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With the snow outside my window and a grey sky gathering for a second snowfall, your first photo is an invitation to somewhere warm.

Though a holiday with too much time to think can also be dangerous, can't it?

Definitely, Penny. Although the sun is tempting, the imagination can run riot!

Wonderful to be able to hear the whole story of how the Running on the Cracks play was made, including what would - and what wouldn't - transfer across art forms.

Great that you'd also seen some of your novel "Spider" dramatised. Such an experience! Maybe Don't Judge Me will become a whole play one day?

I do like the way so many library and similar awards encourage children to make such generous presentations or drama pieces about one of the books they have read.

(Must admit I'm saying that as proud someone with a CD of such a school presentation waiting on my desk for viewing. I am saving it for a truly calm and quiet afternoon for its premier home here.)

Interesting stuff!

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Must be lovely to see what someone else makes of your story!

Hi Penny. How exciting, It will be lovely to have your own home première! I am constantly discovering how talented young people are when they are given the opportunity.

It was really interesting, Joan, and made me look at what I am writing in a different light, too.

I agree, Sue!

Really interesting to hear the backstory about this. Thanks for sharing!

Did you know about Mumsnet's recent campaign to help child runaways? I blogged about it here: http://lucymarcovitch.wordpress.com/2013/01/04/no-break-in-the-sun-supporting-child-runaways/ .

I've also blogged about adapting children's books for the stage - it really fascinates me too!

No, Lucy I didn't know about it, off to have a look.

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Lovely to see my "Wolfie" on your list!

I've really enjoyed Gill Vickery's Emerald Quest, which is for a similar age-group, and features a resourceful girl called Tia who has been brought up by dragons and who decides to win back their magic jewels. It's a cracker - a real fantasy adventure in the tradition of Narnia, the Hobbit etc but punchier and less descriptive, and so more accessible for a younger audience.

Like you, I've also read and enjoyed Game of Thrones. And at the moment I'm really enjoying Creation by Gore Vidal, set in the Ancient World.

Must try A Game of Thrones - it's passed me by so far. Am reading lots of detective fiction set in Italy - it's almost like going there! Have started John Irving's latest book, but though I love his writing, I don't think I'm quite in the right place for it at the moment (literally!) Have just read Terry Pratchett's Snuff; continue to be in awe of his inventiveness and the way he ties it into social commentary - though this is not my favourite of his books: think the witches ones are my best.

Thanks for the Arthur and the Tractor recommendation: sounds perfect for small grandsons!

My bed is a sort of book nest. Just been up and scooped up a handful. Here they are in no particular order, all bought this year, mostly all ready: 'Writing from Experience - Louisa M. Alcott to Virginia Woolf', by Brian H Taylor. 'Jawbreakers - A collection of flash fiction' edited Calum Kerr & Valerie O'Riordan, 'Travels with Charley' - John Steinbeck, 'Under the Storyteller's Spell - Tales from the Caribbean' - edited Faustin Charles, 'Outposts of Occupation - How the Channel Islands Survived Nazi Rule' - Barry Turner, 'The Gift' - Lewis Hyde *** [really interesting for anyone working creatively in writing, painting or whatever], 'Defiant Spirits - Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven', Ross King, 'Into the Wild', Jon Krakauer [the story of Chris McCandless], 'Lost in the Jungle' Yossi Ghinsberg, 'Braking Distance ' - Calum Kerr [more flash fiction]. I could go on but won't. We're so lucky to have such riches of books to choose from. This is without starting on my massive Kindle list. And all the books mentioned above sound really interesting too. Where is the time to write, I ask? But what a privilege, when we do, to occasionally add one of our own to all those books out there.

Thank you for the mention of my "Mouse" Linda! And good luck with your new book!

I was having a stressful time recently and found myself wallowing - via kindle - through the entire Donna Leon Brunetti series, set in Venice. Plus "Inkheart" and the first "Hunger Games". Then , while travelling alone in hotels, I ameliorated "Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont" by Elizabeth Taylor with the kindle Mapp & Lucia collection. Such spikiness!

Just home from India, I've enjoyed Tarquin Hall's "The Case of The Missing Servant" - a crime novel set in Delhi with a Punjabi private 'tec as the main character. Have Pratchetts "Dodger" standing by too, as well as a couple of teen novels by Paro Anand. Books definitely need their own space and time for the best reading experience. "Game of Thrones" is creeping closer to me.

Loved the nest of books, Pauline, and agree about the wealth of treasures.

Hugely important points here, and given a context through the very real person of your charming young grandson. Happy birthday, Ruaridh, and happy reading, however old you grow.

Hooray for those School Library lobbyists too. Well done!

Lovely! And happy birthday!

Here's hoping the lobbyists are listened to, and well done for attending even when feeling poorly!

Happy Birthday Ruaridh! (What a lovely name.) Yes, yes and yes. Going to the library is one of my two's very favourite things. I, too, hope that will continue.

Great post, Linda. School libraries are so important, as you say not every child will go to a library but they all go to school. I've met some lovely librarians when visiting schools who've shown tremendous dedication to encouraging the children to read.

Libraries/librarians - a measure of our civilisation.

I think it's a really excellent point that not all children visit public libraries, but they all go to school - ridiculously, it hadn't occurred to me before. I remember going to a recently refurbished primary school library in Bristol a few years ago - it was fantastic, with bright colours, murals by the children, inviting areas to set down - it just made you want to curl up with a book. All schools should have them - and the librarians to make them work.

Well said - and a good explanation of why they matter.

As the local public library may not be easy to reach, especially given the distances children do travel to secondary school and/or have limited hours and stock as well, so the school library and the library staff should grow even more important.

Hear, hear.

And in primary schools, in England anyway (most of the schools I visit are in England)there is often no library or designated librarian. And primary age children are even less able to get to the public library under their own steam than secondary children, and arguably it's even more crucial that they get that reading habit!

The Society of Authors is running a campaign about this also - hope it has some results.

There is one thing more unhapopy than a book without a reader Linda - and thats a child who wants to read, without a book! Hence the importance of libraries. I used to live in ours: I'd have been desolate without it.

Karen - I agree there are some lovely librarians with true dedication to getting kids and books together

So right, Joan.

Sue It is wonderful when libraries are lovely places the kids want to be in, and welcoming. I have also been in primary schools, as Emma mentions, where they have little or no library as if it was not important.

As you say, Penny many primary school children cannot get to a library and if the parents are not willing, interested or able to take them it is more difficult to get them into a reading habit.
Madwippit I agree about a child without a book.... I too spent many happy hours as a child in my local library

Linda, agree with what you say about there being no librarian in many primary schools, although often a teacher or parent takes on that responsibilty.

However, I'm also thinking of the additional hours many secondary children travel each day by school bus, train or car especially if they are in a rural location. And they have to fit in homework on top of that.

very good post

Thank you for this excellent post. Of course school librarians are necessary. I do hope the Govt listens to all the lobbying. Wish I could come to Westminster day but am busy, alas. Good luck to all.

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Great so read lots of news about being at the EBF!

Fun for all - readers and writers! The best thing is seeing all those readers, just lying on the grass, chatting, eating ice-cream, and reading, while waiting to see an author or just, well, lie on the grass, chatting, eating ice-cream and reading! It feels very real. All book festivals have that feeling, I think. People coming together for one reason: books. But, ok, Edinburgh is a bit special :)

Hi Penny, Hope to see you up in Edinburgh next year!

You are so right, Nicola, a special place with a wonderful atmosphere that brings people back year after year.
The readers who come and listen, sit about reading, talking and enjoying books are the lifeblood of any book festival, but then we writers are readers, too!