Library Love

I love reading the newsy round up posts of other authors and illustrators – like this one from Debra Tidball or this one from Tania McCartney. I thought I’d have a go at writing my own and that I’d cheat by starting with a look back over the last three months. Books and kids Is…

It’s the 30th August and Book Week Month is almost over. This time it spills in to September with five days in sunny Ipswich next week for the Story Arts Festival.     But the long days of travel (including one 15 hour day) and the early morning starts (4.45 am more than once) are…

What could be better than computer games and writing? When it comes to Minecraft, they go together perfectly. I have heaps of fun at my Minecraft workshops and the kids are always excited to write. This month at Liverpool and Cannes Hill Library both sessions were fully booked and a hopeful group of waiting list…

I have a confession to make. I don’t usually attend events where the authors write for adults. This was my first one. The children’s book industry is such a vibrant, busy sector that with juggling family, two part-time jobs, a small business and getting some writing done, there’s very little time for anything else. So…

One of my favourite blogs is Megan Daley’s Children’s Books Daily. Megan must be one of the most dynamic, innovative and enthusiastic librarians in the whole world. Inspiring too. I never miss a post and I learn stuff all the time. Today’s post, Books for Early Independent Readers , subtitled “My Child is Reading Chapter Books…

One of my favourite events on my Author calendar is the South Coast & Illawarra Children’s Book Council (SCICBC) Kid’s Day Out. The events alternate each year between two wonderful libraries – Thirroul and Dapto. This year I was there with a stellar cast of local and local-ish children’s literary luminaries – Di Ellis, Lilli Pang, Oliver Phommavanh,…