Oink! My Life With Minipigs

Following today's press release from Hodder & Stoughton, featured in The Bookseller , here are details of my first work of non-fiction for adults.

Oink! My Life with Minipigs is published in hardback, February 2011:

What happens when a man wonders aloud if a pig would make a good pet? A great deal – once his wife discovers a kind the size of a handbag.

Matt Whyman is a writer and house husband. He enjoys the quiet life. His career wife, Emma, prefers the chaos a big brood can bring. On top of four challenging children, one freaked-out feline, a wolf-like dog and a wild bunch of ex-battery chickens, she brings minipigs Butch and Roxi into the fold.

But can the new arrivals really cuddle up on the sofa, or will their growing presence spark a battle of hearts, snouts and minds?

Funny, touching and entertaining, Oink! charts the trials and errors of one man and his menagerie. With help and advice from a seasoned local smallholder, Matt sets out to master the art of managing minipigs – inside the house and out. Then someone suggests breeding minipiglets, and Matt’s understanding of marriage is tested in the most unexpected ways…

The jacket is in the final stages. It's a riot, and as far removed from the guns, explosions and boys with tattooed wings that you'd expect to see on the cover of my books. I'll post it up as soon as the powers that be have signed it off. For now, here is a picture of the mighty Butch with his sister, Roxi - one of a host featured in the book.

Edit - actually, I'm not sure this picture does feature in the book. It's a bonus extra now.

Goldstrike - latest USA reviews

I've just been sent reviews from America for teen hacker, Carl Hobbes' second adventure, Goldstrike.

"A suspense novel along the lines of Robert Ludlum, reminiscent of the latest Die Hard movie ... a welcome escape for current and future suspense fans. It will not stay on the shelf for long." VOYA

"This is definitely one fast-paced novel ... interesting, entertaining and action-packed ... Give this to students who are ready for an older Alex Rider or who enjoy thrillers"

Now, I would credit this last one, but the photocopy I've been sent is so iffy that I can't make out the title at the foot of the page. So, if reviewer Robin Henry from Texas is reading this a) Thanks - I got your back - and b) if you could let me know I'll gladly amend.

live on BBC Radio 1

On Tuesday 27th July, I'll be a guest on BBC Radio 1's The Surgery.

The show goes out live 9.00pm-10.00pm, and also on BBC Radio 1Xtra.

It's an advice show, and I'll be talking about body image on behalf of TheSite.org

Coming up after the break

Things have been quiet on this blog for good reason.

Basically, I've been writing like a demon. So, I'd like to offer a preview of things to come.

Firstly, in October, I have a short story featured in a fine anthology of "counterfactual fiction". I had to look up what that meant, and hope I've understood it correctly. It's a kind of 'what if history had taken this turn of events' sort of thing. My story concerns the accidental destruction of the moon during the Cold War.

The Truth is Dead is edited by award-winning author Marcus Sedgwick. The contributors include: Philip Ardagh, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Anthony McGowan, Linda Newbery, Mal Peet, Marcus Sedgwick, Eleanor Updale, and me. Or should that be 'myself'? I never know.

Lazlo Strangolov has also been busy. Following his Carnegie-nominated tale of spooked chickens, Feather & Bone, his next novel, Tooth & Claw, will be published by Walker Books in March 2011. It's a cross between Day of the Dead and Lassie Come Home.

Also, in a break from teen fiction, I've returned to Hodder adults (publisher of my first two novels, Man or Mouse & Columbia Road) for a memoir of sorts. It's been a huge, exciting challenge, to be published February 2011.

Hopefully, I can post more about it very soon.

words, music, pictures

Here is the cover artwork I created for the new EP by Planet Boelex, which is released today.

I've been a fan of this well-respected Finnish musician for some time. It's hugely atmospheric and cinematic electronica that creates the perfect writing environment for me. So, it was a thrill to be asked to devise and produce the artwork to accompany this new release - in the style of my photomontage work on display in my Flickr gallery.

Raja (pronounced like 'player') is Finnish, so I'm told, for boundary or limits. This was a project that certainly pushed me, and I recommend a listen to the EP. It's out on the Nordic netlabel, Softphase.

Best of all, being wildly generous, Planet Boelex has made all tracks free to download.

... I think we can all see why I was drawn to check out the artist in the first place.

2010 Chesire Schools Book Award

Lazlo Strangolov's Feather & Bone has been shortlisted for the 2010 Cheshire Schools Book Award.

The winner will be announced on Tuesday 29th June, 2010.

"Action, adventure... a page tearer."

The Lateiner Gang review Icecore, publish an interview with me and offer a book giveaway.

In their own words, it's a triple threat.