August & Jones Shortlisted in the CBCA Awards

A very quick post to say how delighted I am that August & Jones has been shortlisted in the CBCA Book of the Year Awards for 2023. This is what the CBCA Younger Reader judges said:

August and Jones explores complex and challenging concepts such as parental expectations, drought, unemployment, changing homes and schools, anxiety, depression and childhood cancer. The characterisation is strong, with adults and children presented in an authentic and believable way. Contrasts in family life are highlighted with Jones's supportive family juxtaposed with August's angry father, depressed mother and sibling ties. The book is written expertly and sensitively, balanced with humour, showing how friendship, love, personal strength and belief in oneself and others can help overcome difficulties, change and loss. Jones’ cancer is never used for sympathy, and she remains positive despite the hardships she faces.

The other amazing books shortlisted in my category are:

Evie and Rhino Neridah McMullin ill. Astred Hicks (Walker Books Australia)

The Raven's Song Zana Fraillon & Bren MacDibble (Allen & Unwin)

Runt Craig Silvey (Allen & Unwin)

The Way of Dog Zana Fraillon ill. Sean Buckingham (University of Queensland Press)

Xavier in the Meantime Kate Gordon (Riveted Press)

Full list here

Winners will be announced on Friday 18 August, kicking off the literary celebrations of Book Week.

Podcasts & Award News

February was a chatty month as I visited my dear friend Rachel Smith and her co-host Lynne Testoni on The Content Byte to talk about the business and marketing side of being a children’s author. I also hopped over the The Hybrid Author to chat to Joanne Morrell about writing verse - a mash-up style of prose and poetry.

In other exciting news, AUGUST & JONES is a Notable book in the CBCA 2023 Book of the Year Awards. This is a red hot year for books in the Younger Reader category with 162 entries! Check out the full list on the CBCA website

Picture Book News!

Nothing like a failure or two to make success all the more sweet

For a long time, I’ve been keeping a word file called “Picture Book Concepts”. The file now has around 20 PB ideas - ranging from competitive swimming pigs, to cheeky possums, and rejected lunchboxes. Most of the ideas were just for me to play around with the short format of PB’s (usually in between writing longer, emotional middle grade and YA) and explore fun ideas that might appeal to younger kids. A couple of PB manuscripts I felt brave enough to send out to publishers, but they never quite got over the line. It became clear to me that a picture book has to be something very special to be acquired and published in Australia.

Still, I persisted … the ideas kept coming and the file kept growing. I signed up for Jen Storer’s excellent Girl & Duck Four Weeks to Write a Picture Book Course and had a blast learning more about the art form of writing PBs.

In mid 2022, I sent off another PB idea - it didn’t get over the line. Damn. That one stung a bit. I’d worked very hard on it. But it was closer this time.

I sent off another and this time, my delightful publisher at Hachette got back to me within minutes. She loved the manuscript. She could see it on the page. Would it be okay if she took it to acquisitions? Um ….YES! Within weeks, I’d signed my first picture book deal. It felt so hard and so easy all at once. The road to those magic 500 words was paved by near misses and hard work. Picking myself up and trying again.

I’ve since signed another PB deal with Walker Books (that’s TWO, OMG!!) and just sent another idea to my agent. I might be able to call myself a picture book author now.

I think the morale of this story is - don’t let the first, second, third or 14th rejection put you off. Keep submitting, keep trying, keep adding to your file of ideas. One day, the answer will be YES.

April 2023 Events

Look at this sweet cottage! Come to Glenella, mingle with children’s book people and work on your own project.

I have a few events scheduled for April, 2023….come along!

Blue Mountains Weekend Retreat - 28-30 April 2023

Join author Zanni Louise at beautiful Glenella in the Blue Mountains for a weekend of creativity 28-30 April 2023. Throughout the weekend, you’ll develop your children’s book project with Zanni and take masterclasses with Walker Books Publisher, Clare Hallifax, celebrated picture book creators Matt Cosgrove and Tohby Riddle…and me! Book here

Queensland Poetry Festival (QPF) Verse Novel Poetics - 12 April 2023

I can’t wait for this one …a whole hour dedicated to talking about the joy of verse novels with Zana Fraillon, Rebecca Jessen, Kirli Saunders and hosted by Rae White. Online via livestream on Wednesday 12 April 2023 at 7pm AEST. No need to book, just join us! Link here

Meeting Jarrah & Mathilde

After months of planning, I finally met Mathilde and Jarrah - the real life kids who inspired August & Jones! They are every bit as lovely, smart and kind as their fictional versions and it was such a pleasure to share a very special launch with them and their families. We all got to talk about the book, sign copies and get to know each other better over a relaxed lunch at a local cafe. Huge thanks to my publicist Emily for all her wrangling and all the news outlets who covered the event. You can read more about it on the ABC website. I was so touched by Jarrah and Mathilde’s special gift to me - a letter written in braille.

Introducing August & Jones

My new book is here! August & Jones tells the story of two brave kids who embark on a ‘Must-See’ bucket list together when one of them is diagnosed with a rare eye cancer that threatens their sight. Together, they face a difficult year, but still manage to run over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, climb Australia’s highest mountain, and meet a rare monkey.

Why was I inspired to write August & Jones?

In 2019, I read a newspaper story about 11-year-olds Mathilde Cross and Jarrah Podesta in the Sydney Morning Herald ‘Two of Us’ column. Jarrah explained how he had lost his sight to retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer, and how Mathilde had become his best friend and guide at school. They were funny and sweet and like many other readers, I was struck by their beautiful, supportive friendship, resilience, kindness and courage. I thought to myself that a middle grade novel that could portray a bond like these two remarkable kids shared would be very special. I didn’t think that person would be me! But a year or so later, I had a second book contracted to write for my publisher Hachette and I was still drawn to the idea. I sat down and began to write a book that I hoped would capture a little of Jarrah and Mathilde’s special friendship.

In telling the story I did lots of medical research into eye cancer in children, as well as working with sensitivity reader and writer, Olivia Muscat, who loved the story, but set me straight on technical details, and what she describes as the “ins and outs” of being a blind person. If anyone needs a brilliant consulting reader Olivia can be found on her website oliviamuscat.com

It wasn’t until I had a finished draft that I approached the families to tell them Mathilde and Jarrah had loosely inspired the characters of August and Jones. I wanted to be certain it would be published and ensure my research was spot on. I heard back very quickly and they were thrilled and very supportive of the book. The kids (now 14) have both read it and loved it. They even made a few editorial suggestions that I was able to incorporate!  We are all meeting up in person for the first time next month.   

Who is August & Jones For?

This is a novel for upper primary and lower high school kids - but the sweet spot is around 9-12 years…it’s the perfect follow on from The Little Wave or Are You There, Buddha? It’s got action, funny bits, sad bits, but there is a hopeful, uplifting ending that will leave young readers feeling inspired to get out there and go on an adventure with a friend!