The USA tour was so fabulous – from New York to Maryland to Washington State
- sharing I Am Jack and my JACK books and Butterflies which have been just published by Kane Miller Books in the USA.
Meet fabulous people – special thanks to Professors Ernest Bond and Patricia Dean at Salisbury University.
Caught up with fabulous writers and illustrators like Frane Lessac and Bruce Coville and many more.
Special thanks to Tabatha Roach representing Kane Miller Books and her great team especially Lisa and Jen.
THANKYOU!
Farewell fabuous Salisbury University.
Thankyou to Professor Patricia Dean – special hugs to her dogs Zoe and Lucy and the best kitten ever – Socrates.
Thankyou to Professor Ernest Bond for everything – also lift o Washington airport & stop off at the best ever diner!
Cool flight with Alaska Airlines to Seattle and collected by Tabatha Roach from Usborne-Kane Miller Books and Lisa -start of my Seattle speaking tour.
Beautiful hotel Deca – in the Washington University area. I’m on the 15th floor overlooking the city. It has an art deco lounge area with fireplace, huge artworks – very special hotel.
Next morning drove through magnificent conifers over bays and a very long floating road. Seattle is beautiful.
Shared ‘Butterflies’ and my ‘I Am Jack’ books with 100′s and 100′sof kids and teachers and of cousre the wonderful librarians.
Some wonderful moments – reaching kids through story.
Farewell Maryland USA – loved every minute here.
Really enjoyed talking to the students at Salisbury University – they’re going to be wonderful teachers.
Loved the professors and their welcome
Loved the beautiful grounds of the university with its mix of old and new buildings, artworks and parklands
Loved the Peace display and act of kindness at the university – I wrote on the wall of course
Loved the Green Earth Book Award = Kadir Nelson is a favourite US illustrator – check out his stunning book MOSES.
Loved the international book displays – and of course the Australian and New Zealand component – with books by my friends like Deborah Abela and Prue Mason – glad to see my JACK books there and Butterflies.
Loved the hosp
itality of Professor Patricia Dean & Professor Ernie Bond.
THANKYOU – and I’m flying to Seattle today to begin my new writing tour – I Am Jack and No to school bullying.
Driving South down route 13 in Maryland US holds secrets-
along the Atlantic Coast is this special Island
- ponies run free
- deer
- gulls who are so huge
Heritage wooden oak trees, firs, homes, ocean boardwalks with famous popcorn and cold beer
= great fun with the cool professors from Salisbury university – Ernie Bond, Patricia Dean with Ernie’s boys.
Talking about kids books from around the world – love it.
New York is cold, cold, cold but fun and I shopped as well as heard amazing speakers at the SCBWI Conference and talking at schools.
Took the train from Penn Station to my friend’s home – thankyou Lynn and George – in beautiful Summit New Jersey -
with gracious heritage homes made of wood, huge oak trees lining the streets, snow thinly dusting the houses.
I snuggled warmly inside looking out.
It was lovely.
I was soooo lucky. I left Summit as the huge snow storms hit and arrived in Salisbury Maryland 4.5 hours later.
I discovered that the USA has more police car patrols than Australia. I didn’t think it was possible.
There were that many cops stopping and fining cars. Luckily I was too nervous to drive fast – being on the wrong side of the road.
No speeding fine for me.
Arrived in beautiful Salisbury – a university town where I was met by the brilliant Professor Ernest Bond, who is head of the Education Faculty at Salisbury.
He’s such a visionary embracing literature from all over the world and establishing the Green Book Award for children’s literature that promotes protecting our environment.
Ended the day with coffee overlooking a rustic lake;
speaking to university students and academics at Salisbury University about I Am Jack, Butterflies, ‘Ships in the Field’ – my books.
then Mexican dinner.
Fabulous day!
Prof Ernest Bond and Dr Patty Dean are passionate about Australian & New Zealand youth literature.
They brought a group of 13 USA teachers-students to the Kids and Young Adult Literature Festival at the NSW Writers Centre.
I loved being Director of that festival, loved hosting Salisbury Uni, loved the wild and woolley dinner at The Hughenden with authors, illustrators, publishers and Salisbury Uni.
Loved the students and their deep knowledge of my books, the books of James Roy, Ursula Dubosarsky, Melina Marchetta, Deborah Abela, Nina Rycroft, Sarah Davis and so many Australian authors.
What a privilege.
The USA tour was so fabulous – from New York to Maryland to Washington State
