National Year of Reading Celebrates: Love the kids of Ingleburn High School!

It’s a privilege to be an Ambassador for the National Year of Reading. 

I love being sent to speak at libraries around the country; speaking to kids.

Today it was Campbelltown Library with Ingleburn High School students.

They were wonderful and thoughtful. I appreciated their comments and engagement. Thankyou.

I shared anti bullying through ‘I Am Jack;, music through ‘That’s Why I Wrote This Song’ – they were all into music. 

I shared my family’s journey as refugees finding home in a new country through ‘Ships in the Field.’

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.

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.

‘Alien Shores’ launched by Julian Burnside QC

My friends piled into Readings Bookstore for the launch of ALIEN SHORES  - authors Jen McVeity, Hazel Edwards, Meredith Costain, Paul Collins, Rose Inserra, illustrator Marjory Gardner. Love them.

Julian Burnside QC gave a moving speech to launch ‘Alien Shores’ edited by Sharon Rundle and Meenakshi Bharat.  I felt overwhelmed by Julian’s description of a refugee who converted to Christianity and would have been stoned brutally if forced back to Iran.

Arnold Zable read a segment from his story in ‘Alien Shores’.

Sharon Rundle and I spoke on ABC Radio National with the insightful Michael Cathcart about ‘Alien Shores’.

Michael Cathcart also talked about my personal story in ‘Ships in the Field’ illustrated by Anna Pigantaro and how that related to ‘Alien Shores’.

Berkelouw’s Bookshops to the rescue of ALIEN SHORES edited Sharon Rundle & Meenakshi Bharat

Desperately on Sunday morning at 9 am, I rang Berkelouw’s Bookshop Paddington and IGOR answered.

‘Help’ – I have a book launch of ‘Alien Shores’ at The Hughenden Hotel this afternoon except there are NO books for sale.

Igor organised the Berkelouws’ bookshops to help me out. I drove from Mona Vale, to Balgowlah to Rose Bay to Newtown collecting ‘Alien Shores’ books on the way.

The Book launch was saved – and all the books sold out at the event too!

The Consul General for India, editor Meenakshi Bharat and Sharon Rundle, authors Linda Jaivlin, Rosie Scott, David Malouf, Andrew Kwong, Mabel Lee, writers, readers and people packed the Hughenden sun lounge for readings that moved us about those who are dislocated by war and poverty to seek new lives.

Roanna Gonzales writer was the MC for the event.

It was a fantastic launch with sweet treats baked by The Hughenden chef and plenty of talking and celebrations.

Great little reviews in Sydney’s Sun Herald and Melbourne’s The Age:-

‘This collection is overall strong and affecting.’