Quick on the Draw

Went with my daughter to Auchinleck in deepest Ayrshire where the Boswell Book Festival was in full swing.
We picked up a flyer for it in Milngavie Bookshop as owner Susan Frize runs the festival book store.
Mia spotted Nick Sharratt was coming and asked if we could go.
He is the amazing illustrator behind more than 200 children's books including Jacqueline Wilson's Tracy Beaker series. If you have ever read to small children you will know his work!
One of my personal favourites is Pants!.
Mia volunteered to draw a portrait of him and he finished it off with the body showing him putting orange juice in his cereal.
He was just lovely and had a winning way with the kids.
Vivian French, author or The Tiara Club series of books also did a great session in which the audience concocted a story about a lonely homeless dinosaur.
I learned loads! Mia wants to be an illustrator when she grows up... I want to be a writer!
To top it off, the legend that is Carry On star Fenella Fielding brushed past me in the hallway of Auchinleck House while erudite historian Gordon Turnbull - who looks like Robert de Niro on the brochure - was doing his tour guide turn. He really brought the life of diarist James Boswell to life!
It occurred to me that if Boswell had been around today, he'd have loved Blipfoto!