[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":11},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-post-waterstones-covent-garden-launches-kevin":3},{"_type":4,"body":5,"bodyHtml":6,"excerpt":5,"featuredImage":5,"publishedAt":7,"slug":8,"tags":9,"title":10},"blogPost",null,"\u003Ca href=\"https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-legend-of-kevin-a-roly-poly-flying-pony-adventure/philip-reeve/sarah-mcintyre/9780192766083\">\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"3\">The Legend of Kevin\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\u003C/a>, the first Reeve & McIntyre book in the Roly-Poly Flying Pony series, is officially LAUNCHED! Big thanks to \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/WaterstonesCovG\">Waterstones Covent Garden\u003C/a> who last week hosted the party! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/504910_original-dbc06fbd5a.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nThe evening before the launch, my co-author \u003Ca href=\"http://philip-reeve.com/\">Philip Reeve\u003C/a> and I climbed up into the window with our Posca pens and got busy drawing, while tourists and theatre goers strolled by. By the time we were finished, the sun had set and it was hard to make our what we'd drawn, so we were keen to have a fresh look the next day. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/505137_original-efd16f0630.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd here it is, our Kevin window! And a rather enormous hat I made, and a dress Esther Marfo made for me. And... what is that, is that a real 3D Kevin?? \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/506624_original-a353e517f2.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Photo by Stuart Pyle\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nIt is! A very squeezable, lovely, roly-poly flying pony! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/503200_original-7b287dc6dc.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Photo by Stuart Pyle\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nHere's artist \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/chloe_applin\">Chloe Applin\u003C/a>, who created three Kevins for Philip, me, and Oxford University Press. We'd been following her progress on \u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/chloeapplin/\">her Instagram account\u003C/a>, but launch day was the first day I got to meet Kevin properly, which was rather thrilling.  \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/503899_original-0ef51bde09.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nHere's a photo publicist Hannah Penny took en route: \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/513526_original-086f1c63aa.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nTwo of our most exciting guests were \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/seenicks\">Nick\u003C/a> and \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/CFcomiX\">Alec\u003C/a>, who had come all the way from the Keswick area in the Lake District to London, just for the day!! And Alec brought this lovely card: \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/506490_original-756cb95285.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\u003C!--more Click here for lots more under the cut!-->\\r\n\\r\nAlec is one of our most keen \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/StudioTeaBreak\">@StudioTeaBreak\u003C/a> contributors and the artist whose progress I most enjoy following (\u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/CFcomiX\">@CFcomiX\u003C/a>), so I was thrilled to see them both there! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/508395_original-1b5a015bef.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Photo by Candy Gourlay\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nI'd been to the launch of Nick's wife/Alec's mum in the same bookshop (\u003Ci>\u003Ca href=\"https://jabberworks.livejournal.com/805023.html\">The House with Chicken Legs\u003C/a>\u003C/i>) and noticed she was pregnant, but I didn't realise just HOW close she was to giving birth! Fortunately the baby waited until the NEXT MORNING so Nick was able to get home on time to deliver her.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/503427_original-fee4d8ef44.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nCongratulations, Nick, Sophie, Alec and family! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/503679_original-2c58039063.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nIn \u003Ci>The Legend of Kevin\u003C/i>, our pony absolutely adores custard creams, so OUP provided a Giant Custard Cream, which was pretty awesome. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/507769_original-9442b3e636.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nI was a bit worried my hat might not have enough ceiling clearance, and while it fit, exactly, it scraped along like the rod of a dodgem car. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/508568_original-d52468dcbb.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Photos by Candy Gourlay\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nHere's a song we sang (filmed by Candy): \\r\n\\r\n\u003Clj-embed id=\"4309\"/>\\r\n\\r\nAnd we did drawing! First we showed off some of ours, then we led everyone in drawing Kevin. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/508739_original-9b19fe80a8.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Photos by Candy Gourlay\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nThey did a great job! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/509139_original-06cd825e41.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Photo by Candy Gourlay\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nHere are drawings by \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/comefacciamo\">Alex Milway\u003C/a> and \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/comefacciamo\">Barnaby Gunning\u003C/a>:  \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/509372_original-00f55ac49c.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nThe event involved quite a lot of Kevin cuddling. I didn't get a photo of my friend \u003Ca href=\"http://www.chitrasoundar.com/\">Chitra Soundar\u003C/a> or or her sister, but I did get this lovely one of her mum:  \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/509699_original-1352dc06e5.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd Philip treated us to a round of dad dancing:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/508122_original-571c64fca5.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Photos by Candy Gourlay\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nI only managed to take a smattering of random photos, but the author Candy Gourlay took a few more, so I'll post some of those. (Thank you, Candy!!)\\r\n \\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/507564_original-0b2bce4b2f.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Photo by Candy Gourlay\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nAh, it's \u003Ca href=\"https://www.candygourlay.com/\">Candy Gourlay\u003C/a> herself! And \u003Ca href=\"https://www.nickcross.co.uk/\">Nick Cross\u003C/a>, whom I also first met through the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/512219_original-29622150f6.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nAwhile back, School Librarian Kate Gieler got inspired by the \u003Ca href=\"http://www.picturesmeanbusiness.com/\">Pictures Mean Business\u003C/a> campaign and the whole \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/Glebelove2read\">Glebe Primary School\u003C/a> named their different classes after illustrators. How cool is that?! So there's a class called \u003Cb>3 McIntyr\u003C/b>e in West Sussex, and I couldn't be more proud. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/507237_original-c536d4fcdc.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/511503_original-bedd217060.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nHere's Alison Diamond - \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/ADsaxist\">@ADSaxist\u003C/a> on Twitter - who helps lead @StudioTeaBreak challenges on Tuesday. I'd never met her before, not online, so it was great getting to see her in person! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/512633_original-813bde29d7.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nIt was lovely to see Alison, from the incredibly valuable \u003Ca href=\"https://www.booksfortopics.com/\">Books For Topics \u003C/a>website, which gives reading recommendations for teachers when they're looking for books about various subjects. (You can follow her on Twitter at \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/booksfortopics\">@booksfortopics\u003C/a>.) \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/509547_original-114424ce21.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Photo tweeted by \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/booksfortopics\">@booksfortopics\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/509974_original-113bd37c44.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nAuthors tend to get other authors at launches, and this was no exception! Here's Canadian writer \u003Ca href=\"http://jeffnorton.com/\">Jeff Norton\u003C/a>, who's \u003Ci>Stomp School\u003C/i> launch I went to awhile back (a picture book illustrated by \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/leantolini\">Leo Antolini\u003C/a>). \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/510791_original-c10ca75132.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nLovely Kevin drawings! I don't always get to see individual drawings when we're drawing as a big group, and I love it when people are able to bring them up at the signing and show me so I can look more closely. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/511066_original-0e054d9a55.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nI was so excited to see opera tenor \u003Ca href=\"https://www.nickyspence.com/\">Nicky Spence\u003C/a> and pianist \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/perezalicious\">Dylan Perez\u003C/a> in the audience! Nicky had been away singing in Paris, but he and Dylan managed to make it to the launch and I was well chuffed. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/511374_original-6ad2c690c4.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nIf you remember, he's the one who sang this beautiful line of our Kevin song: \\r\n\\r\n\u003Clj-embed id=\"4289\"/>\\r\n\\r\nIt's writer and comedian \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/Mo_OHara\">Mo O'Hara\u003C/a>! Kevin looks a bit odd photographed straight on, we've discovered, like a man with a very little head and tiny arms, but a very long, huge centaur body. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/511966_original-a8c627d828.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nHere's amazing teacher \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/_borntosparkle\">Claire Williams\u003C/a>! Claire's been one of our most amazing school supporters, in \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/The_UKLA\">UKLA\u003C/a> and with her own enthusiastic class. Today she tweeted that her class are loving \u003Ci>The Legend of Kevin\u003C/i>: \\r\n\\r\n\u003Ci>Beyoncé the guinea pig was the talk of the playground the other day! Promised custard creams when we read the last chapter ...but not every time we read it as requested!\u003C/i> \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/514399_original-a6e7864036.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"1\">Tweeted by Claire at \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/_borntosparkle\">@_borntosparkle\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nGreat to see \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/charliehacking\">Charlotte Hacking\u003C/a> from \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/clpe1\">CLPE\u003C/a> and her daughter! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/512411_original-9427b5a2cf.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nHuge thanks to everyone who came along to the launch, and to publicist \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/hannahepenny\">Hannah Penny\u003C/a> and \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/LizScottPR\">Liz Scott\u003C/a> (pictured here) who organised it! You both were amazing. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/510291_original-705d02c3d0.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd to bookseller Ella, and store manager \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MizJoanna\">Jo Halpin\u003C/a> who hosted us and helped things run so smoothly. You were wonderful! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/513150_original-2cee79caa8.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nWe did a quick change of clothes in the staff rooms and were off to Birmingham for the next leg of the launch. Stay tuned for more Legend of Kevin updates!","2018-09-16T07:50:00.000Z","waterstones-covent-garden-launches-kevin",[],"waterstones covent garden launches kevin!",1776628729758]