Christopher Cheng's Blog, page 3

Opening of the Martian Embassy

The Martians Have Landed!

I was absolutely delighted today to attend the official opening by the lovely Governor of NSW, Prof. Marie Bashir of the Sydney Story Factory and the first Australian Martian Embassy and Gift Store (who knows, there might be a Martian Embassy in some other planetary system). And part of the official opening was the launch of the anthology - I Met a Martian and other stories for which I wrote a piece. Every aspect of the anthology was donated including the stories editing, cover design, illustration, typesetting, paper and printing.




As one who believes in the power of story and creativity and how they can change lives I was absolutely buzzed to jump on board (sometime last year) and write my Martian piece. Now don't expect to read it here. You need to go buy the book! But I will let you know that it is a description of a Martian (Martianous martian). There are stacks of stories from other creative folk including Deborah Abela, Jaccqueline Harvey, Markus Zuzak, Sophie Masson, Melina Marchetta and Markus Zusak.

What is the Sydney Story Factory :
The Sydney Story Factory is a not-for-profit creative writing centre for young people in Redfern, Sydney. Our volunteer tutors offer free help to write stories of all kinds, which are published in as many ways as possible.

Find out lots more about Sydney Story Factory at the website
... and also have a look at the short film called Measuring Up .
This is a glorious initiative.

Governor Bashir & Tim Dick (Co-Founder) 
Markus Zusak with student authors
Inside the Embassy 
Bini and Libby Gleeson with mechandise from the Embassy Store
Merchandise
With the Ambassador

Speech Day at Cheng Chek Chee Secondary School

Most regular readers of this blog will know that around this time every year in Hong Kong Cheng Chek Chee Secondary School (named after my grandfather) hold their annual Speech Day. And most regular readers also know that each year a prize is presented to a student who shows great promise in English writing as chosen by the school English Department - the 'Christopher Cheng Book Prize' pack. Humm. I don't know if I have told them that I have a Chinese name too!
Last Tuesday the school held their 2012 Speech Day and a link to the school photo gallery has just been sent to me. I loved flicking through the pags of the gallery and seeing the students - they all looked so very excited. Have a look at the ceremony!

Here is Hung Yeung Ki receiving his prize (with the school Alumni Manager who presented it to him!)


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Congratulations Yeung Ki. This gives me such a thrill to be part of the ceremony.

Python in the library - again

This morning the team at Walker Books organised another venture out promoting Python in the library, this time with the lovely crew at Glebe Library (another local library for me). And this time, I was not alone.

The staff (thanks Beth) had arranged for my talk, part of their 8 Stories High (a bi-monthly National Year of Reading activity) to include a visit by Amy from Australian Wildlife Displays. Accompanying Amy was the gorgeous Precious. So my chit chat about my new picture book Python ended up being a very lively hands-on book reading and information sesson. It was absolutely thrilling to once again to be entwined with one of my favourite Australian animals, a Diamond python - as this photos shows. It all came soooo naturally!

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The kids (big and little) were able to get a close up with Precious and we had nearly all of them transforming into tree branches so that they could discover how wonderful snakes really are:
the way their muscles massage;
the way their tongue flicks in and out;
the way they effortlessly move;
the way they warm up as they absorb external heat;
their beauthiful body patterns.
... and oh so much more!

Now you see another reason why I just love what I do!

Thanks to Amy and  Australian Wildlife Displays and of course very special thanks to Precious for being there.


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Python in the library

What fun!

Today (Thursday) was time for me to get out and do a few gigs as 2012 National Year of Reading Ambassador and also to start promotion for the new book Python! Thanks to Walker Books for getting it going and to Nicolle from the City of Sydney Library network (the City of Sydney have a whole bunch of libraries).

First off it was a visit to Newtown Library my local library. I have visited the library quite a few times over the years that I have dwelled here but have never before noticed the loft where they now do all their author gigs. It was lovely up there and it was a rather intimate session this morning ... more of a one on one ... but I loved it. It was very much like being back in the classroom - I spent the time reading the books and chit chatting perched on cushions on the floor. First was a quick read of Sounds Spooky and then it was time for Python. This was the very fist time that I got to open a finished copy of Python ... it was in my hands and the experience of turning pages of a brand new book, the pages of which have never been opened before, that crispy, crackily sound, it hasn't changed after all these years.
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After lunch it was time for Ultimo library ... another nearly local library. This afternoon's gathering (with a few more bodies than this morning) spied a box sitting on the table. Also on display were copies of my picture books with Python right at the front. Of course having the box and the book with the title of Python there generated the first important question (there were a few nervous adults too) ... is there a Python in the box? Alas, no, although if I had thought about it I could have created quite an investigative drama peering into the box -- in search of the rare and endangered cardboard python! There were 101 other questions about Pythons too - like where does it go to the toilet (that's one statemnt I forgot to include on the back of the bookmarks!

One more City of Sydney gig to come.

Just love what I do!


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Python - the bookmark

My new book Python hits the book stores next month and just look what my wonderful publisher has created for me, especially the item at the bottom of this picture ... diecut bookmarks. And on the reverse of the bookmark are facts about snakes - including pythons of course! Awesomely excellent is Walker Books Australia.

The other two items (book cover and a photo of me!) are from the sales conference that I spoke at a little while ago and they too will accompany me as I am chit chatting about Python!


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Look at my Desk - Michele Corriel

Back on track again with a peek into the Creating Places of some of my book-creating friends from all over the world. I just love uncovering the similaraites - and differences - between all our Creative Places. This time we Look at the Desk of my delightful friend from Montana (USA),  Michel Corriel , another awesome SCBWI Regional Advisor.  

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This is my Bat Cave. My Fortress of Solitude.

I arrive here daily at approximately 9am and start a list. This consists of things that must be done today, things that should be done today and things that better be done by the end of the week. I’m very hard on myself. It’s probably why I’ve done well working for myself. No one else will.


Let me introduce you to my desk. Notice the healthy snack (grapes). That’s for show. My real snacks are hidden in a bottom drawer. But don’t tell anybody, especially my daughter. The post-it notes stuck to my printer remind me of special phone numbers – people that haven’t paid me for work I did. There is always something in the printer because, let’s face it; I need more paper on my desk!
On the left hand side is reference material for a magazine article. (Let’s not talk about deadlines, okay?) There are disks with various photographs on them I’ll pull up when I’m trying to get inspired … totally not wasting time and I have a small yellow pad that I keep notes for another project along with the digital recorder.

On the right hand side is my assignment book, my holy bible, a combination of the Dead Sea Scrolls and Tony Stark’s blueprint for Iron Man. Without this I would be lost. It has due dates, payments, word counts, names and phone numbers for every story and magazine article that has a deadline associated with it. The best part of the book is looking at all the giant check marks. They mean the piece is finished and out the door (and the cheque is in the mail). Yeah! (This is so celebratory that I often reach for the hidden snacks as a reward.)

Under that is my large pad where I keep my notes on the novel I’m working on. Depending on whether I’m working on a first draft or a revision, the notes can be very extensive or accidentally become another book.

Behind my desktop computer screen is a file of ideas for my next book, and the next one, and maybe even the next one. Half-covered is The Essential Rilke and T.S. Elliot’s Four Quartets. These are for inspiration. (Again, not to be confused with procrastination, a talent and an art-form in some writers’ circles.)

Under my desk is my foot heater. I’d marry it if there wasn’t a law against it. It does keep my feet warm – and the white noise it produces seems to make everything all right. Music is too distracting.

My desk faces a window that I can’t really see out of it. My screen takes up most of my vision and the window is so dirty I can only see if the sun is shining or if it’s snowing; these conditions are not good. If it’s sun-shiney outside I want to be outside. If it’s snowing, I’m too depressed to write. So I fill the shelves with books and whatever flotsam has crossed my path lately. Stuff is a good barrier. It puts that ever present wall between me and reality. It allows me to delve into the world of fiction, of creativity, to go the place where that little tiny seed of an idea has been nurtured enough to take root and grow.

For me that growth requires lots of papers, notes, post-its, random poetry … and snacks.

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Michele Corriel is a childrens’ book author and freelance writer living and working in Belgrade, Montana. Her work is as varied as the life she’s led, from the rock/art venues of New York City to the rural backroads of the West. Published regionally and nationally, Michele has received a number of awards for her non-fiction magazine work as well as her poetry. Her first book, Fairview Felines: A Newspaper Mystery, Blooming Tree Press, came out in 2010. Her second book Weird Rocks, Mountain Press, will be out in the Spring of 2012 (just about now!). She is represented by the McVeigh Agency.  
You can find Michele at http://www.michelecorriel.com/.

Hey Doonside - Books in Homes

Hey Doonside Public School --

What a buzz it was to be out there with you today and sharing BOOKS and your Literacy Day! There are some absolutely wonderful books that you are reading at your school and there were some really wonderful characters dressed up there - from the big and little kids!! Congratulations! I hope you liked my short little tales and me wandering throguh your assembly rather than standing at the front of the hall at the podium. It is much more fun getting really close to you all. And thanks for the BBQ sausage sandwich too ... I feasted on mine as soon as I jumped into the car.


I am thrilled to be one of the National Ambassadors (along with a host of other great Aussie kids authors and illustrators) for Books in Homes . It is a wonderful initiative that enables underprivileged children to receive a bag of books - from titles they choose FREE! In fact at the end of the year the kids have nine BRAND NEW BOOKS that they have chosen - they receive a pack three times a year. How awesome!
Three cheers to the corporate sponsors and government initiatives that provide the financial assistance to enable this to happen. We HAVE to have fluent and active readers and lovers of books!!

choosing from these titles
smile!
More info on Books in Homes:
The Books in Homes Programme was originally inspired by Maori author Alan Duff who wrote the widely acclaimed book “Once Were Warriors”. It was founded 21 years ago in New Zealand after realising that failure in adult life often stems from childhoods spent in homes without books.
Books in Homes Australia was founded in 2001 and has a similar footprint to it’s Kiwi neighbour.
Books in Homes Australia provides books-of-choice to families and children living in remote and low socio-economic circumstances, ensuring crucial early literacy engagement and the development of reading skills needed for lifelong success. Books are chosen from Preview Packs of which 25% of titles are written by Indigenous Authors. These Packs are ultimately donated to the host organisation for the entire community to access.
For the past 10 years, Books in Homes Australia has successfully delivered more than 1,000,000 quality books of choice, to over 300 low socio-economic schools and more than 50 supported playgroups, in primarily remote and at-risk communities in New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania.
This term (yes term 2 is nearly over) Books in Homes distributed books to 230 Primary Schools (Primary Programme) & 55 Playgroups (0-3 Programme)
And this term Books in Homes distributed a total of 68,454 books to students in Primary Schools & 4,842 books to families in 0-3 playgroups
Have a look at the Books In Homes website for more information.

Mantle

No this is not a post about a loose sleeveless coat or outer covering, or part of our earthly structure, or ten an animal part. No. This is about the wonderful MANTLE conference that I spoke at in Newcastle yesterday. The MANTLE Conference is the annual professional conference of all teacher librarians in the Newcastle, Maitland, Taree, Lake Macquarie and Central Coast districts with more than 110 rolling in. What a brilliantly organised conference - complete with trade fair and goodie bags for delegates (and presenters too) with choccies, drink bottle and a 2GB memory disk disguised in the clasp of the lanyard. Clever bunch these organisers. One of the most difficult things to do at a conference is to collect the name tags so to do this the Mantle crew have at the end of the day lucky door prizes that are drawn -- to be eligible you have to return the badge! Smart one!


I was absolutely thrilled to be the Keynote Speaker for the conference and my topic was about a subject that i know best - ME - and exploring my involvement with the National Year of Reading, my  ambassadorship of the National Year of Reading and why I wanted to jump aboard. And as is my way I threw in a whole lot of there bits and pieces as well - including Sounds Spooky and Python as well as a little commentary on society and the value of literature and the arts (or lack of it) and Picture Book Month .


I also presented a session on engaging reluctant readers, which I found out as my session was being introduced, was the number one requested session from the 2011 evaluation - glad they didn't tell me that when they asked me to talk on the topic. I would have flown into a mild panic. Also attending was my lovely friend Sarah Davis (i was able to pass to her a dining chair we uncovered in our lane - i only had to drive for 2 1/2 hours to give it to her!) and also Sue McKerracher (from National Year of Reading - NYR) and Karen Bonanno (Australian School Library Association (ASLA). Great to meet Karen for the first time and catch up again with Sue, who also gave me the photos of taken of me at the launch of NYR in Canberra earlier this year. And folks were taking notes as i was talking ... I still get amazed when folks are taking notes on the topics I talk about!

This photo, with Lara O'Donoghue (conference organiser and Ian McLean, TL from Penrith primary school) was taken straight after my keynote and sent around the world on Facebook - I know because folks showed me!


at the start of the day
I told them they would be blogged!
It was lovely chit chatting with many of the TLs after the sessions and meeting in person a few who I have only ever met in cyberspace. A few emails have appeared in the inbox already. See some of you soon!

Thanks folks for a lovely time.

Environment, Animals and Writing

What an interesting author day out in the Hills Shire (last week. I have had this sitting to post for a few days now!)

The council employs an Environmental Education Officer to run environmental awareness programmes in the schools and so I was out there into three of the local schools St Madeline's, Jaspar Road, and Matthew Pearce primary schools. We chatted about the environment, and pets (no - domestic cats are not Australian native animals and they most definitely do NOT belong in the Aussie bush) and then we dipped into character development, writing formats and describing animals. Interestingly some of the kids were really knowledgeable about their environment and freely wrote about their local native animals while others nearby started writing on cats, dogs, rabbits and ... elephants! A bit of work required there on native and non-native animals. I even squeezed in a bit of Python (my new picture book with Walker Books) - it fitted into the classes perfectly as a style of writing that they could follow - narrative non-fiction littered with obvious facts.

Eventually selected pieces of writing will be compiled into a book that will then be read to the froggies - the council's junior library reading initiative.


Loved the schools and those tree covered playgrounds out there.
They were rather pleased too that their visiting author was a National Ambassador for NYR.
I forgot my camera so don't have any snaps to add to this post!

Starring Leigh Hobbs

The wonderful Leigh Hobbs , creator of book stars such as the irrepressible Old Tom is in town courtesy of the Western Sydney Literature Project. Leigh has been dropping in on schools running workshops and developing characters ... just like his Old Tom and Horrible Harriet (and yes, there is a new HH book coming out soon). Hooray!

Last night a small group of us gathered at an innerwest eatery to dine with Leigh. We chit chatted and ate and then chit chatted a lot more. Just wonderful fun.

The creative rollcall included Libby Gleeson, Simon French, Donna Rawlins, Duncan Ball, Kerry Thompson, Sarah Davis, Louise Pfanner, David Legge, Susanne Gervay, Julie Vivas, and Judith Ridge who gathered us all together - and not to miss out was Gus Gordon who tweeted in!


It is always a great and very special time catching up with the other authors and illustrators.


Leigh, Libby and David
the smile!
Duncan photographing Chris photographing Duncan