Tag: meet my book
Meet My Book: The River Charm, by Belinda Murrell
Meet My Book: Portraits of Celina, by Sue Whiting
I’m always happy to have visitors, and, today’s visitor is my lovely friend and clever writer Sue whiting, here to take part in the Meet My Book feature. Over to you, Sue.
1. Give us the details – title, publisher, illustrator, release date.
Portraits of Celina, Walker Books Australia, April 2013
2. Why did you write the book?
To be perfectly honest – I don’t know! I started out writing a very different book for a much younger audience about a genie, but it wasn’t working. My daughter suggested I ditch the genie, but keep the setting, characters and backstory. I took her advice (there’s a first time for everything) and started exploring the characters and ended up writing a YA suspense novel about a vengeful ghost and a family dealing with grief!
3. How long from idea to publication?
As with many of my books, it was several years from idea to publication. I am not fast. I first started working on the novel in 2008, though the half-finished manuscript lingered in my bottom drawer for a year or more (probably more like two).
4. What was the hardest thing about writing it?
Finding the time. I work full time, and for a while I was using that as an excuse for not writing, until I gave myself a stern talking to and made myself find the time. Consequently, I wrote most of the book on the train during my morning commute to the office.
5. Coolest thing about your book?
The creepy, ghostly bits – they were so much fun to write! As one reviewer put it I “went head to head with a ghost”. Also, hidden in the scenes with Bayley and Oliver, I share an intimate moment from my own life – the moment I fell in love with my husband (when I was just sixteen also). And that is pretty cool.
6. Something you learnt through writing the book?
Many things!
One: You can write a YA novel, work full time and keep your sanity (just).
Two: Writing romance scenes is REALLY hard.
Three: Writing darker themes and scary scenes is awesome.
7. What did you do celebrate the release?
On the day the book was released, I went to Kinokuniya Bookshop in Sydney with my daughter (to whom the book is dedicated) and her friend, took a cheesy photo of the girls holding the book in front of the display on the New Releases and then we went to High Tea in the Queen Victoria Building and toasted Celina with chilled glasses of champagne.
8. And how will you promote the book?
I have done a number of promotional activities with The Children’s Bookshop at Beecroft – a teacher/librarian event and some school visits. I also have a few festivals coming up: Sydney Writers’ Festival, Voices on the Coast, Southern Highlands Writers’ Festival, Ipswich Festival of Children’s Literature, as well as a couple of days of events with Westbooks in Perth. I also use my blog and Facebook page to publicise reviews and events and look out for opportunities to do interviews etc.
9. What are you working on next?
I am working on a new YA novel. It has the working title of The Awful Truth and is all about lies (and love and crime).
10. Where we can find out more about you and your book?
Website: www.suewhiting.com
Blog: http://suewhiting.blogspot.com.au/
Facebook: here.
Publisher: Walker Books.
Buy online: here.
Thanks for sharing Sue. You can see my review of Portraits of Celina here.
Meet My Book: Clementine Rose and the Perfect Present, by Jacqueline Harvey
I’m having lots of fun ‘meeting’ the new releases of wonderful Aussie authors. Today it’s time to hear from the wonderful Jacqueline Harvey, here to tell us about her latest book. Welcome Jacqueline.
- Give us the details – title, publisher, illustrator, release date.
My latest book is Clementine Rose and the Perfect Present; Random House released 1 May 2013. This is my third book for the year and it’s the third book in the Clementine Rose series.
2. Why did you write the book?
Clementine Rose and the Perfect Present is the third book in a series about a very sweet little girl and the adventures she has with her family and her teacup pig called Lavender.
3. How long from idea to publication?
I started writing the book in November 2012, although the idea had been percolating for a couple of months before that. It has been a very fast turnaround as there are eight Clementine Rose books currently contracted with Random House and the release dates are only three months apart.
4. What was the hardest thing about writing it?
Time! I’ve got two characters, Clementine Rose and Alice-Miranda on the go at the moment and this year there will be 6 new books including the Alice-Miranda diary for 2014. Until November last year I was working full time as the Director of Development at a school for girls in Sydney and writing on the weekends, in the evenings and during my holidays (basically anytime I wasn’t asleep or at work). When I finished up at work I went on tour with Random House straight away so it really wasn’t until early December that I could get my teeth into the book properly. Then it was incredibly intense with lots of writing and re-writing over the next month or so – I basically locked myself away for the summer and wrote.
5. Coolest thing about your book?
I think the coolest thing about my book is that there is a wedding at Clementine’s house in a huge marquee in the back garden. Many of the guests are Sri Lankan and wear beautiful saris. Clementine is very impressed by the fact that there is a wedding and with her penchant for clothes, she adores seeing the bride and guests. The wedding planner, Sebastian Smote is pretty funny too.
6. Something you learnt through writing the book?
I had to do some research about Sri Lankan customs and what their flag looked like too. I also learned about different types of cicadas but I can’t tell you why or it would give away the surprise.
7. What did you do celebrate the release?
Alice-Miranda in Paris was launched on the 1st March and we had a huge afternoon tea party at Shearer’s in Leichhardt with delicious French food, a fashion parade and craft activities where the girls fashioned colourful berets for Alice-Miranda to wear. We had a second party at the Children’s Bookshop at Beecroft a couple of weeks ago. Clementine’s book, coming hot on the heels of Alice-Miranda has been a little more low key but I’ve been touring schools and last weekend spent a couple of hours at the PLC Croydon Fair promoting both books. In a couple of weeks we’ll celebrate at the official reopening of a lovely bookshop in St Ives called Book Review.
8. And how will you promote the book?
On my blogs and website, the Random House website, touring schools, visiting bookshops and any other publicity opportunities that come along.
9. What are you working on next?
I have just finished the structural edits for Alice-Miranda Shines Bright and Clementine Rose and the Farm Fiasco a week apart. Now I am starting on the ninth Alice-Miranda title but at the moment I’m still debating exactly what it’s going to be.
10. Where we can find out more about you and your book?
I have a website www.jacquelineharvey.com.au and two blogs, http://alice-miranda.blogspot.com and http://jacquelineharvey.blogspot.com They are all linked and I try to update the blogs as often as I can.
Thanks Jacqueline. Clementine Rose and the Perfect Present is available now in good bookstores or online.
Meet My Book: Sea Dog, by Claire Saxby, illustrated by Tom Jellett
I’m loving having Aussie authors drop in to tell us all about their latest book. Today I’m especially pleased to welcome my friend, and wonderful children’s author Claire Saxby.Claire is here to tell us all about her beautiful new book, Sea Dog. Over to you, Claire.
1. Give us the details – title, publisher, illustrator, release date.
Seadog, illustrated by Tom Jellett, Random House. Release date was 1 May.
2. Why did you write the book?
I’ve always wanted to write a book about a dog, but even though we’ve had one for the past 6 years, it has taken until recently to find a way to do it. I wanted to capture the boundless joy that dogs seem to have for life. They don’t always do what we might like them to do, but there’s something about they way they are at the beach that is so free. I think children are the same, particularly at the beach. The beach is calming, energising, fun, messy, and hot/cold. And joyful.
3. How long from idea to publication?
This was a short one by picture book standards. I think it was less than two years from concept (in this form) to release. Although I confess to multiple previous attempts that fizzled before even becoming complete horrible first drafts.
4. What was the hardest thing about writing it?
Trusting myself. Letting go and just having fun with it. Getting close in, getting far enough away from the facts to find the fiction.
5. Coolest thing about your book?
To share the joy that a dog can bring. Tom’s illustrations are amazing. Seadog is so expressive.
6. Something you learnt through writing the book?
Not so much learnt but reinforced how much fun there is in playing with words.
7. What did you do celebrate the release?
I’ve had a ‘coastal launch’ for Seadog, but the official launch is yet to come. That’s 2 June at the 10th Williamstown Literary Festival. 2 pm. All welcome. 🙂
8. And how will you promote the book?
I’ve a few school visits planned, I’ll visit bookshops and libraries for story time. I’m also doing some promotion online via my blog.
9. What are you working on next?
I can’t quite decide. I have several projects I’d like to tackle, just can’t decide which one …
10. Where we can find out more about you and your book?
At my website www.clairesaxby.com, or my blog www.letshavewords.blogspot.com. Seadog can be seen in bookshops EVERYWHERE!
Thanks for dropping in, Claire. It’s always a pleasure to chat with you.
Meet My Book: Guinea Pig Town and Other Poems, by Lorraine Marwood
I’m really pleased today to welcome brilliant poet, Lorraine Marwood, to the Aussiereviews blog. Lorraine has agreed to take part in the ‘Meet My Book’ feature. Over to Lorraine, and her answers to my questions.
1. Give us details: title, publisher, illustrator, release date.
My latest title is Guinea Pig town and other poems about animals. Published by Walker Books Australia, illustrated by Amy Daoud and the release date was 1st April 2013.
2. Why did you write the book?
I already have two collections of poetry with Walker and after discussion with my publisher we wanted a brand new collection of poems all about animals.
3. How long from idea to publication?
About 18 months of intense writing, re-writing, editing.
4. What was the hardest thing about writing it?
I think the hardest part was the whole nebulous idea of an animal poetry collection , but once the title poem was written (I wrote and sent poems in batches to be read by my publisher and editor) then the whole book suddenly took shape and direction.
5. The coolest thing about your book.
There were several cool moments- one was writing a flamingo poem after a visit to a restaurant garden several floors up in London (with flamingos)and after discovering the horn of a narwhal in Scotland. Also the way I wanted the cover designed and the breaking up of chapters into roads, crescents, avenues, all following the lead from the title poem ‘Guinea pig town’.
6. Something you learnt through writing the book?
That plunging in with an idea gradually takes shape and form and writing directs more writing. (Well I already knew this but it was reinforced.) Also that I love to research facts about an animal before writing. Very important for me as a poet.
7. What did you do to celebrate the release?
I had two fabulous launches on the one day sponsored by the local Bendigo library and the wonderful children’s librarian Tammy complete with an animal farm for kids to hold guinea pigs. There was a huge response.
8. And how will you promote the book?
Through facebook, school visits, my own blog and the writing of a poetry strategy to share the love of animals and poetry.
9 What are you working on next?
Ah, a bigger novel, another verse novel and of course I’d love to write another poetry collection- any ideas for themes?
10. Where can we find out more about you and your book?
Through my web site. www.lorrainemarwood.com
through the Walker Books website and through my blog.
Also I have a facebook author page
Thanks Sally for a great Aussiereviews site.
Lorraine Marwood
Thanks Lorraine. You can see my review of Guinea Pig Town here
Meet My Book: Meet Mary MacKillop, by Sally Murphy
Introducing a new series of posts, where I invite authors to drop in and tell us about their new books. To get the ball rolling, I thought I’d post about my own new release. I look forward to sharing lots of new books this way in the coming months.
1. Give us the details – title, publisher, illustrator, release date.
Meet Mary Mackillop, illustrated by Sonia Martinez, published by Random House Australia May 1 2013.
2. Why did you write the book?
Two reasons. Firstly, because I was asked to by Jeanmarie, the commissioning editor of Random House’s new Meet… series, a series focusing on great Australians. Secondly, because even before I was asked I had long admired Mary MacKillop as a woman who saw a need and set about filling it, even in difficult circumstances. It was a real honour being asked to bring her story to life for young readers.
3. How long from idea to publication?
I was approached about writing the story in March 2012, so just over a year. This is really quick for a picture book – my longest was about 8 years.
4. What was the hardest thing about writing it?
Finding a balance between the history and a story suitable for primary school aged readers. There was so much I wanted to share, and only a few words in which to get it across. For this reason I chose to focus on one year in Mary’s life, and chose the year in which she set up her first school.
5. Coolest thing about your book?
The wonderful illustrations by the incredible Sonia Martinez. I was delighted when Jeanmarie told me that she had commissioned Sonia, as I have long admired her work.
6. Something you learnt through writing the book?
To trust myself. I actually experienced a bit of self doubt when writing this book. I had done all this research and become so close to the story that I got a bit panicky about getting it right. As a result I found there was a period where I couldn’t work. In the end I had to give myself a good talking to and just get words down on the page. As any writer knows you can’t write a book without actually doing some rewriting – and it’s easier to fix a story that’s on the page than one that’s in your head. Once I sat down and wrote and experimented and rewrote and rewrote some more I had a story which worked.
I also learnt a lot about Mary MacKillop and the obstacles she faced to take education to children who wouldn’t have otherwise have had access to school.
7. What did you do celebrate the release?
In the midst of a busy week, I blogged, tweeted and also Facebooked about the release, put the book on display in my office at my day job, and also smiled a lot. There may have also been a quiet glass of red and some dark chocolate. I am hoping to have a launch a bit later on.
8. And how will you promote the book?
I do a lot of online promotion – on my blog, on other people’s blogs when I’m invited, and on Twitter and my Facebook author page. I also do school, festival and conference appearances (am off to the state ALEA mini-conference next weekend). On a smaller scale, I always have my latest book cover in my email signature line, and I also have an author website, which I am in the process of having redesigned to better promote my works.
9. What are you working on next?
A few things. I always have several projects at different stages of completion. At present I have two picture books for younger readers awaiting edits, a verse novel waiting for feedback, a collection of poetry I’m trying to pull together and a longer historical story which I’m researching. Not to mention several other stories which are ‘resting’ till I get back to them for rewrites, and a bazillion ideas waiting for me to write them.
10. Where we can find out more about you and your book?
At my website www.sallymurphy.net, and at the Random House website where you can also preview some of the book’s pages. And Meet Mary MacKillop is available from good bookstores or if you’d like to order online you can do so here
Enjoyed this post? Stay tuned for more Meet My Book posts in coming weeks. And if you’re in Aussie author who’d like to take part and introduce us to your book, drop me a line.