[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":11},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-post-superkid-zooms-into-chipping-norton-literary-festival":3},{"_type":4,"body":5,"bodyHtml":6,"excerpt":5,"featuredImage":5,"publishedAt":7,"slug":8,"tags":9,"title":10},"blogPost",null,"This weekend the kids at the \u003Ca href=\"http://www.chiplitfest.com/\">Chip Lit Fest\u003C/a> got a sneak preview at my new book with \u003Ci>Aliens Love Underpants\u003C/i> writer \u003Ca href=\"http://www.clairefreedman.co.uk/\">Claire Freedman\u003C/a>, \u003Ci>\u003Cb>SUPERKID\u003C/i>\u003C/b>! I got to give my superhero costume its first public outing and I am pleased to report no wardrobe malfunctions. My event totally sold out; check out all these kids drawing Superhamster!\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chiplitfest_superkid_event_zps16f246c4-a0add697c1.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nSuperhamster is a little character who never even appears in the text of Superkid. But I thought Superkid really needed a companion, so Superhamster travels around in Superkid's hamster holster (as pictured below). Every good outfit should really include a hamster holster.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chiplitfest_programme_zps81e05b18-300c1ef817.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nCheck out Oliver's Superhamster. I helped the kids draw the basic shape of Superhamster, then they customised the hamster costume and some made up some silly superpowers for Superhamster.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chiplitfest_superhamster_oliver_zps99f83cbf-aacf19987c.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003C!--more Click here to read lots more under the cut!-->\\r\nI love seeing how everyone's comes out so differently! Here's Chip Lit Fest patron \u003Ca hef=\"http://www.visitingauthor.com/Home.html\">John Dougherty\u003C/a>, with his own Superhamster. John gave me a rousing introduction; I know him as a fellow CWIG committee member. (That's the Children's Writers & Illustrators Group, of the Society of Authors ... and as a side note, 'CWIG' is where I got the name for my upcoming book with \u003Ca href=\"http://philipreeve.blogspot.co.uk/\">Philip Reeve\u003C/a>, \u003Ci>Oliver and the Seawigs\u003C/i>.)\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chiplitfest_john_2superhamsters_zps1f0e31b8-e5ed2cc90b.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nSo many awesome Superhamsters!\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chiplitfest_superhamster_jack_zpsb3dad29d-a63c9556ea.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chiplitfest_orangejumperkid_zpsf133d972-6026fddb1b.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThat was Saturday, but on Friday, I led a school event at \u003Ca href=\"http://www.charlbury.oxon.sch.uk/\">Charlbury Primary School\u003C/a>. I was a bit nervous, because I'd never done a Superkid event before, and I wasn't sure how well it would work. But the kids were fabulous, really eager and full of funny ideas. At one point, I think the teacher got worried when I was checking to see if any of the kids had the silly superpower of being able to burp on demand.  (One kid was an expert!) But then I talked about Pablo Picasso's painting superpowers and my Russian lit degree and she seemed much happier by the end, heh heh. (Actually, all the staff were very supportive and helpful.) Chip Lit Fest is run entirely by volunteers, and these two superheroic ladies, \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/SioU\">Siobhan Urquhart\u003C/a> and \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/ladylauraprice\">Laura Price\u003C/a> did a great job bringing me to the school and shifting books as fast as they could while I made very, very quick drawings of Superhamster in each one.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chiplitfest_superkid_school_zps15668b1d-0abe96d5a9.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nI let the kids keep their drawings, but one kid named Billy ('my real name is William') insisted I take his picture, which I was secretly very glad about because it's ace. His Superhamster's totally kitted out.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chiplitfest_superhamster_billy_zps1b008f6b-212f7728de.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nBack in the festival Green Room, it wasn't all just people sitting around reading \u003Ci>Cotswold Life\u003C/i>... (Ha ha, thanks, \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/jabberworks\">Liz_Fenwick\u003C/a>, \u003Ca href=\"http://www.lizharrisauthor.com/\">Liz Harris\u003C/a>, \u003Ca href=\"http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/hannah-furness/\">Hannah Furness\u003C/a>, \u003Ca href=\"http://www.thetrap.co.uk/Welcome.html\">Jeremy Limb\u003C/a> and \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/PetaNightingale\">Peta Nightingale\u003C/a>.)\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chiplitfest_greenroom_zps41d7a2d7-60e50c6457.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nNo, most of the activities centred around lovely CAKE (made by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.chippingnortonteaset.co.uk/\">Victoria Wills\u003C/a>). Here are \u003Ca href=\"http://www.tamsynmurray.co.uk/\">Tamsyn Murray\u003C/a> and me getting a little bit excited.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chiplitfest_tamsyn_murray_zps045c0ac5-e621b1bcf1.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"http://www.emilybarr.com/\">Emily Barr\u003C/a> and \u003Ca href=\"http://www.barringtongreen.co.uk/\">Craig Green\u003C/a> were pretty impressed, too.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chiplitfest_emilybarr_craiggreen_zps8c4d01cb-10991a75c9.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nEvery once in awhile, one of us would get led out to do a star turn in the photo room, which was awfully fun. I can't wait to see how the photos come out. Here are festival photographers \u003Ca href=\"http://grahamharrison.com\">Graham Harrison\u003C/a> and \u003Ca href=\"http://geraintlewis.com\">Geraint Lewis-Pick\u003C/a>:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chiplitfest_photographers_zps39ebd2cc-10bf8fa7f7.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThe festival took place all around the centre of town, but orbited around this amazing bookshop, \u003Ca href=\"http://chippingnortonbooks.tbpcontrol.co.uk/TBP.Web/CustomerAccessControl/Home.aspx?d=chippingnortonbooks&s=C&r=10000102&ui=0&bc=0\">Jaffé & Neale\u003C/a>. Such a beautiful place; if you're ever even remotely in the Chipping Norton area, do stop by for a browse and a piece of cake.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chiplitfest_jaffe_neale_shop_zpse4a57bf4-fe95a9df14.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd here's the lovely couple who run it! \u003Cb>Polly Jaffé\u003C/b> and \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/Jaffeandneale\">Patrick Neale\u003C/a>. Thanks so much for hosting us!\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chiplitfest_jaffe_neale_zps98008eb3-0007df5921.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThe voluteer team were amazing, here's \u003Cb>Caroline Watson\u003C/b> and \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/nellbelleandme\">Merilyn Davies\u003C/a>, who is the Children's Programme coordinator and was my main contact person for the visit.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chiplitfest_carolinewatson_merilyndavies_zpsa3d2e56f-6df9e9bb50.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nOn Friday night, \u003Ca href=\"http://www.winebear.com\">Wine Bear\u003C/a> hosted a party with top quality bubbly and pate and venison sausage and cheese and all manner of good things. Here's John with his wife, \u003Cb>Kate\u003C/b> and the Wine Bear managing director, \u003Cb>Richard Shama\u003C/b>. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chiplitfest_winebear_zps0ec7d5f2-0985665bed.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nJohn dared me to get a photo of him with \u003Ca href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graeme_Garden\">Graeme Garden\u003C/a> from \u003Ci>The Goodies\u003C/i> and radio show \u003Ci>I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue\u003C/i>, but when John drifted off, I unexpectedly found myself in a conversation with him about the canapés and living locally, and, well, sorry, John.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chiplitfest_graham_garden_zps51ff8de1-616c142d31.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nEveryone was raving about the event earlier led by writer \u003Ca href=\"http://www.joecraig.co.uk/\">Joe Craig\u003C/a>, so it was great to meet him and his wife and sometime I hope I'll actually get to go to one of his events. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chiplitfest_joe_craig_zps9b5460cc-7e66ad78f0.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nOf course, a festival called Chip Lit must have CHIPS as well as lit. Here's John TAKING CARE OF THIS.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chiplitfest_john_dougherty_zps736fba56-4b9b94afef.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nMore Green Room good times, with writers \u003Ca href=\"http://www.joshlacey.com/\">Josh Lacey\u003C/a> and \u003Ca href=\"http://www.franceshardinge.com/\">Frances Hardinge\u003C/a> (whom I've met at several Kitschies Awards parties).\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chiplipfest_joshlacey_franceshardinge_zps098f3a79-4c5b305b42.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nJosh has been doing books with illustrator \u003Ca href=\"http://www.garryparsons.co.uk/\">Garry Parsons\u003C/a>; this photo of them is particularly smoochtastic.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chiplit_joshlacey_garryparsons_zpsacc9b22d-edcaddbc2a.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nI'd only ever met writer-illustrator \u003Ca href=\"http://claras.me/\">Clara Vulliamy\u003C/a>) (right) on Twitter, so it was great to meet her in 'real life', if briefly. (She's \u003Ca href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirley_Hughes\">Shirley Hughes\u003C/a>' daughter, which makes her doubly cool.)\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chiplitfest_clara_vulliamy_zps5f005db3-c2c750a28f.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd here's the hotel where the festival put us up! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chiplitfest_hotel_lawn_zpsce078659-a0fad050d5.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nI sometimes hear people who travel a lot say they get tired of hotels, but I hope that never happens to me. I LOVE staying at hotels. And this one was huge, I had to do lots of racing around and exploring.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chiplitfest_hotel_view_zps07cdf167-370c3412c1.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThere's an old section and a new wing, but the new wing has odd, interesting lighting throughout. Here's our most excellent volunteer driver, \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/OxCopy\">Chris Hogan\u003C/a>, modelling his fine driving shirt.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chiplitfest_chris_driver_zps5c8560e8-c8ee658e81.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nI posted a few Twitter photos while I was exploring.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chiplitfest_hotel_mirror_zpsc7b66921-1a863c0af3.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chiplitfest_hotel_lounge_zps86f846cf-8004e1f193.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chiplitfest_hotel_fireplace1_zps064c2484-dee8eac6b1.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chiplitfest_hotel_fireplace_zps48306fe2-46f6528466.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nSome of the stuff was kind of funny. Like, who \u003Ci>FORGETS\u003C/i> butterscotch? It's really a slight, I'd be offended if I was butterscotch. I never want someone to put on my book cover, \u003Ci>The fantastic, yet often forgotten stories of Sarah...\u003C/i>. This is not a selling point, biscuit people.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chiplitfest_hotel_teatray_zps28a61a62-ddb80646f8.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThere was a little box of aromatherapy stuff on my pillow when I arrived. Inside were two little bottles: one with something I was supposed to rub on my pressure points to help me sleep, and this little tube of 'deep calm pillow spray'. I thought, cool, it might smell like lavender or lilies or something nice. But oh, no. It had a distinct pong of one of those cardboard tree air fresheners some people hang in their car. I ruined a pillow with it. Fortunately there were five other pillows and I always sleep hard anyway.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/IMG_hotel_pillowspray_zps1148d332-bbca086997.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nOh, I even ran around in the woods a bit (in my dress shoes, hurrah). I found a secret grotto and also this odd chair which I can only guess is for birdwatching, since it's too close to the hotel for hunting. (Of if it is for hunting, that's a bit sinister.)\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/chiplitfest_chair_woods_zpsb754e7db-891b66089e.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nChip Lit's still going! Keep an eye on the \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/search/realtime?q=%23chiplitfest&src=hash\">#ChipLitFest\u003C/a> Twitter hashtag for more updates on what's happening! A huge thanks to Merilyn, the other organisers, Jaffé & Neale, and the team of volunteers who made it all happen. You people are total stars.","2013-04-20T22:54:00.000Z","superkid-zooms-into-chipping-norton-literary-festival",[],"superkid zooms into chipping norton literary festival!",1776628725022]