• Brit-coverI’m working on the covers of my new series, Roman Brit, that should be published in a year’s time or so.

    It’s a weird thing drawing the covers when I haven’t actually written the books yet! I really need to get on with writing too – deadlines are looming.

    The publishing business needs to see the covers as soon as possible, so that marketing can start swinging into action. There are catalogues to be produced, schedules to be organised, printers to be booked and warehouse space to be allocated. So much to do and all waiting for me to get what is in my head out onto paper.

    Here’s a video explaining how I paint the covers and a bit of chat about designing covers too!

  • VikingShipAre you getting excited by the British Museum Vikings Exhibition? I am! The British museum is one my most favourite places in the world and the new exhibition is going to open the brand new World Conservation and Exhibition Centre.

    Having a Norwegian mother, I always thought I would grow up to be a Viking. Unfortunately there are few jobs for Vikings these days, so I became a children’s author and illustrator instead.

    Eventually the time came to write my Viking stories. I was inspired the day I went to my Auntie’s Hutte – or little holiday house – on an island not far from Bergen in Norway.The Hutte looks down on a small inlet from the sea.SnekkevikThere was a moment when I put the name and the geography together and realised that Snekkevik (Snake Vik) would have once been a Viking settlement.

    The name Viking means “People of the Viks“. This inlet was a Vik and this is where Vikings would have lived. Now you can drive there over bridges and there is gas and electricity too. But I could imagine Viking children playing on the beach, just as my children were doing a thousand years later.

    Viking Vik was born in my imagination! A lot of work later and The eight book series became a reality. If you are studying Vikings, you may like to have a bit of Viking related reading. They’re both fun and informative – boys love them 😀

    Learn to draw Viking Vik!

  • crumpetsmall“What’s a crumpet?” I hear you say, Shame on you. Crumpets are the most delicious teatime bread/cake/bun – not sure what to call it. They are a little rubbery and they have holes in the top side. When toasted, butter melts into the holes. Lovely covered with jam, jelly, marmalade, honey or, I suppose, even peanut butter.

    When you bite into a crumpet the melted butter will drip down your chin and all over your fingers and clothes! delicious! Watch the video and learn how to draw one!