Nathan Luff's Blog, page 9

A New Update is Available

My posts aren’t as regular this year, not because I need more roughage in my blogging diet but because I have been super busy. For instance, I have just returned from five days at Daydream Island. I spent a lot of time in the pool “researching” for a project I hope to finish one day, though I may have to spend some more time at tropical resorts to make sure I have all my facts straight. I’ll keep you posted.

Bad Grammar has been getting some good reviews and media attention lately, which is lovely. Here are some online reviews you can read:

ReadPlus


Buzz Words


ABC Radio

 

There are some events coming up in April, including a visit to Auburn Library in Western Sydney – that’s on Wednesday the 10th of April at 4pm – plus a Books in Homes visit to Guise Public School on the 4th of April.

For those in Sydney with a love of children’s books, next Thursday, the 21st of March, the CBCA NSW branch will be having their annual booksale. You can get amazing discounted books and I will be there for a bit to help promote it and sign some books (I’ll mostly sign my own books but I have been practising Andy Griffith’s signature and Paul Jennings’). More information about that can be found here: http://nsw.cbca.org.au/news.php/42/cbca-nsw-book-sale

 

And that’s about all the updates I have for now. Happy readings …

A Wet but Wonderful Evening in Yass

Thanks to all the kids who came down to the Yass library yesterday evening despite the rain – actually, libraries are the perfect place to be in the wet, and the heat, and, well, pretty much any weather. Maybe not a cyclone though, I think with a cyclone you’re supposed to be in a bath or a doorway or something. The last thing you want is for a shelf of Harry Potter books to blow off and knock you unconscious.

Due to the lack of cyclones, we got to hang out for an hour and a half in the cosy local library.

 

I told some stories, read some of Bad Grammar, we had a Q & A and then Pizza!!! There were some pretty good questions at this event though my favourites were:

How old were you when you were young? – Surely I still am young, aren’t I? The more important questions is, how old will I be when I’m old?????

Do things get caught in your beard? The answer to this question is ‘yes.’ I call them treats for later.

Thanks to Michelle Manderson for organising the event. Thanks also to Clancy for untying my shoes during the presentation, and then tying them up again with a double knot. What a talented boy you are!!

The Rescheduled Yass Visit

This Thursday (28th of Feb) is my rescheduled visit to Yass Library. I’m very excited!!

Unfortunately due to uncontrollable circumstances, I had to reschedule the last visit but this time wild horses couldn’t keep me from attending – to make sure of this, I have bought a very expensive wild horse repellant that I found on the internet. It smells like a saddle (wild horses HATE saddles).

So, people in the Yass region, this is a reminder to pop on down to the Yass Library on Thursday (28th of February) to see me.

I am giving an author talk and meeting some kids who have completed the library’s Summer reading program. The event runs from 5.30pm – 7pm. I’m going to talk about both Bad Grammar and Chicken Stu, perhaps do a reading, and answer any questions you might have. As a sample of what to expect, you might want to check out this recent interview with me: 12 Curly Questions with Nathan Luff. Just ignore the corporate look in the photo (it was the only high res photo I had at the time) as I will NOT be in corporate attire, though I do plan to change out of my pyjamas.

There will be limited copies of books for sale and I will happily sign them for you.

See you there!

Ms Blakely Comes to Life!!

I had the absolute pleasure of visiting Wiley Park Public School in Western Sydney yesterday as part of the launch of Bad Grammar. Plus I got to meet one of my characters face to face.

Last year I visited the school as part of a Books in Homes visit. I admired these fantastic human-sized paper mâché characters they had in the library and following my talk the school asked if they could make one of the characters from the book I was working on. Flash forward a year a here she is, straight from the pages of Bad Grammar, I present Ms Blakely in all her manic detail!!!!

The project was headed by Mrs Robb and constructed with the students in the Support Unit. They used paper mâché to create the body while her clothes are made from french knitting. Her tongue has bubble wrap to give it a bumpy tongue texture. She is amazing.

Ms Blakely, for those who haven’t read the book (shame on you!) is a teacher who loves to dress up in the theme of whatever she is teaching. In this instance the Wiley Park gang have dressed her up for a Science lesson. She has space rocket shoes, planets orbiting around her head, and a science lesson rolling down her tongue.

As I think as many people as possible should see Ms Blakely, I have decreed that Wiley Park Public School library shall be her official custodians, but she will be allowed out on day visits with me to visit other schools now and then …

I had such a wonderful time revisiting the students and meeting some new ones. Thanks everyone for such a wonderful afternoon, especially the incomparable (yes I promise that word is used in a favourable light) Gillian Maugle for organising things.

 

More photos of the event to go up soon …

Kids Book Choice Awards

It is great news that Chicken Stu has made the Younger Readers’ list for the Western Australian Young Readers’ Book Awards (WAYRBA).

Kids choice book awards are a big thing in this country, and deservedly so! This is a great quote from Jackie French: “Of all the awards, the ones that kids choose themselves always means the most. But they are also a great way to show kids that what THEY love is important.”

 

As a kid* I held my own Annual Nathan Luff’s Choice Awards (ANLCA). The Nathan Luff Award was a very prestigious award given out across a range of categories including Best Parent and Best Brother. Winners received a ceramic trophy I made in art class (though I never did master any shape other than ‘the blob’).

 

So thank you to all Western Australian readers out there who nominated the book. You can see the full lists across the different age categories here:

 

http://wayrba.org.au/

Get voting!

* Actually, I still do have an annual awards ceremony, but don’t tell anyone.

 

Yass Library This Thursday

All people in the Yass region, this is a reminder to pop on down to the Yass Library on Thursday (24th of January) to see me.

I am giving an author talk and meeting some kids who have completed the library’s Summer reading program. The event runs from 5.30pm – 7pm. I’m going to talk about both Bad Grammar and Chicken Stu, perhaps do a reading, and answer any questions you might have, though I’d prefer questions about the books or writing in general, not questions like “Where do babies come from?”

There will be limited copies of books for sale and I will happily sign them for you.

Don’t be shy, come and say hello. I only bite when provoked.

Blog Tour Kicks Off

I have packed my e-bags and I am setting off on an awfully big blog tour over the next few weeks. I feel like Bilbo Baggins but slightly taller and with smoother feet.

First stop on this tour is to drop in for e-refreshments with author, Deborah Abela. Deborah writes great adventure, mystery and spy stories so I’m going to talk to her about my love of adventures. Pop on by and have some e-tea with us:

http://www.deborahabela.com/site/Blog/Entries/2013/1/10_A_Touch_of_Bad_Grammara_new_novel_by_Nathan_Luff.html

Tomorrow, the 14th of January, I will be heading North and visiting another fantastic author, this time it is Sheryl Gwyther. Sheryl and I are going to discuss writing technique, including the present tense writing style used in Bad Grammar. Start the week with us by visiting: http://sherylgwyther.wordpress.com/

More dates and sites will be announced soon!!!!!!

Bad Grammar Book Launch

On January 10th Bad Grammar was launched in style at Better Read than Dead bookshop in Newtown.

I’ve not launched a book before so it was very exciting that so many people came (a lack of attendees is a writer’s greatest nightmare, well one of them – I often have a nightmare where a pack of critics are chasing me down a dark alley but I’m not sure what that one means).

Culinary maverick, Miss Dumpling, the chef from Bourkely Boys Grammar, provided the catering and the dishes were colourful and strange, as you would expect. The watermelon, mint and haloumi combo was admired for its inventiveness.

My brilliant wife emceed the proceedings, with author, playwright, screenwriter, and chum, Sam Bowring, officially launching the book. Then I got to speak. For the occasion, I had creative genius, Caitlin Brown, create me a Bourkely Boys Grammar blazer in a delightful highlighter-yellow colour, as described in the book. It was a fashion hit!!

Finally there were books to sign and wonderful people to mingle with. Everyone received a special Bad Grammar Prefect badge to go with the book.

An excellent evening was had by all!!! If you couldn’t make it, head to a bookshop immediately to get your copy before they all sell out!

Bourkely Boys Taking Enrollments

The prestigious and delightfully fictitious Bourkely Boys Grammar is now taking enrollments. Bourkely Boys Grammar is a boarding school in the heart of the Australian outback. With a traditional approach to learning and discipline, Bourkely promises to get the most out of its students. Yes, the school might be remote, yes, it doesn’t have up-to-date technology, yes, the library is haunted, yes, the principal is terrifying and yes, the rest of the staff are demented, but don’t let that deter you.

Bourkely Boys Grammar gets results. Or else!

Enroll today at all good bookshops.

A Message from Santa

Dear all, I have been speaking to Santa recently and I have some bad news. Apparently he is really efficient and has already done his Christmas shopping for the year. The reason this is bad is because Bad Grammar only yesterday reached the bookshops. What this means is, you can’t rely on Santa to get you the best gift ever, you have to get to the bookshops and get to them now!! Quick, before it’s too late and Christmas is ruined.

Below are some bookshop sightings to help you in your search. Rush, push, shove, do whatever it takes!!!