Bloody Scotland - International Festival of Crime

 A spatter of blood as a map of Scotland - it can only mean the Bloody Scotland Crime Festival

13th-15th September 2013   If you love reading crime it's a weekend to DIE for!

I am delighted to have been asked to take part in Bloody Scotland this year and I am sharing the stage with Sophie McKenzie, a fantastic writer and the award-winning author of a whole range of teen thrillers.

It looks like being a really interesting afternoon. Our event is called  Breaking the Boundary and will  give us a chance to chat about how we go about writing our books and what the challenges are when writing teenage crime novels. Come along and ask you own questions!

 http://www.bloodyscotland.com/breaking-the-boundary/

There is such an amazing programme of events, welcoming a fabulous array of crime writers from all over the world as well as a host of our own fabulous Tartan Noir. There is something for everyone to enjoy, discover new books and another writer to add to your reading list.

There are events with Lee Child, Jo Nesbo and Arne Dhal, Lin Anderson, Alanna Knight, Quentin Jardine, Alex Gray, Denise Mina, Christopher Brookmyre and Val McDermid and a host of other great writers.

On the website www.bloodyscotland.com you can vote for the Scottish Crime Book of the Year award and the Short Story Competition. You can book tickets and find out more about all the wonderful events and authors.

Definitely not to be missed!

A picture book for wee Prince George.

With all the excitement over the new arrival it seemed timely to look at a book set in Balmoral.  The Queen is about to set off for her annual holiday at Balmoral and, when he is a little older, William and Kate's new baby will no doubt join the rest of Royal family there for a holiday.

Hamish McHaggis and the Lost Prince

This Hamish adventure is not only set in the grounds and hills around Balmoral but Angus, the pine marten, has a chance encounter with the Queen and her corgis!

 

Hamish and his friends are asked by Shona, the red squirrel, if they will come up to Balmoral to help the other animals find the lost prince.   Rupert is very excited because he is looking forward to meeting royalty so he is a little disconcerted to discover the prince in question is a deer prince, the son of the Monarch of the Glen. (on the cover!)

Hamish McHaggis cuddly toy

Angus manages to get lost, as often happens, and meets the Queen out walking with her corgis.    A lovely heart warming story for all ages with delightful illustrations by the talented Sally J. Collins.

Hamish spotting!!! Have you spotted Hamish McHaggis?

Cuddly Hamish McHaggis toy has been out and about for a couple of months now and he is turning up all over the place.

Poppy and Hamish (Scotland)

Little Hamish fans have been spotted taking him on walks to the woods.

Libby and Hamish (New Zealand)

Taking him out shopping (Dashing out to avoid the paparazzi!)















and Zoe, who is visiting from Northern Ireland, spotted Hamish in the window of Waterstones, Princes Street, in Edinburgh



HAVE YOU SPOTTED HAMISH?

 

There are10 books in the series about Hamish McHaggis and all his adventures!

Giveaway- A copy of Writing for Children

There's a giveaway of my book about writing and it is happening as part of the 5th birthday celebrations on ABBA  the Awfully Big Blog Adventure       But you will have to be quick!
 I will be drawing the winner on Monday (15th July 2013). 

WRITING FOR CHILDREN
'... everything a beginning author could possibly need to know, in the straightforward and unassuming manner of one who has been doing it for years.'  Rosalie Warren

The winner will get a signed and dedicated copy of my book Writing For Children.  It is aimed at aspiring or newly published children's writers. So if that is you, or you know someone who would like a copy, why not drop by my birthday post on  ABBA -  P.A.R.T.Y. Time and a giveaway 


Writing for children is not just one kind of writing.  If you are writing a picture book or a book that is to be used to teach children to read they are quite different and there are things you need to know about what makes it a children's book. What is different about writing for different ages of children? What works and what doesn't? What about format and length and how to present it to a publisher? 

The beginning of this book looks in some detail at the various kinds of writing and markets you may be writing for when writing for children of all ages.
It looks at writing picture books and novels - writing books used to teach reading - writing series fiction - non fiction and what works for different ages of children. 
There are lots of great hints and tips from some amazing and successful children's writers. 

The second section is all about the craft of writing for children - such as ways to spark ideas, about plot and POV, about how to make characters come alive. At each part of this section there are exercises to try.

It looks at submitting your carefully written book.  How to approach a publisher and an agent and how to present your manuscript in a professional manner.

The final section is all about what happens when you get that all important publishing contract.  The reality behind the hype.  What it means to be a working children's writer and things you need to know about finances, contracts, publicity and promoting yourself.  It tells you about organising school visits and other events and how to make sure it all works well for both you and the organiser.

There is also a glossary and some lists of useful  information.

So if you are keen to get your hands on a copy pop along to the giveaway.  Good luck!

   

‘Linda Strachan is one of those authors who not only nails it on the page, but is also a master at explaining how and why she writes what she writes.’ Philip Ardagh (The Guardian)

Summertime catch up - 1

It is lovely to have some summery days again.  Blue skies, puffy white clouds and the windsurfers out on the water.

'Tuscany' - my shed

At the moment I am busy writing in my shed,
losing myself in a story.

It's been really hectic these last few months so perhaps it is time for a bit of a catch up!



March and April were very busy months when I was away a lot visiting schools and libraries all over the country.  You can fine out about some of my events on my website and on the two other blogs I contribute to  Awfully Big Blog Adventure.blogspot.co.uk  (ABBA) and Picturebook Den 

In February I went to watch a play Running on the Cracks in Glasgow.

It is taken from the book by Julia Donaldson and afterwards Julia and I went for a meal with some other great children's writers - Cathy McPhail, Vivian French and Theresa Breslin who have all had at least one of their books made into a play or a film- Well done, girls.  
Made me wonder about how one of my YA novels would work if it was made into a play or a film.
[Any young film makers out there, do get in touch! :) ] 

You can find out more about Running on the Cracks by reading my blog about it   When is a book not a book? on ABBA


In March I had a special delivery!  The new Hamish McHaggis Cuddly Toy - available in bookshops

Hamish 10" cuddly toy

The Hamish McHaggis series now has 10  books - 9 story books and one that is a story and activity book.

Hamish has fans all over the world and he loves to hear from them.

The books are also used in schools and there is a set of free teachers' resources Scottish Book Trust that can be downloaded from Scottish Book Trust website  Free Resources - Hamish McHaggis
 




In March I also visited the Aye Write Festival in Glasgow's wonderful Mitchell Library and along with Hamish we had a lot of fun with the school children who came to the sessions to meet Hamish and listen to the stories. You can read more about it on my website  www.lindastrachan.com

What Colour do you think Love is, on this Valentine's Day?

Here is your question for Valentine's Day.

Does Love have a colour? If so, what colour do you think it is?


Whatever colour you choose ...

           Have a Happy Valentine's Day

             Give someone you love a hug today!

 

 

......

Starting on a positive note!

Tuscany

Tomorrow I need to get out to Tuscany (my shed - for those who missed that!)  and open it up ready for the new year -I've been hibernating with a nasty bug for company since the year turned!

It's always good to get back to my desk after the festivities are over, even if the first task is to clear away the mess and prepare for the year ahead.

I have made a start with a new diary and I have started on a new book (actually two new books, and several other ideas are trying hard to push themselves forward) but I am determined to be more disciplined and so have made a few resolutions.

I found last year that too many days slipped by when I was not actually doing any writing.  I was asked at a school at the end of the year if I wrote every day and I mumbled and then had to admit that recently I have found days/weeks going by when I have not actually written anything other than a blog such as this or for either of the two collaborative blogs I write for,  ABBA (Awfully Big Blog Adventure) and Picturebook Den .

SO these are my resolutions....
1 To make sure that each and every day I will write for at the very least 30 minutes! More of course would be better, and I will naturally write for much longer if I have a deadline, but this is the absolute minimum.
2 To make sure I am not writing more than one thing at a time (or two possibly- sigh, seems discipline is slipping already and I can't make myself keep to just one after all!)
3 Not to take on too many things that interfere with writing.....   
4 To keep those above (because making any more resolutions will just mean I won't keep to them!)


Meanwhile there have been a some lovely comments coming in about Don't Judge Me  now that people have got their copies.  It seems I may have succeeded in keeping them guessing, which is great.  You can read The Bookwitch review on the link on the right. Below are a couple of comments left on Facebook for me, thanks for these - makes it all worth while! 

From Gerry (the Mole) 'I'm reading "Don't Judge Me" by Linda Strachan and writing the review in my head already... ' (Looking forward to reading it, Gerry!)

***
'Last night I was up until 3.30am because I couldn't put down Don't Judge Me. If ever there was an award winning book, this is it. I'll acknowledge up front I know and like Linda and generally admire all her work, but I can honestly say this is an extraordinary book. From the breathless opening to the satisfying conclusion piece after piece of a puzzle drops into place examining how easy and how dangerous it is to misjudge one another. Excellent Y A book that will also appeal to adults.'
Caroline Dunford

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 'Hi, just wanted you to know I really enjoyed Don't Judge Me! So many twists and so many complex, difficult social issues addressed. Really entertaining and I had to keep reading as the characters get under your skin and you want to know who did what. Thank you :)'
Lindsey Mizen