Today had this ever so nice review of my book from a book blogger.
check out her blog: (http://5minutespeace.wordpress.com/)
Wednesday of Whimsy #1- Curd the Lion
Posted on March 17, 2010 by 5minutespeace
The first to feature in ‘Wednesday of Whimsy’ and in competition for one of the longest titles in children’s literature is The Amazing Adventures of Curd the Lion (and us) in the Land at the Back of Beyond by Alan Gilliland (author and illustrator) …sound confused? Yes I was too.
ISBN.9780955548611 published by Raven’s Quill
I think if I explained the story to you, it’s safe to assume you would still be confused but I will tell you this. This is a fantastic book where you really can escape into another world with pets Curd the lion, Pilgrim crow, Sweeney the heenie and O’flattery the snake. I bet you can’t offer any better pet names.
The tale follows twins Henry and Henrietta who live in a cottage near the land at the back of beyond…the sort of place you know nothing about yet stop and stare at everytime you go near it. This place is a place where dodongs and emporors live and promises to offer a wealth of dreams to the children who enter it through Gilliland’s illustrations.
I truly believe the illustrations really sets this story apart from others. Because Gilliland is the author and illustrator he has the scope of understanding what needs to be shown through his drawings. His illustrations fill every page and make it a joy to turn the page. A most wonderful, inspiring book. The kids will dream for days about far away lands with talking insects and things with two heads.
Thursday, 18 March 2010
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
New kids reviews and nice story from Tunisia
I receive three ace reviews last week from kids:
Lucy Ferguson, age: 12
“Wow! i read this in a day! i couldnt stop reading it! I will start to read it again tomorrow :) thanks to Alan gilliland for writing such a gripping and awesome book :)”
Eleanor Francis, age: 9
“WOW!! That was probably the best book I've ever read!!! The Illustrations were fantastic and it kept me enthralled from the first to the last word!! I will definately try to go to Yorkshire to see Nook and Cranny...!”
Nicholas McDonald, age: 12
“I'm so happy that I met Mr Gilliland at Waterstones, Peacock Center, Woking. I read it in 5 days, I couldn't put it down, I love it so much!
My favourite characters were Sweenie and Pilgrim Crow because they were both cool and funny. I can't wait till The Ineffable Emperor comes out!
The book should be turned into a hollywood movie (i love the place hollywood in the book!) I love the book!”
and a nice story from the grandfather of a girl from Tunis:
“Our daughter is married to a Tunisian film director and they have two lovely daughters – Lily, aged 9, and Sarra,7. They come over for Christmas each year and they met you in Waterstone’s in Guildford and bought your book. They were immensely excited to meet an author, as they are great readers and you were the first.
I began reading your book to them that evening and thought it would be too difficult, for them for a year or two. Their first language is colloquial Arabic; they are fluent in English and work in classical Arabic and French at school. Their skill in languages never ceases to astonish me. Lily picked up your book again the next day and never stopped. She adored it and has been pressing me to ensure I get the sequel for her as soon as it appears.
I thought you would like to know this story, If you were able to send Lily a message I know she would be over the moon” (which I did)
and here is her review:
Lilz, aged 10, Tunis, Tunisia. *****
Great Book: "This was the best book I have ever read.
It’s different to any other book I've ever read. There are animals that talk, men made out of rock and a bird with two heads and fingers instead of wings and scales instead of feathers. I can't wait until the next book."
Now that’s enough to cheer the most miserable author, don’t you think? (see previous post)
Lucy Ferguson, age: 12
“Wow! i read this in a day! i couldnt stop reading it! I will start to read it again tomorrow :) thanks to Alan gilliland for writing such a gripping and awesome book :)”
Eleanor Francis, age: 9
“WOW!! That was probably the best book I've ever read!!! The Illustrations were fantastic and it kept me enthralled from the first to the last word!! I will definately try to go to Yorkshire to see Nook and Cranny...!”
Nicholas McDonald, age: 12
“I'm so happy that I met Mr Gilliland at Waterstones, Peacock Center, Woking. I read it in 5 days, I couldn't put it down, I love it so much!
My favourite characters were Sweenie and Pilgrim Crow because they were both cool and funny. I can't wait till The Ineffable Emperor comes out!
The book should be turned into a hollywood movie (i love the place hollywood in the book!) I love the book!”
and a nice story from the grandfather of a girl from Tunis:
“Our daughter is married to a Tunisian film director and they have two lovely daughters – Lily, aged 9, and Sarra,7. They come over for Christmas each year and they met you in Waterstone’s in Guildford and bought your book. They were immensely excited to meet an author, as they are great readers and you were the first.
I began reading your book to them that evening and thought it would be too difficult, for them for a year or two. Their first language is colloquial Arabic; they are fluent in English and work in classical Arabic and French at school. Their skill in languages never ceases to astonish me. Lily picked up your book again the next day and never stopped. She adored it and has been pressing me to ensure I get the sequel for her as soon as it appears.
I thought you would like to know this story, If you were able to send Lily a message I know she would be over the moon” (which I did)
and here is her review:
Lilz, aged 10, Tunis, Tunisia. *****
Great Book: "This was the best book I have ever read.
It’s different to any other book I've ever read. There are animals that talk, men made out of rock and a bird with two heads and fingers instead of wings and scales instead of feathers. I can't wait until the next book."
Now that’s enough to cheer the most miserable author, don’t you think? (see previous post)
Monday, 8 February 2010
Too much to do – too little time
A Great Grey nuzzles the gunwales of this little craft. I paddle balefully to stay afloat. My sails have long been in tatters, my oars careworn. Still the massive spectre circles closer, rasping its inquisitive hide against my skin as its lidless eyes scrutinize, seeking weakness. I cannot sleep in the wake of its thrashing tail, or the yawning gape of avarice will snatch its final reckoning.
Sunday, 17 January 2010
New Year’s blog
In the run up to Christmas from November 21st, 430 people kindly bought my book at signings. Thanks to you and all those (totalling some 4,400-odd now) who bought my book during the year.
And a very special thank you to all those who have taken the trouble to give it such amazingly enthusiastic reviews (see review page on www.ravensquill.com)
Here are two of the latest:
Benjamin Lewis, age: 6yrs
"Met author bought book. Fantastic, read chapter by chapter at bed time. Can't wait for next adventure.”
Anna Polanska
I really enjoyed it, it was one of the best books i have ever read I could not stop reading it. My favourite part was when they all had a big battle at the corbie stone in the end. My favourite character was sweenie the heenie for he was always getting in trouble with o flattery. Over all I thought it was a great book and for all age groups.
P.S I got to meet the author yay.”
My first book for young adults and adults under the pseudonym Alan Howard is a ghost story – ‘The Flight of Birds’ – first in a trilogy that forms a ‘Danse Macabre’ through which the mysterious figure of the Shabby Tattler weaves tales that come alive in the telling.
Here is a blurb for that first story:
“When her mother dies, Kate and her father bury her in a place beloved of her childhood and go to live in a cottage close by.
Kate meets a one-eyed vagabond who tells her the tale of this place: of a massacre in the name of religion, of imprisonment, rape, torture and murder.
It is a tale that comes alive in the telling as its victims rise up in vengeance to engulf Kate and all around her.
Kate finds herself the unwilling medium through which they will have their revenge.”
It is intended to be published in March, though I am contemplating illustrating it with B&W line drawings which would delay its publication date.
Having secured UKTI grants for foreign book fairs, Raven’s Quill is going to the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in March and we now have the children’s and Y/A scout for Anne Louise Fisher Associates (top UK literary scouting agency) showing Curd to their international clients.
Fingers crossed.
On my illustrating front, I am now working for Osprey in addition to my stalwart, the Penguin Group, and others including Brown Reference Group, Hachette Partworks, Ivy Group and Aurum Press.
And a very special thank you to all those who have taken the trouble to give it such amazingly enthusiastic reviews (see review page on www.ravensquill.com)
Here are two of the latest:
Benjamin Lewis, age: 6yrs
"Met author bought book. Fantastic, read chapter by chapter at bed time. Can't wait for next adventure.”
Anna Polanska
I really enjoyed it, it was one of the best books i have ever read I could not stop reading it. My favourite part was when they all had a big battle at the corbie stone in the end. My favourite character was sweenie the heenie for he was always getting in trouble with o flattery. Over all I thought it was a great book and for all age groups.
P.S I got to meet the author yay.”
My first book for young adults and adults under the pseudonym Alan Howard is a ghost story – ‘The Flight of Birds’ – first in a trilogy that forms a ‘Danse Macabre’ through which the mysterious figure of the Shabby Tattler weaves tales that come alive in the telling.
Here is a blurb for that first story:
“When her mother dies, Kate and her father bury her in a place beloved of her childhood and go to live in a cottage close by.
Kate meets a one-eyed vagabond who tells her the tale of this place: of a massacre in the name of religion, of imprisonment, rape, torture and murder.
It is a tale that comes alive in the telling as its victims rise up in vengeance to engulf Kate and all around her.
Kate finds herself the unwilling medium through which they will have their revenge.”
It is intended to be published in March, though I am contemplating illustrating it with B&W line drawings which would delay its publication date.
Having secured UKTI grants for foreign book fairs, Raven’s Quill is going to the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in March and we now have the children’s and Y/A scout for Anne Louise Fisher Associates (top UK literary scouting agency) showing Curd to their international clients.
Fingers crossed.
On my illustrating front, I am now working for Osprey in addition to my stalwart, the Penguin Group, and others including Brown Reference Group, Hachette Partworks, Ivy Group and Aurum Press.
Friday, 23 October 2009
Post-Frankfurt
At Frankfurt Raven’s Quill exhibited on the IPG (Independent Publishers Guild) stand with a UKTI grant and while Emily (Henderson, RQ rights and marketing director) manned? the stand I scurried round all the halls looking for editors’ contact details if not the editors themselves.
Less of a jamboree this year, many publishers sent only their rights people, but we are attracting more publishers from abroad and Emily met representatives from our two of our agents, Big Apple Tuttle-Mori and Ilustrata. Several publishers asked to see pdfs of the book (and the first of RQs other books, ‘The Flight of Birds’).
I don’t know whether I mentioned we had already sold translation rights to a South Korean publisher via our other agent, Amo Agency.
I am currently, when I can get time out from fulfilling my Penguin illustration contracts, trying to organise as many signings as I can get between now and Christmas to try raise our sales from the current 4,000-odd to as close to 6,000 as possible (we aim to clear 6,000 by the end of the Easter hols!)
Also from Frankfurt, Osprey and Casemate will hopefully become my graphics clients, to add to The Penguin Group, Hachette Partworks, Brown Reference Group, the Ivy Group and others (no point in not plugging my graphics work – just in case anyone reads this).
Ditto here’s the Lovereading website stuff on Curd: www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/book/3991
(nothing funny in that blog, ed.)
Less of a jamboree this year, many publishers sent only their rights people, but we are attracting more publishers from abroad and Emily met representatives from our two of our agents, Big Apple Tuttle-Mori and Ilustrata. Several publishers asked to see pdfs of the book (and the first of RQs other books, ‘The Flight of Birds’).
I don’t know whether I mentioned we had already sold translation rights to a South Korean publisher via our other agent, Amo Agency.
I am currently, when I can get time out from fulfilling my Penguin illustration contracts, trying to organise as many signings as I can get between now and Christmas to try raise our sales from the current 4,000-odd to as close to 6,000 as possible (we aim to clear 6,000 by the end of the Easter hols!)
Also from Frankfurt, Osprey and Casemate will hopefully become my graphics clients, to add to The Penguin Group, Hachette Partworks, Brown Reference Group, the Ivy Group and others (no point in not plugging my graphics work – just in case anyone reads this).
Ditto here’s the Lovereading website stuff on Curd: www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/book/3991
(nothing funny in that blog, ed.)
Thursday, 3 September 2009
After summer tour - Bath Childrens Lit Festival (18-28 Sept)!
Sales of “The Amazing Adventures of Curd the Lion (and Us!) in the Land at the Back of Beyond” now up to 3,700!
Anyone reading this who has bought one could help me reach our target of 6,000 by Christmas by telling all your friends (assuming, of course, that you liked it).
I will be signing from Fri 25th to Mon 28th,during the Bath Children’s Literary Festival (18-28 Sept) in the Waterstone’s store in Milsom Street, Bath. If you are going (or know anyone going) pay me a visit.
(Details later).
Raven’s Quill will be represented at the Frankfurt Book Fair on the IPG (Independent Publishers’ Guild) stand A934/937 in Hall 8.0, (14-18 Oct).
Anyone reading this who has bought one could help me reach our target of 6,000 by Christmas by telling all your friends (assuming, of course, that you liked it).
I will be signing from Fri 25th to Mon 28th,during the Bath Children’s Literary Festival (18-28 Sept) in the Waterstone’s store in Milsom Street, Bath. If you are going (or know anyone going) pay me a visit.
(Details later).
Raven’s Quill will be represented at the Frankfurt Book Fair on the IPG (Independent Publishers’ Guild) stand A934/937 in Hall 8.0, (14-18 Oct).
Tuesday, 1 September 2009
The Lion’s tour of England (24 Jul – 29 Aug, 2009)
Rugby was neither game nor venue on this Lion’s Tour.
Just me, a classic car (Peugeot 205 1.9Gti), a tent (4all seasons), books, boards, the odd change of clothing and my Amazing Adventures in search of a broach (into the heady vat of success).
I left 31 towns* gawping after my little red devil along with 800-odd buyers (the number, not the people) clutching my tome, signed and dedicated, hopefully to pass on the word by mouth or email. For the record, I averaged 25 a day (quite chuffed).
Incidentally, to any who may have found their way here (this blog), I would like to add (-vertise) that anyone may buy a signed copy direct from my publisher’s website, www.ravensquill.com, at the same full price of £14.99 (the publisher bears the postage cost).
Leaving home on July 24th and returning late on August 29th, I spent 23 nights under canvas (going through 2 tents - a pole broke on the first) in Somerset, Devon, Yorkshire and Worcestershire, and with relatives in Devon, Cheshire and Durham.
Being a man of cautious wit, I brought two tents, a sleeping bag and duvet, two inflatable beds and a sleeping mat (the last time I went with my boys, two out three inflatables suddenly deflated).
My amiable hosts in most towns were the staffs of Waterstone’s stores, with three Border’s for good measure. (N.B. The whole signing tour was kindly arranged with the help of Waterstone’s Central Children’s Buyer and Events Organizer.)
Though my stomach rebelled as I headed north (I think it was the transition from alkaline to acid water, my back (missing disc) bore up under the enormous bending strains of crawling in and out of my petite walkers’ tent after sampling the curry houses of several parts of the country (no - I have eliminated the curry houses as the cause of that rebellion - merely guilty of fomenting the great gales that ravaged my tent all through some weary nights).
With a certain irony, it was in the three towns closest to where my little Adventure is set (at Brimham Rocks in the Yorkshire Dales), York, Harrogate and Leeds, that Waterstone’s branches declined my request to sign.
Borders, however, kindly and eagerly adopted Curd and helped me pass on some 82 copies to the citizens of York (2 visits) and Leeds! Good on you!
Hearty thanks to all those to put up with me (hosting and listening) and especially all those who bought my book. I hope none are disappointed.
* In order of appearance (at): Dorchester, Bridport, Yeovil, Bath, Newton Abbot, Torquay, Plymouth, Exeter, Wells, Weston-Super-Mare, Oxford, Trowbridge, Swindon, Bath (again), Chester, Knutsford, Macclesfield, Wilmslow, Altrincham, York & Leeds (Borders), Manchester Trafford Centre, Northallerton, Darlington, Durham, Middlesborough, York (Borders again), Witney, Banbury, Stratford-upon-Avon, Worcester, Cheltenham and finally Bristol Galleries.
Just me, a classic car (Peugeot 205 1.9Gti), a tent (4all seasons), books, boards, the odd change of clothing and my Amazing Adventures in search of a broach (into the heady vat of success).
I left 31 towns* gawping after my little red devil along with 800-odd buyers (the number, not the people) clutching my tome, signed and dedicated, hopefully to pass on the word by mouth or email. For the record, I averaged 25 a day (quite chuffed).
Incidentally, to any who may have found their way here (this blog), I would like to add (-vertise) that anyone may buy a signed copy direct from my publisher’s website, www.ravensquill.com, at the same full price of £14.99 (the publisher bears the postage cost).
Leaving home on July 24th and returning late on August 29th, I spent 23 nights under canvas (going through 2 tents - a pole broke on the first) in Somerset, Devon, Yorkshire and Worcestershire, and with relatives in Devon, Cheshire and Durham.
Being a man of cautious wit, I brought two tents, a sleeping bag and duvet, two inflatable beds and a sleeping mat (the last time I went with my boys, two out three inflatables suddenly deflated).
My amiable hosts in most towns were the staffs of Waterstone’s stores, with three Border’s for good measure. (N.B. The whole signing tour was kindly arranged with the help of Waterstone’s Central Children’s Buyer and Events Organizer.)
Though my stomach rebelled as I headed north (I think it was the transition from alkaline to acid water, my back (missing disc) bore up under the enormous bending strains of crawling in and out of my petite walkers’ tent after sampling the curry houses of several parts of the country (no - I have eliminated the curry houses as the cause of that rebellion - merely guilty of fomenting the great gales that ravaged my tent all through some weary nights).
With a certain irony, it was in the three towns closest to where my little Adventure is set (at Brimham Rocks in the Yorkshire Dales), York, Harrogate and Leeds, that Waterstone’s branches declined my request to sign.
Borders, however, kindly and eagerly adopted Curd and helped me pass on some 82 copies to the citizens of York (2 visits) and Leeds! Good on you!
Hearty thanks to all those to put up with me (hosting and listening) and especially all those who bought my book. I hope none are disappointed.
* In order of appearance (at): Dorchester, Bridport, Yeovil, Bath, Newton Abbot, Torquay, Plymouth, Exeter, Wells, Weston-Super-Mare, Oxford, Trowbridge, Swindon, Bath (again), Chester, Knutsford, Macclesfield, Wilmslow, Altrincham, York & Leeds (Borders), Manchester Trafford Centre, Northallerton, Darlington, Durham, Middlesborough, York (Borders again), Witney, Banbury, Stratford-upon-Avon, Worcester, Cheltenham and finally Bristol Galleries.
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