No time for small talk this morning. Budge up, I have a list of urgent things to tell you.
I watched Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic novel Frankenstein — and cried. Wow, Mary Shelley could write a story couldn’t she? She was a just 19 when she wrote Frankenstein!
Mary Shelley was born to notable intellectual parents but tragically lost her mother shortly after birth and later experienced immense personal tragedy with the loss of her first three children and her husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley. Despite these hardships, she continued writing, publishing more novels and supporting herself, a feat uncommon for women at the time. After Percy Shelley’s death, she kept his calcified heart wrapped in his poetry in her writing desk. Her son found it after her death
Thanks google
Every tiny piece of this film is beautiful. Look at these costumes.
I saw a ghost. At long last. I have been waiting for an encounter like this all my life.
I read this Kathy Burke Bio. Isn’t Kathy brilliant? She is always uncompromisingly herself. You MUST read it. I listened on audio which was a proper treat because she reads it herself.
My book Smelly Peggy won a prize. But I don’t like to wang on about it. Oh go on then, here’s a couple of pictures.
At the Sheffield Book Awards, where my book won Best Toddler Book, did I tell you? I had some quick fun chats with
who also sends out a weekly Sunday Substack called The Joy Parade. If you don’t subscribe already, then you MUST. Bossy pointy finger wagging in yer face.
My Partner Gerry Turley is making some new whale prints. Sign up to his Substack for news.
And tomorrow me and my pal
are doing our FREE Picture Book Pitching Masterclass. Don’t miss it!
How did your week go? Have you ever seen a ghost lately?
Love Helenx
*I lured you in with the promise of sausages but there are actually no sausages
Congratulations, for Smelly Peggy xx
So many lovely things, and especially - CONGRATULATIONS!!!