Writing check: how much is the word 'inch' understood and used in metric countries? Eg 'He inched forward' or 'they progressed inch by inch'.

College project. A mini shrine for collecting objects. With a Tim Burton vibe just in time for Halloween. 🎃

Childrens book writing seems to be 50% looking up synonymes of other words!

Happy Halloween from Ghost gull.

I really enjoyed seasons 1 and 2 of Invasion on Apple tv. Season 3 obviously had a big budget cut, which meant they could only afford to run around a Canadian forrest with lots of interpersonal drama. Which sucked all the life out of it. ☹️

A brilliant blend of dinosaurs and technology! 🦖 Dino Mode Activated by Jen Wallace, Illustrated by Alan O’Rourke Review by @sareenmclay.bsky.social @jenwallacecreates.bsky.social @alanorourke.bsky.social @littleislandbooks.bsky.social #cb#childrensbooks#kidlit#childrensbooksillustration

Doing a little data analysis of the last 10 years of appeals to the Irish Tax office for the artists exemption. 60 appeals. No numbers to share yet but numbers from the @childrensbooksireland.ie coffee morning today report 50% success rate over the last 12 months. But...

Time to share this starter pack again - and ask who I've missed! Are you an Irish or Irish-based children's YA writer? Give me a shout, then go follow @childrensbooksireland.ie 😄 go.bsky.app/2gSbStb

Louvre theft a mystery says french police.

Mondays…

It's happening. The insects are fighting back, and they are coming for the artist first as THEY know our power!!

Now, then.

Literary award winners are always sooo boring to read! Also works for films.

If you could step into one of your illustrations? We have a few wonderful clips from the launch of Dino Mode Activated with @jenwallacecreates.bsky.social and myself in Cork. Thanks again to the wonderful team in @dubraybooks.bsky.social and @littleislandbooks.bsky.social

What was the first illustration you did for this book? We have a few wonderful clips from the launch of Dino Mode Activated with @jenwallacecreates.bsky.social and myself in Cork. Thanks again to the wonderful team in @dubraybooks.bsky.social and @littleislandbooks.bsky.social

I realise I have not shared many illustrations from recent books. In @jenwallacecreates.bsky.social Dino books I had loads of fun with the in game illustrations, epic fights with end level bosses. I loved it so much I even painted one up in colour. Published by @littleislandbooks.bsky.social

A full tour of the Comic Making Toolkit for kids that I have been building in college. www.spoiltchild.com/the-comic-ma...

Do you know a young reader (16-24) who could help us select the next Laureate na nÓg? Applications close next Friday - we'd particularly love to hear from young people from underrepresented backgrounds or communities. More information + application form childrenslaureate.ie/young-reader...

It’s Friday. This week, the essence of creativity has been heavy on my mind. And I’m taking that with me into the weekend! #ireland

I wrote up everything I have learned about doing kids workshops… so far. Comment if I have missed anything. www.spoiltchild.com/the-survivor...

Despite promising not to, I watched the second season of Foundation, and again just finished the third. Still gorgeous looking. Still terribly written and frequently stupid. I now promise not to watch it ever again.

Simply the best slide I have ever seen in a powerpoint presentation care of @premeemohamed.com’s talk at @banffcentre.bsky.social re: Putting the Science in Science Fiction

Fixed it!! Zogglebox is on tonight on @virginmediatv.bsky.social at 9pm featuring a whole host of celebrities and of course The Den gang back together for one night only! We had a lot of fun hanging out with Dustin and Ray! #zigandzag #dustintheturkey #raydarcy #gogglebox

Publication week for The Lonely Only Dinosaur by me and Anna Sußbauer, out with Gill Books on Thursday, Sept 11th. Perhaps you're in Dublin on Thursday evening? Do join me and the loveliest book gang.

See you on Thursday! Cork folk, I am hoping you can join Jen Wallace and myself for the book launch of Dino Mode Activated in Dubray Cork this Thursday, 11/09/2025, 6:30pm. It will be a fine evening of lovely booky people, wine, sweets and Dinosaurs.

So far, September is looking like a very busy, joyous month for reading! There's been #bookpost from @theobrienpress.bsky.social , @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social and today, one from @littleislandbooks.bsky.social ... I am so happy! Thank you, one and all! #BookPostIsTheBestPost #FallenStarStories

Beware! Really convincing looking spam message regarding a hotel booking for the night of the Childrens Books Ireland conference in dublin. The easyHotel systems might be compromised as they got my dates and details. I rang and confirmed it is spam.

With the British government making absurd and incomplete arguements for a law so badly written it accidentally made the Internet illegal, let us now turn to something that actually Will make children safer... Universal Basic Income.

Hello! I've been one of the lucky few on the BIA these last few years, and in light of the uncertainty of its future and potential for public support, I decided to write out this comic with the help of BIA compatriot @ianfay.bsky.social to share our stories. 1/3 ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/run...

Would you like to contribute to the public consultation about the Basic Income for the Arts? 💡 Fill out this survey from Minister O’Donovan at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport: ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/run...

I am writing up all the learnings from my first 12 months doing kids and library workshops. Does anyone want to contribute some of their own learnings or comments to the piece? Request access here and add your name to your access request so I know who you are. docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Hurt people HURT people. Universal Basic Income will mean so much less hurting.

Yee are unbelievable, truly. We have been going at this non-stop and less than 24 HOURS after we launched the fundraiser yee have helped us raise €2000 for @medicalaidpal.bsky.social Myself and @sineadohart.bsky.social are in awe of yee.

New painting of Bettystown beach. From a photo I took before the new library appeared.

Lucky enough to be doing lots of kids comic workshops in libraries. When discussing favorite books, whenever I show Calvin and Hobbes, I get blank stares back (ages 7-11). But they recognise Peanuts. I admire Watterson's decision not to license, but I will be sad if it means it just fades away.

Just out of Fantastic Four. It's a 👍 from me . Nothing new but great cast and style. Like a live action Incredibles.

We understand that an event like #CBIConf25 can be hard to budget for. That’s why we are offering some financial support for anyone who may require it towards travel, accommodation or child-care costs to be able to attend this year’s conference. 🧵1/3

Great news week (1of4) . NEW BOOK 1! Check out the cover of @kieranfanningauthor new book: SOLVE IT! THE CASE OF THE MISSING IRISH CROWN JEWELS - an interactive mystery illustrated by me and designed by @mccormack.padraig

Is any airline flying direct Dublin to Bologna anymore?

Has it been as good as the books? NO. But has it been enjoyable and worth watching? Very much so. Great news.

Yay for a new Edgar Wright movie, but why does it look so cheap?! www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD18...

Just watched Molli and Max in the Future and the film is wonderful! Warm, funny and clever. It's free on @kanopy.com via Irish Libraries at the moment. Recommended.

Yes!

Tried my hand at this old joke.

I've written an article laying out my arguments for an extension of Ireland's Basic Income for the Arts. It crosses some of topics I've covered in other blogs, but I wanted to cover all these points in a single piece. oisinmcgann.com?p=5733&previ... #BasicIncomeForTheArts #UniversalBasicIncome

'A roar-ing good time!' Delighted to see #DinosaurPie, by Jen Wallace, illus. @alanorourke.bsky.social , featured in these recommendations of Books for Young Dino Lovers in the new issue of Kirkus Reviews! issuu.com/kirkus-revie... @consortiumbooks.bsky.social @pubspotlight.bsky.social

Happy Feathers Day.

If you haven't had a chance to watch Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters yet, it is now FREE on YouTube (w/ads) in North America! Easy to watch, even easier to love! 😁 www.youtube.com/watch?v=g49W...

Loving this book from @gralefrit.bsky.social . I have photographed and shared so many passages. Many many insights and parallels to writing Picture Books. However I do find myself hiding the cover in public incase people think it's a self help book like How to be Attractive and Influence People! 😀

In case you missed it. Apparently a TikTok thing. I don’t have time for TikTok. 😂 Episode 4 now streaming #murderbot #appletv+ @marthawells.com #GRWM