[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":11},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-post-wigtastic-seawigs-pre-launch-party-on-the-golden-hinde":3},{"_type":4,"body":5,"bodyHtml":6,"excerpt":5,"featuredImage":5,"publishedAt":7,"slug":8,"tags":9,"title":10},"blogPost",null,"We had a Seawigs party! On a boat! Even cooler, a replica of Sir Francis Drake's boat, \u003Ca href=\"http://www.goldenhinde.com/\">the Golden Hinde\u003C/a>! Dress code was \u003Ci>Wigs, optional\u003C/i>, but YES, THERE WERE WIGS. ...GREAT BIG WIGS.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/blast_seawigs_friends_zps8db4ed56-e3067c4b52.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.blastphoto.co.uk/\">Blast Photo\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"https://global.oup.com/education/product/9780192734556?region=international\">Oxford University Press\u003C/a> are so excited about the upcoming \u003Ci>\u003Cb>Oliver and the Seawigs\u003C/i>\u003C/b> book by \u003Ca href=\"http://philipreeve.blogspot.co.uk/\">Philip Reeve\u003C/a> and me that they decided they wanted to hold a \u003Ci>PRE\u003C/i>-publication party, to let all the bookshops, libraries, bloggers, media, etc know about it. I was thrilled for an excuse to come up with an awesome Seawig. (Here's a \u003Ca href=\"https://vine.co/v/hK27Hr2qmgO\">short Vine video\u003C/a> of our arrival.)\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/blast_seawigs_philsarah_ship2_zps7c8ef6dd-064d1e436f.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.blastphoto.co.uk/\">Blast Photo\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\n\u003C!--more Click for more under the cut!-->\\r\nHere's our publisher, \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/LizJCross\">Liz Cross\u003C/a>, talking about how her crew at OUP made a video; she wore a seawig and everyone in the office dressed up as sea monkeys to convince us to bring our book to them. Working with Liz has been great; they've given us lots of support but also allowed us plenty of freedom to get on with making a good book. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/blast_seawigs_liz_cross_zpsabf64b24-8b97342f5f.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo tweeted by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.blastphoto.co.uk/\">Blast Photo\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nAnd news just in: \u003Cb>\u003Ci>Oliver and the Seawigs\u003C/i> will be coming out in North America!\u003C/b> \u003Ca href=\"http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/58426-rights-report-week-of-july-22-2013.html\">\u003Ci>Publishers Weekly\u003C/i>\u003C/a> wrote:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Ci>Mallory Loehr at Random House has acquired four middle-grade novels by Philip Reeve (the Hungry City Chronicles ), illustrated by Sarah McIntyre. The first book, Oliver and the Seawigs, follows a boy's adventures on the high seas as he teams up with a living island, a nearsighted mermaid, and a grumpy albatross, to rescue his missing parents. It's slated for \u003Cb>fall 2014\u003C/b>, with companion novels to follow. Anne-Marie Hansen at Oxford University Press brokered the deal for North American rights.\u003C/i> ...Hurrah!\\r\n\\r\nLiz dressed up, too! Check out this fab squid fascinator, worn by our Seawigs editor, \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/CWhitston\">Clare Whitston\u003C/a>. Our book designer, \u003Cb>Jo Cameron\u003C/b>, designed three of these at her office desk that day, for Liz, Clare and herself. They looked smashing! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/kathwoodfine_seawigs_fascinator_zps120abc84-6632fcf170.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/followtheyellow\">Booktrust's Katherine Woodfine\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nPhilip and I did a short dramatic reading (I got to be Iris the mermaid), and then we sang a song! We've only just started learning how to play our ukuleles – I know four chords. But that's enough to write a sea monkey song and bellow it across a deck. And I had to change headgear; the wig isn't very mobile, so \u003Ca href=\"http://www.studio7t7.com/\">Emma Toft\u003C/a>'s tentacular creation was much better suited. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/stu_seawigs_philsarahsing1_zps02ea0fd0-986377212b.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by Stuart Pyle\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nWe had party bags with copies of the blue uncorrected press proofs (with about 75% of the artwork), as the book doesn't come out until September. So you haven't missed out, come to our \u003Cb>big launch event on Wed, 4 September at \u003Ca href=\"http://www.dauntbooks.co.uk/shops.asp?TAG=&CID=\">Daunt Books\u003C/a>, Marylebone!\u003C/b> And Philip and I will be happy to sign and doodle in your copy. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/Seawigs_Daunt_eflyer_zpsc098ac71-b3a5eda039.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nRight, let's have a look at some of the other headwear! \u003Ca href=\"http://scribblehound.com/\">David O'Connell\u003C/a> (author of \u003Ci>Monster and Chips\u003C/i>) made this sea crown which took a medal later in the pub for \u003Cb>Most Striking Seawig\u003C/b>. (\u003Ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/events/317245585077006/\">Details about his book launch drinks next Thursday here.\u003C/a>) \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/lauren_seawigs_davehat_zpsab99e600-7834925a96.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by my fab studio mate \u003Ca href=\"http://www.whodunnknit.com/\">Lauren O'Farrell\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nOn board, we had the excellent services of \u003Cb>Dannie and Char\u003C/b>'s photo and props company, \u003Ca href=\"http://www.blastphoto.co.uk/\">Blast Photo\u003C/a>. Blast were amazing, they made all sort of amazing props and fun stuff totally specific to \u003Ci>Oliver and the Seawigs\u003C/i>. Yay! (They do parties, weddings, lots of stuff.) I love this wig they made, a Seawig with a sort of Marge Simpson flair to it. \u003Cb>Helen Ward\u003C/b>, OUP sales rep:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/blast_seawigs_bluewiglady_zpsdeb105fe-5b99b1862e.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.blastphoto.co.uk/\">Blast Photo\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nMy web designer, \u003Ca href=\"http://hammerheadrabbits.com/\">Dan Fone\u003C/a>, is wearing Mr Culpeper (a cranky albatross from the story), and writer \u003Ca href=\"http://hayleycampbell.com/\">Hayley Campbell\u003C/a> nabbed the sea monkey head. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/stu_seawigs_dansarahhayley_zpsda530923-af3801d73d.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by Stuart Pyle\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nOf course, I couldn't be selfish and keep the biggest wig all to myself. Stuart looks smashing in it, don't you think?\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/blast_seawigs_stuwig_sarah_zps73939689-851e62a1a1.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.blastphoto.co.uk/\">Blast Photo\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nEarlier in the day, we'd be interviewed by \u003Cb>Louise Ellis-Barrett\u003C/b> from \u003Ca href=\"https://sites.google.com/site/armadillomagazine/\">Armadillo Magazine\u003C/a> for the autumn issue and she looked very chic in the Sarcastic Seaweed wig. (You'll find Sarcastic Seaweed in the Sarcastic Sea, where it directs hurtful comments to passing ships.) It's another Blast creation; such a great idea for something to do with all that brown packing paper!\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/blast_seawigs_louise_zps0bcb07ce-d378b63b78.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.blastphoto.co.uk/\">Blast Photo\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nHere's Louise with my fabulous studio mate \u003Ca href=\"http://www.whodunnknit.com/\">Lauren O'Farrell\u003C/a> (aka Deadly Knitshade) and The Lion & Unicorn bookshop's \u003Cb>Camilla Williams\u003C/b>.\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/blast_seawigs_louiselauren_specs_zps453eccb3-b73fd30bc5.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.blastphoto.co.uk/\">Blast Photo\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nCheck out the squid hat Lauren knitted! She's the author of the \u003Ca href=\"http://www.whodunnknit.com/books/\">\u003Ci>Stitch London\u003C/i> and \u003Ci>Stitch New York\u003C/i> books\u003C/a>, which teach you how to knit lots of great little characters. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/lauren_seawigs_squidhat_zps7942a92a-ca6273ad3c.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.whodunnknit.com/\">Lauren O'Farrell\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nCheck out this tentacle top hat, worn by \u003Cb>Clare Poole\u003C/b> from P&G Wells Bookshop! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/blast_seawigs_blackhatlady_zps87b47bfa-e65d26459a.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.blastphoto.co.uk/\">Blast Photo\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nSome more fab headgear from The Lion & Unicorn bookshop's \u003Cb>Tony West\u003C/b> and Daunt Books' \u003Cb>Julia Harrison\u003C/b>.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/blast_seawigs_bluewigcouple_zpsaf4b0eec-b90f257c7b.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.blastphoto.co.uk/\">Blast Photo\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nI did not design that big wig by myself! I got lots of good structural help from my sculptor friend, \u003Ca href=\"http://www.edwardsmith-sculptor.com/\">Eddie Smith\u003C/a>. (We used to run an art gallery together, along with Dan Fone.) ...But wait, you cannot see Eddie here, only a sea monkey and Eddie's wife Caroline. Well. I will tell you more about Eddie and the wig making in another post soon, but in the meantime, you can get clues about Eddie by browsing \u003Ca href=\"http://www.edwardsmith-sculptor.com/\">his website\u003C/a>. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/blast_seawigs_edmonkeycaro_zpsc680bab5-7ec3757b65.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.blastphoto.co.uk/\">Blast Photo\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nHa ha! Check out Albatross Boy and Geek Monkey:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/blast_seawigs_geekmonkey_zps287bb7fa-0d399e717e.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.blastphoto.co.uk/\">Blast Photo\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nIt was great fun exploring the ship, what a cool place! Here Hayley and I are taking over the captain's quarters. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/seawigs_capnsarahhayley_zps2ea99a06-b38c2a4caf.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by my excellent studio mate \u003Ca href=\"http://www.garynorthfield.com/\">Gary Northfield\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nBut, oh no, there was an albatross trapped in the poop deck! That is, I don't know if it \u003Ci>was\u003C/i> the poop deck, but it surely is now.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/blast_seawigs_sarahphilgull2_zps9505a2dc-dfa9486c3a.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.blastphoto.co.uk/\">Blast Photo\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nIt was amazing how good everyone looked in the wig! Here's Hayley (who would still look good with a nappy on her head):\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/blast_seawigs_hayleywig_zps342103e9-deacc82cf8.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.blastphoto.co.uk/\">Blast Photo\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nAnd my tiny OUP publicist, \u003Cb>Hattie Bayly\u003C/b>! I think the wig was about three times larger than her, but she supported it bravely.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/blast_seawigs_hattiewigsarah_zps84152ceb-1b79d76e57.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.blastphoto.co.uk/\">Blast Photo\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nGreat to see librarians out in force! Here's Youth Libraries Group Chair \u003Cb>Karen Robinson\u003C/b>, School Library Association's \u003Cb>Tricia Adams\u003C/b> and YLG's \u003Cb>Joy Court\u003C/b> with \u003Cb>Sean Edwards\u003C/b> from Haringey Libraries. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/blast_seawigs_joy_mysterylibrarians_zpsd4e8fa30-629ba7adc7.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.blastphoto.co.uk/\">Blast Photo\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nAhoy, booksellers! Here's \u003Cb>Melissa Cox\u003C/b> from Waterstones, \u003Cb>Adam Clark\u003C/b> from Daunt Books (trapped in a sea monkey) and \u003Cb>Julia Harrison\u003C/b> from Daunt.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/blast_seawigs_mysterypeople_zpsb520dde3-7211ae0d8f.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nHurrah for indies! Here's \u003Cb>Georgina Hanratty\u003C/b>, manager of Tales on Moon Lane, in Herne Hill, and \u003Cb>Laura Main Ellen\u003C/b> from Under the Greenwood Tree, in Clapham.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/blast_seawigs_fb_2_zpsbc942080-b5a6e75de6.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nHayley from Gosh! Comics and \u003Cb>Jennifer Bell\u003C/b> and \u003Cb>Jo Ann Cocadiz\u003C/b> from the children's department of Foyles, Charing Cross. (Hey, did you hear that they're opening a new shop in Waterloo Station?!) \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/blast_seawigs_hayleyjenjo_zpsc5c4c9d9-e050bf4ba4.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nMermaid fish pouts:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/blast_seawigs_lauren_sarah_zpsb21c4bbe-22306e78e2.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.blastphoto.co.uk/\">Blast Photo\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nAnd some of our OUP team! There's Liz, our editor Claire somewhere in the sea monkey, Hattie, our designer Jo, and \u003Cb>Matt Ager\u003C/b>. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/blast_seawigs_OUPcrew_zps8855b84f-abf7445cf0.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.blastphoto.co.uk/\">Blast Photo\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nI don't even know what \u003Ca href=\"http://www.garynorthfield.com\">Gary Northfield\u003C/a> (author of \u003Ca href=\"http://www.garynorthfield.com/2012/07/24/teenytinysaurs/\">\u003Ci>Teenytinysaurs\u003C/i>\u003C/a>) and his girlfriend \u003Cb>Nicky Evans\u003C/b> are getting up to here. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/blast_seawigs_garynicky_zps7d32a589-1ef84d7ee7.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.blastphoto.co.uk/\">Blast Photo\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nA huge thanks to \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/LizScottPR\">Liz Scott\u003C/a>, our awesome freelance publicist who headed up the planning of this party! OUP brought on two publicists to tackle \u003Ci>Oliver and the Seawigs\u003C/i> - Liz and \u003Cb>Philippa Perry\u003C/b> - and it's loads of fun working with them.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/blast_seawigs_phillizsarah_zps6ab5912e-156d75cc81.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.blastphoto.co.uk/\">Blast Photo\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nLiz had lots of help from OUP's \u003Cb>Alesha Bonser\u003C/b>, who's wearing one of my homemade Seawigs sailor hats. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/blast_seawigs_liz_alesha_zps94fcdc8e-645e9c9389.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nI'm not quite sure when the giant banana came out. There are no bananas in Seawigs. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/blast_seawigs_lionandunicorn_zps90a8405a-535b3e8b01.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.blastphoto.co.uk/\">Blast Photo\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nHere's illustrator \u003Ca href=\"http://heatherkilgour.com/\">Heather Kilgour\u003C/a>, who took home the late-night pub medal for \u003Cb>Most Fabulous Seawig\u003C/b>.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/blast_seawigs_heathersarah_zps4a45ab81-6b7986cc6d.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThis was the most fun book launch (or pre-launch) we've ever had and Philip and I were quite overwhelmed by it. And we have at least three more books together! The books won't have the same characters in them - we want to try out new things and have a play around with them - but they'll be in a similar one-colour format, adventure stories, and make up a lovely four-book Reeve & McIntyre library. We're really excited about it all.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/blast_seawigs_philsarah_finale_zpsf4a4cd92-fd36ca90f3.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.blastphoto.co.uk/\">Blast Photo\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nYou can see a lot more photos over in this Facebook album, \u003Ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.694279220598147.1073741829.176222972403777&type=1\">The Seawigs are Coming!\u003C/a> and all the pictures Blast Photo took in their \u003Ca href=\"http://www.blastphoto.co.uk/clients/seawigs/content/IMG_1084_large.html\">online photo gallery\u003C/a>. Do join us on 4 Sept for the launch of \u003Ci>Oliver and the Seawigs\u003C/i>!\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/blast_seawigs_oliverbook_ship_zpsb31270b7-2772bee74e.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nOh, one more thing! We had party bags with \u003Cb>Make-Your-Own-Seawig sheets\u003C/b>, and Caroline and Eddie took two home for their kids. Check out these awesome Seawigs! Want to try making one yourself? I'll post the templates on my website soon, but in the meantime, if you have access to an A3 printer, you can download \u003Ca href=\"http://pdfcast.org/pdf/style-your-own-seawig-1\">the basic wig shape here\u003C/a> as a PDF, and download \u003Ca href=\"http://pdfcast.org/pdf/style-your-own-seawig-2\">the wig accessories here\u003C/a>. Please let me see a photo if you make one, I'll be so curious! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/smith_seawigs_zps50308f4f-3399e87a19.jpg\">","2013-07-25T21:48:00.000Z","wigtastic-seawigs-pre-launch-party-on-the-golden-hinde",[],"wigtastic! seawigs pre-launch party on the golden hinde",1776628725369]