Do you live near Middlesbrough in the UK? I’m doing a free event in Waterstones Middlesbrough later this month with fellow author Stephen Aryan. Stephen is the author of the Age of Darkness trilogy. Battlemage, the first book in the series was published in September 2015 by Orbit books in the USA and UK. Book 2, …
My 2015 – just keep writing
Long time followers/sufferers of this blog (that’s me then!) will know that I’ve been doing an annual summary for the last two years. It’s a chance for me to look back at the passing months and make stuff up (in part) about what I’ve been up to. For completist with too much time on their hands …
Creative Factory workshop
I often use Story Cubes at schools and workshops to get ideas started. They’re a really useful and fun tool, and they prove that even the most reluctant storyteller can come up with ideas. I recently did a workshop for the Creative Factory in Stockton-on-Tees. Creative Factory is a group of young people who meet weekly …
The Amazing Story Steps – Part II
Regular visitors to my blog might recall my post last year about the Amazing Story Steps at the District CE Primary School in Newton-le-Willows. I’m Patron of Reading there and I’m honoured to be included on their steps. It’s such a simple, clever way to promote reading and I couldn’t wait to see it for myself …
A year of author events
As the year draws to a close I’m about to complete my last school event of 2014. I’ve done lots of talks, workshops and signings this year so I thought I’d share some highlights with you. MacMillan Academy, Middlesbrough. I spent a week at the MacMillan Academy helping the pupils develop and write a script for …
What I’m doing next…
A few people have asked me what I’m working on right now. It can seem like a long time between book releases for the readers (and the writer) and it might appear as if nothing is happening. You might imagine I’m spending the summer lazing about the garden, topping up my tan and sipping mojitos …
Filmmaking at Macmillan Academy
Had a great week working with the pupils from Macmillan Academy in Middlesbrough with Mark Jobe from Quay Animation. Together we helped the pupils write, design and animate a short film about climate change and the effects of flooding. Former Macmillan pupil and BBC Breakfast business reporter Steph McGovern dropped in to see what we …
Snapshots from Sweden
Last year I was lucky enough to be asked by New Writing North to go to the Gothenburg Book Fair in Sweden. I had a great time and made some new friends, including Jan Smedh from The English Bookshop in Uppsala, Sweden. Since then Jan and I have stayed in touch and he was kind enough …
Read Regional Q&A
I’ve been doing lots of events for the Read Regional campaign over the last few months which I’ll be blogging about soon. But in the meantime there’s a Q & A with me on the Read Regional website here: http://www.readregional.com/2014/04/29/qa-with-niel-bushnell-author-of-sorrowline/