Saturday, September 29, 2012

The Cats of Paris

Slightly Jones and the Case of the Hidden City is growing - scenes are playing out, characters are muscling their way to the front, weather that I never had on my research trip is insisting on being included - and I am now pretty certain that a cat/cats are going to be getting more than a passing mention.  Here are some of the candidates:











Well, unless I change the name of the book to Slightly Jones and the Case of the Cats of Paris, not every moggie here is going to make the cut.  We shall just have to wait and see.

Cheers, Joan.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Review in the Irish Examiner

How great is this - a review of Planet Hell in the Irish Examiner by Mary Arrigan, who describes it as ...

... a futuristic, nail-biting dystopian tale set in the labyrinthine underground tunnels of what remains of planet Earth. Like his late father, teenage Sam works at mining ore under the authority of The Gang, who inflict severe punishment on anyone who steps away from the rigorous rules. Instilled with horrific stories of life above ground, nobody ever leaves. Except Sam. When he stands up to The Gang, he is pursued through the tunnels. When he can go no further the choices are to venture up to the Surface or be killed. For age eight and an encouraging read for reluctant older readers.

 Thank you very much!  And just because I like the cover so much, here it is again -



Sunday, September 23, 2012

The Hard Graft That Is Doing the Research for the 4th Slightly Jones Mystery aka My Trip to Paris

Notre Dame





Eiffel Tower





Un Chat Noir



Montmartre Cemetery



The Louvre (floors and stairs)




The Catacombs



Montparnasse Cemetery



The view from my tiny flat



Yes, I spent a week in Paris researching Slightly's next adventure.  (Who'd be a writer, eh?)  In that week I garnered enough material to write twenty books, so I will need to be dsiciplined and not try to shoehorn in the whole lot.  But I can say with almost complete confidence that there will be a place for everything you see in these photos in Slightly Jones and the Case of the Hidden City.

Though there might just have been a few things I didn't cover properly ... I might just have to go back ...

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Birth of a Planet

While I was away, there was a book birthday!


Welcome, Planet Hell - and now I must

a) make your page on my website ready for you

and b) get the photos sorted from my mystery location - as suggested in the comments of last week, perhaps Blackpool? or The Past?

Come back tomorrow and see!

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Guess Where I Am Right Now?






All will be revealed next week ...

Saturday, September 08, 2012

Islay Book Festival 7-9 Sept. 2012

And then to Islay!  I know - I am ridiculously lucky.  Come and see me if you're fortunate enough to be there too - Slightly Jones events at Port Ellen and Bowmore Primary Schools on the Friday and then a Let's Write Baddies! workshop 12:00 - 1:00 on the Saturday.  And for those of you not lucky enough to be on Islay this weekend, some photos from earlier visits ...








Monday, September 03, 2012

Shetland - Either Side of 60

Don't Litter!

Jarlshof - Stone Age houses

Jarlshof - quern


Bonhoga Gallery

Bonhoga Gallery - Farlin Exhibition

Westerwick Bay

Westerwick Bay

Westerwick Bay

stone in wall of Staneydale Temple - Neolithic structure

Eshaness - by the lighthouse


Eshaness - by the lighthouse


rock by Meal Beach


 inside Crofthouse Museum

roof of Crofthouse Museum