Meet author Neil Gaiman on the web.

I've recently discovered a host of websites on one of my favourite authors, Neil Gaiman, and would like to share their delights with you. The official publisher's website is http://www.neilgaiman.co.uk/. A great introduction to the prolific author Neil and his publications, this is exciting from the moment you log in. Be sure to click the "stuff you won't find anywhere else" link for exclusive editions, extra materials, interviews etc. There's a further link on this website to the author's own website: http://www.neilgaiman.com/ where you can follow Neil's blog journal, listen to interviews and excerpts and even see pages from Neil's notebooks. Yet another link takes you to http://www.mousecircus.com/. Don't miss the video tour. You can hear Neil read the Graveyard book, chapter by chapter. These are sites to return to again and again. Like Neil's books, once you've dipped into one, you'll be hooked and need more and more. Let me know if you discover any hidden gems. I'm sure you will.

Recommended sci-fi and children's book authors

The Yahoo Group, Wordpool Writers have recently been recommending sci-fi and children's books they rate. The dozen authors below all featured on the list:

Julia Golding
Jasper Fforde
Garth Nix
Philip Reaves
Holly Black
Michele Paver
Katherine Roberts
Joseph Delaney
Kate Thompson
Philip Pulman
Angie Sage
Steve Augarde

I'm off to the library to borrow some of their books!

My Top Ten Picture Books

By special request here are my top ten picture books for children. Some I discovered as a family learning teacher and some were in my son's collection when he was younger. I have to admit, some of them are so well loved my son and I have kept them. The list features most of my favourite children's picture book authors, but there are many more. Look out for further features on picture books later.

So here they are, in no particular order:

1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle



2. The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr



3. Where's my Teddy by Jez Alborough



4. Winnie the Witch by Korky Paul



5. Q Pootle 5 by Nick Butterworth



6. The Green Queen by Nick Sharratt



7. Handa's Surprise by Eileen Browne



8. The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear by Audrey and Don Wood



9. Mrs Honey's Hat by Pam Adams



10. Rumble in the Jungle by Giles Andreae

I Wish Someone Had Told Me That.

Would you like to pick the brains of successful children's writers on mistakes they've made and lessons they've learned? How about what inspires them and keeps them going? Check out the fabulous e-book, I Wish Someone had Told Me That published by The Children's Book Insider. In this e-boook over 60 authors share their inspirations, their thoughts and experiences. My own contribution begins on page 32. Get your copy now from http://www.write4kids.com/