sallymurphy.com.au

Sally Murphy, Australian author

Poetry Friday: Ducks

by

Among the other wildlife that abounds in my suburb, there are many many ducks. I love seeing them on my walks, and out my front window,  though I’m less keen on seeing them when I’m driving. I have to admit it puzzles me that they insist on walking on roads, when they could fly! Fortunately, most drivers slow down and give them to cross.

Anyway, because it’s Poetry Friday, and because I’ve been thinking a lot about these ducks, here’s a favourite duck poem, from Ogden Nash, and a favourite duck photo that I took a while ago.

The Duck

by Ogden Nash

Behold the duck.
It does not cluck.
A cluck it lacks.
It quacks.
It is specially fond
Of a puddle or pond.
When it dines or sups,
It bottoms ups.

Duck

What I love about this poem is that, like so much of Nash’s verse, it makes me smile. The humour in the choice of rhyme, and the duck-like flow of the short sharp lines never fails to bring a grin.

Poetry Friday today is hosted at The Logonauts.   There you will find links to lots of other poetry goodness.poetry-friday-logo

 

It’s Okay to Cry

by

When my daughter in law told me that Fly-In Fly-Out Dad made a six year old student cry, I have to admit I was surprised. It’s not that I’m not used to hearing that my books make people cry – after all, with dying grandmothers, kids with cancer, terrible accidents and war featuring in my books, I know they are prone to inducing tears in readers, just as they did in me.

But Fly-In Fly-Out Dad is a picture book. And it has a superhero! It’s bright and colourful and aimed at little kids. I don’t want to make them cry, do I?

And then, of course, I realised that of course it will make some people (children and adults) cry, for just the same reason as it made me cry writing it, and in the same way those other books make some people cry.

Fly-In Fly-Out DadThe good news Is, it won’t make everybody cry. It really won’t. But, if you are six years old, and your own father is a FIFO worker, and has just flown back to work, and then your teacher shares the book with you, you might cry because you empathise with Tiger, the boy in the book. You might cry because the book has given you permission to admit that it’s hard seeing Dad leave after a spell at home. You might cry because, like Tiger, you decided to be brave when Dad said goodbye, but now that he’s gone you want to admit that you wish he didn’t have to.

Some adults are scared by books that make kids cry. Personally, I think they’re wrong. If a book encourages a child to explore their emotions,provides opportunities to discuss them, andante the same time perhaps explains parts of the situation they may not understand (in this case, what Dad actually does when he’s away), then that’s a good thing.

Adults cry when reading books. And we go back for more. Why shouldn’t kids be able to do that too?

 

Poetry Friday: Books!

by

Sally MurphyIt’s been a big week for me – with the release of a new book, the anniversary (bookiversary) of the release of another, and the news that the latter book, Roses are Blue,  has also been short-listed in the Speech Pathology Book of the Year Awards.

As a result, when I wondered what I could post for Poetry Friday today I got thinking about poems about books. I think my favourite is from Emily Dickinson:

There is no frigate like a book
To take us lands away,
Nor any coursers like a page
Of prancing poetry.
This traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of toll;
How frugal is the chariot
That bears a human soul!

The metaphors of a book as a boat, a horse, a chariot taking the reader on great adventures are so apt. I also love that she points out that books offer an affordable and accessible experience, yet at the same time  that books are so important that the bear the human soul. Beautiful.

Another favourite is  Dylan Thomas‘ Notes on the Art of Poetry:

I could never have dreamt that there were such goings-on
in the world between the covers of books,
such sandstorms and ice blasts of words,,,
such staggering peace, such enormous laughter,
such and so many blinding bright lights,, ,
splashing all over the pages
in a million bits and pieces
all of which were words, words, words,
and each of which were alive forever
in its own delight and glory and oddity and light.

Wow! What magical use of words, words, words to remind us how immense can be the impact of a good book.

Books are my life. Many of my earliest memories are connected with sharing books with my mum, and now I make my living from writing and reading. How lucky am I!

Poetry Friday this week is hosted at Mainley Write. Head over there to see a round up of lots of poetry posts around the blogosphere.

Have a great Friday.

Good News Week!

by

Yesterday I celebrated the release of Fly-In Fly -Out Dad. Today, as I was getting ready to head out for a newspaper interview, I got word that Roses are Blue (which, coincidentally, was released one year ago yesterday, making my two books bookday buddies) has been shortlisted for the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards, in the  8-10 year old category.  Huzzah!

I am a huge fan of this award (not just because I won it in 2011 for Pearl Verses the World) because it  “aims to promote children’s books as literacy tools, as well as raising awareness of the role of speech pathologists play in helping children develop language and literacy skills. The awards:

  • promote quality Australian children’s literature;
  • enhance awareness of the role speech pathologists play in language and literacy development; and
  • encourage a love of reading.” (from the Award website)

The full shortlist for this year’s award is online here.

It’s a great week!

 

It’s a Bookday!

by

Fly-In Fly-Out DadHappy Bookday to you

Happy Bookday to-ooo you!

Happy Bookday, Fly-in Fly-out Daaaad

Happy Bookday to you!

Yep, you guessed it, today is release day for my new picture book  Fly-In Fly-Out Dad, published by Five Mile Press. With illustrations by the amazing Janine Dawson, Fly-In Fly-Out Dad tells the story of one family dealing with the fly-in fly-out (FIFO) lifestyle.

For families who have a parent working away, I hope Fly-In Fly-Out Dad will provide a means of discussing what happens when Dad (or Mum) is away, as well as an opportunity to discuss the emotional impact. My character misses his dad, and hopes he won’t keep leaving, but his parents demonstrate that these mixed emotions are okay.

For children who don’t have a FIFO parent, Fly-In Fly-Out Dad is an interesting story, offering a perspective of just one way that families can differ.

Fly-In Fly-Out Dad is available now from good brick and mortar bookstores, and online from stores including Booktopia and Boomerang Books.

Reviews Flying In

by

With two days to go until the official release of Fly-In Fly-Out Dad, the reviews are starting to arrive. Unlike waiting for Dad to get home, waiting for reviews can be pretty nerve-wracking, so I’m really pleased to say that so far, it seems that reviewers like the book. Better still, they are understanding the intent of the book.

Dimity Powell at the Boomerang Books blog says Fly-In Fly-Out Dad: “is relevant and light-hearted yet intrinsically sensitive to the FIFO dynamic.” She has written a very thorough analysis of the book, which you can read here.
Another wonderful review is from the team at Collins Chirmside, who describe the book as: “A must have for any family where mum or dad have to stay away from home for their work.” You can see their review here.

It was also wonderful to see   on a list of 15 books which celebrate the diversity of family life at Readings on the weekend.

As an author, you can’t write for reviewers (just as, as a reviewer, you shouldn’t be writing for the authors), but it always wonderful to know that a reviewer appreciates what you were trying to do.

 

sallymurphy.com.au