This is the part of competitions that I really hate. I received heaps of entries for the Wildest Dreams competition, and I am being perfectly honest when I say that I enjoyed reading every single one. Lots made me smile, and many more made me nod in agreement. You all have wonderful dreams, and I hope they all come true.

Unfortunately though, I have to decide on three finalists. As we have only one prize, the names of the three finalists I chose  have been sent to Wildest Dreams head office, (AKA Sarah’s house.) The names will be put into a hat, along with the names of Sarah and Sophia’s finalists. Sarah will draw out one name, and that one person will win the big prize.

If you’re not a finalist, or the winner, please don’t be too disappointed. The standard of the entries was amazing, and many wonderful entries did not make it into my final three. Please keep on writing!!!

And the finalists are:

Zoe N

Rachael C

and

Shannon L

Well done, girls, and keep watching to see who is the lucky winner of the grand prize.

A great book  for a very desreving cause. This would make a lovely Christmas present for any child.

There’s also a big launch this week. It’s in: 

Buswells Hotel, 23-25 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2

On Wednesday 17^th November at 11.30am

Come along and meet the authors and get your book signed.

“In aid of The Jack & Jill Foundation. A collection of new Christmas stories written by well known Irish personalities including Maeve Binchy, Niall Quinn, Cathy Kelly, Eddie Hobbs, Patrick Hickey and Judi Curtin. Describing the true meaning of Christmas, this collection of nearly 30 stories is varied and colourful and will warm the very cockles of your heart. This book will help raise funds for The Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, who provide home nursing care and respite to the families of precious children with brain damage who require intensive care in the place they call home. The Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation (www.jackandjill.ie) was set up in 1997 by Jonathan Irwin and his wife MaryAnn O’Brien (MD of Lily O’Brien’s) to help young children in Ireland who are born with or develop brain damage and who suffer severe intellectual and physical developmental delay as a result. They decided to set up Jack & Jill based on their own experience with their son Jack whose short life showed them the ideal way in which little children can be nursed at home. From their experience evolved the Jack & Jill model of home nursing and respite care that supports 320 families in Ireland today and has helped over 1,200 children and their families since 1997.”

It’s time to vote in The Irish Book Awards. There’s a great choice of books in lots of categories. In the senior children’s category, I think  Sarah Webb would be a very worthy winner, with her brilliant ASK AMY GREEN Bridesmaid Blitz. (I know I might be a small bit biased because Sarah’s my friend, but it’s still a great book.)

Be sure to go to www.irishbookawards.com to vote for your favourite.

Last Wednesday I had a great trip to Kildare libraries. I managed to visit Newbridge, Naas and Athy all in one day – ! !

It was a wonderful day, and once again, I was amazed by all the great questions I was asked.

I have to give special mention to the girls from Athy – I think they know more about the Alice and Megan books than I do myself.

Thanks to the library staff in all three branches for making me feel so welcome, and for all the reviving cups of tea. Thanks to Mark for setting the whole thing up.

Book Festival 2010 is now over for me, and it’s time to settle down and catch up with some writing.

Sarah and Sophia setting up for an event

I’m still catching my breath after my fantastic Wildest Dreams tour of Limerick, Cork, Wicklow and Dublin.

Sarah and Sophia were so much fun to travel with, that it felt more like a holiday than anything else.

The venues were all great, and the crowds were amazing. I met so many wonderful readers that my head is reeling. Special mention has to go to the family who travelled all the way from New Ross to get their books signed – thanks guys.

Huge thanks are due to everyone involved in the tour:

Thanks to Sarah and Sophia for being so much fun.

Thanks to Tom – our bodyguard.

Thanks to Sinead for minding us in Cork.

Thanks to all the staff who set up the venues with us, the booksellers, my publishers.

Thanks to the audiences who responded so well to our talks

and finally

Thanks to David for his (very) short stint as sandwich board man!

Below are some photos:

Sophia, Sarah, me and Tom the bodyguard