Governor of NSW ~Her Excellency Professo...

Wandering through the Reading Room exhibiting children’s illustrations  by wonderful artists such as Cathy Wilcox, Sarah Davis, Shaun Tan, Donna Rawlings, Nina Rycroft, the Children’s Book Council gathered in the warm candle-lit sun lounge of The Hughenden. Everyone was waiting for Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir, Governor of NSW and patron of the Children’s Book Council. Carol Keeble Pesident of the CBCA (NSW), Maurice Saxby a father of Australian children’s literature and Margaret Hamilton  former President of the Children’s Book...

Role Model for Books in Homes Reaching K...

Books in Homes takes books to indigenous and disadvantaged kids from outback Australia to inner city schools. As a role model for Books in Schools, I had fun speaking to the kids at Bridge Street School Camperdown. They loved their books! They’re also reading I Am Jack which is special.   I shared breakfast with the kids. The school makes sure all the kids are ready to jump into class. It’s a great school opening opportunities to kids that welcome the friendship and care that’s...

Writers at Festival Dinner -Recognising ...

Warm, welcoming, celebratory – a community sharing story and friendship. Following the Kids and Young Adult Literature Festival at the NSW Writers Centre, writers, publishers, those involved in Australian creativity poured around The Hughenden bar – so much noise that they drowned out the pianist on the baby grand. But who cared? It was fabulous. Good food, great wines, good company – it was a Chaucerian  feast of storytellers. It was a great time to thank John Dale Professor of Writing at UTS for his dedicated services to the NSW Writers Centre as the...

Publishers, Authors – Lisa Forrest...

The Children’s and Young Adult Literature Festival at the NSW Writers Centre is different to other festivals in that the writing community, sharing, friendship, support of the creativity of authors and creators is at the heart of the festival.   The NSW Writers Centre located in the heritage Gary Owen House in the Parklands of Callan Park grounds give a feel of a fair as writers gather, share conversation and food, applaud the launch of a book, craft and the life of publishing children’s and young adult literature. As the Chair of the Board of the NSW...

Celebration of Kids and Young Adult Lite...

This Festival supports PEN and PEN’s Empty Chair. This chair was empty, recognising a writer who is persecuted for their work. At the Festival, the empty chair was for LIU XIA and SUPPORTERS oF Nobel Prize winner LIU XIAOBO 2010.  Since the Nobel Committee announced its decision in October 2010, Liu’s wife, Liu Xia, a photographer and poet, has been held under de facto house arrest by Chinese authorities. Lisa Forrest the multi talented inspirational children’s author, media personality, actor, Olympian and Commonwealth gold medallist and a Mum, was a fantastic...

Trinity Grammar Kew, I Am Jack and No to...

Melbourne landing – I escaped the volcanic ash and landed at the wet and windy  airport.     Trinity Grammar Kew in Melbourne welcomed me – the boys were totally engaged in ‘I Am Jack’and by the end of the session, some leaders emerge who will act against school bullying. There were great boys at  Trinity. Met Hazel Edwards and Adele Walsh from Black Dog and the State Library of Victoria – to share writing news. Hazel represents the Australian Society of Authors; I represent the NSW Writer’s Centre and SCBWI. Volcanic ash...

Monkey Baa’s production of Duncan ...

Flowers, flowers, flowers – my home is a garden – thankyou for all the flowers everyone for my Order of Australia. Special thankyou to Monkey Baa Theatre for the roses. As a patron of Monkey Baa Theatre, I’d love you to enjoy the warm and funny production of Duncan Ball’s Emily Eyefinger starts at the Seymour, Sydney – starts mid July 2011. Bookings:admin@monkeybaa.com.au ph; 02 9351 7938 ‘I Am Jack’ will be performed at the Seymour October 26th – November 4th...

The Cancer Council’s Pink Ribbon D...

Yesterday I was part of the Cancer Council’s photo shoot for their Pink Ribbon Day – with kids, babies, young women, old women, guys – it was great fun and something close to my heart as a multiple breast cancer survivor and author of  ’Always Jack’ that carries the Cancer Council’s logo – the yellow daffodil. SUPPORT the Cancer Council’s Pink Ribbon Day in October. http://www.pinkribbonday.com.au   Beautiful congratulations are coming from all over Australia & the world. Thankyou to HarperCollins Australia...

Thankyou Australia for OAM – Order...

The Queen’s Honours list – I am overwhelmed and teary by this honour from my country. Order of Australia I’ve set up a special file for the beautiful congratulations, emails, phone calls, letters … Thankyou to my friends across Australia and the world. Special thankyou to Society of Children’s Book Illustrators and Writers SCBWI - states across USA, Hong Kong, Scotland, Singapore … to India – for your messages. Thankyou to Room to Read, the NSW Writers Centre, the Children’s Writers * Illustrators Network at The Hughenden,...

Tom Zubrycki’s documentary The Hun...

Thankyou Tom Zubrycki for getting me a ticket to the opening of ‘The Hungry Tide’ for the Sydney Film Festival. It was BOOKED OUT very quickly and deservedly so! Lines of people wound outside the Sydney cinema complex down George Street last night, despite pouring rain. Cinema doors open, crowds seated and Tom Zubrycki spoke about his important 3 year journey making ‘The Hungry Tide’ – a documentary following the life of Maria Tiimon from Kiribati and her advocacy for her Pacific Island nation against the hungry tide – the rising seas of...