sallymurphy.com.au

Sally Murphy, Australian author

What an Honour!

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It’s Bookweek, and that means today was announcement day for the Children’s Book Council of Australian Children’s Book of the Year Awards.  And…..

(pausing here for dramatic effect)

Worse Things was named an Honour Book!!!!

I am excited and chuffed and happy and, well, honoured.

There may have been a few happy teams today. Worse Things, like all my books, means a lot to me. And this was one was a bit of a hard sell when it came to getting it over the line for publication. But Walker Books took a chance, Sarah Davis made it look a-maaaaaaaa-zing, and, it seems readers are loving it.

I may or not be heading out to have a glass of champagne this evening with fellow West Australian book people, including fellow West Australian winners. at the CBCA Western Australian branch Bookweek dinner.

Dreams come true. Have a wonderful Book Week. Stay safe. Keep reading. And thank you because, if you are reading this, you are part of my writing journey!

PS. I should, of course, have mentioned the other winners. So many talented creators and amazing books in the winners list as well as on the shortlist and notable list.  Head to the CBCA website for all the details – and get reading!

Throw Back Thursday: A Booklaunch

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Last week when I visited Penrhos College I was surprised – and delighted – how popular my picture book Pemberthy Bear was with the students. It’s been ten years since it was released, so it’s wonderful that it is still being read and loved.

For Throwback Thursday I thought I’d dig out a photo from the launch of Pemberthy Bear, at the CBCA National Conference in Sydney in 2006.

Pemberthy Launch Small

I’d forgotten how long my hair was back then! That’s me on your left, Peter and Sophia Whitfield, the owners of New Frontier Publishing in the centre, and the fabulous illustrator Jacqui Grantford on the right. And, of course, a fabulous Pemberthy cake in the front. Yum.

Have a great Thursday.

Poetry Friday: Roses Are Blue

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It’s Poetry Friday, which is always good news, but this week I have some additional good news to share, because my verse novel Roses are Blue was named a Notable Book by the Children’s Book Council of Australia book of the year judges. Hooray!

Roses are Blue

To celebrate the notable listing  and Poetry Friday, in the one go, I thought I would share a short extract from the book. It is a little moment where my character, Amber, who is having a really hard time, finds solace in doing something she loves.

Have a wonderful Poetry Friday. I know I will. For the rest of the fun, head over to Life on the Deckle Edge where Robyn is hosting the round up.

 

What is a verse novel?

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I write verse novels (among other things) and one of the questions I get asked a lot is what is a verse novel? Sometimes, trying to explain gets complicated.

Fortunately for me, sometimes other people say things much better than I do. In this instance, the delightful Paula Green explains the form well over on the Poetry Box blog. She also has some lovely things to say about two of my verse novels. You can see her post here.

(After you’ve read it, you might want to add the blog to your favourites because a blog all about children’s poetry isRoses are Blue well worth following).

Then, pop over to The Reading for Australia blog, where I talk about my verse novels, and what it is that compels to me write sad stories. You can see that post here.

If you happen to be heading to the CBCA Conference in Canberra this weekend, you are warmly invited to come along to the launch of my third verse novel, Roses are Blue, to be launched during the conference on Sunday. I’ll be the nervous, smiley looking one up the front, so do say hello.

 

 

CBCA Awards

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The Shortlist for the CBCA Children’s Book of the Year Awards was announced today. You can see the list at the new look CBCA Website, or you can read it here:

THE 2008 SHORT LIST
Book of the Year: Older Readers
(NB: These books are for mature readers)
French, Jackie Pharaoh: the boy who conquered the Nile Angus & Robertson,
HarperCollins Australia
Hartnett, Sonya The Ghost’s Child Viking, Penguin Group Australia
Heffernan, John Marty’s Shadow Omnibus / Scholastic Australia
McDonald, Meme Love like Water Allen & Unwin
Metzenthen, David Black Water Penguin Books
Norrington, Leonie Leaving Barrumbi Omnibus / Scholastic Australia

Book of the Year: Younger Readers
Clark, Sherryl Illus: Christian, Elissa Sixth Grade Style Queen (not!) Puffin, Penguin Group Australia
French, Jackie Illus: Whatley, Bruce The Shaggy Gully Times Angus & Robertson,HarperCollins Australia
Hirsch, Odo Amelia Dee and the Peacock Lamp Allen & Unwin
Metzenthen, David Illus: Axelsen, Stephen Winning the World Cup Puffin, Penguin Group Australia
Rodda, Emily The Key to Rondo Omnibus / Scholastic Australia
Wilkinson, Carole Dragon Moon Black Dog Books

Book of the Year: Early Childhood
Allen, Pamela Shhh! Little Mouse Viking, Penguin Group Australia
Blabey, Aaron Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley Viking, Penguin Group Australia
Dumbleton, Mike Illus: Smith, Craig Cat Working Title Press
Graham, Bob The Trouble with Dogs! Walker Books
Hurst, Elise The Night Garden ABC Books
Wild Margaret Illus: James, Ann Lucy Goosey Little Hare Books

Picture Book of the Year
Some of these picture books may be for mature readers. (Arranged by illustrator)
Spudvilas, Anne Text: Cunxin, Li The Peasant Prince Viking, Penguin Group Australia
Greder, Armin The Island Allen & Unwin
Ingpen, Robert Text: Lofthouse Liz Ziba came on a Boat Viking, Penguin Group Australia
Huxley, Dee Text: Norrington, Leonie You and Me: Our Place Working Title Press
Ottley, Matt Requiem for a Beast Lothian, Hachette Livre Australia
Thompson, Colin and 13 other illustrators Dust ABC Books

Eve Pownall Award for Information Books
Cermak, Michael Australia’s Deadly and Dangerous Animals Steve Parish Publishing
Cooke, Kaz Girl Stuff: Your Full-on guide to the Teen Years Viking, Penguin Group Australia
Macinnis, Peter Kokoda Track: 101 Days Black Dog Books
Norman, Mark The Antarctica Book: Living in the Freezer Black Dog Books
Watts, Frances Illus: Legge, David Parsley Rabbit’s Book about Books ABC Books
Wilkinson Carole Illus: Jones, Dean Ned Kelly’s Jerilderie Letter Black Dog Books

Each year I look forward to the release of the Shortlist and to the list of Notable Books, and to the subsequent discussion of these titles which follows. I love hearing which books people loved and which ones they didn’t – and, of course, why. There are lots of books on the list this year which I have not read, so I can see I have some catching up to do.
In the meantime, congratulations to all the creators who have made the list for 2008. What a wonderful achievement.