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Kids, parents, grandparents gathered to celebrate reading at Randwick City Council Library for the end of The National Year of Reading with a fund raiser for:-

the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation to promote literacy indigenous communities.

As an ambassador for the NYR 2012, I was pleased to accept the invitation to read ‘I AM JACK’ to as part of the celebration of a terrific year of reading.

I am jack is having another season at Darling Quarter Theatre, Darling Harbour:-

Book at www.monkeybaa.com.au

I’m thinking I may be a country person after all.  My father was a farmer.

I just love the bush, the villages, the ‘ships in the field’ and cows.

Also love the beautiful birds and our kangaroos.

The kids of Cundletown Public School live in beautiful countryside.

It was great talking as an ambassador for the National Year of Reading to the kids.

Also shared NO to School Bullying with I AM JACK.

We’ve all just got to keep schools safe – so that kids can be all they can be.

They LOVE Jack.

Loved flying into Armidale in country New South Wales, over green rolling fields with cows and sheep grazing as an ambassador for the National Year of Reading.

My lucky role was to speak to kids and teachers at Armidale Library and to speak to the girls of PLC Armidale  in the afternoon.

The kids and fantastic librarians from St Mary’s primary School came along. There were some wonderful I Am Jack fans.

Enjoyed beautiful Armidale with its churches, wrought iron buildings, trees and gardens.

My afternoon with the girls of PLC was especially warm. They embraced ‘Ships in the Field’ and their answers about war and dislocation were insightful. Thankyou girls and librarian linda Kolevas.

Thankyou for my welcome from Library manager Ian Greenhalgh and librarian Merril Newberry and new children’s librarian Trini Angeles.

SCBWI Conference Talent, talent, talent – illustrators coming out of your ears and eyes – a feast of established and new illustrators are showcasing, speaking, sharing the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators at The Hughenden in Sydney.

Showcase: Friday 29th June

Open to Industry 4.30-5.30p.m. for an exclusive viewing

14 Queen Street Woollahra

Lead by our brilliant Illustrator Coordinators:- Frane Lessac and Sarah Davis,

supported by the Illustrator committee – Lesley Vamos, Serena Geddes, Andrea Edmonds, Majorie Crosby-Fairall. Invitation created by Lesley Vamos.

Some of the brilliant illustrators showcasing and speaking:-

Nina Rycroft

Frane Lessac

Lesley Vamos

Lachlan Creagh

Majorie Crosby-Fairall

Sarah Davis

Betty Sargeant

Wendy Binks

Follow the SCBWI Conference Blog –   http://scbwiaustnzconferenceblog2012.blogspot.com.au

A National Year of Reading partnership with ambassadors for the NYR ambassadors Hazel Edwards, Frane Lessac, Deborah Abela, Christopher Cheng and Susanne Gervay are part of the SCBWI Conference.

www.love2read.org.au

As Ambassadors for the National Year of Reading, Christopher Cheng and I launched Jean Genies an Gosford Library initiative supporting teen reading across Australia and beyond.

Jeans are decorated by young people from libraries and this year the jeans will be going to Peru and Slovakia this year.

The fantastic librarians Claire Stuckey and Sharon Dalgleish initiated this Jean Genies celebration of books. It’s a natural partner with the National Year of Reading.

ABC radio Central Coast supports both the National year of Reading and Jean Genies – thankyou to Scott Levi. Loved our interview and sharing ‘Ships in the Field’ with the Central Coast.

Special hello to the Adventist School who I spoke to.

Special hello to the wonderful Gosford High School Choir who moved me deeply with their voices and generosity in supporting reading and community.

Special hello to the wonderful Gosford Library.

LOVE seeing Frane and Mark the dynamic duo from Fremantle WA. They’re in Sydney meeting their publishers and doing the final touches to their hilarious new picture book based on a true story:-

There is not a stir or a whisper when Louis de Rougemont steps onto the stage to recount his astonishing experiences. It’s the most amazing story a man ever lived to tell

– a breathtaking tale of catastrophe and miraculous events.

- But critics say he is an impostor with a gift for ripping yarns.

-Are Louis’ tales true? Or is he the greatest liar on earth?

The true story of Louis de Rougemont and how his stories became truth and his truths became stories.

I was excited to show my first picture book ‘Ships in the Field’ (Ford Street Publishers) to Frane and Mark  who are award winning and fantastic picture book creators.

Frane Lessac and I are proud ambassadors for the National Year of Reading 2012 which launches on 14 February across Australia – please make sure you join in for the festivities and contact you local library.

Thankyou to the kids and teachers of Central Coast Adventist School  for loving I Am Jack and my JACKS!

‘I Am Jack’ is a core study at the Adventist School for a term. As I entered the library, it felt like  I was welcomed by friends. The warmth of the kids and teachers was a special way to end nearly 2 months on this Book writing tour.

It was so much fun driving with my daughter Tory from Sydney to the Central Coast especially since my GPS went crazy.

We ended up at this Buddhist Cafe and gallery set amongst rolling hills and the green countryside. Beautiful. Then I got to speak to this fantastic kids on their last day before school holidays.

As an ambassador for the National Year of Reading 2012, love speaking to kids and promoting books – next year is going to be a major one – log onto and have fun:- www.love2read.org.au