sallymurphy.com.au

Sally Murphy, Australian author

What a Week!

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A couple of years ago I went through a period where I seriously contemplated giving up on writing as a career. I’d had books published, and was proud of that, but I had a very long spell of rejections, while the publisher of my first trade title went out of business, and the books I had had published didn’t seem to be selling.

What kept me going was a combination of the inability to give up (I write because I can’t not write), the support of a wonderful bunch of writer friends and my family, and pure stubbornness. I kept writing and submitting and learning, and eventually more acceptances came and things got back on track.

So why am I telling you all this now? Because I have just had an amazing week, a week I would not have had if I had given up on that dream.

Firstly, on Monday night, a little piece of fortuitous camera placement meant that Pearl Verses the World inadvertently appeared on the ABC News. The Prime Minister was interviewed in a school library and there, behind her, was a copy of my book. Although I missed seeing it, a writer friend saw it and let me know – and I was able to Google it and find this still image. It’s a little less clear here because it’s just one shot, but still way cool for me to see my book over the Prime Minister’s left shoulder.

On Tuesday, as I read the West Australian newspaper at breakfast time, I was surprised to see the cover of Toppling in the Ed Magazine (the schools supplement), and, below it, a lovely review, describing Toppling as ‘a verse novel which simply and movingly tells the story of a boy’s battle with cancer.’

On Wednesday came the announcement that Pearl Verses the World had won the Family Therapists’ Literary Award for Younger Readers. This is a lovely thing to win, with the judges saying: ‘Pearl draws on both previous experiences and generational insights to assist in the grieving process and to hone her self-reliance, which helps her negotiate peer relationships and school.’

And on Thursday, as if there wasn’t enough good news coming my way, the shortlists for the 2009 WA Premier’s Literary Awards were announced – and Pearl Verses the World is shortlisted in the Children’s Books category.

I’m not sure I’ll ever have another week with so much good news so close together, and that’s okay – because this week will keep me going for a long time. To all who have tweeted and emailed and messaged me on Facebook, or simply smiled as they’ve heard my news – thank you.

I’m glad I didn’t give up, not that I’m sure I really could have. Life is good.

Wahoos

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A writer friend from the US (though she’s really an Aussie), Margot Finke , has a page on her site devoted to wahoos. Every month she lists these wahoos, announcing the good news of fellow children’s writers. These wahoos are often celebrating the release of new books, but other times announce contract signings, awards being won and so on. I rarely know the authors listed, and as most of them are American, rarely even get to pick up the books mentioned, but it’s no nice to hear of other people’s successes. So wahoo to Margot for spreading the word about good things and making this writer on the other side of the world feel good.

On various e-lists I am on, fellow authors also regularly share their successes – from the biggie of a big overseas rights contract, to news of good reviews or new editions of books.

So why do we celebrate other writers’ successes? If I don’t know the writer and don’t read their book , does it matter a jot to me that it has been released? Yup! Too right it does. Writing for children is fun, rewarding and challenging but it is also hard work, and often downright demoralising. The reality is that it is hard to get published, hard to get good sales even when you are published and some days I wonder why I keep going, and I know there are many, many others who regularly feel the same way. But when I’m reminded, by Margot’s list, and by writer friends from around the world who share their successes, big and small, that publication does happen, that awards are won and contracts offered, I cheer for those people and I remember that it has happened for me (well the contract and publication bit – I’ve yet to win an award)and will happen again.

Sharing good news is not all about saying ‘look at me – aren’t I clever’ (though that is a valid feeling when you’ve just been offered a book contract). It is also about sharing that buzz of knowing that acceptances do come, that hard work does pay off, and that dreams can come true.

I’ll take the little buzz that other people’s wahoos give me and I’ll keep working. One day I’ll have some buzz of my own to share.

sallymurphy.com.au