Friday, January 30, 2009

Events Coming Up

I just thought I'd list some of the events coming up from now until mid February case you'd like to come along - some are school visits but I'll mark the open, library events in bold - like this.

Thurs 5th Feb
Castletymon Library (school visit)

Monday 9th Feb
Ballyroan Library (school visit)

Wed 11th Feb
Loreto Bray (school visit)

Thurs 12th Feb
Open visit to Clondalkin Library - 5.15 to 7.30
I'm giving a Writing Magic Workshop - to book a place, ring 01 4593315

Monday 16th Feb
Open visit to Lucan Library - 10.30 to 12.30
Another Writing Magic Workshop - to book a place, ring 01 6216422

Wed 18th Feb
St Damien's (school visit)

Thurs 19th Feb
Open event - Mums and Daughters' Book Club - Balbriggan Library
6.30 to 8.00 - to book a place for you and your mum, ring 01 8704401

More events to come! I'll keep you posted.

I'll also be at the West Cork Literary Festival in Bantry on Wed 8th July with Judi Curtin. Darren Shan and Cathy Hopkins are also speaking so it should be a great week if you're in that part of the world.


Best,

Sarah

Hi to all the St Andrew's gang

This morning I visited my old school, St Andrew's College in Blackrock, Co Dublin. I talked to a packed gym hall of 4th to 6th classers and they were all lovely. A big happy birthday to Evita - it's her birthday today.

Someone asked me had the school changed much since I was there (20+ years ago!), and I have to say, not really. The roof still leaks a bit, some of the teachers I had are still there (hello Miss Cooper and Mrs West!), and it still has the same smell - kind of a musky, warm smell - but that may have been 'cause of the rain and the heating!

I'll post some pics of me when I was in school next week.

Until then, have a great weekend - and keep out of the rain!

Sarah X

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Valentine's Day Mystery











It's just over two weeks to Valentine's Day. Here is my first 'real' Valentine's card - from a boy and not from my dad! To this day I have no idea who sent it. As it was posted 25 years ago, that's a long mystery, isn't it?




But it's quite nice to have a secret admirer - looking at the card still makes me smile.




Why not send a card to your best friend - anonymously of course - you might just make her day!




Sarah X

Tuesday, January 27, 2009



I was chatting to my mum at the weekend about snow. I love snow and I was complaining that we never get any decent snow in Ireland. But look what she found - an old photo of me and my little sister, Emma in an igloo we'd built in the back garden. Isn't it cool? We had so much fun building it - I think it took 2 or 3 days - and my friend, Wendy and her brother helped too.

I'm the one in the red hat!

Emma is four years younger than me and I also have a sister called Kate who's in the middle. I'm the bossy big sister. They used to call me 'Granny' in fact. And they didn't mean it in a nice way.

We used to fight a lot, but now we're the best of friends. Sisters, gotta love them!

Right, I'd better get back to work. Enjoy your day.

Sarah X

Monday, January 26, 2009

Sunny Monday

I'm looking out the window of my study (avoiding work!) and it's actually sunny! Yeah! Where have you been, sun? I've missed you soooo much. Please stay and hang out. It hasn't been the same without you.

I'm travelling to Belfast on Wed to read to people at Belfast Central Train Station - how weird is that? Writers have to do the strangest things sometimes. I'll be there between 11.30 and 12.30 in case you're from Belfast.

No 1 weirdest book thing I ever had to do - let me see: it has to be pumpkin carving in Limerick - true story - went down to sign books in a shop and ended up carving pumpkins (which I'm actually ok at, so it wasn't a total disaster). Bet Jackie Wilson never had to pull out the slimey entrails of a pumpkin though!!! Or maybe she did - must remember to ask her sometime. (I also work as a children's reviewer and bookseller - so I get to meet fab writers all the time - isn't that jammy - most famous is prob JK Rowling.)

And I'm talking at my old school on Thursday and Friday - St Andrew's College in Dublin. Which will be tres weird also. Some of the teachers are the same - 20 years on. Yikes!

I'll let you know how I get on. Did I like school? Sometimes. I made some great friends there, friends I still have now.

Better go and do some work - Amy Green 2 is waiting . . .

If you've read Amy Green, 1 - Boy Trouble - let me know what you think: sarah@askamygreen.com

Talk soon,

Sarah XXX

Monday, January 19, 2009

Welcome!

Hi,

My first The Goss blog – how exciting is that? And imagine having your very own website – cool, isn’t it? I’m so lucky. I do hope you like it, I think it’s fab.

I have to admit, this week I’m in bits. My nails are a state – I’m a terrible nail biter – a girl has to have her vices. The first book in the Amy Green series – Boy Trouble – has just hit the shops and I’m a nervous wreck. I sooooo hope readers will like it. My fingers and toes are all crossed.

It’s always such a thrill seeing a book with your name on it on the shelves in a bookshop. Being a writer is extra special for me – I couldn’t read on my own ‘till I was 9. It just goes to show, if you want something badly enough, and work hard, dreams really can come true.

Keep dreaming!

All the best,

Sarah XXX