Give A #Dog A #Free Home – http://t.co/bWCW8z7aMy 11-13th April Amazon Worldwide

You can’t drive a better bargain than free!

There is a long tradition of novelists taking real characters and turning them into literary figures. Sherlock Holmes, James Bond, Severus Snape, Indiana Jones, Dorian Gray and Alf The Workshop Dog were all based on real people …..and a dog of course. 

If you want to check out the real Alf  FOR FREE you will able to see him live by using the interactive features in Alf The Workshop Dog which goes free on 11th, 12th and 13th April.

In the story Alf the homeless mutt helps out at a Bus depot workshop by finding tools and sniffing out waste food on a fleet of buses. Do I hear you saying “Aah – poor thing”.  Well, here’s your chance to give a dog a home and learn the whole story. 


Emma thinx: Police dogs work on leads.

Father and son duo @grabthisbook #review pic.twitter.com/oq0OciiXPE ALF THE WORKSHOP DOG

Grab this book blog, book review, blog tour, Once Upon a NOW, kid's fiction, children's book, Alf The Workshop Dog, review

Stop number four on my Book Tour for the Once Upon a NOW series is at the wonderfully named review site “GRAB THIS BOOK”.

It’s great to get a dad’s perspective on my children’s books.  As a mother of sons whose father was frequently away and busy when they were small, I always felt it was a shame they never got to share special reading time with him.  

Alf, Alf the Workshop Dog, children's fiction, book cover sketch, colouring picture, Once Upon a NOW

It’s wonderful to be allowed in to this father and son’s story time and share an 8year old’s perspective on Alf The Workshop Dog.  What a perceptive young man – and what  a lovely review.  Thanks to the little chap for telling us how the book made him feel.  Thanks to Dad for  hosting us on his blog.

Interesting too that the lad is now demanding to be a regular guest on his dad’s blog.  The next generation of reviewers is here!

Take a visit and hear their thoughts on Grab This Book.

Everyone needs a ferret godfather pic.twitter.com/6Cgub60Fzh #kidlit #review by @JossRadillo

Chapter 5 Blog, book reviews, blogger, book blogger, Joss Rodillo


Today the Once Upon a NOW! series visits the Chapter 5 Book Review hosted by Kindergarten teacher and book blogger Joss Rodillo. 

Frankie Ferret, ISabella's Pink Bicycle, Once Upon a NOW, children's books, kids literature, Emma Calin, review



Which book in the series is her favourite?  The clue is in the title of the blog….. yes she fell in love with Frankie Ferret the sidekick and adventure-buddy of Isabella in ‘ISABELLA’S PINK BICYCLE‘.

I was delighted that she gave the whole series a whopping 5***** and can’t wait to share the stories with her little charges.

Find out what else she had to say about ‘ALF THE WORKSHOP DOG and ‘KOOL KID KRUNCHA AND THE HIGH TRAPEZE‘ on her blog here

Touring with the #Kid’s books – includes #giveaway & #Free dates on #Kindle pic.twitter.com/UV4tRZddAP


Today is the first day of my tour of literary blogs for Children’s Fiction.  Arranged via the wonderful efficient staff at CandleLit Author Services, it will feature my ‘ONCE UPON A NOW SERIES’ of modern fairy stories for kids.

The tour includes guest posts by me about the inspiration behind each book and reviews by readers old and young.  There is also a giveaway where you can win a complete set of the series in audio book, paperback or digital Kindle formats.


Stop One – 26th January 2015
BestChickLit – Review 

Stop Two – 27th January 2015
Tales of Yesterday – Review  

Stop Three – 29th January 2015
Chapter 5 – Review

Stop Four – 31st January 2015
Grab This Book – Review 

Stop Five – 1st February 2015 
It’s Not All Gravy – Review 

Stop Six – 4th February 2015 
It’s Not All Gravy – Guest Post  

Stop Seven – 5th February 2015 
AJ’s Book Club – Review  

Stop Eight – 7th February 2015
Lynsey Farmer – Review 

Stop Nine – 9th February 2015
Guest Post 

​Stop Ten – 10th February 2015 
On My Bookshelf – Review