sallymurphy.com.au

Sally Murphy, Australian author

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.

5 Cool Things About Poetry

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Okay – as a poet and verse novelist, this topic might seem a bit of a no-brainer, because if I didn’t love poetry I probably wouldn’t write it. But in my teaching day job I am just starting on a poetry unit with my two year eight classes, and believe me, these kids need a little convincing that poetry is cool. So, having devoted yesterday’s lessons to sharing some of my poetry with them and (hopefully) showing them that poems can be cool, I thought it might be a good topic for a blog. So, here goes, with my list of cool things about poetry.
  
    1.    It’s quick to read. Generally speaking, prose takes much longer to read than poetry. A poem can be as short as a few lines, yet still say a lot. And verse novels, whilst a little longer than single poems, are generally quicker to read than prose – which is a real bonus for a reluctant reader.

2.   It can say a lot. In just a few words, or a line or two, a poem can capture an emotion, a look, a feeling. I read my classes the opening page of Pearl Verses the World yesterday – and the students could quickly connect with Pearl’s isolation. 

3.    It leaves you thinking. The best poems don’t tell you how to think or feel. They evoke feelings, certainly, and present ideas and images, but then leave you to form your own response.

4.   4.    It can be a lot of fun. I read Pemberthy Bear 
      to  my year eights as well – and whilst I could see them initially resistant to being read a pretty pink picture book, they liked it enough to ask me today if I’d read it again. They also laughed at my poems about spiders and baked beans. And, when I read on a little into Pearl, they realised that even such a sad story could have light moments, when we came across Pearl’s first limerick.
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           5  It’s easy to write. Don’t get me wrong, poetry can be a lot of hard work. But for young writers I always find that they feel a real sense of accomplishment when they produce their first poems. Often kids who are really daunted at the thought of writing a story or an essay are much more willing to write when they realise they only need a few lines to make a poem. And with list poems and other structures their success levels are really high. 
I love poetry – and I’m hopeful of making a few converts.

Seven Answers to Seven Questions: Sally Murphy

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Time for a new regular feature here at my Writing for Children blog. Called Seven Answers to Seven Questions, it asks the same seven questions of any writer who cares to drop by and answer them. I’ve started by asking some of my writer friends to contribute and their answers will be posted here soon. In the meantime I figured I should have a go at answering them for myself.
So, here are my own seven answers to seven questions

1. Tell us a little about your publication credits. If you have none, tell us about the genres you prefer to write, and your current projects.

I’ve got twenty four books in print, listed on my website. My first book was a book of blackline masters, called Speak Out, published by Ready Ed publications and my recent book was Frogs: Awesome Amphibians , also published by ready Ed. In between I’ve had books published by several publishers including New Frontier, Banana Books, Learning Media and more.

I currently have seven new books in production, including a verse novel with Walker Books Australia.

2. How long have you been writing for children?

All my life. I started writing kids’ stories when I was a kid, and never stopped. I’ve been published over the past 12 years, with my first trade publication coming five years ago.

3. How much time do you spend each week writing and/or revising? And how much time on other writing-related tasks such as promotion, researching markets and so on?

How long is a piece of string? I spend as much time as I can, which varies considerably, but I try to spend at least a couple of hours each day writing or revising. Some days I manage eight hours, some days none.

As for promotion and market research, probably five to ten hours a week. This includes time on my blog, reading other blogs and websites, newsletters and so on.

4. How much time do you spend reading children’s books? And what are you reading right now?

Too much! I read constantly, predominantly new release children’s books. I’m lucky to have a constant supply of new books coming to me for review on Aussiereviews.

At present I’m reading an adult fantasy called The Twisted Citadel, which is the second in a series. I’m loving it.

5. What advice would you give other would-be children’s writers, or share with other professional children’s writers?

Read, read, read. I think the most important thing you can do if you want to be a professional writer is to read as many books as you can in your chosen genre(s). As much as possible, these should be recent releases.

And secondly, be persistent. It can take years of writing, rewriting and being rejected before you get your first break – and after that there will still be periods where it seems all so hard. But stick with it, because the rewards are wonderful.

6. What is your favourite online resource for children’s writers? Why?

I have a few, including http://www.scbwi.org/, the site of the SCWBI and Write4Kids and Verla Kay’s website. All have plenty of advice, forums and more.

7. Do you have a website or blog? What else do you do to promote your published works and/or your writing skills?

I have a website and three blogs – I’m a bit greedy. My website is www.sallymurphy.net. My main blog is www.sallymurphy.blogspot (if you’re reading these answers, you’re here already). My other blogs, Pemberthy’s Ponderings and Awesome Amphibians are aimed at promoting the specific books they spring from. Pemberthy’s blog is also a lot of fun. Oh, and another website which reviews books, Aussiereviews.

I do lots of things to promote myself. I have a business card with the cover of one of my books, I do school visits and other speaking engagements whenever I can. I go to conferences and festivals. I write articles for websites, newsletters and so on. I’m sure there are other things.

If you would like to have a go at answering these seven questions, paste them into the body of an email, add your answers (as short or as long as you like) and email them to me at sally @ sallymurphy.net (remove the spaces). You don’t have to widely published, or famous or anything – I’d love to hear from writers of all levels of experience.

September News

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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.

sallymurphy.com.au