KIPPY NEW YEAR!

Let me begin by wishing everyone a very Happy New Year and great things for 2009!

It's early in the year yet, but my 2009 has started off well already. Over on authonomy, my kids' book Kip Doodle And The Armchair Of Lost Dreams was firmly in the Top 5 as the clocks counted down the seconds to the New Year. So I had two reasons to quaff my champagne as we moved into 2009 - and with Kip Doodle at No.2 for December's book chart, that made yours truly the FIRST EVER AUTHOR to have TWO books successfully hit the Harper Collins' Editor's Desk and win those highly coveted Gold Stars.

Remains to be seen whether anything more than a Gold Star will come of it - the Harper Collins crits tend to follow nearly a month on from the selection being made. Right now though, whatever Harper Collins ultimately say, it's a pretty good feeling.

Many people who commented online felt that if Harper Collins were to pick up one book, Kip Doodle would be the one. The kids who have read it have loved it. But it's up to the editors now, not the kids!

Practically all Kip's supporters felt that the fact that two of my books had made it to the Editor's Desk - in the space of two months - was a mark of my talent and imagination. For which, thank you. But for me, what it is, is a mark of all that brilliant support from far too many people to name. For which, a HUGE thank you!

So I guess the message here is to watch this space for news in about a month's time. Meanwhile, let me just finish by wishing everyone a very Happy New Year and, at the risk of repeating myself, all great things for 2009!

I'll drink to that. Go, Kip, go!

Kip Doodle Flying High

Gone are the days when I used to just ramble on about the latest TV I'd watched. Yes, it's all been about authonomy lately, hasn't it. Well, don't worry, it's only until the end of this month.

Following the Harper Collins crit on Evil UnLtd and inspired by the very popular initial responses, I've been on something of a mission to see a second book of mine reach the dizzy heights of the Editor's Desk.

Kip Doodle And The Armchair Of Lost Dreams is a fantasy action adventure for kids of aged 8+ - and I'm happy to say plenty of adults have been enjoying it too.

Not least of whom was Eoin Colfer, author of the well loved Artemis Fowl books and the upcoming sixth book in the Hitch-Hiker's Guide To The Galaxy series, who very kindly took a look at the sample chapters over at the site and had the following to say:

"the book reads great- a very strong idea- good pace too and sparkling characters- best of luck with it."

What a top fellow and a gentleman for replying to my humble email. Thanks, Eoin.

There have been other rousing recommendations and comments on the book, including reports of the very young readers the book - or should I say series, because it is intended as one - is aimed at.

So, Kip is flying high. And he's cleared for landing on that Editor's Desk. We're due to land by the 31st December. Which would make for a very Happy New Year, for sure. After which it will be just a matter of taxiing to the terminal building and maybe, when Harper Collins get a look at this quality commercial kids' book, he can make himself comfortable in the arrivals lounge.