Patron of Reading 2016
- At April 20, 2016
- By Niel
- In Patron of Reading 2016, Schools
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I’m thrilled to let you know I’ve been appointed as the Patron of Reading for North Durham Academy in Stanley, County Durham.
What is a Patron of Reading?
A Patron of Reading (PoR) is a school’s special, designated children’s author with whom the school forms a personal attachment. The patron might be a writer of fiction, a writer of non-fiction, a poet, storyteller or an illustrator. Tenure lasts for a minimum of a year, but the exact length is decided mutually between the school and patron.
I was a Patron of Reading last year for the District CE Primary School in Warrington. The team there came up with some really clever ways of supporting reading, so the bar has been set high for my work with North Durham Academy. This time I’m working with older pupils, from Year 7 to Year 10, and even with some of their Sixth Form English students, so it’s going to be fun to come up with new ways of encouraging their love of books. The good news is that they have an excellent library at NDA, and the staff are eager to support the initiative. The first task is to put a battle plan together before I spend my first day there in the near future. Can’t wait to get started.
Draft 3 completed
- At April 05, 2016
- By Niel
- In Artwork, Writing
- 0
Very happy to have completed the third draft of Project Artichoke. Diane read the second draft and gave me her thoughts on that, which helped inform the revisions in the new draft. Having left it alone for about a month I came back to it with fresh eyes, which is always useful. I’ve been using the time in between drafts to work up some illustrations – I’m hoping that a publisher will want me to do this for the entire book, but we’ll have to wait and see. You can see some of my work-in-progress pictures on my Instagram account. The third draft and the illustration samples went off to my agent last night, so all I can do now is sit and wait for feedback. Publishing is all about the waiting.
Waterstones Middlesbrough talk
- At April 05, 2016
- By Niel
- In Events/News, Talks/Events
- 0
Do you live near Middlesbrough in the UK? I’m doing a free event in Waterstones Middlesbrough later this month with fellow author Stephen Aryan. Stephen is the author of the Age of Darkness trilogy. Battlemage, the first book in the series was published in September 2015 by Orbit books in the USA and UK. Book 2, Bloodmage, is due out on April 12th 2016.
The event is going to be a very relaxed discussion on books and getting published, and you can buy a book and get it signed if you like. Here’s the details, please spread the word and call the bookshop to let them know you’re coming along.
Join us for an evening of conversation with local sci-fi/ fantasy authors Stephen Aryan and Niel Bushnell. They’ll be talking and answering questions about their new books and how to get published.
The authors will also be signing copies of their books to anyone who would like to purchase one on the night.
The event is free but you will need a ticket to get in. Tickets can be obtained in store or by calling and speaking to a bookseller.
Further details: 01642 242682
