Sally Murphy's Blog, page 11

Poetry Friday: Narelle

It’s Poetry Friday and my mind has been filled this week with thoughts about Queen Narelle, my new verse novel which is released next Wednesday. I am counting down the days, and have been busy coming up with fun ways to share Narelle and Maddie’s story with the world. I’ve also spent time this week doing edits for my next verse novel, The Riding Gallery, which will be released in 2024.

So, hopefully you might forgive me that I haven’t written anything new this week. I thought instead I might give you a tiny taste of Queen Narelle – and, perhaps, an insight into why you might call a cat Narelle.

Na-re-eeeeeelle!
I shout my name to the moon.
the house behind me is peaceful
and the portal has beckoned me outside
where the full moon
above
smiles down,
wanting to know my name.
Na-re-eeeeeelle!

(Queen Narelle, p.. 50)

Did you guess? Yes, she’s called Narelle because that is the sound a cat makes – and, when I was a child we had a cat with just that name, too. She didn’t look much like the Narelle in my book, but I like to think she would have liked to have a book named after her.

I’m off to see what my Poetry Friday friends are up to. Tricia will be hosting the roundup, so you can follow the fun too.
And, of course, come back her next Wednesday for the launch of Queen Narelle.

What I Read in May 2023

It’s the start of a new month which means it’s time to share my roundup of what I read in May.  In the midst of a busy month I got through only five books, although I substituted my usual audiobook listening for lots of podcasts, so there was a still a lot of information and storytelling going in through my ears Here’s what I read:

Books for Children

Mandy, by Julie Edwards(Harper Trophy, 1971).  I reread this one every few years because it holds a

Tereasa, another treasured possession: the first novel I ever wrote.

special place in my childhood. My mum bought me this book when I was about six, and I loved it so much that I sat down and wrote my own ‘novel’ (called Tereasa)  which was, if I’m honest, my own version of the same story. I gave that book to my mum and she treasured it – but gave it back to me many moons later when I became a published author. So I claim that Mandy is the book that made me an author   You may not recognise the author, but you will have seen her – as Julie Edwards is also Julie Andrews.  I don’t think I knew this as a child, but suspect my mum might have!

2. The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles, by Julie Edwards (Harper Trophy, 1974). After I reread Mandy, I found myself wondering why I hadn’t read any of Julie Edwards other children’s books – and went looking for this one, which I knew I owned but hadn’t read. I must confess that while there were some good bits, I didn’t love this one. The story of three children who meet a quirky professor and end up on a journey to meet a mystical creature who has never been seen by any human. I suspect I might have liked this one more when I was younger, but found myself wondering about some of the messages, especially given that everyone is Whangdoodle Land is very keen to keep them away, but it seems that the humans” determination to see the Whangdoodle overrides what the Whangdoodle, and his courtiers, want.

 

 

Books for Adults The Dictionary of Lost Words, by Pip Williams (Affirm Press, 2020).  I first read this as an audiobook soon after its release in 2020. After I heard the author speak in April, and read her new book, The Bookbinder of Jericho, I was really eager to dive back into Dictionary. The two books are companion books – so, not sequels, but set in Oxford at an overlapping time, and with some of the characters from this one also appearing in the other.  What I found interesting was rereading this one and spotting some of the characters and events from Bookbinder, but I also enjoyed reengaging with this story and its themes.  I found myself finishing it on Mother’s Day, which seemed apt because on this read, especially, I had some fairly deep thoughts about the word mother, and what it means to be a mother.. Time Smart: How to Reclaim Your Time and Live a Happier Life, by Ashley Whillans (Harvard Business Review Press, 2020).  I heard this author being interviewed on a podcast and desperately wanted to read the book. I  found it really insightful and helpful  around building an awareness of the value of time, and how to shift your mindset away from seeing time as money, to really understanding the ways time can be used in healthy, fulfilling, but also productive, ways. The downside was that because there seems not to be an Australian edition, the print edition from the US was quite pricey and I opted for the Audible version. Downside because, while I love audiobooks, I found the voice of the reader of this one quite offputting.  Not unpleasant, just felt more like they were reading a story than a nonfiction  book.  Ocean, by Bruce Pascoe (Bruce Sims Books, 2002). I have been making a concious effort to read more books by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islands over the past year, because I really need to know more about both our country’s present and its past. This book is set in the Bass Strait, charting the stories of the Burnurong  people and especially the women, and how they were impacted by white sealers and colonial brutality. As such, this is not an easy story, but it is told with heart and left me feeling sorrier than ever for the acts on which Australia was built.

That brings my total for the year to date to 50 books. I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading.

Queen Narelle: One Week to Go!

Seven more sleeps! Only seven more sleeps!  That’s if I CAN sleep!  Because I am super super super dooper excited that in just one week Queen Narelle is released into the world!

This little cat has been in my head and heart for a very long time so it is wonderful to see her story – and her human Maddie’s story –  finally ready to get into your head and heart too. And your hands!

This time next week I will be happy dancing like crazy – although, if I’m honest, the dancing has already begun here. I’m also dancing on Instagram where I have been creating a court for my queen with some fairly average photo editing. There’s  Baron von Dash:

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A post shared by Sally Murphy (@sallymurphyauthor)

Princess Tabby:

 

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A post shared by Sally Murphy (@sallymurphyauthor)

and more. If you want to meet them all, you can follow me on Instagram.

I’ve also been delighted to see the first two reviews for Queen Narelle. Brenton Cullen, at Bookseller & Publisher says Queen Narelle  is

an affectionately rich and heartwarming story, perfect for readers aged 7–11.

and  Sam at Lamont Books says it is:

A beautiful story of family support, love, friendship issues and overcoming them, and the joy and love that pets bring to our lives, perfect for middle to upper primary readers.

Lamont have also named Queen Narelle their Primary Fiction Book of the Month.

With one week to go, you can order the book from Lamont online here or pop into your local bookstore and preorder.

In the meantime, thanks for dropping in, and have a wonderful week!

Poetry Friday: George’s Lament

Poor George! With my new book coming out in under two weeks I have been a wee bit obsessed of late with all things cat because, of course, the book is all about a slightly haughty cat called Narelle who believes she is a queen.

So I’ve been sharing about the book, and I’ve been sharing cat jokes and I have collected up a lot of cat themed props for school visits and events.  All very exciting.

Except if you are a dog. And not just any dog, but George. My dog.  He is more than a little miffed by all this cat-themed  fuss. In fact, he thinks it’s a cat-astrophe.  And perhaps the ultimate insult was when I used him in a meme to promote that cat book:

 

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A post shared by Sally Murphy (@sallymurphyauthor)

Maybe, just maybe that was one insult too many. But, when times get tough, sometimes it’s good to work your thoughts out through writing. So George took himself off to the kennel, and wrote his way out of his funk. Here’s what he came up with:

I came into her life
Furry
And trembly
And ever so cute.
And she told me she loved me.

I sat on her lap
Woofled when she came near
Slept under her feet while she worked
And she told me she adored me.

I posed for her Instagram photos
I walked her on the beach
Made sure she got up every morning
And she told me I was the love of her life.

And THEN
I saw her new book.
With a cat
On the cover.
And that cat
On every page.
And she called that cat
Queen.
And I wondered
If her professions of love
Had been truthful

But then
She took me to the beach
and she cuddled me on the couch
And she whispered sweet nothings
And I knew no cat
Could ever take my place.
And she told me I was right.

(Copyright Sally Murphy, 2023)

He is indeed right. Because while I am super-duper excited to be bringing Queen Narelle into the world,  my fictional Narelle is never going to take the place of  warm, furry, George.  I’m so grateful to have him bringing joy – and a dash of silliness – into every day.

Another thing I’m grateful for is Poetry Friday, a day each week when poets all over the world post poetry goodness.  Today the host rounding up all this fun is Patricia.

Queen Narelle: Two Weeks to Go

Gosh the time is racing past and, at the moment I am glad, because I just cannot wait to share Queen Narelle with you.

And, as of today, there are just TWO WEEKS to go. Sound the trumpets! There’s a new Queen in town.

Isn’t she beautiful?

If you have read any of my previous verse novels  you will know that  I often deal with quite sad topics.  Queen Narelle is a little different – no one dies, and no one is at risk of dying (spoiler!)).  But it does still deal with a very important subject: friendship, and what happens when friendship goes wrong. Narelle’s human, Maddie, has had a disagreement with her two friends – and she is feeling sad and alone. Narelle is a clever cat and, while she can’t talk, she can certainly offer comfort – and she does.

I am really looking forward to sharing this delightful (if somewhat haughty) cat with the world, and especially young readers.

If you want to be at the front of the procession for Queen Narelle, you can preorder now – at your favourite local bookshop or  online.

 

An Evening Behind the Walls

If you are a children’s literature lover, or a poetry lover, or just ever wanted to have an evening behind the walls at the Fremantle Prison, you are in luck.

On June 15 The Literature Centre are hosting an in-conversation event where you can hear ME chatting to Steven Herrick, arguably Australia’s finest verse novelist.

I’m excited because I adore Steven’s work – and, in fact, he is one of the reasons I fell in love with the form before I started writing my own verse novels.

If you are keen, you will find all the details at this link, and you can book now! See you there.

Queen Narelle: Three Weeks to Go!

Just wanted to paws for a minute to remind you that its only THREE MORE WEEKS until Queen Narelle is released – or perhaps, more aptly, until Narelle’s Coronation.

I just can’t wait to share this little book with you and with the whole world – but wait I must, and so must you.

Luckily, I am having fun on Instagram and elsewhere spreading cat jokes and tiaras and other bits and pieces to spread the word.

And three weeks will just whizz by, I’m sure. But, in the meantime, if you want more verse novel fun while you wait, you might check out my previous verse novels;

Pearl Verses the World

Toppling

Roses are Blue and

Worse Things.

All still in print – and, if you click the links you can read more about them and even hear me read extracts of each.

If you want to be at the front of the processes for Queen Narelle, you can preorder now – at your favourite local bookshop or  online.

 

Poetry Friday: Limerick Day with a twist

It’s Poetry Friday and I had planned to come up with a post, and didn’t get around to it. SO it has been sitting there on my to-do’ list while I did a thousand other things.

And then a friend tagged me in this Facebook post:

and, after I stopped giggling, I knew I had to share this.

Maybe you needed the laugh too, so I hope you ‘get’ it. But also, I spent a good part of this week running writing masterclasses for talented young writers – and the topic was poetry. One of the messages I always try to get across is that sometimes breaking the rules – of format, or of expectations around a topic, or of what is or isn’t a word – is the thing that makes your audience take notice.

Here, on Limerick Day, this haiku demonstrates my point perfectly.

Poetry can make a difference.

Now I am off to take some deep breaths of tired satisfaction after a week that included poetry, and much more, in various satisfying combinations. Then I’ll spend some time browsing the other Poetry Friday posts, via the round up on Robyn’s blog.

Happy Limerick Day!

Teacher Tuesday: Eight Great Poetry Titles for Your Classroom

It’s Teacher Tuesday – though, if you are a regular visitor her you might notice that my Tuesday posts have been a little lax. Apologies: I have been busy with many things, but the good news is that a lot of those things centre around books and writing and poetry.

Speaking of poetry, there is still plenty of time to encourage your students to enter the annual Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards, open to school aged students from anywhere in Australia.  A writing contest is a brilliant  way of motivating young writers to write – and, whether or not they win a prize, their poetry is written by a new audience, and every entrant is recognised with a certificate.

If you are wondering where to start, why not begin my just reading – and sharing – lots of different poetry in your classroom?  Here are eight wonderful poetry books that you can access in Australia  and that I personally own and thus am able to recommend.

1. , Poems from a Green and Blue Planet, edited by Sabrina Mahfouz (Hodder, 2019).  This anthology is stunning. The cover art (by Aaron Cushley) is supplemented with internal spot illustrations, and the range of poetry is outstanding Including original poems, contemporary poems and classics, the theme is celebrating life on Earth. Suitable for primarya nd secondary readers – and adults too.

2.Untangling Spaghetti: Selected Poems, by Steven Herrick (UQp, 2009). Steven Herrick is the best poet for children and teens in Australia so, while I’ve chosen this collection for this book, any of his other collections or his verse novels could equally have been on this list. Humour, pathos, wry observations and more in accessible free verse with a lot to offer middle and upper primary students especially.

3.Guinea Pig Town and Other Animal Poems, by Lorraine Marwood (Walker Books, 2013) . Another eminent and accessible Australian poet, and again there were several titles I could recommend, but I have chosen this one because it is a themed collection, which can provide a lot of food for thought and opportunities to consider the different ways a topic can be explored in poetry. Suitable across the primary grades.

4. Common Wealth, by Gregg Dreise (Scholastic, 2021). This is one of my favourite picture books for classroom use at the moment, but is also a slam poem, and so a wonderful poetry resource – modelling the slam style as a tool for persuasive writing. In your classroom it could be used to cover a range of writing and curriculum areas.

5. What Snail Knows, by Kathryn Apel (ill. by Mandy Foot) (UQP, 2022). This is a verse novel – a story told using free verse, and again, I could have chosne any one of Apel’s verse novels to include in this list. Verse novels offer a wonderful way to explore narrative and poetry at the same time, and this one provides many opportunities to inspire poetry writing, including shape poetry.

6. Roar Squeak Purr: A New Zealand Treasury of Animal Poems, edited by Paula Green & illustrated by Jenny Cooper (Penguin, 2022). I know I have already included an animal themed collection, but this anthology is stunning, and one my favourite books of 2022. Poems about all kinds of animals – from New Zealand and beyond. Eevery library should have htis – and evry classroom and home too.

7 , What is Poetry? by Michael Rosen (Walker Books, 2017). English poet and amazing person Michael Rosen is THE go to for children’s poetry and only falls so far down this list because I wanted to finish the list with two how-to books. This one is about both how to read and how to write poetry, and can be read by children but also by teachers. It is brilliant, but also check out Rosen’s other poetry and his website and his YouTube and…

8.  Teaching Poetry for Pleasure and Purpose, by Sally Murphy (PETAA, 2021).  I am really proud of this book because it is the book I wished I had when I was classroom teaching.  It unpacks the Australian curriculum as it relates to poetry and for every Primary School year level it then gives a range of lesson ideas, both reading and writing, and a selection of poems (mostly Australian) and other resource suggestions.  I’d be recommending this one even if I didn’t write it.

 

I could go on and on listing books here, but sometimes lists can be overwhelming – so here are eight wonderful books for you to get started – but if you need a recommendation for a specific age group or topic, contact me, or comment here, and I will have a suggestion.   And if there is a topic you would like me to cover in a future Teacher Tuesday post, hit me up!

And, again, don’t forget that the Dorothea Mackellar Poetry  contest is now open for entries. It’s a wonderful opportunity for the young poets in your classroom or your home.  Australia-wide.

Queen Narelle: One Month to Go!

There is a new monarch! Huzzah! Hurrah! Strike up the band and come bear witness.!

What?  Wait!  You saw it on the telly?  And all over the internet yesterday?  Pah! A King on the other side of the world might be interesting to some but I’m talking about a very different monarch. Because (drumroll please) ….

Queen Narelle is almost here!

Who is this new Queen? Why she is THE Queen (especially if  you ask her!) and although she may be a little haughty she is also very special.

Did I mention she is also a cat? And the star of my new verse novel?

Well, she is – and I absolutely cannot wait to introduce you to her. But, according to the people at Walker Books I do have to wait. But only for one more month!

And, in the meantime, I am gearing up to share lots of tidbits – some about the book, some about me, and lots of cat fun.

I’ll be sharing some of this here on the website, and other bits and pieces on Instagram and Facebook – so if you don’t already follow me, now’s the time!  And, of course, I look forward to also sharing in face to face events. so watch this space for details of launches and appearances (and, if you’d like to visit your school, bookshop, festival,  or any other event – let me know)

And, although you have to wait a month to  get your hands on a copy, you can preorder now online or drop in to your local bookshop and ask them to save you a copy.

Life is purrfect when there is a new book in the air!