Book signing day is getting ever nearer. Could call it B Day - only that sounds like something you'd find in the bathroom. Although I probably will get a bit flushed on Saturday when I'm sitting in Waterstones hoping someone is going to walk through the door and show an interest in my latest book.

It's a 'Children's History of Coventry' and I'm really thrilled about it (a) because it's brilliant to get the opportunity of writing about my own home city; (b) because of the work the publisher, Hometown World have put into the lively layout and fun illustrations; and (c) because I love the idea of (hopefully) thousands of Coventry kids picking up this book and discovering something they didn't know about the place where they live.

If anyone reading this happens to be in Coventry city centre on Saturday 30th April between 10.30am and 12.30pm please pop into Waterstones and say hello. Exciting though it is to be doing a book signing, it's also terrifying to think I might be sitting there all alone for the duration.

Just-a-walking the dog.

Where do ideas come from? It's a topic that always comes up when doing a school visit or an author talk. One of my answers being, when I'm walking the dog - and I know I'm not alone in this. Writer, David Calcutt told me that whatever writing dilemma he's trying to work through, he's usually got a solution by the time he's come back from walking his dog.

Today, my dog-share dog, Lola (she's my daughter's dog really) and I went for our regular walk to the park. I was thinking that I needed to come up with a short story for the Coventry Writers Group Short Story competition which the group are organising, with the deadline just a month away. The aim is to publish the entries as an ebook anthology and as a print-on-demand book - the theme being Coventry Tales.

Considering I've just has my non-fiction book, Children's History of Coventry published and my latest fictional book for young readers is set in Coventry, I had no excuse for not having a go at a 'Coventry Tale' for the competition.

Setting out from home with Lola I hadn't a clue what my story was going to be about. Halfway to the park a little spark of an idea began to flicker. By the time we'd reached the park I'd got the opening line, the main character and the last para. Throwing the ball for Lola I could see my character talking. I know her name and her age, and I know how she's feeling as she tells this tale.

The interruption from a gorgeous, bounding, floppy-eared Spaniel who wanted to play with Lola stemmed the flow for a while, but that didn't matter. I'd got my idea - that spark which provides the excitement needed to start writing. Maybe some expert might be able to explain how simple physical exercise or activity can unlock the creative side of the brain but I've no intention of looking any deeper into how it works. For me, just-a-walking the dog is the perfect solution for when you need to come up with a new idea. And as for Lola, there was a nice tasty treat for her when we got back home.

I wonder what methods other writers rely on when searching for an idea?

Children's History of Coventry

It is such a privilege to be able to write about the history of my own home town, especially as it's for young readers.

An illustrated Children's History of Coventry

So pleased with the cover and the illustrations - and the information too of course!!

Words and Pictures.

It's always brilliantly exciting when your new book finally gets launched and you can hold it in your hands and turn the pages, feel it - smell it even. For me, when my latest book came out just last week, I found it such a thrill as not only was it was my first illustrated book but also my first children's non-fiction book. Before this one, my books have been novels for junior-aged children and young adults, without illustrations - apart from the cover, obviously, but this one - an illustrated Children's History of Coventry, is packed full of wonderful illustrations and fabulous designs. I was just blown away by the additional efforts the illustrators at Hometown World have put in. Thank you guys!

New to blogging

Well, here goes. My very first blog. The whole world seems to be blogging, so I thought it was time I joined in. Considering I write for a living, you'd think that blogging would be second nature - but it's not.

I'm quite used to jotting down my thoughts and ramblings, but usually in a diary that's slipped away out of sight, or in a notebook with all kinds of jumbled ideas about a new story or changes to a plot. How odd to be writing down my thoughts and then publishing them to the world.

So, something of note I think. Something of interest...

Such as the great weekend I've just had. Belonging to the Scattered Authors Society, which are a group of children's authors - scattered far and wide as the name implies, we meet up occasionally to discuss all things to do with books, writing, agents, publishers etc., which is inspirational and great fun.

One of the nicest things about children's authors is their willingness and eagerness to share their knowledge. They are keen to explain how they do it, to talk about their experiences, the ups and downs of their writing career, and to pass on masses of tips and advice to each other.

Fantastically, children's authors, in my experience anyway, just don't have that 'closed shop' kind of attitude. If they have the answer they will tell you. Maybe that's what's so special about writing - it's the writing community that goes with it.

Here endeth my very first blog.