My dog Max has been allowed on the bed as the storm was stressing him out. He's very relaxed now.

Windy today here in Ayrshire. A lot of other places too. Not a day for my dog Max to have a swim in the river or sea.

I have a busy weekend. At the terrific Tidelines Book Festival in Ayrshire on Saturday 10am, then Wigtown Book Festival on Sunday at 1.30pm. Both in Scotland. Taking my dog Max, and I'll be doing a prop and joke filled author event all about...My dog Max.

Hi, come along if you're local. Sat 27th Sept 10am Tidelines Book Festival Presents : Alan Dapré - My Dog Max at 114-116 Harbour Street, Irvine, Ayrshire... event tickets from TicketSource share.google/9NU6nb83L6SI...

I'm at the Wigtown Book Festival next Sunday 28th (1.30pm). My dog Max will be there after. I'll be reading 'My dog Max', telling loads of jokes with props. If you work in a school in Scotland, I do author visits & work hard to create special memories. tickets.wigtownbookfestival.com/sales/events...

My dog Max met My dog Max (picture book) at Waterstones in Aviemore. TBH Max was too busy rolling around and getting fussed to concentrate on posing for a photo. This was the best we could do.

I used to really put a lot of time into social media. The engagement 10 years ago was great. People chatted, shared stories. These days I'm dodging bots, spam and trolls. It gets wearisome. There's good stuff here but I am losing the will to find it.

Some #KidLit interviews you may have missed! @evewersockimorris.bsky.social thereadingrealm.co.uk/2025/04/03/c... @francestosdevin.bsky.social thereadingrealm.co.uk/2025/03/28/d... @alandapre.bsky.social thereadingrealm.co.uk/2025/03/25/m...

Good day to you. I hope your dreams come true, and that you have the energy to achieve what you set out to do. Meanwhile I'm sitting on my backside, nursing a cold.

Lovely review from @mybookcorner Much appreciated! www.mybookcorner.co.uk

Maybe see you at Boswell Book Festival on Saturday 10th April at 11.30. I'm sharing My dog Max picture book. Props, fun, laughter. And Max is there too! www.boswellbookfestival.co.uk/2025/events/...

Catch me at Paisley Book Festival this Saturday 26th April. 11.30 am. Paisley Library. All welcome! paisleybookfestival.com/programme/gr...

Free Events in Glasgow. Saturday 12th April. For youngsters age 3 to 6. Though anyone can come along. 11am and 2pm. My dog Max.

Today, @alandapre.bsky.social, author of over 60 children’s books, joins me in the Reading Realm to talk about his hilarious and heart-warming new picture book, MY DOG MAX, which is illustrated by Alex Ayliffe! thereadingrealm.co.uk/2025/03/25/m... #KidLit #BookSky #PrimaryEduSky

It's publication day for My dog Max. Hopefully, if you know any young children age 1 to 6, you might consider supporting an author (me) and your fab equally local bookshop. Max will thank you for it. Available to order in all good bookshops & online. www.waterstones.com/book/my-dog-...

Hey. At last! The day arrived. Grabbed a copy of My dog Max, my latest picture book. Illustrated by awesome Alex Ayliffe. It's all about a little girl who really really wants a dog. Starring - literally - #MydogMax. Out on the 14th March. A fab Easter gift & zero calories!

Writers of Bluesky - ignore this copyright theft sanctioning at your peril: Meant to be a consultation after all. You can respond using this form ipoconsultations.citizenspace.com/ipo/consulta... or email [email protected]. You do not need to respond to every question. Ends 25th Feb

My 62 books are in the British Library. UK Govt is proposing to change copyright laws to allow AI tech to scrape data. My years of creativity simply thrown into a machine that'll spew out a pretendy version. Do you want children you know to read an AI generated story or an Al Dapre generated story?

This is now a thing...🙄

What's the point in being followed on here if no one actually replies or indicates they've seen a post? Asking for a friend.

"Big dogs. Tall dogs. Old dogs. Small dogs. Saggy dogs. Waggy dogs. Muddy dogs and Buddy dogs. Bow wow wow! So many dogs, but there's only one Max." When a little girl meets Max at the Doggy Den, she can't stop thinking about him! She'd LOVE to give Max a happy home but will the grown ups agree?

My new picture book #MydogMax is out in the Spring. Written by me. Starring my dog Max 🐾

Goodnight. #MydogMax

Unshaven. Shaven. Either way I'm a better human being than Trump will ever be. I own my hair loss. I'm not a fascist or an orange supremacist. And I support DEI til I DIE.

Blue Sky reminds me of the time I collected Panini football trading cards & stickers of footballers. I'd begin with a starter pack. My aim was to collect my favourite team (of Arsenal players) and fill the album. Plenty of favourites on here from publishing, schools & libraries.

Such a corporate Threads post by @mosseri (Instagram Head) who forgets or doesn't care that Threads consists of humans trying to converse with humanity, while knowing that tech oligarchs are kissing the ring of fascists. Monthly 'actives'. Daily 'actives' -what kind of dehumanising language is this?

Guilty pub dog. Who ate all the crisps?

Here's where I share thoughts on writing, libraries, creativity, my dog Max & life. 'Followers' are welcome but I don't like that F word. I'm not the Messiah. I don't walk on water, just through puddles. And if I'm sat outside there's water in my wine. Rains a lot here in Scotland. Have a great day!

Anyone actually like Bounty Bars?

It's one of those days

"What do you want to show me, Max?"

I cut thin slices to see if it was possible with a blunt bread knife. Then I challenged myself to get the thinnest slice. Ever. In the whole Universe.

Sunset overlooking the #IsleofArran

Anyone want to say something to me on here, I'm all ears. You won't have to shout as it's pretty quiet. Just be kind. Had a nice Christmas? What are your plans for the New Year?

Quiet here, innit? I'm staying in today. Too blustery outside. Though my rescue dog Max might have other ideas.

It's that time of year...

Day 2. Showcasing children's books... kidlitscotland.wordpress.com/2024/12/02/a...

KILTs (Kid Lit Scotland), the group I belong to, supports authors based in Scotland. Each day we will showcase new books & few older ones... kidlitscotland.wordpress.com/2024/12/01/a...

I'm coming to the conclusion that the B of Bluesky stands for bookmark. That people are saving a seat here and then interacting elsewhere online. Either that or I am failing miserably at the social bit of social media. Find me on Threads if you want a chat.

I'm followed by talented & creative people. I appreciate you'll all be too modest to boast about your success but what got you to where you are now, creatively? Parent owning a major publishing house? Or just chipping away until something happened? I wrote to make life in children's homes bearable.

Beautiful sunset over the #IsleofArran

Hello fellow creative people. Any news? I feel like everyone's left and forgotten to turn out the lights.

Not much to say today. You're all pretty quiet. Busy eating cake? I'm going to chat with my teen, who has no school today, and eat cake. Also, I will be plotting a chapter book idea. Once I've eaten cake...

Max is on holiday with his new pal Daisy. They can't resist a big muddy puddle.

What joy. Traffic jam in the snow. Still. The view is tranquil.

I've given in. Here's some unforecast snow. No view of the #IsleOfArran today. About to take my dog Max for a walk. I may be some time...

Bit quiet here. Silence is, indeed, golden. Not out clubbing at a discotheque or listening to a popular beat combo tonight. House has been 15 degrees all day so I've had my Dickensian Scrooge wrist warmers on. Recycled cashmere. Helps prevent Reynauds from making my hands numb. Got to keep writing!

What's your secret special thing you can do that no one knows about? I asked a friend ... who showed me he can wiggle one ear. I was asked to share my hidden talents. I can eat a Jaffa Cake until there's just the orange jelly slice left. Also whistle so the sound oscillates like a shrill warbling.

Want to make money from picture books? Change your name to Julia Donaldson or that bloke who does the worst writing about children & teachers. Don't waste time trying to get published without an agent. It's too hit & miss. To prove to myself I've done ok I built a glorious 'Shrine Of Achievement'🙏

Choose 2 books that have stayed with you, in alphabetical order. Post your favourite connecting word. Tell me your favourite chapter number. Remember Book Tokens? Have you met a celebrity book ghostwriter? How many million words do you write a day? What's your favourite password, I mean book.