This week I will be in Sydney. Shearers Bookshop in Leichhardt is hosting an after-school event where I will be speaking. If anyone in Sydney would like to come and listen to me talk about my books—old and new—I’d love to see you there. Time: 4pm Date: Wed 3 Sep Place: 99 Norton St, Leichhardt … Continued
I have a new book out. It is my very first picture book. It tells the story of how the Eureka Flag was made. The Eureka Flag is an important symbol in Australian history. It was the flag flown by Ballarat gold diggers in 1854 when they were rebelling against the government. It has become … Continued
Today the Children’s Book Council of Australia announced the winners of their annual awards. And I am delighted to say that Dragon Moon was the winner of the CBCA Book of the Year for Younger Readers Award. I was absolutely thrilled as you can imagine. Often sequels get overlooked by reviewers and judges, so I … Continued
I have two new books out this month. They are both non-fiction. The first isn’t completely new, it’s a new edition of my book on the Olympic Games. It has a new cover, a new title — The Games: The extraordinary history of the modern Olympics — and it’s been completely updated. It’s full of … Continued
I will be in Brisbane next Wednesday taking a writers’ workshop at the Queensland Writers Centre. It will be an all-day Young Writers’ Masterclass for students from Grades 10 — 12. I will be helping young writers learn how to get ideas and build stories. It costs $70 and there are still a few places … Continued
I am going to New Zealand tomorrow which is very exciting. I am a guest of the Storylines Festival. I will be speaking at three free Family Days during the festival. Free Family Days Wellington Free Family Day – 8 June Te Whaea, Newtown Christchurch Free Family Day – 14 June Heaton Intermediate Auckland Free … Continued
I’ve just received my author copies of a new black dog books book called Short: a collection of interesting short stories and other stuff from some surprising and intelligent people. I have a short story in it. As well as stories it contains poems, pictures and things that don’t fit into any regular categories. All … Continued
The shortlist for this year’s NSW Premier’s Literary Awards have just been announced, and…Dragon Moon has been nominated for the Patricia Wrightson Award. I’m delighted, of course. That’s two shortlistings for the book. The winners will be announced on 19 May. You can see all the other shortlisted books here. It’s a tough field, with … Continued
The State Library of Victoria is holding a Medieval Faire this Saturday (20 April) from 10-4. There are lots of interesting-looking events and activities including opportunities to learn how to sword fight, try drawing dragons and dress up in Medieval clothes. There are story-telling sessions and performances of Medieval music. It’s all to accompany The … Continued
I will be visiting Sydney next month as a guest of the Sydney Writer’s Festival. I’ll be doing two school sessions on a panel with Terry Denton, Richard Glover, Doug MacLeod, Emily Rodda and Deborah Abela. But those sessions have both sold out. I will also be doing a session which is open to the … Continued