Blog Tour: Dandelion Clocks - Rebecca Westcott

Today I'm excited to be taking part in the blog tour to celebrate the release of Rebecca Westcott's novel Dandelion Clocks. This is a beautiful and moving debut that I absolutely adored (my full review will be posted later today) so I'm thrilled to welcome Rebecca to the blog today. I actually have an exclusive extract to share from Rebecca's diary, written when she was just 13 years old, to share with you. She actually uses snippets from her personal diaries in Dandelion Clocks which I think is a fabulous idea.

Before I hand over to Rebecca here is a little more information about the book:

Dandelion Clocks by Rebecca Westcott will be loved by fans of Jacqueline Wilson, Cathy Cassidy or Annabel Pitcher.

Liv takes us on a journey through her life from "Thirteen Weeks Before" to "Six Months After". We discover Liv's passion for photography, her brother's obsession with sticking to the rules, the stupidity of Moronic Louise at school, and how the family copes as Mum's terminal illness takes hold . . . Guided by Mum's own childhood diaries, Liv finds a new way to live.

This book is real, funny, utterly touching and absolutely heartwarming. Despite the sadness at the heart of the story, every reader will laugh and keep on turning the pages, charmed by Liv and her mum.

Visit Rebecca Westcott's website for more information

Now please give a very warm welcome to Rebecca!

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Diary Extract by Rebecca Wescott

March 1988 (aged 13)

Hi,

It’s 6:20pm and I’m sitting on my bed listening to my new tape “Now That’s What I Call Music 10”. Pure bliss. My best song is “When Smokey Sings” by ABC. Probably because it reminds me of the best, most faithful guinea pig in the whole world EVER. I’m finally starting to get over Smokey dying – I still love him but I know that he’s happy in heaven. I go out to the garden every night to say goodnight to his grave. Sometimes I cry a bit.

What do you think about boyfriends? I don’t know. I wish that boys (nice ones) liked me. Half of me wants to stay small but the other half wants to have a REAL boyfriend. Not to kiss, just someone who would like me and who would play Monopoly with me.

Finished reading The Last Battle yesterday. It was brill. Now I’m going to read The Horse and His Boy.

Just went to have a bath but I’m back now. I am the only person in the world without a boyfriend. It’s not like I even care but I have made a list of boys that I like, just in case. We’re going to see David’s family tomorrow. I wonder if David likes me? Oh no – I’ve just thought – I’ll see his little sister’s guinea pigs and I don’t think I’m ready for that yet. I DO like David – he is nice to Elizabeth and he is a laugh. I think he thinks that I’m a bit immature for him though. I just don’t know.

Anyway, off to say goodnight to Smokey.
See you tomorrow.
Rebecca

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Having read Dandelion Clocks I can tell you what an important part the diary extracts play in the story and I recognised parts of the above from where Rebecca has included it in the story. This really is a beautiful book, one that will effect you on so many levels and that I can't recommend highly enough. Don't forget to check back later today for my full review and make sure you visit the rest of the stops on the blog tour (details on the banner below).