The Lombardy Knot

I decided yesterday that my sessions in primary schools need to be a little more interactive. So, I bought some pipe cleaners and spent a good while yesterday evening perfecting the art of the Lombardy knot as created by Jayne in “The Lombardy Grotto”.

Jayne had to use strips of leather, but they are strips of leather reinforced with wire, which are used amongst other things, for tying up the girls’ and the women’s hair. Pipe-cleaners are a good substitute here.

You take five. It’s good to use three different colours, say two white, two yellow and one black. (See picture 1.)

You wrap the black one, or whichever one is on its own, round the other four. Right in the middle.

Carry on wrapping it until it is all used up.

Then join the two lots of two whites together to form loops.

Now weave the yellow strands round the white ones. It looks a bit like a butterfly now. In fact, like the very butterfly on the back of my book form where the imprint Butterfly gets its name.

Watch this spot for photos. My camera suddenly died. I’m hoping it’s just a battery problem, but I fear it may be more. It had two pips left and it happened very suddenly.

Book Tour

I’ve sent out a Sprint Mail email shot to all of the schools in the UK. I’m offering a free author visit, though I am claiming travel expenses if the school is over thirty miles away from Salford or Southampton or the journey between the two.
This is all because my book, "The Lombardy Grotto" is out now. It’s published by Butterfly, an imprint of Willow Bank. They do normal publishing and subsidy publishing. Butterfly is their children’s imprint. They’re a small publisher, but growing steadily.
Is The Lombardy Grotto going to be their breakthrough novel? Or mine for that matter? Who knows?
One thing I do know: I’m going to be going all over the country over the next few weeks. I have over twenty visits booked, and requests are still coming in. Suddenly, it’s all happening.

Letters from Publishers

It’s always great to get a letter form a publisher. One that mentions your book, with ISBN numbers and a publication date. Exactly that came for me yesterday. I had requested it. They need proof for the RAE submission at the university that the books actually exist or will exist.
It was good seeing it. There are four coming out with Butterfly:
The Lombardy Grotto – for 9-11 December 2007
Scum Bag for 14+ March 2008
Kiters for 9-11 Auntumn 2008
Beyond the Vale 14+ Autumn 2008
I have now carefully stowed it away with many papers for the university. Next, I have to organise a launch. That will be tremendous fun. In fact, I think I’ll organise a book tour. A free reading to al the local schools. I’ll do a short talk, a reading form the book, answer questions and then sign copies.
Keep your fingers crossed. Other suggestions would be welcome.