DAVID O'CONNELL
Writer & Illustrator
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Bloomsbury Fiction Showcase

22nd February 20185th July 2018

Last night, a clutch of slightly apprehensive authors faced the press, librarians, book buyers and bloggers at a comedy club in central London to talk about their new books, and I was privileged to be amongst them, talking about The Chocolate Factory Ghost.

It was a bit nerve-wracking, as we had a five minute time-limit to talk. It felt like were on the Dragons’ Den TV show, but the Bloomsbury Kids’ Fiction Showcase was thankfully filled with friendly, supportive people.

My general aim for these kind of events is ‘don’t look like an imbecile’ and I think I did ok. It was nice chatting to everyone afterwards too.

Here’s a couple more pics from some audience members:

Great to hear about these brilliant books coming out this year from @PugandLadyM @davidoconnell @ComedyCampbell @Sibealpounder at @KidsBloomsbury Book Showcase pic.twitter.com/9ZQb9Fo90d

— Lisa Beverley (@lisbeverley) February 21, 2018

An amazing evening at @KidsBloomsbury with wonderful, great, fab, gorgeous,funny authors @afharrold @joanna_simmons @davidoconnell @Sibealpounder @mpowerswriter @PugandLadyM @James Campbell and @Katherine Rundell
Thank you ❤ pic.twitter.com/spRKNz8c06

— Georgiana Martincu (@GeorgiaRLB) February 21, 2018

Me with Katherine Rundell, James Campbell, Mark Powers, Laura James, librarian Georgiana Martincu, A.F. Harrold, Sibéal Pounder and Jo Simmons.

Thanks to the good folk at Bloomsbury for organising a fun evening.

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Quick Post

20th February 2018

Totally instagram-unfriendly size McBudge Fudge bookmarks courtesy of Bloomsbury. Love a bit of lamination. #dundoodlemysteries #chocolatefactory #ghost #childrensbooks #kidlit

A post shared by David O’Connell (@davidoconnell.uk) on Feb 16, 2018 at 2:56am PST

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The Chocolate Factory Ghost – the cover!

19th January 20184th July 2018

The cover of the The CFG is now on display at the Bloomsbury website so I think I’m allowed to show it off in all its glory: isn’t it fab?

Illustrator Claire Powell has done a wonderful job of creating the magical world of Dundoodle, and Archie and his friends, and the cover is the crowning glory. It will stand out very nicely on the bookshop shelves.

And news just in: The Bookseller‘s children’s books editor Fiona Noble has made The CFG one of her Editor’s Choices for April – woohoo! This is a big deal as The Bookseller is the magazine that all the book buyers and reviewers read. Might need a sit down.

I’m collecting all the reviews for the book on its page – there have been some lovely comments, and it seems like people really ‘get it’, which is always a relief.

There are a number of foreign editions in the works too, along with an audiobook, all reassuring when you’re a nervous author about to release a book into the wild.

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NEWSFLASH! Archie McBudge & the Summer Reading Challenge

19th December 20177th January 2018

I’m thrilled that even though it’s not even been published, The Chocolate Factory Ghost is going to be part of 2018’s Summer Reading Challenge!

The Summer Reading Challenge gets three quarters of a million children into libraries to keep up their reading skills and confidence during the long holidays. Here’s what organisers the Reading Agency‘s website says:

The Summer Reading Challenge encourages children aged 4 to 11 to read six books during the long summer holiday.

There is a different theme each year. Children can read whatever they like – fact books, joke books, picture books, audio books – just as long as they are borrowed from the library.

Children receive special rewards each time they finish a book and there’s a certificate for everyone who completes the Challenge.

The Summer Reading Challenge is open to all primary school aged children and is designed for all reading abilities. Schools work with local libraries and give out information to encourage children to take part, and most libraries run Summer Reading Challenge linked early years activity for pre-schoolers.

This year’s theme is ‘Mischief Makers’ and The Chocolate Factory Ghost is one of seventy titles that children have to choose from.  It’s really exciting that lots of readers will get the chance to discover Archie McBudge’s adventures through their local library. You might just be able to make out the book’s cover in the image above, even though it’s not been officially approved!

The full book list for older children can be found here. I’ll be talking about this much more in 2018, and on that cheery note I’d like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy new year!

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Revolting Recipes

11th December 2017

When Monster & Chips first came out, my publisher ran a competition inviting people to send in their ideas for monstrous food. I still get the occasional email about it, although the competition finished a long time ago. It doesn’t matter, as I love to hear from readers and to see what they come up with.

Here’s Amos (aged 9), who read the whole of Monster & Chips in two days, with a bowl of granola and worms! Yum – I hope he (or a monstrous friend) enjoyed it.

 

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Quick Post

23rd November 2017

Sharing a very sneaky sneak peek of a wonderful illo from #DundoodleMysteries by the fab @misspowellposts #kidlit #kidlitart

A post shared by David O’Connell (@davidoconnelluk) on Nov 23, 2017 at 4:51am PST

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Book proofs

16th November 2017

I had a lovely parcel from my publisher Bloomsbury today: book proofs!

These are a test print run so that the publisher gets an idea of what the book might look like when it’s printed. The cover and illustrations aren’t completed, but it’s a chance to check for mistakes in the text amongst other things. Copies are sent to reviewers and potential buyers so they can get an advance look. Marketing is everything!

Bloomsbury also sent me a genuine McBudge Fudge bar, made in the Dundoodle Chocolate Factory! Fabulous – it made my day.

 

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Quick post

14th November 201714th November 2017

To St. Paul’s cathedral for the very touching memorial service for Paddington creator Michael Bond.

BBC article here.

Video from (unfortunately) the vile Daily Mail:

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Quick post

4th November 20174th April 2018

Proofreading! Last chance to tweak the wording for the first Dundoodle Mystery.

A post shared by David O’Connell (@davidoconnell.uk) on Nov 4, 2017 at 5:11am PDT

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Lately…

26th October 201726th October 2017

I’m so bad at taking photos. All the latest HD tech cannot help when you’re the type of person who always has your finger over the lens. So I’m not much good when it comes to reporting on events. Here’s a couple of recent ones:

Book buddies Gary Northfield and Alex Milway had a joint party at the fab Tales on Moon Lane children’s bookshop for their latest books, Julius Zebra: Entangled with the Egyptians and Pigsticks & Harold Lost in Time, respectively.  These gents are such great writers and put on a hilarious show. If the photos are blurry, it’s because I’m laughing as much as anything else. Baked goods were included (always welcome).

Centuries of Egyptian culture channelled by @stupidmonster for his launch of Julius Zebra: Entangled with the Egyptians. #kidlit #zebra #kidsbooks

A post shared by David O’Connell (@davidoconnelluk) on Oct 19, 2017 at 11:57am PDT

Rapping @alexmilway at the launch of Pigsticks & Harold bk 4! Congrats, Al! #kidslit #kidsbooks #pigsticks

A post shared by David O’Connell (@davidoconnelluk) on Oct 19, 2017 at 12:01pm PDT

And Laura Ellen Anderson had a magnificent party for her new series Amelia Fang. It was held in the crypt of St Pancras’ Church and everyone was suitably dressed in a Halloweeny style. The first book is already doing marvellously, thanks in part to being selected as Waterstones’ Book of the Month for October. Congrats, Lil!

Congrats @laura_ellen_anderson on your fab Amelia Fang party! #kidlit #booklaunch

A post shared by David O’Connell (@davidoconnelluk) on Oct 24, 2017 at 12:55pm PDT

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Buddy!

12th October 201712th October 2017

Every now and again I get sent a monster design using the activity sheets I created for Monster & Chips – you can find them here.

This brilliant monster is Buddy, created by Jesse Becerra. Buddy’s super-cool, with his tentacles and multiple eyeballs, and also has great taste in pizza. Thanks, Jesse!

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Coming soon…

19th September 201719th September 2017

It’s still a bit early to talk about this, but my new fiction series (illustrated by Claire Powell) has made an appearance in Bloomsbury Children’s Books online catalogue for the first half of next year.

[Click on the image for a slightly more readable version of the catalogue.]

I’ll be posting more information when I can (and as usual, the book will have its own page on my website) but for now, I’m keeping my fingers/toes/other bits crossed for October’s Frankfurt Book Fair, where I’m hoping some foreign publishers will be interested in buying rights.

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Quick post

16th September 20174th July 2018

Visiting One Blackfriars for #openhouse #blog

A post shared by David O’Connell (@davidoconnell.uk) on Sep 16, 2017 at 6:54am PDT

ETA: One Blackfriars is a new residential tower on the south side of Blackfriars Bridge. It’s unfinished but will be about fifty stories tall when complete. Apartments will cost from £1-23 million. The views along the Thames are worth quite a bit in their own right.

oneblackfriars02
oneblackfriars03
oneblackfriars04
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Quick Post

2nd September 20174th September 2017

Last night I went to the launch for Katherina Mannolessou‘s Look for Ladybird in Plant City at Gosh! Comics in London.

It’s a gorgeous-looking book. Above is author Katherina giving a speech with editor Kate Davies (left) of Frances Lincoln Children’s Books.

Molly Jamieson and Emily Talbot from United Agents, with authors Smriti Prasadam-Halls and Sarah McIntyre.

An interior of the book (click for a bigger version) – so much work! It’s amazing. Congrats, Katerina!

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Quick post

31st July 20174th July 2018

At The Bookseller buyers guide drinkies with @jabberworks #blog

A post shared by David O'Connell (@davidoconnell.uk) on Jul 31, 2017 at 10:49am PDT

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