ART FOR ARTS SAKE...

More fab character sketches by talented CC readers… how cool are these?

Louisa says:
I wanted to draw Skye because I can really relate to having a dream world that is unequivocally better than reality - it's me, everyday! I find the book MARSHMALLOW SKYE a great way to relax and seep into a world where I know what will happen. I also understand the feeling of being pushed into the background by a sibling who is better than me at everything, whether it's art, music, whatever… it's not easy! For my painting of Skye I used watercolour paints that I got for my birthday and three different brushes… one large, one very small, and one flat. I find that art is a way to spill out the creations that you conjure up in your imagination… I do it all the time! I think of a book or a topic and imagine the layout, the colours, the texture of what I want to paint… then I just transfer it as best I can to the paper! I loved making this picture of Skye and her world.

Hilary says:
I wanted to draw the sisters partly because of SWEET HONEY and partly because the Chocolate Box Girls are my fave CC books. My favourite sister would have to be Skye as we share a passion for history and are both quite quirky, but I also really relate to Summer as we have similar personalities. I love drawing and I often use watercolours and pencils to create my illustrations. I'd love to go to art college one day!

Vanessa says:
I've drawn Honey because she fascinates me; I thought her face would have the most interesting expressions to draw as she has the most intense emotions. I'm quite different to Honey myself, so I loved the challenge of trying to capture her on paper. I love drawing because you are free to create whatever you want - there are no limits!

Lauren says:
I've drawn Skye… well, an anime version of Skye! I chose to draw Skye because I admire her love of styles-gone-by… I'm a huge fan of vintage! I also feel there is a very special sweetness about her personality which I wanted to show in the picture. I love drawing characters, whether they're from novels, Japanese animes or characters from my own stories… it makes you pay closer attention to the details about them. Just sketching them out on paper can reveal an entirely different slant on a character! Drawing is not going to be my focus for a future career, but it's another way to be creative and that why I love it!

Matilda says:
I've chosen to draw Honey, sitting on the window seat of her turret bedroom at Tanglewood. I chose Honey because I guess I can feel her isolation; my dad left too, and like Honey I'm struggling to adjust. The 'connection' made it easier for me to visualise her than other characters, so maybe that's why. To me, drawing is freedom. It's an expression of my feelings, with nobody telling me right or wrong. .. drawing says things you can't put into words. After all, 'a picture is worth a thousand words.' I love art - it's the one thing I do that nobody criticises me on.

CATHY SAYS:
Love these pictures… and the words about what drawing means to these readers! What do YOU think of their gorgeous gallery? COMMENT BELOW to tell me, or email via www.cathycassidy.com to send in your own CC inspired artwork!

LUCY & ANNA: MUM'S AN AUTHOR...

Another in our series of cool mums and daughters... meet Lucy and her mum, Anna Wilson, who writes books for children and teens!

Anna (mum) says:
I've been a published writer for fifteen years, and a mum for fifteen years too. I was an editor before that, and I'd have stuck at my office job if I hadn't had children, so... thank you, Lucy! Lucy has certainly been an inspiration for me. When I wrote the Nina Fairy Ballerina series, I'd go along to her ballet lessons and make notes. These days, I sometimes pick up on something Lucy says that I'd like for a book; apparently I get a particular look in my eye and she wails 'Oh no, you're not going to put that in a book, are you?'

Lucy (daughter) says:
I used to find it really embarrassing when mum came into school to give talks and stuff, but it's always been quite cool to say 'My mum's an author.' It's just normal to me, I don't know anything else. With Mum's younger books we'd go through the pictures together and I'd always notice if the fairies didn't have wings. Recently I helped with Mum's new teen book, Summer's Shadow... I told her what I thought would make it better, ie: the girl and boy should get together. Mum's editor said the same, so she changed it!

Anna says:
Combining a writing career with being a mum has been the most amazing blessing. Before I was published I found it very stressful trying to combine a career as a children's book editor with being a good mum. Writing worked well, and the children and their friends gave me so many ideas just by being themselves! Lucy is a stronger character than I was at her age and has more self-belief. I know that whatever she chooses to do in life, she will do it to the highest standard - and have fun doing it, too!

Lucy says:
I think it's amazing that Mum always knew she wanted to be an author, and went ahead and did it anyway even though the teachers said she couldn't be. Mum and I get on better now that I'm at boarding school - if we saw each other all the time, we'd fight more. That's a normal part of being in a family, though! My favourite book of Mum's is Summer's Shadow, as I feel I've been more involved - and it's for my age group.

Summer's Shadow by Anna Wilson was published by Macmillan Children's Books on July 3rd. 

Does YOUR mum have a cool job? COMMENT BELOW to tell us!

SCARED OF STARTING A NEW SCHOOL...

Another in our series of readers' problems… solved by one of the Chocolate Box Girls, along with you, of course! This week HONEY has her say…

Jackie says:
This might sound stupid, but I am SO nervous about starting secondary school in September. I am going to a school on the other side of the city to all of my friends and I won't know anybody… and I'm not a very confident person. I know I'll be shy and awkward and I'm literally terrified I won't make any friends. In fact, I don't feel ready for secondary school at all, let alone one where I won't know a soul! Any advice welcome…

Honey says:
Try this tip which has always worked for me… fake it till you make it. I don't mean act 'fake', I mean act as though you're not scared… focus on looking calm and cool and confident, and slowly it will help you to relax and handle whatever your new school has in store. I recently had to start a new school on the other side of the WORLD, and trust me, that was not easy. I may give the impression of being super-confident, but think again - nobody takes stuff like that in their stride.
The way to make friends is to be interested in other people… listen to them, ask questions that let them talk about themselves, be chatty and friendly and warm. This makes people feel good about themselves! Practice your techniques on the girl at the supermarket check-out, your little cousin, the boy next door, your best friend's grandma… anyone! It's all good. As for those old friends, make sure you stay in touch - that's something I haven't been too good at in the past, but I'm learning to change my ways. Friendships matter, so don't let them drift - and these days, with letters, emails, social networking, texts and Skype you don't have any excuse. Some of my best friends are halfway around the world… yours are just across town, so make time for them with sleepovers and days out. School is nothing to be scared of… give it your best!

Cathy says:
Do you agree with Honey's advice? What would YOU say? COMMENT BELOW to add your views and suggestions!

EDEN: I LIVE ON HERM!

In another of our series on readers from around the world, we talk to Eden who lives on the tiny island of Herm in the Channel Islands…

Eden says:
I was born in Yorkshire and lived in Warrington for a while, but seven years ago we moved to Herm, the smallest of the Channel Islands. We are close to the coast of France but a part of the British Isles - we are not a part of the UK, though, or even the EU! We're a part of Guernsey, which has its own government. In winter, Herm is not as cold as the UK, but it IS windier, and sometimes there are huge storms. When the boat doesn't run because of the bad weather, we don't go to school, as our teacher lives in Guernsey and cannot get here! There are only nine children at the school, aged 4- 11 - the big children look after the little ones. We do lots of drama - every year there's a summer concert and a nativity. Our concerts are quite original - last year's was Romeo and Juliet with songs from the 1920s! When I go to high school, I will have to board in Guernsey all through the week and just come home at weekends, which will be very strange.

Herm has some trees you might not find in Britain, like palm trees and lots of tropical plants. We also have bats, owls and a buzzard! Only around sixty people live here permanently, but lots of visitors come to Herm because of the beaches and the wildlife… some of the guests have been coming for twenty or thirty years! My mum is manageress for all the holiday cottages on Herm and my dad drives tractors and quad bikes. There are no shops except for the gift shop, and there are no cars allowed, so no air pollution. Wildlife is right there all the time, which is cool. There is no crime and we are free to roam… we even have out own police and fire team! We don't have any special or traditional foods that I can think of, but there are some traditions, such as the Christmas morning swim and the Herm charity run.

In World War Two, Herm, like the rest of the Channel Islands, was invaded and occupied by the Nazis. That must have been really scary. A couple of years ago, skeletons were found nearby in a private garden - nobody had any idea they were there! I love to travel, but even though I love going somewhere new it always feels weird because I'm used to my little island… I am always glad to come home. I love that I'm safe from crime and busy roads, and I love being surrounded by awesome nature every day. The freedom of living here is exceptional -Herm is a magical island and I love it!

Cathy says:
Wow… Eden makes Herm sound like a kind of paradise… it's definitely on my list of places to visit, now! COMMENT BELOW if you like the idea of being an island girl… or if you have a question for Eden!

GIRLS LIKE US...

When reader Lucy found out about the plight of the kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls from DREAMCATCHER, she was determined to do something…

Lucy says:
Before I read Cathy's article on DREAMCATCHER, I knew very little about the kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls. I knew they'd been captured - I'd seen it briefly on the BBC news page which is the home page on our family laptop, but it didn't really register. I had no idea of the sheer scale or the story behind it. Once I read about it on DREAMCATCHER, though, I felt so shocked and upset… I knew I needed to join the campaign to help them.

To recap… 276 schoolgirls are still missing, abducted from their school by a terrorist group who oppose girls being educated. They are ordinary girls… they fancy boys, fall out with their friends, have embarrassing parents… they are just like us. Here in the UK, we grumble and moan about going to school… but on the other side of the world, girls have been kidnapped just for trying to make something of their lives. There has been no quick solution to the problem; Searches were not organised for some time, and I was shocked to hear that the groups 'searching' for the girls were having internal disputes. What can we do? Every one of us can help by posting a selfie holding a sign saying #BRINGBACKOURGIRLS. Post it on Facebook, on Twitter, tell your teachers and classmates… raise awareness. You can also choose a name from the list of missing girls and write that girl a letter of support… the love and support may reach the girls, even if the letter doesn't.

At my birthday party sleepover I asked my friends if they would help me take a selfie to support the missing girls. Most of them didn't know much about the Nigerian girls, but once I explained they went very quiet, which is VERY unusual for them. I guess all of us were trying to imagine what it would be like to be in that situation, what it would be like if it had happened to us… because it could have done. My friends fully support the #BRINGBACKOURGIRLS campaign and we took the selfie and sent it to Cathy - I then met Cathy when she visited my school on her June tour, and mentioned the Nigerian schoolgirls in her talk. Posting a selfie or writing a letter may not seem like much, but if ALL of us do it… and tell our friends and teachers and families to join in too… just think of the message of support and strength we can send out to those girls. I hope they are found… and soon.

Write a letter to… Blessing; Yayi; Monica; Lydia; Naomi; Safiya; Esther; Rejoice; Ruth; Grace; Saratu; Hauwa; Rhoda; Awa; Ladi; Mary; Rebecca; Comfort; Kabu; Hana; Glory; Debora; Juliana; Fatima; Helen or Palmata. To see the full list, scroll back to the previous BRING BACK OUR GIRLS post on DREAMCATCHER.

Cathy says:
Lucy's picture stood out for me as she had taken the time to make a selfie at her birthday sleepover… the story clearly hit home for her. As she says, if we each take a little time to do something in support of the missing girls, it will help raise awareness and perhaps make a difference. COMMENT BELOW if you'd like to write a letter or post a selfie… and please, please see if your friends will join the campaign too.

PLAY IT AGAIN!

What kind of toys were popular in the past? Cathy asked some of her Facebook friends to share their favourite childhood toys...

Jean says:

A few months ago, clearing out a cupboard in my parents' house, I came across this pair of roller skates - the first pair I ever owned. They were my Christmas present when I was seven and I LOVED them. Every day after school I'd put them on and race outside to skate up and down the smooth tarmacked pavements. We lived on a road with a slight incline, so if I skated up the pavement for a while and then grabbed a lamp post I could swing myself round and start rolling back down again. If I tied a tablecloth around my shoulders I was Supergirl, skating to the rescue of someone in peril. They were my best present ever, and finding them again was nothing short of magical. It was as thoughMum and Dad were giving me that present all over again... happy memories.

George says:

Meet Grotty and the ponies!  Grotty was knitted for me by my auntie when I was a baby - I loved him so much I chewed him up and pulled his stuffing out! My auntie knitted me a new teddy, but I didn't like it. My parents called the new teddy 'Sweet Ted' and the old one 'Grotty' - I didn't care about Sweet Ted at all but I've kept Grotty all this time; he sometimes comes to school to help me teach my class in the school where I now work. I always wanted a pony as a child, but these My Little Ponies were the closest I came - they were really cool in the '80s and I had a whole herd of them! These days, as a well as being a mum and a teacher, I'm a storyteller, poet and aspiring author. Actually, 'Grotty and the Ponies' would make a great book title... ;o)

Cath says:

My Auntie Lilian gave me this Mickey Mouse moneybox for my fifth birthday. She wasn't a blood relative but my mother's best friend and I used to think she was really glamorous with her pink lipstick and lovely presents. She was quite posh but had a naughty side; she took us scrumping for apples in autumn and I have great memories of her laughing as we got chased out of the same apple orchard more than once! I didn't use my Mickey Mouse moneybox for saving until I was older; when I left home I used it to save coppers and I still do that now. I'm a writer and a journalist these days, and still I think fondly of Auntie Lilian every time I push a 1p or 2p through the slot between Mickey's magnificent ears!

Alexandra says:
Addie is a rag doll I've had ever since I can remember - I got her when I was born, from my auntie. I didn't really name her, but one of my first words was 'Daddy' and when I said it, it used to sound like 'Addie' - somehow or other, Addie became her name! A couple of years on, I lost her for a while and couldn't sleep without her, so my mum bought me a new one; a few days later, the original Addie turned up and I insisted on keeping both! She's very old and very dirty now, but I still can't sleep without her - I love her to bits!

Cathy says:
Awww… such fab stories! Childhood toys can hold very special memories. COMMENT BELOW to tell us about YOUR fave toys… or to comment on these vintage cuties!

CRAFT IS COOL!

Are you a crafty girl? Do you knit, sew, scrapbook, crochet, make rag rugs? We asked CC readers to share their craft talents… 

Deborah says:
I learned how to stitch designs onto hessian in my Design & Technology class in Year 8. We started out doing lines of colour and moved onto mosaic patterns. I decided to take the idea a step further and make some pillows… I draw the design onto hessian fabric and stitch different coloured threads through the holes, following the lines of my drawing. Eventually the hessian will have vanished under the thread design! Up until now, I have given the hessian back to my textiles teacher to stuff and add a backing, but I am taking textiles for GCSE so hopefully she will show me how to do all that for myself soon! I love making pillows as they are so cute and make awesome presents. You can even make themed designs and holiday designs… and yes, even book inspired designs, like the ANGEL CAKE one!

Chloe says:
I have started to sew as a hobby over the summer holidays. I recently decided to create plush toys inspired by the Chocolate box Girls series! The ones in the picture represent Honey (the artist's palette), Coco (the horseshoe), Skye (the bird) and Summer (the ballet shoe). I am currently working on Cherry's, which will be a cherry-blossom plush. I find sewing quite taxing and demanding as it requires a lot of time and effort, but the end results always make it worthwhile!

Matilda says:
Craft is fun! I like sewing - I've enjoyed attending the fashion design courses my school has. They're awesome! My school teaches us how to sew too - we are designing and making aprons this year. last year we designed bags, as you can see in the photo… I guess that was when I really started to enjoy sewing. I enjoyed making the applique birds for my design just as much as making the bag itself! I enjoy other craft stuff too, like scrapbooking… it's fun and creative, and a cool way to make gifts for friends!

Laura says:
I first learned about needle felting from a magazine - I found an article about a woman who needle felted little sheep. I wanted to try it, so I asked a Sixth Year at my art club about it. She immediately found some fleece and started to show me; when you needle felt, you stab a piece of carded wool fleece with a long needle so that all the fibres knit together. The first thing I ever felted was a small two inch long thing that looked like a cross between a Russian doll and a piece of sushi! Very exotic. Since then I've got better and have needle-felted lots more things, like the penguins in the picture. There have been a few 'stabbing' incidents with the needle, but nothing too serious! When I'm older, I hope to have a vintage/craft shop so I am learning as many skills as I can… I love needle felting!

Cathy says:
Are YOU a crafty girl? COMMENT BELOW to tell us if any of the crafts mentioned appeal to you… or to tell us about YOUR fave craft activity!

JADE: BULLYING RUINED MY LIFE...

Reader Jade speaks out about how relentless bullying ruined her school years and almost took her life...

Jade says:
When I was ten, we moved from Wales to the North east of England and I was badly bullied both at school and at home. One of the bullies was my own stepbrother, so I felt I could never get away from it. We moved back to Wales but the bullying continued and got worse. Some girls told me I was fat and ugly, others hated me for being smart, and boys would ask me out as a joke. Worse, one of the boys repeatedly hit and touched me. I was thirteen and terrified of school, so I began skipping meals and making myself sick so I wouldn't have to go. One day some girls followed me home, threw stones at me and posted vile notes through my door; that was the day I began to self-harm.

I got a scholarship to a private school but the bullying continued online and in person if I dared to go out to the swimming pool or the park. Things were better by the time I went to college to study A levels, but by then I was struggling with depression, anxiety and eating problems... I was still haunted by the bullying. I had to change things; I got counselling and began to develop coping techniques, and was accepted at university to study to be a vet. And then, the day before my Physics A level, I found out I was pregnant. I was devastated, and my boyfriend didn't want to know... I had never felt more alone.

Six months after my baby was born, I tried to end my life. I just couldn't stop the feelings of hopelessness, sadness and anxiety. I couldn't see a way out of the black hole I was in. I ended up in hospital for four months, and amazingly, that saved me. The doctors helped me with my baby, sorted out my medication and gave me coping techniques which are now a lifeline. Life is very different now. I have a great boyfriend, my daughter is two and I am about to take my A levels and go to uni in September. Best of all, I have ways to fight the hopelessness that sometimes threatens to take over. Writing therapy has been amazing - a way to pour my feelings out onto paper.

If anyone out there is feeling low, please talk to your parents, a teacher, a doctor, a friend. It may seem scary, but it can really help. Learn some coping techniques - the MIND website has a section on this. More than anything, tell yourself every day that you CAN do it, even though it can feel terrible, and as though it will never end. Work hard and believe - there is help out there, there IS a way through. They say sticks and stones may break your bones but names will never hurt you - that is NOT true. Those words and cruel names can haunt you. Bullies don't understand that what they think is a bit of fun can cause so much harm.

Names have been changed, pic posed by model.

If YOU are being bullied, please call ChildLine on 0800 1111 or contact Beat Bullying at http://www.beatbullying.org

Cathy says:
Jade's story is a heartbreaker. If her bullies knew just how much damage they did, I wonder if they'd feel guilty? I hope so, but sadly, the damage was done and Jade has had to battle very hard to come through. COMMENT BELOW if you'd like to show her your support, or to share your own stories of being bullied or struggling with depression.

COOL BOOKS BY VERY COOL AUTHORS...

Stuck for something to read? Check out these suggestions - there's sure to be something awesome to grab your attention!

Sarah Webb says:
I live in Dublin and I love writing for young teens, as I have strong memories of being thirteen! A lot happens at that age - you change schools, your friends go a little crazy, you're supposed to act grown up but at the same time your parents treat you like a child sometimes. I have all my old teen diaries and love reading over them and remembering what it felt like to be a teenager. I also love the emails, letters and Facebook messages that readers send, which make it all worthwhile! My latest book is called AMY GREEN: WEDDING BELLES. Amy and her crazy aunt Clover team up as wedding planners for Amy's mum and stepdad's big day… but when disaster strikes, can they save the party? It's the sixth book in my ASK AMY GREEN series; I'm working on a new series, SONGBIRD CAFE, at the moment!

Dawn Finch says:
As you can see, I've always had books on my mind... and I've been lucky enough to spend my life surrounded by them! I've always written and told stories and can't imagine anything different. Growing up, the library was always my favourite place to be; I loved being able to reach out and grab another world, and that's only possible with books. As a children's librarian I shared thousands of other people's books with young readers, and now I get to share my own too, which is completely awesome!!! My book, BROTHERHOOD OF SHADES is a ghost story set in modern London, and all of the locations in the book are real. It's about a secret organisation of ghosts who aim to protect the world of the Living from the world of the Dead! I think you'll enjoy the book, and if you contact me through my website at www.dawnfinch.com I can send you a special edition printable poster of the locations in the book, designed by the wonderful artist Amy Rose.

Lara Williamson says:
Like the character in my first book, I have always believed a little bit of hope can go a long way! That's what happened when I started writing a book; I was working on a teen mag at the time but secretly longed to write a book. It took me a few years to get the book deal of my dreams, but I never gave up hope, and that's why the book ended up with the title A BOY CALLED HOPE. It fits the story and my own feelings about hope perfectly! The book is about eleven year old Dan and his roller-coaster life. Dan's dad has left the family and Dan is determined to bring him back - but it's not easy when your dad's just not interested. Dan's friend Jo gives him a special medal that she says will make his dreams come true... but is that really possible? You'll have to read it to see!


Cathy says:
I can personally recommend these books… if you like them, do give them a try, and COMMENT BELOW to share your own must-reads!

MANON: I LIVE IN FRANCE!

Another in our fab series of readers around the world... Manon describes what it's like to live in the Normandy region of France!

Manon says:
I think my name must appear strange to you, but it is very common in France! I am thirteen and I live in a small village in the countryside in Normandy, about two hours from Paris. My home is a typical Normandy house, peaceful and surrounded by trees. The weather here is undecided, like the French! One day it is sunny, one day rainy, then sunny again! My school is right next to the village, and the hours are long - some days I am not home until 6pm. I would love to finish school at 2pm or 3pm as some students in UK do!

There are no uniforms, which is good, as we can show our style. It is not strict, or rather it depends on the teachers! My favourite subject is French - my teacher is so nice! As a hobby, I go horse-riding. I can't describe how much I love this sport! I do not compete as this might be too stressful… but I love the freedom of a good, headlong gallop! Horse riding for me, is synonymous with freedom. I like Coco from the Cathy Cassidy books because of this! I also love reading, of course!

The French are known for perfume, haute couture, wine... and food! We have many specialities, like cheese - Camembert, Brie, Saint-Paulain, Roquefort - pastries - macarons, apple turnovers, strawberry tarts - and main dishes such as pot-au-feu, ratatouille and rilettes - yum! And yes, we eat frogs too - I know, original, isn't it? If there is something that everyone loves here, it is the bread. Bread is sacred! Everyone has their preferences: crunchy, soft, traditional, sweet... and there is also pain-au chocolat, croissants and chocolatines! The bread is made freshly every morning and sold throughout the day.

I would say that the French often express themselves with facial expressions and with their hands. We are known to be 'warm blooded' - that is to say, impulsive! Concerning clothes, French style is characterised by its simplicity. A polo top, a Breton top (we call this a mariniere - a striped sailor top)  and of course the very stylish  beret are favourite French accessories. Paris is known worldwide as a capital of fashion and luxury with prestigious fashion and designers like Chanel, Christian Dior and Jean-Paul Gaultier.

France is very patriotic! We have a national holiday on July 14th for Bastille Day, and we celebrate the Festival De Cannes with all its stars and red carpet moments... glamorous! It is true that I envy especially the self-control and calm of the British, but the French are proud of their history and have a strong personality. I am very proud to be French!

Cathy says:
Wow... I love Manon's account of life in France and really admire her brilliant English! I love France too, and I'm thrilled to be returning in November for the Montreuil Book Festival. My French readers are AWESOME! Have you been to France, or would you like to write about YOUR country for DREAMCATCHER? COMMENT BELOW to tell us!

THE ART OF THE CHOCOLATE BOX...

Ever wondered how the gorgeous, good-enough-to-eat covers of the CHOCOLATE BOX GIRLS BOOKS are designed and made? Wonder no more… artist Sara tells all. There's even a super-cool chocolate-icing tutorial to inspire you!

Sara says:
I'm a senior designer at Puffin and I'm lucky enough to design and illustrate the Cathy Cassidy books, including the lovely Chocolate Box Girls series. I have a very clear memory of designing CHERRY CRUSH, the first book in the series… I was stranded in a snowdrift in Harrogate! I'd gone on holiday and the snow had begun and I was thinking of ideas for the cover, and it all seemed to come together. I designed the hand-drawn 'Cathy Cassidy' logo and the wraparound cover with the circle cut-out and the cherry blossom and of course the chocolates… on each book, the chocolates are iced with images that are relevant to the story. I've made a little chocolate-icing tutorial film to show you how… take a look!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt2qsf-bVdM&feature=em-subs_digest

I loved both art and English at school and ended up doing an art degree as there were more boys on the course than in English! Oops… possibly not the best way to choose! Once I'd qualified, I used to take my portfolio round all the design agencies and someone suggested I would do well in publishing. I tried it and I've been here ever since! If you are keen on art and design as a career, go for it… every day is different, and it's fantastic fun!