The first of the month brings statistics. This blog enjoyed 81296 visits in May, up from the disappointing 68227 in April and taking the total visits to 770480. We should pass the million before year end.

Last night I went to a 'desserts party' at the right-on Housing Works Bookstore in SoHo.

We were there to celebrate our US children's publishing and to meet a number of the world's best children's authors. I was particularly pleased to meet Jacqueline Wilson who is an enormous success in the UK but, for no good reason, has not yet cracked America. Roaring Brook Press is now publishing her and I'm betting that they'll do the trick although the US market can be a fickle beast.

By the way, Roaring Brook are the publishers of one of my favourite children's books Leemons are not red which sadly and inexplicably (I'm sure there is a good explanation but it will be convoluted!) is not published by Macmillan Children's Books outside USA.

Now I'm off to the BEA to be horrified at the cost of the event, perplexed by the volume of new books, amazed at the creativity, baffled by the economics and cheered by meeting old friends and enemies.