I finally saw The Nether last night, Jennifer Haley’s award-winning play about the consequences of living life in a virtual world. It was gripping and disturbing, raising important questions at the outset of a new digital age. Of course for me, what was most interesting was that many of the themes are core MetaWars concepts: – The […]
You’d have to be locked in the truck of a car to avoid the “news” of Jeremy Clarkson’s suspension from the wildly popular Top Gear TV show for allegedly striking a producer. Now, I don’t know Mr. Clarkson personally, though I don’t care for his public persona (he basically strikes me a a bully), but […]
This week I’ll be trading the London drizzle for the sunshine of Miami…well, at least the indoor air-conditioning of a conference hotel. For the first time ever, Kidscreen, the annual get together of the global kids media industry, will swap Manhattan for Miami. I first went to Kidscreen back in 2004, when I was a […]
On the 3rd of March, in the run up to World Book Day, I was back in Glasgow to participate in the fantastic Aye Write’s Wee Write festival! Full details here: Thank you Glasgow! Nest Learning Thermostat Review – From AmazonPros and Cons of Use Water Saving Shower HeadBest Mobile PlanerChoosing the Perfect Rifle Scope for YouThe Type Of […]
So, The Sun newspaper may have finally decided to join the 20th century and change it’s Page 3, but from what I’ve seen on twitter this morning it’s only moved from semi-naked to scantily clad. Hardly a great leap forward, and real waste of an amazing opportunity. The Sun has the power and reach to showcase […]
I was in Miami (yay!) to host a creative panel called “Turning the Page: Making the Leap From Book to Screen Effectively” at the annual Kidscreen Summit. I was bejoined by three amazing creatives, who discussed the challenges across adapting pre-school, middle grade, and young adult books respectively: Darragh O’Connel from Brown Bag Films, Ace Fipke from Nerdcorps/DHX, […]
I’m speaking on a panel about Storytelling for the Children’s Media Foundation (a fantastic organisation that champions the importance and sustainability of quality media for kids in the UK and beyond) and the agenda has been set to challenge ourselves as storytellers to be more adventurous. For me, I’m interested in the purity of voice and protecting the singular […]
I’ll be doing a Guardian Masterclass on 25th January. Please join me for practical, actionable, deep dive into building your world for fiction (book, game, screen). To find out more, please click here. Nest Learning Thermostat Review – From AmazonPros and Cons of Use Water Saving Shower HeadBest Mobile PlanerChoosing the Perfect Rifle Scope for […]
There is no formula for great writing. No shortcuts. No magic pills (though many have tried). And no easy path. While there are shelves full of “How To” books on the craft, and I believe that writing is a craft that can be taught, it starts with talent and intent; and must be honed. If anything, […]
I joined a host of other authors for a Yuletide literary celebration at my local Waterstones in festive Hampstead. Most of the “adult” authors were downstairs, leaving all the fun to the kids table in the W cafe. I was particularly pleased to hang out with fellow children’s writers Robin Stevens (Murder Most Unladylike), Jenny Broom […]
