New book available soon

 

Publication date set for 14th April - which is Belle's birthday - I wonder if she knows what a special lady she is...

Belle is an ex racehorse, but she doesn't know what that means. She was born to race, so what now…?

Maybe she's a jumper, a dressage horse or an explorer… she still has the instinct to race whenever she gets the chance; but maybe just horsing around could be fun too.

#exracehorse #LostinaBook 

Children love boxes, because when you have a box you can play anything...

Coming soon 

New from Lost in a Book: 

 

Being printed right now ready for an August 1st publication:

I'm sure this book will strike a cord with many people, we all know that we can buy a child the most expensive toy only to find them playing happily with the box... because if you have a box, it can be anything you want it to be...

See what Ollie's imagination can come up with once he has an empty box to play with... 

#LostinaBook

New - Basil gift pack

NEW! Basil gift pack 

Gift pack includes 1 book and 1 handknitted toy (Basil) cat: approximatly 7cm tall, 9cm nose to back end.

 Front view book and cat:   Back view book and cat: 

Book synopsis:

The door had always worked perfectly well, until the day that Mr Feed-Me cut a hole in it and fitted a flappy thing. Then the door stopped working and everyone started acting a bit crazy… Mr Feed-Me was on the floor using it as a window. 

Mrs Feed-Me kept calling to Basil through it instead of opening the door, and Small Feed-Me tried to post Basil through it like a letter through a letter box.

Then one stormy night Basil found that he had a use for the flappy thing after all, but it wasn't really what Mr Feed-Me had in mind…

32 page full colour paperback

ISBN 978-0-9560232-5-4

Lost in a Book

Author - knitting and horsing around...?

 

Sheep production has resumed... this sheep seems to have its legs set ready to jump - could it be because I knitted it while watching the Grand National on tv...?

And what about the horse - no that one isn't for sale, it was knitted for a challenge to knit a thoroughbred. At least this one won't mug me for carrots, like the real life one it's modeled on. I feel there may be a horse story coming on at some point...   

So... enough of the knitting and horsing around, let's get back to some books - if you want a book thebookshop is always open - I'll be somewhere about painting the illustrations.

Sheep - Promotion or Distraction...?

Wool shopping done, future sheep emergency averted..

So what's with all the sheep...?

Well, they started as a fun thing to put on my tables at book signings, and soon became a talking point. From the small child in a buggy who pointed and said "Baa" to the lady who bought one to put in her crib scene at Christmas - they certainly get noticed.

But where did they come from...?

They're the unruly characters from But I'm not Sleepy - who'd have thought that counting sheep to try and get to sleep could have led to this? So this morning instead of doing what you'd expect an author to be doing, I've been sourcing some more wool to build up my flock.

What age are picture books for?

I'm often asked what age my books are for... that has to be the hardest question of all, harder even than how long does it take to write a book...?

Picture books are enjoyed by a wide age range, from babies who enjoy the pictures and the sound of your voice, through toddlers who start to get the story, and love the repetition of being read a favourite story. As children grow they will understand a bit more of what is going on in the story, and ultimately enjoy reading along or reading in turns - they may be able to read a chapter book, but it doesn't mean they can't still enjoy a picture book. And they can still enjoy being read to...

Picture books are the perfect length for a bedtime story - what better way to end the day than to read the whole book...! 

Most fears are rooted in fear of the unknown, so lets make monsters fun in kids fiction

The Monster Under The Bed - 10th Birthday on 31st January 2015

Monsters in children's fiction - what is it that makes people shy away from buying a book about a monster? 

Children like a hint of something scary, read to them in a safe environment, as long as all is well in the end.   ...so go on, buy a copy... I dare you to!

Books about monsters can even help children who are scared of the dark - there are lists of books for just this purpose - and The Monster Under The bed is right up there on the search lists.

Most fears are rooted in fear of the unknown, so making monsters fun goes a long way towards allaying those fears.

  

The Monster Under The Bed 10th anniversary... because kids love a scary story, read in a safe environment... as long as all is well in the end

The Monster Under The Bed - 10th Birthday on 31st January 2015

It's a title that grabs everyone's attention - it seems we all have a story to tell of the monster that lurks under our beds...

But it's also a title that makes people shy away  in case it frightens their children - hey, come on, it's a children's picture book - it was written to entertain, not give nightmares.

Children like a hint of something scary, read to them in a safe environment, as long as all is well in the end. The Monster Under The Bed has a surprise ending to make you smile... so go on, buy a copy... I dare you to!

  The Monster Under The Bed came out almost 10 years ago, and there's still a few first editions in my online bookshop.

It took it's place in Borders after my in store book signing:

 

It lead me to do a library opening and feature in Writers' News: 

 

The Monster Under The Bed was my first published book, and is now in second edition under my own imprint: Lost in a Book

Priceless: being told that a copy of The Monster Under The Bed has been read until it's shabby - it's been a loved book, just like a favourite teddy.  

Let the books come to you - from Lost in a Book

January at Lost in a Book:

Time to read, time to write and time to get the paints out and make some mess...!

It's snowing at last! Yes that's right, I love the snow, though it does look a bit wet... no snowman today :(

Anyway, make sure you wipe your feet on the virtual doormat on your way into my online shop, we don't want the floor turning into a skating rink...!

So what's the big idea at Lost in a Book this week? Well since it's snowing, and it is ski season - A Face Full of Snow is my big promotion this week - it's in the shop window on my homepage, where you can read an excerpt, and at the top of my online bookshop 

So come on in and browse around - pop along and have a chat on my facebook page - I'll be happy to drop everything and rush a book into the post for you...

  

Book excerpt: A Face full of Snow

 

“You wouldn’t say that if you met him,” said Eric, thinking about Iver and HB left safely at home. Iver No-Idea and his dog HB were doodles.

But they were no ordinary doodles – they came to life, and words and pictures came to life around them, which was not always a good thing. Iver No-Idea had been learning to ski in a ski brochure. He’d been practising for weeks; he’d gone through every page. He’d skied down every ski run, and now he thought he was an expert.

A Face Full of Snow by Anne M Stephenson - from Lost in a Book

Lost in a Book does best at fairs and book signings, but in January wouldn't you rather browse my onlinebookshop rather than battle through the storms to go shopping...?

 Let me bring my books to you...

This week I'm featuring A Face Full of Snow

 

Third in the Doodle series:

As Eric crashes his way down the ski slope, totally out of control, his only consolation is that Iver No-Idea isn't there to see.

Iver No-Idea and his dog HB are doodles. But they are no ordinary doodles - they're alive, and words and pictures come alive around them. Iver No-Idea has been learning to ski in a ski brochure. He's been practising for weeks and now he thinks he's an expert, and can't wait to tell Eric how it's done.

But when Iver No-Idea and HB are left behind, they find a way to gatecrash Eric's holiday. They arrive at just the wrong time, causing their own unique brand of trouble.

50 page paperback

Black and white line drawings

New bestseller...

A Face Full of Snow was my bestseller at the fair on Saturday - outselling But I'm Not Sleepy for the first time, then they were equal bestsellers on Sunday.

As Eric crashes his way down the ski slope, totally out of control, his only consolation is that Iver No-Idea isn't there to see.

Iver No-Idea and his dog HB are doodles. But they are no ordinary doodles – they're alive, and words and pictures come alive around them. Iver No-Idea has been learning to ski in a ski brochure. He's been practising for weeks and now he thinks he's an expert, and can't wait to tell Eric how it's done.

But when Iver No-Idea and HB are left behind, they find a way to gatecrash Eric's holiday. They arrive at just the wrong time, causing their own unique brand of trouble.

50 page paperback

Black and white line drawings.

Books, book signings and sheep...?

Here's a little excerpt from my home page, where you'll find a little bit of cyberspace which is dedicated to books - good old fashioned print on paper books that you can hold and read with no worries about batteries running out... but you will need a light to read by as it gets dark...

  

There's also a bit of a sheep theme running around this month, as woolly escapees from my bestseller But I'm Not Sleepy vie for attention among the books...

For a limited time I am offering my sheep knitting pattern absolutely free... 

Free knitting pattern now you can knit your own sheep, or knit a flock and then you can really count sheep...

 

My little bookshop in cyberspace is always open. It's a book signing that's always there waiting for you. There's even some first editions and a special short print run...

So have a rummage in the bookshop - there's my new true cat story: Outnumbered by Cats for adults. There are picture books to share and read aloud, and the Doodle series to read aloud or to encourage early readers to discover the joy of reading alone.  

Priceless: being told that a copy of The Monster Under The Bed has been read until it's shabby - it's been a loved book, just like a favourite teddy.  

For the rest of my ramblings pop along to my website. 

A little bookshop with big ideas

I have an online bookshop... it's tucked away down a back alley where no one can find it.

So what is the mission...?

Well to open up that back alley of course, or at the very least, to put spot lights around the entrance and make everyone who passes want to know what's down there...

So here's the plan...

I'm running a special promotion:

When? This Friday 18th July 2014

Why? because I can - I love being my own boss.

What? I'm calling it 'Make me an offer Friday'

What the...? On Friday There'll be one book up for grabs, and I invite everyone to make an offer on that book, and the best offer gets the book.

The details...? The details will be on this page in the coming days, so watch this space...

Terms and conditions - lets keep it simple. There will be one book only, up for grabs on this offer. The highest offer gets the book, by the end of Friday 18th July 2014 Uk time, and my decision is final.

Cat Flap season has started...

It seems that the cat flap season has started... we've already had a rat and a mouse brought in - the rat was discarded on the floor and should probably have made me jump, but I think I''m just getting used to such things now... The mouse was obviously more prized, and I had to have a chase around the house after Captain, who really wanted it for himself.

And there was me thinking that a cat flap would make life easier...

When fiction comes true... on the ski slope

I'm pleased to see that sales of A Face Full of Snow have picked up again, I don't know whether it's the winter Olympics that's spurred on the interest in skiing, or just the time of year - it is after all still the ski season out there, even  if it doesn't seem much like it in York as the sun burns its way through the last of the morning mist... I just hope Iver No-Idea and his dog HB don't escape and pop out of a mobile phone on a ski slope and disrupt someone's holiday, like they did Eric's. 

Of course the chances of them popping up on a phone on a ski slope are now quite high - when I first wrote the story, it was aimed at a printed book, but now that it's an ebook too it could very easily pop up on a mobile phone on a ski slope - strange how fiction can sometimes come true...

 So if you get A Face Full of Snow on your mobile - watch out that they stay in there, and don't jump out and course havoc...

The Winter Olympics

Like many others I'm looking forward to watching the winter Olympics. I love to watch the skiing and snowboarding and marvel at the speed and skill, and the fact that their skis seem to be under control and not trying to make a break for freedom every time the carry them on their shoulders.

But like many other calamities, my early ski attempts did inspire a book - A Face Full of Snow will strike a cord with skiers everywhere whether they're taking to the slopes for the first time, or remember when they did... 

As Eric crashes his way down the ski slope, totally out of control, his only consolation is that Iver No-Idea isn't there to see.

Iver No-Idea and his dog HB are doodles. But they are no ordinary doodles – they're alive, and words and pictures come alive around them. Iver No-Idea has been learning to ski in a ski brochure. He's been practising for weeks and now he thinks he's an expert, and can't wait to tell Eric how it's done.

But when Iver No-Idea and HB are left behind, they find a way to gatecrash Eric's holiday. They arrive at just the wrong time, causing their own unique brand of trouble.

50 page paperback

Black and white line drawings

ISBN 978-0-9560232-3-0

Buy now form my online shop.

Also available on kindle

Read me a story...

Here's a short sample to whet your appetitie.
Read and enjoy...

A Face Full of Snow

Chapter 1

Whoosh! Splat!
Eric’s first attempt at skiing ended up with him flat on his back in the snow, like a stranded bug. He tried to get up, but his skis had other ideas, they felt like a pair of over sized planks strapped to his feet.
“I’m glad Iver wasn’t here to see that,” muttered Eric, sitting up.
“Who’s Iver?”
Eric looked up into a pair of green eyes, waggling about on stalks. They were growing out of a green hat, which was pulled over an explosion of orange hair.

“Hi, I’m Aline,” said the owner of the orange hair.
“Alien?” Eric sat up with a start, his skis clattering together in protest.
“No... Aline. Who’s Iver?”
“Oh just a friend of mine,” said Eric. He couldn’t tell a complete stranger the truth, even one who had an alien on her head.
“And is Iver a good skier?” persisted Aline.
“Well he likes to think he is,” said Eric. “If he was here he’d be telling me what to do all the time.”
“That might not be such a bad idea,” said Aline.
“You wouldn’t say that if you met him,” said Eric, thinking about Iver and HB left safely at home. Iver No-Idea and his dog HB were doodles.

But they were no ordinary doodles – they came to life, and words and pictures came to life around them, which was not always a good thing...

You can buy this book now for just £3.50

Have you got a reluctant reader?

What makes a child reluctant to read?

Maybe they just need to find the right book, the one that draws them in until they forget they're reading at all, and become part of the story.

Maybe they need a book which is set out for early readers, and I don't mean a set reading book, but a fun story, set out in chapters so that they can feel a sense of achievement when they finish a chapter, but still with pictures so that the text is broken up making the pages less daunting.

Try reading a page in turns - it's fun to share a book.

Before long they will have finished a book and be hungry for the next...

A Face Full of Snow is now of special offer just £3.50 and still postage free!! from my website.

As Eric crashes his way down the ski slope, totally out of control, his only consolation is that Iver No-Idea isn't there to see.

Iver No-Idea and his dog HB are doodles. But they are no ordinary doodles – they're alive, and words and pictures come alive around them. Iver No-Idea has been learning to ski in a ski brochure. He's been practising for weeks and now he thinks he's an expert, and can't wait to tell Eric how it's done.

But when Iver No-Idea and HB are left behind, they find a way to gatecrash Eric's holiday. They arrive at just the wrong time, causing their own unique brand of trouble.

50 page paperback

Black and white line drawings

ISBN 978-0-9560232-3-0

Book signing

Another week another Christmas shopping evening - this week it's at Knavesmire Primary School in York. Thursday 7 - 9pm where I'll be inviting everyone to get Lost in a Book this Christmas.

I have new stocks of Lost in the Christmas Post - the second print run arrived just in time for the Christmas rush...