National Simultaneous Story Time at Civic Library

Today was National Simultaneous Story Time all over Australia! and this year's chosen book was one of my faves from 2010 - Feathers for Phoebe by Rod Clements. It's an utterly gorgeous book - slightly text-heavy but so entrancing and visually evocative, even three-year-olds sat mesmerised. Or maybe it was the fact that I wore a feather headdress and acted like a nutbag during the reading...

Riley and the Sleeping Dragon Drawings

There's one thing that turns me to marshmallow - kids and their propensity to be gorgeously artistic and right-brained. And what turns me to marshmallow melting in hot chocolate? Children's art inspired by my Riley books. One of my favouritist things in the world to do is read my books to kids. The other thing is to see them inspired to draw, to write, to ask questions...

Just take a look at this astonishing line-up of art by the kids of Grade 2 at Penguin Primary in northern Tasmania. Can you even believe how utterly gorgeous? What greater thrill for an author than to have her characters rendered in pencil and crayon by an extraordinarily talented group of kids?

And you should have seen the accompanying letters! Yes, there were tears.

Thank you, kids! I'm so glad you loved Riley and the Sleeping Dragon and I will absolutely treasure the beautiful drawings you sent me. I am also going to respond to all your letters very soon! And thank you to the wonderful Mrs Wright for organising to send these pictures and letters to me.

Author dreams are truly made of this.

Gungahlin Library Community Day

Oh my, you should see the gorgeous new Gungahlin Library here in Canberra - absolutely beautiful - and absolutely packed with Community Day celebrations (the new library is just part of an entire new setup, including a CIT college and community centre).

Presentation at the CPTLA Conference

I had such a wonderful time at the Catholic Primary Teacher Librarian Association conference at the Rydges Canberra yesterday. I'm a bit obsessed with literary conferences and only wish I could have split myself in two so I could both present and enjoy the other workshops on offer!

I presented a topic on self-publishing and was fascinated by the insights I learned from teacher librarians on this topic. These TLs have an incredible understanding of the book market and are so impassioned by it - something close to my own heart.

It was also great fun to peruse all the books at the Trade Display (like I need more children's books in my life) and a highlight of the afternoon (other than chatting with my own kids' lovely librarian) was finally meeting author Sally Rippin in person.

A huge thank you to the gorgeous Rachael Hind for inviting me along!

handmade living in Style magazine

So exciting to see excerpts of Handmade Living in sensational Style magazine, which covers rural and regional NSW. Huge thanks to Jacqui Greig, editor, for featuring our beautiful book!

Upcoming Events

CPTLA Conference
Thursday 19 May 2011
I will be speaking on self-publishing at the Catholic Primary Teacher Librarian Association Conference at Rydges Lakeside in Canberra.

Author Interviews Gungahlin Library Community DaySaturday 21 May 2011
12pm
Gungahlin Library, Canberra
I will be part of an author interview panel during celebrations for the new Gungahlin Library's Community Day.

National Simultaneous Storytime
Weds 25 May 2011
Civic Library, Canberra
10.30am
Come along and hear Feathers for Phoebe read as part of the National Simultaneous Storytime initiative. Little ones can also make some beautiful feather headdresses before the reading!

Author Talk
Thursday 16 June 2011
Civic Libary, Canberra
12.30pm
Bring along your lunch and have an informal chat about my books and being an author.

Book Launch - Riley and the Grumpy Wombat
Thursday 20 October 2011
Yarra Valley Grammar School
Victoria

Book Readings - Riley and the Grumpy Wombat
Friday 21 October 2011
TBA
Melbourne

Book Launch - Riley and the Grumpy Wombat
Saturday 22 October 2011
TBA
Melbourne