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Creative frustrations
I have had a spectacularly crappy couple of weeks – my dog was almost killed by two off-lead Ridgeback crosses (see above, taken after surgery); I worked hours that made sleep impossible; and in between I have had to finish edits of various projects. I hate editing...
Famous!
Famous! has finally come into the world. It’s been a long ride, which has involved, acceptances, rejections, company takeovers, sitting-in-drawer-ness, a chance conversation over dinner, and a massive re-write. But she’s here now, and I’m proud of her.
What I read when I was a teenager
All my mum’s Reader’s Digest condensed novels (again). All my mum’s Sunday school prize books (again) featuring downtrodden girls making good. Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, etc. My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok . Anna Karenina. Wildfire romances (the only one I...
Living in the state of excitement
I love Perth. And so do these guys, here. If you live somewhere interesting, skip it. You won’t understand.
A riposte
I got a comment on a previous blog expressing disappointment with one of my sessions at the Melbourne Writers Festival, which in itself does not worry me: people have different responses to the same material, and I approach all of my sessions with the view that if...
Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day, Melbourne?
No, because that would be just plain wrong. Sure, compared to Canberra, or indeed Antarctica (according to Tony Eaton, who should know), the conditions were nigh on springlike during my recent soujourn there, but I just found it darn chilly. In all other aspects bar...
Melbourne Writers Festival
I apologise for my blogging laxness: I have been away, and thence contracted a hideous virus on the plane, from which I have not yet recovered. I promise I will get back to it, but in the meantime, I just wanted to let you know that I will be at the Melbourne Writers...
The pleasures of travel
After a hideous and turbulent flight, during which my daughter and I took turns vomiting into (or attempting to vomit into) whatever vaguely bag-shaped item was to hand, I am pleased to announce that we have taken to the Continent with much enthusiasm, in large part...
To distant lands
I used to be intrepid. I used to hitchhike, backpack, stay with strange people in strange countries. I was influenced in this by a friend I met as a teenager who was convinced that travelling was the only point in life, that staying still and settling down...
Why do you write for children?
I have been too busy to blog much, and won’t be doing much of it now, except that I wanted to draw your attention to a great entry posted by my friend Tony Eaton about writing for children and young adults. I don’t often mention to people that I write books, because...