At DFB, we love stories – and who better to tell them than our award-winning writers and illustrators?  That’s right, our new storyblog is going to be jam-packed full of writing, photos and exclusive artwork posted by over 30 DFB storytellers.  We’re really excited about this new project, where you can follow posts by your very favourite writers and artists, as well as meeting new DFB debutants!

Our group of DFB bloggers will take it in turns to post on a different question or topic, brought to mind by our new DFB titles.  For this first wave of storyblogs, they’re thinking about I DON’T BELIEVE IT ARCHIE!, and the unlikely situations and rib-tickling predicaments that Archie ends up in. You see, due to his incredible luck – and a fair few misunderstandings and bizarre coincidences! – Archie never quite ends up where he plans to..  Our bloggers will be sharing their silliest, funniest and most embarrassing stories with us – so you can expect a new post every couple of days, direct from the DFB authors themselves. So, enough from me - look below for the first post from author Candy Gourlay!

‘I Don’t Believe it Archie!’ is written by Andrew Norriss and illustrated by Hannah Shaw.

A few weeks ago at DFB I was introduced to WE by John Dickinson. I have to admit, I was initially a little dubious about reading it, as science fiction and fantasy are not my favourite genres. But I began and within a few pages I could not put the book down!

WE tells the story of Paul Munro, an engineer who is sent to work on a scientific station on a distant moon. The book is set in the future and the Earth that Paul leaves behind is a very different place to the world we know today. Paul and the people he lives with in the station are the only people able to look at the Earth from a distant perspective and perhaps the only ones able to save the human race from a terrifying future.

It is a mission from which Paul knows he cannot return and I found it terribly moving watching him come to terms with the isolation and loneliness of his new home. Gradually Paul comes to trust his fellow researchers, but the claustrophobic atmosphere they inhabit (they are trapped on the moon for the rest of their lives, in a small dome from which it is difficult and dangerous to leave) leads to explosive events which threaten to tear the team apart.

WE is full of grotesque characters and quite terrifyinging ideas: the crew have spindly bodies and swollen heads, and humans are growing up in a system from which they can never escape. But for me, the book was brought to life by the human drams at the cenre of it. The future of Earth portrayed in the book may seem like a remote possibility for our planet, but  the people fighting for a future of freedom and happiness for their children are no different from those we see around us today.

This tale is the perfect thriller for young adults. It is a gripping story carrying a poignant message that will make you question the very nature of who we are and where our world is going.

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!!