Hello readers, and hope you are all well since I spoke to you yesterday!
It is another late night and I am late yet again with the posting of a blog tour - my apologies!
But nonetheless, today I am honoured to welcome Sofi Croft to my blog for an interview about her brand new book, Indigo's Dragon! I was lucky enough to meet Sofi at the Accent YA Launch at London Book Fair and she is so lovely, and I also read Indigo's Dragon a few weeks ago and absolutely loved it, I will leave a link to my review here.
For those of you unfortunate enough not to have come across this wonderful book yet, here is the blurb...
Some families keep monstrous secrets...
Fans of How to Train your Dragon, Harry Potter, and Percy Jackson.
Indigo lives in the Lake District, and spends his time exploring the mountains he loves. An unexpected parcel arrives containing a first aid kit inside his grandfather’s satchel. Indigo’s curiosity is raised as he looks through his grandfather’s notebook to discover drawings of mythical creatures.
Strange things begin to happen and Indigo finds himself treating an injured magpie-cat, curing a cockatrice of its death-darting gaze, and defending a dragon. Indigo realises he must uncover the secrets his family have kept hidden, and travels alone to the Polish mountains to search for his grandfather and the truth.
Danger looms as events spiral out of control, and Indigo needs to make choices that change him, his world, and his future forever…
Doesn't it sound amazing?! If you are still yet to be convinced, today I am so excited to welcome Sofi Croft to my blog where we will be discussing dragons, her writing inspiration, and what she loved reading as a kid!
Hi Sofi! Tell us a bit about Indigo's Dragon. What gave you the inspiration to write it?
I started writing Indigo’s Dragon after I moved to Borrowdale in the Lake District. I spent a huge amount of time sat at the side of the river while my children played in the water. I would write poems, short stories and sketch pictures, all inspired by the things my children and I liked most at the time – mountains, lakes and rivers, wildlife, dragon caves, strange hidden beasts, adventures, mysteries, journeys, folktales and legends. Very slowly the thoughts, ideas, pictures and words in my notebooks all came together to create Indigo’s Dragon.
What do you find interesting about sea monsters? Why did you want to write about them?
I grew up near the coast; beachcombing, rock pooling, fossil collecting and swimming in the sea. I have always loved the mystery of the oceans and I find sea creatures absolutely fascinating. They are so different to us, like alien life forms right on our doorstep! I love the idea that huge sea creatures may be living in our oceans undiscovered, and it is not as unlikely as it sounds. 95% of the world’s oceans are unexplored and scientists estimate up to a million species remain undiscovered, so there is actually quite a good chance there may be some pretty big creatures out there we haven’t seen yet.
In my late teens I learned to scuba dive and had some incredible experiences underwater. It is this vast, mysterious, other world, with an incredible extra dimension – you can move up and down as well as on the horizontal plane. The creatures are so surprising and wonderful; I have been chased by curious seals, terrified by moray eels and intrigued by cuttlefish and octopus trying to communicate by flashing patterns on their skin.
For me, more than anywhere else, the oceans are where the wonders of the world, and the life in it, are most apparent. The third book in the Indigo series, Indigo’s Deep, is set almost entirely underwater, in the Irish and Baltic seas, and it includes more than a few sea monsters, real and imagined. I had incredible fun researching and writing it, and was able to relive some of my most treasured experiences scuba diving in my youth.
Did you always want to be a writer?
No! My mother is a writer and when I was growing up I did not see the appeal at all. I watched my mother spend hours of every day sat at a typewriter lost in an imaginary world. I was far more interested in living in the real world. I wanted to be an explorer or a scientist, and that is what I became! I studied biology and geology and worked as a laboratory technician and exploration geologist before becoming a science teacher.
It wasn’t until I had children that I began to write. I spend lots of time outdoors with them, and I think the combination of the outdoors, daydreaming and being with my children must have stimulated my creative and imaginative side!
What did you like reading as a kid?
Some of the first books I really loved were The Moomins books by Tove Jansson. The weird, alien looking Hattifatteners are particularly memorable to me! As a young teenager I enjoyed books full of action and adventure, like the Alanna books by Tamora Pierce, Kim by Rudyard Kipling, and of course The Hobbit by Tolkien. As a slightly older teenager I loved dystopic fiction, books like 1984 by George Orwell, We by Yevgeny Zamyatin, A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley.
Describe Indigo's Dragon in three words!
Adventure, mystery & monsters.
Thank you so much for appearing on my blog, Sofi!
Guys, please make sure you check out all the other posts from this blog tour!
Check out Sofi Croft here: http://www.soficroft.com
Buy Indigo's Dragon here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Indigos-Dragon-Sofi-Croft-ebook/dp/B00PG0JZWI/280-4279280-9477309?ie=UTF8&tag=geolinker-21
Until next time :)
Hello, readers! I hope you all had a lovely (rainy) weekend and are raring and ready to spring into a new week!
Today I am extremely excited to be taking part in a 'Blog Tour De France' of the amazing Eat Sweat Play by Anna Kessel. As soon as I was pitched this book by Macmillan I knew it was something I had to read and be involved in- much to the surprise (or rather, horror) of my family and friends. I don't keep it a secret that sport and I are not the greatest of buddies and that has always been the case, right from when I was a young girl up until now - I am probably the least active person on the planet. And not only do I not like to do sport, I don't watch it, read about it, let it seep into my life at all. Sport and myself are probably about as good bosom buddies as fire and water.
And this is why I am participating in this blog tour. This is why I am reading this book. And this is why I am encouraging each and every one of you to do exactly the same.
I was kindly sent Eat Sweat Play by Pan Macmillan in exchange for an honest review :)
Interested to find out more? Read the blurb to find out...
What does it mean to be a sporty woman in the 21st century? From the launch of Net-A-Sporter, serving up sports clothing for fashionistas, to the introduction of #plankie as the new Instagram selfie for yoga bunnies; exercise for women has finally gone mainstream.
But if sweating has never been so hot for female celebrities, then why are there still so many obstacles for girls and women when it comes to sport? Why do girls still hate school sports lessons? Why is sport consistently defined as male territory, with TV cameras replicating the male gaze as they search out the most beautiful women in the crowd? Will women ever flock to watch football, rugby and boxing in their millions? Or turn up to the park with friends for a Sunday morning kickabout? How long do we have to wait to see the first multi-millionaire female footballer or basketball player?
Eat Sweat Play is an engaging and inspirational work by sports writer Anna Kessel.
As you will probably know by now, I am a feminist, and am interested in anything to do with feminism and the discussion of gender equality. However, my lack of interest in sport has meant that the inclusion of women in sport is something I do not know very much about. Don't get me wrong, I have read a bit about the lack of importance attributed to women's football and the comments made by tennis superstar Djokovic, however apart from that I am largely clueless about women in sport and what this should mean to me as a feminist. However, Eat Sweat Play is a huge learning curve for all women, young and old, sporty or not sporty, in changing your perception on just about everything to do with sport, and in particular, women's inclusion in sport.
Women feeling like they are able to partake in sports is important for so many reasons, and something that is definitely not talked about as much as it should. Serena Williams is a star tennis player, yet is constantly tormented in the media for the way she looks. Only 0.4% of all commercial investment is into women’s sport and only 7% of all sports coverage is of women’s sport. More women died in the Tsunami disaster than men, simply because they hadn't been taught to swim.
But sometimes the problems concerning women and sport and much more subtle than this. Sometimes the boundaries keeping women away from sport are for more complicated reasons, that aren't to do with rules or regulations or the media, but the ingrained ideas that women have been indoctrinated with since their birth.
I am absolutely certain that if I hadn't been dictated by the media all day, every day, what I should look like, then my relationship with sport would be a whole lot healthier. I adore swimming (I have done since I was little), yet when I hit puberty and the pressure of unreasonable expectations for female bodies started to affect me, I could imagine nothing worse than wearing a swimming costume in front of other people. I gave up dancing at the age of 14 because I hated wearing a leotard in front of the other girls in the class. Gradually, as I grew older, sport slowly but surely disappeared from my life.
And this is not just my problem.
This affects girls and women of all ages, all across the world.
Opportunities for women concerning sport is lacking. But so is the encouragement for them to do so.
And this is something that Anna Kessel makes so abundantly and strikingly clear in Eat Sweat Play.
I have not participated in sporting activity in years. But what Kessel makes clear is that we should not accept defeat; us women need to integrate ourselves into sport and not take no for an answer. This may involve arguing for more representation of women sport in the media, better sports education and encouragement for girls in schools, and for a fairer and more reasonable presentation of female bodies on TV, magazines and billboard.
I don't have a sports journey yet. But, I have no doubt that with Eat Sweat Play, I soon will have.
Buy Eat Sweat Play here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Eat-Sweat-Play-Sport-Change/dp/1509808094/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
Check out Anna Kessel here: http://www.thebookseller.com/tags-bookseller/anna-kessel
Make sure you guys check out the other posts on this Blog Tour de France!
Until next time :)
Hello, readers, and HAPPY SUMMER!!! Now, I am well aware that for many of you reading this post it won't be summer yet, but on Monday I finally completed my first year at the University of Manchester and I couldn't be more stoked! I have spent the last few days doing nothing but reading, watching TV and *ahem* drinking, but finally I have the time to catch up on blogging and all the AWESOME books I have been sent recently!
One of the awesome books I have been sent to review is Hope Farm by Peggy Frew, by the lovely people at Scribe Publishing, who always send me such amazing books to review! I was sent Hope Farm in exchange for an honest review :)
And today I am very excited to be reviewing Hope Farm as part of the official blog tour! So after you've read this post, make sure you read all the other posts of the tour so far, and keep an eye out in the next few days for the stuff being published this week! For my spot on the tour today, I'm going to be letting you all know what I think about Hope Farm, and why I think every single one of you should pick it up asap! One of the reasons why I love Scribe Publishing is that they publish such unique, interesting, beautifully written and curated books that immediately capture my imagination and keep me invested in the story from the very start to the moment when I close the final page. I was delighted to see that Hope Farm was no exception to this.
Hope Farm follows the story of thirteen-year-old Silver as she has to move - yet again - with her eccentric, unpredictable and unstable mother, Ishtar. This time, however, they are moving to Hope Farm: a communal, self-sufficient farm where its residents grow their own food, bathe outside under the stars and smoke pot. Silver has to come to terms with a lot of firsts: starting a new school, meeting her mother's new boyfriend Miller (a shady character with too many secrets) and being swept into the drug-fuelled, hazy, mystical atmosphere that surrounds Hope Farm, plaguing its residents.
Intrigued? Check out the blurb here:
'They were inescapable, the tensions of the adult world — the fraught and febrile aura that surrounded Ishtar and those in her orbit, that whined and creaked like a wire pulled too tight.'
It is the winter of 1985. Hope Farm sticks out of the ragged landscape like a decaying tooth, its weatherboard walls sagging into the undergrowth. Silver's mother, Ishtar, has fallen for the charismatic Miller, and the three of them have moved to the rural hippie commune to make a new start.
At Hope, Silver finds unexpected friendship and, at last, a place to call home. But it is also here that, at just thirteen, she is thrust into an unrelenting adult world — and the walls begin to come tumbling down, with deadly consequences.
Hope Farm is the masterful second novel from award-winning author Peggy Frew, and is a devastatingly beautiful story about the broken bonds of childhood, and the enduring cost of holding back the truth.
Immediately from reading the very first page I fell in love with Silver's narrative and found it so interesting and complex - I love reading from the perspectives of children and reading from Silver's point of view was so intriguing as she is innocent and naive about a lot of things however she is immersed in a world so overwhelmingly adult. I was reminded of To Kill A Mockingbird when Scout is a middle-aged woman looking back on her childhood experiences, which is exactly what Silver's narrative was. Frew's narration choices definitely rendered the story much more complex, and added beautifully to the ambiguity and general fogginess that surrounds Hope Farm.
One of my favourite aspects of the whole book was undoubtedly the language, and in particular, the descriptions of often the most everyday of things. Frew's writing was intricately beautiful, clear, and carefully crafted to explicating the world of Hope Farm. I could envision every single scene in my head and each of my senses were engaged in the story - the mark of every fantastic storyteller. I would be the first to admit that I know next to nothing about Australia, but Hope Farm helped to eliminate the most mysterious of settings.
Throughout the story there was a dark cloud hanging over Silver, and her discoveries (relayed by her juvenile memories) gave the narrative a hard edge, of someone who now knows more than she ever did as a child, at that present moment. The story was so well-layered by this aspect of the narrative, and made the book unputdownable.
The characters were all real to me, and I felt as if I knew so much about them, even the hazy figures living at Hope Farm. I loved Ian and Jindi fiercely, and hated Miller with almost as much passion. One character I still can't get my head around is Ishtar - I felt like Silver deserved so much more than her, and she was so wrapped up with Miller that I felt she completely forgot that she even had a daughter. However, the chapters interspersed between Silver's story greatly added to my understanding of her, and they were so interestingly written and revealing. You could really hear Ishtar's voice, and I was reminded of how much she had sacrificed, how much she had been through, and how unconditionally she must love Silver.
Overall, I think it is pretty obvious that I loved Hope Farm and it is evident that Peggy Frew is a brilliantly talented writer with lots to offer contemporary adult literature. I will definitely be checking out what she writes next. If you're looking for something a little different, with a lot of heart and grit in equal measure with a fascinating protagonist then I would highly encourage you to check out Hope Farm. You won't regret it!
Also don't forget to check out the rest of the posts in the Hope Farm Blog Tour!
Check out Peggy Frew here: http://scribepublications.com.au/books-authors/authors/frew-peggy/
Buy Hope Farm here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hope-Farm-Peggy-Frew/dp/1925228533/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
Check out Scribe Publishing here: https://scribepublications.com.au
Until next time :)
Hello, readers! I'm sorry that I haven't posted in a while - this time of year is so hectic with coursework submissions, portfolio work and getting ready for some exciting things you will know about soon!
But first things first, today I have a book review of the wonderful Sofi Croft's Indigo's Dragon! I was lucky enough to meet Sofi Croft at Accent YA's book list launch at London Book Fair, and grab myself a signed copy of Indigo's Dragon! As soon as I read the blurb I knew that it was a book that I had to read asap. The book follows the adventures of a young boy called Indigo who lives in the Lake District, a magical place populated with strange and mythical creatures, and promises bucket loads of mystery, intrigue and magic.
I was kindly given Indigo's Dragon by Accent Press in exchange for an honest review :)
Interested in finding out more? Check out the blurb here...
Some families keep monstrous secrets...
Fans of How to Train your Dragon, Harry Potter, and Percy Jackson.
Indigo lives in the Lake District, and spends his time exploring the mountains he loves. An unexpected parcel arrives containing a first aid kit inside his grandfather’s satchel. Indigo’s curiosity is raised as he looks through his grandfather’s notebook to discover drawings of mythical creatures.
Strange things begin to happen and Indigo finds himself treating an injured magpie-cat, curing a cockatrice of its death-darting gaze, and defending a dragon. Indigo realises he must uncover the secrets his family have kept hidden, and travels alone to the Polish mountains to search for his grandfather and the truth.
Danger looms as events spiral out of control, and Indigo needs to make choices that change him, his world, and his future forever…
Doesn't that sound fantastic? I haven't read a book on the Middle Grade spectrum of YA for a very long time, and Indigo's Dragon was a delightful read to remind me of the books I used to read when I was younger.
I really enjoyed the way the story was told and the descriptions of the setting were so realistic and beautiful. The images were so vivid in my mind and I began to love the mysterious peaks of the Lake District and the mystical Polish mountains that Croft so beautifully described. This book introduced me to a world I am unfamiliar with, and the descriptions of this world were intricately detailed and well illustrated.
The plot was very well thought-out and I loved every twist and turn - the mystery of Opi's satchel in the first couple of chapters of the book kept me intrigued throughout the whole story. There were no obvious plot holes and the story really worked as a whole - including all the twists and turns.
My favourite part of the book was undoubtedly the characters. I thought Indigo was such an interesting, brave, endlessly inquisitive protagonist and he definitely drove the action of the story. My other favourite character has to be Omi - who was so vivid in my mind (it was as if she was sitting next to me cackling with laughter!) and her relationship with Indigo was wonderful.
The descriptions of the otherworldly creatures was also a strong point of the book and the way Croft described them, it seemed that they were just like normal animals, which was an interesting way to go about it, and it meant that I felt like I could visualise them better. They were so well portrayed that they were definitely characters in their own right!
The only reason why this is a 4* review is because the book was slightly out of my age range - I don't doubt that this would have been a 5* review if I was reviewing this book ten years ago! Fans of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson would love Indigo's Dragon, it is filled with beautiful, vivid characters and language that will transport you to a world you cannot even begin to imagine.
Check out Accent YA's list here: http://accentya.com
Check out Sofi Croft here: http://www.soficroft.com
Buy Indigo's Dragon here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Indigos-Dragon-Sofi-Croft-ebook/dp/B00PG0JZWI/280-4279280-9477309?ie=UTF8&tag=geolinker-21
Until next time :)
Hello, readers! I hope you all had a lovely bank holiday weekend and enjoyed the sun/sleet/hail/snow- whatever the weather was like for you! I spent a great weekend at home in London with my family, getting lots of reading, blogging and sleeping done!
And one of the books I managed to finish at home is the SPECTACULAR Half Lost by Sally Green- the last book in the amazing Half Bad trilogy. As you may know, I am a huge fan of this series, and I would probably name it one of my favourites of all time. That's why I was sooooo stoked when Sophia at Penguin sent me a copy- my uni friends didn't quite understand why I was so excited about getting this particular book in the post!
I was kindly sent Half Lost by Penguin in exchange for an honest review :)
As I mentioned before, Half Lost is the third and final book in Sally Green's Half Bad trilogy - a sharply-written, action-packed, exhilarating series following a young halfblood witch named Nathan and his journey to discover who he is, where he comes from, and the extent of what his powers can do. All three books are filled with fantastic characters who will keep you on the edge of your seat while reading, and stay with you long after you close the last page of the final book.
Intrigued? Check out the blurb here...
This is the final battle.
The Alliance is losing the war, and their most critical weapon, seventeen-year-old witch Nathan Byrn, is losing his mind. Nathan’s tally of kills is rising, and yet he’s no closer to ending the tyrannical rule of the Council of White Witches in England. Nor is Nathan any closer to his personal goal: getting revenge on Annalise, the girl he once loved before she committed an unthinkable crime. An amulet protected by the extremely powerful witch Ledger could be the tool Nathan needs to save himself and the Alliance, but this amulet is not so easily acquired. And lately Nathan has started to suffer from visions: a vision of a golden moment when he dies, and of an endless line of Hunters, impossible to overcome. Gabriel, his closest companion, urges Nathan to run away with him, to start a peaceful life together. But even Gabriel’s love may not be enough to save Nathan from this war, or from the person he has become.
Set in modern-day Europe, the final book in the Half Bad trilogy is more than a story about witches. It’s a heart-achingly visceral look at survival and exploitation, the nature of good and evil, and the risks we take for love.
Whilst the first two books allowed me to discover the world of the witches and learn about the characters, I felt like Half Lost was non-stop action from start to finish, and truly revealed the complexities involved in having a lot of power, overwhelming responsibility, and too much at stake. Nathan, the protagonist, is such a fantastically developed character and in this book I really felt as if I was
in his head, perplexed at every single decision he had to make. The emotion Sally Green invested in Nathan is staggering. He is probably the most real character I have ever had the pleasure of reading.
Nathan is such a complex, yet easy to adore character. He kills unflinchingly, yet somehow he draws you into his mind, his game, and you become part of the darkness, the grime and the bloodshed. He rages, he swears, and he kills. Ruthlessly. And (maybe, surprisingly, I don't know), all of these reasons add up to why I love Nathan, and why he is my favourite character of the whole series. These reasons are why, in my opinion, Nathan is one of the most complex, problematic and intriguing characters the YA genre has ever seen. Also, his and Gabriel's relationship is amazing. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Jeez, every single time I read one of their *scenes* I get the shivers. Quite literally.
I'm not going to reveal the ending, or give any spoilers whatsoever in fact, but it destroyed me. A YA book hasn't destroyed me in a very long time. And Sally Green literally stuck a metal pole in my chest that remained there long after I closed the last page of the book. The funny thing is, I kind of saw it coming (I knew Sally Green wouldn't leave me in tact- she would finish the book with a bang) but it still didn't hurt any less. The last chapter was written beautifully. It had me in tears.
I am distraught that this book series is over, and I really mean it. The world that Sally Green has created is so intricately detailed: grimy, gritty and glittering in blood. The dialogue, characters and description in the books is so fantastic, and I will not be satisfied until I have her next YA book in my hands.
If you haven't picked up the series yet, I would highly encourage you to do so. You won't regret it, believe me.
Check out Sally Green here: http://www.halfbadworld.com
Buy Half Lost here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Half-Lost-Bad-Sally-Green/dp/014136484X
Check out my interview with Sally Green here: http://www.delightfulbookreviews.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/half-lost-q-with-half-bad-trilogy.html
Until next time :)
Hello readers! I’m sorry I haven’t had time to post anything in the past week- it has been absolutely hectic with university work, planning various *exciting* trips in the next couple of months and even a Gatsby ball! But I have come home for the weekend for my mum's birthday so I finally have some time to relax, read and write blog posts!
Today I'm kicking things off with a 4* review of the latest of Anastasia Catris' stunning colouring books: Draw Your Way To A Younger Brain! As you know from previous blog posts, I am a massive fan of this illustrator, and I now have a huge stacking collection of them in my university bedroom! Over time I have also built up a rather extensive hoard of colouring pencils and pens (whoops).
I was kindly sent copies of the whole Draw Your Way To A Younger Brain collection (CATS & BIG CATS, DOGS & WOLVES and SAFARI) by Virginia at Orion Books in exchange for an honest review :)
Today I am going to review my favourite book from the collection: Dogs & Wolves! I hope from this review that you can get a bit of a feel for what the series is like, and hopefully you will feel inspired to pick up your pencils and pens and give it a go yourself!
Intrigued? Check out the blurb...
Misplacing your wallet, forgetting where you parked your car, or getting your friend's birthday wrong: these are just some of the many common memory slips we all experience from time to time. And such cognitive lapses don't just plague the elderly: the most common worry of people over 40 is memory loss.
A recent study by Newcastle University, featured on BBC news, showed that art therapy has greater benefits than puzzles and exercises when it comes to improving memory function. Engaging the brain in new and creative ways may be the key to a sharper 'younger' mind.
Helping to enhance your brain's cognitive function through art therapy techniques, these books contain 30 intricate line drawings of animals, with space on the opposite page for you to copy the illustration and some helpful hints to start you off. There is also the opportunity to colour in and to create some of your own illustrations as you progress. Gradually becoming more challenging, every page will help to stimulate parts of the brain that are vital for memory retention. With these books you will draw your way to a younger brain.
As always, the illustrations were gorgeous and intricately detailed, which is why I love Anastasia Catris' books so much. I love taking hours over one drawing, and all of the drawings are manageable and I never worry too much about keeping the colours within the lines. This book in particular had a mixture of more detailed and less detailed drawings which meant that I could afford to be more carefree with my drawing and colouring than others. This worked for me in the sense that some days I could complete a more difficult and intricate colouring, and other days I could just let rip and do whatever I wanted to.
The illustrations in this book were so cute and I loved how it included so many different breeds of dogs- the book gave you the chance to draw your own doggy haircuts, coats and even some pretty stars in the sky, right by the towering figure of a braying wolf!
The only thing that I wasn't a huge fan of (which is why my review is 4*s instead of 5), was the drawing aspect. I am not the greatest drawer and I like to have some kind of direction to follow- I enjoy colouring in lines and patterns but I don't like being given free reign over how the drawing turns out!
Overall I really enjoyed Draw Your Way To A Younger Brain: Dogs & Wolves and it was such a unique twist on the traditional colouring book- with the chance to put your creative flair to the test. I'd highly encourage you to pick up a copy (or all three!) of the Draw Your Way To A Younger Brain books because buying an Anastasia Catris colouring book is always an investment!
Check out my other posts about Colour Me Mindful here: http://delightfulbookreviews.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/colour-me-mindful-review-and-giveaway.html
http://delightfulbookreviews.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/colouring-corner-colour-me-mindful.html
Check out Anastasia Catris here: http://anastasiacatris.com
Buy the Draw Your Way To A Younger Brain books here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Draw-Your-Way-Younger-Brain/dp/1409165477
Until next time :)
Hello readers! I hope you all had a great weekend doing whatever you were doing :)
Today I have a very exciting post- a write up of the amazing day I spent at the London Book Fair 2016! When I started blogging I had no idea I would get the opportunity to go to anywhere as exciting as London Book Fair, so I was really grateful to get the opportunity to go!
I headed off from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston station at 11:59 on the train, and had to write my essay which was due for the next day (because I'm great at balancing my university life and my blogging life, obviously).
When I got to London Book Fair I honestly couldn't believe how huge the place was. I mean, I had seen it before in pictures but in person it just seemed so much more massive. The place was packed with so many publishers, publicists and companies, and as predicted, I got lost on at least ten separate occasions. However, even when I got lost I saw so many cool things- I went up to the children's section on the first floor and there was just so much to see. Some stands were so creatively put together and beautiful that I had to literally drag myself away.
Eventually (after consulting a help desk, a fold-out map and the main map at the entrance), I finally managed to find the Accent YA stand, and meet the lovely Bethan who I have been emailing for many months. I don't know if you guys know this, but I am part of the amazing Accent YA blog squad, which means I get so many wonderful opportunities for example reviewing books, interviewing authors, attending events, having a say about the design of book covers, and so much more! I met Accent YA at YALC last year, and have enjoyed every moment I have been blogging for them.
Accent YA is a recently launched YA book list from the publishing company Accent Press. Quoted from an article written by the Bookseller, Accent YA is 'dedicated to showcasing the best new voices in YA writing', with lead titles including magical realist novel Luca, Son of the Morning by Tom Anderson, 'beautiful' fable The Sea Singer by Shome Dasgupta, 'gritty' knife crime novel The Deepest Cut by Natalie Flynn, and WWII time-travel adventure Rosie Goes to War by Alison Knight. I was lucky enough to grab a copy of all of these beautiful books, and I cannot wait to read them.
It was also fantastic to meet so many fantastic authors, including Tom Anderson, Alison Knight, Natalie Flynn and Sofi Croft, who I have been speaking with on twitter for quite a while now. It was lovely to meet so many bookish people and everyone was so supportive of what bloggers do and how much they mean to the reading community. I love attending events like these when you come to realise just how important your work is to authors and publishers alike! With wine and nibbles flowing it was a relaxed, friendly event and I loved hearing about the backstory to so many of the authors' books. I was also fortunate enough to be given an amazing goodybag, filled with bookish delights (I've also got another awesome tote to add to my growing collection!)
Thank you so much, Accent YA, for inviting me to your launch, and I am so so fortunate to be part of the blog squad!
Check out Accent YA here: http://accentya.com
There will be reviews of the books I picked up at the fair in a few weeks time! Also, keep an eye out for when it's my spot on Sofi Croft's blog tour in June...
Until next time :)
Doesn't it sound amazing?! If you are still yet to be convinced, today I am so excited to welcome Sofi Croft to my blog where we will be discussing dragons, her writing inspiration, and what she loved reading as a kid!
