SWAT! A FLY'S GUIDE TO STAYING ALIVE
S
wat! A Fly's Guide to Staying Alive is a funny fact-filled book all about houseflies that I wrote and drew, and was published by Brambleby Books back in 2013.
The book is the product, essentially, of the three years I spent at university in London studying biology, though the book only came about many years later.
Swat! tells the story of Buzzter, a newly-hatched housefly who finds the world he has emerged into is far from safe. In fact it is full of perils - including lizards, birds, frogs, humans and even insect-eating plants! By highlighting these dangers we learn about animal survival, the food web, and why flies are actually useful, even though ultimately they all must die. He learns all this under the guidance of a helpful old fly called Professor Halfbottle.
Here are some sample spreads from inside:
I have a very funny hour long family-friendly show based on the book, in which I dress as a giant housefly and entertain audiences with many gruesome facts about fly biology and the anatomy and behaviour of insects. There is lots of audience participation, including children joining me on stage for various insect-related challenges.
The show premiered - and sold out - at the Hay Festival in 2013. Here's me live on stage:
Since then I have performed it at numerous science festivals around the country, including the Edinburgh Science Festival, and the Times International Science Festival in Cheltenham. I have also performed the show in dozens of schools, libraries and museums across Britain.
Here's a letter from a very happy audience member:
And here's an online review:
I also took the show to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival:
SWAT! also has an accompanying Insect Biology workshop which elaborates on themes raised in the show and can be booked separately or as an accompaniment. There are also accompanying downloads and fun things to do based on the book.
Do get in touch if you'd like to book the show or the workshop or both. You can buy
SWAT! directly from Brambleby Books
here.
