Follow the Yellow

A Midsummer Mystery and some Lancashire fun

A Midsummer Mystery

Last weekend, I headed to my home county of Lancashire for some Clockwork Sparrow themed events as part of Independent Booksellers Week.

First up on Sunday was the fantastic A Midsummer Mystery, in the lovely St-Annes-on-Sea. The event was organised by fabulous independent bookshop Storytellers Inc and took place in a suitably mysterious venue.

I was joined at the event by four amazing children’s authors, and fellow Mystery Girls Robin Stevens, Helen Moss, Kate Pankhurst and Elen Caldecott – the Famous Five, if you will.

We each talked about our mystery themed-books and (in between bunbreaks in the Green Room) took part in a mystery of our own. We were all suspects in The Case of the Missing Manuscript, and had to be questioned by the Inspector about the strange disappearance of the latest crime novel manuscript from the study of famous local author Davinia Carruthers-Henley.

The young audience were responsible for working out which of us was the culprit. Elen and Kate were early suspects but in the final denoument it was revealed that none other than Robin was in fact the dastardly villain behind it all! (Although her crime proved to be fairly forgivable, as she didn’t really want to steal the book – just read it before anyone else…)

Having a laugh with Kate Pankhurst and Helen Moss - photo by Robin.

Having a laugh with Kate Pankhurst and Helen Moss in the Green Room – photo by Robin.

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Robin got the children to come up with their own mysteries – so of course The Mystery Girls got in on the action from the Green Room.

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Kate Pankhurst drew our cover

We even made the local paper!

We even made the local paper!

The Mystery Girls!

The Mystery Girls!

Kate also drew an amazing illustration for each of the author’s event – here’s her take on Sinclair’s:

For lots more about A Midsummer Mystery, check out Luna’s Little Library’s brilliant Storify of the event here.

The next day, I headed back to St Annes for a day of events with Storytellers Inc. In the morning, Robin and I headed to nearby Heyhouses School for my first ever school event! Naturally, it started with a disco…

Robin all ready to get mysterious!

Robin all ready to get mysterious!

Love this picture of James reading along with Clockwork Sparrow (courtesy of Robin's website)

Love this picture of James reading along with Clockwork Sparrow – photo by Robin

In the afternoon there was time for a quick walk on the beach before it we headed back to Storytellers Inc some book signing and two sessions with a local Cub Scout group – I really loved talking to them about all their favourite books.

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Lovely St Annes beach

Amazing Clockwork Sparrow themed display at Storytellers Inc

Amazing Clockwork Sparrow themed display at Storytellers Inc

Tuesday was quite a special day – I went back to my own old primary school, Abbey Village Primary, for a school event organised by another fantastic Lancashire indie – Ebb & Flo in Chorley.

It was amazing, if a tiny bit surreal, to be back in my old school, and talk to pupils.  I loved books, reading and writing when I was at primary school, but we never had an author visit. Abbey Village is a little school in a small Lancashire village, and the most exciting book-related occasion was when the mobile library visited us once every few weeks! For that reason, it felt extra special to meet a new generation of Abbey Village pupils and talk to them about books and writing. Who knows whether some of them might be children’s authors and illustrators of the future?

Super happy to be back at Abbey Village School!

Super happy to be back at Abbey Village School!

In the afternoon we headed back to Ebb & Flo to sign some books, and then we went on to nearby Adlington Primary School for another school session. It was so lovely to meet children in all the schools I visited and I was super impressed by their enthusiasm for reading and their knowledge of lots of  books.

Finally we finished the trip with what else but tea and cakes in a gorgeous vintage tea room?

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The Old Stables Vintage Tea Shop in Chorley

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The perfect finale to our mini Lancashire tour!

I came back with a whole haul of gorgeous purchases from two fantastic Lancashire indies, and some lovely gifts from them too (including, of course, some Chorley cakes!)

Thanks so much to Storytellers Inc and Ebb & Flo for organising such fabulous events – I hope to come and visit you again soon!

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