An Ever So Black and White Celebration


This week we’re celebrating the launch of two wonderful picture books. Alice Hemming’s The Black and White Club and Julie Fulton’s Dorothy-Jane Was Ever So Vain - the third in her popular Ever So series - were both published by Maverick in September. 






First let's raise our glasses to debut author Alice Hemming and toast the future success of her picture book, The Black and White Club. It’s set in a wildlife park, where the penguins have set up a club for black and white animals only. George the giraffe feels left out so he starts his own club, which turns out to be a lot more inclusive and a lot more fun. 


Alice says "This book was inspired by my experiences of forming secret clubs as a child. Great fun if you can join but not as much fun if you're on the outside. I am delighted that Maverick matched me with the illustrator Kimberley Scott, who has produced some amazing, colourful and funny illustrations." 



You can catch up with Alice at her website here. Alice is known to some SCBWI friends as Alice Thorp but writes under her maiden name of Hemming. She lives in Hertford with her husband and two small children. She writes for children of all ages, but is mainly writing picture books. She originally joined SCBWI in about 2004 as an illustrator but that is on hold at the moment while she concentrates on her writing. She enjoys being part of the fantastic SCBWI picture book critique group, Eureka!, who are helping her develop future projects. 




Next, congratulations go to Julie Fulton whose third book in the Ever So series, Miss Dorothy-Jane was Ever So Vain was published in September. And here's a link to the charming trailer for the Ever So series if case you haven't seen it...


Julie tells us how the Ever So series came about: "Mrs MacCready Was Ever So Greedy started out life as a nonsense verse, something to offer as the week’s homework at writing class, nothing more. It sort of popped up out of the ether. Constant, year-long nagging from the tutor and classmates persuaded me to submit and I’m still startled every time I remember it’s now in print. A radio interview, where the presenter suddenly began making up other fun titles (not necessarily usable in children’s literature), coupled with my Mum’s insistence that the ‘Ever So’ series sounded good, made me experiment with writing more. So far, so good, but I do wonder when usable character traits may run out...’ 


@Joolze


Julie grew up on the likes of Dr Seuss, Hillaire Belloc, Edward Lear & Spike Milligan, so it's little wonder she enjoys writing silly, rhyming stories like the Ever So series. She now lives in rural Worcestershire where, apart from trying to find more time to write her picture books and MG novels, she teaches music, reads, gardens, dances and sings. It keeps her out of trouble, usually. You can catch up with Julie at her website here





Please join me in wishing every success to Alice and Julie for The Black and White Club and Dorothy-Jane Was Ever So Vain.  




Tania Tay is an ex-advertising copywriter and has been published in Sable LitMag. She is currently writing a YA romantic thriller, and is on the editorial team at Words & Pictures.

4 comments:

  1. Many congratulations, Julia and Alice. Both books look like wonderful, exuberant fun.

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  2. Congratulations from me too Alice and Julie. I love the idea behind the black and white club, Alice, and love the everso satisfying rhyming, Julie, I'm in awe:)

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  3. Congratulations to you both. I do enjoy seeing SCBWI members successes. I'm sure you'll never run out, Julie! I hope not anyway. It just shows though, we should all listen to our critique groups!

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  4. Warm congratulations you two! And Julie, those titles crack me up!

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