Tamburlaine's Elephants

Just out from Scholastic Children's Books 'WOW 366'. This is an anthology of about 240 stories, by almost every famous author you have heard of, to celebrate 2008 National Year of Reading. Each story is exactly 366 words long, because 2008 is a leap year! AND, £1.00 (or €1.30 if you are in Eire) will go to Childline.

I have two stories in there, AND, there is a competition for all you aspiring writers to go in for. Write a story of 366 words and you could win 366 books! Go to www.scholastic.co.uk/nyr for all the details. And enjoy!

Peter Pan in Scarlet was launched in the United States in paperback on 6 May 2008 by Aladdin (Simon & Schuster).

The White Darkness has won the American Library Association YALSA Michael L Printz Award for Excellence in Teen Books 2008.

Geraldine’s acceptance speech for the Printz Award in America can be heard on line at
http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/booklistsawards/printzaward/Printz.cfm.

Mo was shortlisted for the Norfolk Shorts Award 2008.

Tamburlaine’s Elephants was shortlisted for UKLA Children’s Book Award 2008.

An abridged and illustrated edition of 'Peter Pan in Scarlet', for younger children, will be published in the UK by Oxford University Press on 2 October 2008. The sumptuous illustrations are by David Wyatt (www.david.wyatt.btinternet.co.uk), who provided the cover and vignettes in the original editions.

"The sequel turned out quite old in age appeal - which was in keeping with J M Barrie's book. But many people think of Peter Pan as a favourite of little children. So with those children in mind OUP and Great Ormond Street Hospital asked me to shorten my story and take out the scarier, darker elements; they asked David to illustrate it in full colour. But I don't think anyone was expecting the fabulous pictures he came up with. It has given a whole new dimension to Neverland. Even if you already own the older version, even if you are at the older end of the reading spectrum, do take a look inside the new 'big red book' just to appreciate a master-craftsman at work."

I have finished my latest novel. It is about a boy's adventures in the south of France at the beginning of last century. The title is not finalised yet, but as soon as it is, I shall let you know. The book will probably be published Autumn 2009.

And now on to the next..........let me see - didn't I see something about sternwheelers in America?

3 October - Geraldine will be visiting various London bookshops.

xxxxxxxxxx11-30am Hatchards Bookshop
xxxxxxxxxx12-30pm Harrods Bookshop
xxxxxxxxxxx2-30pm HSK

1 November - 2-00pm. Geraldine will be at Mostly Books, Abingdon, Oxon., signing copies of the illustrated edition of Peter Pan in Scarlet - and her other books as well.
See www.mostly-books.co.uk for details.

"Watch out for book-crossings on launch day! What's a book crossing? Look it up on bookcrossing.com. It could change your book-reading life! On 2 October, at least it could be your chance to hunt down and own a free signed copy of a variety of my books."