THE BLOG
Hello world! It has been a VERY long time since I last blogged. But today, for whatever reason, I felt compelled to share a few thoughts on the writing of my latest picture book, The Echidna Near my Place, illustrated by the amazing Cate James. Story ideas can[…]
Hello world! As both a writer and a teacher my go-to for inspiration and information has always been my favourite books. The writer in me habitually “reads like a writer” – examining and analysing authors’ decisions and choices, identifying the structural bones, the narrative drive, the character arcs,[…]
Hello world! I have just finished writing what could quite possibly be the worst first draft in the history of first drafts. I kid you not. And I feel the need to share. (Rant, more like. So be warned!) This manuscript has been a particularly difficult one for[…]
Hello world! About this time last year, I declared 2019 as THE YEAR OF PUTTING WRITING FIRST. You can read about it here, but basically I made the decision to scale back on my editing and mentoring business, say “no, sorry” to new clients, and put writing (and[…]
Hello world! Last year, I started an impassioned one-woman initiative to encourage the practice of daily writing in classrooms across Australia. I called my little initiative WRITE AWAY and you can read about it here. I was privileged to have many opportunities to speak about WRITE AWAY and[…]
Hello world! It is no secret that I believe the most important writing I do each day are the three pages I scribble in my notebook every morning. I call this process my DAILY PAPERS and have blogged about it here. This practice of allowing my mind the[…]
Hello world! As most of you would know, I left my job at Walker Books Australia about two and a half years ago. (I know! It has been that long.) My reasons for leaving a job that I really liked were many and complex, but they boiled down[…]
Hello world! When I was a primary school teacher I did a Graduate Diploma in Reading/Language Education to add a fourth year to my qualifications. By this time, my passion for children’s literature and literacy education had taken a firm hold, and it was no surprise that my[…]
Hello world! I have had a bit of a hiatus from blogging over the past several months. Mainly because I have been ridiculously busy, but also because I felt that I didn’t have anything new to say – and I always vowed to blog from the heart and[…]
Hello world! Wow. What a wonderfully exciting month March was. Missing finally made it out into the wild and I have been spinning like a whirligig ever since. The month kicked off with a fun launch and much love and support from colleagues, friends and relatives. Then I[…]
NEWS FLASH
So excited that Pearly and Pig and the Lost City of Mu Savan has been shortlisted for the YABBA Awards. Woohoo!
NEWS FLASH
And doubly thrilled because Pearly and Pig and the Lost City of Mu Savan has also been shortlisted for the KOALA AWARDS! Here's cheers to Children's Choice Awards!
NEWS FLASH!
Thrilled to bits that THE WHEELBARROW EXPRESS and PEARLY AND PIG AND THE LOST CITY OF MU SAVAN have both made it onto the 2024 CBCA Book of the Year Notable list. This is such wonderful news.
NEWS FLASH
Absolutely thrilled that TILDA has been longlisted for the 2023 ARA Historical Novel Prize, CYA category. Such an honour!
NEWS FLASH
So excited to see Pearly and Pig and the Great Hairy Beast longlisted for the Sisters in Crime, 23rd Davitt Awards!
NEWS FLASH
WOOHOO! The Echidna Near my Place has been shortlisted for The Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards, 5-8 years category. We are thrilled!
NEWS FLASH
THE ECHIDNA NEAR MY PLACE has been named a CBCA Notable Book in TWO categories - Early Childhood and Eve Pownall. Cate James and I are thrilled to bits! Go Echidna!