Purring joyfully at this delightful picture of a delightful young reader, Evie, in her Bookweek costume. No prizes for guessing who she is – my Narelle!
Thanks Evie for celebrating my book-baby in this way – and to her family for sharing the photo with me.
It’s September. The start of Spring here in Australia – although the more accurate season where I live is Djilba, one of the six Noongar seasons. If you read about it here, you will learn that Djilba (second spring) is marked by the appearance of yellow and cream flowers – and I have seen those on a daily basis, the yellows of the wattles being especially lovely.
September also marks, in my world, the end of what is always the busiest month in a children’s author’s year, because Children’s Bookweek ® is always in August, and many events happen not just during that week but in the weeks around it.
I was lucky enough to visit Rockingham and Bunbury libraries and schools during Bookweek – and managed to not get a single photo of myself presenting, which is a shame, so you’ll just have to imagine me at the front of the room, with my crown, sharing Queen Narelle, and, more importantly, a love of reading and writing, with classes from local schools. We had fun trying to decide what cats think, and then, also, what dogs might think, or swans, or even quokkas. I suspect there might be a few animal-themed stories being written in those classrooms 🙂
One really special moment was when the Bunbury library took me to visit Djidi Djidi Aboriginal School where not only was I made to feel very welcome, but was also reminded and thanked profusely for a small contribution I made. Several years ago, the school’s library burnt down and I used Facebook to ask fellow creators to donate books to ensure the students still had plenty of reading materials. And, as I hoped, the books came and were enjoyed. On this visit I was taken on a tour of the incredible new library built since then. So thoughtfully planned for the needs of the whole school community – but I must confess that my favourite feature was a child-sized door into the junior part of the library, which I just had to try for size.
Thanks Djidi Djidi school for making me feel so welcome.
I was also lucky enough to speak at the Make Your Own Story Book award ceremony where I also helped present prizes to very talented young creators from across the state who had written and illustrated some top quality books of their own. After the ceremony they stayed for a Masterclass with moi, which was more fun than this photo of me looking VERY stern would suggest.:
Also in Bookweek ® I visited Maidens Park Primary School as a Rolemodel for the Books in Home charity, a wonderful program where children in participating schools each get a pack of books, which they have selected, to take home and keep. I was there with staff from Mainfreight, who are sponsoring the school’s participation, and we were treated to a circus themed assembly, the school’s Bookweek dress up parade, and a really warm welcome. I love being part of this program, and was especially happy that is now being rolled out close to home.
And, lastly, my final Bookweek ® event (last, but not east) was at Paperbird Books in Fremantle, where Dianne Wolfer and myself joined the after school bookclub to discuss our books. So much fun spending an hour with keen young readers, and a lovely way to finish Bookweek ®
Like lots of authors and illustrators, I always get to the end of August pretty tired – but it is possible, I know from experience, to feel simultaneously exhausted and elated. The absolutely best part of being an author is getting to spend time with young people, talking about books and writing and, hopefully, inspiring them to read and write even more. And, with requests for next year’s Bookweek ® already arriving, I can’t wait!
I am feeling very grateful that I get to do what I do, and especially grateful for the librarians, teachers, bookshops and others who arrange these visits – they have a far harder job than mine. And, even more especially grateful to the Children’s Book Council of Australia, who ‘invented’ Children’s Bookweek ® and keep making it happen, and to the WA Branch who make it happen locally. Thank you for all you do.
And, lastly, thanks to every young reader who reads, not just one of my books (though that of course makes me happy) but ANY book, and, by doing so, makes the world a better place.
I have been waiting and waiting for this announcement to be made, and am so glad that Fremantle Press have finally made it official: Right Way Down is being published in 2024.
I have been lucky enough to be working on this book as co-editor with the amazing Rebecca M. Newman, poet extraordinaire and publisher of Alphabet Soup Books. Rebecca sourced funding to get this project off the ground and we have spent many pleasant hours selecting and ordering and editing the anthology. Briony Stewart has spent many more hours devising delightful illustrations, And then Fremantle Press suggested that they might like to come on board and help us get this offering o the world.
Look at the amazing cover! It is just amazing, and hopefully will lead lots of young readers to pen the book and read poems by some very talented West Australian poets, including Rebecca, A.J. Betts, Cristy Burne, Cheryl Kickett-Tucker, Cass Lynch, Amber Moffat, Meg McKinlay, Sally Morgan, James Foley, Dianne Wolfer and me, among others.
Can’t wait to read it? Neither can I – but we do have to wait until March 2024, when it will be released for your reading pleasure. I have until then to contemplate whether there is any chance of me doing a handstand (hint: the title poem might require a handstand) at the launch.
To see the full Press release click here.
What a wonderfully busy month it has been, celebrating the release of Queen Narelle. Thank you so much to all who have taken the time to tell me – in person or via messages – that they have read and loved my little book.
It feels a little like I have been on a royal tour, with events for Narelle, and other bookish and speaking wonders, keeping me on the go. And, while I have been sharing these via my Instagram and Facebook posts, I thought I might pause for a moment and share here what I have been up to.
Firstly, on the day of its release, I was down in Albany, where I presented two masterclasses as part of The Literature Centre‘s Talented Young Writer’s Program. It was cold and wet outside – but inside it was warm and cosy – and my heart was filled with delight at the willingness of these teens to write poetry with me.
In the evening I teamed up with the amazing Dianne Wolfer, friend and author extraordinaire, for a double book launch.
What were the chances that we would be in the same town on the same day that we BOTH had a new book released? And that one book (mine, of course) was about cats, and the other ( Scout and the Rescue Dogs) about dogs? So we had to have a party in the form of a launch. There was plenty of fun, book signings and, of course, cake.
The next week I was lucky enough to be invited to visit Fairview Primary School in my childhood home town of Collie. It is always lovely to visit Collie, but I had no idea how delightful my visit would be, with all the staff and students really welcoming and the year five/sixes, having read Worse Things, filled with awesome questions and even breaking into song when I mentioned Jolene, one of the characters (I bet you can guess what the song was!). That’s never happened before and was a highlight. And I can’t wait to go back next term and do some writing with those classes.
Then off to Fremantle to the Literature Centre for a Behind the Walls event. This was really special – because I got to share the stage with one of my literary heroes, Steven Herrick. We chatted all things verse novel, under the expert mc-ing of Anna Hardy, who managed to wrangle us well. Steven is one of the stars of the verse novel form, and his work certainly inspired me to get started as a verse novelist, so this was a real bucket list experience for me.
Lastly, but no means least, last weekend I was part of an incredibly inspiring day at my old school, Iona Presentation College. I was a keynote for the Empower Me, Inspire Her symposium and was really humbled to be sharing the stage with amazing speakers including Paralympian Priya Cooper OAM and Catherine Kolomyjec, founder of The Kindness Challenge and someone who I felt an instant bond with., which you can almost feel in this photo. 
My own speech at this event was really well received which was lovely – because the focus was all about what I have learnt about myself in the past year and how, while the stories we read can be super empowering, often the stories we tell ourselves ( in our heads) can be less helpful. The feedback I’ve had is that I touched a chords with a lot of the audience – which is wonderful – because my goal in sharing was exactly that.
That’s it for June events – but tomorrow is July and, I am pleased to say, I have TWO school holiday events/book launches coming up.
If you are in or near Bunbury, you can come along to the Bunbury library on June 6th for a launch with story time and craft. You might even spot me dressed in my royal gown and tiara 🙂 This is a free event, and you can register here
And, if you are in Perth, you can come along to the Dianella library on July 12 for another free event, where the book will be launched by Jan Nicholls and again there will be craft and story fun. Registrations are at this link
I look forward to seeing you there , but, if you are further afield, I’ll share some of the fun here and on Instagram.
Move over Cat in the Hat!
Move over Cheshire Cat!
Move over Macavity Cat!
There’s a new cat in town – and she’s not just any cat – she is a queen.
The Queen.
And today her story is finally available in print so that her loyal subjects can learn of her great deeds.
Come worship! Pay your respects!
Okay, maybe that’s a little over the top, but I am very excited because, at last, the release day is here, and Queen Narelle is in stores all over Australia and New Zealand.
The story of a cat (Narelle) who may think she is the queen of the household and act accordingly, but also has a wise and gentle heart. When her human, Maddie, has a tough time at school, it is Narelle who notices, watches and comforts.
A verse novel (because that’s my favourite form), with beautiful illustrations courtesy of Simon O’Carrigan, Queen Narelle is suitable for cat-lovers of all ages, and for young readers who have ever had a friend, fought with a friend, or needed a friend.
Available now wherever good books are sold (if you can’t spot it, ask your bookseller to get it in) or online and as an ebook too. If you read it, I’d love to hear your thoughts – here on my website or on Instagram or Facebook.
Now, on with the coronation. Sound the drums, blow those horns and let the procession begin.
People of Australia, people of the world, I give you….
Seven more sleeps! Only seven more sleeps! That’s if I CAN sleep! Because I am super super super dooper excited that in just one week Queen Narelle is released into the world!
This little cat has been in my head and heart for a very long time so it is wonderful to see her story – and her human Maddie’s story – finally ready to get into your head and heart too. And your hands!
This time next week I will be happy dancing like crazy – although, if I’m honest, the dancing has already begun here. I’m also dancing on Instagram where I have been creating a court for my queen with some fairly average photo editing. There’s Baron von Dash:
View this post on Instagram
Princess Tabby:
View this post on Instagram
and more. If you want to meet them all, you can follow me on Instagram.
I’ve also been delighted to see the first two reviews for Queen Narelle. Brenton Cullen, at Bookseller & Publisher says Queen Narelle is
an affectionately rich and heartwarming story, perfect for readers aged 7–11.
and Sam at Lamont Books says it is:
A beautiful story of family support, love, friendship issues and overcoming them, and the joy and love that pets bring to our lives, perfect for middle to upper primary readers.
Lamont have also named Queen Narelle their Primary Fiction Book of the Month.
With one week to go, you can order the book from Lamont online here or pop into your local bookstore and preorder.
In the meantime, thanks for dropping in, and have a wonderful week!