Deb Fitzpatrick's Blog, page 3

The power of family

Families really fascinate me. So much of my writing, looking back on it, has been about family. Family teaches, controls, contains, cushions, protects, lures and repels us — all at the same time. It nurtures and carves us, in all the best, and sometimes the worst, ways. As a parent, I am very aware of […]

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A last word

2016 has been a very big year. I haven’t posted here as often as I’d have liked to, and I’m sorry for that. Big 2016 = crazy-busy + beautiful-wonderful + tumultuous-difficult, and I know I’m not the only one to come careering down the hill towards a new year feeling a combination of exhausted, relieved and […]

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Spencer Gray lands (safely) in the US!

I’m so excited to share this! Star Bright Books, based in Massachusetts in the US, will be releasing The Amazing Spencer Gray this ‘fall’, and here’s the cover … The blurb reads like this: Spencer Gray is 12—finally old enough to join his father in his glider, the Drifter. Going up and soaring is amazing! Spencer […]

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Following the Dream with Pilbara kids

I’ve just returned from an inspiring week in the Pilbara – and, frankly, it was the kids inspiring me most of the time. The Literature Centre and I ran creative writing workshops at high schools in Port Hedland and Newman, and after school we met the amazing Follow the Dream students. The honesty and effort these kids showed in their writing […]

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A Tale of Two Residencies

I had a lovely week this week thanks to two schools, their staff and awesome students. On Wednesday I spent the day at Carmel School, working with Year 7, 9 and 11 students. I was so warmly greeted by staff, and then had the pleasure of talking with inquisitive, engaged students – as a writer-in-residence, […]

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How a forest shaped a book

The other day I came across this old photo of me walking the Bibbulmun Track in the mid-1990s.

It’s in this part of the world, along this beautiful walking trail, that I set 90 packets of instant noodles.

This is where 15-year-old Joel goes to live, alone, for three months, in a run-down wooden shack. It’s Joel’s time to think about what he’s been up to with his mates back home and what he wants to get up to with his life. Thoughts of his girlfriend torment him, as do weird sounds at night. And there’s an old hermit living not far from him, he discovers, and this old guy has a rifle on his verandah.

The bush is a great place to think. I feel space flooding into my head when I go walking in the bush. This is precious time and I’m always grateful for it.

As for Joel, I guess you’ll need to read the book to see whether he makes the most of his time in the bush …

 

 

 

At My Door podcast

Am thrilled to be able to share here a 3-minute podcast of me reading from At my door, my latest book. It’s for readers aged from 7 to 11. Hope you like it!

https://www.fremantlepress.com.au/c/classroom-express/4642-deb-fitzpatrick-read-a-long

Perth Writers Festival 2016

Look at these faces. These are the faces of the inspired, hard-working writers and illustrators I’ll have the pleasure of chatting with on stage at this year’s Perth Writers Festival.

It’s a tough gig, it really is.

I hope to see you there! It’s this weekend (18–21 February 2016) at UWA’s Crawley campus. The events I’ll be MCing will be mainly on Sunday. Come and say hello!

A new year, a new leaf

Welcome to the new year, everyone! I must say that I’m always glad to find myself on the ‘other side’ of the silly season.

I’ve had a lovely break in the karri and marri forest in southern WA with my family and am really excited to get into a couple of big writing projects in 2016 – one novel for kids and one for adults.

But before the hard work gets underway I’d like to say a huge thank you to all the schoolteachers, librarians and readers, and the festival and writing-centre peeps who invited me into their spaces in 2015. Without your support I’d struggle to remember why I write. If I seem enthusiastic when I meet you, it’s because your enthusiasm makes me that way! THANK YOU!

In between some serious writing in 2016, I have school, library and festival bookings in Perth, Mandurah, Karratha, Katanning, Balingup and Busselton in WA, and Mackay and Melbourne. And I can’t wait! Please use the contact page if you would like me to come to your school or library – I will do what I can to make it possible.

No Limits

I had the pleasure of meeting Nic Emmerson and his dad, Roger, this week. Nic emailed me a couple of weeks ago. His email began like this:

Hello Deb, 

My name is Nic Emmerson and I am 20 years old and I am interested in learning about writing books for children and young adults.

In January 2012 I had a very serious motor vehicle accident and it has left me unable to walk or talk. I was in Royal Perth and Shenton Park Hospitals for just over 12 months and now communicate with my iPad.

Last year I decided to write a book documenting my hospital and recovery journey to give to my nurses, family and close friends. My book “No Limits” has inspired me to continue writing but I have decided I would like to learn some basic book writing skills.

I knew I had to meet Nic. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I found a happy, funny young man who is, despite these setbacks, super positive, and incredibly good at communicating.

Nic gave me a copy of his book, No Limits, which he wrote and put together:

Through words and photos, No Limits tells the remarkable, inspiring story of Nic’s recovery. Immediately after his accident, Nic’s family was told that he might be a vegetable. I can’t imagine how much joy it must bring them, then, to watch Nic, only two years later, go riding on his purpose-built trike, or attend a dress-up party with mates, and generally enjoy life. No Limits is full of photos of Nic smiling and laughing while doing physio, before going in to surgery, hanging out with his family and friends, and going riding on his trike.

As a mum, I was both moved and inspired to meet Nic and his dad. They are champions. Here’s a photo of me and Nic after he’d downed a vanilla milkshake:

Thanks, Nic and Roger, for inviting me to meet you both and share a small part of your journey. Rock on, Nic!