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raves switzerland

MG and baby bro

MG and baby broOriginally uploaded by mgharris


Yes, yes, I’m fully narcissistic with all these photos of me-n-someone else but COME ON!

What cooler way to navigate the mountains of Switzerland than in a Porsche?

R kid is driving, Michael who lives in Switzerland with wife and kids.

Today we did birthday celebrations (including mine!) with cousins and all. Two of the boy cousins, Max and Cyrus, are 14, the same age as Josh Garcia in books 2 & 3. Watching them play like daredevils in the playground I wondered how they’d fare if plunged into the same kinds of perils and dangers as Josh. And decided that they’d probably do pretty well, no worse than Josh.

At 14 they’re MUCH fitter and stronger than…ooh, let’s say, for example, me. They may still be children but they’d survive jungle dangers far better than I.

I’d be a total wuss. I’ve seen the rainforest thicket into which I sent Josh. You wouldn’t get me more than 5 metres into that without severe panic…
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switzerland

Swinging under the Spitzhorn

Swinging under the SpitzhornOriginally uploaded by mgharris


Lying here watching my daughter on the swing, my legs are actually sizzling inside my jeans.

Yes, heat! Have hardly felt it all summer long but here in the Swiss mountains, there’s plenty.

Oh it’s lovely, very Swiss with log cabins and the gentle tinkle of cow bells and the smell of warm hay.

I feel a desperate need for cheese and milk chocolate…

The manuscript is taking a break while I work on my tan and play with babies.
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appearances getting published ice shock

MG and Editor

MG and EditorOriginally uploaded by mgharris


Here she is, Elv Moody of Scholastic, editor of INVISIBLE CITY and ICE SHOCK.

We’re in the bookshop tent at the Edinburgh book festival, a little while after my event. Hopefully I’ll receive copies of photos taken at the signing by Don the Headteacher at the Aberdeen-based International school whose pupils queued so politely.

I don’t think we look too bad considering that I was tired and hung-over from the partying of the night before. And Elv had a poorly eye.

Anywho. I enjoyed Edinburgh so much, esp hanging out with the Scholastic crew.

Ooh and I was able to tell the audience that finally, the title of Joshua 2 is indeed ICE SHOCK (sorry Es, but it will make sense when you read it and it’s inspired by a famous Doctor Who adventure – EARTHSHOCK).

And the glowy slipcover will be neon yellow…!
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raves

WOW 366 – the National Year of Reading

wow-366.JPGnational-year-reading.JPG

Yay, the WOW 366 book is out! It’s a collection of 366 stories, each exactly 366 words long. And the profits of the book sales will go to charity.

Perfect bedtime reading for busy parents…

Like many authors (including Roddy Doyle, Susan Cooper, Eva Ibbotson, Jeremy Strong, Georgia Byng, Ian Whybrow, Charlie Higson and Sally Nicholls) I was asked to contribute a story. I finally wrote down a little ghost story that I’ve been telling since I was a teenager, and more recently to my kids.

It did get a little stripped down for the 366-word format. My little daughter listened to me reading the written version (as opposed to the making-up-up-as-I-go-along version while she is in bed) and then glowered at me. “That’s not how it goes,” she said. “What about this and what about that…”

That’s the problem with oral story-telling. You add all these bits in the heat of the moment and you forget them right away. I’m still trying to remember a story I once told my older daughter, about a mouse, a lollipop-making kit and a magic chemistry set.

But it’s no use. It’ll never be as good again…

Oooh, guess what – (my story) Ghost Story, True Story is this week’s featured free WOW 366 story.

Meanwhile little daughter and I are reading Empty Quarter by Julia Golding. Cracking teen-girl spy adventure!

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asides

Next event – Waterstone’s Witney Book Festival