Tag: Fiona Veitch Smith

Get rid of that loincloth!

I gave a talk on adaptation – the process of transferring stories between different media – at an ACW conference in Leeds last weekend. Had a wonderful time meeting old and new friends. Other speakers included Corin Child giving tips on taking opportunities to promote your own writing and Steve and Mandy Briars on getting books into bookshops. One of the delegates summed up what he’d learned during the day:

  • Get rid of the loincloth
  • Write in your pyjamas
  • Sleep with a skeleton
  • Some church people misunderstand writers
Now I’m going to be a real tease and not explain any of that!
Me pontificating on adaptation at the ACW Writers’ Conference in Leeds.
0

Picture book workshop and donation at Trinity School

I visited Trinity School and College, Rochester, in May, to make a donation of books to their library. I did an interactive reading of my book, David and the Hairy Beast, where the children were encouraged to act out the stories. I then did a workshop with the older children on how to write and illustrate picture books. The books were donated by SPCK Publishing in celebration of the re-launch of the Young David Books series. Trinity is an independent day school specialising in teaching children aged 6 – 18 with a diagnosis of speech, language and communication difficulties, including dyslexia, dyspraxia, high-functioning autism and Asperger’s Syndrome. The staff do a brilliant job and I was highly impressed with how well the children engaged with me. It’s a school run on love. http://www.trinityschoolrochester.co.uk/

 

Here I am with Freya Bond (left) and Libby Bird

 

Georgia Murphy received the books for the library on behalf of Trinity School and College.

And just as I was putting this on my blog some wonderful thank you cards arrived from the children. I loved them all, but this picture from Erin and message from Bethany really touched me.

 

0

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

0

Article in Newcastle Journal

There was a lovely article about moi, my company Crafty Publishing and one of our authors, Tony Glover in last week’s Newcastle Journal. It was the lead article in the Culture Section. Those of you who know me well might notice though that it says I was a journalist in Cape Town in the early 90s when you all know I was a care-free student still at Rhodes at that time. My mistake, not the journalist who wrote the article – I wasn’t clear enough in the interview. Not surprisingly as I was rushing off to a book launch at the time. So for the record: I was a journalist in the late 90s. And my daughter was born in 2005 in England and didn’t travel with us from South Africa in 2002. Still a great article though! http://www.thejournal.co.uk/culture/crafty-idea-sees-north-east-5751799. Tony and I also had a brilliant time at the launch at the Literary and Philosophical Society of the print versions of The Peace Garden and Cars Just Want to Be Rust. Pic of us below in ‘serious author’ pose …

Fiona Veitch Smith and Tony Glover at the launch of their novels for Crafty Publishing at the Literary and Philosophical Society, Newcastle upon Tyne. Photo by: Ruby Glover.
0

Book launch of David and the Giant a juicy success

On Saturday 4th August an enthusiastic group of Young David fans crammed into CLC Bookshop in Newcastle to hear the latest story in the picture book series. They enjoyed colouring-in and juice ‘n’ biscuits along with the story. Illustrator Amy Barnes and I are so happy that there is a growing following for our little hero. For more on the books and a list of the bookshops that stock them visit www.craftypublishing.com. If there isn’t a bookshop near you you can order directly from the Crafty Publishing e-shop.

Amy Barnes (left) and yours truly, Fiona Veitch Smith, at the launch of our latest children's book, David and the Giant.
.
Some of the children at the launch of David and the Giant colouring in pictures from the book
0

Copyright Fiona Veitch Smith 2024. Privacy Policy

Up ↑