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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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Sun Shadow Judging in Bendigo
Great to see you Kangaroo Flat PS The Children's Book Council of Australia Sun Shadow Judging project was an honour to be involved with. I loved our conversations about my creative process, the journey of Jetty Jumping, the reasons behind the language I chose, and...
Highly Commended for Newcastle Short Story Writing Award
When a short story finds a home, and an award ... Thrilled to share that my short story GOOD SHOES has received a Highly Commended award in the Newcastle Short Story Award Hunter Writers Centre GOOD SHOES is a bittersweet story about coastal homelessness, female...
Actress Angourie Rice reads Jetty Jumping with Story Box Library
Story Box library shares Jetty Jumping Goodness! Well, that's rather special! Such an adorable story sharing by Australian actress Angourie Rice for Story Box Library It is a thrill to hear what this story means to Angourie and see her share the joy of Jetty...
Police Point Writer in Resident
I just pressed full stop on two weeks of writing in solitude "The only thing one can give an artist is leisure in which to work. To give an artist leisure is actually to take part in their creation.” - Ezra Pound Being awarded a two-week Mornington Peninsula Arts...
Jetty Jumping makes it to the Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge
Let's get reading Victorian school kids It's rather cool to find your picture book in classrooms and libraries across the land, as part of the Victorian Premiers' Reading Challenge. The program improves literacy skills, encouraging children to explore new worlds,...
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...