August and all its Book Week fun is done for another year, dear Reader.

I had the pleasure of presenting to kids from year one to year eleven (not in the same session, you’ll be pleased to hear). I didn’t travel anywhere too far-flung: St Thomas’ Catholic School in Claremont; Victoria Park library, attended by various schools in the area; and Applecross High School, where my week ended with a self-selected group of inquisitive and lively kids. It was such a fabulous few days, I wished Book Week would never end. I will have my own version of Book Month later this year, when I travel to Geraldton, Albany and Fremantle (hey, it’s up the train line) for The Literature Centre’s Talented Young Writers Program. I can’t wait, already.

Before You Forget, the scarf

Book Week was also special because my dear friend Bri early-surprise-birthdayed me a scarf on which is printed the text of Before You Forget (obviously not all of it). I absolutely adore it: it’s harder to think of a more personal and lovely gift for a writer.

CBCA WA Branch Dinner, costumes preferred

On my YA reading pile: Zana Fraillon’s The Bone Sparrow is breaking my heart, while Cath Crowley’s Words in Deep Blue is putting it back together again; I also started Claire Zorn’s One Would Think The Deep and desperately need to get hold of a copy to continue. The trio were honour books and winner of this year’s CBCA awards, and worthily so (although how the judges pick from so much excellent work is beyond me).

Am writing: slowly, slowly, I’m threading my narrative needle and stitching my new story, a middle grade novel about a moral quandary (pre-ordering yet?!), among other things. It’s amazing how a change in perspective can reveal where the gaps are: I changed from first person to third and thus sewed up one set of holes. No doubt others will appear elsewhere.

Wishing you all a super spring.