sallymurphy.com.au

Sally Murphy, Australian author

Christmas is Coming!

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Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you – you still have plenty of time to do your shopping, make your lists, check it twice – even to be naughty and/or nice – but today marks the beginning of my Christmas festivities because today marks the release of the paperback edition of Snowy’s Christmas.

I’m amazed to think it’s been 13 months since the release of the hardcover version, but delighted that the paerback version is now available.

If you have a moment hop on over to he Aussie Christmas Blog to join the celebration.

Angela’s Here!

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Today I am delighted to welcome Angela Sunde, who is here as part of her blog tour to promote her first ever book, Pond Magic.

Hi Sally! Thanks for inviting me to your blog. I’m very excited to be here.
 1.       Pond Magic is your first book publication. How did it feel to hold that baby in your hands for the first time?
It was a little surreal in a way. I’d been excitedly waiting and expecting the Pond Magic parcel to arrive and one day a plain white box was delivered to the letter box. I ran down the hill (we live on acreage) and back up, placed the box on the outside table on the veranda and then ran inside to get my camera. My mother-in-law was visiting at the time and, after taking a few photos of just the white carton, I asked her to capture the moment of me opening my lovely box of books. The look on my face said it all – inside was a selection of sample products from the supermarket! No books!
Eventually the books did arrive and my lovely publisher had filled the parcel with glittery multi-coloured stars which burst out once opened. It was a magic moment!
2.       Tell us about the journey. When did you decide you wanted to write for children and what did you do to make it happen?
I’d been itching to draw and paint seriously ever since I can remember. Then after an extended family holiday overseas, I was also keen to write about that experience. Upon my return I decided to enrol in some art and creative writing courses and because of my love of picture books I also did a ‘Writing for Children’ course at my local TAFE. I was hooked after that. I trawled the internet in search of courses, groups and workshops. I seriously began to study the craft of writing for children, and I was struck by how many opportunities there are for writers who are starting out. My first contact with other children’s writers and illustrators was at the CYA Conference in Brisbane. I came home buzzing!
3.              And Pond Magic – how long from getting the idea to having it accepted?
Pond Magic was born as an idea for a short story. As it developed it grew in length and took about six months to write the first draft. But as I continued to study the craft of writing for children I would go back to the manuscript repeatedly and apply my new found insights and knowledge, editing and polishing parts of it each week. I didn’t rush this process. I love playing with language and Pond Magic was my creative artwork. So it wasn’t until a year after the idea was born that I submitted it to publishers. Penguin Australia accepted Pond Magic six months after that.
4.              After the acceptance, what steps did you and your publisher go through to get it from manuscript to finished book?
Before acceptance I had to cut back the manuscript by 3,000 words to fit the Aussie Chomp format. I saw this as a challenge which would prove to myself whether I had the mettle to be a true writer or not. Sharpening my pencil, I systematically set about chopping out words and re-arranging sentences. After six days I was done and the contract was in my hand.
The first editing with the publisher was done via email, using track changes on Word. This is an efficient and effective way to work together. Then the first pages were mailed out to me and I had to work on cutting back parts of the manuscript to fit the maximum 96 pages of the Aussie Chomp. Each chapter had to be considered separately. Final pages were mailed out in July for me to check and comment on and then only incidental changes were made by email after that. The whole process was simple and straight forward – taking about three months – , and the editors at Penguin were so supportive and helpful. I thoroughly enjoyed working with them.
5.              What did you/do you do to improve your writing skills?
If I immerse myself in excellent writing then hopefully a little might rub off on me, so I read in the genre I write as much as I can. I attend master classes on writing at conferences, festivals and the Queensland Writers Centre and I subscribe to a number of online writing groups and e-bulletins on writing for children. As a member of a writer’s group I also learn from the feedback given to my work. Currently I am working with a mentor on a picture book. There is always something new to learn and every opportunity is worth investigating. I have links to the ones I recommend on my website. 
6.              What advice would you give to unpublished writers who want to write for children?
Take your time. Re-write, edit, polish, let it be, then edit again. Join your local writers centre and attend workshops, conferences, literary festivals and author talks. Then go back to your manuscript and apply the new skills you have learnt. Edit again and again and again. Give it to other writers for feedback. Don’t rush into submitting your manuscript to a publisher. I have often heard other authors say: “I wish I hadn’t submitted my story to that publisher, because now it is so much better.” My advice is – make it better, make it the best you can.
I also found networking with other writers has helped me enormously. The children’s writing community is so friendly and welcoming. It’s the best job in the world!
 7.       Lastly, what next? What other projects do you have on the boil?
I am writing and illustrating a picture book with the assistance of a RADF grant. I also have a junior fantasy novel which is nearing completion and I am collaborating on a picture book with my sister, Nadia Sunde, who is an international award winning children’s songwriter and playwright. Life is great.
Thanks so much for visiting Angela. Enjoy the rest of your blog tour – and the wonder of your first book’s release.

Lara Morgan Blog Tour

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I am delighted to welcome fellow West Aussie and awesome author Lara Morgan here today on the final stop of  her blog tour to promote her new book, Genesis.  Welcome Lara.
1.    Congratulations on the release of Genesis, you first YA novel. Can you tell us a bit about the book?

Genesis is set 500 years in the future in a world greatly altered by climate change. Rising sea levels have drowned major cities, a new disease called the MalX is taking hold and water costs more than clothing. In the city of Newperth, a sixteen year old girl called Rosie Black is struggling to survive after the death of her mother. She is one of the poor – a Banker – and when foraging for things to sell to help buy food she comes across a mysterious box. Inside though are some things a powerful corporation called Helios want and are prepared to kill to get. Rosie finds herself on the run and is forced into an alliance with a feral boy called Pip and the man he calls boss. Although unsure of their motives she has to work with them to find out the secret Helios is trying to hide before she loses her family and her life.

2.  You have previously had two adult titles published. What differences have you found in writing for younger readers versus adult readers?

Structurally the Rosie Black books have not been as complicated as my adult books which was one of the reasons I wanted to write a young adult novel. The adult books I’ve written were epic fantasy so had many complex storylines that had to be interwoven and after working on those I needed a break, so I turned to young adult so I could have a more stream lined framework to create in. Not to say the actual writing has been any easier – it’s still just as much work to create good believable worlds and great characters! The main difference I’ve found between writing for adults and young adults is that the focus of the story must always remain on the younger characters, the adults must never intrude too much or take away from the story of Rosie. This is probably why in much of YA fiction parents are in the background and I had to make sure when writing the adult characters in the book that they too never took any of the reader’s attention too far away from Rosie herself. I learned that very early on. In writing for a younger audience there are also other considerations such as the amount of swearing used in the book and how sex is depicted, but the content of these is driven by the age group you’re writing for.

2.    Do you prefer writing for adults or for young adults?

I always prefer doing what I’m working on at the moment! So yes, right now I am really enjoying writing for young adults, but I don’t actually see a great deal of difference between that and writing for adults. For me it’s always about the story and I don’t dwell to much on what age group may read it but just try to create the best story I can.

3.    Do you perceive a difference in the ways you and/or your publisher promote your adult titles versus Genesis?
Definitely there is a greater emphasis on internet promotion for this age group and trying to be more interactive within that. Teens are so active online it makes sense to be part of that community to reach them – hence this blog tour!

4.    Anything else you’d like us to know about Genesis and its genesis? (sorry, couldn’t resist that one)

Genesis is, of course, the first in a series about the character Rosie Black and there will be two more books about her coming out over the next few years. Much of the premise for the series was based around me thinking a lot about climate change and wanting to write a story about what it would be like for someone to live in a future where a lot of the bad stuff that’s being predicted came to pass. So within the conceit of an adventure story, a story of growing up, there is also an environmental message– albeit not a heavy handed one – about what could happen both environmentally and socio-politically to our world if we don’t really do something about it. Although Rosie’s world has space travel and a colony on Mars the Earth is basically dying and is not a great place to be anymore.

5.    Lastly, what next for Lara Morgan?
Well book 2, Equinox, in The Rosie Black Chronicles, is in the final stages so I have to get that done and sent off to the publishers and there is also the third and final instalment of my adult fantasy trilogy to complete so I’m pretty busy. Of course I have some ideas for a totally different book bubbling away but it’s way too early to talk about it yet. 

Find out more about Rosie Black and win a copy of Genesis at Lara’s blog: http://laramorgan.wordpress.com
Or check out the new Rosie Black book trailer and website at http://www.rosieblack.com.
genesis is available for purchase online here or in good bookstores.
Lara’s blog tour is stopping at all these great blogs.
Oct 11 Who is Rosie Black?
http://content.bommerangbooks.com.au/kids-book-capers-blog (that’s here)
Oct 12 Writing tips on creating a futuristic world.
Tuesday Writing Tips http://deescribewriting.wordpress.com (that’s my other blog)
Oct 13 The Publishing Process
www.kids-book-review.blogspot.com
Oct 14 Writing YA.
http://ripping-ozzie-reads.com/
Writing a Fantasy Series
http://www.sandyfussell.blogspot.com
Oct 15     Interview
http://www.weloveya.com
Oct 16 Interview
http://bookgryffin.globalteacher.org.au/
Oct 17 Writing sci fi
www.rhiannon-hart.blogspot.com
Oct 18 Heroines in YA
www.yareads.com
Oct 19 The Boy in this story; creating male characters in heroine driven YA.
http://www.thephantomparagrapher.blogspot.com
Rosie Black’s past & future
http://belka37.blogspot.com
Oct 20 Interview
http://sallymurphy.blogspot.com

Guest Blog: Getting Published, by Aleesah Darlinson

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I am delighted today to welcome Aleesah Darlinson, who is here as part of her blog tour to promote her new Totally Twins series.
 

Aleesah has oblingly written a  guest blog on the topic of getting published. Over to you Aleesah.

Getting Published

As an author, 2010 has been a huge year for me. My first book, Puggle’s Problem, was released in July. My second book, Totally Twins: Musical Mayhem, was released in September. My third – and final book to be released this year (thank heavens!) – will be Totally Twins: Model Mania in November.
3 books in 5 months.
It’s been a whirlwind, but it’s also been grand.
After four-and-a-half years of wandering in the darkness, of searching for the light of publication, I’ve switched it on and it’s beaming brightly.
Finally, I’m able to say, ‘I’m a published author’.
If I look back at my fledgling career and try to distil all the things I’ve learned down to a few short points to share with others, this would be them:

Top Tips For Getting Published
1.    Learn how to write well and learn it from the best, ie other published authors.
2.    Write and write and write. Practice does make perfect.
3.    Give up watching TV and whinging about being tired. Instead, write some more.
4.    Start sending your work out to competitions and magazines. Test yourself. Test your writing.
5.    Don’t worry about the rejections. Instead, write some more.
6.    Start networking and meeting people. Join a writers’ group, join SBCWI, the NSW Writers’ Centre, the CBCA, the ASA. Whatever you think will get you connected with other writers, illustrators and publishers. Become involved.
7.    Set goals to win a competition or get something published, even if it’s only small. When you do receive a win or an acceptance, add it to your Writers’ Resume.
8.    Keep building your Writers’ Resume.
9.    Don’t worry about your friends getting published before you do. Instead, write some more.
10.    When it’s ready – and only when it’s ready – submit your work to publishers. Multiple submissions to 3 or 4 publishers is okay – as long as you let the publishers know.
11.    Don’t worry about the rejections. Instead, write some more.
12.    Subscribe to Buzz Words and Pass It On. Contribute to these online magazines regularly with comments, articles and notices of your achievements.
13.    Attend festivals and workshops. Be inspired. Scare the hell out of yourself and enter the pitching sessions. Book into one-on-one meetings with publishers, agents, editors. Rehearse your pitch, take along your best work and give it your best shot.
14.    Don’t worry about the rejections. Instead, write some more.
15.    Keep submitting your work.

I think you get the picture – ‘If you build it, they will come.’
There are things you can do to build your presence as an author. There are things you can do to improve your writing. Both go hand in hand to help you get published.
You only need one more thing and we all know what that is, right? It’s the ‘P’ word: Persistence.
Whatever you do, don’t give up. Don’t ever stop writing because you never know what’s around the corner. Some of my biggest writing rejections have been followed by wonderful acceptances.
And so, I will leave you with a quote from Benjamin Franklin, American author, printer, satirist, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman and diplomat.
‘Energy and persistence conquer all things.’
I couldn’t agree more.

Aleesah Darlison writes picture books and novels for children. She also reviews books for The Sun Herald. Aleesah has won many awards for her writing including an ASA mentorship with Kate Forsyth in 2009. Her stories have appeared in the black dog books Short and Scary Anthology, The School Magazine and Little Ears. Her first picture book, Puggle’s Problem, was released in July. Her junior series for girls aged 9 plus, Totally Twins: Musical Mayhem, was released this month. The series follows the adventures of identical twins, Persephone (she’s the sensible one) and Portia (she’s the messy one) Pinchgut and is written in diary format by Persephone.
To find out more about Aleesah, visit her website at: www.aleesahdarlison.com.

Next stop on Aleesah’s blog tour is the Book Blog, where host Dave Hibbins will be interviewing Aleesah on the topic of ‘Writing For Children’. Check it out at: http://bookblog.com.au/.

Awards, Speeches and Thankyous

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Phew. I’m home, and have a little time to sit down and blog. My apologies to regular followers for my recent silence – my life has been a whirl!

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to fly to Brisbane for the announcement of the CBCA Children’s Book of the Year Awards. Pearl Verses the World was shortlisted and, to my delight was named an Honour Book.  I travelled to and from Brisbane with the lovely Rebecca Cool, illustrator of the picture book, Isabella’s Garden, also published by Walker Books, and also named an Honour Book.

As well as attending the Book of the Year announcements, held at Brisbane’s Custom’s House, I also attended the Queensland Branch’s Bookweek dinner. Both events were fun, and exciting and even a little overwhelming. This was my first ever trip to Brisbane, and I must say  the Brisbane  hospitality, and the sunshine, and the award, made it a wonderful place to visit.

Back home only briefly,  I then headed to Perth for Bookweek,  visiting the  Altona Park library and Guildford Grammar Preparatory school. I love speaking to kids about my books, and about the writing life and about reading in general.  I always come away more inspired than the kids, I think.

 Home again home again for another catch up with my family, and two days at my day job before I headed off again – back to Brisbane. This time I was attending the Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards. To my delight, Toppling won the Mary Ryan’s Award for the best children’s book. What an honour!

Another flight and I was back in Perth in time to attend the WA Premier’s Book Awards where Pearl Verses the World was shortlisted, though not the winner. I was happy just to be on such an outstanding list, with Margaret Wild and Freya Blackwood the deserving winners for Harry and Hopper.

Now I’m back at home, with loads of inspiration to keep doing what I do.Pprobably the best part about all these recent successes has been all the lovely feedback from so many different people. Family, friends,  writing colleagues, industry people, teachers, librarians, locals, complete strangers – all have been so wonderfully happy for me and with me. At times I have been quite teary by such demonstrations of all round niceness.  So, to those who have shared in my happiness – a huge thankyou.

And, if you are interested, here is what I said in accepting the Mary Ryan Award (except, because I spoke without notes, this is a slightly tidier version than the real thing).

Premier, Ladies and Gentlemen

Wow. I’m delighted. I’ve been writing and submitting for about twenty years and, like most writers I know, it’s been a tough journey to get my writing to publishable standard and to actually get published. But suddenly, in the past couple of years, it all seems to have come together.  Only 20 years to become an overnight success!

So I’d like to say to everyone else trying to balance day jobs with writing, or parenthood with writing, or struggling to stay focussed and positive in the face of rejection after rejection, that dreams can and do come true.

I’d like to thank my family back in WA, especially my husband and children – it isn’t easy living with a writer. Also, the two women to whom this book is dedicated – my sister and my sister-in-law who, like Dominic, have fought their own battles with cancer. My fellow writers, especially the children’s writing community, which is filled with supportive, lovely people. And Walker Books, who have shown such belief in me and in my stories. Of course, I’d like to thank the Premier and the Queensland Government for making this writer so very happy. An award like this is very affirming of what I’ve been trying to do.

Lastly, I’d like to remind every adult here tonight that children’s books are not just for kids. They are for the child inside each and every one of us.

Thank you.

Featured Blogger Friday: Tehani Wessley

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If you’re a regular here, you’ll know that every Friday is Featured Blogger Friday, where I interview a fellow blogger about why and how they blog. This week’s guest is Tehani Wessely. Welcome Tehani!

Firstly, why do you blog?
I started blogging to be one of the “cool kids”! A group of my friends were big bloggers, and I started out mostly reading, and then doing a few random posts (on Live Journal). It soon turned into something else, and living in a rural area, was a way of staying in touch with what was going on in the bigger world outside. These days, I blog to journal and chronicle (personal blog), to market (www.fablecroft.com.au) and share (worldsnextdoor.wordpress.com).

What do you blog about?
The Worlds Next Door blog is dedicated to material related to the Worlds Next Door anthology – I post teaching materials for the stories, guest blogs by authors, and other related things. On my other blog, I discuss books, spec fic, family, work and life in general.

Who is your target readership?
In general, my readership is writers, publishers, readers, fans and others in the speculative fiction field. Worlds Next Door specifically though has 9-13 year olds and teachers as the target – both for educational and enjoyment purposes.

How often do you blog?
Ooh, not regularly enough at times! I try to get regular content on all blogs, but real life sometimes interferes. Luckily, with the WND blog, others (particularly authors) help with providing content!

How much time do you devote to blogging?
A couple of hours a week most weeks, sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less, depending on what’s going on around the place and how much else keeps me away from my computer!

Do you have a favourite blog post? 

Not really! I’m really enjoying my author guest blogs on WND though – Tansy and Kaia talked recently about collaboration on an international scale, which was fun.

What do you see as the benefits of blogging?
So many benefits! First, it forces one to WRITE, which is always a good thing. It keeps you in touch with friends or colleagues or fans, it allows you to get material out there in a way that’s relatively easy for others to find and keep track of, and it is a great way to provide information to lots of people!

What blogging platform do you use and why?
I have been using LiveJournal for about five years now, and started over there because that’s where all my online friends were! Now I also use WordPress, because it’s simple and easy to use, and looks great as a website too.

Do you have a favourite blog to visit (other than your own)?

I love reading Tansy Rayner Roberts’ blog – I love Tansy’s books, and her blog posts are always thoughtful, insightful and full of interesting stuff I need to go read or watch or listen to!

Lastly, when you are not blogging, what else do you do?
Well, I’m a mum of three, a teacher librarian (part-time as of term 4 this year), an editor & publisher in Australian independent press, a judge for various awards, and a book reviewer. Among other things! 

Thanks for dropping in.
Thanks for having me!
You can visit Tehani Wessely at
http://fablecroft.com and
http://worldsnextdoor.wordpress.com

sallymurphy.com.au