[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":11},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-post-random-house-christmas-party":3},{"_type":4,"body":5,"bodyHtml":6,"excerpt":5,"featuredImage":5,"publishedAt":7,"slug":8,"tags":9,"title":10},"blogPost",null,"I think this is my last party until Christmas; my feet are sore, all the yummy canapés have expanded my waistline, and I need to go do some work now. But in the meantime, some photos. I think I preferred my big blue wig party outfit, last night's looked better in the mirror at home than it does in pictures, where it's a bit big and baggy. (Getting dressed is such a hit and miss sport, eh?) Great to catch up with some excellent book folk. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/RHXmasParty_cat_Bazzaroo_zps12f0eaad-ee360f01b4.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Photo via \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/Bazzaroo\">Barry O'Donovan\u003C/a> on Twitter\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\n\\r\nWhat, a CAT at 8 Northumberland Avenue? Ah, but this is a famous cat, apparently! It's \u003Ca href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23117382\">Street Cat Bob\u003C/a> and his owner and he has about a zillion Internet friends. I was amazed by the cat's composure in such a crowded room, while MD \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/PDRandom\">Philippa Dickinson\u003C/a> gave her speech.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/RHXmasParty_cat1_zpsf5230f3e-ed18fe432d.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nNow THIS guy writes and draws some of the best comedy in Britain. I'm a huge fan of \u003Ca href=\"http://www.eruditebaboon.co.uk/\">James Turner\u003C/a>'s comics, including \u003Cb>\u003Ci>Star Cat\u003C/i>\u003C/b> in \u003Ca href=\"http://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/\">\u003Ci>The Phoenix Comic\u003C/a>\u003C/i> and his \u003Ca href=\"http://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/product/super-animal-adventure-squad-paperback/\">\u003Ci>Super Animal Adventure Squad\u003C/i>\u003C/a> book, which David Fickling and RH co-published. (I included his book in my \u003Ca href=\"http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/608760.html\">Top 20 Christmas Prezzie Tips\u003C/a>.) James is \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/eruditebaboon\">@eruditebaboon\u003C/a> on Twitter, go follow him if you're not already! Oh, and giant Tunnock's, look at that. And giant McIntyre.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/RHXmasParty_james_sarah_zps5129e030-df481460d0.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nLook, it's legend \u003Ca href=\"http://www.alfiebooks.co.uk/allaboutshirleyhughes.asp\">Shirley Hughes\u003C/a>! With her fab daughter \u003Ca href=\"http://claras.me/\">Clara Vulliamy\u003C/a>! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/RHXmasParty_shirley_clara2_zps72dac92f-2d01ea4139.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003C!--more Click here for more under the cut!-->\\r\nThey're working on books together, here's a little peek:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Clj-embed id=\"2452\"/>\\r\n\\r\nAnd here's the editor and designer for the book I've been working on with David Fickling and David O'Connell, \u003Ci>Jampires\u003C/i>, coming out next October. It's great working with these ladies - \u003Ca href=\"http://www.davidficklingbooks.com/DFBTeam.php\">Alice Corrie\u003C/a> and \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/wood_ness\">Ness Wood\u003C/a> - and we have another book in the works. (Here are \u003Ca href=\"http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/504356.html\">portraits I drew of the two of them\u003C/a>.)\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/RHXmasParty_Jampires_team_zpse5c9c136-d2457215ef.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nHey, it's \u003Ca href=\"http://www.sfsaid.com/\">SF Said\u003C/a>! I've been wanting to meet this guy since he wrote such an amazing \u003Ca href=\"http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/12/oliver-seawigs-philip-reeve-sarah-mcintyre\">review of \u003Ci>Oliver and the Seawigs\u003C/i> in \u003Ci>The Guardian\u003C/i>\u003C/a>. And he was sporting a Blue Peter Badge! He says I might get one if Philip Reeve and I win the Blue Peter Award, but he tipped me off, that I'll \u003Ci>still have to ask\u003C/i>. Good to know. I also got to talk with the illustrator for his book \u003Ca href=\"http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/sep/28/phoenix-sf-said-review\">\u003Ci>Phoenix\u003C/i>\u003C/a>, \u003Ca href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_McKean\">Dave McKean\u003C/a>, (but I didn't get a photo).\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/RHXmasParty_SFSaid_Sarah_zps9eb07671-5278bce37a.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nHere's top writer-illustrator \u003Ca href=\"http://www.babette-cole.com/\">Babette Cole\u003C/a>, looking fabulous as always, in red. Babette has recently set up \u003Ca href=\"http://www.inkysprat.com/Inky_Sprat.html\">Inky Sprat\u003C/a>, publishing children's books for tablets.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/RHXmasParty_babette_zps3f22722c-926d5a9fb8.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThe ballroom had a yummy sweets theme, but with many of them hidden safely behind glass or chicken wire, ha ha. Here's writer \u003Ca href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_F._Hamilton\">Peter F Hamilton\u003C/a>, \u003Ca href=\"http://nicksharratt.com/\">Nick Sharratt\u003C/a> in the middle, and \u003Ca href=\"http://www.worldofadam.com/\">Adam Stower\u003C/a> on the right, up from Brighton.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/RHXmasParty_nick_adam_zpsa08cbb4a-efeffb24ac.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nLovely Louise Yates, who won the \u003Ca href=\"http://www.booktrust.org.uk/books/children/illustrators/interviews/71\">Roald Dahl Funny Prize in 2010\u003C/a> for \u003Ci>Dog Loves Books\u003C/i>. (See photos from this year's Funny Prize \u003Ca href=\"http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/611243.html\">here\u003C/a>.) \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/RHXmasParty_louise_yates_zps64d8cee2-3933330399.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nHere's writer \u003Ca href=\"http://www.joycedunbar.com/\">Joyce Dunbar\u003C/a> (\u003Ca href=\"http://www.pollydunbar.com/\">Polly Dunbar\u003C/a>'s mum!) and writer-illustrator \u003Ca href=\"http://alexisdeacon.blogspot.co.uk/\">Alexis Deacon\u003C/a>.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/RHXmasParty_joyce_alexis_zps8d12e932-b7ec8aa288.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nLino-cut printmaking genius \u003Ca href=\"http://www.chriswormell.com/\">Chris Wormell\u003C/a> and writer and \u003Ca href=\"http://girlsheartbooks.com/\">Girls Heart Books\u003C/a> blog coordinator \u003Ca href=\"http://www.ilovesweethearts.co.uk/\">Jo Cotterill\u003C/a>.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/RHXmasParty_chris_jo_zps491514e8-c6a25e09e6.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nPrintmaking legend \u003Ca href=\"http://www.childrensbookillustration.com/view_artist.php?id=25\">John Lawrence\u003C/a>, publisher at RH imprint Anderson Press \u003Ca href=\"http://www.andersenpress.co.uk/about-us/228\">Klaus Flugge\u003C/a> and reviewer \u003Ca href=\"http://www.nicolettejones.com/\">Nicolette Jones\u003C/a>.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/RHXmasParty_john_klaus_nicolette_zpsa0e079ca-d498ecbd70.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nFab ladies, writer-illustrator \u003Ca href=\"http://minigrey.com/\">Mini Grey\u003C/a> and writer \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/theapy\">Teresa Heapy\u003C/a> (love that skirt!).\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/RHXmasParty_mini_dee_zps715fd739-85c4f909d9.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nHey, it's \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/johnaggs\">John Aggs\u003C/a>! He's scheduled to draw the graphic novel of Malorie Blackman's \u003Ci>Noughts and Crosses\u003C/i> (as soon as he finishes the one he's working on now).\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/RHXmasParty_sarah_aggs_zps0a62f8a8-c1e2710193.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nDouble-trouble writers \u003Ca href=\"http://www.matthaig.com/\">Matt Haig\u003C/a> and \u003Ca href=\"http://anthonymcgowan.com/Hello.html\">Anthony McGowan\u003C/a>:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/RHXmasParty_matt_tony_zps0b3112d4-f8bc62440f.jpg\">\\\\r\n\\r\nAnd back on the Tunnock's train with James and \u003Ca href=\"http://www.stevecolebooks.co.uk/\">Steve Cole\u003C/a>, who's getting ready to write the \u003Ca href=\"http://www.stevecolebooks.co.uk/index.php/my-words-are-my-bond/\">Young James Bond\u003C/a> books.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/RHXmasParty_james_steve_zpsecca6779-5e80632cf7.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nOne of my all-time favourite people, wonderful writer (and occasoinal cartoonist) \u003Ca href=\"http://www.candygourlay.com/\">Candy Gourlay\u003C/a>! She's looking slightly peeved here because I insisted on standing \u003Ci>behind\u003C/i> her so she wouldn't look so tiny.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/RHXmasParty_sarah_candy_JoCpic_zps2e3fa81e-a577992b1a.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Photo via \u003Ca href=\"http://www.ilovesweethearts.co.uk/\">Jo Cotterill\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nOne more with Babette...!\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/RHXmasParty_babette_sarah_zpse29431e7-8e1669e6ea.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Photo via \u003Ca href=\"http://www.babette-cole.com/\">Babette Cole\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nSo that's it! Sadly, I think this might be my last Random House Christmas party for awhile because David Fickling has set up his own publishing house now, and my new books will be with him. (He commissioned them ages ago, and worked hard on me with them; it's only right.) And Random House only invite people who've had a book come out that year. So this year's book was the \u003Ca href=\"http://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/product/vern-and-lettuce-pb/\">paperback edition of \u003Ci>Vern and Lettuce\u003C/i>\u003C/a>, of which I'm very proud. (And unusually, I think I prefer the paperback version: the cover's better and it's an easier size to read on the bus.) Thank you, Random House, it's been great working with you, and a lovely party! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"http://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/product/vern-and-lettuce-pb/\">\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/vern_lettuce_covers_zps6ff32657-ec97c466ff.jpg\">\u003C/a>","2013-12-13T08:33:00.000Z","random-house-christmas-party",[],"random house christmas party",1776628725981]