Thanks to the hard work of Deborah Court and her friends and colleagues, and the Seven Stories children's literature centre, we had a great "Writing Breakthrough Day" in Newcastle last Saturday. I was impressed with the enthusiasm, talent and determination of this varied group of writers. I also had the chance to take a quick tour of the Seven Stories centre, which has an exhibition of the work of illustrator Quentin Blake (most closely associated with Roald Dahl's books although of course his career encompasses much more than that). At their Big Friendly Giant exhibit, I finally met someone taller than me (as you'll see in the photo). I look forward to the possibility of doing more workshops Up North.