> session with Years 2-4 and we finished by drawing Sea Monkeys and singing the Sea Monkey sea shanty. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_marown_drawings_zps6929d6fc-9b013c6f96.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThese cheeky Sea Monkeys made me laugh:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_marown_seamonkeys_zpsda3d8d5e-873236e91e.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThe youngest children, Reception and Year 1, had already been reading \u003Ci>Jampires\u003C/i>, so I was able to build on what they already knew. We started out by drawing Jampires (who love jam), but then I had them think of their favourite food, and invent a little critter that might be obsessed with it. We even did a little bit of world building, talking about their creatures' homeland, filled entirely with their favourite food, and we drew trees with the food hanging from them (sausages, chocolate, salmon, etc).\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_marown_jampires1_zps337dc94b-62ddd26540.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nBesides the Jampires, it was fun seeing Pizzapires, Sausagepires, Chocopires... \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_marown_jampires_zps96f2855d-744578b9a9.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd then I finished with the oldest kids, Years 5 & 6. I led them in a Comics Jam, which was quite intense. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_marown_comicsjam2_zps9e28eda1-5d2973ec99.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nIt's always fun watching them at the end of the session, when their comic is returned to them, and they can see where other kids have taken their story. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_marown_comicsjam_zps9241f504-63d5d9d645.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThis loo door made me laugh, but no, the Marown staff do not have visible horns! Huge thanks to the school's Literacy Coordinator \u003Cb>Megan Udy\u003C/b>, who organised my visit, and to \u003Cb>Nicki McMullin\u003C/b>, from festival sponsor Isle of Man Bank, who drove me to my events. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_marown_staff_zps7431671c-266c07a36e.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nI did solo events in the morning, but I was glad to join up with Philip in the afternoon for a shorter visit \u003Ca href=\"http://www.sch.im/cronkyberry/CronkyBerry/Home.html\">Cronk-y-Berry School\u003C/a>. (Isn't that a great name?).\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_cronky1_zpsc7ea67aa-6c587699c2.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nIn the evening, we had a Serious Literary Event in St Bridget's Chapel on the gorgeous Nunnery Estate, just outside of Douglas. (Here's Philip being all posey in the evening sunlight.)\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_nunnery1_zps1bd3c996-5887250f1e.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nWe were joined in our event by novelist \u003Ca href=\"http://theforest.me/\">Sara Crowe\u003C/a>, author of \u003Ci>\u003Cb>Bone Jack\u003C/i>\u003C/b>, and we talked on the subject of 'Creating a Lifelong Love of Words'. A lot of what I talked about was the importance of visuals in getting kids reading, their love of comics, and the importance of making books to inspire kids to love books. You can get an idea of what I talked about in an \u003Ca href=\"http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/501730.html\">earlier blog post I wrote here, about setting up school comics festivals\u003C/a>. Actually, we talked about A LOT, but you really had to be there. Come to one of our events sometime!\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_nunnery2_zpsfe918b95-7af94dc83e.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThe next morning was \u003Ci>Cakes in Space\u003C/i> morning, and I assembled various bits of my costume on the hotel window ledge. Standard illustrator equipment, you see.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_window_costume_zps8c2fb52b-7ffbc26069.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd then we went to Douglas' \u003Ca href=\"http://familylibrary.co.uk/Family_Library.html\">Family Library\u003C/a>, where we were met by an eager crowd, and possibly our youngest ever! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_famlib_group_zps4ba4688b-0ccd06432d.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.babbphotography.com/\">Steve Babb\u003C/i>\u003C/a>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nWe demonstrated the power of SCIENCE with the Nom-O-Tron:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_famlib_nomotron2_zps1d22edb2-c3a0f9880c.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.babbphotography.com/\">Steve Babb\u003C/i>\u003C/a>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nDelighted everyone with the tuneful strains of our \u003Ci>Cakes in Space\u003C/i> song:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_famlib_ouch_zps2b2629c9-a331b85a3e.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.babbphotography.com/\">Steve Babb\u003C/i>\u003C/a>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nAnd presented awards for the best \u003Ci>Cakes in Space\u003C/i>-themed craft projects! Check out THIS HAT:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_famlib_cakehat1_zps09f9c35e-474f2e993a.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.babbphotography.com/\">Steve Babb\u003C/i>\u003C/a>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nUtter genius, such a beautiful hat! It was created by the contest winner, a boy named \u003Cb>David\u003C/b>. Hurrah! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_famlib_cakehat2_zps84f1a567-4fd06288c4.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThe hat was almost good enough to eat. (Stop that, Reeve!)\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_famlib_phileathat_zps7205d9c2-03db396dce.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.babbphotography.com/\">Steve Babb\u003C/i>\u003C/a>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nOo, look, David also made a \u003Ci>Cakes in Space\u003C/i> Poglite! So fabulous! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_famlib_poglite_zps2b538b54-d6063ee779.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nWe didn't get explanations for these drawings, but they looked pretty amazing.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_famlib_drawings_zps6a769f97-081d831097.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd we also did a bit of drawing ourselves, on the day! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_famlib_drawingdad_zps02fa0ddf-ef39d9ba61.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.babbphotography.com/\">Steve Babb\u003C/i>\u003C/a>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nI led the group in drawing Pilbeam the robot, whose voice was so expertly reenacted by Philip.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_famlib_medrawing_zpsb8500d5e-24622f5797.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.babbphotography.com/\">Steve Babb\u003C/i>\u003C/a>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nCheck out some of these great Pilbeams!\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_famlib_pilbeams2_zps97e4752b-457eb9a125.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nWhen we first started doing our \u003Ci>Cakes in Space\u003C/i> event, Philip and I were worried that drawing Pilbeam would be too complicated. But somehow, the step-by-step approach seems to work with even very young children. You can learn how to draw Pilbeam (as well as Astra and killer cakes) \u003Ca href=\"http://www.jabberworks.co.uk/cakes-in-space/\">over on my website here\u003C/a>.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_famlib_pilbeams_zps76907dec-a6a73939d1.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nOne of the nice things about the book signing session after the event is getting to see people's drawings up close, and having little chats with everyone.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_famlib_signing_zpsa8a49f93-18c1fc86cf.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.babbphotography.com/\">Steve Babb\u003C/i>\u003C/a>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nBig thanks, Family Library team, for a great morning! We were so pleased to see wonderful decorations everywhere, and the competition was a real bonus! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_famlib_group2_zps853d5d91-1920d6fcb2.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.babbphotography.com/\">Steve Babb\u003C/i>\u003C/a>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nAfter a quick costume change, our next stop was \u003Ca href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/isleofman/content/articles/2008/04/22/laxey_glen_gardens_feature.shtml\">Laxey Glen Gardens\u003C/a> for the Roald Dahl Family Day, where we did an open air \u003Ci>Oliver and the Seawigs\u003C/i> event. And we got to hang out with fabulously funny writer \u003Ca href=\"http://www.marklowery.co.uk/\">Mark Lowery\u003C/a>! If you haven't read his \u003Cb>\u003Ci>Socks are Not Enough\u003C/i>\u003C/b>, go read it now, it had me laughing and dying with embarrassment for its main character. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_mark_lowery_zps2d033c06-d284b33fab.jpg\">\\r\nDoughut fascinator created by \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/HamertonSally\">Sally Hamerton\u003C/a>, as worn at the \u003Ci>\u003Ca href=\"http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/662460.html\">Cakes in Space\u003C/i> launch party\u003C/a>! \\r\n\\r\nOne of the cool things about the Isle of Man was just HOW many people had read Philip's books. Here's a \u003Ci>Murderous Maths\u003C/i> fanboy popping out from the trees, and so many people told him how his Mortal Engines books had a huge impact on them. Even Mark Grist said he walked into a lamppost reading the end of \u003Ci>A Darkling Plain\u003C/i>.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_philip_park_zps7a54c61e-ba9c6a9715.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nWe were VERY lucky for sunny weather for the stage event, and we had to shout quite a lot to be heard, but we had a good audience and the dog on the stage slept peacefully throughout the show. Thanks to everyone who came along!\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_park_stage2_zps98a12a59-d738bd2543.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.babbphotography.com/\">Steve Babb\u003C/i>\u003C/a>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nWe were hoping to do a bit of sightseeing, and just before we left, festival Treasurer \u003Cb>Pam Cope\u003C/b> kindly drove us to Peel, for a look at its magnificent castle. I'd been to the Isle of Man for a wedding 13 years ago, and I'd forgotten an awful lot, but I knew Peel Castle would be worth revisiting. And gosh, it's pretty. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_peelcastle_panorama_zps9fa6b78c-0c9f9f0416.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd so many interesting parts to explore! Hey, where has that Reeve gone off to? \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_sarah_peelcastle_zps40b5bc2a-e5fe208d11.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nHmm, something's flitting through that bit of ruin there...\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_phil_peelcastle_zps5d16a6d1-7dedd7f1b1.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nLet's zoom in. Ah, 'tis just a little Manx faerie.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l27/jabberworks/Festivals/Festivals018/manx14_phil_peelcastle2_zps4500419d.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nOf course, in such a dramatic location, one \u003Ci>must\u003C/i> create dramatic album covers:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx_album_cover_zps7709d2a3-a63e94820a.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd I took a photo of a beautiful, rusty, old boat in Peel Harbour, for \u003Ca href=\"http://mcqueconcept.blogspot.co.uk/\">Ian McQue\u003C/a>, who draws such things so well. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_peel_boat_zps71d32bc3-370a62b096.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nFestival photographer \u003Ca href=\"http://www.babbphotography.com\">Steve Babb\u003C/a> had us pose with the local Viking rope sculpture, and tweeted that we were arguing over our next book title. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_peel_rope_zps64fa7553-ee392192d1.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.babbphotography.com/\">Steve Babb\u003C/i>\u003C/a>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nHere's my photo of Steve! He was great fun and took so many terrific photos! Thanks, Steve!\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/steve_babb_manxlit_zpseb7a1b93-c8db075f65.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nManx Lit Fest was a brilliant festival and I recommend it to any authors or visitors. So much to see and do! Huge thanks to the festival team (having a tiny breather in a Peel cafe): Festival Director \u003Cb>John Quirk\u003C/b>, \u003Cb>Pam Cope\u003C/b>, \u003Cb>Emma Quirk\u003C/b> and Technician \u003Cb>Andrew Kniveton\u003C/b>. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_peel_team_zps1839c118-7d78c2cb4e.jpg\">\\\\r\n\\r\nBut that's not the whole team; there were SO many other people involved, driving (thanks, \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/AHowroyd\">\u003Cb>Andrea Howroyd\u003C/b>\u003C/a>!), running events, baking, you name it. Here's volunteer \u003Cb>Rakie Keig\u003C/b>, the person who drove me from the airport:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_raiki_zpsdad5571c-f5a70343c3.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.babbphotography.com/\">Steve Babb\u003C/i>\u003C/a>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nHarri Sansostri with the excellent staff of \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/BookshopIOM\">Bridge Bookshop\u003C/a> in Port Erin, who sold books at our events:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_harri_bridgebookshop_zpsf1a366dc-29e556a7c4.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd a photo of Harri with writer \u003Ca href=\"http://manxlitfest.com/donald-s-murray/\">Donald Murray\u003C/a>, who opened the festivities in Gaelic. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_harri_donald_zpsa671776f-42e82509fa.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.babbphotography.com/\">Steve Babb\u003C/i>\u003C/a>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nI didn't get to see \u003Ca href=\"http://www.nicolamorgan.com/\">Nicola Morgan\u003C/a>'s talk about her book \u003Cb>\u003Ci>The Teenage Guide to Stress\u003C/i>\u003C/b>, but I heard great reports. Check out her website if you're thinking of booking an Author Visit, she has some great advice and resources.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_nicolamorgan_zpsb1d4d0f8-d38803cadc.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd one more photo of John Quirk, just because in the Mortal Engines books, 'Quirke' is a god, and that is \u003Ci>undoubtedly\u003C/i> why we got invited, ha ha... Thank you so much, John and team for a brilliant festival!\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/manx14_receptn_john_zps05303b59-36efd5caab.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.babbphotography.com/\">Steve Babb\u003C/i>\u003C/a>\u003C/font>","2014-09-30T22:38:00.000Z","manx-lit-fest-2014",[],"manx lit fest 2014",1776628726858]