Betty Birney’s Blog

On Tuesday, up early again for a car to take Helena and me to the Guardian (newspaper) newsroom. This is an educational facility across the street from the newspaper offices, bright and modern with all kinds of interactive displays and a mock newsroom to help students learn about journalism. First things first, though: a stop at the coffee shop where I met fellow author Sue Bentley, which whom I’d be presenting, and the program’s organizers.

Sue is author of a super-popular series here called The Magic Kitten. Her World Book Day book is the 16th in the series and there’s a magic puppy in Sue’s future! They brought in two different groups of students and we each spoke, then took questions together and did a signing. Sue and I were so simpatico, if I lived here, I’d suggest we always do our presentations together. The only sour note was that one school didn’t make it, due to a train shut down in Tooting. It’s not difficult to remember how exciting a field trip is and we were so sorry for their plight. We signed a set of books and posters to be delivered to them.

A quick lunch with Sue and organizers, then off to the BBC. I’m not only a fan of BBC television productions, I even listen to the radio online. And there I was, at one of the larger radio facilities on Portland Place, where another Faber friend, Rebecca, met me. It was quite an impressive place with an oddly menacing revolving door at security. Vibeke Venema, the producer, took us upstairs to tape an interview for Go4It, a children’s program on Radio 4. I was told that I’d be interviewed by children but, to my surprise and delight, I was interviewed by a hamster named Henrietta (in the human form of actress and reporter Sue Elliot-Nichols). Sue had developed a complete life history and personality for Henrietta and it wasn’t all so happy (Her family always forgets to top off her water.) As I answered questions about Humphrey, I learned a lot more about Henrietta, including the fact that she has quite a crush on Room 26’s favorite pet. Even with breaks for Henrietta to crunch her celery, it was a delightful experience. I’ll put up the link when I have it.

    Sue, Vibeke and me

Then Rebecca and I walked to another BBC building a few blocks away. Literary fans, I checked in at the desk next to author Julian Barnes. Then we went up to somewhat shabbier offices and waited in a reception room until I was called into a tiny room where I was left alone with a microphone and headphones and a volume switch. I was told that someone would come on the air soon. It took about as long as it takes to boil water (forever) before I heard the voice of Steve Scruton of BBC Radio Essex telling me we’d be on the air in a minute. Steve was a great interviewer, as it turns out, who gave Humphrey and me a glowing introduction which included a review from a young boy who said everything I’d want to be said about the books.  Steve had done his homework well and the interview was a lot of fun.

My career at the BBC came to a (temporary, I hope) end and a car took me back to the hotel where I got ready for a very big evening!

Julia Wells, my UK editor whom I’d never met, came to the hotel first, then walked Frank and me to a nearby pub where other members of the Faber team were waiting. Julia was hardly a stranger after several years of emailing and one phone call and besides, she chose Humphrey! It was something like meeting long lost relatives - faces put with names, and people who are working for Humphrey that I didn’t even know about.  Then we walked around the corner to a restaurant on Charlotte Street called Passione. http://www.passione.co.uk/home.php3 The chef is Gennaro Contaldo, who is Jamie Oliver’s (The Naked Chef) mentor. We had a private dinner upstairs with the Faber group and select people from the children’s book world (buyers, reviewer, etc.). The best food and generous pourings of wine and excellent, excellent company. A night to remember and yes, I do remember what I ate: a pear and rocket salad, halibut on a bed of spinach, blood orange and lemon sorbet. More interestingly presented than I made it sound. I couldn’t finish it all and the walk home (after lengthy goodbyes to our Faber friends on the sidewalk) felt pretty darn good.

 First… a word from our sponsor (yes, they used to say that on television): SURPRISES ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY is out and I’m getting great feedback. Also, TROUBLE ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY is now out in paperback. Both have the newly designed covers. And now, back to our program, where Betty just appeared at the Bath Literature Festival.

  We spent the night in Bath and the next morning, Helena and I hurried up the hill and met Gill at the Royal High School Junior School. A very welcoming place with magnificent views and VERY-VERY-VERY nice students and teachers! However, there were tech problems for the assembly at which I was to speak. My overall experience has been this: if they hire professional tech people, there will always be a glitch. Everyone bent over backwards but I had to give the assembly with no visuals. The students didn’t seem to mind.

Another tech person was brought in, the problem was fixed and I did two other presentations and signings. It was a whirlwind trip but not one easily forgotten!

Then we took a cab to a village school - the Shaw School in Melksham, Wiltshire. I truly have read so many British books, I felt right at home on the ride there and even more at home once I arrived. Many months ago, I made a connection with the Shaw School when teacher Susan Jackson emailed about her students’ love of Humphrey. They even got their own hamster named Humphrey, and searched out The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs, which isn’t published in the UK.

     Shaw School friends

& Susan Jackson

The students knew so much about me, we had a lengthy question and answer session after my presentation (no tech problems; I used my own equipment- it’s a drag to carry but never fails me.) Then I signed a lot of books. We had to hurry back to the train but it was a little difficult to leave Shaw School.

On Sunday morning a car was waiting to pick us up and we went back to Paddington Station where we met Helena for our trip to Bath. A nice train ride, about an hour and a half, past lovely canals with canal boats and fishermen and sheep. Bath is an amazing sight - all of local limestone which gives it quite a unique look. We checked in at the old Mercure Francis Hotel directly on Queen Square and then hurried over to the Guild Hall - next to the Abbey and the Roman Baths - for my presentation.

Everyone involved with the Bath Literature Festival was welcoming - as was the constant aroma of whiskey (at 11 am) because a famed whiskey maker was a sponsor and handing out samples. We sat in a very grand room before one of those enormous fireplaces and were brought tea and sandwiches and fruit. Lots of good writer conversation - Martin Amis had just been there and Margaret Drabble was speaking in the afternoon and writers were coming in. We did a tech check - not entirely satisfactory because of a strange built-in screen that no matter what we tried, showed my Power Point pictures stretched. So everyone and everything looked short and squat. I forged ahead. A nice audience of children and parents but the theater wasn’t particular user friendly in that it was very dark and I was up on a high stage with the children below. (I like to get up close and personal.) Still, a lovely, lovely group with a nice signing afterwards - my first in the UK. And the only signing I’ve ever done with the scent of whiskey all around me and the children!

Afterwards, we were given vouchers for a catered lunch upstairs in the Guild Hall and then Frank and I tried to see a little of Bath. We waited and waited and waited some more for a bus which finally came and took us up the hill to see the Royal Crescent and the fabulous view of Bath. But it was late afternoon and we got off at the Roman Baths, the one thing we definitely wanted to see. Luckily we were able to spend enough time there to feel we’d seen it all. We actually did go to the Pump Room and drink the water. People told us not to, that it tasted so bad, but we’re both as curious as Humphrey and we drank it. It tasted well, not great, but not as bad as I was led to believe. However, no miracle cure seemed to result from it.

After a quick freshen-up, we joined Helena and John and Gill McLay, founders of another festival, the Bath Children’s Festival. We ate at a hole in the wall called The Hole in the Wall and had a delightful evening. Ummm and good mussels!

And then….. more to come! (more pictures of Bath - some of them are still on a little throwaway camera bought when we mistakenly thought our camera battery had run down.)

  World Book Day display, Borders bookstore on Charing Cross Road; Humphrey’s up in the left hand corner

 World Book Day is celebrated in many countries (not the U.S.) but is especially big in the United Kingdom. There are numerous events for adults and children in celebration of books, special short reads published for adults … but the children here get the very best deal. Every school child in the UK gets a 1 pound token to buy one of nine short books especially commissioned for the event. Or they can get 1 pound off any other book.

This year there were nine authors chosen, including Dav Pilkey, Neil Gaiman and me! Thirteen million tokens are given out; the book printings are around 250,000. My book, ADVENTURE ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY, is about a third of the size of a normal Humphrey book.

Many schools mark the day with book events including costume parades where students dress up as their favorite characters. I met several children who were dressing up as Humphrey - my apologies to their mums for having to make such complicated costumes!

Because WORLD ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY was a Richard and Judy winner (Richard and Judy being the Oprah show and book club equivalent in the UK), and because I was asked to write a World Book Day Book (ADVENTURE) and because TROUBLE ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY and the audiobook for WORLD ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY both come out in April, Faber and Faber, my UK publisher, generously invited me to come over for a week of promotional activities.

(My husband Frank tagged along because we’re spending an extra week here on our own.)

The Tower, the Tower Bridge and a proud Yeoman of the Guard

Arriving in the UK, there’s a sense of coming home, especially if you’ve devoured as many English novels, films and TV series as I have over an entire lifetime. The flight was uneventful, leaving L.A. at 6:15 in the evening and arriving at Heathrow at noon the following day. Uneventful flights are always desirable. Lots of people with dicey passports in immigration but then an easy express train from Heathrow to Paddington Station. Agatha Christie’s 3:10 to Paddington came to mind as we arrived at my first ever English station. (Frank has been before.)

From Paddington, a taxi  (past Baker Street - hello, Sherlock), straight to our home away from home - a nice hotel in Bloomsbury made up of five townhouses. Ours was built in the memorable year of 1776. We unpacked, freshened up a little, then went down to the bar to meet publicity manager Helena of Faber who arranged this whole trip for us. We immediately knew we were in good hands for the rest of the week.

After reviewing our schedule, Helena left and we were so tired, we didn’t feel like searching for a restaurant (it was 7 by then), so asked if they had food there. Two other women were eating in the bar area as well. Thus unfolded a scene straight out of Fawlty Towers “Sorry, Chef has no ham as it turns out.” A tuna melt arrives which is canned tuna on hot bread and nothing else. That goes back. No chips or crisps as the menu described. Back for those. Frank receives an all-white sandwich on a white plate. All of this became a bonding device for us and our fellow guests, who turned out to be two infant school teachers (think pre-school-K) from Leicester who escape their husbands a few times a year for shopping and theater in London. After a hilarious comedy routine surrounding their desserts.  (”I recommend the cheesecake - it’s our speciality.” “But it’s not on the menu.” “Oh, but it’s our best.” “We’ll take it.” “Uh, er, sorry, we’re all out of cheesecake.”) It turns out all that was available was apple crumble (by then the pretense of there ever being a chef was abandoned). With two soup bowls of ice cream, which Kath and Chris shared with us.  After a mysterious visit from the police (”just go ahead, folks, have your drinks”) we had a cozy evening comparing schools and they were very excited about the Humphrey book for World Book Day.

Helena had generously given us a whole day to recuperate before the onslaught of events but what did we do on Saturday? As much as possible, of course. The weather was decent, for one thing, so we thought we should take advantage. We walked from our hotel (down Tottenham Court Road) to Oxford Circus and searched and searched for the double decker tour bus that was supposed to be along there somewhere.  No bus. We did happen upon Carnaby Street and for a 60s girl like me, that was a fun detour. Back to bus-searching and we finally found - not the bus we were searching for - but the other bus, the more expensive one with better guides and happily hopped aboard for our first views of Big Ben and Parliament among other sights. The guide was wonderful in building us up for the turn around the corner and our first magnificent glimpse of Big Ben.

We got off at the Thames and took the boat tour, which was included and definitely worthwhile. It ended at the Tower of London and though we hadn’t planned on it, spent the rest of the afternoon there - just happening on the beginning of a tour with a very entertaining guide - a Yeoman of the Guard pictured above - and climbing stairs with abandon. Saw the crown jewels, the dungeon, and had a magnificent history lesson. And some good fish and chips. No time for the magnificent London Eye - the amazing wheel but perhaps later.

Back on the bus, past Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Scotland Yard - but it didn’t go all the way back to Oxford Circus so they let us off at Marble Arch and we walked all the way back down Oxford Street -quite a trek. Oxford Street is the main shopping area and on a Saturday evening so packed you could barely walk. I’ve never seen such crowds even in New York. We stopped at a Waterstone’s and I signed some stock but the World Book Day Humphrey books were locked up in the back until Wednesday.

Where to dine on a Saturday night, tired and windblown? We were almost back to the hotel and passed a Thai restaurant called Busaba - about a half a block from where we’re staying. (We’re directly across the street from the University of London.) Helena had mentioned there was a great Thai restaurant down the street and it looked wonderful so we wandered in. They had large communal tables and we were seated. There was a large family group well along with their meal and two guys. We fumbled around the menu and started asking questions. Soon, any of the supposed English reserve (everyone here talks about how reserved they are but honestly they’ve been warmly friendly) dropped away. The food and wine were great - the best calamari, prepared with ginger and cilantro, I’ve ever had - and we became fast friends with the family. There was a son and his wife, his parents and her mother because the next day was Mother’s Day in the UK (for UK friends, Mother’s Day is in May in the US).  Then I bonded with the fellows sitting next to me and we all hated to part in the end. Little did we know how lucky we’d been to get in - a half block queue outside waiting to get in. And that’s true night after night at this lovely restaurant. Back at the hotel, books were waiting to be signed for Kath and Chris - they had even found some Humphrey World Book Day books for sale!

What a start to the week ahead - and little did I know what was yet to come!

   Remy picked these avocados in our backyard this past Sunday.

 (Pant-pant-pant!) That’s me rushing to get packed for our trip to London tomorrow!

The kitchen is half done. Bathrooms 2/3 done. But all will wait because it’s WORLD BOOK DAY and Humphrey’s one of the nine books in the mix!

For my UK fans,  if you’d like to see my schedule, go to School Visits on my website, scroll down a little and I have the schedule and links there.

There will be a live webchat through the Blue Peter show, radio interviews, parties (sorry, not open to the general public), school events and three public events: the Bath Literature Festival, the World Book Day event at Stratford Circus and the Basildon Children’s Book Festival It’s all on my website.

For fans everywhere, check out the new Humphrey website at www.funwithhumphrey.com. Let me know how you do with the Ding Nut game. It’s challenging!

You can even see my dog, Desi, on the site, and upload pictures of your own pets.

Of course, I am leaving the most gorgeous weather on earth for this trip but I have no complaints.

 Keep checking this blog for trip details.

A quick post:

 I’ll be heading to Orlando tomorrow. I will be signing books on Saturday at 11 at Barnes and Noble - Waterford Lakes at 481 N. Alafaya Trail, Orlando.

More about my fifth book-related trip to the fabulous Sunshine State to come.

 BYE-BYE-BYE!

A nice quiet holiday and New Year - especially fun to talk to our son in New York  when he was already in 2008 and we were still back in 2007. (Because of the time difference, silly!)

There’s so much to tell you about what’s happening in this new year, but the most important is the big Humphrey Drawing Contest! http://us.penguingroup.com/static/html/enter/humphreycontest.html

Enter your drawings and win sets of books for the whole class, your own class pet (or gift certificate) and even a visit to your school by me! You have until March 15, so get drawing! All the info is at the link above. Unfortunately, the rules say I can only visit schools in the continental U.S. and I don’t get to be a judge. I’m doing a LOT of travel this spring, but I’m excited to find out what mystery school, city and state I’ll be visiting!

 Spread the word and get out those pencils, crayons and markers!

And please, though the comments are disabled, email me any questions or comments at betty@bettybirney.com and I’ll include them in this blog.

I bought this tiara for myself in celebration of the book’s publication!

Zounds! It’s taken awhile but Princess Egg is about to meet the world this week when THE PRINCESS AND THE PEABODYS is published by HarperCollins. I just hope the world is ready for her!

I’m particularly proud of the new Princess page on this website. By now, you’ve seen the animated cheerleading princess on my home page. Click on the book title and you’ll see a brand new web page with a knock-out design.

On all my pages, if you run your cursor over the icons, they change. On this page, they are brand new and you have to see my dog Desi’s new outfit! Woof!

Then, you can read excerpts, learn some tiara trivia and send a free e-card to your friends. I’ve been sending them out all day. Please don’t forget to take the quiz to find out if you’re a Princess or a Peabody… or something in between. It’s a kick! But whew - hard for me to write and score and much, much harder to execute.

I have to thank my impressively talented stepdaughter, graphic designer Rebecca Frank for the inspiration. Over a tasty lunch at Kate Mantilini’s in Beverly Hills one day, she came up with these great ideas. They were executed - brilliantly - by my other stepdaughter, Anna Birney Ross in Minneapolis. She’s a website designer and a fine, fine artist. Her husband, Toby, partnered with her technically and creatively. Thanks, Toby and Anna! Their company is ineye.com. Becca’s is starfuzz.com. (The whole family including son, Walshe, sons-in-law Gary and Toby, and granddaughter Remy, will be together this week to celebrate my husband’s birthday!)

Who is this book for? Well, it’s pink and features a princess, so the boys will love it! Okay, okay, it’s for girls 10 and up. The protagonists are 14 and there is very light romance in it - totally clean and wholesome and fine for young girls. Most of all, it’s FUNNY. And heartwarming, too, I hope. You can get the flavor by reading the excerpts on the webpage.

And if you’re not a princess-type - take heart! The story is told by Casey Peabody, who is a lot more like Mia Hamm than Cinderella. Princesses rule … and so do soccer-players! Last week Mia Hamm was named to the National Soccer Hall of Fame. And earlier this year, she gave birth to twin girls. Her husband is Los Angeles Dodgers third base man Norman Garciaparra … did I mention Casey loves baseball, too?

Eben’s house (actually the house my grandmother grew up in)

The mail carrier has been very good to me lately and today was no exception. I received two copies of the new printing of the hardcover version of THE SEVEN WONDERS OF SASSAFRAS SPRINGS - the fifth printing. The paperback sells very well, but it’s nice to know that the hardcover, with that lovely timeless cover by Matt Phelan, is still getting into people’s hands. I like the paperback cover, too, but it’s totally different.

Librarians and teachers should check out the July issue of Book Links magazine for an article by Teri MacDonald and Helen Foster James titled, FINDING THE WONDERS OF OUR WORLD. In addition to providing suggestions on using Sassafras in the classroom, the authors also suggest other books on the subject … including THE WIZARD OF OZ. (Which reminds me, we’re going to see WICKED tomorrow - inspired by the WIZARD OF OZ.) And it has a sidebar article by moi, complete with picture.

READING RECOMMENDATIONS: We’re having a drought here in California (although we had a brief shower this week - almost unheard of in the summer months). The dry summer prompted me to pick up an old favorite off the shelf. This book has a great sense of place: Thimble Summer by Elizabeth Enright, the Newbery Award winner for 1939. It’s a quiet book that weaves its magic. I’m also reminded of a book that a reviewer mentioned in a flattering Sassafras review: Homer Price by Robert McCloskey. That reviewer was on to me. Homer Price was a favorite of mine which I’ve reread many times. There is also a sequel: Centerburg Tales.