A challenge

I've done it- just now- signed up for Picture book idea month!  I crave a picture book. I've written several but being a poet I make too many word images rather than allowing room for the illustrator- so here's to a concentrated dose of commitment.

If you'd like to join the challenge- here's the link.

And best wishes for those wonderful ideas to spring to life!

More Book launches

Weekend: Saturday


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.

     

Cloak Parade

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.

Spring in the bush and two thanks

egg and bacon plant

The bush is flowering like it hasn't done for years- here is the egg and bacon plant- well that's its common name and the famous Bendigo wax plant.

glorious wattle

Bendigo Wax plant

I just love the colour, the texture- its my childhood landscape.

I also had to share an op shop find- playmobiles are expensive and hard to find- look what was waiting for me today at a $3.00 price tag.

this is my first thanks

a triple sized strawberry

                                                                                           

And my second thanks for this huge strawberry nearly covering the width of the strawberry container.

Note on the Door and a competition

My big poetry collection- many many hours of work is out- and I can honestly say how proud I am of Walker and Mary (my editor) for producing such a  poetry collection.

Thankfully my publisher Sarah loves poetry.  I know how engaging it is for kids once I read a poem- for example this morning in a little rural school where poetry is dusty, I read 'Alright' a poem about washing machines and lost socks.  The children chuckled and interacted- that's what poetry should encourage- dialogue, language and exploration of the world around.

So here's the chance to write a poem:

Note on the door is all about family poems so the challenge is to choose a topic from those below and write a short poem to be eligible for the prize- I have two signed copies of 'Note on the Door' to give away to:

• an adult writing poetry for children
• a poem written by a young person( ie) a child.

And an extra prize of one free lesson from my recent e-course with the Australian poetry centre- poets writing for children- a two layer technique.

The topic:- choose from

• a family note
• a holiday note
• a school note
• a playtime note

Here's an example from my collection:

Writing on a Beach

A stick dipped into the sea's frothy ink,

the wet peppery sand

is a long table to write on.

Footprints are commas,

pearls of seaweed are exclamation marks.

Here comes the tide

erasing, refreshing , recycling.

© Lorraine Marwood

It doesn't have to follow my format-try for free verse. Deadline- Friday 23^th September- winners posted on my blog site and website.

Email entry to : info@lorrainemarwood.com With the header 'Note on the Door' poetry comp.

Please note Australian residents only for the book prizes, but the sample e-course lesson can be world wide.

Coming- cloaks, cloaks

This coming week, I have two books being released a day apart!  From two different publishers.

 

 I have a book launch planned for 'Chantelle's cloak' in Bendigo and to that effect I have made a cloak- but the model is reluctant to reveal the finished product.

Bryon Bay Writers' festival

My little part is done- fighting off a terrible cold and cough- but managed to listen to a few sessions, before my cold overwhelmed me.  Enjoyed listening to Alison Lester, James Roy and Tony Wilson- plenty of kids in the ABC3 tent and being introduced by Amberley Lobo and Kayne Tremillis was a buzz.  But poetry was read and I had questions and responses- but not the line up for book signing that Alison Lester had- they forgot to announce signings for me- ah well.

But what I have learnt is there are more writers writing form the seat of their pants than planners- so i feel very comfortable with this.

It was lonely - I didn't know anyone so that  is so different to the children's writing festivals I've been to- but lots to ponder and that is always the hallmark of a great festival.