The end of a brilliant week

Right, first things first: no badger rearticulation post this week. I've just been too busy and it's a big post to write so I'll get on it this weekend. Instead, I just want to say a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who has bought my book so far since it went on sale on Monday and everyone has said nice things about it. 

It's nice to hear what everyone thinks about it when they see it for the first time, because I was working on it for sixteen months, and it's hard to tell what it's like after that. I thought it would probably be brilliant but it's still nice to hear others saying the same thing. Here are just some of the comments from Twitter:

@katemacrae @jakesbones just seen it its a brilliant book im soo jealous that Jake has a leopard skull AND a crocodile skull!!!
— melanie (@melanie05840422) February 5, 2014

Look what had just arrived @jakesbones !!! :-) pic.twitter.com/XGzhzAWgvi
— WildlifeKate (@katemacrae) February 5, 2014

Hey bones heads! If you’ve got a young ‘un into skulls and bones then I recommend this by @jakesbones http://t.co/8Qdm1NXLIl
— Nick Baker (@bugboybaker) January 27, 2014

@jakesbones he loved the book, thanks so much.
— Michaela Strachan (@michaelastracha) February 4, 2014

.@PaoloViscardi currently showing the conservation/exhibition team @jakesbones new book on bones! It's fantastic! Well done Jake!
— Charlotte Ridley (@DuchessOChutney) February 4, 2014

Got kids? They need this book: http://t.co/G83d7IPQIl No really, they do. @jakesbones
— Vicky Pearce (@vicky_pearce) February 3, 2014

.@jakesbones your book has the Walrus seal of approval. Excellent work! pic.twitter.com/0BB0wiuiYJ
— Vicky Pearce (@vicky_pearce) February 4, 2014

Chuffed to see it on display on it's very first day! @jakesbones Twas in the science & nature section :o) @saltsmill pic.twitter.com/6pH355LrqH
— stuart petch (@thelightoutside) February 3, 2014

Look what arrived today! Really super book, well done Jake! @jakesbones pic.twitter.com/pQe3gkxN2F
— Heather Bonney (@HeebieB) February 3, 2014

Moar books like this. Awesome new book all about bones (and skeletons) by @jakesbones out today! http://t.co/V73Sqp5r53 #kids #bigkids
— Alison Atkin (@alisonatkin) February 3, 2014

Interested in animal skeletons or know any kids (including big kids) who are? Check out this new book by @jakesbones! pic.twitter.com/KBpv8WXqBJ
— Peter Harrison (@Harrison_Peter) February 5, 2014

Look what had just arrived @jakesbones !!! :-) pic.twitter.com/XGzhzAWgvi
— WildlifeKate (@katemacrae) February 5, 2014

Just ordered @jakesbones new book from @simplybooksNo1. Supporting a great local bookshop and a great young naturalist. #WednesdayWin
— Jen Cunliffe (@leafy_lover) February 5, 2014

Just listened to @jakesbones on the radio. Amazon say the book is due tomorrow. Cannot wait.
— Lorcàn Adrain (@LorcanAdrain) February 4, 2014

Jake's bones-a perfect gift for the bone collector in your life... http://t.co/0F0ZZ1qyPo
— CAHID (@CAHIDuod) February 4, 2014

@jakesbones Congratulations on your book Jake. I shall be buying a copy to share with my Year 2 class.
— Adele Gorton (@alg101) February 3, 2014

@jakesbones a friend bought it already and says its fab.
— Farah Mendlesohn (@effjayem) February 3, 2014

I got my first bit of proper fan mail on Sunday when amazon delivered someones copy a day early and they emailed me to say how much they liked it. I got my first review on Amazon today as well (five stars !). Online reviews are apparently REALLY important, so if you enjoyed the book, PLEASE take a few minutes to write a review and tell others about it at Amazon UK, WH Smiths and Waterstones. 

I was back on BBC Radio Scotland on Tuesday on Fred MacAulay's show. I had been on before, when I was just eight. Dad took a picture on Tuesday which was in the same position as four years ago:

It was good to be back on, but I was more nervous that I had been for Winterwatch, and there was one question he asked ("what's the biggest bone ?") which I couldn't remember the answer to at the time (even though it's in my book). Here's the whole interview:

 Here's me with Fred MacAulay at the end of the show:

At Scouts on Wednesday night everyone was asking questions about the book and being on BBC Winterwatch, like how long it took to write (about a year in total, but some was taken from old blog posts), where they could buy the book (buy from an independent bookshop if you can, but also WH Smiths, Waterstones and Amazon), did I have a script for Winterwatch (no), and was I nervous ( a bit, don't think it showed).

On Monday, the day of the book launch, we had a party at home and a friend had made this amazing cake. (You can see where my baby brother put his finger in the cake).

It's been an amazing and busy week and I PROMISE I will get ground to writing about rearticulating the badger next week ! In the meantime, BUY MY BOOK, and then write reviews on Amazon, Waterstones and WH Smiths ! I would also LOVE to see picture of people with their copies of the books for a gallery somewhere, and if you see my book on sale, I'd love a picture of that too !

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