The Bedford Booktastic Bookfest Children's book festival 2015

Well this was just about the best fun I've had in June 2015.
Probably.

Hosted by the marvellous Rachel Rogan it showcased some brilliant children's authors and I was very excited to be taking my two daughters along.

First on my schedule of events was to see Chris Riddell draw some lovely pictures and read some lovely writing.

I arrived at the same time as he did, so I accosted him at the reception desk.

Instead of running away from me (as I would have), he was incredibly warm and friendly, happy to talk, pleased to meet a young fan (my daughter, not me) and all in all, showed me that these literary types are actually very happy to chat about the process of writing with interested people.

I must confess, dropping the fact that you are an English teacher and that you will put the author's photo together with a display of their books on your classroom wall into your conversation does, I am sure, help when it comes to asking for a selfie.

However, I wouldn't go so far as to say that bribery is the only way you can get authors to talk to you.

Robin Stevens was more than happy to discuss the process she went through in getting her first book, Murder Most Unladylike published.  She has just published her second, the third is due out this summer, and there is a fourth on the way.  Success!

Like me, she works full time, though as an editor for a publishing house so her career is also her hobby, her passion.  I am admittedly jealous.

However, this did not make it completely plain-sailing for her.  Yes, she has talent and her writing is fabulous, but that alone isn't enough to get published.  What a competitive market the bookish world inhabits!

She was adamant that every writer needs an agent.  Publishers won't read manuscripts unless they are recommended by an agent.  And getting an agent isn't easy in itself.  However, I did not leave feeling depressed at all.  She is incredibly inspirational and I am sure she is one reason why my own writing has begun to flow so freely.

I'm not hoping that my work will be published.  There is a door marked 'Publisher' through which you cannot enter without having previously collected your Confidence passport and Worthiness visa.

I haven't got those.  Yet?  Who knows.

But I've at least begun walking towards that door by beginning to write.  And surely that's the point yes?