25th August Reading Hour, Teacher Librarians – Embrace National Year of Reading

Loved talking to the teacher-librarians at Maroubra Junction Public School in the eastern Suburbs of Sydney.

 The Reading Hour is on the 25th August – mums and dads, teachers and kids, grocers and butchers, life savers and dog trainers …. EVERYONE … are going to pick up a book and read for the National Year of Reading 2012.

Pick up a book and read – in a group, under a tree, with friends …. it’s cool and colossal.

www.love2read.org

Kate Colley shared her favourite new books – you can always count on Bloomin’ Books.

I shared ‘Ships in the Field’ and the complex issues within Anna Pigantaro’s painting:-

- the dog of war and the dog of hope

- the fighter planes becoming birds of hope

- refugees who are transparent and become so small as they board the ships

- and …..

-with some of my favourite people – teacher-librarians.

Speech Pathology Australia’s Book of the Year Awards 2012 – Shortlist

Ships in the Field joins some of my favourite talented authors in one of my favourite awards – short-list for Speech Pathology Australia’s Book of the Year.

Jackie French

Morris Gleitzman

Catriona Hoy

Belinda Murrell

Pamela Freeman and fabulous authors.

It’s special to think our books help young people and adults. 

Davide Cali’s ’10 Little Insects’ Bug Creators

Loved sharing lunch with some of my very favourite illustrators and Davide Cali in Sydney’s beautiful botanical gardens over looking the harbour. Bliss.

David Cali is an original thinker and creator. His ’10 Little Insects’ is an illustrated/manga book which is crazy, real and inspired by Woody Allen and Monty Python.

Published by Wilkins farago dedicated to translating the best of the world’s Kids’ books – books that reach everyone who wants to enquire, laugh at themselves and the world, then come out with a bit more thinking.

www.wilkinsfarago.com.au

It was wonderful to catch up with the brilliant Donna Rawlins, Wayne Harris, Julie Vivas and Ursula Dubosarsky organised by reviewer, children’s critic, Western Sydney Literature officer Judith Ridge.

PS Ursula is just back from New York where she saw the adaptation of her picture book ”The Terrible Plop’ performed on Broadway.

Eoin Colfer’s last Artemis Fowl

I asked Eoin Colfer – why is this his last Artemis Fowl? 

I don’t want Artemis to go. It’s been an amazing series of technological fairies, fast paced adventures and mayhem taking us from Artemis Fowl the villan to Artemis Fowl the hero.

‘You’ve answered your own quesion,’ Eoin smiles.  Artemis has finished his rollicking wild journey and he’s a good guy now.

However there’s still a lot more Artemis Fowl to come as Eoin’s just completing his 3rd Artemis Fowl manga book.

Eoin and I meet 8 years ago when he was talking about Artemis Fowl no. 2 at The Hughenden for the Children’s Book Council and I was talking about my YA novel ‘The Cave’.  Really different books – but we shared similar reasons to write and had a bit of a shared congratulations moment.

Eoin reaches boys with great story and reading. He creates a new world with cutting edge technology and eco justice..

I hope I reach young adult guys with great story and reading. I create a real world with guys fighting that cave and each other, as they search for who they are.

Loved talking to Eoin, looking out over Sydney harbour sipping cappuccino.

Boys and even some girls will LOVE Eoin’s last Artemis Fowl. 

Taree Library Hosts National Year of Reading & supports The Cancer Council’s Biggest Morning Tea

Had two fantastic days hosted by the Taree Library.

They combined my visit as an ambassador for the National Year of Reading with The Cancer Council’s Biggest Morning Tea.

Check out the website: www.love2read.org

I shared ‘Always Jack’ which carries the Cancer Council’s yellow daffodil with enthusiastic readers at Harrington and Halliday’s Point Libraries.

Spoke about Room to read bringing literacy to the children of the developing world. www.roomtoread.org

Thankyou to my fabulous Taree Library host Tanya McLean.

Great to catch up with Di Emms the librarian at Halliday’s Point Library.  She hosted me a decade ago at the library at Foster-Tuncurry

The North Coast is so beautiful.