Hello fellow Children’s Writers and Friends,

Well here we are, first post since the holidays and it’s a day early! But it seemed the perfect day for this post,

so whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day, or Library Lovers Day, or even International Book Giving Day, you might be interested to know why I love the KidLit industry. Here’s my top 5!

1. I know I’ve said this before but, the KidLit community is such a friendly, supportive group of people who are all striving for success, but at the same time, revel in every little success I have.

2. It is a group where incredibly creative people willingly share their knowledge and experience in interviews, blogs, vlogs, podcasts, websites and on You Tube and social media.

3. A plethora of opportunities to meet with publishers, editors and other writers and illustrators exist, and at a range of prices with something to suit every budget.

4. The sheer joy of writing for children of course, otherwise I wouldn’t be here amongst these wonderful people in the first place.

5. Amazing organisations like CBCA SCBWI CKT and the children’s bookshops and libraries, which often host them making them more affordable and accessible. These are truly special places, with a generous sprinkling of fairy dust where knowledgeable and passionate people share all of the above abundantly.

And a bonus or two? OK

1.The books themselves are delightful, poignant, joyful, playful, clever and often (especially in the case of Picture Books) truly beautiful.

2. Book Launches by these wonderfully creative, friendly supportive people at the aforementioned fairy dust- sprinkled children’s bookshops and libraries are a lot of fun.

As I wrote this, ideas were shooting around my brain and becoming a tangled mess, so I found myself asking some other writers for their favourites and before I knew it, I had another idea and so I plan to research some more, sort and then record all of these ideas in an article. This as it turns out is one final bonus about writing (probably not just for children) for me to share; that once the ideas start coming, these sparkly magical gems bounce off each other and multiply, shining all the more brightly, like fireflies in dark, old railway tunnels.

I hope you’ve had a very happy day, no matter which commemoration of love you’re celebrating,

Farewell for now fellow travellers,

Savour the quest,

Journeygirl