The rain poured, Sydney was brooding, but the launch of Gracie and Josh was a total joy.
Paul MacDonld from The Children’s Bookshop, VARIETY the children’s charity, Meredith Costain from Ford Street Publishing and an enthusiastic crowd welcomed ‘Gracie and Josh’ into the world.
I couldn’t believe it when Jodie Wells Slowgrove and Vicki Stanton and others braved the weater to drive hours from Woollongong to this event.
People came from fare and wide:-
Sharon Rundle, Christie Lamb and one of my favourite fans – the wonderful girl Nina Lamb – came from the Central Coast.
Loved poet Beverely George , award winning illustrator Sarah Davis and Nikau – gosh I couldn’t believe that she already a teen. – also from the Central Coast.
The award winning Libby Gleeson, Sue Murray playwright from School Magazine, Rachel Greenwood editor of the CBCA magazine and so many people piled into the Children’s Bookshop.
Serena Geddes and I shared the very special journey of creating our picture book ‘Gracie and Josh’ -
where we celebrated children and families who faced illness through the joy of words and colour.
Deeply personal, ‘Gracie and Josh’ is our public testament to the resilience and courage and love of children.
We were privileged to partner with Variety the children’s charity in ‘Gracie and Josh’ – www.variety.org.au
Do I love Beecroft Bookshop!
YES!
Is Paul MacDonald, owner of the Bookshop a passionate advocate of kids’ books?
YES!
Did I enjoy speaking to kids and parents about writing at the Bookshop?
YES!
Did I love sharing with Paul, my beautiful picture book illustrated by the talented illustrator Serena Geddes?
YES!
Had a great morning there. Beecroft Bookshop is launching Gracie and Josh which is endorsed by the wonderful VARIETY, the children’s charity, on 1st March 2013.
How exciting to be welcomed with a huge window display at The Children’s Bookshop Beecroft of ‘Ships in the Field’, a National Year of Reading event.
Anna Pignataro the brilliant illustrator of ‘Ships in the Field’ loved speaking to authors, illustrators, teachers, librarians, kids and friends.
Anna shared her Italian-Egyptian background and how her parents were forced out of Egypt, while I shared my Hungarian refugee background – in ‘Ships in The Field’ – a story of finding home.
Fabulous authors like Wendy Blaxland, Wendy Fitzgerald, Belinda Murrell, Margaret Roc, Felicity Pulman, Isolde Martyn, tanka poet Beverley George …Maria Simpson creator of Bilby Theatre, librarians like the fantastic Claire Stuckey and friends came to celebrate ‘Ships in the Field’.
Loved it!!!!!
The Queen Victoria Tea Rooms resplendent with chandeliers, 19th century decor and high tea was a fitting place to farewell this remarkable publisher.
Linsay Kinight’s authors and illustrators, bookshop owners, significant people in children’s literature and the RandomHouse publishing team were there to acknowledge Linsay Knight. Margaret Searle Managing Director said she that she loved working with Linsau and that she would always be a friend and colleague even after Linsay left Random House.
Jacqueline Harvey gave a wonderful speech about how significant Linsay Knight was in the development of many authors and illustrators. She was invaluable working with author Jacqueline Harvey in the development of the series Alice Miranda.
The Queen Victoria Tea Rooms resplendent with chandeliers, 19th century decor and high tea was a fitting place to farewell this remarkable publisher.
Linsay Kinight’s authors and illustrators, bookshop owners, significant people in children’s literature and the RandomHouse publishing team were there to acknowledge Linsay Knight. Margaret Searle Managing Director said she that she loved working with Linsau and that she would always be a friend and colleague even after Linsay left Random House.
Jacqueline Harvey gave a wonderful speech about how significant Linsay Knight was in the development of many authors and illustrators. She was invaluable working with author Jacqueline Harvey in the development of the series Alice Miranda.
Marnie and the ‘girls’ from her book club arrived at The Hughenden for lunch.
They travelled across Sydney from their usual haunt at Beecroft Bookshop.
Paul MacDonald the owner and event coordinator for Beecroft Books runs fabulous events – everyone from multi award winning author Jacke French to Shan Tan to new authors like Aleesah Darlinson and illustrators Sarah Davis. He did a wonderful window display of ‘Always Jack’ – thankyou Paul.
Marnie and the Club came to the East this time. We spoke about ‘Always Jack’ and seeing life as warm, funny, loving and safe to talk about cancer.
I love their talk about books, life and their friendship across ages.
The rain poured, Sydney was brooding, but the launch of Gracie and Josh was a total joy.
The award winning Libby Gleeson, Sue Murray playwright from School Magazine, Rachel Greenwood editor of the CBCA magazine and so many people piled into the Children’s Bookshop.
We were privileged to partner with Variety the children’s charity in ‘Gracie and Josh’ – www.variety.org.au
