Not sure how it’s November

Liz / / No Comments

Wow – since my last post, many of us in Sydney, Melbourne and elsewhere have endured a lengthy lockdown and all-round weird time. And now it’s nearly the end of *another* Covid-ish year! (Me in my last post: ‘I’m not sure what winter what will bring …’ Winter: Um, a mega Covid outbreak?).

Honestly, I don’t know how all this time has passed, but I can tell you there’s many a bookish Zoom event, from a SCBWI talk on middle grade and YA from Hardie Grant editor Luna Soo, to some CBCA virtual events, like Alexa Moses and Nathan Luff on their latest books via CBCA Eastern Suburbs, and Victoria Mackinlay on maximising Google as a kids’ book creator via CBCA Newcastle. Then there’s been some fun ‘Larrikin Labs’ with the publishing team and creators at Larrikin House, plus too many more screen-y things.

Shelfie in Monkey and Dog Books, Fort Worth, Texas!

In other news, Walking Your Human has ventured Stateside, popping up in a very awesome looking and sounding indie bookstore in Fort Worth, Texas – Monkey and Dog Books! Discovered thanks to the wonders of Insta, otherwise I’d probably never know about this. A thrill to see and I so hope some Texan dog lovers discover it! And right now, a Korean translation of the book is in progress. Can’t wait to see it but also, I *really* want to go to Korea …

Also, I’ve joined the committee of a new CBCA sub-branch in my area – Canterbury-Bankstown Inner West aka CBIW – still in it’s fledgling stage but starting up properly in the new year. The lovely Jemima Shafei-Ongui is President of the group, and hopefully it’ll be a great way for local creators, teacher librarians and kids to connect over books!

Harriet Muncaster – interviewed on the pod!

At One More Page, we’ve released some inspo-packed episodes lately, from a celebration of female Indigenous creators in Tidda Time, where I interviewed talented illustrator Charmaine Ledden-Lewis, to our just released UK special, The Great British Book Off, with three special guests. I chat to Harriet Muncaster of Isadora Moon fame, where she talks everything from a childhood obsession with fairies and all things miniature, to balancing the demands of working on multiple series at once. Yet more podcasting highlights and so great to delve into the stories behind these creators!

P.S. Loving right now …

Small business love – Zoe Collins bling!

Wrapping up with a snapshot of some current obsessions – I’m:

Reading (adult): Dear Girls by Ali Wong

Reading (kids): The Travelling Bookshop: Mim and the Baffling Bully by Katrina Nannestad

Eating: Mapo tofu

Drinking: Miso caramel lattes

Watching: Love Life season 2 on Stan

Buying: Zoe Collins earrings

Growing: Spider plants

Insta stalking: Ghost and Wren

5 Fun Things – a book launch, awards and quirky new reads

Liz / / No Comments

1

Our kids’ book podcast One More Page was just announced a finalist in the Australian Podcast Awards ‘Best Newcomer’ category for 2018! Considering we only launched recently (episode 5 just came out this week!) it’s a huge honour and, well, a huge surprise! It’s been a fun ride so far, chatting to lots of our favourite kids’ book creators, reading and reviewing amazing books and laughing way too much. Our latest episode features authors Zanni Louise and Tristan Bancks, and it’s all about ideas. You can have a listen here.

2

Quark’s Academy, the debut kids’ book by Catherine Pelosi is out! It launched with a bang (er, literally) in a science experiment-filled extravaganza at Sydney bookshop Lindfield Learning Hub. There were super cool Quark’s themed cupcakes, too (which were much too pretty to eat). Oh, and the book is AWESOME! It’s a fun middle-grade read about three kids whose inventions win them a place in the exclusive Quark’s Academy for young scientists, where all isn’t quite as it seems. Fast-paced and visual, Quark’s Academy is a suspenseful ride with kooky characters and inventions, and wonderful, natural writing. Catherine is in my writers’ group (the chapter book one) so it’s super exciting to see her books come to life. And Something for Fleur, Catherine’s picture book illustrated by Caitlin Murray, is on its way!

Quarks launch cupcakes!

3

Super cute bookish mail alert – the other day I received a handmade mini-book by Zoe Collins, also known as Hoodlum Friends. I love her quirky illustrations and way with words, and all her behind-the-scenes shenanigans at Girl & Duck and Scribbles HQ. Her book stars a lonely little bird and it’s whimsical and adorable. And it came in a handmade collage-ish envelope to boot. Thanks Zoe!

4

A new picture book love by Jane Godwin and Anna Walker – Go Go and the Silver Shoes! This is totally my kind of story – filled with heart, adventure and a hefty dose of quirk, Go Go is about a girl who wears mostly hand-me-downs, but gets to choose her own shoes. Silver shoes! She wears them everywhere she goes, until one day, disaster strikes. It’s an ode to being unique, special things and finding like-minded friends. The illustrations are stunning (it’s Anna Walker, so goes without saying really). I heart Go Go!

5

And my fifth fun thing is … a writing award! I’ve just won first place in the chapter book category of the Greenleaf Blossoms competition (for the first chapter of an unpublished manuscript). The competition was held by Greenleaf Press, and I’ve scored a manuscript assessment by its owner and prolific children’s author Aleesah Darlison. Yay!

Greenleaf Blossoms announcement