New school year, new stories

I started writing this back in January, but as is often the way for me, blogging always falls to the end of any list I have. That being said, for any of you who have been poised on an update since last September can I sincerely apologise for the 12 month wait.

First things first, yes - the transplant happened, yes - it went swimmingly, yes - we are recovered and euphoric that the wonderful teams in both Beaumont Hospital and Temple Street Children's hospital were able to look after us so well. The first week post surgery was possibly the most intense week of my life not because of my own recovery but because of being away from Thomas while he was hospitalised and getting reports of his recovery second hand. Every text and every phone call told me of a new milestone reached - the new kidney making urine, the new kidney clearing all waste, the new kidney balancing salts and minerals, the new kidney balancing his blood pressure and to everyone’s delight, the new kidney seemed to take over from his own native kidneys almost immediately. Anyone who's ever had a family member go to hospital knows that the most worrying part is when the doctor tells you about the risks and in our case the risks for both of us were quite a lot. And yet not one risk manifested - it really couldn’t have gone better.

Recovery ran from November until after Christmas which meant we had 6 weeks of eating well, sleeping well and endless films, books and TV. Bliss.

So as the new school year begins, a new story starts for Thomas - one that is hospital free and life full. I am back writing, so happy to be out and about for lots of school, library and festival visits again. New stories have crept into my notebooks while bed bound, and I very much look forward to exploring them and seeing what homes they find.

Without any further ado here’s my newest book out October 8th with Templar Books and illustrated by HUỲNH KIM LIÊN. Unusually for me, I am slightly overwhelmed by this book. Normally I can visualise spreads in my books quite easily, and I'm always surprised by how an illustrator has interpreted lines from my stories, a character's or scene’s appearance in a new and innovative way. However in the case of Liên she has made my imagined world entirely real. Rich colours, dynamic scenes, quiet aloneness and the evocative ending. Liên has put it all into this book. How do I put such brilliance into words?

I suspect it is because the book is 48 pages long (12 more than usual) which allows more space for luminous moments of visual impact when combined with certain key sentences. I caught my breath when I read it for the first time, so I must thank Amelia Warren my editor at Templar Books, who on reading the story, had a vision for the book in this longer format. It's quite luxurious with its cloth hardback and beautiful foil highlights - I can't wait for you to see it!

If October is too far away, you can have a peek at Liên’s stunning illustrations here.