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Grab a cuppa, have a read
I share tips and thoughts on copywriting, communications and campaigns worth learning from, community and how we connect, and my book and travel love. From time to time I raise my head from the trenches of motherhood to write about that too.
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Shortlisted Book of the Year
A shiny new shortlist sticker ... Illustrator Hannah Sommerville and I have several things in common, but this one makes me smile - we've always been drawn to books displaying the shiny CBCA stickers. And now we have our own! Thanks to the CBCA for shortlisting...
Jetty Jumping makes the Notables
I invented a new word .... ‘Shoy’ is a term to describe the state of shock and joy a debut author feels when their book is announced as a 2022 Notable Early Childhood Book in the Children's Book Council of Australia Children’s Book of the Year Awards. Sure, I may...
Legacy writing tips and workshops
Stories we share, legacies we leave One of the most rewarding offerings of my consulting work is the Legacy and Milestone writing workshops I present through libraries, community centres, community associations and historical organisations. I help folks plan...
Children’s Book Council of Australia Night of the Notables is coming
CBCA Night of the Notables is coming .... On the 22/2/22 I'll be joining fellow Aussie authors and illustrators for the 2022 CBCA Book of the Year Awards Notables List. I can't wait to celebrate the incredible talent we have in this country and the stories...
New book contract!
Cake, cuppa, contract! And a little hint about my next book with Bright Light Publishing (an imprint of Hardie Grant Egmont) I can’t wait to roll this one out for readers! Stay tuned for more news soon. I loved writing this new book baby during lockdowns - it kept...
Taking it outside with Natured Kids
Sandy feet & saltwater grins for story time fun The best ever story time session was held this week under the shade of a jetty, with my feet in the sand as the weather teased us across Port Phillip Bay. Thanks, Natured Kids for letting me join your...
Novel writing time at Writers in Residency
2022 is the year to finish my novel Which is a good thing. Because I've been given two weeks of focussed, uninterrupted writing time! I'm thrilled to have been awarded the Mornington Peninsula Shire Mornington Peninsula Arts & Culture 2022/23 Artist in...
12 years in business gratitude
Surviving and thriving, adapting and engaging As 2020 and 2021 has slammed so many freelance consultants like me, I am reflective of the milestones and focus it takes in small business to survive. This month I'm celebrating 12 years of rolling up the shirt...
Front Beach, Back Beach: Shoreline Stories
Story sharing with young voices of the Peninsula I'm so thrilled to have received a Mornington Peninsula Shire Creative Community Grant to deliver Front Beach, Back Beach: Shoreline Stories in 2022. This will be an exciting youth focussed program supporting young...
Book fun with school online
Fast paced, fun and fabulous country Primary School online visit This month's Sacred Heart Primary School Yea virtual author visits for Grade Prep - 2's and 3-6’s was especially fun and fast-paced! This tiny school had big questions and the most thoughtful...
Old worlds, new worlds, other worlds explored for Book Week
Book Week brings us together, from a distance, online Children's Book Week for many children is a rite of passage - the selection of this year's ONE favourite book, the costume planning, the chance to talk about reading like it's an Olympics sport that you...
The secrets of a good story and author chats online
Book Chats are my jam Because I’m fascinated with the world of writers and the process of writing, I love to interview authors who are just as enamored with that world. I chat with authors visiting Antipodes Bookstore for Words After Dark ‘in conversation’...
Jumping into Book Week
A very virtual Children's Book Week In spite of Lockdown restrictions, many of this year's Book Week engagements will happen online and I've got my on-camera delivery down pat. You should see my virtual story time studio I've cobbled together as well, with a...
Lockdown Lament and my favourite things
Lockdown lament 3 Lockdown's ago I managed to squeeze in a book launch of my children's picture book Jetty Jumping. Alas most of the bookstore visits were re-scheduled or cancelled, though my local Mornington Peninsula bookstores Antipodes Bookshop, Farrells Books...
I spy Children’s Book Week
I spy CBCA Book Week 2021 CBCA Children's Book Week is the place to be and a state of mind when you love to read, write and breathe children's picture books! I have always firmly taken it by the hand as a picture book lover, mum costume maker and story-time...
What’s with the creaky joints?
What's with the creaky joints? I'm not always thrilled to be one of the 6.8 million Australians to have a musculoskeletal condition. But I have learnt to adjust my life like so many to accommodate the burdens of muscle, bone and joint health conditions. Otherwise...
Memory Lane brings the finest care in final days
A treasured new Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia initiative was launched this week during Palliative Care Week. Memory Lane is a new initiative of the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, transporting Victorians living in palliative care to...
Write, read, sign books, repeat
Write, read, sign books, repeat Well, hey there Summer, you sure did sizzle with oodles of author readings and signings. I'm now falling into Autumn with another reprint of Jetty Jumping hitting bookstores. Here's a glimpse of some of the fun we've had so...
On the couch chat
On the couch, having a chat I caught up with Janet McNeill of McNeill Real Estate recently to chat about what it means to live on the Mornington Peninsula and lift the hood on my career and writing journey. This was a lovely chance to reflect on how I help...
Wellness Pavilion milestone launch
An exciting milestone for mental health, resilience and support for Southern Peninsula youth and families It was my honour to help evolve the vision, strategic communications, copywriting, community consultation and engagement and media management for the Wellness...
I spy book shelfies
Sightings of my book in the wild There’s something awfully thrilling about being sent ‘shelfies’ of your book across the land. I'm having such fun playing Spotto with Jetty Jumping. It's quite the competitive sport! From the editor of Crinkling News (and...