I have just returned from visits to S1 classes in Cardinal Newman High School in Bellshill and S3 in St Maurice’s HS in Cumbernauld and also to WHEC (Westerhailes) in Edinburgh where we discussed Spider, and some of the classes got a preview of my next novel, which is due out in late spring 2010.

My visit to the SALT Festival (Song, Art, Literature and Theatre) based in Portlethen, Aberdeenshire was over three days at the beginning of October.  I visited Fishermoss Primary, Newtonhill Primary and Banchory-Devenick, and Portlethen Primary.  Hamish McHaggis came to visit the children with his Whirry Bang which had made the trip north for the occasion.  The following week I visited Fisherford Primary and Aberchirder Primary both in Aberdeenshire, to tell Hamish McHaggis stories.