I don’t know whether it’s luck, or something about the weather, or maybe I am just actually getting good at my job or something (?!), but I’ve had a run of really fantastic live events lately. Oxford Literary Festival, Stratford Literary Festival, a couple the other day with Sevenoaks Bookshop in Kent - they’ve all gone really well, and I’d like to say thanks to everyone who’s come along and made them all so much fun. I tend to take a few questions at the end, which has allowed me to identify some emerging new trends in the QUESTIONS I AM ASKED FREQUENTLY, which I will share with you now.
QUESTION: What is going to happen in Mega Robo Bros?
ANSWER: Obviously I am not going to tell you that.
QUESTION: Seriously, please, can you tell me what is going to happen in Mega Robo Bros?
ANSWER: Look, what did I just say? No. but I am glad you seem so invested in it!
QUESTION: Is there going to be a book of Donut Squad?
ANSWER: I… don’t think I can answer that either? But it is certainly an interesting idea.
QUESTION: Are the bagels ever going to come back?
ANSWER: no, they are definitely gone forever, and will never, ever, be coming back. Ever.
…so it’s nice that I can give a definitive answer to one of those, at least.
If YOU or a young person of your acquaintance would like to ask me difficult questions, I’ve got a couple more events coming right up. THIS SATURDAY I will be at Fourbears Book Fest in Reading. And then THIS SUNDAY I will be at International Literature Festival Dublin. I hope to see some of you there! Lots more coming up, some not announced yet, do keep an eye on my website for details.
Oh, one other question that doesn’t count as Frequently Asked but which made me laugh: one kid, noticing the pull quote on the cover of my new book which says ‘Amazing! 100% Recommend! - Jamie Smart’ asked me:
“Why did Jamie Smart say that? Did you PAY him?”
…which gives me an excuse to say an enormous congratulations to Jamie, who pulled off a HISTORIC DOUBLE WIN at the British Book Awards last night, taking home both Best Children’s Illustrated Book for the latest (brilliant) volume of Bunny Vs Monkay, and Best Illustrator. This couldn’t be more deserved - Jamie is a legend and an inspiration, who is doing incredible work at frankly mind-staggering levels, and is basically making an entire generation of kids fall in love with reading, and with COMICS, in ways that I think we’ll be feeling the effects of for years and decades to come.
In short, Jamie is the best, and it is very satisfying to me that this is now a matter of public record. Go buy his comics, if somehow you haven’t already! Okay thanks bye.
Here's a question: when are you going to write the next newsletter?