[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":11},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-post-the-legend-of-kevin-biscuiteers":3},{"_type":4,"body":5,"bodyHtml":6,"excerpt":5,"featuredImage":5,"publishedAt":7,"slug":8,"tags":9,"title":10},"blogPost",null,"Late one afternoon, last week, my co-author \u003Ca href=\"http://philip-reeve.com/\">Philip Reeve\u003C/a> and I were puzzled to find outselves once again in front of a giant custard cream, this time in Clapham, south London. What was going on? Why were we not sitting at our desks, churning out another book? \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/516367_original-ac06313449.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Photo by \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/DavePics\">Dave Warren\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nThe answer did not come straight away. First our excellent Oxford University Press publicists \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/Emilie_Ferguson\">Emily Ferguson\u003C/a> and \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/hannahepenny\">Hannah Penny\u003C/a> took us to the headquarters of \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/funkids\">Fun Kids Radio\u003C/a>, where Philip lounged elegantly and I wondered how I was going to play the ukulele on air and sing while wearing those big padded headphones. Fortunately I was highly caffeinated, which seemed to do the trick. And as soon as we plonked our big fluffy Kevin in the middle of the recording table, presenter Bex was won over and we had a good chat. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/515008_original-980a1a485c.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">3D Kevin created by \u003Ca href=\"https://www.chloeapplinillustrator.com/\">Chloe Applin\u003C/a>\u003C/font>\u003C/i>\\r\n\\r\n\u003C!--more Click here for lots more under the cut!-->\\r\nThen we were off on a whirlwind bookshop tour! Kevin was just kind of coasting, so Emilie and Hannah flapped hard to make the cab go faster. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Clj-embed id=\"4295\"/>\\r\n\\r\nFirst stop was \u003Ca href=\"http://www.foyles.co.uk/witem/childrens/the-legend-of-kevin-a-rolypoly-flying,philip-reeve-sarah-mcintyre-9780192766083\">Foyles\u003C/a> Charing Cross Road, where we met up with bookseller \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/ChloeColes_\">Chloe Coles\u003C/a>, author of \u003Ci>\u003Ca href=\"http://www.foyles.co.uk/witem/childrens/bookshop-girl,chloe-coles-9781471407116\">Bookshop Girl\u003C/a>\u003C/i>, and signed each other's books. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/515261_original-bf68d96541.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nNext stop, \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/Hatchards\">Hatchard's Piccadilly\u003C/a>! I remember walking down Piccadilly about 20 years ago with a colleague from my very first (American) publishing company, saying to her that it was my dream that some day I might get to do a signing in Hatchard's. But I had no idea it would be with a fat flying pony, which makes it even better. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/515888_original-82a22df6fb.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nKevin instantly saw the unicorn on the insignia and decided that HE, TOO, would like an appointment with the Queen. He thinks unicorns shouldn't get all the good gigs. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/515604_original-38670b958d.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd one more stop, \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/WaterstonesPicc\">Waterstone's Piccadilly\u003C/a>! They've been great at tweeting up the #PicturesMeanBusiness campaign and it's a place I've spent a lot of hours; along with Foyles, it's kind of my hub for meeting people in London.  \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/516261_original-edbccee2b2.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nThen Kevin got all excited about riding in a cab all the way to Clapham. He couldn't stop staring out the window and watching all the buses go by. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/515470_original-3e64957ceb.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd then we arrived at a rather remarkable shop called \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/BiscuiteersLtd\">Biscuiteers\u003C/a>! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/522184_original-5860f87e42.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Photo by \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/DavePics\">Dave Warren\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nWhere we were met by our fabulous book team, including our publisher, \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/LizJCross\">Liz Cross\u003C/a>, and our editor, \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/CWhitston\">Clare Whitston\u003C/a>, resplendent in bright yellow. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/516929_original-241ea075fe.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Photo by \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/DavePics\">Dave Warren\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nNow, I'm not very good at baking. I tried to make cupcakes once for my picture book team and they looked odd and tasted like metal. So I was vastly relieved to see that we would have people to assist us in the Biscuit Process. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/517266_original-d93f7d9d6e.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Photo by \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/DavePics\">Dave Warren\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nLook at these biscuits! They were all beautifully prepped for us, and I have absolutely no idea how they got that black even line around the outside of Kevin and Max's face. I think it might be an Important Trade Secret.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/517392_original-928cff4d33.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Photo by \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/DavePics\">Dave Warren\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nThe biscuits even came with guides, for people who might want helpful decorating suggestions! One guest had arrived and she, in particular, was VERY EXCITED about the biscuits. Here she is, our junior reviewerm, giving Kevin a cuddle (but actually thinking about biscuits, just like Kevin). \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/517790_original-c510c1d92c.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Photo by \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/DavePics\">Dave Warren\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nAnd we were off! Everyone was very intent on squeezing their tubes of icing. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/518640_original-ece44139f4.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Photo by \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/DavePics\">Dave Warren\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nOur junior reviewer was so enthusiastic that, once she'd finished icing her biscuits, she created a whole extra icing masterpiece on her placemat. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/518824_original-f6a8eb7ea4.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nHere's Tony West from \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/alligatorsmouth\">The Alligator's Mouth\u003C/a> bookshop in Richmond, with his Very Fine Biscuits. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/519111_original-0999930cca.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd here are journalist \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/CharlotteLEyre?lang=en\">Charlotte Eyre\u003C/a>, agent and WRD Magazine publisher \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/InklingPress\">Helen Boyle\u003C/a>, and \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/Sarah_and_Books?lang=en\">Sarah Sleath\u003C/a> from Booktrust. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/519324_original-d06e3268ba.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Photo by \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/DavePics\">Dave Warren\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nAnd here's the OUP team, getting some Biscuiteer pointers. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/519584_original-d867308a98.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Photo by \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/DavePics\">Dave Warren\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nPresenting... fully iced\u003Ci> Legend of Kevin \u003C/i>biscuits! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/519867_original-e53f098441.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nWe did a little presentation and sang the Legend of Kevin song, but a couple glasses of bubbly were far less helpful than the morning's caffeine for performance standards, and the quality of music was a bit lower than on radio. (But hopefully the crowd was more forgiving.) Here's my ace agent \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/JodieHodges31\">Jodie Hodges\u003C/a>, on the right, with her incredibly helpful assistant \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MollyJamieson\">Molly Jamieson\u003C/a>. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/520020_original-0122eeedec.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Photo by \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/DavePics\">Dave Warren\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nLovely Helen's long been my Afternoon Tea buddy.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/520207_original-f522388e3a.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Photo by \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/DavePics\">Dave Warren\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nEmily Ferguson has recently joined OUP as Senior Publicist, so hopefully we'll be seeing a lot more of her! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/520668_original-3cca94a35e.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Photo by \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/DavePics\">Dave Warren\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nHere's Philip with \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/bookythought?lang=en\">Isabel\u003C/a> from Booktrust: \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/522382_original-f6ea8bec36.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Photo by \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/DavePics\">Dave Warren\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nAnd Hannah Penny, with Tony. (If you're ever in Richmond, visiting The Alligator's Mouth is essential.) \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/520831_original-76014eea64.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Photo by \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/DavePics\">Dave Warren\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nSigning books for \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/ImogenRW\">Imogen Russell Williams\u003C/a> and junior reviewer:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/521213_original-73fd6a18b2.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Photo by \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/DavePics\">Dave Warren\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nAnd here's \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/DavePics\">Dave Warren\u003C/a>, who took most of the lovely photos I've posted here! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/522591_original-8ea4262840.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Photo by MEEEEE!\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\n\\r\nHuge thanks to OUP, the Biscuiteers, Dave, Chloe Applin for her Kevin sewing skills and everyone who came along for our Custard Cream biscuit party! Kevin says he's so full now that he's never eating biscuits again, which we all know is a nice little bit of Fiction. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/521817_original-af06f176a9.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Photo by \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/DavePics\">Dave Warren\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nYou can find out more about \u003Ci>The Legend of Kevin\u003C/i> and learn how to draw Kevin \u003Ca href=\"http://www.jabberworks.co.uk/the-legend-of-kevin/\">on my website\u003C/a>, and buy a copy from all good bookshops, including \u003Ca href=\"http://www.foyles.co.uk/witem/childrens/the-legend-of-kevin-a-rolypoly-flying,philip-reeve-sarah-mcintyre-9780192766083\">Foyles\u003C/a>, \u003Ca href=\"https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-legend-of-kevin-a-roly-poly-flying-pony-adventure/philip-reeve/sarah-mcintyre/9780192766083\">Waterstones\u003C/a> and Nottingham's \u003Ca href=\"https://www.page45.com/store/Philip-Reeve-And-Sarah-McIntyre.html\">Page 45\u003C/a>.)","2018-09-16T21:00:00.000Z","the-legend-of-kevin-biscuiteers",[],"the legend of kevin: biscuiteers!",1776628729780]