Lots of Fab Stuff

While I have been busy flitting around the place sugar plum fairying, some other fab stuff has been happening.

In no particular order:

1. The Firefighters has been shortlisted for Speech Pathology Australia's Book of the Year Award. You can view the shortlist here. As a former literacy teacher, this is sweet news indeed.
2. It has also been listed by Brisbane's Book Garden Bookstore as one of the top ten books for children for the holidays at ourbrisbane.com.
3. I received a great review for the Sugar Plum Fairy at Aussiereviews. The words "sheer delight" were kinda cool to read!
4. Australian Women Online magazine did a feature article on me. How exciting is that! You can read it here.
5. I received a lovely thank you letter and a whole pile of kid-made postcards from the kids at Rossmore Public School. I did a school visit there a few months ago and had a ball! What a great school, and what a wonderful surprise to receive in the post. Thanks, Mrs McGregor! Thanks kids!

Here are some snippets from the postcards:

"Thank you so much for coming to our school. We had a fun time when you were here. I've read 'Battle of the Rats'. It was gross but at the same time amazing. I think you are an amazing writer. I love 'Freaky'. I am reading it again ..." Tianna

"We really enjoyed the time you were here. I thought you were very funny." Taryn

"... I enjoyed making a book and hearing your stories ..." Andy

"... It was so funny I nearly died (which you wouldn't want me to do, I hope). Thank you very very much." Hunter

"... We learned many new writing skills and were inspired to write our own stories. One of my favourite parts was Cooking up Books because it was an easier way of remembering the writing process. It was fun and interesting. We are reading Battle of the Rats in Library and loving every minute of it." Lauren

Wow - doesn't get much better than that!

Now, on the down side, I have to admit to only adding 2 500 words to my current WIP during the last month. That will teach me for bragging about getting to 25 000!

Sugar Plum Fairying at The Children's Bookshop in Beecroft

It's kind of scary standing, book in hand, in front of a room full of under four year olds. Especially when you know that the story you are about to read is longer than your young audience is used to and the chances of holding their attention to the end are slim. So you remind yourself that, if things get too out of hand, you can aways resort to some speed reading or, if need be, bring the story to an abrupt conclusion.

But, oh, one shouldn't underestimate one's audience - no matter how young!

The kids at Storytime at The Children's Bookshop in Beecroft were awesome! They sat and watched and listened, with hardly a peep, as Sarah and I donned hats and wigs and crowns and twirled and "actioned" our way through our story. I'm not sure if they were just too terrified to move as they watched the two mad women at the front, or if they were actually enjoying the story. No matter, we made it to the end, without the need for any diversionary tactics. Yay.

Thanks so much to Paul for inviting us to The Children's Bookshop - what an amazing shop - and for Theresa for sharing her Storytime gig. (Pictured above on the left.)

Launch Pics

Well, the launch was a lot of fun! Lots of gorgeous sugar plum fairies flitting around the place. A fantastic display of candy making by the talented guys at Sticky. Heaps of clever crafty kids making sparkly wands and pictures. Stacks of enthusiastic participation in the storytelling. And gorgeous sweets to tempt everybody's tastebuds.

Thanks to all who came along - especially all my very supportive writing buddies.