Christopher Cheng's Blog, page 2
August 24, 2012
Hello Holy Cross Primary School Glenwood
Today is the last 'official' day of Book Week - although there are still a few schools for me to visit that will make my Book Week Book Month! And what a terrific school to finish the week. Definitely Champions here! I had an absolutely gloriously fun time today at Glenwood. And the school uniforms are just beautiful.
There were some terrific questions asked but THE question of the day, actually I think it is the question of the year is most definitely a question that I have never had before ...
What would you do if there were no kids?
For me, that question is a real challenge for all the things that I like to do involve working with kids! There would be no need for Infants and Primary School Teachers (the second best job in the wrold) either. What a world that would be!
There were three sessions today, Kindergarten, first class and second class, and then after lunch (which is in the morning and a jolly sensible idea having a long lunch break early on), first the lower primary classes and then the upper primary classes.
Lots of chit chatting about story ideas; a creepy old house near where I grew up and the night-time noises that were the spark for Sounds Spooky; lots of looking at pictures to see exactly what Mark Jackson (illustrator) created for Python; and just a few tales that I love to share from my days working at the zoo with all sorts of animals - including the human ones!
And we had to talk too about saving the brain strain for teachers by students creating the best possible stories with numerous edits and sparkling imagery.
The excitement and smiles (with just a few grimaces too when I showed some of the picture from Python) were just marvelous.
Thanks too to Holy Cross for sharing your photos with me. Keep on readings and loving books!
Friday is done and Book Week is done but there are a few more schools left for me to appear in this year for Book Week!
There were some terrific questions asked but THE question of the day, actually I think it is the question of the year is most definitely a question that I have never had before ...
What would you do if there were no kids?
For me, that question is a real challenge for all the things that I like to do involve working with kids! There would be no need for Infants and Primary School Teachers (the second best job in the wrold) either. What a world that would be!
There were three sessions today, Kindergarten, first class and second class, and then after lunch (which is in the morning and a jolly sensible idea having a long lunch break early on), first the lower primary classes and then the upper primary classes.
Lots of chit chatting about story ideas; a creepy old house near where I grew up and the night-time noises that were the spark for Sounds Spooky; lots of looking at pictures to see exactly what Mark Jackson (illustrator) created for Python; and just a few tales that I love to share from my days working at the zoo with all sorts of animals - including the human ones!
And we had to talk too about saving the brain strain for teachers by students creating the best possible stories with numerous edits and sparkling imagery.
The excitement and smiles (with just a few grimaces too when I showed some of the picture from Python) were just marvelous.
Thanks too to Holy Cross for sharing your photos with me. Keep on readings and loving books!
Friday is done and Book Week is done but there are a few more schools left for me to appear in this year for Book Week!
August 22, 2012
Hello Merrylands Library ...
and the years 5 & 6 classes from
Merrylands East Primary School,
Parramatta West Primary School
and Giraween Primary School
Yes it's another Book Week event speaking to hundreds of kids in the open spaces at the beautiful Merrylands Library. They were well prepared for Book Week with great competitions and a wall display that tied in well with the olympics too! Champions!
Lots of great questions (including ones like:
Why don't you write books for older kids?
What's the worst book you have ever read? and
Which animal has the stronger smelling poo, a bilby or a northern quoll?
Now I know quite a bit about animals but it doesn't stretch to poo smelling!).
And I hope lots of listeners have returned to school with some fun writing ideas! My reading of Sounds Spooky scared a few kids - and the big kids sitting on the side too, and there were attentive listeners for some of the zoo stories. Python is a hit, especially Mark's illustrations of the open-jawed python attempting to catch a bird and then the constricting python in action! Lots more giggles and fun and laughing.
... and thanks to the children's librarian at Merrylands Library Kirsty Plumridge for organising me to come to the library.
Merrylands East Primary School,
Parramatta West Primary School
and Giraween Primary School
Yes it's another Book Week event speaking to hundreds of kids in the open spaces at the beautiful Merrylands Library. They were well prepared for Book Week with great competitions and a wall display that tied in well with the olympics too! Champions!
Lots of great questions (including ones like:
Why don't you write books for older kids?
What's the worst book you have ever read? and
Which animal has the stronger smelling poo, a bilby or a northern quoll?
Now I know quite a bit about animals but it doesn't stretch to poo smelling!).
And I hope lots of listeners have returned to school with some fun writing ideas! My reading of Sounds Spooky scared a few kids - and the big kids sitting on the side too, and there were attentive listeners for some of the zoo stories. Python is a hit, especially Mark's illustrations of the open-jawed python attempting to catch a bird and then the constricting python in action! Lots more giggles and fun and laughing.
... and thanks to the children's librarian at Merrylands Library Kirsty Plumridge for organising me to come to the library.
August 21, 2012
Hello St Lukes Grammer School Dee Why
What a fun time it was at St Luke's Grammar School in Dee Why today doing literacy focussed workshops.
It was a day of brainstorming and compiling writing ideas and developing stories and getting excited, and me trying to write neartly on the white board!
We created lists of ideas that would make great stories.
We compiled lists and mind maps of the happenings that would expand the initial ideas and then we created a collection of great sentence starts that would really hook the reader.
We talked about descriptions and detail - especially when we tried to describe some of the students - there are some eyes in some rather wierd places, and ears that were rather strangely attached to our heads!
We laughed and giggled and shared and we all wrote stories - or at least the ideas that will be our stories.
Some of the ideas that filled our white board:
dinosaurs, dancing leprechauns, more than a few zombies and nasty beasties, a few investigators, dragons, a fun filled talking breakfast (bacon for mouth, eggs for eyes, toast for the face and a whole lot more), a wide assortment of native and non native animals that did all manner of peculiar things, ghosts and spooks, rattling windows, flying pancakes, disappearing food, disappearing people - I wish that I could remember them all but I am a little too tired right now!
But what was really fun and what makes these days so thrilling for me is seeing and hearing these kids excited about being able to write a story idea that is their very own!
Thanks to Mrs Smith and Mrs Griffiths for organsing our fun!
It was a day of brainstorming and compiling writing ideas and developing stories and getting excited, and me trying to write neartly on the white board!
We created lists of ideas that would make great stories.
We compiled lists and mind maps of the happenings that would expand the initial ideas and then we created a collection of great sentence starts that would really hook the reader.
We talked about descriptions and detail - especially when we tried to describe some of the students - there are some eyes in some rather wierd places, and ears that were rather strangely attached to our heads!
We laughed and giggled and shared and we all wrote stories - or at least the ideas that will be our stories.
Some of the ideas that filled our white board:
dinosaurs, dancing leprechauns, more than a few zombies and nasty beasties, a few investigators, dragons, a fun filled talking breakfast (bacon for mouth, eggs for eyes, toast for the face and a whole lot more), a wide assortment of native and non native animals that did all manner of peculiar things, ghosts and spooks, rattling windows, flying pancakes, disappearing food, disappearing people - I wish that I could remember them all but I am a little too tired right now!
But what was really fun and what makes these days so thrilling for me is seeing and hearing these kids excited about being able to write a story idea that is their very own!
Thanks to Mrs Smith and Mrs Griffiths for organsing our fun!
August 20, 2012
Hello Wahroonga Public School
Ah, what a blast it was today with the wonderful students from Wahroonga Public School and their fantasmagorical Teacher Librarian Mrs Crys Mills.
Right at the start of Book Week 2012 I want to give a huge, gigantic and exhillerating shout out for all those amazing teacher librarians, and not just because I am married to one. How critical and essential are our teacher librarians to the whole education of our students. In many schools it is the teacher librarian who teaches every child each week. They don't just manage the book collection or turn on the school computers. They share the joy of holding books and develop or continue a love of all things book. They teach research skills ... and they can usually find just the perfect book for each child to read. Just like Crys Mills.
And of course without teacher librarians where would authors and illustrators be!
I visited Wahroonga school a few years ago so some of the upper primary students already knew lots about me but many things change in two years so it was wonderful to be able to introduce my more recent titles - Sounds Spooky and Python. We chit chatted about the importance of the process of writing and especially the editing part of writing ... once is never enough! Editing and rewriting is all part of the writing process - not just coming up with ideas. And we even discussed the brains of teachers ... but you will have to find a Wahroonga student to find out what that is all about!
in the libraryThanks Wahroonga for a lovely day.
Right at the start of Book Week 2012 I want to give a huge, gigantic and exhillerating shout out for all those amazing teacher librarians, and not just because I am married to one. How critical and essential are our teacher librarians to the whole education of our students. In many schools it is the teacher librarian who teaches every child each week. They don't just manage the book collection or turn on the school computers. They share the joy of holding books and develop or continue a love of all things book. They teach research skills ... and they can usually find just the perfect book for each child to read. Just like Crys Mills.
And of course without teacher librarians where would authors and illustrators be!
I visited Wahroonga school a few years ago so some of the upper primary students already knew lots about me but many things change in two years so it was wonderful to be able to introduce my more recent titles - Sounds Spooky and Python. We chit chatted about the importance of the process of writing and especially the editing part of writing ... once is never enough! Editing and rewriting is all part of the writing process - not just coming up with ideas. And we even discussed the brains of teachers ... but you will have to find a Wahroonga student to find out what that is all about!
in the libraryThanks Wahroonga for a lovely day.
August 18, 2012
And so it begins ... Book Week 2012
Every year, around about this time for countless years, authors and illustrators of children's books around Australia have woken up knowing that they have this one peaceful day before the craziness of
Book Week
begins. For some of us Book Week has already begun and that one week has now evolved into
Book Month
!
We make sure that the laptops have all the images that we might want to project onto the IWBs; old stories have been brushed up so that we remember them clearly; the props we use to tell those stories are uncovered, rejuvenated and stitched, sewn or glued back together again (the local children have been playing with them for the past 51 weeks); copies of our published books - especially the new ones - are filling the bags, and those so very talented illustrators - well they have the added advantage of having countless examples of artwork from their wonderful creations to show.
Tonight we will have one hearty meal and jump into bed early for what will be a restless sleep, our minds a buzzing and remembering, ready to venture out to schools and libraries near and far, within the state and out of state, to be with the very young and not so young, and those who are simply young at heart. We will sing and dance and read stories and create stories and share our thoughts and talk about the wonderful world that is children's books ... the best books!
I love it!
... and maybe, just maybe we will spark a young author or illustrator of the future in one of our classes who will one day blog (or by then there will be some new form of social media for sure) that they are venturing off for the very first time, now as an adult, into a school or library to share the joys of being a children's book creator!
And they will remember when an author or illustrator came to their school one Book Week.
And they will love it!
We make sure that the laptops have all the images that we might want to project onto the IWBs; old stories have been brushed up so that we remember them clearly; the props we use to tell those stories are uncovered, rejuvenated and stitched, sewn or glued back together again (the local children have been playing with them for the past 51 weeks); copies of our published books - especially the new ones - are filling the bags, and those so very talented illustrators - well they have the added advantage of having countless examples of artwork from their wonderful creations to show. Tonight we will have one hearty meal and jump into bed early for what will be a restless sleep, our minds a buzzing and remembering, ready to venture out to schools and libraries near and far, within the state and out of state, to be with the very young and not so young, and those who are simply young at heart. We will sing and dance and read stories and create stories and share our thoughts and talk about the wonderful world that is children's books ... the best books!
I love it!
... and maybe, just maybe we will spark a young author or illustrator of the future in one of our classes who will one day blog (or by then there will be some new form of social media for sure) that they are venturing off for the very first time, now as an adult, into a school or library to share the joys of being a children's book creator!
And they will remember when an author or illustrator came to their school one Book Week.
And they will love it!
August 7, 2012
Conference Day 3
Just a little late but here we go:
The highlight time for the day has to be the Golden Kite Luncheon and the wonderful and delightful and so excellent Susanne Williams being announced as Member of the Year ... yeah.
This is an amazing award ... I know because this is the award that I received in 2010. It is a total surprise and the recipient is chosen by the LA office. As Susie Williams proceeded to the stage from the back of the ballroom all the Regional Advisors stood and clapped and cheered our excitement at her award.
The chaotic time of the day has to be the autograph party where the throngs of folks gathered to get their books singed. Patricia Wiles and I have just about got this down pat and organised so that it runs smoothly - if not a little crazily. Now if we could just solve the sort feet problem!
it was a long snaking line around the ballroom foyer
a normal chaotic autograph party
The not so highlight time of the day has to be getting up at 7 am to go to a breakfast meeting. I was sooooooo tired, but at least the company was grand and we chit chatted lots discussing all things international.
not breakfast at Tiffany's but the Hyatt!
the LA office crew
The fun time of the day has to be hanging out with the other folks. It's amazing how much we can talk and for so long!
And the conference proper is now done and dusted. Three days of inspirational keynotes who made us laugh and giggle and shed a tear and sigh and think of what we are doing, who for, and why. Three days of amazing workshops led by many of the leading lights in the kids book world. What a wonderful gathering. It all just seems to fly through. No sooner has the Thursday meeting begun and then the Sunday autograph party draws it to a close. For me the conference very much is about networking and catching up with old friends - it really is a joy to do so!
Just the Intensives to go on Monday.
The highlight time for the day has to be the Golden Kite Luncheon and the wonderful and delightful and so excellent Susanne Williams being announced as Member of the Year ... yeah.
This is an amazing award ... I know because this is the award that I received in 2010. It is a total surprise and the recipient is chosen by the LA office. As Susie Williams proceeded to the stage from the back of the ballroom all the Regional Advisors stood and clapped and cheered our excitement at her award.
The chaotic time of the day has to be the autograph party where the throngs of folks gathered to get their books singed. Patricia Wiles and I have just about got this down pat and organised so that it runs smoothly - if not a little crazily. Now if we could just solve the sort feet problem!
it was a long snaking line around the ballroom foyer
a normal chaotic autograph partyThe not so highlight time of the day has to be getting up at 7 am to go to a breakfast meeting. I was sooooooo tired, but at least the company was grand and we chit chatted lots discussing all things international.
not breakfast at Tiffany's but the Hyatt!
the LA office crewThe fun time of the day has to be hanging out with the other folks. It's amazing how much we can talk and for so long!
And the conference proper is now done and dusted. Three days of inspirational keynotes who made us laugh and giggle and shed a tear and sigh and think of what we are doing, who for, and why. Three days of amazing workshops led by many of the leading lights in the kids book world. What a wonderful gathering. It all just seems to fly through. No sooner has the Thursday meeting begun and then the Sunday autograph party draws it to a close. For me the conference very much is about networking and catching up with old friends - it really is a joy to do so!
Just the Intensives to go on Monday.
August 5, 2012
Summer Conference Day 2
A time full of meetings ...
meeting last night,
meeting at lunchtime today,
meeting tomorrow morning ...
lotsa meetings ...
but it is all good!
A late night to bed on Friday due to time swap and lots of catching up with friends I don't see often enough (and that most definitely needs to be done), so meant that it was a late morning rising here. I did make it down in time in time (just) for the early session but alas, no coffee so I had to raid Starbucks! Still it is better than no coffee fix at all.
Today was more listening to speakers - many whom are able to tell such inspiration and loving stories from folks including Bryan Collier, Deborah Underwood, Ruta Sepetys and Deboarh Halverson. emotion and warmth and beautiful stories.
This evening was a glimpse into the wonderful stunning talents of the illustrators here at the conference. Was it 160+ portfolios on display - not sure but I can't imagine the difficulty this posed for the judges. How the heck do they decide? It is beyond this mind! There were some amazing pieces and I am just in awe when I see some of this artwork. Some of these should most definitely be hung in galleries .. I was often walking around and seeing the art and imagining stories!
And then it was the social event of the SCBWI calendar ... the gala ball. This time it was the 60s Hippie Hop and it was good ... it was very very good. So many wonderful colourful pieces of clothing and lots of great music. But not only was there music and dancing ... we had the first SCBWI flash mob to the tune of Aquarius! Lots of emailing, an instruction clip to follow, and a secret practise session at our Thursday meeting was very worthwhile ... and we were good ... and yes I did join in - my two left feet worked appropriately!
So an absolutely wonderful day!
meeting last night,
meeting at lunchtime today,
meeting tomorrow morning ...
lotsa meetings ...
but it is all good!
A late night to bed on Friday due to time swap and lots of catching up with friends I don't see often enough (and that most definitely needs to be done), so meant that it was a late morning rising here. I did make it down in time in time (just) for the early session but alas, no coffee so I had to raid Starbucks! Still it is better than no coffee fix at all.
Today was more listening to speakers - many whom are able to tell such inspiration and loving stories from folks including Bryan Collier, Deborah Underwood, Ruta Sepetys and Deboarh Halverson. emotion and warmth and beautiful stories.
This evening was a glimpse into the wonderful stunning talents of the illustrators here at the conference. Was it 160+ portfolios on display - not sure but I can't imagine the difficulty this posed for the judges. How the heck do they decide? It is beyond this mind! There were some amazing pieces and I am just in awe when I see some of this artwork. Some of these should most definitely be hung in galleries .. I was often walking around and seeing the art and imagining stories!
And then it was the social event of the SCBWI calendar ... the gala ball. This time it was the 60s Hippie Hop and it was good ... it was very very good. So many wonderful colourful pieces of clothing and lots of great music. But not only was there music and dancing ... we had the first SCBWI flash mob to the tune of Aquarius! Lots of emailing, an instruction clip to follow, and a secret practise session at our Thursday meeting was very worthwhile ... and we were good ... and yes I did join in - my two left feet worked appropriately!
So an absolutely wonderful day!
August 4, 2012
Summer Conference begins
So today the conference begins ...
again a stellar lineup has been organised and again it is a near sellout!!!
What's happened.
keynotes including Arthur Levine who delivered a timeless keynote referencing his 15 years of books published under his own imprint.Another very entertaining and humorous one from Tony DiTerlizzi on imagination,
and workshops,
and lunch meetings,
and afternoon tea meetings
and workshops
and the PAL Showcase and Pizza party
and social gathering
and then post social gathering meeting in the deep dark of the evening ... before a very late night of sleeping.
A busy day 1.
The Pal showcase and Pizza party was the chance for published members to showcase and sell their books. Interestingly for me when people saw the title of my book they did one of two tinges. They either came over and had a look - or they got as far away from the books possible - me thinks they don't like Pythons!
For a few of us who were showcasing their books though, the pizza part of tonight's gathering never eventuated and we missed eating pizza, too much talking about our books which then went into the last programmed part of day one -- the various evening social gatherings (as well as internationals there was a gathering for illustrators and another for yoga enthusiasts. Tonight the Internationals gathered and chit chatted about all things international - we even had gate crashers ... okay so they probably didn't fit into any of the other programmed socials but we are a pretty amazing group! Just look at the assembled throng. It is just so amazing to see the reach of the SCBWI tribe.
By now though a few of us had barely eaten a snack, let alone had dinner, so the international RA crew continued to chat over food!
But first I had to zap up the pen and ink room to do a quick camera piece on advice for J.J. Pennifur (Penny the hamster) who is seeking editorial wisdom. Pen and Ink created the pirate alphabet clip - this year it is hamster editorial time! More on that later!
Arthur's keynote on Timeless titles - Shaun Tan!
The PAL Pizza Party
with Sharon CameronSharon's first book above is a SCBWI success story ... she won the Sue Alexander Award in 2009 and now the book is alive. Yeah!
Susan Eaddy
again a stellar lineup has been organised and again it is a near sellout!!!
What's happened.
keynotes including Arthur Levine who delivered a timeless keynote referencing his 15 years of books published under his own imprint.Another very entertaining and humorous one from Tony DiTerlizzi on imagination,
and workshops,
and lunch meetings,
and afternoon tea meetings
and workshops
and the PAL Showcase and Pizza party
and social gathering
and then post social gathering meeting in the deep dark of the evening ... before a very late night of sleeping.
A busy day 1.
The Pal showcase and Pizza party was the chance for published members to showcase and sell their books. Interestingly for me when people saw the title of my book they did one of two tinges. They either came over and had a look - or they got as far away from the books possible - me thinks they don't like Pythons!
For a few of us who were showcasing their books though, the pizza part of tonight's gathering never eventuated and we missed eating pizza, too much talking about our books which then went into the last programmed part of day one -- the various evening social gatherings (as well as internationals there was a gathering for illustrators and another for yoga enthusiasts. Tonight the Internationals gathered and chit chatted about all things international - we even had gate crashers ... okay so they probably didn't fit into any of the other programmed socials but we are a pretty amazing group! Just look at the assembled throng. It is just so amazing to see the reach of the SCBWI tribe.
By now though a few of us had barely eaten a snack, let alone had dinner, so the international RA crew continued to chat over food!
But first I had to zap up the pen and ink room to do a quick camera piece on advice for J.J. Pennifur (Penny the hamster) who is seeking editorial wisdom. Pen and Ink created the pirate alphabet clip - this year it is hamster editorial time! More on that later!
Arthur's keynote on Timeless titles - Shaun Tan!
The PAL Pizza Party
with Sharon CameronSharon's first book above is a SCBWI success story ... she won the Sue Alexander Award in 2009 and now the book is alive. Yeah!
Susan Eaddy
August 2, 2012
SCBWI Summer Conference
So just where am I now ... at the SCBWI 41st Summer Conference in Los Angeles of course. I left Sydney just a a few hours ago according to the clock on this computer (but we all know there is no such thing as time travel unless you are a Dr Who fan and you know a Time Lord) - although as I haven't adjusted the timezone settings it still thinks I am home in OZ and it is mid afternoon on Friday.
Today has been the pre-conference meeting and networking - catching up with some of the folk I haven't seen for so long, well since January in New York, and other folk who I haven't seen since this time last year! And a few knew bods as well. It is always a blast seeing all those lovely smiling faces ... and of course if I had not left my firewire cable that connects my camera to this laptop I could add some photos now - photos of the RA meeting and all the action therein, like:- unwrapping presents for babies, - proud grandparents (and those to be) and - photos of us dining in the Westfield complex and pulling funny faces- and just seeing such fun folks.But photos will just have to wait till I zap out to the shops and buy the cable!
One of the most common phrases hear from many mouths comes to the general conclusion that we are amazed that it is just a year since we were last here. Time flies!
Really this is a most wonderful time when we all gather together and yes it really is just like one great big family - with groups all over the world. So much hugging HAS to be a good and great thing.
So, now to catch up on some sleep and then the conference shall begin!
Today has been the pre-conference meeting and networking - catching up with some of the folk I haven't seen for so long, well since January in New York, and other folk who I haven't seen since this time last year! And a few knew bods as well. It is always a blast seeing all those lovely smiling faces ... and of course if I had not left my firewire cable that connects my camera to this laptop I could add some photos now - photos of the RA meeting and all the action therein, like:- unwrapping presents for babies, - proud grandparents (and those to be) and - photos of us dining in the Westfield complex and pulling funny faces- and just seeing such fun folks.But photos will just have to wait till I zap out to the shops and buy the cable!
One of the most common phrases hear from many mouths comes to the general conclusion that we are amazed that it is just a year since we were last here. Time flies!
Really this is a most wonderful time when we all gather together and yes it really is just like one great big family - with groups all over the world. So much hugging HAS to be a good and great thing.
So, now to catch up on some sleep and then the conference shall begin!
July 22, 2012
Look At My Desk - Anna Walker
Welcome to the latest post for Look at my Desk, where we peek into the creating places of some of my friends from around the world. This time, back in Australia, we are uncovering the studio of the delightful Anna Walker, the illustrator of delicious books such as All Through the Year,
Little Cat and the Big Red Bus
, and the beautiful
I Love
books starring Ollie and Fred.
********
I am an illustrator and I tell stories. I paint pictures, knit wooly animals and play with mediums such as woodblock printing and collage.
My studio is like the cubby I have always dreamed of. I fill it with pieces I have collected and created – things such as a small wooden cow I bought in Rome, a knitted pigeon, rabbit tea cups and a paper mache toadstool I made. The space is in a basement shared by a photographer, a printmaker and a graphic designer. I love playing in the studio. It has a history of creative souls, as once upon a time a printmaker and artist used the space and there was a gallery above and another gallery next door. It is great to share ideas and collaborate with the others in the studio. We are making a short video of the space and showing part of the creative process of making a picture book and you can see it here:
I have just finished ‘Peggy’ my latest book which will be released in September 2012 and before I begin my next book (in collaboration with the lovely Jane Godwin) I am preparing for an exhibition to be held later this year.
For more about Anna you can find her in the following places
http://www.annawalker.com.au/
http://www.facebook.com/annawalkerbooks
https://twitter.com/#!/basementbird
the desk
the bookshelf
more desk
the toys
********
I am an illustrator and I tell stories. I paint pictures, knit wooly animals and play with mediums such as woodblock printing and collage.
My studio is like the cubby I have always dreamed of. I fill it with pieces I have collected and created – things such as a small wooden cow I bought in Rome, a knitted pigeon, rabbit tea cups and a paper mache toadstool I made. The space is in a basement shared by a photographer, a printmaker and a graphic designer. I love playing in the studio. It has a history of creative souls, as once upon a time a printmaker and artist used the space and there was a gallery above and another gallery next door. It is great to share ideas and collaborate with the others in the studio. We are making a short video of the space and showing part of the creative process of making a picture book and you can see it here:
I have just finished ‘Peggy’ my latest book which will be released in September 2012 and before I begin my next book (in collaboration with the lovely Jane Godwin) I am preparing for an exhibition to be held later this year.
For more about Anna you can find her in the following places
http://www.annawalker.com.au/
http://www.facebook.com/annawalkerbooks
https://twitter.com/#!/basementbird
the desk 
the bookshelf 
more desk 
the toys 
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