My publisher tells me that Pirate Treasure Hunt has been picked up by Oxfam, so drop by the nearest branch and get your copy – unless you live in the Outer Hebrides, in which case go here.

When I first came up with the idea for this project, I wanted to include a fold-out treasure map which could be used alongside the book. I liked the idea that the kids would relate the symbols on the map with the ‘real life’ images in the pictures, and that they could trace their journey as they hunted for the treasure. I did a similar thing recently in Detective Paws when I created a fold-out notebook for the dog detective. I also designed a plastic ‘gold’ coin for the treasure chest at the end, thus, hopefully, increasing the pay-off. Unfortunately, when I tried to spend it in Tesco, they were having none of it.

Pirate Treasure Hunt also marks the point at which I was let loose on the paper engineering side of things. I went a bit mad on glue points and card usage with the result that the book came in completely over-spec’ed, much to the dismay of the publisher. However, the book has more than earned its keep, being one of the more successful that I’ve done for Tango Books and it’s still one of my favourites. It’s even been published in Japan – how cool is that?

I recently filled out an author questionnaire (with photo) on the authorhotline.com website and, I have to say, I struggled over some of the questions.

Not being as well-known as some children’s writers, like, say, Katie Price (aka Jordan), Ricky Gervais, Sarah Ferguson or Geri Halliwell, I wondered whether people would really be interested in my favourite food or most embarrassing moment.

I thought I might try the jokey approach but worried it would look like I wasn’t taking the job seriously. In the end, I aimed for the middle ground and then asked Irma for her verdict on the finished answers.

“It’s a bit melancholic,” she told me. “Verging on the tragic even.”
Maybe she means I’m a miserable, old git. I’ll let you be the judge – you can find the questionnaire in full here.

While you’re at it, check out the questionnaires of all my wonderful friends in Islington Writers For Children – Alison, Anne, Katharine, Marion, and Odette.

 

It was off to Gillespie Park Eco Centre last Sunday to set up shop. You’ll never make a fortune there but it’s always really nice to chat to people about the books. My strategy this time was to tempt the kids with the offer of free sweets (they might get rotten teeth but at least they’ll be able to read).   JOHN

It was good to see that the Piccadilly branch of Waterstones, now stock many of my titles, including Detective Paws. We did that thing of putting my books to the front of the bookshelves, having a heated debate, in the middle of the children’s section, about just how far we could push it.

For anyone who missed the press release for
Detective Paws and the Case of the Golden Cat last November, here it is again.

Detective Dick Paws at your service

Author, illustrator and paper engineer John O’Leary’s new picture book, Detective Paws and the Case of the Golden Cat, is now out. The Golden Cat has been stolen from Mogworth Hall and private detective Dick Paws is on the case.

 

 Help him dig up the clues, sniff through the evidence and point the paw at the dodgy wrongdoers in this interactive who-done-it mystery.

 Turn the wheels, lift the flaps, open the map, flick through the mini books and use the photofit as you work alongside Detective Paws to bring the investigation to a close and ensure that justice is done.

 

Originally from Ireland, John O’Leary now lives and works in North London.

This is his 10th picture book for Tango Books.

  

For more information click here 

 

 

BUY THE BOOK HERE