Heart Of Hawick Childrens Book Award

Authors write to us! 2013 Jackie Marchant

Jackie Marchant, I'm Dougal Trump..and It's Not My Fault!

To everyone at the Heart of Hawick Children’s Book Awards – Especially the children! 

Thank you so much for inviting me today.  I am very sorry that I can’t be with you, but I will be far away on a sandy beach when you read this, building a great big sandcastle and thinking of you.  Can you believe that this is the one week I had booked for a holiday? 

I’d hoped Dougal Trump could come along today, but he’s at school and I don’t think his teacher would let him out.  Not unless he’s done all the homework sheets he was supposed to hand in weeks ago.  I’m afraid that is very unlikely. 

But Dougal has sent a note, which you could read out, if you can understand his rather messy handwriting.  

Before you do that, can I say a huge, big, massive and enormous thank you to everyone involved the Heart of Hawick Children’s Book Award for putting Dougal Trump on the shortlist – it means a lot. 

From me – Jackie Marchant.

Authors write to us! 2013 Leigh Hodgkinson

Leigh Hodgkinson, Goldilocks and Just the One Bear

Dear Heart of Hawick

I am so thrilled to be shortlisted for the award amongst such shockingly good and creative company.

So sorry that I am missing out on all the fun today, I have a tiny baby who doesn't understand about such things and would be quite grumpy if I disappeared for a day.

I am very glad that you like my book "Goldilocks and just the one bear". 

I decided to write this book as I always wondered what that cheeky Goldilocks would end up like, and how big and hairy the little bear would grow up to be. 

I also really like porridge (a lot)

Anyway, have a great day and keep reading books!

Leigh

 

Authors write to us! 2013 Tom McLaughlin

Tom McLaughlin, The Diabolical Mr Tiddles

It’s really a shame I can’t be with you today; it’s a great honour to have my book nominated along with such a great selection of wonderful titles.  

It’s probably for the best anyway, Mr Tiddles is notoriously naughty when it comes to party situations and wouldn't think twice about helping himself to all the free gin and cakes. Diabolical behavior I know. 

Hope you all have a marvelous time
and I look forward to seeing you all another day. 

Much love, 

Tom

 

The Diabolical Mr Tiddles by Tom McLaughlin (2013)

 

The Diabolical Mr Tiddles

Meet Mr Tiddles - he's not your everyday cat. He's a cat with attitude!

 When Harry gets a cat of his own, he does everything to make Mr Tiddles happy. Mr Tiddles wants to make Harry happy too. He brings him little presents . . . the odd expired mouse or two, but when Harry wakes up to find a train set, priceless works of art, dinosaurs, robots and a horse named Alan in his bedroom, he realizes things are completely out of control!

About The Author 

Tom McLaughlin is an author and illustrator. He attended Falmouth College of Art and went on to be a political cartoonist. He has also worked in animation before going on to illustrate and write his first childrens book.

Tom lives in Devon with his wife and two children.

The Diabolical Mr Tiddles is published by Simon and Schuster

www.kids.simonandschuster.co.uk

Chickens Can't See in the Dark by Kristyna Litten (2013)

 

Chickens Can't See in the Dark

Meet a chicken who dares to be different! Little Pippa is not like other chickens. So when she's told in class by Mr Benedict that chickens can't see in the dark, she sets out to challenge this claim! In doing so she puts an old hens' tale to the test, discovers the benefits of carrots for night vision, and creates a carroty feast for all those doubting chickens on her farm!

About The Author

Kristyna studied Illustration at Edinburgh College of Art and graduated in 2010. She learnt to design and create for a wide range of subject matter, often enjoying collaborations with graphic designers, costume designers and writers. She now lives in a beautiful village in Yorkshire. She prefers to draw quickly with crayon to give an energetic line quality to her illustrations, often adding colour or other hand-produced textures digitally.  

Chicken Can't See in the Dark is published by Oxford University Press

www.ukcatalogue.oup.com

The Curse of the Bogle's Beard by Siobhan Rowden (2013)

 

The Curse of the Bogle’s Beard

Barnaby is determined to find out what happened to his missing dad and is sure his evil granny has done something terrible. But clues also point to the bogles – creatures that live in the bogs and create havoc among humans. Can Barnaby save his family from a very sticky ending? 

About The Author

Siobhan Rowden was born in Scotland, and brought up in England. She loved reading, and was a big Secret Seven fan. She worked as a holiday rep in Greece, and at Disney World in Florida, before returning home to study English at Middlesex University.  The Curse of the Bogle’s Beard is her first novel.
 Siobhan currently lives in Hove with her husband, three children and smelly cat.

The Curse of the Bogle’s Beard is published by Scholastic

www.scholastic.co.uk

Soldier Dog by Sam Angus (2013)

Soldier Dog

Stanley's dad hasn't been the same since his wife died and his eldest son went off to fight in the war. Now Stanley is either invisible to his dad or the object of one of his rages, and his only friend is his dad's prizewinning greyhound, Rocket. But one day Rocket escapes, and the result is a litter of non-thoroughbred puppies that Da says will all have to be drowned, even Stanley's favourite puppy, Solider. Stanley is so angry with his father that he runs away and enlists in the army to train as a messenger dog handler, and despite being far too young he's soon heading to France with a great Dane called Bones by his side.

About The Author

Sam Angus was born in Italy, grew up in France and Spain and was educated rather haphazardly in most of these countries, at many different schools. She studied English Literature at Trinity College, Cambridge. She taught A level English before spending a decade in the fashion industry and now writes full time. 

She lives between Exmoor and London.

Soldier Dog is published by PanMacMillan

www.panmacmillan.com

I'm Dougal Trump and It's Not My Fault by D Trump (2013)

 

I’m Dougal Trump and It’s Not My Fault

I, Dougal Trump, am dead.

Ok, I'm not actually dead, but if I'm not very careful, I soon will be.

In this first book, football-loving Dougal Trump finds himself at risk from the mysterious creature living in the garden shed. Nobody believes him but as a precaution, he sets upon writing his will - rewarding those who help him, disinheriting those who get on his bad side, and fielding constant pleas from friends and associates [Cool will, Dougie! Can I have your playstation? - George]. Meanwhile, as limbs and windows alike are broken by rogue footballs and unhinged canines, Dougal finds himself in all sorts of trouble.

About The Author

Dougal is …Well, just visit his website and find out for yourself! 

www.panmacmillan.com/dougaltrump

I'm Dougal Trump and It's Not My Fault is published by PanMacMillan.

www.panmacmillan.com

Goldilocks and Just the One Bear by Leigh Hodgkinson (2013)

 

Goldilocks and Just the One Bear

Many years have passed since Goldilocks caused chaos at the Bears’ house in the woods, but what happens when Little Bear wanders out of his fairytale and into the big city where Goldilocks now lives?

 About The Author 

Leigh lives and works in Surrey and is married with a baby daughter.  She is an award-winning animator and worked on the animated series, Charlie and Lola.

Her brilliant illustrations in the picture book called Don’t Dip Your Chips in Your Drink, Kate, written by Caryl Hart, won Highly Commended in the 2010 Sheffield Children’s Book Award, Picture Book Category.

Goldilocks and Just The One Bear is published by Nosy Crow.

www.nosycrow.com

 

How To Make a Golem and Terrify People by Alette J Willis (2013)

How to Make a Golem and Terrify People

"You think you're a fairy godmother or something?" I asked. 
"Or something," Michael agreed. 

Edda is tired of her nickname, 'Mouse', and wants to be braver. But when her house is burgled on her thirteenth birthday, Edda is more afraid than ever. That is until new boy Michael Scot starts school. There's something peculiar -- and very annoying -- about know-it-all Michael. He claims to be a great alchemist who can help Edda overcome her fears by teaching her to build a Golem. But surely they can't bring a giant mud monster to life? Can they? 


About The Author

Alette Willis was born in Britain but brought up and educated in Canada. She and her husband moved to Edinburgh three years ago. After gaining success writing short stories for adults, she returned to her first love, children's fiction. For the past two years she has volunteered as a Talking Trees Storyteller at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. She currently works at Edinburgh University as a teaching fellow and researcher.

How to Make a Golem and Terrify People is published by Kelpies - Floris Books

www.discoverkelpies.co.uk