Party time!

February is party time for me and my Old Sailor!



On Feb 1, 'There Was an Old Sailor' hits the bookshops.

On Feb 2, Dee White visits from her blog Tuesday Writing Tips to ask me some questions about writing picture books.

Then I'm off on tour! Blog tour that is. Here's where I'll be visiting:

Monday 8 February: Sally Murphy's Writing for Children

Tues 9 February: Dee White's Tuesday Writing Tips

Wed 10 February: Dale Harcombe's Read and Write with Dale

Thurs 11 February: Robyn Opie's Writing Children's books

Fri 12 February: Lorraine Marwood's Words into Writing

Sat 13 February: Mabel Kaplan's Tales I Tell

Sun 14 February: Sandy Fussell's Stories are Light


As if that's not enough partying, I'm also having a celebration of the release of 'There Was an Old Sailor' during the first SCBWI meeting for the year, which is being held at Stoneman's Bookshop in Castlemaine. The lovely Glenda Millard is going to speak about 'Old Sailor'.

At 11.00 am on Sat Feb 20, I'll be reading at the grand opening of 'Enchanted by Books' a new bookshop in Williamstown Victoria.

And then ta-da! there's the official Melbourne launch of 'There Was an Old Sailor' at Sun Bookshop, Ballarat St in Yarraville Vic at 2pm on Sat 27 February. There will be nibblies to eat (possibly even a krill or two particularly for Jen Storer!) and a book reading as well as the launch. I'm still working on details and will post as soon as I can.

BIG month! Love it!

Countdown to Old Sailor release

Only two weeks until the February 1 release of 'There Was an Old Sailor'. I'm planning a blog tour and planning is underway for the launch at The Sun Bookshop in Yarraville. Details will follow but the launch is 2pm on Sat 27 February.

Bookshops

Books Illustrated, the wonderful children's bookshop and gallery at Gasworks Park in inner Melbourne is closing. This bookshop, owned by children's book champions, Ann James and Ann Haddon, has been a wonderful place for all those interested in children's books. The upstairs gallery has featured wonderful exhibitions of original picture book illustrations and also hosted book launches, industry gatherings, and many other events in its 15 years. It will be missed. But hopefully for Ann and Ann, it will mean time to pursue other interests, other challenges. They have plans for the future and I look forward to that.

A new children's bookshop has opened in my local area, at Yarraville. I have long been a fan of the Sun Bookshop, a small independent bookshop under the roof of the wonderful, Art Deco Sun Theatre. (I could wax lyrical about the small and large cinemas in this building, but will save that for another time). The Sun Bookshop is stacked to the rafters with all manner of books and includes a substantial children's book section. Now that has been expanded further with the opening across the road of 'The Younger Sun', a dedicated children's bookshop. To my knowledge, it is the first children's bookshop in the west of Melbourne. Well overdue and deserving of great attention. Congratulations Deb, I hope it does well.