Workshops/Panel/workshops

There is a time for firsts- first author panel, first workshop in the State library- poetry of course.  And a wonderful little rural school where the grades 3-6 had illustrated my short prose poem- A Ute Picnic along the back wall).

 And the poems that were written over the workshops attached to Reading Matters conference were wonderful- I hope to get a copy!

Then last night I took part in a Panel discussion on Great Expectations winning an award- there were Glenda Millard, Alex Miller and Rebecca Stead( USA Newberry medal winner).  My first author panel- very interesting- even the Jimmy Possum comfy chairs were intriguing!

And today- two school sessions on Ratwhiskers and me' and sharing all my goldfields props with hometown audiences- I enjoyed it so much- ah the voice and the feet are very tired.

What a grand occupation- being a children's author and poet.

PS Thanks Tamara for the hat, wig, shirt and belt- they were a hit!

A whole week

I confess I've not been further into Queensland than Brisbane so last week we headed north into cane country into Mackay for the last son's wedding.  Rain, misty.  People walk in the rain as if it's everyday- which it was, and the humidity.  Ah I realise I love the crispness of winter- so May was a good month to visit.

The tropical trees and beaches were eye candy:

  
And the bride beautiful and the groom handsome.

Every wedding I've written a special poem- so six wedding poems have been written.  Here's to love and commitment-
 Here's the first stanza- for Kyle and Tracey:

Such a day

this wedding day,

vows and bindings

began in attraction, trust,

burgeoning to commitment

companionship and the daily need

to share,

these are the heart strings of love.

Part of the craft

It's my creativity, to plunge into words and then to tinker with fabric and thread.  Both processes help each other.

This little rabbit girl now lives in London with my granddaughter Madeleine.  The pattern came from here.

Sometimes my stories need to be cut, or altered, so too clothes, especially imminent page boy trousers. So Quinn your trousers are now cut to length ready for the big wedding.
So smile and let's celebrate the last wedding- all six of our children married is a fantastic statistic.

New books and a talk

Up on the Penguin website a new cover- my new Aussie Nibbles due out August.

Exciting times- this little story evolved over twelve months of rewriting- but well worth the effort and patience of my editor.

Before Easter I gave a Rotary talk- ten minutes on what it's like to be a children's author and surprisingly I was nervous- reading poems- and the opening poem- usually garners a laugh- but no response- so that threw me.  They were great people doing great community work and I appreciated the opportunity to spread the news about the creative world of children's writing.

Thanks to the Strathdale Rotary club.

Anzac day and Easter

What a tumultuous season-  I love Easter and the Religious significance also- as well as my annual pilgrim to the YMCA second hand book fair!

What did I buy?  Books for my grandchildren and amazing books for me- well children's books- I'm yet to have enough time to venture into the paperback novels.  But I promise, all year I've been carrying books to the second hand book bin to make room for my own new treasures.

So many books!  A real treasure trove and many to share and foster the love of reading.

The Televised dawn service from Anzac cove is always moving- my grandfather was an Anzac- one day I'd love to write about this era.

Cat's book launch

A book launch is always a great gathering and Catriona Hoy's launch of George and Ghost at Malvern library- (what a great venue) attracted a huge crowd.

Thanks Cat for allowing me to launch your book and also to read George to a group of eager listeners.

And always great to catch up with my writing friends- sorry Cat that there's not more photos of you!  After all it was your book!

A new Term 'pantser'

Not sure the term 'pantser' quite describes the debate between those authors who write with out a detailed plan and those who write by the seat of their pants.  But a blog entry over here
at Teaching Authors site released me from apologies that I don't plan/plot/follow rules. 

Yes I've tried. I say to myself this time( when I start a new project) I'm going to work out scenes/ conflict/ a character chart etc, etc.  But I seem unable to toe the line, the project loses enthusiasm, I falter, flick to another writing project.

It was so liberating to read this post and validate the way I write- although when in a workshop, a teacher says 'and tell the class how you plan, draft etc etc'- ah have they discovered other ways of learning /writing?   I answer by saying do you really want to know the answer to that question- now I can explore a fuller more detailed explanation of how I write and know that many, many other authors have a 'pantser' approach also.

My friend Claire has a spider web on her blog entry today- here is a photo I took a few days ago- these orb weaver spiders have been absent from my big garden over the drought years now they have come back to trawl the airways.