The Book Review Can-Can
I’m dancing the dance of a very lucky author this weekend… (I really am; my spontaneous dances are legendary…it’s been said I have the talent of Pheobe and Monica’s annoying friend Amanda from Friends (she dances at around the 3 minute 40 second mark in this clip):
And the reason for my dancing?
See here, where fellow YA author Cat Clarke on her blog “This Counts as Writing, Right?” comes up with five reasons to read Girl, Aloud (Cat’s debut will be published by Quercus…see her blog to find out more).
and also here, where one of my writing heroes, Luisa Plaja, of the brilliant “Chicklish”, calls my book “a wonderfully-observed, realistic and moving mix of relationship drama and gentle comedy”. This is very special because Luisa is one of the reasons I started writing Girl, Aloud back in 2006. If you don’t know her work (shame on you!) do check out Split By A Kiss (very soon to be followed by Swapped By A Kiss, which I’m dying to read).
and finally here, where author, bookseller, reviewer, supremo Litopia podcaster (yep, she’s a busy woman) Eve Harvey of Vulpes Libris describes it as “a dark comedy full of bittersweet self-effacing humour” and claims I nearly made her cry (only nearly? Hmm, more work on that needed! I’ll get ya good n proper next time, Eve).
Don’t forget to enter my competition to win a copy of Girl, Aloud – open to all! Winner to be drawn on Friday 4th December. See here.
In celebration of my 1000th Tweet, and because it’s Friday, I’m giving away one copy of Girl, Aloud. All you need to do is leave a comment saying “Pick Me!” PLUS the song you would choose to sing in front of Simon Cowell if you were auditioning for The X Factor (that bit is just for fun). I will put all the entries into a special homemade Girl, Aloud competition-entry receptacle (project to keep children amused today) and draw one at random. This competition is open to ANYONE, ANYWHERE in the world. I’ll pick the winner next Friday (4th December). Please spread the word!
(maybe not 50 times a day though).
In a nutshell: I’m a YA novelist and picture book writer with a profound inability to wear appropriate shoes.