Today is World Book Day and, like most authors who write for children, I'll be in a school.
I'll be talking about books - mine and other people's - and hoping to generate enthusiasm for reading.
World Book Day has actually expanded to cover the entire week. I'm going to six schools this week - plus another last Friday - and I know lots of other writers are similarly busy.
The schools often make a great effort . Children (and teachers) dress up as their favourite characters. I remember arriving at one school and joining a flow of astonishing costumes - the Cat in the Hat, Cinderella, Harry Potter, the BFG - all of us heading for the main gate together.
Writing, like reading, is a solitary pursuit. Both are private, personal, lonely, isolated and isolating.
I spend much of my time alone, staring at words on a screen, my hands caressing a keyboard, or sprawled on a sofa, my nose buried in a book.
So there's something wonderful, and wonderfully unexpected, about this public celebration of reading.
Wherever you are, whatever you're doing, I hope you have a great World Book Day.
Josh Lacey
http://www.joshlacey.com
3 comments:
Just back from a school World Book Day visit that was lots of fun, so good to read your bookish post.
Just back from a brilliant school day of workshops and talks - exhausting, but such fun, and a really good reminder of 'what it's all about'. Love the illustrations, Josh!
Four schools this week, and a local hospital radio talk this morning about books. Definitely exhausting but wonderful to see how excited children - and adults get about books and how they get written.
Post a Comment