@garethpjones
Writer of books, composer of musicals, performer of performances, occasionally EP of TV. Listen, I'll pretty much do anything for the right price. I'll clean your car windows if you're paying & I have access to a damp cloth.
Today's WBD tag is @sarahmcintyre.bsky.social @philipreeve.bsky.social who are visiting today's on Friday. I will, of course, be leaving booby traps and clues dotted around the school for them.
There never seems to be any rhyme or reason to which songs fare better or worse on YouTube but this one has clocked up a few more views than my average.
youtube.com/shorts/BbVDx...
I saw a woman trying to persuade the bouncer at Sainsburys to let her come in with her dog. The bouncer said only assistance dogs were allowed in & it made me wonder if you could make the case that your dog was a therapy dog & therefore get them in for that reason.
I'm excited to be on the same stage as national treasure, Michael Rosen & bestselling author AF Steadman this weekend, but also bracing myself for the humbling experience that often comes with being the same stage as folk who are massively more commercially successful than oneself.
Poem
It's nice to look forward to some of the very exciting festival appearances I've got coming up this summer. This isn't a show in which a book has been turned into a musical for you. You, the audience are a part of that adaptation. We all help bring these stories to life & every show is unique.
I always have to remind myself that no one is judging me for how I spend my time... I don't think.
Unless you are, in which case, how the hell can you see me?
He sounds pretty clear to me. Not sure why he needed to use your words.
So many children's authors feel its acceptable to slap "Jones" on the names of the characters and the titles of their books that I've decided I'm going to start suing. I don't go around using your names on my books. I've emailed my team of lawyers.
Oh my, a blue sky, time to send a raven...
I'm now back from a mini tour of kirklees libraries, bringing 4 mini musicals to 4 fabulous libraries. Thank you to all librarians, teachers, helpers & pupils who helped make it so much fun.
Current status: on train from Leeds to Huddersfield with 2 large suitcases, a ukulele & hat with rabbit ears.
Thank you.
It's National Pizza Day so why not celebrate by buying a copy of Death or Ice Cream? It's not about pizza, but then you didn't even know it was National Pizza Day until you read this so what does it matter? All this stuff is made up anyway.
I've had over 50 books published. I've never once had a press release announcing this news. Next time I get a contract I'm just going to have to make my own.
Wow. That's some impressive percentages.
Following the release of a new Wuthering Heights film, the award for Author of the Year 2026 goes to Emily Bronte.
Up early and off to Harrow for a school visit which has placed me on a commuter train. I can't sit down but it does make me appreciate my life choices.
Never mind kids. I say we ban old dudes with phones on buses who sit scrolling through Instagram at top volume. They're the real problem.
What I love about this is that I think the author put work into it. I think a lesser handyman would have got Chat GPT to write the poem, but this feels 100% human. And since we're invited to call ANYTIME I'm going to be calling at 3am tonight to check if I'm right.
Paving stones typically cost between £25 and £70 + per square metre. Or at least, that's the street value.
Oh bugger. Yes, 30.
Ironic by Alanis Morisette is 20 years old this year, which means the song - with its wilful misuse of the term 'ironic' - has now achieved icon status. It's Iconic. Now that is ironic.
Are there any authors I know who are good at school visits but also have some availability around WBD this year? School in South East London.
Katy Perry has named her album after my door number. I don't know what this means but I refuse to believe it means nothing. The universe is telling us something.
Love it too. And thank you.
I'm pretty sure it's the king of that Daleks.
Yes, applying for jobs is a faff. The thing that always stopped me applying for BBC jobs (when I worked in TV) were the forms.
Chat GPJ is available to generate images. Just let me know what you need.
My theory is that the Greenland deal is that Trump gets awarded a special prize for not invading it... yet.