February 2008

A question for the split-level house occupiers out there

February 29, 2008

Adam and I are currently considering buying a new house (partly for this reason; partly for others) and we’re looking at one just around the corner. However, the bedrooms are on different levels. For example, the main bedroom is downstairs (or so they tell us – we thought it was upstairs originally) and the secondary [...]

A challenging scenario

February 28, 2008

I wrote this some three months ago and it has languished – somewhat deservedly – in my drafts pile. However as I’m a bit busy this week I’m going to post it anyway as a reminder of the summer Melbourne has (NOT!) really had. ****** What’s the best way to describe C-H-A-L-L-E-N-G-E? How’s about when it’s [...]

Project book – the editing part

February 25, 2008

The most important part of a book is the words, right? Well that’s not precisely true when it comes to children’s picture books. The words and pictures are at least equal to each other in importance. Surprise! will be published after it’s gone through eleven drafts. I thought it was ‘done’ at five, but I was [...]

Surely an indictment regarding the coffee-culture institutionalisation of my daughter

February 24, 2008

Keira, to a waitress while we’re ordering in a cafe: “I’ll have a babycinno in a mug, please.”

Taking stock

February 23, 2008

I have always been the type of person who runs away and hides under the sheets whenever the barbs of life fall too close to the heart. This week has felt like one of those times. On the one hand I am so excited about the year ahead in general, but on the home front some [...]

Project book – introducing my Illustrator!

February 21, 2008

It’s my great delight today to introduce to you the Illustrator for Surprise! – Kim Fleming Last weekend I finally got to meet up with Kim and I must admit I was so happy and relieved that we both have the same sorts of ideas for Surprise! I suppose because I wrote it and have [...]

WW – The war continues over the USA

February 20, 2008

I’ve mentioned this game before and now my son has discovered it. Although I’ve shot him here pointing at Arkansas, his favourite state is Washington. I guessed this because he walks around afterwards repeating: “Washington! Washington! Washington! Washington! Washington!” [For the Aussies out there, Washington is the orange state in the very top left corner [...]

Quick – HELP!

February 19, 2008

I think I’ve found nits (lice) in Riley’s hair. I’ve just doused us all in the hair treatment and they’ve screamed like hell. I’m about to toss our linens and things in the wash on a hot cycle. Oh, the pure humiliation of it all. What else do I do?!

How to take creative rejection

February 19, 2008

I’ve had a few people ask me how I feel when I get rejection slips in the mail for my writing. Honestly, it doesn’t bother me much. Well, sometimes it can. This one was the first: a good ’stock rejection’, non-personalised (well, I suppose it counts as personal if the title is tacked on in biro). At [...]