Book Launch: Dandelion Clocks by Rebecca Westcott

Yesterday was World Book Day and I headed to the pretty town of Mere, just over the border in Wiltshire, for the launch of Dorset author Rebecca Westcott’s debut children’s novel Dandelion Clocks.

Here’s what it says in the blurb – and isn’t the cover superb!:

Liv takes us on a journey through her life from "Thirteen Weeks Before" to "Six Months After". We discover Liv's passion for photography, her brother's obsession with sticking to the rules, the stupidity of Moronic Louise at school, and how the family copes as Mum's terminal illness takes hold...Guided by Mum's own childhood diaries, Liv finds a new way to live.

The launch was held at Mere School and, being World Book Day the children, and teachers, were all dressed up as characters from their favourite books. We passed a class where a werewolf was standing outside, releasing children to their parents, and followed a group of Hogwarts pupils round to a crammed school hall, everyone jostling round the book stall and waiting for Rebecca to speak.

Which of course she did, and then she read out a passage from the book. Then the children performed for us, singing a wonderful medley of songs. They were absolutely brilliant and brought a tear to my eye! Such a credit to their school. Prizes were given out to the kids for a variety of things from best costume to best diary and they came to receive their Puffin goody bags in such a wonderful array of costumes.

Just as I was about to head off to the book stall the word came through – the books had sold out! Hardly surprising the number of people there and their obvious enthusiasm for the written word, but still a bit of a shame to go away empty handed. However the delicious cake on offer more than made up for it and I suspect I’ll be spotting this book in all the shops.

With endorsements from authors such as Jaqueline Wilson who says: "A brilliantly told, ultra modern story about a significant six months in eleven year old Olivia's life - it should be sold with a large box of tissues!" I think Dandelion Clocks is going to be a massive hit and Rebecca Westcott is definitely an author to watch.

So congratulations to Rebecca and do also keep an eye out for her next book, Violet Ink, which publishes in July this year.

Kate Kelly is a marine scientist by day but by night she writes children’s books. Her debut novel Red Rock, a Cli-Fi thriller for teens, is published by Curious Fox. She lives in Dorset with her husband, two daughters and assorted pets and blogs at http://scribblingseaserpent.blogspot.co.uk/