I’m quite fortunate to live just 500 metres from a little piece of literary heaven. Dromkeen is a mecca for any writer of children’s stories, novels and picture books.
Yesterday they had a visit from Marc McBride, illustrator of the Deltora Quest series as well as numerous other dragon, monster and fantasy creature books. I took my kids a long and watched him paint a dragon with an airbrush. It was fantastic. Once I figure out how to get the photos off my phone I’ll endeavour to post them.
I bought his book How to Draw Deltora Dragons: and Other Creatures. I was first in line to get it signed. It was wonderful. He chatted to me in his Irish brogue and was very interested to hear I was a writer. He told me to keep at it and hoped to see one of my books soon. Be still my beating heart!
I was so glad to have gone and had the pleasure of actually meeting him. The place was crowded with children but I think he was genuinely pleased to have a more grown up fan. His encouragement meant a lot to me. It’s helped reinforce the excitement I had when I finally chose my project.
All Marc McBride books come highly recommended. 
