So it was time for my 'special appearance' at the Story time session at my local library and although nervous I was kind of looking forward to it.

Alarm bells rang when I logged on to the website to see how they had announced it and saw the notice 'NO NEW EVENTS'! It wasn't as though I wanted whistles and flutes and a piping band or even to see my name in lights, it was just that the normal story session is for 'Up to 5s' and my book , 'The Extremely Very Scrambled Up World of Little Doogs' is for readers 7+.....and we all know how hard it is pitching to the correct age-group don't we?

Sure enough when I arrived the library was full of nappy-wearing toddlers....and fortunately a few 5- and 6-year olds too. They, thankfully, were more than curious about the character cut-outs and props I'd taken so I had a chat to them before the start. They were all totally fascinated by Little Doogs'  Special Notebook for Special Thoughts and Special Things (which I admit I have a deep fondness for myself, giving me as it does the chance to act like a magpie and stick all sorts of things in its pages.)

As I started my introduction I had that hear-sink moment when the babies where crying , the toddlers toddling and one little girl was hitting everyone and saying 'Bye bye'. I continued on as best I could and focussed on the 5 and 6-year olds who were sitting by my feet with open-mouths.

I must admit that I was relieved when the end of the story loomed closer - a feeling I haven't had before but one I expect to have again, many a time. The librarian thanked me, I handed out postcards and bookmarks and then was earnestly told by the children who had been listening that they really hoped that I would be going into their schools because they would like to see me again!

I must admit that I was despondent after the experience but learnt the hard lesson to always check advance publicity for an event. My agent very sweetly boosted my confidence by saying that I was obviously now a fully-fledged author by being able to cope with the experience! Relief all round!