Stephenie Meyer's Twilight...

What a fantastic present Kinokuniya Bookstore gave me for speaking about Tory and my book ‘That’s Why I Wrote This Song’ at their bookshop in Sydney. Fabulous bookshop by the way!! I wanted to get Stephenie Meyer’s ‘Twilight’ as everyone’s raving about it. Started reading it and love it – romance, danger, good and evil and yes … romance. ‘I’d never given much thought to how I would Die – ….’ that’s Twilights’ great beginning. ‘Billy, Billy, Billy,’ throbs through...

Writers Centre, Blake Prize and The Hugh...

Just had a board meeting at the NSW Writers Centre in its lovely heritage building at Rozelle in Sydney. I love being on the board because it has so many fantastic projects and I’m part of it: The Blake Prize – The Centre has worked towards The Blake Poetry Prize with the winner being announced 4th September, the party at the National Art School Darlinghurst, then a celebratory dinner at The Hughenden The Youth workshops in October run by Australia’s leading authors like Jeni Mawter, Greg Bastian,. Chris Cheng, Kate Forsyth ….. others …. and...

Lateral Learning Get together with Kate ...

Zanibar at Newtown had authors and illustrators descend to party with wine, chicken wings and lots of talk. Post Book Week Stories as we partied at the Lateral Learning Speakers’ Agency event. Richard Tulloch is film making and back from touring international schools in Europe, Stephen Measday is chaotic with writing scripts for Hi-5, best selling fantasy author Kate Forsyth was flying out to Canberra that night to do a 2-day school tour,Gus Gordon is so flat out with picture books from Penguin he’s got no time to scratch himself, Moya Simons’ Walk Right...

I Am Jack Touring Regional NSW and the D...

JACK’s everywhere from Cobar to Narromine to outback with the briliant MONKEYBAA Theatre. I’ll by flying up in a tiny plane over desert to land in Lightening Ridge, the opal diggings where people live underground to stave off the intense summer heat and the freezing cold of desert nights. That’s...

I Am Jack Season at Riverside Theature...

I can’t believe that the week at Riverside Theatre is over. What an experience. Totally in awe of: Tim McGarry who played 9 characters in I AM JACK including JACK, Nanna, step dad Rob, Mum, Samantha, his 2 mates, Anna, Mr Angelou his teacher The Director Sandie Eldridge – it’s such a hard play to direct because there are so many characters and the set design is simple but complex The Creative team – Eva Di Cesare, Sandy and Tim who adapted my book into a play Set designer, sound designers,stage manager LOVE THEM ALL. There was an author and actor...

Riverside Theatre, MonkeyBaa, I Am Jack ...

Fantastic and emotional – I saw the talented Tim McGarry perform I AM JACK today. Kids and parents were on the emotional rollercoaster of the play and so was I!!!!!! From: Adam Kronenberg – Artistic Director Outback Theatre for Young People I Am Jack – Finley Friday Aug 15th show Comment: In the finest tradition of the one person show Tim McGarry gave a stunningly good performance. It was like watching Billy Crystal for … kids: terrific range of characters, excellent direction, simple in terms of no need for pyrotechnics and yet so sophisticated...

Camden Libraries & I Am Jack...

Narellan and St Claire’s at Narellan Vale – great kids and teachers and librarians – all keen to hear about I AM JACK. Spoke to hundreds of kids and was hosted by the lovely librarian for Camden Libraries. Only drama was getting stuck on the Motorway for a hour due to crashes – no fatalities thank goodness – but nearly was late. No time for coffee. I AM JACK is being performed at Campbelltown Arts Centre on 19th and 20th September. It’s already nearly booked out! Some gorgeous fans were...

Blake Poetry Prize Launch to Sydney'...

Sydney at my feet on a moonlit night with views from The Mitchell Library – Botanical Garden to the Opera House and Harbour. Gorgeous ……. The apartment is laden with Auastralia’s most amazing artists – past Blake Prize winners, Margaret Olly, Norman lindsay, Carlos Barrios (I actually have a sensitive child and mother illustration by him), Donald Friend and many others, plus scultpures. I thought I was in an art gallery. There were so many art gillerati there in a celebration of Australia’s art and poetry. The Blake Poetry Award was...

Dr John D'arcy and radio interview ...

Dr John D’Arcy is such a nice guy. We had a great radio interview about bullying and I AM JACK. That book works against bullying by making readers feel what it’s like from being a bully, bullied, bystanders, teacher, parents, friend. It’s going to be played on Sunday to 45 regional radio stations. How cool is...

Maina Gielgud, Ballet, Night to Remember...

Maina Gielgud was beautiful, exquisite with dancer Paul De Masson at the gala event in the Royal Theatre Sydney. The NSW Governor Marie Basheer and lots of high profile theatre goers were there and there was champagne and flowers. Enmore Theatre was the major sponsor – they put on SNEAKY SOUND SYSTEM, WOMBATS, THE ROLLING STONE & this ballet. If it’s a show show, it doesn’t matter what style it is. Fantastic...