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Grab a cuppa, have a read
I share tips and thoughts on writing books, and readings good ones too. You’ll find author updates and trumpet tooting stuff here too. Past news and blogs share copywriting, communications and campaigns worth learning from, community and how we connect, my travel love and random life reflections. It’s kind of like my soap box speeches and journal scribbles are catching up for a cuppa too!
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Writing life and helpful advice
How I make it work for me (and my community) "How do you do it all?' is a question I am often asked about my copywriting, author and community life. Well, I love being helpful and over the last year or so I have shared a few chats and insights into creating my...
More, more, more book store visits and signings
Celebrating 25, 000 print copies of Jetty Jumping with bookstore visits With the 25,000th print run of Jetty Jumping just dropping, I’ve been leaping into city book signings again lately. There’s fresh stock unboxed and good to go across Melbourne and outer...
Surprise visit to the Wakakirri winners
When an award-winning author meets awards-winning performers! Today I paid a surprise visit to the Wakakirri Storytelling award-winning performers whose sensational reimagining of Jetty Jumping Hannah Sommerville and I spied on YouTube. We thought they deserved...
Younger Sun bookshop story time
Bombs away for book store fun! Bombies, Pindrops, Bellywhacks and Pindrops with my little jetty jumpers with The Younger Sun Bookshop was BIG fun! I love seeing little hands get crafty, little heads get into books and little bodies move and wiggle. Lovely to see...
Wakakirri win for Jetty Jumping and the kids of Cooma North
Congratulations Cooma North Public School! Cooma North Public School just made the most incredible splash on the national stage, and into our hearts! These talented students have just won the Wakakirri National Story Award for their interpretation of JETTY...
On the airwaves
Airwave chats with up and coming radio hosts I loved my chat with Gaby and Reka on Primary Perspectives which airs on 94.1FM 3WBC. The girls asked me questions about the journey of Jetty Jumping and what Hannah Sommerville and I are collaborating on next. There...
Podcast chats
Talking books and writing on guest podcast chats The November dance card has been full with several podcast chats. I loved chatting about the secret to a good fish taco, and my writing process with Ken on Reading with a Chance of Tacos. I tackled the 'Why I write'...
New book news for 2024
Announcing my next picture book contract Sometimes a city’s sweetheart needs a story of her own. Thrilled to share that I’ve signed a new children’s picture book contract with MidnightSun Publishing to bring the reimagined story of Melbourne’s Skipping Girl to...
You’ve got (fan) mail!
Impeccable penmanship and adorable artwork Impeccable penmanship award goes to the students of St Thomas More's Catholic School Brighton-Le-Sands. (And they also get a Commendation for Tear Jerker Correpondance. These lovely letters in today’s post made me happy...
ABC story time for Jetty Jumping
Well, that's a pretty special story time Bellywhacks and bombies at bedtime with Emma Memma (Yellow Wiggle) reading Jetty Jumping on the ABC Kids Listen app.My children's picture book is now leaping into bedtime stories with Australian families. It debuted this...
Teen Zines back for 2023
Teen Zine workshops for teens and women back in 2023 TeenZines and PenZines are back for 2023! Thanks to Mornington Peninsula Shire for their Creative Economy Grant support. I'll be hosting Teen Zine Making workshops for young people & a rather special...
Jetty Jumping at the Frankfurt Book Fair
Guten Tag Frankfurt! Pardon me if I look a little teary and grinny all at once. It's a pretty swell pinch-me moment to see Jetty Jumping perch happily on the Australian Publishing Association's stand at the Frankfurt Book Fair Frankfurter Buchmesse. Thanks to our...
Cutting the ribbon on the new Bentleigh library’s Story Time
I think I live here now! The new Bentleigh Glen Eira City Council - Libraries is all sorts of story-loving stunning! What an honour to be asked to be the first author to launch story time in their new space. A wonderful way to welcome back families and celebrate...
Friends of Doveton Library short story award winners
Honoured to critique entries & present awards What a privilege to join young entrants tonight of the Friends of Doveton Library Casey Cardinia Libraries annual youth writing awards. I was moved and motivated by so many talented, insightful young writers in...
Back for Book 2 with Hannah Sommerville
We're back! Hannah Sommerville and I are thrilled to share that we are working on our 2nd book together with Hardie Grant. We are thrilled to be collaborating and can’t wait to share our next picture book, Sunday Skating which is due out in June 2023....
School holidays story time Antipodes Bookstore
Come story time with me Super excited to be in store at my lovely local bookstore Antipodes Bookshop as the winner of the Children's Book Council of Australia Picture Book of the year - Early Childhood. This event had been scheduled to initially launch Book Week...
Diving into Fishy Stories
Come join me for the Fish Creek Children's Festival of Stories Super excited to share that I’ll be appearing at my favourite festival for young readers and writers, the fabulous Fishy Stories next weekend. Jetty Jumping in Fish Creek is going to be a tonne of fun...
Jetty Jumping wins Picture Book of the year – Early Childhood
Thank you ... to the Children's Book Council of Australia for this honour - winning the Picture Book of the year - Early Childhood. Thank you so much for all the well wishes for the news that Jetty Jumping has been awarded the 2022 CBCA Picture Book of the Year...
Got you covered for Book Week costumes
On the countdown for Book Week and stuck for ideas? Let Milla and her Jetty Jumping mates help you out! All you'll need is: board shorts rashie vest towel zinc cream or suncream and for extra costume oomph: a toy seagull a fish and chip wrapper a cardboard...
My name in the clouds with all of my idols
An absolute honour for a kid who was raised a library reader ... It's a new chapter for Somerville Library! They have reopened their doors with a fresh new look, and I think I recognise one of those authors hanging out in their new decor. I’m a little bit chuffed...
Children’s Book Council of Australia Bravo’s
Cheers and celebrations during shortlist times As the countdown to the announcement for 2022 CBCA Book of the Year continues, the CBCA has been sharing a fabulously fun BRAVO campaign highlighting the work of all of the creators. Hannah Somerville and I have loved...