Hmm. Did that title come across as scary? Or as if I just did a strange sort of sneeze?
Anyway, Halloween was great fun round our house. I invited a (big) bunch of Milly's school buddies, and we did a few silly games, like Vegetable Monster Making, Suck A Bat (no, not an actual bat) and Squeeze The Mummy's Brain (OK, that was just cold spaghetti).
Excellent, stupid fun!
And now it's back to work. Though I might just raid Milly's Trick or Treat sweet stash first.
(Shh... don't tell!!)
Karen McCombie :c)
PS Looking forward to seeing everyone in Years 3&4 at Highgate Junior School tomorrow!

I was talking about my first 'You, Me & Thing' book at the Word Up! festival in South London last weekend, and guess who I met?
On Sunday, it was Mackenzie Crook, the very wondrous comedy actor from 'Pirates of the Caribbean' ("He's the one whose eye kept falling out, Mum!" says my daughter Milly), who happens to have written his first ever children's book. 
And then on Monday, I took Milly and her friend Susie Q to see the one and only Jacqueline Wilson! The girls queued for an hour to get their books signed (I sat in the cafe, passing them snacks out the window!!) and then joined them to say hi to Jacqueline. Last time we met was at the first Queen of Teen award ceremony, which was extrememly pink! Pink limos, pink sashes, pink cupcakes... 
A fab weekend all in all.
And now it's back to a normal week of work, writing and hanging out with some more VIPs. 
Well, maybe VICs.
(Very important cats, called Gus and Dizzy. Prrp!)
Karen McCombie :c)

I'm tired but happy... just back from a few days visiting schools in Norwich, Norfolk, to talk about my new book 'Curse of the Jelly Babies', which is the first in my younger 'You, Me and Thing' series.
Ooh, I love being away, but I do love coming home... had big hugs with my little girl, my husband, my old cat Gus and extremely daft cat Dizzy. Now going to go hug my pillow 'cause I'm feeling mighty snoozly. Zzzzzz...
Karen McCombie :c) 
PS Hello to everyone at George White Juniors, St William's, Langley Thorpe House, Wicklewood and St Michael's schools!

My friend Penny has been trying to get me to go to Zumba for ages. ("Is that a country?" asked my daughter.) It is, of course an exercise class, using lots of different types of Latin and dance music. 
I finally went last week, and suspected I was in an audition for 'So You Think You Can Dance'. I'd be one of the contestants who got laughed out in the first round. I think my legs nearly got in a knot. Seriously. And my face was as red as an extremely hot tomato by the end.
So that's the end of me and Zumba for now (sorry, Zumba!). Think I'll stick to dancing around the kitchen to the radio from now on – it's a lot less embarrassing*! 
Karen McCombie :c)
* Except when I catch my neighbours watching me while they're doing their dishes...

Oh yes, indeedy, there's a fab BUMPER BOOK COMPETITION / GIVEAWAY / THINGYMEE happening at the Girlsheartbooks blogspot! You can win a whole bunch of books by me (first five 'Ally's World's), plus novels by  Cathy Cassidy, Kate Maryon and Jen Alexander. But hurry - the closing date is TODAY (Thursday 29th September) at 6pm!! 
http://girlsheartbooks.com/competitions//
Good luck!
Karen McCombie :c) 

Doing anything tomorrow at 4pm? (Wednesday 20th September.) Well, you COULD always tune in to Fun Kids Radio... since I'm being interviewed then! Here's their website link:  http://tinyurl.com/683oaw8
I'll be talking about my new 'You, Me and Thing: Curse of the Jelly Babies' book, and they're running a competition to go with it. (Aren't they nice?)
Karen McCombie :c)
PS Yes, I am a bit nervous...