My dad, Frank

It’s been a while since I’ve written to you all, apart from sharing other people’s posts. Some of you might already know why - my dad, Frank, died very suddenly in the middle of March, so I’ve been taking time off. This is me and him at my last book launch, for Loki book 3. I’ve been looking at photos a lot lately. I miss him.

Now, I’m slowly coming back to my desk and into the world of books. My dad loved books so much, and books make me feel closer to him now. A lot of the happy stuff I was going to talk about in my March newsletter feels so far away now. But loss doesn’t make joy less important.

Here’s to joy.

 In early March, before he died, I loved touring the country with my World Book Day Book, met so many kids, acted out norse myths (apologies to all the teachers I forced to dress up as Bride!Thor from the Lay of Thrym) and generally celebrated books and reading. I got to tell my dad all about it. Here are some of my favourite pics from that time.

So many Lokis at Walker Books!

Mel from Rabbit Hole Brigg dressed as Loki with EXCELLENT hair, complete with WBD book display.

best editor and best dog!

I’m glad my dad got to see this!

I got beaten up by a viking in York

Me and Tola on the road for World Book Day

A rogue Loki appears

Now, back at my desk in this surreal new world, I’m finishing Loki book 4. I’ve done all the first draft drawings, so it’s just a matter of re-draws. Oh, and acknowledgements. Books are a team effort, and I always read the acknowledgements to find out who that team is for each author. My dad was an important part of that team - always the first person I talked to about a new book I’d read; someone I loved discussing ideas with; the person who introduced me to Lord of the Rings which has had a big influence on the Loki series. (Loki has much less walking than LOTR, but it DOES have cursed rings and, in book four, elves).

More about book 4 HERE:

Speak soon and take care all,

Louie