George Kirk Children's Author
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Hooked on The Conference

11/20/2018

3 Comments

 
 I have a confession to make. That was my last SCBWI conference.

I went to my first in 2011 and was immediately hooked which is why I’ve been back every year since, five as part of the committee. They’ve all been utterly amazing, but also utterly exhausting which is why I thought maybe it’s time to move on. But first I’d like to share my 2018 highlights.
​
The Road Trip

Travelling is always much better in company and the company doesn’t get much better than my fellow North West Scoobies Catherine Whitmore and Marie Basting. I can’t think of many other car companions that would be happy for me to bust my ukulele out.


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Moving Right Along... To Winchester!
​The Scoobie Doobies
And I wasn’t the only one with my uke this year. Candy Gourlay, Mo O’Hara  and Tania Tay had  brought their ukuleles along for the weekend too. So we were soon all busting our best chords in the hotel bar. I had worried the other hotel residents would complain, but in fact we were encored.
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The Scoobie Doobies!
The Hook
The Hook, in case you don’t know, is a Dragon’s Den style pitching competition where hopeful authors pitch their story to a panel of agents. I was a finalist and had poured my heart and soul into my presentation for the last two weeks. ​
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But are the panel hooked?
​There was one winner, but no losers. Every single participant, myself included, did themselves really proud with original and compelling ideas that are communicated in their own unique styles.  I honestly couldn’t see how the judges would choose. But they chose the amazing Catherine Whitmore. How could I be disappointed when I was so over the moon for a friend who really deserved this. Plus I did get to play my uke... again!
PictureThe Hook captiured by the talented Imogen Foxell.


​


​​Party People
I’ve spent two days trying to work out what to write here. But c’mon, how does anyone describe this kind of crazy?


This wonderful display of colourful characters are my friends. Some for the whole eight years, some since last weekend. But however long it has been I’m already missing them in the annual post conference slump.

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Mass Book Launchers 2018
​So let’s have that confession again, but this time in full.

That was my last SCBWI conference... until I realised I can’t do without it!

I MEAN WHAT WAS I THINKING?

There’s no way I could miss out on my annual dose of Scoobie shenanigans! What would keep me going the rest of the year?
​

So I’ll be back in the future. After all, I’m hooked!
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The SCBWI Conference takes the biscuit! (It really does, I took this one home from the uni.)
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Undiscovered Voices Stands and Delivers

11/30/2015

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When I was 6 years old this was my favourite thing ever...
Highwaymen were cool!
(Remember I said that).
I read every book I could get my hands on that had a whisper of a highwayman in. A sniff of a Dick Turpin or a whiff of a Claude Du Vall and I was there. Highwaymen were exciting, dangerous, flamboyant and galloped about on big black horses. I wanted to be one.

Later, when I was a older than 6 and writing for children was now my favourite thing ever, I wondered 'Where all the highwaymen gone?' There are loads of kids' books full of the baddies we can't help but love. Pirates, wizards, dragons, werewolves, vampires are all still there, but the only highwaymen stories I could find were the icky sicky romantic ones.
But highwaymen are still cool!
And so I wrote 'The Lowayman'

'Mystery, adventure and a life on the open road, that’s what young George Beckett wants. What George has is a shrieking aunt, a bed in a hayloft and a collection of highwaymen posters. So George goes in search of ‘The Phantom’ who turns out to be half the man George thought...literally! '
​
A few months ago I sent  'The Lowayman' to Undiscovered Voices. UV is a biannual competition run by the British Isles Region of SCBWI. Its aim is to help fresh, new voices in children's literature- both writers and illustrators-find agents, publishers and ultimately readers. 

Today I heard that 'The Lowayman' has been  LONGLISTED! 
​
See! I told you Highwaymen are cool!
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So now I'm 41 years old and this is currently my favourite thing ever...




(black, leather gloved fingers crossed for the shortlist)

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Manchester Children's Book Festival 2015

6/29/2015

1 Comment

 
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I get incredibly excited every time the Manchester Children's Book Festival comes around. We're not talking tingly tummy, slow to sleep excited here. Oh no. I mean arm flapping, feet tapping, hair shaking, legs quaking, song singing, sick bringing excited! I just can't wait to dive into all that story, booky goodness!

But this year I was even more excited than usual.
"How?" and "Why?" you may ask. 

Well for one, it's only been a year since the last one. MCBF has graduated from being a  bi-annual event to an annual one. 

And for two... this is the best bit... I was invited to tell stories as part of the Family Fun Day. All because the lovely people at MCBF Towers partnered up with the wonderful people of SCBWI* Ville to create even more story telling fun!  


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Family Fun Day in Geoffrey Manton Building's Atrium


So armed with my best hats and my trusty ukulele (name of Wylie in case you're interested) I entered the storytelling tent. In there I soon created a world of pirates, princesses and pets all with rather twisty tales to tell. And yes, there was song, lots and lots of sing-a-long songiness. So a big thanks to all the fantastic kids, mums, dads, grans, grandads, aunts uncles and second cousins twice removed next door neighbours that helped me out with those! It wouldn't have been nearly as much fun without you.
Photos by Dom Conlon

The festival is continuing until 5th of July. You can keep up with all the fun at their blog or join in the writing relay. 

Thanks very much MCBF Towers for having me, and I hope to see you again soon. Less than a year to wait I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!!!


*Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
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Oxford University Press Slush pile Challange

3/25/2014

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For a cat whose only ambition in life is to break the world record for longest ever cat nap (currently held by Tabby McFlabby) Manfred is having a very successful year.

Following the long listing of  'Man Up Manfred Cat' in SCBWI's Undiscovered Voices competition the ginger hair ball has now won the latest SCBWI Slush Pile Challenge.  Next month Manfred and myself will be off to dream among the Oxford spires. We will meet the lovely Clare Witson at OUP for a meeting where, among other things,  we will discuss how Manfred might develop the relationships with his friends Goren and Arthur. 

Manfred says he'd rather not develop them at all, but I'm sure we'll talk him round... eventually.
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Manfred does not appreciate having his nap time disturbed even with news of a win.
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Undiscovered SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEE

12/9/2013

2 Comments

 
Manfred Cat here.

Apparently  'Man Up Manfred Cat,' George's story all about me, has been long listed for something called,
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George is supposed to be blogging about it right now. But every time she tries she just runs around going-                                                                                                                                                                                                                          SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!


So far she has 'squeeed' though my:
  • lunchtime nap
  • afternoon nap
  • late afternoon nap
  • tea time nap

So if I'm going to get any nappiness I'm just going to have to get it done for her.

I am pretty pleased about it too. Mainly because when my brother Fallacious hears he'll get his whiskers into a real wot-not. No one's ever bothered to write a book about him.



YAAAAAAAWN! That was hard work. Time for my post blog nap now.



Manfred

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I  Love the SCBWI Conference Because...

11/25/2013

7 Comments

 
I have a very serious confession to make, I hope I don't shock and disappoint you too much, but here goes.


A week ago I wasn't really sure I wanted to go the the SCBWI conference in Winchester! I know I know, how could I? Let me put in context for you.


I was feeling in a bit of a writing slump. Loosing my momentum and my direction, and to be brutally honest some of my hope. I e-mailed a close scoobie friend and admitted...


"I think I'll have fun at the conference, but I'm not feeling like I'll gain much from it."


I was right about one thing. I did have fun,


Fun like a somersaulting puppy,
Fun like popping candy on your tongue,
Fun like a fairground waltzer,
Fun like carnival maracas.


But I'm glad to say I was very wrong on the other point. I did gain something from the conference, in fact I would go as far to say I gained EVERYTHING from the conference. 


An encouraging, helpful Friday night critique group. (Thanks guys)
A positive and productive one to one session. (Hooray)  
Some fantastic advice from the break out sessions. (Writes to-do list)
A 'wow' from our fantastic children's laureate Malorie Blackman. (Claps hands together)
And of course lots and lots of friendship.(Group hug)


I am back home with a renewed sense of direction, purpose and hope.  So I'd just like to say...

I love the SCBWI conference because it recharges my writer batteries!

See you next year!

7 Comments

Conflab and cake

11/27/2012

8 Comments

 

 Catch up, Conflab, and Cake-The SCBWI Annual Conference

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I found time in my busy schedule to see the sights.
I am currently still basking in the warm friendly afterglow that follows the SCBWI Annual Winchester Conference.

I know that there will be many blogs being tapped out at this very moment of what EXACTLY went on this year, much of which was informative, hilarious or both so you should definitely read them. I thought I’d concentrate on what I brought home  and that means the conference three Cs.

Catching up with all my writing buddies. The wonderful Celia Rees in her keynote talk spoke about how important it is to be a part of a writing community. She’s right; I honestly believe that if it wasn’t for the SCBWI I wouldn’t be a writer at all. As well as the regional events it has a very strong on-line community and I have friends spread out all over the county and beyond. I talk to them every day but meet many of them just once a year. The conference is often the only time I get to see many of them face to face and drink to drink.

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Catching up with my good friend Muncle Trogg, and Janet Foxley of course!
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Scoobie Dooers making everything run smoothly.
Conflab in bucket loads. From keynote speakers to chats over lunch, from professional one to one sessions to peer crit groups, from intensive workshops to the Saturday night mass book launch we never stop talking about one thing, our writing. Why we write, what we write, what we love about it, what we hate about it and how we can make it better and better again and then even better than that with a sparkly ribbon on the top.

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The magical Debi Gliori tells us just what of herself she puts into her work.
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The Literary Gift Company
I’ve come away in possession of some fantastically encouraging comments about my work, but also a healthy portion of suggested improvements. I couldn’t be happier about it. My writing goals have been brought into focus and I have a refreshed sense of purpose, so there may not be a lot of bloggage for a while.

Oh and we’ll let the CAKE speak for itself shall we?

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One day one of my characters will grace the mass book launch cake. I wonder which one?
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SCBWI conference Badge Competition

11/1/2012

0 Comments

 
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Later in November I'm off to the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Annual Conference in Winchester. It's a chance to meet up with all my writing friends from around the country, get involved in some great critique sessions and workshops as well as network with a glittering array of industry professionals.

 I can't wait, I've been getting excited ever since I booked my place in August. And now I have another reason to let the excitement mount. SCBWI have just announced the winner of the conference badge design, and guess what I won!  Do you like it? 


I wish I Could take credit for it all, but only the words are mine. The fabulous artwork is by the supremely talented Ellie Ansell, whose artwork can also be seen on 'My Snot' page. She is a young talent just waiting to burst onto the illustration scene and I am very proud of her.

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    George Kirk

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