Libraries, libraries, libraries – you’ve got to LOVE them.
They’re spreading the reading message and as an ambassador for The National Year of Reading, I’m speaking at writers’ festivals, book launches, libraries, schools, bookshops.
Is it fantastic? YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Here’s a snapshot of my May tours for The National Year of Reading - www.love2read.org
4-6th May ~ Keynote at the Gloucester Writers festival – www.gloucesterwritersfestival.com
6th May – Launch at Gloucester Festival of ‘Alien Shores’ an anthology of refugees narratives that reach into struggles, humour, life of finding home with authors including speaking Sharon Rundle and Andrew Kwong. I’ll be speaking about my story.
17th -18th May -Coff’s Harbour region speaking at schools and the Catholic Diocese of Lismore in Northern NSW Teacher-Librarian Conference
20th May – Melbourne for the launch of Alien Shores by the Human Rights QC Julian Burnside with authors, Arnold Zable, Sharon Rundle, Professor Meenakshi Bharat, Susanne Gervay at 6 p.m. Readings Bookstore Carlton. http://www.readings.com.au/review/alien-shores-by-sharon-rundle-meenakshi-bharat-eds
22nd May – Launching Alien Shores in Sydney at The Hughenden Hotel with authors Linda Jailin, Sophie Masson, Sharon Rundle, Rosie Scott with the Consul General of India www.thehughenden.com.au
23rd May- Randwick Library in Sydney for Simultaneous Reading Time where ambassadors will read to parents and littlies across Australia – can’t wait, it’s going to be gorgeous! http://www.alia.org.au/nss/
24-May – Taree Library speaking about ‘Always Jack’ for the Biggest Morning Tea in support of the Cancer Council at Taree Library brought up by the Australian Library and Information Association
25th May -Halliday’s Point Library on North Coast NSW
28th May – speaking at 10 am in Warringah Library in Sydney’s Northern Beaches about my first picture book ‘Ships in the Field’.
29th May – Teacher Librarian Conference at Maroubra Junction Public School Sydney
That’s my MAY spreading the National Year of Reading Celebration of Books!
Love you to come along and chat to me, or log onto the www.lovetoread.org website and joi
I am so excited about being the Australia Day Ambassador for regional Australia in Wakool.
I’m flying by charter plane from Sydney on the 25th January, then it’s all day celebrations on 26th January.
I will be making citizenship presentations at the Australia Day Breakfasts across the Wakool Shire. Recipients of Wakool Shire Council Citizenship Awards are:
Citizen of the Year – Mrs Peg Watts, Moulamein
Junior Citizen of the Year – Mr Jackson Spinks, Kyalite
Sportsperson of the Year – Mrs Ivy Siely, Tooleybuc Bowling Club
Community Event of the Year – Wakool Fishing Classic
There will be flag raising ceremonies, official presentations
& even a duck race on the Murray River.
The 2011 Ambassador Program is proudly sponsored by Woolworths.
Australia Day is about celebrating ‘our land and reflecting on our diversity, remarkable achievements and bright future.’
For more information on the Wakool Day Australia Day celebrations :-
http://www.wakool.nsw.gov.au/
There’s Australia Day celebrations everywhere. It’s the first time I’ll be missing the Australia Day Aussie barbecue at The Hughenden Woollahra – but everyone is welcome to drop by there and wave a flag – say hello, while I’ll be saying hello to our fabulous country Aussies in Wakool! The GM at The Hughenden is from Wakool – how kool is that!!!
Who’s at the ABC Studios in Harris Street Sydney?
Yes, it’s a PLAY SCHOOL bonanza with Little Ted, Jemima, Big Ted and the famous Humpty Dumpty reading ‘Always Jack’. Come on into the ABC studios in Harris St Sydney and say hello to them.
I was visiting the ABC National Radio Studios for an interview for Life Matters with Richard Aedy and ‘Always Jack’. Listen out for the interview in early December.
The Cancer Council’s yellow daffodil is special on the back cover of ‘Always Jack’.
Sharing ‘Always Jack’ is about being a family. So when there’s a challenge like a Mum getting sick, it’s OK to talk, support each other, laugh & make Christmas a celebration.
FRIDAY BOOK FEATURE – ALWAYS JACK
There were so many things I loved about Susanne Gervay’s new book, Always Jack, just released this month by HarperCollins.
Jack is an irresistible character. He’s kind and funny but with the normal insecurities of a boy who comes from a blended family, wondering if his stepfather Rob loves his own son, Leo more.
But Jack doesn’t dwell on it too much. He has great friends, a family who loves him and a house full of quirky pets.
This all comes crashing down when his mother is diagnosed with breast cancer and Jack realizes that there are more important things to worry about than his stepbrother Leo, who really isn’t such a bad guy.
Mum and Rob’s wedding is postponed while she undergoes treatment for the cancer and it takes Jack’s sense of humour and all his courage to cope with what’s happening. Like everything in his life, Jack deals with the situation with optimism and honesty. He also draws on the support of his good friends, Christopher and Anna.
Susanne Gervay tackles a difficult subject on a level that kids will relate to and without sentimentality. Her honesty and the authenticity of the character’s feelings and reactions are what make this story so poignant.
Always Jack is an extraordinary story about ordinary people. It’s a simply told story, but far from simple, delving into a difficult issue in a way that kids will relate to and will make them think ‘it’s okay to feel this way’.
I hesitate to put an age range on Always Jack because it’s the sort of book that could be read by ten to twelve-year olds, but older kids and even adults will also get a lot out of it.
Cathy Wilcox’s amazing cartoons scattered throughout the book help balance the intensity of the subject matter.
The author draws on her own experiences of surviving cancer and as the Cancer Council NSW says, Susanne Gervay’s Always Jack makes it safe for children, parents and the wider community to talk about cancer.
If you enjoyed reading
Relay for Life in beautiful Centennial Parklands -www.relayforlife.org.au
24 hours dedicated to survivors, carers, memories for those touched by cancer
Walking with family & friends in the candlelight HOPE Ceremony.
Snuggling in cold tents, warm hearts, with kids dancing, musicians playing from Bondi Lifesavers, Celebrity chefs,school kids, the Woollahra Masonic Lodge, the Cancer Council daffodil choir, the local Councils, NIDA and the community coming together.
I spoke at the Survivors Morning Tea - about transforming cancer to HOPE.
By:
Susanne Gervay,
on 4/28/2010
Blog:
Susanne Gervay's Blog
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Writing,
David Mulligan,
Relay for Life,
The Hughenden,
Laurine Croasdale,
Jeni Mawter,
Vashti Farrer,
Felicity Pulman,
May Gibbs Trust Fellowship,
Moya Simons 'Let Me Whisper You My Story',
NSW Cancer Council,
Add a tag
The May Gibbs Fellowship Trust - www.maygibbs.org.au
The May Gibbs Fellowship is open again for applications for residencies in Canberra, Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Writers gathered for morning tea at The Hughenden to share their news and celebrate Felicity Pulman’s May Gibbs Trust Fellowship. She’s going soon to do the fellowship in Adelaide.
She’s got a book to write for the Fellowship, as well as do lots of writing talks in Adelaide.
Other News: Vashti Farrer has really cute new book out with Scholastic; Laurine is writing another Aussie Bites; Jeni Mawter has a rhyming picture book coming out, Moya Simons is getting ready for the launch of her new book ‘Let Me Whisper Me My Song’, David Mulligan’s successful novel ’Angels Kokoda’ published by Scholastic is being reprinted yet again.
I’m in a team for Relay for Life – supporting Cancer Council – join in the relay. Sponsor Relay for Life on:-
http://www.relay.cancercouncil.com.au/team.create.html?relay_id=376
I’ll be speaking at the NSW Cancer morning tea on 15th May at Centennial Parklands.
