Warm Feet

I had a good week this week. Despite many interruptions and diversions, I still wrote my self-imposed quota of words, worked out several plot dilemmas and found that two story strands unexpectedly linked together. And I think I have a title for the third Dragonkeeper book. (Not quite ready to tell anybody what it is … Continued

The Spiderweb Method of Writing

I’ve just read Lili’s post about finishing her first draft. I agree with her that first drafts are crap. Mine are anyway. I would be horrified if anybody read the first words I type. They are reworked many times before I dare to call it a first draft. A blank page is a scary thing. … Continued

More Garden of the Purple Dragon News

black dog books tells me that Garden of the Purple Dragon is also due to be published in France (Bayard Editions Jeunesse), Spain (Ediciones B), Germany (Cecile Dressler), Denmark (Bonnier Carlsen), Slovenia (Ucila International). I haven’t got any publication dates for those. Can’t wait to see those editions. It’s exciting seeing my books in other … Continued

Prize-winning Dog

Our puppy, Rita, just graduated from puppy school. At first I thought we would be drawing lots to see who got to go out in the cold every Monday night to take Rita to her classes. Not at all. Once we’d experienced it, we all wanted to go. And we did–me, my husband John and … Continued

DK3

So, I have started to write the third (and final) book in the Dragonkeeper trilogy. I feel nervous writing about it here. I always feel talking about a book I’m writing will hex it. The book doesn’t have a title yet ( my publisher refers to it as DK3) . And if anyone wants to … Continued

Garden of the Purple Dragon Publication Dates

I’ve been getting some emails from readers outside Australia who want to know when Garden of the Purple Dragon will be available overseas. So far the UK, USA and Swedish puplishers have signed up to publish it. It will be released in February in UK. In USA it will be out in spring 2007. I … Continued

Home Again

I’ve just spent four days in Fremantle (Western Australia just in case there’s anyone from OS reading). I wasn’t quite organised enough to post while away. The event was a WA School Librarians conference. The conference was good and it was a pleasure to meet some of the lovely librarians who do such a fantastic … Continued

New Family Member

I thought a blog attached to my website would make it easier for me to keep my “Latest News” up-to-date. It will also give visitors to the website an opportunity to comment. And I can talk about…well, anything! Most importantly, I want to show the world our new puppy! Her name is Rita. Isn’t she … Continued

Garden of the Purple Dragon

Garden of the Purple Dragon, the sequel to Dragonkeeper, is out now in Australia. Ping thinks she is safe hiding in the shadow of Tai Shan, where she struggles to care for Kai, the baby dragon she is responsible for. But even in her remote mountain hideout, Ping’s enemies find her. Who can she trust? … Continued

Launches for Garden of the Purple Dragon

Garden of the Purple Dragon has been well and truly launched with three different events to celebrate its publication. Ipswich Children’s Literature FestivalThe lovely Isobel Carmody launched Garden of the Purple Dragon at the Ipswich Children’s Literature Festival in Queensland. Thanks to Margaret Gibbs for the photo. Ruyton Girls School We had a terrific event … Continued