A big week coming up...

It's August and book week looming has a special sweetness this year, but before that I am involved in my home ground production of the Bendigo Writers' festival- the schools session 'Text Marks the spot'.

I am talking with my friend Glenda Millard and hosted by a long time journalist friend Lauren Mitchell.  We will be talking writing legends- mainly those created by our words and it will be fun.

I am also talking in a session about judging and entering competitions, with Sarah Mayor Cox and Susan Green.  There are great opportunities out there for budding writers and we will look at universal suggestions when entering a competition.

But I was part of an interesting podcast by Tracey Grice for the shortlisted books in CBCA awards this year.  I am enjoying listening to other authors also- what a great initiative Tracey!

Here is the link

Enjoy your reading writing world this week!

Excitement plus in my writing world

The past two months have seen hyper activity with my book 'Leave Taking'.

The cover now sports two stickers, a shortlisted CBCA and a short listed NSWPLA.

I was able to go on the train to Melbourne for the announcement of the CBCA shortlisting.  I had to use a crutch as my knee was still in recovery mode.   But what a buzz to hear 'Leave Taking' read out as a shortlist in the junior fiction category and to be in such good company with other authors.

Then last Monday(29th 0f April) Kel drove us to Sydney for the announcement of the NSW Premier's literary awards- 'Leave Taking' was shortlisted in this.  A fabulous night of meeting authors, judges, friends and learning more about the current writing scene.

Then the announcement that Claire Saxby with her book "Dingo' was a joint winner of the Patricia Wrightson award for children's fiction with my book 'Leave taking'.  Of ouches I didn't have a speech prepared but delivered one of thanks to the team at UQP.  And oops forgot my family!

What a difference an award makes to all those years of writing!  And hopefully 'Leave Taking' will go on to help children and families riding the crest of grief.

CBCA Awards, NSW Premiers literary awards

It's always a tension filled time waiting to see if your book has made it to the Notables list of the CBCA awards.  At 7 pm when the awards were announced on the website, the web page wouldn't load for awhile, then slowly it revealed 'Leave Taking' was nestled in the younger readers category.


Notables Book of the year 2019

Such relief, such excitement, such sweet joy for my publishers who had risked and had faith in my verse novel- not an easy genre to be published in.

Then two days later 'Leave Taking' became shortlisted in the NSW Premier's Literary awards.

State Library NSWPremiers Literary awards

So it has been exciting times and a boost to keep writing, keep writing.  And reading.  I am loving reading books listed in the same category as mine and have enjoyed Shine Mountain by Julie Hunt and Maya and Cat by Caroline Magerl and of course celebrated with my good friend Claire Saxby with Dingo.  Exciting times in the world of Children's literature, I should say Australian children's literature.

And best of all there is a new verse novel in the wings for me!

Happy writing and reading.

A new Year

What a well used phrase!  Yes a new year with a very hot summer, a new knee replacement and new energy to write.  I have been away from my blog for too long and want to share some of the writing events and other creative events that have happened in the interim.

• I was a guest speaker at the Melbourne ALEA conference in November and spoke on empathy in books, namely 'Leave Taking'.
• I had a poem published in the anthology 'To End All Wars' Puncher and Wattman.
• Took workshops and edited a collection of memory stories at my old home town of Dingee. A book is the result for the participants and an exciting launch next week.
• Beavered away in my craft room for a monumental bounty of Christmas gifts for my big family and 12 grandchildren- how I love craft!

Made toy bagpipes for an eager Grandson

Love hand sewing- made a toy set using Gingermelon pattern

Beautiful flowers waiting for me in my room after surgery- from my Church friends!

The World War one anthology!

So this is a little taste of the end of year activities and New Year ones!  I hope to be more regular with posts!  (No not a resolution, but a real hope!)