Frane Lessac flew in from Perth to Sydney on a 5 hour flight.
We screamed and ran into each other’s arms at Sydney International airport – yes, we are corny.
We’re ready to start our Korean adventure. Duty free ’shopping’ first – that means hitting the perfume and cream counter and trying all the samples!
Bought Korean money as we plan to SHOP!!!!
Squished into economy class and seriously stuffed up the video – ate, talked, disturbed the guy next to us by jumping over him to get to the aisle heaps of times - 10 hours.
Seoul looks like orange and pink lights from the air sprawing over sea and hilly land. 17 million people live in Seoul.
We’re here!!!!!!
Angie welcomed us from NamBooks. It’s over an hour into the city- crossed a pink lit bridge, passed sparkly sculptures, shops, restaurants, little alleys – booked into the Somerset Palace Hotel – modern and squish in an old part of the city – ended up eating German sausages with Angie. How funny is that- but delicious.
Thought the pouring of the red into huge glasses was stylish. That’s us stylish – as if.
www.nambook.org
‘Remember East Timor’ – I wrote the story and Frane Lessac illustrated it for ‘PEACE STORY’ – part of the Peace Children’s Festival on NAMI Island SouthKorea – where 22 authors, 22 illustrators, 22 countries participated in a unique anthology for Peace supported by IBBY Korea, UNICEF, YMCA … and the foreign embassies in Korea.
The anthology will be a beautiful book of art and story that is part of this festival that draws more than 400,000 visitors.
Frane Lessac just flew over from Western Australia to Sydney. We had a great breakfast at The Hughenden talking about this amazing experience. We’re featured on the programme – Frane is doing a special workshop – ‘Your own picture book’ and I am doing one called ‘Stop bullying’ – on my book I AM JACK that is translated into Korean as well as English.
Tom Neal Tacker who’s a fantastic travel writer. Check out his travel magazine – www.nakedhungrytraveller.com – The Naked Hungry Traveller.
He joined us as he often stays at the Hughenden, so it was fun to catch up. He’s going to Korea next week and plans to go to Nami Island and hopefully write about it.
From October 1 to November 14, the Nami Island Festival welcomes publishers, writers, children, readers, international delegates from all over the world in a celebration of literature, the arts and peace.
The festival is publishing Peace Story with support from the United Nations.
Peace Story has come from the spirit of this festival which invited authors and illustrators from 22 countries to write about peace and create a unique picture book for the world.
Much loved authors and illustrators from countries including Austria, Bolivia, Turkey, USA …have participated. I was invited to represent Australia.
The award winning illustrator Frane Lessac has illustrated my story ‘Remember East Timor – with love from Australia.’
It is one of the most beautiful projects.
Frane and I will be in Nami Island from 2 to 8 th November for the Festival. Join us if you are there.
For morel information – www.nambook.org
