News: I’m Joining the Planet Emerging Writers’ Festival Blog as a Festival Blogger!

Which is very exciting!

If you haven't already, head on over to the EWF Blog, as it draws from a handful of literary bloggers (as well as EWF staffers) who are giving you all the festival goss and general literary news. Officially:

Planet EWF draws in local literary bloggers to give you all the news and views from the festival.

I feel really honoured to be asked to contribute (I may or may not have done a little happy dance). I love EWF; I think they consistently put on a fantastic program to help and nurture emerging and established writers from all over. Their program is always full of variety, interesting, helpful.

Being a part of the blogging team will be so fantastic: I can't wait for the festival!

For your diaries: May 24 – June 3 2012, and the program is out April.

In the ...

Should Children’s Literature Be Entertaining for Adults too?

First day back at uni and already I am inspired!

Firstly, Toni Jordan. I was over the moon to discover that she is one of my lecturers/tutors this semester. I own both her books, have seen her speak and am just so excited. Her lecture this morning - first one - was laid back and she just spoke with such passion about books and writing - it was really inspiring and made me want to write! Having her for another two hour tutorial was pretty amazing, and I can tell already that she is going to be amazing.

For over two years I've lamented to anyone who'd listen that the diploma got all the good teachers (Sally Rippin, Toni Jordan, Kate Holden and so on) and now we have one! :D (Speaking of, you all heard they're turning the iconic diploma into an associate degree? As ...

Happy double-digit Birthday, Hardie Grant Egmont!

Firstly I should apologise for the lack of photos but at this swish garden party I didn’t feel appropriate that I whip out my camera and go nuts.

So instead, I felt self-conscious as I obviously missed the memo on the black/white/grey dress code that most people were following. I, in turn, turned up in a multi-coloured dress. Bold, strong colours, really bright.

Yep, as if being late (silly work!) wasn’t bad enough, I stood out.

Oh well, that’s me for you!!

Last night was Hardie Grant Egmont’s 10th birthday party. After driving around the city for fifteen minutes getting increasingly angry at the lack of parking (or the $20/hour parking!) I finally found a spot and made it to the party.

In was held in the ‘secret garden’ of the city; a huge rectangle tent filled with all sorts of publishing royalty, from editors to publishers to ...

Review: Domestic Bliss by Rosemarie Jarski

The essential skills of how to keep your house from falling down around your ears are not taught in school, and our parents were so busy earning a living they had no time to pass on the wisdom the aworld sees as ‘common sense’. Well, common sense is not so common as is commonly supposed.

This hands-on, down-to-earth guide focuses on those household problems and challenges you are most likely to encounter in real life: how to cure a dripping tap, combat condensation, and unblock a sink. You’ll also get to grips with a power drill, a plumb line, and a paintbrush. And find the answers to life’s little frustrations, like how to remove sticky labels, open supermarket plastic bags, and fit a cover onto a duvet without being swallowed.

Many home references tell you how ...

Review: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met.

Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18C. Hadley's in 18A.

Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves.

Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

Okay, firstly, title - big win. I remember seeing this at a bookstore (or possibly online, I don't recall specifically) before ...

My Television Debut

So it seems only fitting that after the big whole "I'M BACK!" speech I disappear for a week.

But now I have excellent huge news!

Yes you read right, almost a year ago to the day I shot a segment for a new Channel 31 TV show called Behind The Words - organised/directed/produced by author Kingsley McGlew (who you'll all know from Distance).

I didn't say anything at the time because, well, we were still hoping it would be picked up and all that.

AND IT WAS.

Then, it was utterly perfect timing of the Gods because when my episode was aired (December last year) my grandfather died.

So the last thing I felt like doing was sitting down, merrily watching myself on television.

In fact, with all that was going on - despite having it written in my diary - I promptly forgot about it, and even ...