sallymurphy.com.au

Sally Murphy, Australian author

Featured Blogger Friday Sandy Fussell

by

It’s time once again for Featured Blogger Friday my favourite post of the week because it’s when bloggers I love drop by to chat about their blogs. Today’s guest blogger is Sandy Fussell, a good friend, great writer and also blogger. Welcome Sandy.

Firstly, why do you blog?

That’s easy. I blog because I love it.

What do you blog about? How often do you blog?

Now they are much harder questions! At the moment I blog in a  free-wheeling fashion – when I feel like it or have the time, about whatever catches my interest. Lately I find I have been blogging about the writerly things in my life – the books I read, the festivals I present at, the workshops I give and the ideas I am writing.

Who is your target readership?

I don’t have one for my blog. It’s a bit like an open house – everyone is welcome to drop in. But I am beginning to think in a more focussed way about blog readership. As a systems analyst my first question to web site clients is always: who is your audience? And while I have asked myself that about my websites (www.sandyfussell.com and www.samuraikids.com.au), I have only recently considered it in relation to my blog. Expect some changes soon!

How much time do you devote to blogging?

It depends on what other things I am doing. I have a full time job and a very tight publishing schedule with 5 books to be released between now and the end of 2012. I blog whenever I can.

Do you have a favourite blog post?

I do although I will admit it is both self-indulgent and personal. Every now and then as an author I come across something that makes me feel proud of what I am writing, that I am achieving something with my readers. This blog post never fails to inspire me. 

What do you see as the benefits of blogging?

I love to write in all shapes and formats. Blogging gives me a chance to communicate in cyberspace in a conversational way but without the character count constraints of Facebook and Twitter. I do not see blogging as a self-promotion vehicle, although there is no doubt it is a useful profile building tool. I hope to ultimately use blogging as a means to encourage classroom literacy.

What blogging platform do you use and why?

I use Blogger although I have maintained WordPress blogs. Even as an experienced programmer, I find Blogger is easier and more intuitive to use. It now has multiple page functionality to match WordPress.  However, WordPress does have a wider range of sophisticated plug-ins available to end users who are looking for that extra scope.

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

The Book Chook  www.thebookchook.com. I am always interested in exploring technology based approaches to writing and reading for primary school children. I find the most amazing resources and ideas on the Book Chook’s blog. I would recommend it to all authors preparing workshops or developing teaching resources for their books.

Lastly, when you are not blogging, what else do you do?

I am a mum, a computer programmer and an author. Sometimes I have all three hats on at once. During the day you can always find me in front of my laptop or a class of kids. The former is a lot quieter but the latter is the most fun!

Thanks for dropping in, Sandy.

Writing Quote of the Week

by

There are three rules for writing a novel.

Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.

W. Somerset Maugham
 
 Not sure I need to comment on this one. It made me smile. And if anyone figures out those three rules, do let me know.

Featured Blogger Friday: Catriona Hoy

by

It’s Friday and here on my blog, every Friday is Featured Blogger Friday. Today’s featured blogger is Catriona Hoy. Welcome, Cat.

Firstly, why do you blog?
One of my writing resolutions for this year was to join the 21st century and commit to blogging. I had previously set up a blog but found that confronted by that empty page I couldn’t think of anything to say that anyone would be remotely interested in. So although I had a blog, there wasn’t really anything there. Until one day I had a run in with the school principal at the school where my children went in the UK when they banned sunscreen in the school. Well, as an Australian I then had plenty to say lol! So my first real blog was very naughty but the school did eventually change their policy the next year, after we had returned to Australia. I featured on nationwide tv and BBC radio during my campaign and my children were thoroughly embarassed…
Now I blog because as writers, publicity and having a public profile are so important. I’m still struggling with Twitter and I have two Facebooks, my one for friends and a public page. As I blogged however, I realised that the blogging world was much bigger than I imagined and I’ve met some great new writers and interesting people.
What do you blog about?
 Mostly I blog about my writing, or things that are happening to me. I’m not a regular blogger and tend to be sporadic. There are some fantastic blogs for writers out there such as your own Sally and Dee White’s.  This week I blogged about the demise of my first book, as the rights have just reverted to me. It’s the first time it has happened to me and made me feel a little sad that it will no longer be available.
Who is your target readership?
 Hmm, now that’s a good question and one that I haven’t quite answered for myself yet. I guess my target readership is anyone who is interested in children’s picture books as that is mainly what I write. I don’t think any of my students read it, which is good, as I like to keep my lives kind of separate which is sometimes hard.

How often do you blog?
 A bit like exercising….not as often as I’l like, or probably should. In fits and bursts. As I’m a high school teacher, I have to fit my writing around other commitments and at times like this, when there are mid year exams and reports to write, other things have to take a bit of a back seat. Like with exercising, I feel guilty but I also told myself this was my year for not feeling guilty but I’m failing miserably at that lol.

How much time do you devote to blogging?
 Hmm, see answer to the last question. There are times when I don’t keep up with emails and some of the groups I belong to. It depends how much spare time I have.
Do you have a favourite blog post?
 I’d be lying if I said I did. I check out the blogs of my friends when I have time or when they send me links to other blogs.
What do you see as the benefits of blogging?
 Writing is so much about networking these days and making contacts is important. But it’s also nice to meet new people and learn about their writing journey. Writing can be quite isolating and other writers have similar experiences and I have such huge resources to draw on. Sometimes when you meet people finally face to face they feel like old friends.
What blogging platform do you use and why?
 I use Blogger…why? I find it simple to use. I think WordPress has more features but like my gas and electricity…I need to be motivated to change.
Do you have a favourite blog to visit (other than your own)? 
 I visit many of my writing friends in Australia but also this one http://notesfromtheslushpile.blogspot.com/ . Candy Gourlay is a dynamic member of the SCBWI in the UK and we met at the SCBWI conference in Bologna in 2008. She has some fantastic advice on blogging and using the internet as a tool. I just wish I had time to follow it all.
Lastly, when you are not blogging, what else do you do?
 I’d like to say writing! But probably I’m marking essays, or tests or preparing class notes. Perhaps I’m hanging up the washing or making dinner. Maybe I’m worrying about whether I’ve been a good mother and the fact that I forgot my sushi duty at my daughter’s primary school. Sometimes I do visits to schools and libraries to promote my books or just to keep in touch with how kids think.

Thanks for dropping in.
Thanks for having me Sally. I am always amazed at the energy you put into everything you do and your writing is wonderful. When I grow up I want to be just like you!

  Awww, thanks Cat. You can visit Catriona’s blog here.

Writing Quote of the Week

by

The best children’s book writers are not people who have kids, but people who write from the child within themselves.

Andrea Brown

Of course, as a mother of six kids, I often say that having kids helps me as a writer for children, but I agree – it’s not just about having kids, or being around kids, but being  a kid, somewhere inside. And it is that inner child that guides the writer.

Have a great week!

Featured Blogger Friday: Dee White

by

It’s Friday, so that makes it time once again for
Featured Blogger Friday. 
This week I am pleased to welcome Dee White back. Dee was here a few weeks ago, but I asked her to come back and talk about her other blog, Kids’ Book Capers. Welcome back, Dee.
 

Firstly, why do you blog?

I love spreading the word about all the great books for children and young adults out there.

What do you blog about?

Children’s and young adult books, and the people who create them. I feature authors and their works on my blog. I also profile publishers and do author promotions.
To celebrate 10 years of Alex Rider, I’m running an Anthony Horowitz promotion from Sunday 23rd May to Friday 11th June. I’m a strong advocate of libraries and literacy, so when books like Anthony Horowitz’s encourage non-readers to read, I think it’s worth celebrating.
In the next couple of weeks, I’ll be starting to do reviews on this site too.

Who is your target readership?

Lovers of children’s and young adult books, teachers, librarians, book creators, other publishing industry professionals.

How often do you blog?

2-3 times a week at this blog.

How much time do you devote to blogging?

Around five hours a week.

Do you have a favourite blog post?

On 31st March I interviewed The Old Sailor from Claire Saxby and Cassandra Allen’s gorgeous book, There Was an Old Sailor. He was a funny old thing (ate the strangest things), but he was great to talk to.

What do you see as the benefits of blogging?

Blogging is fun. You get to meet some great people and go on journeys you wouldn’t otherwise have taken.

What blogging platform do you use and why?

I run Kids’ Book Capers for Boomerang Books so they chose the blogging platform. But I’ve always liked WordPress and use it for my blog http://deescribewriting.wordpress.com

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

I have many favourite blogs – it’s so hard to pick, they are all so different. I like blogs with humour, and ones that tackle quirky and interesting subjects. The blogs I visit all relate to books, publishers, authors and illustrators. I suppose for information about books, I’d pick the Aussie Reviews site http://www.aussiereviews.com/

Lastly, when you are not blogging, what else do you do?

Write books for children and young adults, visit schools to talk about books and writing, blog at deescribewriting.wordpress.com and spend time with my wonderful family and friends.
Thanks for inviting me to ‘caper’ at your blog, Sally.

Thanks for dropping in, Dee.

Writing Quote of the Week

by

There’s nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein.

Walter Wellesley (Red) Smith

Okay, so the imagery is a bit gruesome, especially for a blog about writing for children, but anyone who has written for a living will relate to the idea – writing is hard hard hard work – and takes every bit of your energy, your enthusiasm, your passion, your life blood.

But hey, most days it’s fun.

sallymurphy.com.au