WRITER NOT HIBERNATING, SNAILS – CHECK!

Robert Piggott CofE Junior School

I had a wonderful day at this school yesterday with Years 3,4 and 5. The children were so careful with snails Bob and Gary and I’m looking forward to receiving some lovely colouring sheets back in the post soon. I hope all those who bought books yesterday enjoy their snail reads!

With thanks to Jane Miller for making all the arrangements, to Jenny Hargraves, the school’s literacy co-ordinator, for finding me on ContactAnAuthor.com and to everyone at the school for making me feel so welcome.

Waterstone’s

Sadly, we have had to postpone our 6th November appearance at Waterstone’s in Alton because most of our baby snails have gone into hibernation. Sorry if anyone was hoping to grab a snail in time for Christmas. But they will reappear, as will we, at Waterstone’s, in the springtime.

Lavant CoE Primary School

Bob, Gary and I had a wonderful reception at Lavant CofE. The children were very careful with the snails and listened patiently to our story about how we as a family began to write children’s books. The snail delivery went very well, and was completed all in time before the snails went into hibernation. Enjoy your snails everyone!

Bishop Tufnell

Two wonderful specimens were safely delivered care of Royal Mail, to Sasha Cremor at Bishop Tufnell School, Felpham near Bognor Regis in October. Harry, who won the Snail Trail colouring competition way back in the summer, took delivery of one baby giant African land snail, whilst the school added the other to their existing tank.

Snail News

Some interesting news for African land snail lovers. I read a useful piece of news on a snail website recently. For those of you who have rabbits and feed them with pellets, it has been suggested that African land snails could benefit from rabbit pellets because they offer a good source of calcium. This means that the snails would get extra calcium to make their shells grow even stronger. We have already introduced rabbit pellets to our snails and they are munching on them very happily. Must remember to put that snippet in one of our books …..

…. And finally ..

Talking of books, I am FINALLY in the middle of writing the fourth snail book, Snail Movie, having started it so many times this year, as some of you may have already read! I wanted the book to have a Halloween theme so I’m trying to make it as spooky as I can.

To the lovely girls from Alton Convent who have waited so patiently – I will need your help on the cover which has now got a very different feel to it – so watch this space.

I have briefed the wonderful Guy Nicholson on a design. He tells me that we will have a rough sketch by November 15th.

I am too excited for words!

I will be inviting Sienna, Charlotte and Rebecca from the Convent to see what they think of the rough sketch, particularly as they were so kind to offer some original thoughts on the Snail Movie cover. If they think it needs any changes I will be open to all their thoughts …..

In the meantime, can anyone help with ideas for a goody bag for Snail Movie please? Would anyone like to design a T-shirt for the book? Should we design our own purple notebook and purple smelly pen? Thoughts on a post card to madaboutsnailbooks ..

Enjoy Bonfire Night, everyone, but remember, if you do have African land snails they should be able to hear the loud bangs associated with fireworks, so please keep them tucked away indoors this weekend.

Bye for now.
Sarah