Happy New Year!

First of all let me wish everyone a belated but heartfelt Happy New Year. 2012 is looking very exciting with my residency really kicking in and with a whole host of great things on the way. In the next fortnight I’ll be helping to outline the structure of a user-led story for you all – basically a story that I’m going to write but that you’ll be able to direct. So if you’re a budding writer or an avid reader, you’ll be able to get in touch and suggest plot ideas and characters that I’ll then work into a short story. I’ll be honest too – the idea is very scary and something completely new for me – but I’m looking forward to it immensely.

Secondly, between Booktrust, and myself we’ll be aiming to set-up a competition. I’m not sure of the exact details just yet but it will be aimed at all you young writers out there. Part of my desire with this residency is to get teenagers involved with what I do – and this seems like a great way to do just that! More details as we work them out.

I’ll also be running my first ever event for parents and young people at school in Leicestershire at the end of Jan. The event is aimed at boys who are reluctant to read and their dads. I’m delighted to have been asked to get involved and I’ll be talking to the organiser about getting some video-feedback on the day that will hopefully be uploaded on the site for you to enjoy. Getting parents involved in your reading is vital in my opinion – even if it’s just encouraging them to buy you books. After all, you can never have enough books.

Also in the pipeline are interviews with Alan Gibbons, instigator and organiser of The Campaign For The Book, and hopefully with Malorie Blackman and other writers about diversity in teenage and young adult fiction. Protecting your school and local library is in your own best interests so see if you can get involved too. These interviews are only at the planning stage so I’ll provide more details when I get them.

In addition, I’ll be setting up and running a panel event too. My idea is to get teenagers to sit on the panel, and for the publishing industry to ask them questions about what they want from books and literature. For far too long, we adults in publishing have wondered what you, young people, want. It’s about time, in my opinion, that we asked you. Once again, this is something completely new but with your input and ideas, I’m sure we can make it work.

So, as I struggle to get back into my work, after a busy and at times personally challenging 2011, and a three-week break for the festive period, I’ll get my thinking cap on and see what else I can come up. Of course, this residency is about you, the readers, so please feel free to offer ideas and suggestions throughout. If it’s possible, and I have the time, I’ll try and do it. Now, I’d better go and make another pot of coffee and get on with editing my latest novel. The games console has been turned off, the door to my office is closed, and my keyboard is just waiting to be attacked by my fingers. More soon…