I know we’ve been asked to blog about something we’ve experienced in order to write about or draw it. But I’m going to be cheeky and write about something I DIDN’T experience, and was hugely aware of not experiencing.

It was Dagenham. 1973.

Remember England in the ’70s? …Well, I don’t. I’m American and I was only born in 1975. But just while I was in the middle of a crazy deadline for a picture book, a bunch of friends from The DFC days (remember that fine comic? I DO!) decided to undertake a huge comics project, involving more than 50 creators. And my task was to draw a day in the life of the book’s main character, with that day set in 1973 Dagenham. I knew I’d be tapping into a lot of nostalgia British people had for that era, and since I couldn’t time travel, and didn’t have a lot of time to research it, I was a bit nervous. But the project was too fabulous to say no. And the proceeds would all be going to support Shelter charity.

So I tapped into my experience from my DFC days, when I was writing Vern and Lettuce. Whenever I got stuck with that comic, I would ‘phone a friend’ on the team for help. And often that friend was Woodrow Phoenix (creator of the DFC’s Donny Digits, Horse of a Different Colour). And as luck would have it, my two editors on the project were none other than two DFC buddies, Woodrow and Rob Davis, who’d come up with the concept while chatting on Twitter. They’d both lived in Britain in the ’70s and are generally good at period detail. Read the rest of this entry »

..You lucky readers.  This year, you’re definitely getting a  treat – from The Etherington Brothers!   Just click on the opening panel below  to see their special, spooky snippet… Happy Halloween!

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My embarrassing moments happen almost every time I do an event where there’s live drawing. Drawing on a big flip chart in front of people is SO different than drawing in the privacy of my own sketchbook or creating illustrations with all my favourite materials in the cosiness of my studio. In events, I’m drawing with fat markers (which usually work) and trying to draw fairly quickly so it stays entertaining and not like watching paint dry. So my flipchart pictures are anything but polished, and still, there’s usually someone who wants to keep the drawing to hang up at their school or library. I’ve had to learn to overcome the urge to say, ‘But wait, I could draw you something so much better!’ and be happy letting them have it. It still makes me blush sometimes, though.

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We here at DFB are very excited about a new book due out  this July. We’ve shared some proof copies with a few special readers, who have already sent us their thoughts, copied below. IN THE SEA THERE ARE CROCODILES: The story of Enaiatollah Akbari is coming out on 7th July, but you can pre-order a copy here.

READER REVIEWS FROM CENTRAL PARK PRIMARY SCHOOL, LONDON

 “The story took me around the world it’s certainly the best story EVER! I would recommend this book to everyone who wants the next ‘Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.’”

Hafsa Adel

“Describing this [Enaiatollah’s journey] in all great detail, is what I thought was fantastic about this adventure book. It really snatched my emotions and made me feel pity…It also got me thinking about what I would do if I was in that situation.”

Maansib Ahmed Choudhury

“It was very funny at times and it really makes you think about what we have that we take for granted, like a warm bed every night and good food every day. You also learn new words in different languages.”

Namitha Vinayan

“I love the bit where Enaiatollah and his friends run around the beach in their underwear looking for clothes to wear. I loved that bit because it made me laugh after all the sad things that Enaiatollah went through.”

Deva

“I think this book is great and could make a new film. This is because it has great punctuation and the story is great…I hope this story will be famous.”

Fahim

A big thank you to all our readers so far – we’re thrilled that you found Eniah’s story as fascinating and inspiring as we have.

Trash by Andy Mulligan has been shortlisted for The Red House Children’s Book Award  – the only national book award voted for entirely by children. Voting closes on 21st May – that’s in just over a week  – so please make sure your opinion counts, by voting here! Votes will be counted in preparation for an awards ceremony on 11 June, in Birmingham. 

Last Friday, to celebrate the launch of Neill Cameron’s DFC Library title, Mo-Bot High, Blackwell’s Children’s Dept played host to a GIANT MO-BOT PARTY!

….Needless to say, it was awesome.

Neill had prepared some fantastic mo-bot activity sheets and  a ‘card-bot’ that was collectivly decorated by his fans, friends and family. Bot-tastic! He even led a comic drawing session that involved lots of audience input, with some pretty hilarious results..

The MO-BOT HIGH dedication includes ‘anyone who’s ever daydreamed of having a giant robot to smash up their school.’  Enough said.

1. Buy your copy of MO-BOT HIGH here.

2. Investigate all the extras and juice on the MO-BOT HIGH website here!

3. Check out Neill’s post about the evening(and generally snoop around his blog – it’s always chocker full of sparkling ideas, insights and illustration..) here!!

……Introducing our first author blog on the DFB website! Jeremy de Quidt, author of the  fantastical, blood-curdling debut novel The Toymaker has posted for you all below -  the first in a series of guest blogs from DFB writers and illustrators. Hurrah! This sparkling post really tickled me, as they always do (if you haven’t read Jeremy’s previous posts, take a look at his author page). From now on, we’ll be asking a different author every month to post a blog on our website – so keep an eye out for glimpses of your favourite illustrators and storytellers!

Tonight, at Blackwell’s in Oxford, David Fickling Books will be celebrating the launch of Kate Brown’s astonishingly beautiful DFC Library book THE SPIDER MOON. (Click here to see a sample!)
Kate is an award-winning artist who previously contributed to THE DFC, and it should be a lively, fun event, full of familiar faces! It is also open to the public, for any locals who may wish to pop in! See here for a review of THE SPIDER MOON by one of the brilliant YA bloggers who visited Random House Children’s Books in Ealing recently. More news – and pics – from the launch shortly!

We are immensely proud to announce that we will be publishing Jenny Downham’s second novel in December this year – see here. YOU AGAINST ME arrived in its entirety a few months ago and glued us to our chairs until we’d finished reading. It is an incredibly special book. The manuscript has been recently making its way around our sales, marketing and publicity departments, and reminds me of the time we received the manuscript for Jenny’s first novel, BEFORE I DIE – we were at a Random House Children’s Books sales conference in Amsterdam (ah, those conference days are long gone) where two A4 copies were feverishly passed around about fifty people, who invariably embarrassed themselves by crying on trains and planes all the way home. More on Jenny’s new novel to follow - watch this space.

..or rather barks.. or growls?  More suggestions for dog ’speech’ description please! In fact, have a go at naming this mystery(ie. ‘where the barks went’, ‘growls in hiding’ etc) and send us your ideas - best suggestions win a DFC badge! Just leave your doggy verb or title & your email address as a comment below.. 

One Robin Etherington - a rather sharp-eyed and sharp-witted young man - has already solved ‘The Mystery of Lost Words’ by bringing to our attention that fact that text & speech bubbles were missing from the final page of Dave Shelton’s miniature treat, THE STAKEOUT – !! ‘Eek!!’ I hear you say – but never fear, thanks to our crime-busting dog duo and their trusty sidekicks, Robin & Dave, the final pages have been restored for your viewing pleasure! Just click here  to read the rectified newsletter :)  ..Phew!

If you should need any brainfood whilst thinking up your doggy descriptions, take a look at Dave Shelton’s fascinating website  - it’s crammed with glimpses of new work and beautiful pages from Dave’s old sketchbooks – a real insight into his hilarious, engaging and completely charming work.

I’ll be keeping my eyes on the comments box..   ’til next time!