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.

TBT: Doggy Duo

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It’s Thursday, and time for another TBT (Throwback Thursday) post.

Last week I shared a picture of my first ever copy of my first ever book.

This week I thought I’d share one of copies I still own, of my very first trade book (ie a book which you could, potentially, buy in a bookshop). Here it is:

Little Dog Copies

Doggy Duo was special to me because it was, as I’ve said, my first ever trade-published book, and its acceptance came after years and years of trying to break into writing for children.

Sadly, the company which published it (Banana Books) went into receivership not long after the book was published, meaning it didn’t get a long life on bookstore shelves, but 11 years down the track,  I still remember the thrill of that acceptance and holding that book in my hands. (And, as you can see, I still have lots of copies, so can hold it in my hands any time I like!)

Have a great Thursday!

Throwback Thursday: My First Book

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It’s Thursday, and for the first time I through I might do a Throwback Thursday post, hoping it might become a regular thing, where I post something from my writing past – books, publications, photos, old blog posts, whatever takes my fancy.

So, it seems the best place to start might be where it all began: my first published book. And not just my first book, but my first copy of my first book, looking a little worse for wear after 19 years of being carted round and shown off.

When I was offered a contract for Speak Out, I had only written an outline and two sample pages. Oh, and I was 7 months pregnant with my fourth child (I didn’t tell the publisher that bit). Instead, I calmly said ‘yes please’ when I was asked to do it, and wrote the book before Murphlet 4 was born.

When my first copy arrived I took it everywhere with me – and still take it along to author talks to show off, though, as you can see, that copy is now in danger of falling apart. 19 years down the track, the book is still in print, outlasting many of my subsequent books.

40 books later, I’m still proud of book number one.

Have a great Thursday. See you next week.

sallymurphy.com.au