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Today officially heralds the start of the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book Week 2014. This year’s theme: Connect to Reading – Reading to Connect can be interpreted in many ways just as ones connection with art can take place on several levels. I have long purported that the humble picture book is one […]

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I totally empathise with the characters in this book by well-loved author Libby Hathorn. Yes, I too love the paper smell and consistently fight the desire to take a bite from a book I truly adore. Yes books are delicious. And yes, they are lovable.

The rustle of the pages. The sound as the book shuts tight. The dreams they conjure, the magical places they take us, the short, hippety-hoppety words and the laughter and the commas, dots and question marks. Libby expresses it all in this book – so perfectly, the reader will nod in appreciation the whole way through.

Told in rhyming text, the book’s illustrations are bright, dynamic, Seussy, delight. Heath McKenzie’s divine talent shines through and he takes a flying leap into the imaginative possibility Libby has penned – and comes up with page after page of beautiful imagery both kids and adults will adore.

I love you, book.

I Love You Book is published by IP Kidz.

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Authors, illustrators, librarians, publishers …. so many people gathered to celebrate Maurice Saxby’s contribution to children’s literature.

Professor Robyn Ewing gave the keynote:- ‘Story is at the centre of what we do – imagine.’

‘A creative work remains permanently unfinished.’ Shaun Tan.

Children’s literature promotes creativity, imagination and exploration. 

The inaugural Maurice Saxby lecture was the brainchild of Libby Gleeson, an Ambassador for the National Year of Reading. She was joined by other ambassadors – Chris Cheng, Libby Hathorn and me.

A national year of Reading event 

It was a wonderful evening in Sydney’s heritage Mitchell Library.

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Maurice Saxby AM is one of the significant people in the development of children’s literature in Australia.

The inaugural lecture where Maurice will be speaking will be important.

It’s a National Year of Reading 2012 event.

Date: Thursday 1st May

State Library Sydney NSW

Bookings are open:-

Ph: 02 9818 3858

or email

[email protected]

 

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A retreat in the country, some of Australia’s most renowned authors with women writers – it’s all wonderful with a dash of spirituality at the Brahma Kumaris Inner Space Centre a retreat overflowing with roses, bush walks, lakes, birds.

President of Society of Women Writers Bridget Mckern welcomed us. She led the Shibashi in the gardens where we moved and stretched into this special sense of peace.

Love it!

Highlights:-

Dr Maria Hill, historian and author of ‘Diggers and Greeks’ who totally engaged us in creative history.

Dr Mark Tredinnick multi award winning poet of collections including ‘Fire Diary’, ‘The Blue Plateau’, ‘The Lyrebird’ – he has the voice of a Shakespearean actor and when combined with his evocative poetry, it held us all captive.

Libby Hathorn international and national award winning author inspired many to write.

All the speakers were inspiring – Catherine Hammond, Sally Swain, Jan Cornall. Special thanks to talented author Lindsay Lewis, Peg McColl, Maria Hill and of course Bridget McKern for organising a fabulous weekend.

I loved speaking about the inspiration for my writing from ‘I Am Jack’ to ‘Butterflies’ to ‘That’s Why I Wrote This Song’.

 

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Heaps of kids and parents piled into Punchbowl Public School’s Library for the CBCA Book Event.

Authors Libby Hathorn, Oliver Phommavanh, Sue Walker and I spoke to enthusiastic kids about our books, hosted by the school librarian Trevor Neville who is an illustrator.

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There’s something romantic about Teddy’s Library in historic Olesnica. With nearly 7500 children’s books in Glowinski’s Library, in different languages from 88 countries, children and parents have access to the world culture of books.

I’ve donated from time to time my books. Teddy just sent me this photo of his grand daughter Daria holding ‘Jamie’s A Hero’ – my first book.  I’m reminded to post some books next week to the Glowinski Library.

Daria wants to be a librarian like her grandfather. I find it touching.

As an author Ambassador of Room to Read with my writing friends like Deborah Abela, Markus Zusak, Libby Hathorn, Tristan Bancks, we can change the world through books and literacy.

Teddy’s library is doing that there in his small corner of the world.

Thankyou Teddy.

http://glowinski.olesnica.pl/

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And this week we get to peer into the Creating Place of Libby Hathorn.

I’ve always wanted a serene writing environment with the ‘accoutrements’ of writing around me creating a space both physical and emotional but always inspiring. I work in a book-lined study at a large-ish desk. If I look up from my desk I see the garden and it’s a good place to let the eye rest and the mind wander. Often I collect things to do with the book in progress, so gum leaves whilst writing Thunderwith, pictures of The Hanging Gardens of Babylon whilst writing Zahara’s Rose, many, many poetry books whilst compiling The ABC Book of Australian Poetry. But other things like my crocodile pen, greeting cards, postcards, or photos end up scattered here for a while because they constitute something ‘sparky’ to me...It ‘s a changing place though, depending on the work in progress.


Today in My Creating Place:
The bust of child- my muse a gift from my husband John when we were in Normandy
Notebooks- filled with anything and everything from scraps of novels to lists of chapter heads or title names, the odd poem.
Folders without labels that say something to me e.g. Indian cloth-bound folder always means the book I’m working on now.
The composers- two small bust of Verdi and Puccini whose music, along with Ella Fitzgerald’s is always inspirational
Teapot for the necessary 101 cups of tea whilst work is in progress
Flowers-whatever is in season
Latest book at pages stage I Love You Book with the fantastical illustrations of Heath McKenzie.


Libby's Latest book:
The ABC Book of Australian Poetry; a treasury for young people ABC Books, 2010

Other recent books:

Fire Song ABC Books. 2009.
Zahara’s Rose IP Kidz, 2009
Georgiana; Woman of Flowers, Hachette, 2008. Winner Society of Women Writer’s Biennial Awards 2009.

You can find Libby at her website here.

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I LOVE being an Australia Day Ambassador – my parents who were Hungarian refugees would be so honoured.

 They loved Australia and were always grateful to find a home where they could rebuild their lives and where their children would be safe.

Other ambassadors include:-

Writers – Thomas Keneally, Libby Hathorn, Bryce Courtney, Maurice Saxby

Sports people – Mike York Captain of the Australian Hockey Team, Dean Widden Rugby player, Parramatta Eeels, Mal Melinga Rugby League icon

Singers – Marcia Hines, David Campbell, Angry Anderson

Journalists and TV personalities – Ita Buttrose, Belinda Green Miss World, Don Burke

People who have changed the world – Gough Whitlan former Prime Minister, Clary Castrission Founder of 40K creating eduction for poor Indian children, Ian Keirnan Founder of Clean Up Australia, Dick Smith

Human Rights, leaders in all fields – Police, Law, Indigenous …..

I’ll be going to the country over the Australia Day weekend.

I could even be the speaker at a Citizenship ceremony.

Imagine that!

THANKYOU Australia!!!!

www.australiaday.com.au

 

 

 

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We were happy to welcome Jon Appleton back to Australia after 15 years working in UK  publishing. He’s come back to become the children’s publisher at Hachette.

Jonathon was one of those child prodigies who at fifteen years old, he  published a review magazine of Australian children’s books with in depth interviews of creators. He’s excited about being back in Australia. We’re excited too.

It was one of those warm and wonderful nights with balmy summer weather, great food, even greater company and a SCBWI celebration of all the books published this year. 

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The Mitchell Library is a magnificent building and a beautiful location for the Biennial Book Awards. Margaret Whitlam came along which was special. I remember her when she was the feisty and brilliant wife of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam. She’s elderly now but she is still so smart and involved.

Felicity Pulman for her Janna Mysteries- Weeping for Willows and my book, for ‘That’s Why I Wrote This Song’ were short listed. Libby Hathorn’s Georgiana Woman of Flowers won the award.

Beverly George, children’s author and internationally award winning poet, spoke about the international conference she organised on the Central Coast NSW. People from all over the world especially Japan came together to create, celebrate and discuss haiku and tanka poetry.

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The Edmund Rice Centre brought forward the brilliant initiative of an event about the power of story to engage young people in social justice. The auditorium was full, the stands representing Fair Trading, the Pacific Islands and Room to Read bringing literacy to the children of the developing world were there.

The speakers were passionate, committed and had the audience moved and ready to act for eco justice and human rights.

Melina Marchetta, Nadia Wheatley, Maria Boyd, Libby Hathorn, Libby Gleeson advocated for human rights through their stories.

Lynette Riley a Wiradjuri & Kamilaroi woman, Deputy Director of the Koori Centre, was especially powerful in her advocacy for the indigenous. Robin Morrow spoke about the power of literature to enrich and inform.

Mark Raue is working to save the Pacific Islands from drowning with climate change , a founding member of the Pacific Calling Partnership sang for social justice and ecology. I loved his songs.

I spoke about my emotional experience talking about ‘Butterflies’ at the World Burn Congress in New York. The audience responded with tears and a commitment to engagement with those who face the challange of disability.

It was wonderful. All wonderful

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Bookfeast was abuzz with balloons, kids, teachers and the cream of Australian children’s authors and illustrators.

Haberfield school librarian, Michael Fraser’s annual event is unique in uniting the community of Australian children’s authors and illustrators with their audiences in a celebration of literature and reading.

 Keynote speakers were:-

Richard Harland award winning and best selling fantasy author

Sue Murray Australia’s leading youth playwright

Sarah Davis - awarded best new young illustrator by the CBCA for ‘Mending Lucille’

Duncan Ball, Australia’s much loved and multi award winning author of Selby the Talking Dog and Emily Eyefinger.

 It was a FEAST of talent including

Gus Gordon illustrator - look out for brilliant picture book WENDY

William Kostakis author - YA novel ‘Loathing Lola’

Moya Simons author - series ‘Walk Right In Detective Agency’

Emma Quay illustrator - adorable picture book ‘Bear and Chook’

Sue Whiting author - kids favourite the Firefighters illustrated by Donna Rawlings

Kate Forsyth world wide fantasy author - brilliant series Chain of Charms

Deb Abela author delights with - Max Remy Super Spy

Jenny Hale and her debut fantasy series JATTA which is already a best seller

Chris Cheng editor of a new Poetry anthology that is receiving acclaim

and many more - Felicity Pulman, Vashti Farrer,David Mulligan,Libby Hathorn,Alan Baille,Patricia Bernard,Vicky Morrison ….

It’s truly a FEAST

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