I can’t think of any Archie-like embarrassment I’m prepared to admit to in public, so instead I’ve decided to write about my misunderstanding of what it would be like to be a Real Live Author (EVERY writer who visits schools quickly gets used to being introduced as one of those.)

As I wanted to be an author from the age of eight, I’ve had plenty of time to think about it. Here’s how it looked: I saw myself sitting at a magnificent writerly desk, by an open window (no, let’s call it a casement) – overlooking a luxuriant garden. I’d be writing in fountain pen, of course, in a large and impressive book with lined pages, and I’d do that for hours on end, writing confidently all day long and well into the night, while Someone Else took care of mundane things like shopping and cooking (and gardening, presumably). Occasionally I’d meander down my rose-walk, deep in contemplation, before returning to my book-lined room with its squashy sofas and arty bits of this and that from my travels. There’d be a purring cat or two for company, naturally.

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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.