Funny how tiny decisions can change the course of your life. Last week I glanced at the DVDs by the checkouts in Sainsbury’s and spied Eat Pray Love for the bargain price of £3. I dismissed the notion of buying it (I don’t have much money – why fritter it away on a DVD?). But… Continue reading Why I decided to keep writing this blog
Author: Katherine Bassford
Hello, I'm Katherine. I'm a writer and illustrator living on the south coast, UK. www.katherinebassford.com
This is the hardest post I have ever written
I nearly didn't write this. A few weeks ago I decided to let my blog go and never write another post again. In December 2012 my dad was diagnosed with his second bout of cancer. He fought off bowel cancer 5 years ago. This time it was back and had spread throughout his body. As before, he stoically… Continue reading This is the hardest post I have ever written
Book reading rules and magic
I have just finished reading Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks. I have one word to say: WOW! To begin with, I wasn’t sure. Something about the story didn’t grip me. A friend assured me the book was a “masterpiece” and was “one of the finest books of the twenty first century.” I shook my head. What… Continue reading Book reading rules and magic
Doodling for the very afraid
Writing makes me happy. Reading makes me happy. Patterns and colours make me happy. So far I have indulged the first two but not the third. (I have the same fear of art as I used to have about writing. i.e. the thought of it makes me feel slightly queasy). This year I conquered my… Continue reading Doodling for the very afraid
My third picture book (third time lucky?)
After my first two picture books were rejected I changed tack and started writing another ‘fluffier’ story. But that came to a grinding halt after a few days as I wasn’t feeling the love. (I’ll leave it simmering for a while and see if it wants me to come back to it later.) I’ve now… Continue reading My third picture book (third time lucky?)
Do it (even if it gives you the heebeegeebees)
It has been a few weeks since I came back from holiday but I’m still feeling inspired by St Ives. Something about it has got under my skin and I am itching to create things! So far I’ve tried to satisfy this itch by rearranging the kitchen (admission: I find rearranging things very exciting) and by… Continue reading Do it (even if it gives you the heebeegeebees)
If you want to write a picture book, read this
I’ve just finished reading ‘How to Write a Children’s Picture Book and Get It Published’ by Andrea Shavick. When I first leafed through it I was a bit disappointed as it seemed so basic and simple. (Idiot!) This is exactly why it’s so flipping good! By the time I got to the end I was… Continue reading If you want to write a picture book, read this
How St Ives restored my mojo
Two weeks ago I went to St Ives in Cornwall for a break. (I didn’t blog about it because I needed a break from life and, more specifically, from staring at my computer screen.) Before the holiday I searched online for a place we could afford to rent - a tinsy winsy cottage with a… Continue reading How St Ives restored my mojo
Writing makes you sit on a hill
I came across this line recently but for the life of me can’t remember where I saw it. “Writing makes you sit on a hill.” In other words, write, put your stuff out there and people will see you. There is nowhere to hide.That’s scary shit. Especially when they see you and then reject you.… Continue reading Writing makes you sit on a hill
Doing the impossible
Up until a year ago, getting the ideas in my head onto paper was impossible. Then writing a picture book was impossible. Then sending my manuscripts to an agent was impossible. Then being rejected by an agent was impossible (I had to get over that one quick). Now being a published author is impossible. But… Continue reading Doing the impossible
Katherine Bassford 