Bits and Pieces

So it's 2012 now...

2012-01-15T09:21:00.000-08:00

I haven't done much online since the summer, as I went to Madagascar and fell ill. I'm back to normal now, and went for a nice winter walk this morning, when I saw this fox having a kip on a riverbank.

Olympic cycle road race trial

2011-08-14T07:15:00.001-07:00

The Olympic road race trial took place this morning, and the route came close to where I live. This is my photograph of the eventual winner, Mark Cavendish (the one in the green helmet) who was lying about tenth at the time.

Bristol Zoo

2011-07-26T05:36:00.000-07:00

A quick plug for Bristol Zoo. It's not very big, but it's got some lovely animals!

More Counselling

2011-04-20T00:07:00.000-07:00

Dearest Pewtermane,

I am a young male Brazzle, though I am not interested in math what so ever. My family is worried about me, But it seems I have the heart of a female, I LOVE more than anything in this world, HISTORY. How can I fit in and do what I love at the same time?

Thank you dear friend, Topazclaw.

You can't. It's like expecting a one-eye to write a cheerful poem. If you wish to pursue this discussion, reply to this post where it says Comments.

Pewtermane's Counselling Service

2011-04-19T13:41:00.000-07:00

Dear Pewtermane,

I am a young female brazzle. My left wing feathers are smashed looking and I can’t seem to preen them enough to look more elegant. I also have trouble flying with my crooked up feathers – the air is meant to go smoothly across my wing instead I fly nicely on one side and horribly on the other. Blazing Feathers, what to do…

Sincerely, Opaleye

Dear Opaleye,

Only show your good side. It will mean, of course, that you can only fly in one direction - but fortunately, all worlds are round, so you should end up back where you started. Eventually.

Bird news...

2011-03-25T23:48:00.000-07:00

This long-tailed tit has spotted an intruder and is intent on scaring him off. Small birds can be incredibly aggressive, and this one is very persistent... As you can see, the enemy is his own reflection in the doorhandle! Eventually I put a plastic bag over it to stop him injuring himself.

Waxwings, on the other hand, seem to be peace-loving and sociable souls. I'd never seen one until a whole flock of them turned up at the end of the garden. They're still there, and it's nearly April... They really are beautiful birds, and they twitter incessantly!

2011-02-15T06:18:00.000-08:00

This is the cover of my new book, which has just been published, and there's a link to it on Amazon here. The book is set in the Gobi Desert, in Mongolia. Those of you who have read previous posts on this blog will have seen the photographs. I met an eleven-year-old girl, herding goats, who was the best rider I've ever seen. She gave me the idea for the story. This is a picture of her:

For Christian Diaz

2011-01-15T01:06:00.000-08:00

Hello Christian - you sent me a very nice letter, with a lovely picture of a sinistrom on it. However, I can't read your address to send a letter back to you. I think it's Chicago, but I'm not sure. I'm so glad you've enjoyed the books, but there are no plans for a fourth one. I hope you have a happy new year! (And if someone who knows Christian reads this, please could they tell him? Thank you!)

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

2010-12-23T23:07:00.000-08:00

Aquila

2010-12-15T15:13:00.000-08:00

I've written a new two-part story called Carla and the Cuddlecrunchie. The first episode appears in December 2010's issue of the magazine Aquila. If you haven't encountered it, you ought to see if your school keeps it in the library. It's a very good magazine, with lots of interesting articles and suggestions for things to do.

Email Problems

2010-12-07T02:46:00.001-08:00

Someone posted previously to say that they couldn't email me via the site. We've checked, and it seems to be working perfectly okay. Go to The Divide page, then to Contact Me.

Galapagos

2010-11-07T00:27:00.000-07:00

I have just come back from an absolutely amazing holiday in the Galapagos Islands. Snorkelling alongside turtles and sea lions and marine iguanas is something you don't forget in a hurry. The animals have no fear of man, and come right up to you. The landscape is dramatic - particularly South Plaza Island, with its weird red vegetation!

Banham Zoo

2010-08-15T11:32:00.000-07:00

Banham Zoo is situated near Thetford, in Norfolk, and has a lot of really nice animals.

Perseids

2010-08-13T08:47:00.000-07:00

The Perseids are a meteor shower that happens every August, and is best seen from the Northern Hemisphere. It's caused by debris from Swift-Tuttle, a huge comet that swings through the inner part of our Solar System every 133 years and leaves behind a trail of dust and gravel.

When Earth passes through the debris, specks hit our atmosphere at 140,000mph and disintegrate in flashes of light. Some of the meteors are more spectacular than others - a fireball is when it's brighter than a star. Last night there was a brief break in the cloud and I managed to see one, despite the light pollution from London, which isn't too far away. Its tail was like a silver firework, very bright and a lot bigger than I expected. It was worth getting up at 3.30 in the morning to see it!

Pamukkale

2010-06-09T00:07:00.000-07:00

I've just come back from week in Turkey. I've been there many times, but this time I managed to visit Pamukkale, a place I've always wanted to see. The name means 'Cotton Castle', and the natural terraces are formed from a sedimentary rock called travertine, which is deposited by the hot springs there. The ancient city of Hierapolis was situated here, and there's a big amphitheatre nearby.

Duckling time!

2010-04-29T14:37:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year... lots of tiny webbed feet dashing about, carrying fluffy little bodies. This was taken at the Wetland Centre, in Arundel, last weekend. It was a lovely sunny day, too.

The Tree Devil

2010-03-28T23:33:00.000-07:00

The Tree Devil, my next children's book, is due to be published at the end of April. It features a genetically-engineered monster which can blend into the background, much the same way that an octopus can. It has been created by Dixon Fisher, an unstable scientist, who believes that man should be eradicated for the good of the planet. Tree devils are dedicated predators, and they'll only eat human beings. Can Rick and his friend Jack find out what's really going on, and put a stop to it before it's too late? You can buy order this book from your local bookshop, or buy it online from Amazon.

For Zosia

2010-03-06T00:52:00.000-08:00

Hello Zosia - Thanks for your post. I suspect you haven't looked at my reply, so I'm hoping this will reach you. You were interested in my father - Feliks Krzewinski. He had a sister, Elizabeth, who lived in Lower Hutt, New Zealand, after the Second World War. I've posted one photo of my father from before the war, one from the 1950s, and one from the 1970s. If you are a relative, or knew my aunt, I would love to hear from you. Please email me through the contact page.

Butterflies

2010-02-21T23:37:00.001-08:00

There's nothing quite like a few butterflies to brighten up the day in the middle of this grey wet weather. There have been some exotic ones in the glasshouse at the RHS gardens in Wisley - I've posted two blue morphos here. The other two were taken a couple of years ago, and they're British; the comma, and the peacock.

England's Big Freeze

2010-01-08T14:25:00.001-08:00

Yes, we have snow here....

2009-12-23T13:49:00.000-08:00

Happy Christmas/solstice/new year, everyone.

Ariel Lopez

2009-12-18T23:36:00.000-08:00

I've had a lovely letter forwarded to me from someone called Ariel Lopez, but there's no return address so I can't reply. If you know of anyone by that name, please could you tell them this? Thanks!

Kids' Lit Quiz

2009-11-28T09:37:00.000-08:00

A great time was had by all at the Kids' Lit Quiz Final in Oxford on Friday. I wonder if any of you know the answer to this question, which was posed by ace quizmaster Wayne Mills?

"Which books begins with the words: The rat-tat-tat of the helicopter's rotor blades scattered the hummingbirds across the Study Centre garden as though someone had thrown a handful of jewels into the air..."

Hm. Tricky one...

Sold Out!!!

2009-10-31T05:11:00.000-07:00

Amazon.co.uk have sold out of Missing Link, as have online Borders. It's still available through Waterstones online shop - and, of course, at the reading at Malden Centre on 7th November.

Doing anything on the 7th November?

2009-10-24T00:51:00.000-07:00

I'm giving a talk about how Missing Link came to be written - a gripping tale of a television game show, subversive presenters, and stick insects. I'll be showing a clip of me on the TV programme that started me thinking, talking about the writing process, giving a reading from the book, and signing copies. If you're in the New Malden area at 12.30 on Saturday, 7th November, come into The Malden Centre and say hello (but not too loudly while I'm in the middle of a reading...) The Malden Centre is in Blagdon Road, New Malden, Surrey - KT3 4TA - and is a five minute walk from the railway station.

Signings

2009-10-19T01:26:00.000-07:00

This is me, wearing my Mongolian dress and signing copies of MISSING LINK at Epsom Waterstones on Saturday, 17th October. If you missed it, there will be another chance to hear a reading from the book and have your copy signed. This will be at The Malden Centre, Blagdon Road, KT3 4TA, on Saturday 7th November. The reading - and a talk about how the book came to be written - will be in the studio, from 12.30 - 1.30, and the signing in the foyer from 1.30 - 3.00.

Pre-publication launch of Read Away!

2009-10-06T09:47:00.000-07:00

From left to right: Pippa Goodhart, Stephanie Baudet, David Webb and me.
Unfortunately Caroline Dunford couldn't be there. Many thanks to Borders for providing the venue.

If you're in the area... come along!

2009-09-29T23:09:00.000-07:00

More Mongolia pictures...

2009-09-18T04:22:00.001-07:00

Mongolia!

2009-09-03T03:51:00.001-07:00

I've just spent two weeks in Mongolia. The nomads are the friendliest, most generous people I've met anywhere in the world, and I had marvellous time. I'll post some more pictures in due course!

Badgers...

2009-07-26T14:30:00.000-07:00

I went badger-watching on Saturday. It was absolutely brilliant - at one point there were seven badgers, all foraging within a few feet of the hide. I also saw a buzzard and a hare. Watching wildlife for real is so much better than seeing it on TV - you never know what will happen next. You could be the very first person ever to see something completely new! The place I went to has a website - see here

Creative writing courses

2009-06-29T04:13:00.001-07:00

I'm going to be teaching two writing courses in the summer holidays.

From Monday 27th July to Friday 31st July I'll be teaching a general creative writing class for kids aged 10+ at The Malden Centre, in Surrey. For more information telephone 020 8336 7770.

From Monday 3rd to Friday 7th August I'll be teaching a fantasy writing course in Kingston. For details, click here THIS COURSE IS FREE!!!

These classes are great fun - see you there!

And here's the missus...

2009-06-10T00:11:00.000-07:00

It's been quite a nice summer for snakes so far. Here's a female adder, sunning herself.

For those in the area, I shall be teaching a children's creative writing course at The Malden Centre, KT3 4TA, from Monday 27th July to Friday 31st July, from 10 - 12 each morning. Phone: 0208 336 7770.

I wonder if this would look nice on the nest...

2009-05-20T05:09:00.000-07:00

There are dozens of baby sparrows in the garden, being fed by both mum and dad. This goldfinch caught my eye, as it inspected the lawn for either breakfast, or suitable nesting material. I do think they're one of our prettiest birds.

Not too bothered...

2009-05-11T00:54:00.000-07:00

This fox didn't even move out of the way when I walked past! I saw a pair of roe deer yesterday, but unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me. This was a pity, as once I stood absolutely still they became quite curious.

Spring's here!

2009-04-14T14:36:00.001-07:00

The adders are back... They've woken up after the winter, they've shed their skins and they're full of attitude!

Even more snow...

2009-03-05T22:58:00.000-08:00

I have just got back from Krakow, in Poland. The gold-domed roof on the right can be seen at Wawel Castle, where there is a terrific armoury with all sorts of swords and shields and cannons. I also spent a day in Zakopane, in the mountains, where there was four metres of snow! It was extremely beautiful.

And hello to Harlands School, where I'll be on Monday. Let's hope the weather's a bit kinder, although I do like snowballs and snowmen and sledging and skating and ski-ing... have you noticed that most of the words connected with snow begin with an S?

Suggestions wanted...

2009-02-04T23:11:00.000-08:00

www.trappedbymonsters.com

I'm currently working on a rescue plan for the authors held captive in a cave... Pay the site a visit, and let me know what weapons I should be considering...

Please, please please...

2009-01-29T03:09:00.000-08:00

If you are writing to me c/o my publisher, please make sure the return name and address are legible. I always answer letters, but if I can't read where to send my reply there's nothing I can do. And remember - if you live abroad, your letter may have to be forwarded to me in England, so it may be a while before you hear from me. And if your e-mail didn't get through to me, try and send it again, with a different heading. My filter may have decided you were spam!

Hunted, and Darren the Dragon

2009-01-16T23:24:00.000-08:00

Hunted, my latest book, is published by Barrington Stoke on the 22nd January 2009.

There is also the first part of a Divide story in the magazine Aquila this month, called Darren the Dragon. Aquila is only available on subscription, but they have a website -
here

A heavy frost...

2009-01-13T06:20:00.000-08:00

Sometimes a heavy frost can be even more beautiful than snow. I took this picture near where I live.

And those of you who take Aquila magazine - this month, there's the first of a two-part story set in the magical world on the other side of The Divide.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-07T14:27:00.000-08:00

I don't seem to be able to upload any pictures at the moment, but it's very cold here and it's been snowing. Anyhow - I hope 2009 is everything you wish for.

A New Poem...

2008-12-15T11:26:00.000-08:00

GRIMSPITE

Everybody ran from me,
Snatching my dignity.
But it wasn't as if I'd take their heads on which to feed,
Now my boss was no longer Snakeweed.

Friends were new to me
And Turpsik, she was no beauty!
But she was a friend to me
For all to see!

When I crossed the divide I had so many feasts
So I wrote my book Dining out on Mythical Beasts.
My book created such a buzz
I now work in the library with Betony, Thornbeak, and Granitefuzz.

I'm a peaceful being as you can see
Now I must mention, Turpsik put this poem together for me!

Declaimed by Grimspite, and then written down by Turpsik, who passed it on to Yehudit Charin, (aged 10) from London, England.

Christmas present idea...

2008-11-24T09:06:00.000-08:00

If you've given copies of The Divide Trilogy to everyone you know, how about an RSPB membership as a Christmas present with a difference? You can find out about it here: http://www.rspb.org.uk/supporting/join/

Interesting spelling, and Fury gets longlisted...

2008-10-27T10:35:00.000-07:00

This is another photograph from Venezuela. The Angel Falls drop from a table-top mountain called a tepui, which was what Sir Arthur Conan Doyle used as the setting for a certain book... Have a look at the poster I snapped, and see if you know what it was.

And I probably ought to add that my last book, Fury, has been longlisted for United Kingdom Literary Association Children's Book Award, 2009, in the 12 - 16 caegory.

2008-10-15T14:23:00.000-07:00

Dear Pewtermane,

Is a Sinistrom allowed to change its name? My previous owner didn't respect me in any way and when he crossed into the Divide he had my pebble. Grimspite really inspired me to be a better Sinistrom, so if I can, where can I go to change my name? Please!

Sincerely,

Bloodclaws

Hiya Bloodclaws -
Cool name! Why do you want to change it? I think you should invest in some bright red nail polish, and go for the whole look.
Cheers, Lilywithers
pp Pewtermane

Venezuela

2008-10-15T06:19:00.000-07:00

Haven't been able to post much
recently as I've just moved house, and been on holiday in Venezuela.

Here's a selection of photographs...

It really IS all right this time...

2008-08-26T05:47:00.000-07:00

The links are back to normal, folks. For those of you who are interested in British birds of prey, the RSPB has put tracking devices on the two osprey chicks who hatched in Loch Garten this year - Deshar and Nethy. To find out how to follow their migration, go to this link for directions:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/tracking/lochgartenospreys/index.asp

I haven't taken any photos of ospreys, but I do have a nice one of an eagle owl...

But not quite...

2008-08-12T00:32:00.000-07:00

If you're trying to get hold of me, the contact link isn't working at the moment. Please e-mail me on elizabethkay@hotmail.co.uk

And here's my picture of a butterfly called a gatekeeper...

All as it should be, once more.

2008-07-30T22:32:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my ever helpful web host, http://hosthere.co.uk/ (manned by real people), I now have my domain name back again.

Did anyone watch Lost Land of the Jaguar, on BBC1 last night? Tremendous stuff, with howler monkeys and piranhas and even a jaguar. I snapped this capybara at Marwell Zoo, to give this post the right sort of South American flavour...

A Plug for the Cotswold Wildlife Park

2008-07-09T22:11:00.000-07:00

I love lemurs - they're only found in Madagascar and the surrounding islands, and there are several different species. They're primates - like monkeys, apes and us. The Cotswold Wildlife Park has recently opened its Madagascar exhibit, where you can walk through a planted area full of Madagascan birds and lemurs. It's absolutely delightful - I took this photograph there, and I would like to recommend it to everyone. http://www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk/park/madagascar/index.php

My website is now back up, although it currently only works as www.elizabethkay.co.uk, and not www.elizabeth-kay.co.uk, as printed in my books.

Website troubles

2008-07-02T13:21:00.000-07:00

If you've reached here by some circuitous route and can't link back to my website, it's because it's down for the moment. I hope to have it back up and running soon - in the meantime, if you want to contact me, use elizabethkay@hotmail.co.uk

Hay-on-Wye

2008-06-03T06:13:00.001-07:00

The Hay-on-Wye Festival is a treat for all book lovers, although the weather this year was absoutley frightful, and the car park was a mud wallow. This is me signing autographs with Penny Dolan, whose latest book The Third Elephant, published in 2007, is all about a little wooden elephant who follows his dream... to India!

The kids we met were extremely nice, too - there are so many avid readers out there, who ask really tricky questions and expect really good answers...

Lilywithers advises...

2008-05-24T01:42:00.000-07:00

Dear Lilywithers,
I'm a carrionwing, and my absolute FAVE hobby is screeching in thunderstorms.You want to hear my problem? One word: TONSILITIS! Help!
Stormcrow

Hiya, Stormcrow.
Whatever you do, don't be tempted to try one of Snakeweed's remedies. Tripleheads recommend pukeberry sauce as a cure for just about everything, but I think you should just shut up for a bit.
Cheers, Lilywithers

Back again!

2008-05-13T13:18:00.000-07:00

The hot sunny weather has been good news for snakes. I haven't seen anything of the adders this year yet, but I watched a grass snake hunting for over an hour. It didn't catch anything, though.

Another problem for Lilywithers

2008-05-13T13:09:00.000-07:00

Dear Lilywithers, I'm a female brazzle. I'm only young, so my historian skills aren't amazing, but I am a bit of a perfectionist. I had spent ages using my father's dirtboard to write out historical facts about spells and things like that, and when I had finished I showed my father. It was the first big fact page I had ever written so my he gave me a big celebration. I was so proud of myself that I read through it all again, and I spotted a MISTAKE!!! It was terrible! Now I'm checking my work through so much that I'm working really slowly... I know it's not much, but I get a panic attack every time I think that I've done something wrong...PLEASE HELP ME!!Thunderwing

Hi Thunderwing, You need to learn to chill out. Try having a dust bath. Dirt boards have other uses too, you know!
Cheers, Lilywithers

The Worrit - a poem

2008-05-08T13:06:00.000-07:00

Different ears,
a sausage tongue
When you fall down laughing
you know it has won.

One eye green
one eye yellow
full of hilarity
that can kill a fellow.

Erica Gardner
Almost Twelve (but not quite)
Michigan, U.S.A.

A problem for Lilywithers

2008-05-08T12:58:00.000-07:00

Dear Pewtermane, I'm a brittlehorn just like you, but my horn doesn't seem to shine as brightly as all of the other brittlehorns. In fact, it hardly shines at all. I've tried meditating on it, but the answer just isn't coming. I have cleaned it, polished it, asked a female brazzle if she thought my ancestors might've had this problem, asked a budding herbalist named Betony...Nothing works! Is there some sort of magical ointment that I haven't yet tried, some special incantation? Please help, the other young brittlehorns are teasing me!Yours,Featherhoof.

Hiya Featherhoof - I'm Lilywithers, and I'm doing Pewtermane's column while he meditates on the nature of an itch. Your mates are seriously out of touch - horns that don't shine are really cool this season. I suggest you muddy-up your hooves to match, and tell them all to go roll in a dunghill!

Cheers, Lilywithers

What do children's writers do at the weekend?

2008-04-26T14:12:00.000-07:00

Children's writers meet one another at all sorts of events - festivals, book launches, conferences -and they're a friendly lot. This means that they tend to get together at other times, too, and this weekend Susan Price and I did just that and had a whale of a time trying out some stocks. All in the name of research, of course! Susan's latest book, Feasting The Wolf, was published last year by Usborne. It's a dramatic story of courage and honour, set in the time of the Vikings, and it will keep you hooked right to the end. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Feasting-Wolf-Susan-Price/dp/0746077009/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209280617&sr=1-1

Baby birds...

2008-04-22T03:41:00.001-07:00

All baby animals are cute - and baby birds can be absolutely gorgeous. Because birds that fly have to fledge before they leave the nest, they don't look all that different to their parents. They need their wing feathers before they can get out and about. But birds that swim and birds that run are a different matter. We don't have ostriches or cassowaries or emus in England, but we do have lots of ducks and geese and swans...

Spring is here... well, nearly...

2008-03-25T12:22:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd show you a couple of plants that make a change from daffodils and tulips. They are both insectivorous plants - they grow in poor soil and get most of their nutrition from insects. The monster on the left is the biggest pitcher plant in the world, and I used it as one of the jinx box's disguises in Jinx on the Divide. The plant below is the biggest flower in the world, and it smells even worse than a sinistrom. It's called Rafflesia. I took both of these photographs when I was in Borneo in 2004.

Unauthorised Links

2008-02-25T01:39:00.000-08:00

Two messages were posted on my previous entry here, both of which had links pasted in. As I do not know either of the authors of these, I have deleted them without opening them in case they were carrying viruses. If you want a link from my site, please e-mail me personally through the contact page on the main website, explaining your reasons.

Author visits

2008-02-22T00:19:00.000-08:00

I'm sometimes asked if I do author visits to schools, book groups, festivals and library events, and the answer is - yes. I live in the south-east of England, and I'm willing to travel anywhere in that region. But I also have friends I like to visit in different parts of the country, and so other areas are possible too. For details of what I do, visit the Scattered Authors Website.

http://www.scatteredauthors.org/index.htm

My latest book

2008-02-05T08:20:00.000-08:00

Fury, my new book, will be published by Barrington Stoke on 22nd March. It's about a girl who lets the Furies of Ancient Greece escape into our world through a crack in an old pot... There's a link to it on Amazon. co.uk below. This is a stand-alone book, rather than the beginning of a series.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fury-Elizabeth-Kay/dp/1842995693/ref=sr_1_31?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1195830746&sr=1-31

Best wishes for the new year

2008-01-04T04:45:00.001-08:00

I hope 2008 is a good year for you all - I have a new book coming out in March, called Fury. It's published by Barrington Stoke, and I'll post more details closer to the time.

New writing classes I'm teaching this term - at the Leatherhead Institute, Surrey, starting at 7.30pm on 14th January - telephone 01634 298600, and at The Malden Centre, Surrey, starting at 1.00pm on 17th January, telephone 020 8336 7770.

Happy Christmas Everyone!

2007-12-24T09:47:00.001-08:00

I would like to wish all my readers the season's greetings.

Spam, spam, spam...

2007-12-08T01:16:00.000-08:00

Due to platefuls of spam lately, it's possible that e-mails you have sent me have been identified as Junk by my computer. In the absence of a good fire-breather mail system, please try again, and give your e-mail a heading that makes it clear you know something about one of the books. Anything that looks as though you're trying to sell me something will be dumped unread...

And then there are the deer...

2007-11-10T01:16:00.000-08:00

When I go adder-watching, I often see roe deer. Because I'm standing so still, and keeping so quiet, they often don't see me until the last moment. They veer to one side and go bounding off as though the hounds of hell are at their heels, clearly horrified by their lapse of concentration. The best way watch creatures as timid as these is to disguise your outline, so that they don't see you as a human being. I photographed these two from behind a tree.

More snakes...

2007-10-23T07:54:00.000-07:00

It seems that there's an interloper at Adder Mansions... This rather handsome grass snake has been basking in the late autumn sunshine, not too far away from the pile of brushwood the adders call Home. It's a bit shy about having its photograph taken, however, and doesn't hang around for long.

Lilywithers introduces herself

2007-10-12T05:54:00.000-07:00

Hiya, kids, colts, fillies and foals!

My name's Lilywithers, and I'm taking over from Pewtermane as agony aunt. I'm a lot younger than the old master - I've only just completed my Thinking is Good for You course - but I'm raring to go. My special interests are mythical singers; unlike Fuzzy, I'm not into squawk music. I think Led Zeppelin and the Arctic Monkeys are really smooth. So let's get started.

Dear Pewtermane,
Help! I am a Japegrin and my eyes are starting to turn blue! I'm trying to find a potion to change them back; I was considering Snakeweed's potions, but I'm not sure I trust him... He's scary.

Your friend, Rainflower

Dear Rainflower,
What a cool name! Names are like, crucial. You’re dead right not to trust Snakeweed’s potions. If I were you, I’d listen to a lot of Frank Sinatra records because there's an old brittlehorn saying - like cures like. To find out Frank Sinatra’s nickname, click here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Sinatra
and look under Background information.

Lilywithers
pp Pewtermane

Adding some more wildlife photos...

2007-09-22T08:03:00.000-07:00

Today I achieved a lifetime's ambition by seeing a pair of adders in the wild. September is a good time for spotting snakes in England, as the weather has begun to get a little cooler and they are more sluggish. Although adders are poisonous, and a bite should always be treated seriously, there have only been 12 deaths from adder bites in the last 100 years. Snakes are far more frightened of people than we realise, and they will escape at the first opportunity.

I do like reptiles; I think they're really beautiful, and when, eventually, these two slithered off it looked as though someone had poured them away like water. Adders in England hibernate each winter, and a lot of them may use the same place. They don't lay eggs; they give birth to live young.

There are two very good websites I can recommend:

http://www.crislis.co.uk/adder/index.htm

http://www.herp.it/

And I've just discovered that snakes don't hibernate, they brumate... For information on this and diapause, estivation, and torpor, go to

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dormancy

Frigate birds and fruit bats

2007-09-11T04:02:00.000-07:00

I have been to Mexico this past week, birdwatching and visiting the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza. It’s the first time I’ve returned to Central America since I went to Costa Rica and had the inspiration for The Divide, and it was just as beautiful as I remembered. The pelicans and the frigate birds were the most memorable sightings, soaring over the hotel with an elegance and an expertise that left me awestruck.

The most exciting part of the trip was snorkelling in an underground river system, accessed through a cenote, which is a sinkhole filled with crystal clear water. As you go further in the caves are decorated with the most exquisite stalactites and stalagmites, and cave swallows and fruit bats make their homes in the rocky roof.

I was very impressed by the organisers (http://www.alltournative.com/) who are committed to eco-tourism and supporting sustainable development for the Mayan people who live there today. You are not allowed to swim if you’re wearing insect repellent, suntan lotion or perfume, as it pollutes the water. My guide, Markus, was a turtle expert. We kayaked out to a reef and swam in the Caribbean with loggerhead turtles, parrotfish and a stingray! And as a final treat, in the airport gardens, I saw a pair of Morpho butterflies. Those of you who’ve read The Divide may remember the line on page 10… A Morpho butterfly the size of a tea-plate, its wings the most astonishing metallic blue…

The Wasp Spider

2007-08-29T08:06:00.000-07:00

Today I found one of the most beautiful spiders we have in England - Argiope bruennichi. She weaves a large orb web, with an amazing zig-zag pattern in it. The male is very tiny, and may only be a quarter of the size of the female, who can be as large as two centimetres in length. You can see an insect she has caught for her dinner, and wrapped in silk. Of course, it could be her mate... This spider is sometimes known as the Wasp Spider, because of her striped markings, and she's completely harmless to humans. I've never seen one before, so I was thrilled to come across her in Nonsuch Park, in Surrey. I left her exactly where she was, of course. If there weren't any spiders we'd all be overrun with insects in no time at all!

Rain, floods, and new reviews

2007-07-28T08:23:00.000-07:00

We've had some really bad weather in the UK just lately. There has been lots and lots of rain, and some flooding, and because of this we had to drink bottled water for 24 hours! The wet weather has slowed down the growth of many plants, but it's been heaven on earth for the slugs and snails.

I took a photograph of this baby robin enjoying one of the brief spells of sunshine that we've had. Robins are very tame, and they often follow you round the garden, hoping that you'll turn over a juicy little caterpillar...

Alan Brown has just posted a new review of The Divide on his site, Just For Kids Who Love Books. This is the link: http://alanbrown.com/JustForKids/Reviews_07_Jul/Z_ReviewJul07.html

It's a really nice site, simple to use and easy to read. Take a look - there are lots of other book reviews up there, all written by kids aged 8 - 14, with useful pages such as how to write a letter to an author.

Of course, if the author has a website you can always send an email instead, and you'll find plenty of links to them there as well.

There's also a new review by Mark Robson on his own site, which I recommend you explore.
http://www.chronicles-network.com/forum/39609-the-divide-elizabeth-kay.html

Writing classes

2007-07-10T13:23:00.000-07:00

I shall be teaching two creative writing courses in the autumn term, starting in the week beginning 17th September. One will be at Therfield School, in Leatherhead, on Monday evenings, from 7.30 - 9.30. Details can be found on the WEA site.

The other will be at The Malden Centre, from 1.00 - 3.00 on Thursday afternoons. The Malden Centre is in Surrey, and can be reached by train from Waterloo, or bus from Kingston upon Thames.
http://www.kingston.gov.uk/browse/leisure/recreation_and_leisure/leisure_centres/malden_centre.htm

Review and Interview

2007-06-21T11:41:00.000-07:00

There's a new review of The Divide, and an author interview on http://www.teensreadtoo.com/

In reply to Ryan's email

2007-05-21T23:18:00.000-07:00

Dear Ryan,
I've been unable to reply to your email, as it keeps being rejected.

As Pewtermane is still meditating on the true nature of an itch (he’s tackled fleas, lice and heat rash so far) he remains unavailable to answer your problems. The fleas got a little out of hand, so at the moment he feels he has enough problems of his own. He has, however, asked me to deal with anything that crops up. So, Ryan, in answer to your question about how you change your ancestry the answer is: you can’t. You could always lie about it, of course, which is probably what Pewtermane meant. You would also like to know what’s wrong with being part japegrin. Nothing whatsoever, as long as you like the company of sinistroms. They prefer japegrins as masters, as japegrins are more likely to order them to do something really violent. If you wish to take this discussion any further, please do it through comments.

A Plug for the Countryside

2007-05-20T13:49:00.000-07:00

They've discovered, apparently, that a walk in the countryside lifts depression. It's also an excellent way of solving writing problems, because you don't have many distractions. We're so used to getting electronic information in sight and sound alone that the opportunity to use all your senses at once can be really stimulating. I've come up with names for characters, plot twists, titles... Today (Sunday) I heard a cuckoo, saw some deer, smelt some flowers, felt the sun on my face, and ate a really yummy almond cake halfway through the walk. Not to mention basking in the warm glow of smugness at the amount of exercise I'd had without it seeming like a trial. Go for walk in the real world, and create fantasy ones when you get back!

Elizabeth in Ukraine

2007-04-25T04:20:00.000-07:00

During April I attended a conference on children's literature in Ukraine. Initially, I flew to Krakow, in Poland, and stayed with my relatives until I was joined a few days later by some of the other delegates. We then caught the train to L'viv, crossing the border to Ukraine at Przemysl. In L'viv, some students have been translating the first few chapters of The Divide into Ukrainian - you can see them on the left. Everyone was very kind and helpful, and the food was wonderful! Although I don't remember much of the Russian I learned at school, it was a big help when I had to decipher street names written in Cyrillic... After the conference finished I took the train to Kyiv (formerly Kiev), which has some wonderful architecture - and the best Metro system I've ever encountered. Above is a photo of me in Maidan Nezalezhnosti, which means Independence Square. And Hello to Russell from Leicester, who owns the whole Divide trilogy and came onstage after my reading in the Palace of Arts in L'viv to introduce himself. How bizarre was that?