A review. Entirely Solicited.

You know how there are evenings when you want to stay slumped in the armchair, in front of the TV or to share the benefit of your very presence with your family?  And you know that even though you are slumped in the armchair, there's that creeping feeling that really, you could be doing something whilst you slump?  But you can't drag the contents of your desk into the lounge.  Mostly because of the fight you put up to actually achieve a desk and a space for your stash...and the argument that it would keep the lounge room tidier?  And you can't do colouring because the light is rubbish.  And you don't knit or crochet because well, even that seems like hard work while the TV is on and the family are erm, riveting company.   
I may have the solution! A book.  It's called Fill In The Blank.  See:

And it's such fun..filled with prompts for ideas to get you doodling and sketching.  Miss Dunnit was quite enthralled by the idea and I have to say, so was I. I love the sense of humour and the lack of pressure it presents....no blank page syndrome (pardon the pun)  and no 'lessons' or star shaped 'top tip' boxes that always make me feel as if I'm dong something that's more worthy than having a bit of creative fun. It's not pretending to be an art lesson or a channel for your creativity Marge, it has that rare quality of not taking itself too seriously.  Which is an editorial skill huh.  Ask me, I edit all my own work!

If you doodle to the point of being confident about using colour, the black and white prompts really let your additions stand out - which is really quite a thrill when you leaf through it some time later, looking for another inspiration point or just giggling at some graffiti style drawing that you did on a fishbowl, false nails....you name it - some of the prompts are really fun...I particularly like the 'You are an American' page - a Statue of Liberty and a row of empty pedestals....we had quite a long to-and-fro about who deserved to go on our pedestals I can tell you.  I mean, do Ben and Jerry get a plinth each?  Or do I draw them hugging so as not to fall off? See, a prompt that causes creeping intellectualism....*ahem*!

It's published by Quirk and is available now; the RRP is £13.99.  It's a handsome sort of coffee table book size and has the useful bendy card cover that we are still calling a paperback.    I can think of a couple of people on my Christmas list who would enjoy this, and for the price it will make a great gift I must say.  

This review is entirely sponsored by Quirk Publishing.  They asked me to and I said yes.  They sent me a free copy of the book.  Luckily, I love it and so my tact and diplomacy gene has not been stretched.