Working, walking, thinking

I was determined not to go away again until The Lost Words Prom. I have to learn to caste a spell. Not just an otter this time, but a red fox too. And some time ago paintings I had sent to the scanners were lost in the post. Two were for the Unwinding. The other two were for the prom. And now one of these adorns the walls of The Albert Hall.

Painted in watercolour, with gold leaf, she was commissioned by Serena Cross for the prom.

Anyway, as I say, I was determined to stay home. I have three books to work on. But when Cressida Cowell asks you to come and join her on Woman’s Hour, and bring your ink, what can you do?

Back home again, after the hottest three days, settling back in again to working and walking, with butterflies abounding, I found a small painting for The Unwinding needed to get out and on to paper.

You can read more about this on the Unwinding updates page. This also has links to the Woman’s Hour feature. It’s a curious thing, painting on the radio. This is my first venture into the world of publishing with Unbound, so I am learning as I go along. Their platform allows me to ‘blog’ the progress of the book in the way I used to/still ill do here on my own blog. I have always loved that ‘showing my working out’ and sharing the shaping and the ups and the downs of a book, but Unbound give that opportunity to be a part of the project from the beginning. And I love that all the supporters of the book have their names in the back.

For indie bookshops who want to support the book there is a special pledge button for buying multiple copies at trade price also, which is great. So far Book-ish, Number Seven Dulverton have pledged to do an event and Sam Read’s in Grasmere have pledge to buy stock. It was the one thing I was worried about, as I didn’t want to cut across the market of indie bookshops, who have always really supported me. Those who pledge will get the special first edition, and the bookshop name in the back as a supporter, so let your local bookshop know, if you’ve a mind.

Tomorrow sees the launch of a campaign to get a copy of The Lost Words in Welsh into every school in Wales. This is such a delight, to have the book not only translated, but adapted for the Welsh language by the amazing and incredible word genius wizard woman who is Mererid Hopwood.

How utterly brilliant is this!

If you want to be a part of the campaign then keep an eye on Graffeg on twitter, and beyond. And I hope I will post some things here too. The ‘practise otter’ is one of the pieces that will be offered as a reward. Painted in Broadcasting House, Portland Place in the Woman’s Hour Green Room. ( Greenaway medal not included. Image shows the ink still wet) Both my children grew up speaking Welsh, and it is one of the many languages spoken in our wonderful land. Graffeg have a couple of sound files of Mererid speaking the spells. So like music.

It’s so good to be home. I need to go and paint now. I have been inking swallows rather obsessively, for another book. I could do this, quietly and happily all day.

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