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If you could be any Jacqueline Wilson character who would you be?
We had a very happy last morning in Dublin visiting the Chester Beatty Library of wonderful ornamental and Asian illuminated manuscripts. Some of the illustrative titles were marvellously descriptive; The Prince Gallops Away While the Farmers Wife is Devoured By a Lion. I also loved; Baby Krishna Steals the Butter. We had a very healthy and delicious lunch at the library and then went on to Dubray Books in Rathmines where Aileen and Susan looked after us splendidly – and gave me a lovely present when I’d finished signing. It was presents galore at the shop – a fantastic carrier bag of goodies from Jennifer and perfume from her friend Nadia. Alannah gave me a beautiful book of Dublin poetry. Hannah showed me the most splendid Jacqueline Wilson project I’ve ever seen and Laura bounded back with a tissue she’d picked up from my signing table yesterday at Easons. She said she’d treasure it forever so of course I signed it for her. I shall treasure very happy memories of my Dublin trip. It’s been a wonderful three week tour – I can’t wait till March 2010 and the next tour!
I had a relaxing swim in the Merrion pool and then we set off after breakfast to do a little sightseeing. It was pouring with rain – so it was a good excuse to do some serious shopping. Then we met up with my favourite man in all of Dublin, lovely Declan and he took me to do a radio interview with Sean Moncreiff. I’m very pleased his daughter likes my books. I did a two and a half hour signing in Easons and met some very special girls. Aksana told me that she was born in Russia and then adopted. Ashling showed me her beautiful sparkly nails, carefully painted with my name!
Off to Dublin, hurray, hurray and we’re staying in the very luxurious Merrion Hotel which is a big treat. I did a very happy signing at Hughes & Hughes in Dun Laoghaire. Practically every girl in the queue bought a copy of Hetty Feather and a Tracy Beaker charity pin badge.
It's so frustrating going to super mammoth shopping centres like Lakeside – and yet I don't get a chance to go in a single shop because I'm working! Still, everyone today was so very special that I didn't mind a bit if I missed out on retail therapy. I felt like a real diva pop star too, because I had an entire security team of hunky men looking after me, courtesy of WHSmiths – thank you! I felt as if I had my own entourage with me too – as well as my lovely publicist Naomi, my best friend Trish, and Ian the driver (taking over from gold star Bob for the day) my dear friend Mary popped up behind the scenes to wish me well, and Gary my oldest rep friend bobbed up too, with his wife, his cute daughter Jessica, and her friends Hannah and Rebecca. It was just like a party! But then I was led in style down to my special signing spot and I met such truly fantastic people.
It was great to meet Bethany with her gorgeous long fair hair – she has cerebral palsy and therefore identifies with Leila in The Story of Tracy Beaker. Ciara came all the way from Liverpool with her valiant Mum. Emily gave me a carefully chosen black and silver brooch, and Ella-Jai gave me a bar of chocolate – with my name on, even! Best of all, I met Sam and his friend Amy. Sam had written me a wonderful heartfelt letter in the past, and it was so great to meet him in person.
We took the scenic route to Paignton – it was just like being on holiday. Our lovely driver Bob let us stop and explore the famous fossil beach at Charmouth – but we didn’t get lucky and find any fossils. I felt like a fossil myself after a very busy signing at the brilliant Torbay Bookshop – but it was great to manage a four hour signing again. The girls (and a few boys) were so friendly. I was given a toy cow (!) and best of all, a wonderful doll of Beauty from my book Cookie. It was made by April Talbot. I shall treasure my doll forever, April.
Read the South Devon Herald Express article about Jacky's Hetty Feather signing at The Torbay Bookshop.
Off to the seaside – to Bournemouth, one of my all-time favourite holiday resorts (see last two chapters of Jacky Daydream). I was pleased that Borders are selling little Tracy Beaker pin badges in aid of the Book Trade Charity. I sold a whole tray of badges – it looked as if we were all in a special Tracy club! We stayed overnight at the very stylish Christchurch Harbour Hotel and in the morning I had a heavenly swim in their spa pool.
Read the Bournemouth Echo article and watch a short film about Jacky's Hetty Feather signing at Borders.
It was Hetty Feather Day at the Foundling Museum – and it was such fun! There was a lovely tiny red-haired girl called Millie dressed up as Hetty Feather and a splendidly scary actress with a (pretend) pig nose played Matron Pigface Peters who kept everyone in order. All the children could make all sorts of Victorian-related things – I saw lots of lovely bonnets made, with paper flowers in bright colours – and could even dress up as foundlings themselves.
I gave two talks, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, and signed lots and lots of books. Everything went splendidly but I was so tired afterwards. I spent the evening doing nothing at all, just drinking a glass of wine and watching The X Factor!
Not too busy a day today – time to catch up with more (pretend) post and do some writing and visit my Mum and see my friends - I just had to whizz to Broadcasting House to do an interview for BBC London Radio with Robert Elms. He has a daughter called Maude who likes my books.
I had to get up really early (not a good idea after a big party the night before) because I had to go on BBC Breakfast news. Before you go into the studio you and your fellow guests sit knee to knee in a tiny Green Room sipping coffee and nibbling croissants – and then you're called in for your Big Moment in front of the camera. It always passes in a flash. I did a SuperClubsPLUS webchat in the afternoon, and one on Goldstarcafe.net too. I have to get a friend to help me log in and write all my replies – I'm pretty hopeless when it comes to computers!
Party day! I got to the Foundling Museum early and spent an hour filming for Newsround in front of the cabinet of Foundling Uniform.Then I had a little break before everyone started arriving for the Hetty Feather book launch. I'm so lucky - I didn't have to do a thing to arrange this special party. My brilliant publicist, Naomi, took care of all the arrangements, ordered champagne and delicious canapes and beautiful flowers. All I had to do was rush around the room talking to everyone.There were speeches (I shan't tell you what Philippa Dickinson, the Head of Random House Children's Books said or I shall sound as if I'm showing off!) I was given a chance to make a speech thanking everyone, and then I was presented with a wonderful luxury bright green notebook, the loveliest I've ever seen. Nick and I were both given magnificent bouquets of flowers and big boxes of special Hetty Feather gingerbread biscuits. My dear friend Mary gave me a silver Tiffany book mark. It was like having a birthday and Christmas all rolled into one!
We then drove straight from Crosby to my publishers in Ealing, where a video link had been set up at Random House so I could talk directly to Chatterbooks children in Scotland.Then home to tackle lots of fan letters!
I enjoyed my talk at Crosby Civic Hall, and the signing afterwards was particularly interesting. I was given little notebooks, a box of chocolate, a pen, and a little red heart – and met some lovely children with amazing names. I especially enjoyed meeting Red Roses, who told me she had a sister called Betty Butterfly, and two brothers called Bear Leonardo and Blitz Ronan. We didn’t get to our hotel in Formby until very late – but I still managed to get up early and have a swim in the beautiful big turquoise pool. Before we left to go back to London we drove to the seafront and admired Anthony Gormley’s 200 iron men gazing steadfastly out to sea. Some stand on the stand, some are up to their waists in water, and some are submerged right up to their chins.
It was a treat to give a talk in St Botolph’s beautiful church in Boston – it’s 700 years old this year. I had to climb up into the old pulpit and felt very grand. All the children and their parents were very friendly. I particularly enjoyed meeting Courtney and her Mum. I’ll try to write another story for you, Courtney! Some lovely girls gave me special presents; Millie gave me a bracelet, Rebekah gave me a semi-precious red gemstone – and another kind girl gave me a yellow fairy brooch. It felt like my birthday.
Day one of my Hetty Feather tour – and it was a great way to start. I had to give a talk in a magnificent hall at Kings School in Worcester. I sat in a huge carved chair on the stage, feeling like a queen on her throne. The event was organised by Waterstone’s and all the staff were wearing canary yellow T-shirts with a picture of Hetty Feather on the front. They gave special JW wristbands to the first 120 children in the queue. It made me feel like a rock star!
There was a real rock musician in the audience who’d brought along his two lovely daughters Catalana and Romy.They gave me two Gypsy Pistoleros CDs featuring their Dad. I was also given a beautiful bejewelled bookmark by Milly and Ellie. We didn’t get to our hotel until gone half past nine but thank goodness the kitchen was still serving – and in the morning we all ate an enormous cooked breakfast overlooking the beautiful Malvern hills. I’m going to get very FAT this tour.