As we continue to explore the world of e-books on PaperTigers, we’re asking practitioners and people on the ground about some of the challenges and triumphs they personally have faced creating e-books, as well as the challenges and triumphs they see for the industry as a whole. Last week we spoke with Janet Wong ; today we chat with Hazel Edwards.
Hazel is a 2012 Astrid Lindgren Award nominee, and Ambassador for Australia’s 2012 National Year of Reading, and writes a story each birthday for her grandkids. f2m:the boy within was a 2011 White Ravens selection. Hazel is also a director of the Australian Society of Authors and especially interested in e-books. She is perhaps best known for her There’s a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake series, as engaging and creative as the author herself, which recently celebrated its 30th anniversary with the release of the Pocket Bonfire short film that screened internationally at 2011 film festivals.
We first interviewed Hazel back in 2007, and since then she has been a regular guest on the PaperTigers Blog; we’re delighted to welcome her back now to tell us about her involvement with e-books.
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What was your inspiration for writing e-books? Was that your intention from the get-go, or was there an evolution in your creative process?
I enjoy e-books, both as another innovative format for my stories and to read myself. Inclusive of print, not exclusive. Audio already exists. Maybe smellovision next?
Change should be embraced, not feared. So, although I’m format-challenged, my aim is to learn one e-skill per day and slowly add e-stories to my website. For e-skilled children who are more visual rather than verbal, I’d prefer them to exercise their imaginations reading mysteries on screen, than play violence-based computer-games.
As a 2012 National Year of Reading Ambassador, I’m keen on any aids to literacy, and reading ‘on screen’ is seen as ‘cool’ by challenged readers, whether kids or adults. That’s the reason for adding my mystery series and performance scripts as an easy way of sharing reading for a fun purpose.
‘Us mob likes your e-stories’ was a response after an outback web-chat with an indigenous literacy program.
Fan mail proves e-books work for challenged readers, whether read on laptops or other devices. Educator Robyn Floyd forwarded this fan mail. And it’s genuine responses like this that make an author’s day.
Recently, my e-mentor daughter streamlined my website to allow sales of my print books, along with a slow move to all e-books, for the ease of readers beyond bookshops and libraries. This also makes my books available for international schools or remote web chats.
Experimentally, I grouped some of my easy-to-read children’s mystery stories into an e-book series, Project Spy Kids<
Hi Renee
My tip...Menu Planning...at least a week or so in advance; peruse your recipe books, choose and write the meal down on your calendar. Plus I only shop in bulk once a month. If it's not in the fridge / freezer then I plan something which I can cook from whatever is in the pantry. Exceptions are dinner parties but even they get planned in advance. This isn't a chore for me as I love reading recipe books as much as novels. My family 'dine' in a different country nearly every night and I am still able to devote time to EVERYTHING else. Sadly I can't 'housework plan' nearly as well :-) Dimity
Hi Dimity,
Thanks for sharing your tips on how to save time on house hold chores and spend more time playing and writing.
Menu Planning is an excellent idea and it would solve the question, 'What are we having for dinner tonight?'
It's amazing how much time that can be wasted returning to the supermarket every second day. I think I'll try just once a week or fortnight. Once a month would be so good. No doubt you save money too, Dimity.
Renee, you have no idea. I just need a goat and to plant more vegies now...we never seem to have enough milk in this house!