Brilliant article on my latest picture book David and the Grumpy King on the UKCBD blog – aimed at Christian bookshops. So encouraging to have the support of other people in the industry.
Grumpy King book launch
The long-awaited 5th book in the Young David Series, David and the Grumpy King, is finally here! Come and hear yours truly and illustrator Amy Barnes read from and talk about this brilliant new episode in the life of Young David as he gets on the wrong side of the mad King Saul. Coffee, tea, juice, cakes, colouring-in and storytelling. Suitable for children 3 – 7 or anyone who wants a bit of fun!
Venue: Heaton Baptist Church, Newcastle upon Tyne
Date: Sunday 23 March
Time: 12.30 – 1.30pm
Mamphela Ramphele and The Peace Garden
I’m very happy to see that Dr Mamphela Ramphele, the partner of the late Steve Biko, and former managing director of the World Bank, is standing for the presidential candidature of the Democratic Alliance in South Africa. Her autobiography, ‘A Life’, had a profound impact on me when I first read it 15 years ago and was the inspiration for much of the middle section of my novel ‘The Peace Garden’. The character of Poppy Fakile is loosely based on her experiences as a young woman. Do read it, it’s inspiring (Dr Ramphele’s book, not mine – but hey, if you want to read mine too, go for it!)
Here is The Peace Garden on Amazon or from the Crafty Publishing website. If you buy it from the Crafty website I can sign it to you or your loved one if you leave a note …
Speaking Volumes video
OK, so I’ve been overlooked for the Bafta’s yet again (I shall forgive them this oversight and vote for Judi Dench) but I have managed to wangle a cameo appearance in a promotional video for Speaking Volumes. If you look very carefully at the beginning you will notice my book ‘David and the Giant’ being read by the lovely Rosy Lozinski and her mother Laura. Rosy’s older sister, Lizzie, who was at school at the time of filming, is one of the Young David Books’ biggest fans. Also in the video is my pal and friendly local assistant bookshop manager, Justin Dummer. I’ve been proud to work with this charity of the last year. Check it out, perhaps you could get involved too … http://www.speakingvolumes.org.uk/
The Labour
I don’t write many poems. But here’s one that you can use for Christmas and Easter interchangeably …
The Labour
The stable was dark and rank
On that fateful, cosmic night;
And light seeped through the dusty cracks
As a man made a bed for his wife.
The woman was in torment
As the labour pains began;
And she closed her eyes to see the dream
Of the child and the future man.
As the passion reached its hilt
Her nails gouged a wooden door;
She saw a cross soaked in blood and
Wondered what it was for.
She saw a soldier take a stick
– a sponge to a dying man;
She drank sour wine to calm the pain
But a deeper thirst began.
Cool water bathed her brow and cheeks
And tears splashed on the floor;
Then sudden pain, a spear-sharp jab,
As blood and water poured.
With one last push her child was free
And she clutched him as she cried;
Her soul was rent, she knew that face:
His birth, His death, His life.
Fiona Veitch Smith (one of my rare poems)
The dark is a good setting for a scary beast
A review of David and the Hairy Beast by 6-year-old Alice Grant. “I liked David because he was really brave. I liked the jobs of the brothers and sisters, especially Abigail. The setting of the book is in the dark, the dark is a bit scary and so it’s a really good setting for a scary beast. I love this book.”
Thank you Alice!
If you want to know what Alice is talking about, you can order your own Hairy Beast here. Crafty Publishing are offering free UK postage up until Christmas Eve. And if you ask very nicely, I will sign the book to you or your loved one.
