Patron of Reading

Visit our Patron of Reading blog here: http://wejspatronofreading.blogspot.co.uk

Visit the Patron of Reading website here: http://www.patronofreading.co.uk

71 comments:

  1. Hi John.

    I would like to see you and your books.
    Just asking, What made you so talented?

    Yours Happilly
    Alex/Book club

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  2. Hi John

    I look forward from reading your books in the future
    One quick question, How did you become such an amazing author?

    Your Sincerly
    Haiden/Book Club

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  3. I cant wait to meet you John. I have read some of your books and Zeus on the Loose is amazing. I have read it about 5 times, despite that it cracks me up every time.

    Caitlyn, WEJS book club

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  4. Hi, Alex, Haiden & Caitlyn

    Those are lovely questions and comments - thank you! I'm looking forward to meeting all of you, and we should have time for lots of questions & answers then.

    To address the questions above, very briefly: it's very flattering that you think me 'talented' and 'amazing' - I'm not really sure I deserve such descriptions - but I suppose the short answer is: how do you get to be really good at anything?

    John

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  5. I just read Zeus On The Loose for the first time. Any book that has a rogue Greek god causing havoc in a classroom is fine by me. I think I might have to give Zeus To The Rescue a look now... Have you read the other Zeus books Caitlyn? If not, we have now got them in the library and I have a set in my classroom. And also the Bansi O'Hara books, which I think you will enjoy a lot (not as easy to read though).

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  6. I relly enjoed your book Zeuz to the rescue it was really funny I look forwood to reading more of your book they are so great!!!!!!!

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  7. please write more books

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  8. Thanks, Alec - I'm really glad you enjoyed Zeus to the Rescue.

    More books are on the way - in fact, just ten minutes ago I finished the first draft of one! And when I come to visit, I'll tell you about my next book, which I'm really excited about!

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  9. ethan and branden6 February 2013 at 10:24

    hi john

    i really like your books i think they are very good.i think more people should read them.

    from branden and ethan in 6JB

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  10. caylan clark and tazmin howard 6jb6 February 2013 at 10:25

    hi we have read jack slater monster investigater it is the first book i have read of yours all the way through this book is GREAT!

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  11. You guys are great for my ego...!!!

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  12. hi john
    I am really excited to see u your books were my favorite book when i was a baby and i love them but it would be awsome to see you so cant wait.

    from chelsea 6he

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  13. Thanks, Chelsea - I'm getting very excited about meeting all of you, as well. Mr Biddle & I are working out the details!

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  14. Hi John. We're really looking forward to meeting you. We thought you might like to learn a little bit about us before you visit so here's some information about 3MH.

    So far this year we have studied the authors Roald Dahl, Enid Blyton and Jeremy Strong. We have loved reading their books and we think that your books look quite like Jeremy Strong's. Do you like his stories?

    We haven't finished reading your books quite yet, but many of us have borrowed them from the library to read at home. Andrew is really enjoying 'Zeus to the Rescue!'.

    We also noticed that you like writing poetry and we have been making a book of our favourite poems that we would love to share with you. We also love writing poems so maybe we could show you some of those too.

    Good luck with your writing and we hope to meet you soon,
    3MH

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  15. Hi, 3MH! I've been offline for a few days, but thanks for your comment! I'm looking forward to meeting you, too.

    I haven't read lots of Jeremy Strong's books, but I do like those I have read - I think The Indoor Pirates is probably my favourite of his books.

    See you soon!

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  16. Hi John What your favorite book and favorite football team
    :)

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  17. hello,if you werent a author what would you be?

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  18. If you weren't a author what would you be ?

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  19. if you weren't an author what would you have been?

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  20. Hi, Alex! I'm really not very good at picking favourites, but when I'm asked to choose a favourite book I usually go for The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe - I've always loved it.

    My favourite football team is easier - it's Cashes Green YFC Under 13s. That's the team my son plays for, and I never miss a match if I can help it! I don't really follow a big team, though my son supports Liverpool and I like it when they win because it makes him happy.

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  21. Hi, Segovia

    You really want to know the answer to that question, don't you! :D

    If I weren't an author, I'd like to have been a professional songwriter, but actually I'd probably still be a teacher.

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  22. Great question Segovia. Remember that comments take a bit longer to publish now, so there's no need to write your question again if it doesn't appear straight away.

    Need to get ready for our school book day. What special powers would a reading superhero have?? The ability to locate books really quickly in a library would definitely be one. Huge muscles for carrying big piles of books. The ability to judge a book by its cover...

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  23. hi john
    i absolutly loved nitrecy hour i laughed my head off.
    I was justwondering how you turn real life things into a funny story?

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    1. Hi, Olivia

      Firstly, sorry it's taken me so long to respond. The last month has been very busy with school visits and festivals and holidays, and while I can read the website on my phone it won't let me post replies!

      I'm glad you liked Niteracy Hour so much. I think the key to writing funny stories is just to have fun with ideas! Think of as many different ideas as you can that make you laugh, and then choose the ones which make a good story.

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  24. Hi John

    What is your favorite made up name?

    Alex

    PS My favourite team is Norwich City FC

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    1. Hi, Alex

      Favourite made-up name? Gosh, I don't know. Perhaps one of the ones in my next book, Stinkbomb & Ketchup-Face and the Badness of Badgers!

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    2. Mines Joe Bacon

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  25. thank you for answering :) I READ Zeus on the loose it was very good and the other 2 in the Zeus catagory the were very funny.

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  26. Hi John, We are Mr Biddle's class at West Earlham Junior School. Here are five things you need to know about 6JB:
    1)We are a very loud class.
    2)We read loads of books, by authors like David Walliams, Liz Pichon, Darren Shan, Tom Palmer, Michael Morpurgo, Dick King Smith, Jeff Kinney and of course John Dougherty!
    3)We like playing Literacy and Maths games to help our learning.
    4)We like football. Our favourite team is Ipswich Town (says Mr Biddle).
    5) Our Year 6 basketball team have won every match so far this year.

    Have you ever thought about writing a book about being a songwriter or an author? What football team do you support? Can you tell us about your next book?

    Look forward to meeting you,

    6JB.

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    1. Hi, 6JB!

      You sound like a fun class! Have you read any Andy Stanton books? He's one of my favourites.

      I've never thought about writing a book about being a songwriter or an author, but I might well one day! As to football teams - I support Cashes Green YFC Under 13s, though last season my favourite team was Cashes Green YFC Under 12s, and next season I think I might support Cashes Green YFC Under 14s.

      And my next book is called Stinkbomb & Ketchup-Face and the Badness of Badgers. You can read a bit about it here.

      See you very soon!

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  27. macie and gypsy26 March 2013 at 11:44

    Hello John we cant wait till we meet you! our school loves your books and would like to read your new one

    from macie and gypsy year 5 :) p.s we cant wait to see you soon:-)

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    1. Macie and Gypsy26 March 2013 at 11:55

      Oh and sorry we missed our capital letter.

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    2. Hi, Macie & Gypsy

      Those are cool names you have! Less than a week now till I come to see you - really looking forward to it!

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  28. Hi John i am exited to seeing your new book and hoping to see you in the future!!!

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  29. Your books take me on an magical adventure. They are so good that my head might explode with ideas. I want to start writing books my self.I cant wait till I meet you. Every thing in your books is amazing.

    SEE YOU SOON KATIE YEAR 5

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    1. Hi, Katie. I really hope your head doesn't explode - that sounds messy. Thanks for your lovely comments! It's great that you want to write - and I hope you're already writing stories!

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  30. Hi I like to read your books because they are funny sometimes. How do your start writing books? What inspires you to start the stories?

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    1. Hi, Jogita. How do you start writing books? Well, I suppose you start by reading books, and reading and reading and reading. And then you write - whatever you want. And if you have an idea for a story, you write that!

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  31. Hi Jonh what inspird you to be an author? Cant wait to meet you!

    Danielle Year 5

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    1. Hi, Danielle. Tell you what, why don't you ask me that question when I see you all next week? It's a long answer!

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  32. Your books are amazing they take me on an adventure if i read them i cant stop! Your writing is very catchy if all the books in the world were like yours it would be awesome!

    From Darcie year 5

    p.s we cant wait to see you

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    1. Hi, Darcie. That's so kind of you! But actually I'm rather glad that there are a lot of books in the world that are nothing like mine - I love it when I come across a good book that's different from anything else I've read.

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  33. Your books are so full of ideas that i'm going to have to steal some of them to write my stories. I recommend all your stories to my friends and they love them. I can't wait till you visit our school and answer questions about your books. Best wishes Jessica year 5 :)

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    1. Hi, Jessica. Steal away! But even better is when you come up with brand new ideas of your own, and I'm sure that the more you write the more you'll find yourself doing that.

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  34. Hello John how are you? What is your plan for when you come to WEJS? How long have you been writing books? I'm looking forword to seeing you. Hope you are having a good time.

    Best wishes Connor 5SC.

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    1. Hi, Connor. When I come to see you next week, I'm going to.... Nope, you'll just have to wait! But I promise it'll be fun!

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  35. Your stories are amazing I cant wait to see you at are school you write your books so adventourously because they are so amazing.
    from Gypsie year 5 P.S we cant wait to read your new books!.

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    1. Hi, Gypsie. How kind of you! You'll have to wait to read my new books because thy're not out till next year - but I might give you a sneak preview...

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  36. Hi im Tyrrell what type of books do you read?

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    1. Hi, Tyrrell. I like to read lots of different types of books - there was a time, a couple of years ago, when I had by my bed a copy of Orwell & Politics (political essays by one of our greatest novelists) and a big box of comics, and I dipped into whichever one I felt like at the time.

      Currently in my reading pile are a novel for adults by Eoin (Artemis Fowl) Colfer, a book on relationships written by a family therapist, a book of science fiction short stories, a comedy by Jasper Fforde, and a children's/teen historical fantasy by Katherine Langrish.

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  37. Hi john , your books are AMAZING they are all so good i cannot think of my favourite!I was wondering where do all your ideas
    come from ? I write stories myself but it takes me quiet a while to think of a story line ! I'm looking forward to meeting you ! All the best Abbie YR 5

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    1. Hi, Abbie. Thank you! You have to keep looking for ideas, and the main thing is not to expect the whole story to pop into your head at once. When you have an idea, spend a lot of time thinking about it, and playing with it, and having fun with it - don't stress about writing it down.

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  38. hi your books are awosome

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  39. Hi, everyone! I'm really sorry it's taken me so long to reply to so many of you. I've been away for much of the last five weeks - at literature festivals, on school visits, and on holiday - and although I can use my iPhone to read the WEJS Book Blog, I can't use it to post comments!

    I'm really looking forward to my visit next week, and to using this site to communicate with you before and afterwards.

    In the meantime, if you've posted a message for me on the blog here, take a look at it and you should find a reply from me immediately following it.

    John

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  40. To John

    U made md wanna write more story's and read much more Thanks for coming to are school is was fun also funny i loved the songs i think everyone else did too

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  41. Thanks, Caylan! I really enjoyed coming to see you all, and feel very proud to be your Patron of Reading!

    I'm so glad you find yourself wanting to read & write more - don't forget to tell me (via the blog) if you read any books that are so good you want to share them!

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  42. To John

    thanks for coming to our school it was such a great time i loved it. you have a great sence of humor and you made me laugh it was such fun i read nitrecy hour and it was so funny and im reading bansi ohara its very good im thinking of something to write in my new book its empty and you gived me a great idea of what to do in it so im going to start soon thanks bye.

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    1. Hi, Sequoia

      Thank you! I had a great day in school with all you WEJies; I'm glad you enjoyed it so much as well. And I'm really happy you're enjoying my books so much.

      Let me know how your story is coming along!

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  43. hi john i really loved when you came and visited the school. i am half way through bansi ohara it is amazing and a great adventure story. I have started to write my own book about this village called websterling and all diffrent nature animals live there. for example theres a little squirell called nutter and his job is to make the houses from trees. so all my creatures act as though they are human and have modern day jobs. i have only wrote chapter 1 at the momment because i do bits and bobs when i can at home. Hope you are getting on well with stinkbomb and ketchup face and i am sad that i wont see you again in school as i am going to highschool in september! :-))





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    1. Hi, Olivia

      I'm glad you're enjoying Bansi's adventures so much. Your story about Websterling sounds like fun. I'm about to start redrafting the second Stinkbomb & Ketchup-Face story - feeling a little nervous about cutting bits out!

      I'm sure if you ask Mr Biddle, he can keep in touch with you when you go to High School and let you know when I'm next in school - maybe you can pop in and say 'hi' on your way home!

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  44. Greetings Mr Patron!
    I'm hoping you can help me out with a display I have in mind for our lovely library here at WEJS. I'd like to have a selection of 'recommended by our Patron' books. I've read your replies to the childrens' questions so I have an idea of your choices, but when you have a moment or two, maybe you could add a few more to the list? The children will love it and it'll be the perfect excuse to buy more lovely books!
    (I'm totally in agreement with the Narnia choice...Aslan has been my hero since I was around 8 years old...quite a long time!)
    Thank you thank you !!
    Mrs Smith
    P.S Have you seen New York in Pyjamarama by Michael Leblond?? The most awesome illustrations that are animated by a striped overlay!
    My copy is currently being well loved by year 6 :)

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    1. Hello, Mrs Smith! No, I haven't seen New York in Pyjamarama - must look out for it.

      As to recommendations - here are a few to be going on with. Some of them you'll have already from my entries on the WEJS Patron of Reading blog:

      - the Mortal Engines series by Philip Reeve
      - Larklight & its 2 sequels - also Philip Reeve
      - Vern & Lettuce by Sarah McIntyre
      - the Girls FC books by Helena Pielichaty
      - Watership Down by Richard Adams
      - Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos
      - Love That Dog by Sharon Creech
      - Josh by Ivan Southall
      - The Mr Gum books by Andy Stanton
      - The Boss by John Aggs & Patrice Aggs
      - Please Mrs Butler by Allan Ahlberg
      - Heard It In The Playground, also by Allan Ahlberg
      - One Dog and his Boy by Eva Ibbotson
      - The Wombles by Elizabeth Beresford
      - Quick! Let's Get Out Of Here by Michael Rosen
      - Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
      - The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler by Gene Kemp
      - Tales of the Greek Heroes by Roger Lancelyn Green
      - Goodnight Mr Tom by Michele Magorian
      - and, of course, the chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis

      I'll let you know others as they come to me! Some of these are books I've enjoyed with my children; others I've read on my own (some not for years, but they're still special to me). You'll have some of them in the library already, of course.

      Perhaps the display could also contain an empty space - my biggest recommendation is that children read books that they enjoy, so you could encourage them to ask themselves which book they think should be in the empty space!

      Let me know how it goes!

      John


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    2. I love the empty space idea...maybe they could then blog to you about their choices too!
      Thanks for taking the time, The Chronicles of Narnia were my first book love! (Aslan is still my hero.)
      Hopefully by September,(seems a long way off but it'll come around again soon,)I'll be able to send you pictures of an amazing display!
      Mrs S

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  45. hi john erm i want to be a book writter but how do i publish my book as i have hundred of book ideas but i dont know how to publish them


    chelsea

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  46. Hi, Chelsea

    It's great to hear that you have hundreds of ideas, but it's a very long road from having an idea to seeing your book in the shops! Fortunately, there's no need to rush.

    At your age, the first thing I would recommend you do is to read as much as you can. That way, you get to learn more and more about how a story works and what really good writing looks like, and you get to have fun doing it.

    The second thing is to have fun writing your stories. The more you write, and the more you think about your writing, the better it will get.

    Then, when you write something you think is good enough to be published, you need to find an agent. I'm guessing this will be a few years in the future! At the moment I recommend people to look in the 'agents' section of a book called 'The Writers' & Artists' Yearbook', which has a new edition every year. It'll help you with that bit.

    But for now, concentrate on your writing, and have lots of fun with it. I hope that helps!

    John

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  47. Remember that we have our very own Patron of Reading blog now, where you can post all your comments to John. There is a link to it at the top of the page or you can cut & paste below.

    http://wejspatronofreading.blogspot.co.uk/

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