[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":11},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-post-vern-and-lettuce-launch-party":3},{"_type":4,"body":5,"bodyHtml":6,"excerpt":5,"featuredImage":5,"publishedAt":7,"slug":8,"tags":9,"title":10},"blogPost",null,"\u003Cb>Last night my new book \u003Ca href=\"http://www.jabberworks.co.uk/new/vernlettuce-book.html\">\u003Ci>Vern and Lettuce\u003C/i>\u003C/a> was well and truly LAUNCHED! Yay!!!!\u003C/b>\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/vernlet_launch22-9139faa869.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThis is the first published book I've both written and illustrated myself (in the past I've illustrated books), so for me it was a very big deal! I realised Vern and Lettuce go to several parties in the story, so I've included some footage among the other photos:\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/vern29party-b143dcdc8a.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nI know just what Lettuce felt like, my dress was a bit hitchy, too. Thanks, \u003Cb>Philipa Dickinson\u003C/b>, the very enthusiastic MD of Random House for coming along to show your support of the \u003Ca href=\"http://www.davidficklingbooks.co.uk/davidficklingbooks_dfclibrary.asp\">DFC Library\u003C/a> series! It's great to know Random House is going nuts about comics. Hurrah!\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/vernlet_launch3-25ea2c0620.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Ci>Yours truly and Random House MD Philippa Dickinson\u003C/i>\\r\n\\r\nA big thanks to the book's editor (and editor of \u003Ca href=\"http://www.jabberworks.co.uk/new/morris2.html\">\u003Ci>Morris the Mankiest Monster\u003C/i>\u003C/a>) \u003Cb>Hannah Featherstone\u003C/b>. (My other two comics editors, while the strip ran weekly in the DFC magazine, were \u003Cb>Ben Sharpe\u003C/b> and \u003Cb>Will Fickling\u003C/b>). And thanks to best-ever publisher \u003Cb>David Fickling\u003C/b>!\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/vernlet_launch15-c3da39defc.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Ci>Editor Hannah Featherstone and publisher David Fickling\u003C/i>\\r\n\\r\nMy super-talented, super-organised studio mate \u003Cb>Lauren O'Farrell\u003C/b> co-hosted the evening with me, as it was part book launch, part \u003Ca href=\"http://www.stitchldn.com/vernlettuce.html\">Stitch London\u003C/a> craft event. So people sat down to tables full of craft supplies and MADE SHEEP! Best thing ever. Thanks, Stitch London people, for all your goodwill and support! Here's the DFC Library's \u003Ca href=\"http://www.davidficklingbooks.co.uk/davidficklingbooks.asp?ean=9780385618274\">\u003Ci>Spider Moon\u003C/i>\u003C/a> creator \u003Ca href=\"http://danse-macabre.nu/autojoy/\">Kate Brown\u003C/a>, and her partner \u003Ca href=\"http://spoonbard.com/\">Paul Duffield\u003C/a> (who also makes comics).\\r\n\u003C!--more Click here for loads more pics and write-up under the cut!-->\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/vernlet_launch19-4e62718735.jpg\">\u003Ca href=\"http://www.davidficklingbooks.co.uk/davidficklingbooks.asp?ean=9780385618274\">\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/spidermoon-1-ea37c9f479.jpg\">\u003C/a>\\r\n\u003Ci>Kate Brown, Paul Duffield and \u003Ca href=\"http://gingerclare.blogspot.com\">Clare\u003C/a> (\u003Ca href=\"http://twitter.com/#!/GingerKnits\">GingerKnits\u003C/a> on Twitter)\\r\n\\r\nIn that photo, you can also glimpse a menu of the \u003Cb>Stamford Arms\u003C/b>, who not only do excellent food and drink, but they were incredibly helpful and generous hosts. The manager, \u003Cb>Conor\u003C/b>, is the loveliest guy you'll ever meet and the two illustration students who worked the bar really looked after us. If you're ever in need of a party venue that's warm, comfortable and conveniently near Waterloo Station, the \u003Ca href=\"http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/11/1146/Stamford_Arms/Southwark\">Stamford Arms\u003C/a> is your best bet. (The knitters have known this for a long time already.)\\r\n\\r\nHere's the poster image I made (which I never actually got around to printing up, so here it is!)\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/stitchldn_stitchsheep-0fb9d76b46.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd look! Lots of lovely handmade sheep! I didn't manage to get any photos during the award ceremony, but Lauren took some, so I'll post those later. Congratulations to everyone who came away with their own sheep! They were great.\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/vernlet_launch21-a8f8a97002.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Ci>Stitch a Sheep results (one has \u003Ca href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twiglets\">Twiglets\u003C/a> for legs!)\u003C/i>\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/vernlet_launch11-b925bd73ae.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Ci>Stitch London member Amy teaches young knitting enthusiast \u003Cb>Eleanor\u003C/b> (daughter of horror fiction writer \u003Ca href=\"http://www.whoatemybrain.com/\">Nick Cross\u003C/a>)\u003C/i>\\r\n\\r\nHere's \u003Cb>Lauren O'Farrell\u003C/b> (\u003Ca href=\"http://twitter.com/#!/deadlyknitshade\">deadlyknitshade\u003C/a> on Twitter) who really made the whole party come together. (Thank you SO much, Lauren!!). And Amy is holding a lovely pin she knitted of King Cupcake's crown (since \u003Ca href=\"http://www.jabberworks.co.uk/new/princess.html\">\u003Ci>You Can't Eat a Princess!\u003C/i>\u003C/a> is her niece's favourite book,  hurrah!).\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/vernlet_launch23-6bbd986013.jpg\">\\r\nKnitters \u003Ca href=\"http://twitter.com/#!/guildnavigator\">Sarah\u003C/a>, Amy, Lauren and \u003Ca href=\"http://twitter.com/#!/sylviesturrock\">Silvie\u003C/a>\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/vernlet_launch9-f9f2f09ee6.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cb>Caro Fickling\u003C/b> (David's wife) with her knitted sheep, illustrator-designer-typographer \u003Ca href=\"http://www.devicefonts.co.uk\">Rian Hughes\u003C/a>, James Allen's Prep School librarian and children's lit PhD candidate \u003Cb>Nicola Jones\u003C/b>\u003C/i>\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/vern30party2-013f644ff6.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nNote: I actually used to believe this, that if I sprinted fast enough from the bath to the bedroom, through one of my parents' dinner parties, that no one would be able to see me. I maintained this illusion until I was far older than I really should have been.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/vernlet_launch7-cae3616c68.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Ci>Second most likely candidate to run through a party naked: writer \u003Ca href=\"http://www.stevecolebooks.co.uk\">Steve Cole\u003C/a>. Also best candidate for whipping up a huge roomful of children into a frenzy of excitement in ten seconds flat.\u003C/i>\\r\nComment left on \u003Ca href=\"http://www.stevecolebooks.co.uk/steves-space/blog/2010/oct/blog10-19-2010/\">Steve's blog\u003C/a> yesterday by a fan named Anna: \\r\n\u003Ci>I am only nine years old but me and my fourteen year old brother are a big fan of marvel comics like you. I particularly like x-men and I really like wolverine. You might have the 'comic genuis' title but I am too and I can prove it!! Q. Why did Spiderman say to Batman you have eight black legs growing out of your back? A. Batman said to Spiderman I'm trying to be you!!! Ha Ha Ha\u003C/i>\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/vernlet_launch10-b23b22467f.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Ci>Comics-supporting family extraordinaire: architect \u003Ca href=\"http://www.barnabygunning.com\">Barnaby Gunning\u003C/a> (yup, the Lego House guys), his wife \u003Cb>Lucia\u003C/b> and son \u003Cb>William\u003C/b> with his newly crafted sheep and a space book you might recognise\u003C/i>\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/vern30party-d5420ae97b.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nHere are comics artist \u003Ca href=\"http://fayeyong.com/\">Faye Yong\u003C/a> (who drew Manga Shakespeare's \u003Ca href=\"http://fayeyong.com/comics/08-merchantvenice/0\">The Merchant of Venice\u003C/a> among other things, and comics writer \u003Ca href=\"http://tellnolies.com/about/\">Fehed Said\u003C/a>, both shocked and, ahem, surreptitiously showing off their sparkly new wedding rings. (\u003Ca href=\"http://www.daedalusblue.com/\">John Aggs\u003C/a> always complains about these lovebirds' excessive romantic soppiness. Comics love.)\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/vernlet_launch2-83071188a9.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Ci>Faye Yong and Fehed Said\u003C/i>\\r\n\\r\nNo party's complete without its life and soul, writers \u003Ca href=\"http://www.anitaloughrey.com/\">Anita Loughrey\u003C/a> and \u003Ca href=\"http://www.candygourlay.com/\">Candy Gourlay\u003C/a> (Have you read Candy's fab new novel \u003Ca href=\"http://www.tallstory.net/\">\u003Ci>Tall Story\u003C/i>\u003C/a>?)\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/vernlet_launch12-d3b3d03460.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Ci>Anita Loughrey and Candy Gourlay\u003C/i>\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/vernlet_launch1-14b36cb0a5.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cb>Hannah Featherstone\u003C/b> and David Fickling Books office manager \u003Cb>Matilda Johson\u003C/b> (the one who tells off David when he's been on e-mail for too long!)\u003C/i>\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/vernlet_launch5-30328cd5ac.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Ci>My acting agent \u003Ca href=\"http://unitedagents.co.uk/jodie-marsh\">Jodie Marsh\u003C/a> and her assistant \u003Cb>Lucy Simmonds\u003C/b>. Over Lucy's shoulder, you can just make out the DFC Library's \u003Ca href=\"http://www.daveshelton.com/\">Dave Shelton\u003C/a> (Good Dog, Bad Dog) and DFC creator \u003Ca href=\"http://fazchoudhury.blogspot.com\">Faz Choudhury\u003C/a>.\u003C/i>\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/vernlet_launch14-673bf6b674.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Ci>Illustrator and writer \u003Ca href=\"http://www.vrombaut.co.uk\">An Vrombaut\u003C/a> and writer of 'tween fiction' \u003Ca href=\"http://www.fionadunbar.com\">Fiona Dunbar\u003C/a>. That's writer and illustrator \u003Ca href=\"http://www.scribblehound.com\">David O'Connell\u003C/a> looking over An's shoulder.)\\r\n\u003C/i>...I just have to post An's animation \u003Ci>Little Wolf\u003C/i>, which includes a sheep with great sound effects.\\r\n\u003Clj-embed id=\"450\"/>\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrnpDk6TdXo\">\u003Ci>Little Wolf YouTube link\u003C/i>\u003C/a>\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/vernlet_launch4-605c31bdde.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Ci>My best-ever friend and long-suffering patron \u003Cb>Stuart Pyle\u003C/b> (who bears more than a passing personality resemblance to Vern the sheep) and comics supporter \u003Ca href=\"http://cdave.livejournal.com/\">Dave Mansfield\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/vernlet_launch6-3e561ce0ea.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Ci>Publicist \u003Cb>Rosi Crawley\u003C/b> and comics journalist/editor/writer \u003Ca href=\"http://www.thecomicsshow.co.uk/category/guests/uk-guests/timpilcher/\">Tim Pilcher\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/vernlet_launch8-2c68a95c79.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Ci>My fab neighbour from down the street, accountant \u003Ca href=\"http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/cassandra-omorodion/16/151/769\">Cassandra Omorodion\u003C/a>, me, and you can just catch a glimpse over my shoulder of long-time friend \u003Cb>Caroline Smith\u003C/b>\u003C/i>\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/vernlet_launch18-608529186b.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Ci>Writer \u003Ca href=\"http://www.sallynicholls.com/\">Sally Nicholls\u003C/a> (who recently moved to Oxford), comics artist \u003Ca href=\"http://www.modernmonstrosity.moonfruit.com/\">Oliver Lambden\u003C/a>, writer \u003Ca href=\"http://www.sarwatchadda.com\">Sarwat Chadda\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/vernlet_launch17-af7c47c227.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Ci>Kate Brown and Paul Duffield\u003C/i>\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/vern12party-3e8582ff50.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nSo last night, BOTH the McIntyre Sisters were partying! With the 8-hour time difference, I was able to ring my sister after I got back from my party, to wish her well just as she was getting ready for hers. Cool coincidence, but the same night we were launching the first book I'd written and illustrated, she was having her first solo show of \u003Ca href=\"http://marymcintyre.wordpress.com/\">her paintings\u003C/a> in Seattle. A big night for both of us! I can't wait to hear how hers went. Her partner, Mike, e-mailed me these photos of her making penguin-shaped canapés.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/marylaunch-b6e60574e3.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nA lot happened last night! I missed out on seeing some of the comics crowd (which we made up for in knitters), who were at another fabulous-sounding event, the launch of \u003Cb>\u003Ci>That's Novel: Lifting Comics from the Page\u003C/i>\u003C/b>, an exhibition at the London Print Studio, on Harrow Road. (Thanks to the few people who somehow managed to hit both events! Paul Gravett was very apologetic about the double-booking.) Follow lots of great web links \u003Ca href=\"http://www.comicafestival.com/index.php/festival/festival_detail/thats_novel_lifting_comics_from_the_page/\">over on its website\u003C/a>. Do go along and see it!\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"http://www.comicafestival.com/index.php/festival/festival_detail/thats_novel_lifting_comics_from_the_page/\">\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/thats_novel_poster-99aafc3878.gif\">\u003C/a>\\r\n\\r\nAnd thanks to the \u003Cb>Londonist\u003C/b> for plugging this Saturday's \u003Cb>Crystal Palace Children's Book Festival!\u003C/b> \u003Ca href=\"http://londonist.com/2010/10/preview_crystal_palace_childrens_bo.php\">Read the article here.\u003C/a>\\r\n\\r\nOh, one more thing, John Aggs just posted on Facebook: \u003Ci>Whoever lost sunglasses at V&L party I have them. Please don't contact me and make me return them because they're badass.\u003C/i>\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/johnaggs-afd9e8b2bb.jpg\">","2010-10-22T12:02:00.000Z","vern-and-lettuce-launch-party",[],"vern and lettuce launch party!!!",1776628718940]