Iceberg by Claire Saxby illustrated by Jess Racklyeft 2021 Published by Allen and Unwin
I have been a fan and friend of Claire for a long time now and am just blown away by this non-fiction Picture Book. The poetry in the text mirrors the splintery, cold and icy world of the Antarctic.
‘In the pale morning an iceberg calves- shears from a glacier
and plunges to the ocean in a haze of sparkle-frost.
The iceberg is flat-topped, sharp and angular
and carries ancient weather in its layers of ice-clothing;
a coat for each year volcanoes blew
and black ash fell like snow.’
Claire uses repetition: ‘If this world looks empty,
Look closer.’ It forms a motif and a continuity for the narrative.
And as the narrative unfolds and the gorgeous blues, white and black of Jess Racklyeft’s artwork also unfolds. Then the colour of summer delights with orange, smudged yellow and the most delectable squid and jellyfish are revealed in fold out flap pages. We have a whole undersea panorama of movement reflecting shadow and filtered sunlight.
The world around the iceberg reverberates with squid, krill, birds, orca and short-tailed shearwaters. It is fascinating to be drawn into this icy world and to recognise the importance of an iceberg calving! Love that description! I remember when Claire first shared her Iceberg poem and I pointed out that I found an iceberg calving strange (as an ex dairy farmer) She reassured me this was the correct terminology and what a visual and literary feast we have now in this book. A precious gem to read, share and reread again.
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.
It's great to support my writing friends- this weekend I went to Claire Saxby's 'Carrum Sailing club' book launch and the illustrator Christina Booth was there also!
What a treat to have author reading and illustrator turning the pages! And a chance to catch up with friends- always much about the writing world to discuss.
Dee White launched the book- and Claire spoke about her inspiration- this is such an interesting part of the launch. Jellyfish lollies were tossed to celebrate and a reading and participation followed.
Sunday:
Today in Maldon, Glenda Millard's 'For all creatures' was launched by Margaret Hamilton- on the lush lawns of Glenda's new abode. Of course there were animals- those donkeys were wonderful. Thanks indeed to such talented children's authors.
The book's written, the cloak's made and the Chantelle book marks
Narelle Stone is reading the book, Meryl has played the harp and Tyson is wearing his magic cloak
Let the cloak parade begin
Twirls and audience clapping
Now to celebrate in style!
Thanks to the wonderful Bendigo library, Tammy Higgs, Narelle Stone, Meryl Wilkinson,
Julie Gittus, and my family for the wonderful launch. Even thunder lightning and torrential rain couldn't stop the festivities but did stop the Melbourne train from arriving in time with this special guest.
Thanks Claire for making such a super cloak and coming to celebrate-thanks for all your patient critiques of the many drafts of Chantelle's cloak.
My friend Caire Saxby has just had her latest picture book released and what a great catch it is.
Here is my review.
'There was an old Sailor' by Claire Saxby and Cassandra Allen published by Walker, Australia
ISBN 978-1-921150-71-5
There is nothing as attention grabbing as reading a picture book to a child. It can bring stillness to a whole writhing mass of arms, legs and strident voices.
And of course using a child's known language as a stepping stone from familiar territory to new reading delights, is a sure- fire way to engross a child.
Claire Saxby does just that with her latest picture book release 'There was an old sailor,' based of course on that well known nursery rhyme 'There was an old woman.'
What sea- faring dishes does that old sailor enjoy? From the smallest dishes- krill to that impossible feat of a whole whopping whale. What fun!
Illustrator Cassandra Allen uses the bollard- like structure of the old sailor with the stylised curls of wavy sea as a backdrop to swallowing the bright bollard colours of pink krill, blue jelly fish, orange fish and the humongous silver grey of a shark.
Rollicking fun in rhythm, poetic language and pictures. Even the end papers are delight and the added bonus of a mini glossary of fishy facts makes many readings a joy. And children will demand repeat reading performances and also be tempted to interrupt with their own chorus of 'there was an old sailor ...' Highly recommended.
Welcome Claire to my writing site- I know writers and readers are always keen to learn about that mysterious journey a manuscript takes to the finished celebration of a launch. Thanks for taking time to answer these questions.
Your first picture book was about water- is the sea an important subject in your writing for children?
I’d never thought of it like that, but yes water is very important to me. My dream is to one day live where I can see the sea from my desk. I spent a lot of time by or in the water as a child and I still love it. I don’t know whether that’s why it features in my books, or whether it’s because I have such a rich vein of memory to tap.
Is rhythm and repetition an important part of your picture books writing especially in this book?
Rhythm is very important in my writing, particularly of picture books. Repetition too. I read the drafts out loud, listening for the rhythm and the flow. For ‘There Was an Old Sailor’ there is also rhyme. The three ‘Rs’ here are the scaffolding on which the story hangs. I read at my local kinder to the four-year-old group and they respond very strongly to all three elements. The kinder motto is ‘Play is the work of childhood’ and sharing story with the children is part of the foundation for their literacy.
Do you guide an illustrator in their interpretation of your text?
No. I trust them to bring their own vision to the narrative. And they always do.
Often beginning writers or even those with book published become discouraged with the wait on acceptance of a manuscript, do you have any advice to offer?
I wish there was a magic formula to make waiting easier. Waiting is always hard, especially for manuscript responses. There are always stories about manuscripts being lost either in the mail, or in a pile, but mostly they are working their way through the process. In some circumstances, it can take more than a year. The best advice I can give is to forget about it! Not at all easy, but essential for developing patience. Work on another project. Gnash and wail and worry as little as you humanly can. And in case anyone is wondering…it doesn’t really get any easier.
I know that you write across genres, especially poetry, non fiction and chapter books, do you have any preference for a genre?
Not really. I love creating story, and playing with words and language. The form that a story takes is not always something that I decide consciously. Some stories lend themselves to a longer form, others to a very short form. Some, like ‘There Was an Old Sailor’, develop from an already constructed ‘shape’, by modeling from an existing story. I like trying different things and will sometimes set out to work in a very different way, just to see what might happen.
Publicity for any new book is always a challenge; have you any sure and tried ideas which have helped over the number of book launches you have put together?
I enjoy launching a book for a number of reasons. The first is to share my book with the world. The second is to say thank you and to celebrate with those people who have been part of the writing journey. Family, friends, colleagues. As for sure and tried ideas…choose a venue big enough for the invited guests but also allow for passersby to feel they can stop and see what’s happening. Keep it simple. Don’t talk too long J. ‘Success’ in promotion is very difficult to measure. It’s almost impossible to know which promotional seeds planted will produce results. I enter every promotional activity prepared for anything! Important: be flexible!
What motivates your writing? I know this is a hard one- but do you wait to be inspired or do you establish a writing routine?
Ooh, yes. A very hard one. Probably a mix of both. I try to write every day, even if inspiration seems elusive. I’m usually working on more than one project at a time, so can focus on different parts of the writing process depending on what the world around me is doing. Eg I don’t try to develop a new plot if my children are in and out asking me questions, it’s too hard to keep the plot balls in the air. On days like that, I’ll do things that don’t suffer if I’m interrupted. Ideas do clamour for attention though and I try to capture the essence of the idea as it occurs. Then I leave the development of the idea until there is time to work without interruption. Deadlines are a wonderful motivator though, and I do like having them.
Do you put a hook on the end of each age spread so that your reader is compelled to turn the page to finds out what happens next?
Not consciously. I concentrate mostly on shaping the story. Often page break decisions are made by others. In chapter books, I do try to finish chapters in a way that encourages readers to start the next one.
When you write picture books do you use poetic images or write simply? Or use humour?
My first draft is about getting a rough story arc and I don’t spend a lot of time on the language. But subsequent drafts, when I’m happy with the shape, are all about getting the images right. The simplest images are often the most difficult to craft well.
Claire thanks so much for sharing- its great to have you here on your blog tour and I’m positive that readers everywhere will thoroughly enjoy ‘There was an old Sailor’.
Here are other sites where Claire has shared her writing insights about her latest picture book:
