Thank you. You gave £55,124.73 for the Philippines

November 26, 2013 by 
I am still overwhelmed by the incredible kindness of so many strangers. Those who donated their books, school visits, paintings, character names and many more. And those who bid so enthusiastically,  with such great humour, egging each other on, building the excitement. And those who got in touch later to say they would still donate the money even though they lost their bids. And Keris and Keren who brought them all together.

Monster Typhoon in the Philippines - it's not just our disaster

November 10, 2013 by 

WHEREVER YOU ARE, YOU CAN HELP THE STORM VICTIMS 

International
Donate directly to the Philippine Red Cross Emergency responders are already providing hot meals and relief items
Save the Children "We deployed a rapid response team to Tacloban and will be distributing emergency kits"
World Food Programme Working with government to restore telecoms and sending fortified biscuits
Local
Good links and advice about giving from Rappler 
You've probably heard by now that over the weekend, the Philippines was devastated by a typhoon of such monstrous proportions that concrete buildings collapsed and tsunami-like storm surges drowned shoreside towns and villages.

To the right is information on how you can help. Thank you in advance for your compassion

MAGIC AND WHALES

Two summers ago, my son Jack, then seventeen, spent more than a month working with other young people at

Not One But TWO School Librarianssssss of the Year 2013

October 08, 2013 by 
This is a looooong report ... so here's a menu!


My trophy picture with the School Librarianz of the Year, John Iona and Hilary Cantwell. I like this picture even though my head looks massive and Hilary appears to be eyeing someone suspiciously off camera. John was a very experienced smiler, so all his photos looked great. Taken by the nice official photographer whose name I didn't get.

Okay so by now you've probably heard that this year, we've got not a School Librarian but SCHOOL LIBRARIANSSSSSSS of the Year. I went last year (because I'm kind of into libraries) and they must have noticed me slinking around because this year they asked to be guest speaker and present the awards.

I was extra pleased to be invited because I wanted to tell the story of a tiny school library-building charity I've become involved with called the Sambat Trust, I wanted to show how in a world where libraries are sometimes regarded by schools as a luxury, in other places they are a matter of survival. Here is a short video juxtaposing images from the Sambat Trust's work in the Philippines and some words from my speech. It stars inspirational school librarian Zarah Gagatiga who travels everywhere there is a need for a school library.

www.sambatrust.org

Here I am giving my speech. That's a Sambat Trust library on the slide. Thanks to Michael Thorn of Achuka for the photo.

Michael Thorn, over at Achuka, was much quicker at the journalism than I was - here is his report on the fabulous day (with great photos that actually have me in it - I took a lot of photos, but I couldn't do any coverage when it was me on the stage)

A DAY OF CELEBRATION: FINALISTS AND WINNERS


Ginette Doyle
I can't tell you how moving the day was - so pleased for the two librarians - "NOT joint winners,"exclaims SLA Chair Ginette Doyle, but each to their own deserving the accolade of SLA School Librarian of the Year.

Hilary Cantwell wins for her evidently noisy and inspiring work at St Paul's Community College in Waterford, the Republic of Ireland.

And smiley John Iona won for initiatives such as Reading Games and for building and supporting the curriculum in Oasis Academy in Enfield, Middlesex where up to seventy per cent of the students have English as a second language.

The day was not just about people but about place - for what is a librarian without a library? The Library Design Award was won by Carterton Community College in Oxfordshire, a small secondary with 560 students.

It was a heavy duty shortlist. Presentations proceeded at a brisk gallop - it's been such a good year that the slate ended up with one more SLY finalist than last year plus a special design commendation for Nansloe Academy's magical Story Garden.

Here are the finalists:

School Librarian of the Year

Library Design Award
Sally Cameron
Marymount International School, Rome		 Caterton Community College
Oxfordshire
Hilary Cantwell
St Paul's Community College, Ireland		 Comberton Village College
Cambridgeshire
Lyn Hopson
Don Valley Academy, Doncaster		 Wyndham Park Infants' School
Salisbury
John IonaOasis Academy, Enfield

LIBRARIANS, LIBRARIANS, EVERYWHERE


I know, I know - they call them 'learning resource managers'. But I'm sorry ... they are still librarians to me. So anyway, here are some photos of some power librarians:

Tricia Adams, SLA director, seemed unflustered and smiley despite the fact that she'd organized the whole thing. Alec Williams graced us with his dulcet compering again - here, he falls on his knees before Tricia in act of unadulterated worship.

Barbara Band, who organized the famous Mass Lobby for Libraries and a previous School Librarian of the Year Honours Listee, and Sue Shaper who chairs the SLG National Committee and runs the Kid's Lit Quiz North London Finals (coming soon - woo hoo!)

Tricia, Joy Court (fresh from announcing the UKLA longlists), Ferelith Hordon, former chair of the CILIP Carnegie, and Ann Lazim of the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education
I have loads of photos in a Facebook Album which I will embed at the end of this post - if it doesn't work, you can find it here though you have to log into FB I think). But before I praise the winners, I just have to share this photo:

Author Stewart Ross spoke on behalf of sponsor Raintree Publishers ... and took the opportunity to flash the audience with the cover of his new book. Now that's self-promotion!

CARTERTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE: THE HEART OF OUR SCHOOL WAS RIPPED OUT


Carterton Community College had a sad but all too familiar story to tell.

It's previous headteacher took the decision to scrap its library. When a new headteacher, Niall McWilliams, arrived in 2008 he was "devasted" to discover that the books had been taken out and the room turned into an engineering classroom for 15 students.

He recalls: "Dismay turned into despair when we discovered that so many of the books - the non-fiction ones in particular - were thrown into skips. To me, this short-sighted act simply proclaimed that we placed little value in education. That we had no expectations or ambitions for our students ... the heart of our school had been ripped out."

When they set off to build a new library they asked the students for suggestions. "Not dull and boring" was one. And: "No primary colours". They resurrected boxes of books that had been in storage. No catalogues had survived "so every box was a surprise".

From the Carterton Community College photo gallery
It was not a big room so everything at the centre of the room could be moved, the key word being FLEXIBILITY. From the Carterton Community College photo gallery

There had to be access to the garden outside for reading in the summer months. From the Carterton Community College photo gallery

Congratulations to Carterton Community College!

HILARY CANTWELL: IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO JUST TEACH STUDENTS TO READ


When her colleagues at St Paul's Community College informed her that they were nominating her for the School Librarian of the Year Award, Hilary Cantwell responded stroppily. "You're wasting your time," she told them. The other nominees would be hardcore inspirational types, whereas she was "just trying to get the students through the door!"

Look ma, DART BOARDS!
Which was the point really. Because, as St Paul's fast cutting video presentation demonstrated, Hilary had succeeded in creating a library that became the beating heart of the school. There were children reading but there were also children drumming, playing board games, playing darts (!!!!)

(The photos at right and below are screen grabs from St Paul's presentation at the SLA event)

"I had to change the concept of the library as a restricted quiet space just for reading and study," says Hilary, who gained her expertise in schools and public libraries in New york before joining an Irish government programme to create school libraries.

So ... I take it she didn't say SHUSH?
Roulette. 

Dental hygiene event.
Congratulations, Hilary! (I'd love to go to your library!)

JOHN IONA: OPEN FOR ALL


John's library is "Open for all" - which means he is a very, very busy man, delivering Oasis Academy's Extended Project Qualification programme as well as supporting curriculum planning. He created The Reading Games, an enticement to read for pleasure, with rewards along the way - and runs a book club where you are guaranteed ... cake! He ferries children to shortlisting events, runs author and poet visits, and is the official information literacy hand-holder for staff.



Congratulations, John, I'm exhausted just reading about what you do.

NANSLOE ACADEMY STORY GARDEN: SPECIAL COMMENDATION


The Nansloe Story Garden in Cornwall didn't meet the official criteria for the Library Design Awards but the judges were so blown away by the imagination and resourcefulness of the primary school, driven by an enthusiastic librarian Heather Foster and visionary principal Charles Field that they gave them a special commendation and next year will open up the award to accommodate such creative endeavours.


Before: a covered area that had turned into a dumping ground,

The school consulted students. Here is one design p roposal.

Another design proposal.

The Time Tunnel Entrance

A Hobbit House big enough to fit a class
Congratulations to Nansloe Academy! I'm dreaming of visiting your Hobbit House someday!


AND ANOTHER THING ...
If your school library could do with a boost in the form of a much needed face lift, new book stock or some professional expertise, the Siobhan Dowd Trust is giving way £6,000 and two £3,000 awards for libraries in need. You need to demonstrate evidence of need, coupled with enthusiasm and a good plan for your library and how it would make a difference to pupils. Winners will be announced a the June 2014 SLA Weekend Course in Manchester. Click here to find out more on their website

More photos below embedded from Facebook - if you can't see the embed, click here.

Post by Candy Gourlay.

Dear Candy Gourlay, how do I become a writer?

September 05, 2013 by 

Before I continue with this blog post ... here's a word from our sponsor:

Today's the day my second novel SHINE is officially available in UK shops in hardback! If you can, please get it from a bookshop near you or order it from your nearest loveable public library!

Last June, I visited a school right on the edge of the Luzon electricity grid in the Philippines - Laurel Elementary School. I was taken there by the Sambat Trust.

I came bearing gifts - my book distributor for schools Anvil Publishing had given me a big bag of picture books (thanks Gwenn!) that I handed out as prizes for even the most trivial of questions.

So the children rapidly went from orderly bemusement:



To this:

Photo: Zarah Gagatiga

SUCCESS! I believe in making books exciting - even if I'm just bribing the children to answer questions.

I talked about how I became a writer and then signed books. In the queue I met this teenage girl from a nearby high school.

Photo: Zarah Gagatiga
She said writing was her passion. But how, she asked me, could she become a writer?

Y'know, it's funny how this is one question that I am asked over and over again by young people. I wonder if other authors get this question in their inboxes as often as I do.

Dear Candy Gourlay, How do I become a writer?

Luckily for today's young writers, they don't just have to aspire quietly in their bedrooms. With the internet, they can contact authors like me directly and ask this burning question. HOW?

The answer of course is a moving feast. Here's what I say to them:

To become a writer you must write and you must read. Lots. You must learn everything you can about the craft. You must decide who you want to write for and create work accordingly. It's a tough business, full of rejection, so you must keep an eye out for others who share your passion. They will support you through the tough times and you must support them. 

I try to answer what I can. But because of my busy schedule, I have to regretfully turn away pieces of writing that these aspiring writers attach to their emails - and I'm very sorry indeed that I don't have the time to help. If we all had the time to mentor young writers like these, what a fantastic literary world this would become!

So when Archway with Words, a new literary festival to be held in my neighbourhood here in North London invited me to create an event, I thought, how about something for young writers?

I came up with this:

23 September 2013, 5pm to 6pm, Archway Library - it's FREE.
It's a chance for young writers to show their work to authors - only 300 words ... 300 words is enough to get a flavour of the writer. I've rustled up a roomful of famous, cool and incredibly good looking authors (my very kind author buddies who are taking alcohol as their reward for showing up) to respond to the pieces.

This is not about criticism, this is about taking your writing to the next level.

Here's how it will work:

1. Submissions will be sent in advance to participating authors - they're attending my book launch which is why I was able to rustle up a roomful of them! Sadly places are limited because time is limited, so do submit sooner rather than later.

2.  On the day, a reader (I'm trying to get an actor) will read each text aloud. The authors will not be identified, though they can identify themselves if they want to later. After reading each text, the authors will respond to the work.

3. We only have 45 minutes to an hour to talk about the work. We will read as many as we can but the aspiring writer will not know if his or her contribution will get read. I attend events like these at writer's conferences and even if your work is not read, it's very, very educational.

4. Aspiring writers ages 12 to 18 submit 300 words (or thereabouts - no need to break off abruptly!) of a piece of writing - it may be fiction or an essay (for lack of time, no poems please). You can write something specially or maybe you've already written a novel or a longer piece - then you can show us a delicious excerpt! Send as an attached word document to me - contact me first via the contact form on the right for the email address.

5. Deadline: 18th of September 2013, Wednesday.

6. Format: Double spaced on one sheet. No fancy fonts please.

7. You can only send something in if you can guarantee that you can attend of course. Afterwards, there will be plenty of time to chat and hobnob with authors at the book launch. And the critiquing session will be a great ice breaker! You won't feel shy about chatting to the authors after the session!


Did I remember to mention that it's FREE?

If you are young and an aspiring writer, we all hope to see you there.

Here are the famous, cool and incredibly good looking authors 
who will be listening to your work

(Click on the images to visit our websites)


From left to right:

Fiona Dunbar's Truth Cookie series was made into the BBC show Jinx.

Tim Collins could be a character out of his hilarious Wimpy Vampire books.

Addy Farmer writes moving picture books like Grandfather's Bench and Siddharth and Rinki

Candy Gourlay wrote Tall Story about an eight foot tall boy.

Steve Hartley writes the Danny Baker Record Baker series and always travels with a giant bogey.

Jackie Marchant ghost writes the rib-tickling and highly suspicious books of Dougal 'It's not my fault' Trump.

Jane Mcloughlin wrote the Carnegie-nominated At Yellow Lake.

Cliff McNish is a lot nicer than his creepy Doomspell Trilogy and horror books.

Sarah Mussi's pacey Angel Dust is transcendent YA.

Sam Osman aka Sam Hepburn wrote the heart-pumping thriller Chasing the Dark.

Teri Terry's explosive Slated trilogy is winning prizes all over the place.


I leave you with this video of my hero Ray Bradbury talking (sometimes grumpily) about how to become a writer ...




And one more ...


It is the Sambat Trust's third year of building libraries in the Philippines. To celebrate, every new supporter who "likes" our Facebook page this September will be matched with a £1 donation- up to £500. Please ... go like!

Like books? Like children? Like libraries?
Click on the logo and 'like' us!



You might be interested in my recent postings. Click on the thumbnails to view:

How to Become a WriterMy Video ReadingUnboxing First Copies 
Q&A at Tamarind Books
Riffing on Rain in Shine
Chasing happiness

I read an excerpt from Shine and wonder what to do about my accent

September 02, 2013 by 

Shine is officially released on 5 September 2013. It is already available for download on Kindle!


I made this over the weekend and then vacillated about whether I would actually post it.

It's just me reading an excerpt from SHINE from the screen of my computer, but after I made it, I realized that I'd read it in the mainly British accent that I use here in London and not the mainly American accent that I use elsewhere.

I did try a Filipino accent to start with but I abandoned that idea because it's hard to remember what my normal Filipino accent is when I'm not surrounded by Filipinos. I appear to be one of those weirdos who acquire the accents of the people they are talking to.

But this ... I worried that my Filipino peeps would consider it some kind of betrayal.

From TV Newsroom
I am all too aware of the experience of London-grown news anchor Veronica Pedrosa who suffered the suspicious criticism of Filipinos who thought the British accent was a put on.

Veronica anchored for Al-Jazeera and CNN before that and was subject to cruel speculation about an accent that was perceived as fake. Ironically, an American accent would have been seen as more acceptable.

When I was growing up in the Philippines many many years ago, the ability to speak English was so highly prized that at one point, I had a teacher who fined us a few centavos for every Tagalog word that slipped into our answers.

Tagalog, of Malay extraction, is the most widely spoken language in the Philippines and the basis for Pilipino (called 'Filipino' since the 1980s), which is one of our two national languages. Pilipino/Filipino was created out of the Tagalog language, to much opprobium from speakers of the other languages.

There are 120 to 175 languages in the Philippines you only have to drive a few miles out of Manila to find people speaking another language. If you've got the energy, you can read about the evolution of Filipino here - a reminder to Filipinos of how recently our country developed its national identity.

The other national language is English.

Tribal boys learning English at the turn of the other century.

Funnily enough, since we became an American colony in the 1898, it's become the lingua franca across our seven thousand one hundred and seven islands because education, law and politics has been largely conducted in English, though that is changing.

Which is why, when my family migrated to Manila from the Visayan-speaking South when I was three years old, English became the language we chose to speak at home. As a result, I was terrible at all my Pilipino subjects in school. I remember my Pilipino essays in primary school: all the Visayan words encircled with red ball point pen and the teacher's scribble 'This is not a Pilipino word")

'How can you call yourself a Filipino?' one exasperated teacher in Pilipino literature once asked me when I yet again resorted to an English word for lack of vocabulary.

I really did wonder if I could call myself a Filipino. Looking back now, I realize my problem was not because I was not Filipino enough. I just came from another island where we spoke a different language.

Sadly all this (and ubiquitous American TV) led to the erasure of Visayan from my vocabulary.

Though I can still understand a bit of Visayan, it has faded from my linguistic memory.

Good morning! (From DepEd)
The Philippines has just introduced a new educational system called the K to12 which subscribes to the idea that children learn best in their mother tongue - so early years education will now be delivered in local languages, with Filipino and English taught as separate subjects.

I am no educator, so I can't really offer any words of wisdom, praise or criticism about the new venture - except to say I'm glad no child will ever again be accused of not being Filipino enough because of the language they speak.

On one of my visits to a provincial school, a group of teachers eyed my approach with visible apprehension. When I opened my mouth to say hello in Tagalog, they all sighed with relief.

'Ma'am, when we heard you were an author from England, we thought you would speak to us in English!' one teacher explained. 'We were all suffering from nosebleeds!' (Note to teachers: please don't call me Ma'am!)

Nosebleed is Filipino comedy slang for linguistic low self esteem ... as in: 'Your English was so high falutin I got a nosebleed' (we conjugate the word nosebleed as if it was Tagalog).

Growing up with this constant linguistic tension - those who are fluent sneering, those who aren't, feeling insecure - I wanted to show that people are not just their accents.

In my first novel TALL STORY (Spoiler - if you want to read it please highlight and the words will become visible), English is not my character Bernardo's strongest point. And though I write his thoughts in complex English, whenever he opens his mouth the English comes out hilarious and mixed up. It was hard work to capture that kind of speech because I was not physically in the Philippines to get that Pinoy vibe ... but  I got a lot of help from a hilarious Filipino book called The More the Manyer.



Anyway, I decided to post this video and hope for the best.



You might be interested in my recent postings. Click on the thumbnails to view:

How to Become a WriterMy Video ReadingUnboxing First Copies 



Q&A at Tamarind Books
Riffing on Rain in Shine
Chasing happiness


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