BarryHutchison

No word yet on how things are going for INVISIBLE FIENDS over in  Bologna.  Not really expecting to hear anything back until next week some time, and even then the best I’m hoping for is some vague rumblings of possible deals that may or may not happen in the future.  Keep your expectations low, that’s what I always say.  Usually about myself, to anyone who knows me.

As luck would have it, this week has been incredibly busy, so I haven’t had much chance to dwell on how IF is doing over at the book fair.  On Monday and Tuesday of this week I ran what were arguably my first ‘proper’ primary school writing workshops, talking to around 180 kids over 2 days at Inverlochy Primary near Fort William.

I was made to feel incredibly welcome by all the staff and pupils, and it was great to see everyone so enthusiastic and charged up about writing stories.  I even had time to read a few pages of INVISIBLE FIENDS: MR MUMBLES to a couple of the older classes, and I was delighted by their reaction.  If everyone else in the country enjoys the book as much as they did, I’ll be a very happy man.

I’ll stick some photos up of the events when I get them.

As I’ve probably mentioned elsewhere on the blog, I have been quite nervous about book two in the IF series ever since I submitted it to my editor at HarperCollins.  Would it live up to the first one?  Would I have to start it from scratch?  Would they tear up my contract and tell me never to darken their door again?  It was a tense few weeks.

Today I received my notes, and I’m delighted – and surprised – to report that they were even better than the comments on book one.  I have virtually no changes to make, and those that are needed are mostly little things I can sort out in seconds.  You can imagine my relief.

Someone suggested I celebrate with a bottle of champagne, but I hate the stuff, so instead I’m celebrating by chewing gently on the the plastic top of my pen.  It’s quite a low-key rejoicing, obviously, but I have two books to write for Egmont and just a few weeks to do them, so it’s the only celebration I currently have time for.