September has been a busy month for me, both personally and professionally. At the start of the month I celebrated a significant birthday (one with a four at the beginning and a 0 at the end) and near the end of the month by baby, the youngest Murphlet, turned 8. Wow – where did the time go?
In my writing life, my latest books, Assembly: Poems to Perform and Frogs: Awesome Amphibians – both published by Ready Ed Publications – continue to sell well – both being among the best sellers on the Ready Ed website.
The proofs for my next book, The Big Blowie, to be published by Aussie Schoolbooks, arrived. The cover is bright and eye catching and I love the internal illustrations (by the talented Craig Longmuir). This is due out sometime next month – watch this space!
Work on my other forthcoming titles continues. My verse novel, Pearl Verses the World to be published by Walker Books Australia is currently being illustrated. This is my first foray into the verse novel format and I am really excited about its progress.
I have signed a contract with Koala Books for a picture book, Constantine and Aristotle, about a hog who takes his role as head hog a little too seriously. This is also currently being illustrated by the wonderful Ben Wood. I am in love with the early sketches he has done and can’t wait to see the finished product.
2009 looks to be a busy year for me with a couple of other projects in the offing. More details will be forthcoming once contract are signed.
In the meantime, I continue to work on some new writing projects. I finished the first draft of a new picture book this week and am waiting to hear my critique group’s comments. I’ve also got another verse novel underway and also have several manuscripts waiting for some rewrites.
Aussiereviews continues to be popular with readers, teachers, writers, and publishers. My stat counter tells me the site averaged 460 visitors last week, with over 780 page views. I added twenty new reviews during September, and will be adding more in October.
And my blogs. This blog has had a change of name and a change of focus. With guest articles on all aspects of writing of children, as well as interviews with children’s authors and other news and views, I am hoping it will prove to be a useful resource for children’s authors of all levels of experience.
Pemberthy Bear has been working on his blog, too, sharing his thoughts and life lessons in his uniquely Pemberthy way. My frog blog, Awesome Amphibians, has been a little slow, but at last I’ve updated it with a new entry, and intend to do so more regularly now.
So, that was my September. Hope yours was productive, too.