Christine Bongers's Blog, page 2
December 13, 2018
When all your Xmases come at once
[image error]After nine years as a novelist, bad reviews still hit me in the gut, but the good ones, man, they really really touch my heart.
This week, I was privileged to receive twenty-six letters from the Soldiers Point Public School on the NSW Central coast that were the best early Christmas present a writer could ask for.
The first, from Assistant Principal Rachel Wagland, was full of heart, reminding me, once again, why I love writing for young people.
“This is now the fourth time I have used your novel Henry Hoey Hobson as part of my English unit and I cannot express enough the pure enjoyment that both myself and the students get from reading it.”
“If only I had a camera on the children at times when reading parts of the book. They were often on their knees in anticipation or constantly begging for more to be read at the end of each chapter. It is simply my favourite book and that is saying something considering my obsession with Harry Potter.”
Thanks Rachel, that made me laugh! But by the end of the letter, I found myself in tears:
There are a few children that have difficult home lives in my class and the connections they made with Henry were heart-warming. I think also they really loved the ‘happy ending’ so to speak. There is enough sadness in the world and your story was incredibly uplifting … I have yet to find such a quality book that matches Henry Hoey Hobson to read to my Stage Three children and apart from ‘The Secret Garden’ it has been the only book that on finishing the reading, the children stood up and applauded.
[image error]It is incredibly humbling to hear such feedback from the very people for whom I wrote this book: kids who’ve made it through tough times; teachers who care and want to build literacy, resilience and life skills in their classrooms.
I have written back, of course, and the children were ‘stoked’ to hear that their letters would feature on my website.
[Spoiler Alert: Many of these letters reveal the twist ending so read the book first BEFORE clicking on this link – Soldiers Point Public School – Henry Hoey Hobson Letters ]
Seriously though I hope you enjoy my early Christmas present as much as I did.
I do a lot of school visits and would love to visit Soldier’s Point to thank them in person for being part of Team Triple H. The nine-hour drive from Brisbane makes it a bit tricky, but thanks anyway Year 4/5 for the generous offers of a spare bunk if I’m ever down your way! (Until then we’ll just have to settle for facetiming.)
Merry Christmas everyone and may the unexpected gifts of the season bring delight and wonder to you all.
[image error]
September 3, 2018
A champion end to Book Week
Inaugural St Finbarr’s LitFest with Authors Michael Gerard Bauer, Josie Montano, Sheryl Gwyther, Librarian Dominique Gardiner, Children’s Laureate Morris Gleitzman and me!
Call me biased, but little schools are a constant source of inspiration in my book.
My old alma mater, tiny Jambin State School, located in the parched heart of 1970s Queensland, was the setting for my first novel Dust.
St Ambrose’s, the little neighbourhood school at the end of the street I moved into twenty years ago, inspired Perpetual Suckers, the school setting for my second novel Henry Hoey Hobson.
[image error]And today, it was St Finbarr’s at Ashgrove, a small community with a big heart, inspiring me all over again with its inaugural Literature Festival.
Hats off to uber-librarian Dominique Gardiner, Principal Anne Hall and St Finbarr’s P&F, for pulling off a literature festival that punches above its weight.
The all-star lineup included Australian Children’s Laureate Morris Gleitzman, and four local authors: St Finbarr’s old-boy and Book-of-the-Year-Winner Michael Gerard Bauer; Josie Montano; Sheryl Gwyther and moi.
’twas a great way to cap off this year’s Book Week celebrations – and if you don’t believe me, tune into Channel 9 News tonight for their take on this little school with a big love of all things literary. 
June 25, 2018
Read to Succeed – Books in Homes
[image error]
[image error]Big shout-out to Books in Homes Australia for putting more than two million books into some of Australia’s most disadvantaged homes.
I helped hand out nearly 600 books to Carole Park State School students this morning thanks to the generosity of program sponsor Mainfreight Australia.
Company representative Josh Meads remembers being on the receiving end of Books in Homes when he was a kid and is now passing their bookpacks on to a new generation.
Love your work, guys! For more information, click here.
May 8, 2018
Sisu – A Life Lesson from the Finns
We learnt about the Finnish concept of Sisu – a mental toughness that kicks in when all else is exhausted – on a walking tour of Helsinki, icy winds and snow whipping around my hubby’s unprotected ears.
(He wasn’t listening when I told him to pack a beanie and gloves, so the blizzard on arrival was a shock to his system. He’d joked on the plane ride over that it would be a balmy 24 degrees. And it was – on the Fahrenheit scale.)
While I was doing a fair impression of the Michelin Man in puffer, gortex jacket and four layers of clothes, hardy locals were showing we Aussies just how soft we really are – by stripping down to their budgie smugglers for a quick dip in the ice-trapped local pool.
Respect, my Finnish friends. Man, you are tough. But I guess that comes with the territory when you live in a country where the mercury rarely pushes above 15 degrees. Where only five million people became legendary throughout the world for standing alone in the Winter War against overwhelming Russian forces – and surviving. That’s sisu.
No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.” – Lin Yutang
Now that I’m home again, home again, jiggety jig, I’m grateful for all that I’ve learned and experienced while away.
Time with loved ones is more precious when travelling, the juxtaposition of familiar and unfamiliar giving each day a special edge.
No wonder the Dalai Lama exhorts us to step away from the everyday: ‘Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.’
This year, it was Helsinki. Where I am glad to have discovered a new word to live by.
For when the going gets tough. Sisu.
March 15, 2018
Meet Qld’s Treasures on 27 March
Find Your Treasure: CBCA 2018
Lovers of children’s literature, don’t miss this star-studded event: the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s short list announcement for the 2018 Book of the Year Awards.
I’ll be there, along with a treasure chest of local authors and illustrators who’ve featured on CBCA Book of the Year Award short lists over the years.
Along with Michael Gerard Bauer and Lucia Masciullo, I’ll be sharing what being short listed has meant to my life and career.
And I’ll hanging out to hear the official announcement of the 2018 CBCA Book of the Year Short List by local literary luminaries Nick Earls, Isobelle Carmody, Gary Crew, Tania Cox, Jill Morris and Caroline Magerl.
To register, please click the following link and I’ll see you there!
December 19, 2017
Breaking that marital vow
Dancing with Uncle John on my big day
Hubby and I had a couple of dancing lessions in the lead-up to our wedding 23 years ago.
But on the big day, the band played the wedding waltz in 4/4 time, we tapped out and swore a marital pact: he didn’t have to dance in public again and I didn’t have to camp.
For more than two decades we stayed true to those vows.
Then a friend roped us in for a bit of fun at the local bowls club. She’d found a Brazilian dance teacher called Tarcisio who could show us some moves …
Fast-forward two years and we are official dance tragics: no longer trapped at home with young kids; kicking up our heels at West End’s Rio Rhythmics on most days ending in a ‘y’.
[image error]
ASV Photographics: Rio Rhythmics White Magic
Our gorgeous instructors say we’ve come a long way (from an admittedly low base).
But we’re not in a hurry. We have the rest of our lives. And we’re having so much fun along the way. Making new friends. Listening to great music. And dancing, always dancing. Salsa. Bolero. Samba de Gaffeira. Bachata. Forro. Tango.
Our now-adult children have chronicled our adventures, entertaining their friends on snapchat with our dance journey.
[image error]
International Samba Day
Hiding round corners to video our faltering beginnings, staggering progress (two steps forward, one step back), and occasional matching outfits.
They pass round photos of us dressed as tropical bananas (for a recent performance at City Hall for the 65 Roses Masquerade Ball).
‘Don’t worry, you’ll just be part of the Carnivale parade,’ Tarcisio had assured us. ‘Cathy will tell you what to do.’
And she did. ‘You bananas, go up on stage and stand in front of the band.’
In front of the band? On stage? In front of 500 people? And do what?
‘Just dance,’ she said.
[image error]
I’d like to say I’m the one on the far right (but I’m the one standing next to her….)
And we did. Salsa. In front of 500 people. On stage at City Hall.
So much fun, we just had to do it again.
We joined Rio Rhythmic’s flash mob for International Samba Day at Kangaroo Point cliffs … and the Brazilian Forro group performing at Woodford Folk Festival on 29th December.
Then came the real test ….
‘Who’s camping?’ asks Cathy. ‘We need to book tent sites for Woodford.’
[image error]Camping? What! No way. Some of us take our vows seriously.
I don’t camp.
But dancing …
Now that’s a whole different story!
(For more dance stories from the fabulous Rio Rhythmics community click here and scroll down)
December 6, 2017
Last gig for the year: Happy hols everyone!
Please join me @ Redlands, if only for an hour – would love to see you there!
September 13, 2017
It’s been a big few months
Back-handing the beagle at Story Arts Festival Ipswich (photos courtesy of Aspire Photographics)
It’s been bigger than Proust’s rememberances. Bigger than Rapunzel’s shampoo bill. Bigger than Pinocchio’s nose if they’d ever made lying an Olympic sport.
Yes, it’s been Book Week. Man, I love it, but each year it just keeps getting bigger.
Ostensibly a 7-day celebration of children’s literature in August, CBCA’s Book Week has grown like Topsy into the busiest term of the year for writers, illustrators and those unsung heroes of all things literary, the wonderful teachers and librarians who tirelessly promote reading and writing in our schools.
[image error]I started Author Visits for Book Week back in July and just finished my last one yesterday – that’s a couple of dozen schools and a couple of thousand kids who’ve met me, my books and my dog in the last couple of months.
(Yes, Huggy usually manages to put in an appearance on power point; he is, after all, a most inspiring character!)
And that’s what it’s all about: getting kids enthused about reading and writing. Putting books in their hands that open their minds, spark their imaginations and make them think.
It’s a fun gig, one I’m lucky to have. But now it’s time to rest the voice, plant the birkis firmly on the floor under the desk and get back to finishing my next book (which will give me something new to talk about next year!)
February 5, 2017
Small month, big goals
[image error]Forget New Year resolutions, February is when it gets real, people.
School is back, Uni beckons, the heat is unrelenting, but the holidays are definitely over.
I’ve finally found the courage to peek at the scales through a gap in my fingers (damn you trifle!) and have nancy-ganzed my loins for some big jobs ahead.
Two months away from the work-in-progress has allowed me to see it with fresh eyes. I’ve fixed the most glaring flaws and am back in the rhythm with a writing schedule that will see the manuscript done and dusted by the end of the month – go me!
[image error]February is also when school visits and book events kickstart – first cab off the rank is Romancing the Stars at the Gold Coast on Friday 17 February.
You can take a shot at speed-dating a roomful of authors and illustrators – it’s seriously fun, so please come along if you can to support Book Links (Qld) – the Centre for Children’s Literature.
Click here to check out the lineup of talent and book your slot on the night. Would love to see you there!
February 2, 2017
Nawwww, who’s a good boy?
It’s my birthday – I’m 8 today!
Dear Dog Park humans,
I may only understand about fifteen spoken words, but I know what you’ve been saying about me:
That Huggy is fat. And lazy. And probably depressed.
Well, I have news for you people: I HAVE A THYROID CONDITION.
Yes, that’s right. I am officially one sick puppy.
And I had to all but expire and break out in lesions before anyone figured it out.
Sheesh.
Lucky my mummy disobeyed the pool boy (she lets him sleep in her bed, but in the things that matter, she’s the boss).
He said don’t waste your money on any expensive blood tests. But she said that I’m worth it (and I am).
After only two weeks of twice-daily vegemite licks (with some tiny pellet in it that I can’t be bothered spitting out), I’m a new beagle.
I’ve dropped two kilos and five years! I can do backflips again when Mummy puts on her togs.
Even the pool boy is happy. He says we can amortise the cost of the vet fees and drugs over the extra five years I’ve been granted. (A month ago he thought I wouldn’t make eight, but today I proved him wrong – Happy Birthday to me!)
He also says that I’m a good boy, a very good boy – and yes I am.
[If you want to see just how much my humans have always loved me – click on this link Confessions of a dog owner | Christine Bongers]
