A lighthouse, a launch and a survey
What an honour to be granted a writing residency at Lighthouse Arts, an initiative of the Hunter Writers’ Centre, based in Mulubinba, also known as Newcastle.
My thanks also to Port Authority NSW and the City of Newcastle!
The lighthouse is above Nobby’s Beach (Whibayganba), right on the edge of Australia’s east coast.
Australia is one of the world’s largest islands and smallest continents, with a tradition of storytelling more than sixty thousand years old!
I’m excited about the revival and richness of Aboriginal languages, and am humbled by the generosity of so many of our fellow Australians with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage who are willing to share their culture with us, after already sharing so much.
How fortunate I am to be able to dwell on such things, along with the rich symbolism of lighthouses. I hope in June to produce something worthy of this opportunity.
Sunset Beach, the third novel in my Escape to the Coast series, continues to take shape.
Meeting readersI loved meeting readers, fellow authors and book lovers in Sydney, Melbourne and rural Victoria recently!
Amber Jakeman (left) with New York Times best selling author Cathy Maxwell in MelbourneShoutout to Melinda and Jeff Shelley of @123read2me, seen below with me at the Clunes Booktown Festival. Their charity has regifted almost a million kids’ books to children in Victoria who might have no other books in their lives. Melinda said new Victorian schools have beautiful libraries but no budget for books! Is this true?
With 123Read2Me founders Jeff and Melinda Shelley123Read2Me has partnered with Rotary Australia, Lions Clubs, CaringKids and Kiwanis Clubs. They have donation bins in some Coles, Bunnings and Bendigo Banks branches.
They need a 1,000sm warehouse in Melbourne. As a public benevolent institution, there are tax advantages for a generous supporter. “With a larger warehouse we can sort more books, and open a book shop and cafe to fund our operations,” Jeff said.
“A $5 donation to 123Read2Me will provide a new book for a child who doesn’t have a book. “We have just partnered with Mission Australia and we’re looking forward to supplying free books to their extensive network across Australia.
“We give free books to playgroups, kindergartens and schools in disadvantaged areas across Australia.
“Thanks to the generosity of Victorian Freight Specialists (VFS) and DHL we are shipping pallets of books where they are needed.”
“Literature is the bedrock of society,” Melinda said. “If we don’t have literature, it’s game over!”
A surveyWarmest of welcomes to my newest VIPs and deepest thanks to those of you who’ve been following me for some time. Your loyalty is a gift. I cherish every reader, and I welcome your feedback.
To help me improve my work and find more readers, please take a look at this one-minute Amber Jakeman VIP survey. Responses are anonymous.
You’d be most welcome to email me at amber@amberjakeman.com with further feedback.
Save the dateMidnight Beach will be officially launched at a wonderful “#beachread” event in Kincumber on the NSW Central Coast on Friday 7 June at 5.30pm for 6pm. Would love to see you there! More details will follow…
Some free and affordable sweet readsOnce again, I’m happy to introduce to you other “cosy” authors who write uplifting endings.
The author of the month is P Harlowe, and the book is Unsuccessfully Trying to Kill You!
The author writes: Meet Cindy, who accidentally stumbles upon a crime scene.
In the quirky neighborhood of Sunshine Meadows, things aren’t always what they seem. Meet Cindy, an ordinary woman who accidentally stumbles upon a crime scene and finds herself thrust into the wacky world of Chameleon Protocol. Little does she know, her new home is a hotbed of undercover antics, and every neighbor she encounters is hiding a secret.
Download your free copy of Unsuccessfully Trying to Kill You.
Hope you enjoy browsing this collection of sweet stories, including a few of mine.
April spotlight on sweet romance
Clean romance only (starting 8 April)
Happy reading!
