So I’ve been super slack in the whole blogging thing. I guess i’ve not had enough to really make me ranty in a while… hehe, no that’s a lie, just haven’t had the TIME to be /longread/ ranty in a while!
What have you lovely readers been up to?
I thought i’d blog about my rather interesting experience this morning! Took my Mr7, Dylan, to his first book signing today. It was part of the Auckland Writer’s festival and Dav Pilkey (of Captain Underpants fame) was going to be doing a talk and a signing. Pilkey did an amazing job, it was an engaging and fun talk which subtly emphasised the importance of passion and perseverance. Then he did an amazing thing, he promised he would sign every child’s book if they lined up. So line up we did, for two and a half hours! Then a tired and slightly grumpy Mr7 got to meet his favourite author!
I just had a thought as we stood there in line. The line next to ours was Tim Winton, a renowned author who’s recent review in The Guardian read: “a superb tale of disillusionment and redemption, loss and beauty” and yet, there was a mere couple of dozen people in his line. It started an hour later and he was done and dusted before Pilkey. Then the usher told us that David Walliams’ line was THREE hours long the day before.
I think I would like to celebrate and congratulate the authors of kids books. When people line up at midnight to get the latest Harry Potter, when CHILDREN will patiently (well mostly patiently) wait two to three hours just to meet an author, these people are doing something right in the world and certainly doing something for the intelligence and literacy of our kids!
Bravo and Thanks from a parent!
Vivian Chandra 