Can you believe that ‘I Am Jack’ came into the world 12 years ago?
He’s grown into ‘Super Jack’ and ‘Always jack’ and has had many reprints.
Written after my son was bullied at school, it seeks to make life safer for kids, families and communities:-
-Embraced by kids, families and schools across Australia.
-Endorsed by beautiful organisations that partner kids on that rocky journey of life:-
-Room to Read – www.roomtoread.org
-The Alannah & Madeline Foundation – www.amf.org.au
-Life Education Australia – www.lifeeducation.org.au
-The Cancer Council – www.cancercouncil.com.au
JACK’s just been released in the USA by Kane Miller Books
Has been translated into Korean, Slovenian and Bahasa (Indonesia).
The brilliant adaptation of I Am Jack by Monkey Baa Theatre will be having another season at the Lend Lease Darling Quarter Theatre Darling Harbour Sydney 11-16th March 2013
It should be touring the USA in 2014 – www.monkeybaa.com.au
It is now in development as a feature film – the 3 JACKS – with plans to film later next year.
Watch out for I AM JACK the movie.
Jack and his family and friends wish you all a joyous Christmas and New Year.
It’s going to be a fabulous day with authors, from award winning to best sellers author – everything from books for boys to No to bullying to fantasy to reading for the future.
Keeping Books Alive day is supporting Young Australian Art & Writers as well with awards at the dinner.
There’re books signings, prizes, meet and greet with authors, storytelling and dinner with some of Australia’s loved authors – Gabrielle Wang, Dianne Bates, Michael Salmon, Phil Kettle, Meredith Costain, Paul Collins, Michael Panckridge …. and it’s intimate and fabulous.
It’s subsidized for the day at $110 which includes dinner, talks, cocktails and canapes in the beautiful RACV Melbourne. Near the railway station.
I’m in Melbourne to receive the Australian Family Therapists Award for ‘Always Jack’ and will be speaking on a panel at 10.45 at the Keeping Books ALIVE Conference.
Presented by the Australian Children’s Literary Board.
Booking: Rob Leonard [email protected]
ph: 03 5282 8950
Say hello to me if you can make it.
Love to see you there.
Susanne
Yianni Johns is the ABC Radio Central Coast, Arts presenter, an artist and a fellow Australia Day Ambassador which we both LOVE!
We had fun this afternoon in the fishbowl in Erina – the glass window is exposed to shoppers and passer-bys – so everyone sees you. Scott Levi is a great interviewer and has a great banter with Yianni.
Chatted about MonkeyBaa Theatre’s ‘I AM JACK’ at the Seymour and invited everyone across Australia to support the charity performance of ‘I Am Jack’ for The Alannah & Madeline Foundation, keeping children safe from violence – 7 p.m. 4th November at Seymour [email protected].
As Breast Cancer Month comes to a close, it was fitting to talk about ‘Always Jack’ which is endorsed by the Cancer Council – making it safe for kids, parents and community to talk about cancer and celebrate life.
Thankyou to Woollahra Council for holding this community event in the beautiful Council Chambers overlooking Sydney Harbour.
It was moving sharing the story of writing ‘Always Jack’ with the audience – making it safe to talk about cancer.
As long as we share with family and community, it feels all right.
I had some moving comments – ‘My father died at 57 – too young – I never spoke to him. he never spoke to his family.’
Silence isn’t an answer – sharing the journey is.
For information about Tea Topics, literary events, library get togethers call Woollahra Council on 9371 7100 or check the website – www.woollahra.nsw.gov.au
Reaching more than 20 fantastic schools across NSW from the far West to inner city Sydney – reaching 100′s kids and teachers, we celebrated the Cancer Council’s Biggest Morning Tea with Jack’s healthy banana cake ~ receipe is at the back of ‘Always Jack’
The Education Department Connections studios are next to ABC Radio.
Dugal Saunders – the entertaining ABC radio presenter dropped in to watch schools from Kooringal, Cudgegong to Eugowra who connected to the Connections show.
This inter-active TV is wonderful.
We loved the virtual cake eating – Nanna’s teeth that always fall out are on top of Jack’s cake!!!!
Thankyou to all the kids who asked me questions. A few of them:-
Kellyville Public School: What inspired you to write books?
Answer: All of you kids. Want to write books that are your friends.
Matraville Soldiers Settlement School: How hard is it working & raising a family while you go through cancer?
Answer: Hard, but loving as long as my kids, family, friends are part of the journey.
Always Jack was launched as part of www.literaturelive.net
It was really welcoming to see ‘Always Jack’ as the window display at The Children’s Bookshop’, Beecroft in Sydney.
Paul MacDonald who coordinates all the events welcomed me. The upstairs event area was set up with drinks and muffins & more displays of ‘Always Jack’, with walls lined with illustrations from our most loved illustrators – Kim Gamble, Shaun Tan, David Legge, Jan Ormond & others.
People should drop by and have a look at the exhibition.
It was one of those lovely afternoons with a whole range of people from grandmas to toddlers engaged in story. It was warm, welcoming and I even got a few hugs from the audience. I like that.
Profits for the sales of the books are being donated to The Cancer Council that endorses ‘Always Jack.’ That’s generous of Paul MacDonald and ‘The Children’s Bookshop.
Watch out for I AM JACK the movie.
