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.