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Were you a Puffineer? Sadly I wasn't but if I was eight again I know I'd be nagging my mum to sign me up because it's back. Puffin books' children's club has been relaunched having closed in the 80s. The first ever copy was issued in 1967 and membership grew and grew at one point reaching 200,000. The new version is now open for subscriptions before it officially launches in January. Subscribers (there's a special rate currently on offer) receive a magazine every two months and their choice of six free Puffin books over the year they will also be able to join Puffin Island an exclusive area of the website. Puffineers also get a Puffin Post membership pack which looks really fab. I'm a big kid at heart so I'd love this - there's puffin notepaper, membership book with secret code, bookplates, bookmark, pencil, notebook, enamel badge and puffin beanie toy. The Puffin Post website says: "When relaunching Puffin Post we knew we were doing something special, but the response from the original Puffineers of the 60s, 70s and 80s has been amazing. Puffin Post has been an important part of so many people's lives: now it can be a part of yours too!" The magazine sounds like a lot of fun as it's going to be packed with activities, games, competitions and interviews with authors. A pre-launch version apparently includes interviews with Charlie Higson, Eoin Colfer, Cathy Cassidy and a Michael Morpurgo short story. It sounds right up my street. I've seen lots of images of old covers online too and they had some fantastic designs, I hope the new ones will be as good. A fantastic old Puffin Post cover The Puffin Post is run by 'a group of eccentric puffins known as Ptolemy's Pteam! I hope Gordon Ramsay doesn't get to hear about them! The Puffin Post website says: "Puffin Island has even more games, competitions, downloads, features and exclusive interviews, and is a great place to meet new friends, share your stories, poems and artwork and puffinise your life. Take a trip to the Lost Library for articles from the Puffin Post magazine; join your fellow Puffineers for a Clifftop Chat; join in the octo-fun at Oscar's Funfair or rub shoulders with authors in the Puffin Pavilion." Bookseller.com also says the magazine will be edited by children. "From writing poems and stories for the magazine and suggesting feature ideas to sending in the latest playground jokes and adding unusual words to the online glossary, kids will be involved at every level." P.S Welcome to anyone directed here via the black box widget. My question was custard or ice cream? A dilemma I often face when choosing apple pie!

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Another review of First Kiss (Then Tell) edited by Cylin Busby and here’s my story’s mention:

Hands down favorite for sheer grossness (it was so gross it was funny!) was Justine Larbalestier’s “Pashin’”, a tale of her friend’s first kiss.

I am the grossest of them all.

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My short story in First Kiss (Then Tell) edited by Cylin Busby continues to garner praise for how disgusting it is. Here’s what Bookshelves of Doom has to say:

Justine Larbalestier’s “Pashin’ or The Worst Kiss Ever” was my favorite, hands down. I’ve read it three times (once aloud to Josh), and it made me gag every single time. No, that’s not a typo. I said gag, and I meant it. Literally.

I am so very proud.

Go on, read a copy, you know you want to find out if my story’s as gross as they say. Plus there are some excellent non-disgusting stories in there by the likes of Cecil Castelluci, Shanon Hale, David Levithan, and Robin Wasserman. Not to mention is perfect gift for Valentine’s Day!

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