Kath and I have just had the most amazing week in the Whitley Bay area of the North East.

It was our first trip to the region since the Covid outbreak had put paid to our school visits, and it was soon apparent how much we had missed lovely schools that are always keen to host us!

     Molly-inspired Space Buns hairstyles at Seaton Sluice Middle School

First call was to Seaton Sluice Middle School. We arrived early, but not too early, to be greeted by Headteacher, Mrs McSparron; a not-so-old friend of ours. 

It was sad to learn that we were to be deprived of the Year 6’s (out on a school visit), but we still had a considerable audience of around 250 Years 5 to 8 to present to in a packed assembly hall. 

We're currently rounding off our Mokee Joe series of books before moving onto new projects, and it was quite sad to think that for the foreseeable future we might not be talking again about the very books that got me started as an author. However the audience relished the dramatic presentation covering around 20 years of my writing. Books 1 to 6 of the series all went down a storm; some pupils already having read some of the books, but ending the visit feeling desperate to read the others. Of course, the pupils (mainly girls) were more than impressed with Molly Steven’s latest hairstyle and turned up at the book-signing the next day looking fab to say the least. Hope you like the pic. We always enjoy our visits to this school and hope to be back sooner rather than later with different books (and maybe different hairstyles to promote!). 

Thanks to all for being so welcoming.

 

 

Final visit of the week was to another school that has followed my author career over the years – Whytrig Middle School at Seaton Delaval. And what a way to finish the week! Around 260 Years 5 to 8 sat in front of another huge screen and listened to me go on about the entire Mokee Joe series spread over 20 years. The great audience response was confirmed by another HUGE book signing the next day…and YES, you’ve guessed it…loads more pupils sporting the latest Molly Stevens hairstyle – SPACE BUNS! I’m a great believer in the saying, ‘If you  can’t beat them, join them’, and hence you will spot me and Kath in the latest pic with our very own Space Buns, courtesy of Clare’s Accessories!

 WHAT AN A-MAZING WEEK IN WHITLEY BAY! BIG THANKS TO ALL AND SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT YEAR!

PJM

The link to Peter’s blog on his website can be found at http://peterjmurray.co.uk/wordpress/