UK and Ireland Domination Tour – Part 4

I think I’ve used this analogy before, but here goes. When my husband was a little boy, and he was having a really really awesome day, he’d say, “I’d better eat some green peas.” Because he HATED green peas (they came out of a tin in Sweden at that time). And he felt he needed something to sort of … bring him back down to earth (remember: They are Lutheran in Sweden, so – god forbid anyone should have TOO much fun).

But I feel the same way on this trip. It’s just been so much fun. I feel like someone should give me a big vat of green peas (although that’s a problem, because I like peas). It’s been rather a dream come true.

Yesterday was a brilliant day. First, this seaside town, Lytham St. Anne’s – absolutely gorgeous. You can walk … and walk … and walk … towards the sea and never actually make it. It’s like an optical illusion. This is the view from the window of my absolutely spectacular hotel room. That IS ocean, way, way out there … Anyhoo – I was picked up in the morning and taken to a school called AKS. Spoke to about 150 kids. In the afternoon I went to a girls’ school (public) in Preston, again about 150 girls. Both visits were really great – such lovely kids, with amazing questions – questions I’ve never had before (I should point out that this was all true of Huddersfield, too – these English kids have some deep thoughts!). I also sold a poop-load of books, which, let’s face it, is a nice bonus, not just for me but for the booksellers and my publisher. My favourite comments came from two kids at AKS: “That was a loovely talk, Miss.” And “I think you’re a very interesting lady.” Oh, and at the girls’ school a girl told me “You’ve inspired me to be a writer.” Can you almost feel my chest puffing out a bit?

I had a break and a beautiful walk on the beach, then it was off to an evening event at the bookshop of mother and daughter team Katie and Carolyn, Storytellers Inc. They opened it, rather on a whim, six years ago. ie not at a time when opening an independent bookstore might have seemed like a winning idea. But they’ve been doing well, and they’re actively involved in the community, and the world of books in the UK, running countless book clubs and sitting on many committees. Katie writes reviews for various publications as well. I have deep admiration for people like Katie, Carolyn and Nicola – they are making a real difference in their communities.

The evening was really fun. I was speaking to members of two of their book clubs – a teen club, and an adult “crossover” club. They read YA. We had a great conversation that included a talk on accents. I tried to do my British accent and a boy there did a really good, if sort of hurtful, Canadian accent 🙂 – flat and nasally – I thought, “Yikes, is that what a really sound like?” We had a great evening. And there were Scrabble tile cookies, made by Katie!!I got to take home “SUSIN.” I still have “USIN” to eat. Here are the wonderful Katie and Carolyn.After a great night’s sleep in the most comfortable bed ever, I had a lovely run-walk on the beach, where I listened to The Clash, Joe Jackson, and best of all, The Who’s “Quadrophenia,” which felt so appropriate in this seaside town. Today is a travel day – will be training to Manchester airport and catching a flight to Dublin for Deptcon 2, where I will be attending with authors like David Levithan and Eoin Colfer (!!). I’m doing a panel with Lisa Williamson, among other things – I am loving her novel, “The Art of Being Normal.” So, by tonight, I will be dining with some booksellers and drinking a pint of Guinness. And possibly seeing leprechauns if I have too many.