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!

Poetry Friday and a Celebration

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It’s Poetry Friday and I am running late with my post because life has been soooooo busy these past few weeks.  My day job is chaotic (mostly the good kind of chaotic, but busy none the less) and I have been off doing some real live author things.

Last week I was lucky enough to play a small part in the Between the Lines Literature Festival in Busselton, my neighbouring town. There were some big name authors, including the amazing Bren Macdibble, Will Kostakis, Holden Shepherd and Craig Silvey,  and I got to hang out with them and also speak to some wonderful audiences about Worse Things. I am still waiting for an official photo, but here’s a pic of the pile of books I signed.

Do you like my new signing pen, thematically tied to the book?

This was my first festival since before Covid, so very exciting to talk to real live audiences, and chat to enthusiastic young readers and writers.

Then  this week I was extra lucky to visit Majella Catholic Primary School in Perth, where I was a Role Model invited to a book giving ceremony as part of the wonderful Books In Homes Program, where children are presented with packs of books three times per year to take home and read and keep and love. An excellent program and a lovely, warm-hearted school, with a real sense of community. 

Here I am with some of the lovely, and very excited, recipients of those books.

Also this week some amazing news. Worse Things was announced on the shortlist of the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year Awards. As you can see, it is on he list with some amazing company:

You can see the full shortlist here.

So much to celebrate, and I was glad there was a bottle of champagne in my fridge.

The biggest joy for me was how happy to so many people are for me and for the book. I spent a whole evening reading and replying to messages on social media and via email, and there were phonecalls and real life congratulations too. So much shared joy.

This joy is for me the biggest pleasure of such a shortlist, though the sticker is wonderful too – doesn’t it look pretty?

Even more exciting that the sticker is the fact that this means the book will be read and discussed for the next five months until Children’s Book Week. I love it when my books end up in the hands (and hopefully hearts) of young readers.

SO, with all this business (and more I haven’t even touched on), I wasn’t sure I had a poem to post this week, but I visited Mary Lee’s blog, because she is hosting today’s round up, and was reminded that sometimes a haiku is more than adequate. So, here’s a haiku for you

You came to my blog

looking for a poem, so

this one is for you.

(Sally Murphy, 2021)

And here’s another, for the happiness I’m feeling

A pop of champagne

bubbles of joy effervesce

Celebrating good news.

(Sally Murphy, 2021)

The Poetry Friday Roundup is, as I said, being hosted by the wonderful Mary Lee. Pop over there to see what other poetry goodness is on offer this week.

 

Why I Write

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A day-job colleague asked me yesterday whether I made much money from my writing. When I explained that I don’t earn enough to justify giving up the afore-mentioned day job, he was surprised. After all, I’d just told him about being shortlisted for Children’s Book of the Year, and told him about my other books, and the various successes I’ve had with them. I explained that the day job is what pays my bills and my writing income is just not enough to live on.

I didn’t spell it out any further. I didn’t explain to him that my earnings are between 5 and 10 percent of the price of a book – meaning that when one of my hardcover picture books sells, I MIGHT eventually get $1.25 in a royalty payment, and for paperbacks, of course, less than that. And I didn’t explain about royalty payments only coming twice a year, or about the struggles to even get my books into bookshops so they can sell enough copies just to earn that money. I didn’t tell him about the hours that go into manuscripts which are never published, or the hours on research, or learning the craft, or studying the market, or the myriad other things a writer does which produce no income.

No, I didn’t tell him any of this, because I was filled with the glow of the news of my shortlisting. And I still am. But of course, when the glow fades (which eventually it will), I will find myself remembering the look on my friend’s face when I told him why I work a day job. And I’ll also remind myself that I don’t write for the money – though I’d sure like there to be more. And I don’t write for the accolades – though I love them.

No, I write because there are stories I need to tell. The stories that come to me, sometimes in the dead of night, sometimes when I’m busy with my family, sometimes at really inconvenient times, those stories are insistent. They don’t leave me alone until they’re written – and sometimes they won’t leave me alone even after they’re written. And those stories need to be told for lots of reasons – but mainly because stories matter. Kids need stories. Lots of stories. And some of those kids need MY stories – a story about a kid with cancer, or a kid with a dying grandmother, or even a story about a singing teddybear . And I need to tell those stories, even if it’s just so those voices in my head will let me be for while – until the next story comes along.

Does that mean I don’t appreciate the recognition? Not on your nelly! Of course it doesn’t. I love that a group of judges, people passionate about children’s books, chose my book to sit on that shortlist alongside some pretty brilliant offerings from other authors. And I love that the shortlisting means my book will be read by even more young readers across the country. And knowing both of these things does help to keep me motivated at times when it’s hard to find time to write because of that day job.

But the reason I’ll keep snatching time to write is simple: I write because I can’t not write.

What about you?

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.

What a Month!

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Phew. It’s the last day of March and I’m exhausted, but elatedly so (is it possible to feel both elated and exhausted concurrently?) I could scramble for my dictionary to check, but, to be honest, I’m just too tired. Instead, I am going to sit here in my comfy chair and tell you all about the month that was, and why I’m just so tired (and elated).

To start with, the end of February saw me dashing back and fro to Perth (a three hour drive) for some exciting events.

On the evening of Thursday the 25th I was lucky enough to be invited to the launch of Natural Selection, an exhibition organised by Writing WA. Iwas doubly blessed because not only was I able to attend the launch, but I was aslo one of the fifty authors chosen to be featured in the exhibition. Each chosen author was profiled on a large panel (approximately 1 metre square) with a photo, short bio and a bit about a recent book (in my case, Pearl Verses the World).

The launch was held at the Perth City Council  function room, which boasts spectacular views over the Swan River, and was attended by the authors, publishers, international festival directors and other invited guests.

A quick trip home on Friday morning, then it was back to Perth for the weekend to attend the Perth Writers Festival. As well as getting to sit in some wonderful sessions, I was also a presenter, presenting a poetry writing workshop and a meet the author session as part of Family Day. This was the first time I’d got to see Toppling in  a bookstore – and, of course, I got to sign copies, as well as copies of Pearl Verses the World. It was exciting to see Pearl sell out on the Sunday – a sign that people had perhaps enjoyed my sessions.

Monday March 1 marked the release of  Toppling, and I celebrated right here on this blog with cyber champagne, cyber munchies and some virtual speeches. My friend and fellow author Sandy Fussell was good enough to drop by and launch Toppling. A cyber launch is a great way to launch a book, especially if you want to include friends and rellies who are scattered around the globe.

On March 4 I headed back to Perth for another event – the CBCA’s annual Night With Our Stars, held at Westbooks in South Perth. This event, organised by the delightful Jenni Woodroffe gives children’s and YA authors and illustrators a chance to speak about their latest book to a group of teachers, librarians and book lovers. It is, to me, a bit like speed dating – each speaker gets three mintues to inspire, enthuse or entertain the audience. Afterwards there are booksignings, and time to just mingle.

Back at home and I had a little time to enjoy the feeling of a new book, and to celebrate some more. All through the month I had visitors dropping in here, to guest blog about what they like about children’s poetry. The responses were many and varied – but all made for excellent reading. A huge thanks to those people who gave up their time to drop in here and share their thoughts. If you haven’t read them, be sure to scroll through and see what was said.

I also enjoyed seeing the first reviews come in. If you’re interested you can see Sharon’s review on the OurPatch website, Dee White’s review on her blog DeeScribeWriting,  Jo Burnell’s review on the Reading Stack website and  Malcolm’s review on the Storytime Books for Kids blog. It is always a relief to read a review and realise that the reviewer liked my book.

To finish the month off with an extra buzz, the news yesterday that my first verse novel, Pearl Verses the World has been shorlisted for the CBCA Children’s Book of the Year Awards was pretty awesome. I have long dreamed of being on the shortlist one day – and the feeling of finally getting there is pretty amazing.

So, the launch month for Toppling concludes, but there will be much more happening on my blog and in my writing life in the montsh to come, so stay tuned.

Woweeeeeeeeee!

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The writing life is filled with highs and lows – and sometimes the lows are long and hard. There are rejections, the difficulties of getting a story right in the first place, and, when a book IS published, the challenges of struggling for sales.

But the highs are wonderful. Acceptances, holding a book baby in your hands for the first time, seeing your name on a book in a real life bookstore… And I must say, I can’t imagine wanting to be anything other than a children’s book author.

Still, none of those highs really prepared me for the wonderful rush I am feeling today. See, today, the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) announced the shortlist for the annual Children’s Book of the Year Awards, and much to my surprise and delight, I’m on it – or rather my book, Pearl Verses the World is on it, shortlisted for the Younger Reader’s category.

So, as you can maybe imagine, I am smiling and singing and laughing and even shedding the odd tear today. I am especially enjoying the way that those around me have joined in my celebrations. I’ve been truly touched by the phonecalls and emails and text messages and messages on twitter and facebook. The Australian publishing and book industries are fileld with such lovely people!

Congratulations to everyone else whose books are on the shortlist, and also on the CBCA’s Notables list.

And, as I said already today – wahoooooooo!

sallymurphy.com.au