Sally Murphy's Blog, page 8

What I Read in January 2024

The first month of 2024 has flown by and it’s time for my round up of what I read in January. I feel like I spent most of the month reading, so was surprised to realise I only finished 9 books – but that’s because a lot of my reading has been research – bits of books, war diaries, journal articles, archives and the like.  I have been researching for the book I am hoping to write during my current academic study leave. But, in between that fun, but sometimes heavy, reading, I have also managed the following nine books – an eclectic mix as always

Children’s Books

Duck Boy , by Christobel Mattingley (Angus & Robertson, 1983). I hadn’t read a lot Mattingley’s work until last year, when I picked up several of her books at second hand book sales. It was almost like the universe kept putting her books in front of me to ensure I plugged this gap in my reading. I loved this one – with Adam, the youngest of three siblings staying on a farm, who proves to be not just resourceful but also compassionate and brave in helping a duckling family, the owner of the farm, Mrs perry, and even his older siblings.The Jetty, by Christobel Mattingley (Hodder & Staughton, 1978).  Another of Mattingley’s works, a gentle story of a boy who, amidst the grief of losing his fisherman father, has a complicated relationship with the jetty his town revolves around. Jack’s Island, by Norman Jorgensen (Fremantle Press, 2008). Not my first read of this adventures, social commentary and all round good story, but I enjoyed getting reacquainted with ack and his friends. Coincidentally, a new edition of this book with a stunning new cover is coming next month. Poetry Speaks to Children , edited by Elise Paschen (Sourcebooks, 2015). This absolute treasure became mine when I happened upon a free street library. It seems to be in brand new condition which is a shame because it suggests it wasn’t loved by its previous owner – but, rest assured, it will be long treasured by me. With poems from 95 poets, and an accompanying CD offering the opportunity to hear many of them read aloud by the poets, as well as sumptuous illustrations, this is amazing. Almost There and Almost Not, by Linda Urban (Atheneum, 2021). I know I am not the only person who buys books sometimes just because of their covers. This divine cover is visually sumptuous and I had to pick it up, stroke it, hug it and then buy it. It’s a hard cover book with a dust jacket that is silky to touch and shimmery, with an amazing illustration by Charles Sentoso. And, because the designer deserves a mention, I went looking fin the credits and found that the designer was Debra Sfetsios-Conover. The story didn’t disappoint either – a beautiful tale of the friendship between California Poppy and the two ghosts she meets at her Great-Aunt’s house. As they help her heal, she, in turn, helps them.

 

Books for Adults

Swallow the Air, by Tara June Winch (UQP, 2006). How to describe this book? Breathtaking is the closest I can get to a book that is tender, shocking, sad, and beautiful, all in one very accessible tale of  a Koori girl’s quest to find identity and belonging following her mother’s death, and a childhood impacted by violence, poverty and lack. Melissa Lucashenko’s  discussion of the book here is really excellent.Frank, by Jordie Albiston (NLA Publishing, 2023). Although labelled a collection rather than a verse novel, this has the feel of the latter – and I adored it. Written using the redacted and reorganised journal entries of Frank Hurley, the photographic pioneer who travelled to Antarctica with both Mawson and Shackleton.  Sadly Albiston’s last work, as she passed away before it was published.Illuminate, by Margaret Gibson Simon & John Gibson (Border press, 2013). More poetry, this a delightful little collection that was a gift from the poet as part of the Poetry Friday Holiday Poetry Swap. I love the combination here – Margaret has responded in poetry to the beautiful pointillism images of her father. Year I Met My Brain: A travel companion for adults who have just found out they have ADHD, by Matilda Boseley (Penguin, 2023). This was recommended to me by a fellow ADHD-er and, since it is a subject  pretty close to my heart I got the audio version and listened to it over my next two trips up and down to Perth. A really honest look at the author’s own experiences with ADHD both before and after diagnosis,  plus a look at the research and strategies for working with both the strengths and challenges of having an ADHD brain.

So, my total for 2024 so far is 9, with lots more reading ahead on my quest to read allll the books in the world (or maybe even all the books in my to-be-read cupboard).  I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading.

Parents: The BEST thing you can do to help your child’s literacy

School is back! School is back!

I can hear the relieved sighs of parents across the country as the summer  holidays end  and the school year begins.

Or maybe, you are genuinely sad to see your babies head back to school, after a wonderful six weeks of togetherness.

More likely you are somewhere in between.  That was me when my own children were at school. Happy that a routine could be established, but also a little sad that the end of long unstructured days of playing, or swimming, or not doing much at all had come. And, of course, the mixed feelings about seeing my babies growing up – another school grade higher, and the hope that they would be happy in their new classes, with their new teachers and friends.

All of this is a longish introduction to what I really want to talk about today. Because, as you may realise, I am passionate about reading, writing and all things literacy, and I know that many many parents spend a lot of time thinking about how best to support their children  in their development of literacy.

Maybe you worry about what reading level your child is. Maybe your child is due to take a NAPLAN test this year, and you worry they won’t do well. Maybe your child struggled with writing (or reading, or spelling, or all three) last year, and you want to help them improve this year. Or, perhaps, your child did well last year and you want to ensure this continues.

There is a lot of advice online, and elsewhere, and a lot of programs, books, tutor services and more you can buy. But, while I am not here to tell you what you should or shouldn’t spend your money on, I do want to tell you the one thing you can do  for free to help your child’s literacy development. Are you ready? Here it is:

MAKE READING FUN.

Reading should be pleasurable. Like a chocolate milkshake, a dive in a pool on a hot day, or the sight of a kitten playing with a piece of string, reading should make you smile, or sigh with contentment, or just feel better after a long day.

Easy huh?  If you’ve ever battled with your child to do their homework reading, or even just to pick up a book at all, you might be rolling your eyes right now, I know. In a moment I’ll offer some ways to make reading fun. First, though, I want to tell you WHY it matters.

Reading for pleasure is not just a good thing – its is THE number one way to ensure success in reading, writing, and, in fact, academic achievement in general. How do I know this? Because there is research to prove it.

In the UK the  British Cohort Study found that children who read for pleasure  improved more in reading, writing and even mathematics than those who didn’t. There was a stronger correlation between reading for pleasure than multiple other factors, including the parents’ education or household income. You can read more about this study and its findings here.  Even more important than academic success, however, these studies have also shown that children who read for pleasure also have stronger empathy, understanding of other cultures and decision making skills (you can read a longer report here .

Not convinced yet? Australia Reads has done the research for you (and me!) having audited 134 research reports and articles from around the world, with key findings summarised here.

In short, reading for pleasure (fun!) will help your child get better at the three R’s: reading, writing, and arithmetic (or, if you are worried abouts cores, the three strands of NAPLAN) , but also help them socially, and emotionally. People who read for pleasure are nicer!

But how do you, parents/carers/grandparents/significant role models help make this happen? Here are five simple things you can do.

Let your child choose their reading materials. Have books at home, but also join your local library and take your child there. If this is difficult, encourage your child to visit the school library outside of class borrowing times.  Note that I say ‘reading materials’. I LOVE books. But if your child wants to read magazines, comics, graphic novels, the back of a cereal packet, nonfiction, ebooks – LET THEM. This includes things you think are ‘too easy’ or that they have already read a billion times before.Talk about books. Don’t make it a test – don’t quiz them on what they have read, but have organic conversations about what they are reading. Express an interest. One way to do this is to actually read the same books your child is reading, but if you are time-poor, get them to tell you about it, and then relate it to something you have read.Don’t focus on reading levels, reading ages, scores and NAPLAN results. In the bad-old days, a lot of children would have had no idea of testing results. Test results were for teachers’ use, and even parents did not always know the results. I’m not advocating for a return to this. Knowing how your child is doing is helpful. And children do know if they are on level 11 and their best friend is level 15. But when the focus becomes numbers and scores, then reading (and writing) becomes a competition, and children can easily feel that reading is something you are ‘good’ or ‘bad’ at. Level 11 might be an amazing achievement for your child, given where they were at a year ago. And , because children develop and learn at different paces, they be at one level for a long time, then jump through several levels in quick succession. But pushing for them to see  literacy as a number takes away the pleasure and, as we learnt earlier, pleasure is key.YOU, the parent/grandparent/rolemodel need to read. Back to the research (which you will find here: children whose parents read for pleasure and who have books in their homes are themselves better readers.  Actually, this shouldn’t come as a surprise, but think of it like this: from a very young age, children want to be like their role models, they want to be ‘big’, to mimic what they see older people doing. When you read, you are showing that it is a good thing to do. It is pleasurable.  Instead of saying ‘do this, it is good for you’,  you are showing ‘do this, it is fun.’ Like force feeding vegetables, force feeding reading, when you yourself don’t do it, is counterintuitive. The good news is, if you are time poor (like me!), there are lots of shorter books you can read in the time it has taken you to read this blog post. Read your child’s books!  This will help you with point 2 above. Taking some time each day to read instead of scrolling on your phone, or watching reality TV,  or ironing (seriously! Reading is much more fun) is an investment in your child’s future – but will also make YOU a nicer person, too.Make reading social. As well as talking to your child about their reading, encourage them to talk about it, too. Lots of libraries and bookshops have free book clubs for children to join, where they can talk to other kids about their reading. If there isn’t one in your local area, suggest it at your local library. Some bookstores also love to have customer reviews for their shelves or websites. If your child loves a book, help them to find a place to share their review. If this isn’t happening local, maybe you can post their review to your social media accounts, and then let them see the likes and attention it gets. If none of this appeals, encourage family members to ask your child what they have been reading, and sharing what they have been reading in return.

There are lots of other ways to make reading fun – if you have a suggestion , leave a comment.  But mostly, thank you for reading this far, and for caring about the importance of reading for pleasure. It’s hard work being a parent. You’re doing great! Have a wonderful school year

 

Poetry Friday: An Illuminating Gift

One of the lovely quirks of participating in a holiday gift swap with people on the other side of the world is that things can show up just as you think the holidays are over. In this year’s swap, I paired with two people, so Tabatha’s gift (which I’ve already posted on) appeared before Christmas, but this week my second gift, from Margaret Simon, appeared in my letter box. How lovely!

Margaret sent me the most delightful card, with art by her father, John Gibson. Margaret couldn’t have known when she selected this card that my word for this year would be ‘Pause’, which is why I shivered when I read the verse inside the card: ‘Bring silence and stillness to this season of joy.’ A perfect reminder for me to pause.

Also in the package was a copy of Margaret’s poetry collection, Illuminate which she wrote in response to her father’s annual Christmas cards. John’s art uses pointillism – thousands of tiny dots make up each image. And Margaret has lovingly written a poem in response to each artwork. What a treasure to receive. I am digesting the poems, and the arts, slowly, savouring each as I pause to ponder their wonder.

Margaret also very kindly wrote a poem just for me:

For Sally

I found you under a book avalanche
Where you were happily absorbing
Word upon words
Story upon stories
Filling your cupboard
With timeless treasures.
(Margaret Simon, 2023)

I love that Margaret was inspired (I think) by this Instagram post:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Sally Murphy (@sallymurphyauthor)

 

Thank you so much Margaret! And thank you for your illuminating gift. Thanks to to Susan, who is hosting this week’s Poetry Friday Roundup. I’m heading over there to see what other poetry goodness is on offer this week.

Teaching Poetry in 2024? Right Way Down has teaching notes

Exciting news for teachers – and for me! Fremantle Press has produced Teaching Notes for Right Way Down, now available for free on their website here.

In case you missed  my earlier posts about this book, Right Way Down  is an anthology of  contemporary poetry for primary aged readers, suitable for classroom use and for private reading. It is coedited by Rebecca M. Newman and myself, illustrated by Briony Stewart, published by Fremantle Press in collaboration with Alphabet Soup Books, and including poetry on all kinds of topics and in a range of forms, from some amazing poets.

So, if you are thinking about how to include more poetry in your classroom this year (and  why wouldn’t you?) check out the teaching notes now and mark February 27 in your diary for the relapse of the book (of course you can pre-order it now to ensure you get your copy!).

And, if you are looking for a complementary book, and even more poetry and poetry teaching ideas, my PETAA publication Teaching Poetry for Pleasure and Purpose is still available, and includes lesson ideas, resources and poems for every primary year group.

But wait – there’s more! Because if you are looking for someone to visit your school and inspire your students about the fun and magic of reading and writing poetry – I’m your girl. I can also run Professional Learning for you and your colleagues.  I love poetry so much I made it the topic of my doctoral studies which kind of sort of makes me a doctor of poetry and means I LOVE to talk about poetry.

 

One or two (or more) goals for 2024

Happy Monday!

Like so many people, I have been thinking about what it is I want to  achieve in 2024. Although I am not a big fan of the idea of setting a single resolution – which just feels like a way of feeling like a   whole year can be a pass/fail depending on whether I quit something, or achieve something specific, what I do like to do is to think about goals for the year ahead – things I would like to focus on throughout the year, whether they are measurable or not.

I already posted about my guiding word for the year: Pause (or, as I explained in Friday’s post, paws).  But as today is the official start of my work year,  I thought it might be helpful to share what it is I am working on and towards this year.

Firstly, the things I have scheduled:

The release of Right Way Down in March. I am so proud to have co-edited this anthology with Rebecca Newman, (illustrated by Briony Stewart and co-published by Fremantle Press and Alphabet Soup) and cannot wait to share poems by some amazing children’s poets with the world.  I hope to sing the wonders of this book, and the words and images far and wide – and to spread the love of poetry wherever and whenever I can.The release of The Riding Gallery mid year. This is a verse novel, illustrated by Martina Heiduczek and published by Waker Books. In something a little different for me, it is a historical verse novel, set in St Kilda and using multiple voices.   I can’t wait to share this story with the world. It is based on a true story, that of a German immigrant and merry-go-round proprietor, and I really look forward to  sharing it with readers of all ages.I have had two conference papers accepted for conferences in May – one in France and the other in Singapore. I am just waiting for word on funding before I start planning this trip and writing these papers – one about children’s poetry and the other about juvenilia, and a book I wrote when I was in primary school.My study leave. I am lucky enough to have six months of academic study leave from my job at Curtin University. This is such a wonderful git of time and space to work on a new project – I am planning to research and write a historical novel. More details on this as I go, as it is still a little nebulous – I have a time period, a setting, and some real events, but am still working my way into the storyline as I deep dive into the research part.

Onto the things then that I want to achieve in that time, and the year as a whole:

The completion of that historical novel with a goal to have it drafted before I go back to my regular work in July.The finalisation of the middle grade prose novel (My Remarkable Year) I drafted on my May Gibbs Fellowship in in October. This is close to being ready to submit, so I really hope it might find a home this year.A new verse novel contract. Whether this happens is, as with every publishing contract, out of my hands, but I have two contenders here and would dearly love to see one of them be my next verse novel.A picture book contract. It’s been quite some time since I had a new picture book, so in 2024 I really hope to break back into this space. I’ve been fine tuning and submitting a couple of manuscripts over the past few months, and will keep plugging away at this, with many fingers and toes crossed. I love the magic of picture books. I am also investigating the possibility of doing a small self-publishing project to bring one or two of my out of print picturebooks back to life.An academic book chapter. I have a proposal accepted and due this month. So that is a priority over the next few weeks. Once that is completed I also hope to look at some other academic writing ideas, all about aspects of children’s literature.More poems. I aim to draft a new poem every week. Sometimes I share these on Poetry Friday, but I also submit to the School Magazine, anthology call outs and other new markets and contests. I Last year I had nine poems accepted (most of which will be published this year) and I would like to maintain that level of publication.

That is a lot, but I also have some aspirations for this year, which I will keep bubbling away as I try to figure out whether I have the time and the talent to pursue them.

I have not one, but two nonfiction book ideas for the adult market. Both of these are topics I really really want to explore and write about – but as you’ll see from my list above, I do have a lot planned this year, so realistically may not be able to achieve these. But neither idea will leave me alone, so at present I just keep making notes and pondering, and will see what happens after I have ticked off my study leave priorities.A podcast. Again two ideas, one related to one of the nonfiction ideas and another one. I have things to say, ideas to share, BUT little idea of the realities of putting together a podcast. So, we shall see. In the meantime, I would love to be a guest on more podcasts this year.More stories. Like so many writers, I have a  list of stories that I simply MUST write, or revise, or find homes for, and in my ideal world I would achieve all of the above plus give each of the stories on my list the time and energy they deserve.  This goal sits at the end of a long list not because it doesn’t matter, but because choices have to be made about what to prioritise. But I know that before the year is out one or more of these projects will put its hand up and demand to be worked on, NOW.

To help me achieve some of the above – especially around getting the word out about Right Way Down and The Riding Gallery, I am very much hoping to get and about and do more speaking this year. I love speaking at festivals, schools, libraries, conferences, events of all kinds and sizes – and if you are reading this and are looking for a speaker, drop me a line.

I’m also hoping to keep up with sharing my writing and life journey, as well as my reading and learning, here on the blog, via social media and more.

With so many things on my list, it would look like a busy year is planned, and it is – but, with the blessing of  six months to write, and the reminder of my word for the year to pause,  what unites all of this is not a need to hurry, but to savour the writing, the reading the speaking and the living. I hope you’ll savour it with me.

Poetry Friday: Pause/Paws

It’s Poetry Friday.  In 2024 I aim to post more regularly –  poetry is so integral not just to who I am as a writer,  or as an educator, but as a person, and the Poetry Friday community is one I really love being part of.

I started the year, as I do most years, by choosing a word that will hopefully guide my actions this year. My Word for 2024 is PAUSE. 

As you can see, I considered lots of other words, taking a while to select a word that really covered what I’m aiming for, but pause feels a good fit.

I plan to pause more to enjoy the small wonders in my everyday life. But also to pause to be more present when I encounter people who matter to me – family and friends. And, in moments of potential overwhelm, I want to remember to pause to breathe and refocus on what is truly important, and to consider how I’m going to meet a goal, or overcome a challenge.

It’s fitting too that pause is a homophone for paws, because George and Narelle both make sure I pause each day – George making sure I enjoy the great outdoors even on days I think I don’t feel like it, and Narelle reminding me that it is absolutely to just take a moment or three to sit and stroke a cat.

In honour of these two, I took a moment to draft a poem about what they bring to my days.

Paws

Busy days

Long days

Tough days and rough days.

Tired days

Wired days

Happy days or sad days.

Meh days

Bleh days

Feeling-not-so-sure days.

Any day

Every day

Is better when you paws.

(Sally Murphy, 2024)

In addition to a word, I have also spent some time this week  setting some goals for my work year, and getting clear on what it is that really matters to me in 2024. And, although I will post about some of those goals in another post, I do keep coming back to wanting to slow down, take time, enjoy my furry friends and my human ones, and pause.

Speaking of friends, Poetry Friday is hosted today by Marcie, who is also sharing her one word for the year. Head to her post to see what other poetry goodness has been shared.

What I Read in December 2023

Time to reflect on what I read last month – and, because it’s also a new year, my the year as a whole. In December I  cleaned out my to-read cupboard, and when I counted up how many books are waiting for my attention, realised I needed to perhaps not buy any new books in December. I did manage that, even though it was a challenge.  So, all bar two of the 14 books I read came from that cupboard. The exceptions were the Trixie Belden book, which I had to dig out of a storage crate in my back shed, and a Christmas book which was a gift.  So, here’s what I read in December.

Books for Children Secret of the Unseen Treasure , by Kathyrn Kenny (Golden Press, 1977). When I was in primary school I adored the Trixie Belden series, and much later bought the whole series off ebay for my own children to enjoy. But it had been some time since I read one for myself. I chose this one because of its title, and enjoyed getting back into Trixie’s adventures. One Wrong Turn, by Chenee Marrapodi (Fremantle Press, 2023). I loved this story of ballet rivalry, belonging and the challenges of trying to follow dreams while still maintaining friendships and other responsibilities. The two characters both dream of being professional ballerinas, but their rivalry threatens to derail these plans. You don’t have to love ballet as much as this pair in order to really relate to this story. Space Kids: Mars Mission, by Aleesah Darlison, illustrated by Nancy Bevington (Big Sky, 2023). This was a review copy I picked up out of my to-read pile. I hadn’t read the other titles in the series, but was pleased to see it stands alone so although a young reader might like to read them in order, they could still enjoy it on its own. A group of kids living on a Space Station where their parents work, and, in this instalment, an adventure to Mars. Super Sloth Episode 1: The Shar-Wolf of New York City, by Aleesah Darlison, illustrated by Cheri Hughes (Big Sky, 2023). Another from my review pile, by the same author. The first in a series featuring an unlikely superhero – a sloth named Romeo who, with his new friends, rescues New York from a mutant shar-wolf. The Bookseller’s Apprentice, by Amelia Mellor (Affirm press, 2022). Not sure why it took me so long to get around to reading this which was in my to-read pile for over a year.  It’s a delight to read – filled with action, magic, nastiness and loveliness, set in a magical  late 1800s Melbourne.The Sixpenny Island, by Ruth Park, illustrated by David Cox (Ure Smith, 1968).  I picked this up at a second hand book sale and enjoyed it – the story of an English family who, newly arrived in Australia, win a remote tropical island in a lottery, and decide to spend time there. I was surprised when I went looking for it for sale online to link to, to find that it seems quite rare, and also fetches a good price second hand so it seems I scored myself a bargain. Clancy’s Cabin, by Margaret Mahy (Puffin Books, 1987, first published 1977). Another second hand treasure as three siblings have an adventure holidaying in the cabin their father played in as a child, and solving a mystery.Stuff and Nonsense, Compiled by Michael Dugan, illustrated by Deborah Niland (Collins, 1974). And another second hand find. An anthology of nonsense and humorous poems, some by Dugan and others from further afield, including a sprinkling written by children. Brigid Lucy Wants a Pet, by Leonie Norrington, illustrated by Tamsin Ainslie (Little Hare, 2011). And yes yet another second hand treasure. Not sure how I missed this series when it was new, but glad I at least read this one. What’s not to love about a story narrated by an imp – which lives, unseen, in Brigid’s hair, giving us a close up into Brigid’s life as she navigates life, trying hard to be good. Toodle the Cavoodle: Crunchy Munchy, by Richard Tulloch & Heidi Cooper Smith (Big Sky, 2023). When I tidied up my to-read pile , I sat down and read three picture books in one sitting, all review copies from the one publisher. Not a bad way to spend an hour.  I’ve read a Toodle book before, and love the rendering of this little dog and his adventures. This time Toodle realises there is something wrong with one of the humans on Lillipilly Lane and needs to raise the alarm. Who’s the Gang on Our Street?, by Susanne Gervay & Nancy Bevington (Big Sky, 2023).  Another delight – this time focussing on a much-loved local Australian gang – of the bird variety. Cheeky sulphur-crested cockatoos flit through the pages, with readers encouraged to guess who they are. Ruby’s Rescue, by Elizabeth Mary Cummings & Cheri Hughes (Big Sky, 2023). The third of the three picture books, focussing on the plight of animals injured during bushfires. Stepfather Christmas: A Festive Countdown Story in 25 Chapters, by L.D. Lapinski (Orion, 2023). What a cool concept for a book – a Christmas story with 25 stories so that you read one chapter each day (or night) in December, culminating oat Christmas – so, in effect, an Advent book. Even cooler for me was that it was gift from my gorgeous friend Tamara reads, meaning I could imagine her reading the same chapter each day.Books for Adults Cellnight: A verse novel, by John Kinsella (Transit Lounge, 2023). A beautifully wrought verse novel – told in ‘spindle’ sonnets and moving between protests against visiting nuclear armed US ships to Fremantle in the 1980s as well as events before and after in a novel that challenges power in many forms.

 

This brings my total for 2023 to 133 books. This is 34 less than I read in 2022, which is fine – I actually had a goal to not worry about numbers, but about quality and enjoying what I read.  And I did, especially enjoying the number of classic Australian children’s books i read, especially ones I’d not read before, thanks to various second hand book shopping expeditions – planned and unplanned.

In 2024 I aim, again, to not worry about quantity, though I would like to significantly reduce the to-read pile which takes up a lot of cupboard space. There are two ways to do this – by reading them all or by moving them from there to by general shelves.  Probably I need to not do the latter, as my shelves are already overflowing.  I do feel that I need to either get more bookshelves, or actually do  more rehoming of books so that instead of sitting unread they get to be in the hands of other readers.

Anyway, too many books is a lovely problem to have, so I am not worried about it – just pondering a dilemma many book lovers have. To keep or to share. And i like to do a bit of both.

Here’s to an excellent year of reading coming to an end, and to an equally excellent one beginning. I’d love to hear what YOU have been reading.

Poetry Friday: A Gift in the Mail and the Gift of Time

Happy Poetry Friday. Today is a  happy day for me because it is my last day at my university job for the year AND after I have taken my annual leave, I have been gifted six months of time to write courtesy of academic study leave.  In some places this is called a sabbatical, but whatever you call it, I feel very very blessed that for the first six months of 2024 I will be focussed on researching and writing a historical novel, as well as new poetry and a chapter for an academic book. Apparently this is work, but to me it feels like a precious gift of time to do the thing that I am best at – and I intend to treasure the experience.

Another happy thing this week was a gift in the mail, courtesy of the annual Poetry Friday holiday swap, where Poetry Fridayers from around the world swap poems and other small gifts.  My gift came from Tabatha Yeatts, who moved me to tears with her thoughtful poems – yes, that’s right, not just one poem, but four. Each poem was a six word poem, (or hya(na)ku) which  was a lovely thing as I have shared this form a few times here on my blog . Even lovelier though was the thoughtfulness of the topics, from dogs to beaches and more.

Of course George loved this one best:

humdrum

triumphs, disasters

pup celebrates everything

(Tabatha Yeatts, 2023)

with the beach poem a close second:

sea

water knows

most fathomless self

(Tabatha Yeatts, 2023)

This one made me feel that Tabatha was connecting with my propensity to write about tough topics, and I love the idea of adversity providing rich compost for future growth:

 

adversity

buried in

imagination’s compost heap

(Tabatha Yeatts, 2023)

But, although it’s hard to have a favourite, this one took my breath away:

big

bang – story

explodes from core

(Tabatha Yeatts, 2023)

Why this one? Because Tabatha didn’t know it, but I am currently working on a story where an explosion is a central plot point. I had to browse my blog to double check whether or not I had shared this fact – but it would seem one of those lovely moments of serendipity.

So thank you Tabatha for the gift of poetry, and for also connecting Poetry Fridayers through this annual exchange. And for the unplanned inspiration to keep working on that story!

And speaking of inspiration, I am off to browse the other Poetry Friday posts. Today’s Roundup is hosted by Janice.

 

What I Read in November 2023

Time for my second last reading roundup for the year. November was a busy month but I still managed to read 16 books – a total helped by the fact that lots of them were picture books.  Here’s what I read:

Books for Children Friendly Bee and Friends: Woe is for Worm!, by Sean E. Avery (Walker Books, 2023).The second book featuring Friendly Bee and her friends – this time featuring Bee, Angry Wasp, Enormous Hairy Spider – and Pessimistic Earthworm. Lots of fun. Sean Avery is a genius. Raised by Moths, by Charlie Archbold & Michelle Conn (Midnight Sun, 2023).I was lucky enough to attend the launch for this while on my recent trip to Adelaide. Whimsical but also with a lovely exploration of belonging and childhood. The illustrations are divine. The Wheelbarrow Express (Walker Books, 2023). My copy is signed by the author – because she came for a sleepover on her recent trip to WA. How lucky am I that Sue Whiting is my friend? So I know I am a little biased, but this book is just wonderful, with a tale of a boy and his grandfather, with wheelbarrow rides, tender connections and love. Again, the illustrations are perfect.Madame Cholet’s Picnic Party, by Elisabeth Beresford, illustrated by Margaret Gordon (Ernest Benn, 1976).  I picked this one up in an op shop some time ago, and then read it late one evening when I wanted something light. I loved the Wombles when I was a child, and enjoyed a little glimpse back into their world. Mr Clownfish, Miss Anemone and the Hermit Crab, by Sean E. Avery (Walker Books, 2023). I adore Sean Avery – and his quirky books. This delightful picture book is about friendship, bravery and under water fun. Pog, by Lyn Lee, illustrated by Kim Gamble (Omnibus, 2000). Another bargain opshop rescue,. What a delight to rediscover this brave little monster who is, like the other monsters, scared of one thing – children. Nikki Hind: Dressed for Success, by John Dickson & Chantel de Sousa (Vision Australia, 2023). One of my reading delights this month was reading this one, and the two others (see below) that make up the Big Visions pack. This one tells the story of fashion designer Nikki Hind,  who lives with a vision impairment and has a successful fashion label. Craig Shanahan: Cooking up a Storm (Big Visions), by John Dickson and Claudia Frittitta (Vision Australia, 2023). Also part of the Big Visions imprint, this one is the biography of chef Craig Shanahan, aka ‘the blind chef’. Matt Formston: Surfing in the Dark, by John Dickson and Philip Bunting (Vision Australia, 2023). The third title in the Big Visions pack, which I was sent by Vision Australia. This one tells the story of Matt Formston, world champion surfer and cycling Paralympian. I love that these three books can work together or individually, in biographies that share amazing stories of people living wi9th vision impairment. Each includes the details of that impairment, and its progress but this is just part of each person’s story, with achievements and everyday life being a key part of each story.  With  the stories told in good sized bold font, as well as in braille, the books will be accessible to readers with any level of vision and this makes such a wonderful aid both for school and home use. It would be excellent to see these books in mainstream libraries making the stories, and their amazing subjects,  accessible to all young readers. City of Light, by Julia Lawrinson, illustrated by Heather Potter & Mark Jackson (Wild Dog, 2023). I was really happy to see this book come into the world, because it’s a topic I have long thought would make an excellent picture book. It’s the story of Perth’s label as the City of Light, after the people of Perth turned on their lights so that John Glenn could see them from space. Also, one of the illustrators, heather Potter, also illustrated my Pearl Verses the World which led, indirectly, to me needing to write a story about a cat.The Lucky Shack, by Apsara Baldovino & Jennifer Falkner (Working Title Press, 2023). I bought this after hearing the illustrator speak at the State Library of WA’s Young Reader’s Day Out recently. When she showed the images I sighed at their perfection and knew I had to own the book. So lovely.Books for Young AdultsNew Patches for Old, by Christobel Mattingley (Puffin, 1977). Picked up second hand on my recent trip to Adelaide, along with other Mattingley titles, giving me a chance to get to know her work better. The story of a teen (Patricia) who is really unhappy about migrating from England to Australia – and the journey to rebuilding her life. Ask No Questions, by Eva Collins (Puncher & Wattman, 2022). It was coincidence that I read this one and the Mattingley one sequentially, but both deal with the experiences of migrants to Australia. This one is an autobiographical verse novel about the a Polish family coming to Australia during the cold war.  Excellent poetry, and a perspective I found enlightening.Books for Adults

1. Things I Don’t Want to Know, by Deborah Levy (Penguin, 2013). I ordered this from my local bookshop after it was recommended on a podcast – but can’t for the life of me remember which podcast, or who recommended it. Still, I’m glad that past-Sally raced in and ordered it, and  really adored this, billed as ‘living autobiography, and exploring writing, womanhood, and the way childhood experiences have shaped the author’s ‘now’.  I am likely to order the two subsequent books, though it stands alone beautifully.

2. How to Love the World: Poems of Gratitude and Hope, edited by James Crews (Storey Publishing, 2021). What a beautiful beautiful anthology. From the format, with a cover to die for and hug, to the selection of poems to inspire, to reassure and to love, and little pauses for reflection throughout. I savoured this over about a month, reading a poem or two at a time.

3. The Red Witch: A Biography of Katharine Susannah Prichard, by Nathan Hobby (Miegunyah Press, 2022). This one took me a while to read – I actually started it in late August. That isn’t a reflection on its quality – but as it is quite dense, I put it aside a few times for lighter, quicker reads, finding I needed the head space to concentrate. A really thorough examination of the life, works and times of  author Katharine Susannah Prichard.

 

 

That brings my total for the year to 119. Happy with that – and there’s still a month to go. What have you been reading?

 

A Big Day Out

Yesterday I was lucky enough to meet and chat with young readers and their families at the Young Readers’ Day Out, an initiative of SCBWI West and the State Library of WA.

This event offers young readers the chance to hear from and see some of WA’s best creators of children’s books and I was awed by the readings, drawings and entertainment offered by luminaries including Julia Lawrinson,  Cristy Burne, Renee Treml, Sean Avery and more.  And of course, I got to trot out the tiara and get the audience to help me with some enthusiastic Narelling.

 

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