tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52021622133863497392024-03-22T03:04:25.680+10:00Books for Little HandsPicture Books and Writing for ChildrenAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17756291509110723512noreply@blogger.comBlogger149125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202162213386349739.post-37898339799142888232014-03-04T22:36:00.000+10:002014-03-04T22:36:27.212+10:00Night Monsters Book Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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b41RDyp+0tSdrAqKfx+dRKeQVJS2kJCUiVXlRIEyTvPQD4otFQ8QCi+vmCYPKV2Pz+dXcBhx35Kpy5z8OuUmZFxNvKu1HY+6c0xxxBOKwpGJWuZ/iAaayhBnyvXQ+P8ABQ/gW1IUEv4dOdMETEQoRyM+49668ClRSpSLgxpz9fWKH4/gzgQoIJkggSdQYm/I8qyG0aFjk4yZpH2lblDj9oA/PjE/hucp7tEhKCkGNwVQsT0zT/ppz4IUvYVTDyVBCjolRAEG2hB9560PZwRSgQITNzERGpIHkLGa8e4r9hsRsCesib68v60f9IvQemIs2vsY7unJPzgXi3AAhZQPFyBKR5CTAnpUGG4M4pRQuEJTOYBQPnmI2HKrGPezEhJVeSoneRf8L+VT4JD7vgZaU5HxEX9CdDPM61ZNHTWdwEtd7S1WoTY7cSDFIQAkti5QEZf9c+xrEN97kSACoeEcjmGUJjUpkX8veV7gb4P8coZTpmUvw36iUyb2py7OdksqA4O6dVMpWHjB1EwlB2PPYVR/AAPfM9W94KkcYGJWHZsLwimnbAZClUR4gIlI9dNxI60uJd4lgUlpEhs3AUnMnfS4I6pNuldKTgMTmzrbJ/8ApYhJy+QW2mJ5zRAcNSoQptSv/NYV9SfpWJcnpzNmnVFQVYAg88+s5z2O4IcSSXCe8krddtnKlGyRsEgR4dJmhPbdt1LrbSjKWioTGqlG3+1PzNdnwOEbbCoSlA3iK5JxTi6F8QecCC6kEhuJAmMoVpFkk6+dCFe4g/Ger1Qrs3sPz0gzgvEnF/8Ay6lQgrkg20Miem/pUnbHhfdYjMmO6WgELF5KRlVN9TAP+ocjRFvg6n1IUGwiEweR8zFz5TFGmez7QEKGbz/rpU3W1KcZzB6e+2p94HYj/cTMJ2WdWkOhC0zcGQD7gyKLNcNdQ33TviRIIClAkEGRcJBN+ZNOKG1EgNxA1t8p/Rq9heEoT4l+NXXQeQ/OlTeByflCvfdb+4/b+0Q+GdnVXISVEmZ28p0j3ophuy7icisozJMxI+vpTylAFeE1RtUx6wSpjoZyvGcFxGDd73CZkifgiYGuUjRaOR1HzOmHxmIxb6Ti8qiBlaRkhCSo3WU3kgDU9OVdRdSNxPQ1mGwDQOYNpB5wKNTcCeRD2aliuCBnpnvLHCeFpbY7sqKhzrnPacJOMWlOxyq6kCY57C/510JvGhjOFXSBI8/u+sfhXPmWlPPl4/8AUUpR+gj51p7gELH0MQ90JNteAnfT5/nNLeO4g6h5IAAj4TOwkEH3o2rFKTII+0ABsZk3pe4rjM50JAMgwI5HWlNHWS5yARLXv5eDJHcWpIJyjxmFEJ2F/P8AvUZYzeKVeK/vflXjKyk+Ik5Uka80kj5UPVjlgxmSOk0+F7LF93qYa/dyXXYBMrPrCif6+1NPAeHg5VC8BIPSAEkacwfnVbhaIfWP51ER1Jsabm2AlwwICwFD11H/ALZvetTU6jYuInVXvOYPxWESschNwT/X6VVXiUoWU6xtOg5nzo3imTeIg/nty3pS47w8pWXBYRfnOnrSemcWthjC3LsGQJ4lSn1LwaD4VnMTyggqFtpI9QOtFX+wbeSEuKSvTNaOcRGk9ag/Z60O9eUYkBIHqVE/MCpuK4ZWI4qWM8JS0hRGwT4pMbkqP6ii6m1kbCe6W09SuuXgdnsyhpYQtrvCL5SpKVL6pB8Kk6WB86beGYhIbCQwpqPsLSEwdbQSDfcEipOL4UNtp7z+K3mjTxJOxTrJ8oNT8NeStCcq86fskmTHnvSFtjv+4xlK1UZUTdKirb3v7T+dat8HSPEhGQm57vwSeuXX1pZ/aL2ndwKWUsJRndKvGu4SE5dBIkmdz70hvca4go5ziXZ18BKQB6UDfgcwgXM7dg8G6mcypHUXHqNvO9b4x9DSSpxaUJG5rkHDOLvvDJ+8vZx9nOoW8wdelWF4Z1S0hwqVmsCszfXe+m9LvqNoxg/OFWoHvL/a/tEcUpOHw5KWZ8StCs+/w/3qzw7hLaQkBNk3mbT738zVPFcGyhDkyUqBPkbfWmRhvw0jdYzASQAG4njbdRBorcyAlKU3URY+X638qmdJJShJgnUxoBqfM6Vcw6UgQBYe56k70uvHJ69pfAk6EbCw5VKEgUMVir2qb97tNUS4Hk9ZJEsrVURVVU4gnSohjlJkgDTUmrV7rXxIYhRL+Xc6VZdxrbH+IqCdEi6j5D8TaltjEvvDMVZRMpMRYdK3awkqJVJUdTua0FeujpyYE5YzTiTq31K2SqLHb9DeqiIACQNLA9Bf3P60o0cPk11oXxBNwYny/XOhNqGsba8nw8DIgvF4c59TBIkfSqn7jN/wHKKOuKSNTeKjSkZZ5kRb+teS1x0hNqmKPEmAkiRY+d5G8nkKEOJJJMG5mm3irc66a+kH3oEjDpIBg/r0rZ01oKeaIXoQ3EdjhCxiFCcyVHMlQjmbWJiDaDE0zoBcaEfGg5h15j1pExr5OIWVwlClEeG0EGJIneBPnamDg3GQ04EqPhNgZke/zrU1OnNi+/EVqsCt7odbxKVjcHccjVDia0ZSCUxt0ijOJwaV+Ib8ufWhGNwudaWkxJEuKi6UToP5lEEDkAo1lUEox3dY7Yu4cdJ72caSlGcCAbTOvMjpIjrBqr224K66U4jDBJfQhTakEwHmViFtE7K3SedMOLwqQ2EBIygRG0cqEp4m63bu84GkG8etvc0V7Mt5jJVMDAgnBcVU8lllKFoCLqDkZwuZMgRlSiSZgD4QBqAV4Z8bikiElalAeZn5m/rUGP4ypaLNLbCjc79NJgdfavcLjEJSBc+QNJaiwdjGK1IHMr/tC4GrGYT+GmXmj3jY+9AhSPVOnUJpB7P8TSQAqb+G+qTyIP0rpj/aBhtQS4tLZOy1AH2mlDtLwRl5xeKwa0qOryWyCJ++QNCee8dTQj50wZCkgwTicP3a0rQPEDMfo6fmKcsW0VoYcGpUn/cKQXnylQM6DYajeuldnUd61h7aSonomQPqPaorq3rtMkuAcy3xbCDu45kCtm2IAq9ikZ1gbJufM6Vim6JZQN3Agw0BcQf7pWYz4kFKSB9oEED1k/8ArVDFJxSW8xTlBGYyQTb6WpsVhAoGQDFwDzG/Tl60L49hV4gtNIMJUT3h3CRYjoZtPnQ30W8ZPXt/fMItoBithuLlUBILhVoECTaxtV849ZUlLzRZP2c1gY686M9nsKlgusZcpR4kwLqBG252HrUfGeDd/hXXMWDIbWtDSVQGyEkpkp+JYi8ynUAc/D2YmCMyPHzjiRox7SIClbULOJDjxaTf7SouANhbejWDDeHaCUthbygIbGugEqP2Uze/WAah7O8B7gKUshTq1FS1AbnYckjQCvV6YVrmQzCSpagAAaVuhJq/3YNhvUwZAtSdmnJaSjQYWSTfeo3ML0osG/atVNzQ/B7wm6AsVgU5SIEnfr50IYsQhWqTtpa39b034hFpI0oDimZUVEX2H5/lRCwXgSAMxY4qu0gi3PlEj60OTjm0gJMWtpyoxjAkKWSPP0FBmmTA8J0HKtCkgpzKOrA8RqeyuFyTdKyNvvW/tQ3GtAXMpI1H0IE3HSoWMTlccJ07xQ/3GpuJ4ltxszYouDYbDWRdP9K6wAiYRYGMHZnjq1FlAAUlasigpV0q0lNpIIBMHkaaeEYbNndP21GPIHKn0ygH1NI3ZKG0nFujKnKUNxqo/eA/lE361fxeM4mpKSlTeHbIslIK1ARuQk362HSsnWFFs4mhptxTmOHFHMopeOMSFSSCN0zB8wefSlJ/94KlBzELcKTBlzMNASCJkHpFeMYtvKUqXlE6/lWPZdmzkTSSkY6w25i1PrDbCnENXzBahFhJN5CUgcutLXGu1Vu6wPw5ikvkXcI+ItzogSPGbna16kRglL79kgSixFjnlJWkRplIAJmxCr2BoNxBcPXaQ14EQ22AEJkeLKBaCoHSjbAq7iOe0p+44XpLPCOAd5KlkqUdVEmfcmiw4EUXTIMESk+KNxPIjarHCnhkG21+tExKyQiAlIla1WSkdTFv1FIs9jPgQxIA90WXuCrXlQkeIkADz/p9OlM2H7YYPDILLZcWG4TnSkEKixKZVcTuee4pV7Q9pgoFjDKPd6LdIhSxuEj7KPmd7WpfaKAIAn015/o10Gh0G1c2dZkarV5byTpyO32FIAbSsEx/iIIEn7Sikm3oaYcNxVgpBL7SjGuYJHoCbCuM94TqB7H57W2F69bWkCx22Hl56c7aU4dEh6cRUaxx1ncEYhBGZKkqHNJBHuDVZjHMFxQQoKc+0EmSCBvyrjeIfBKQsBcXAO3QkajTWa6F2YCmcKl5oAJcUT3ZBt5GZj8zrSWroFCby0b09xuOMRxQ2CQsgSLC1/evcU0FjKdCR6wQYNBWe0SSQFJKTyn6UUw/EEK0JHmKTW5DxmNtWy9RJP3cAkgCTrArw4erCDO9arxCAYmVHRIualgh5JlADIkYUC/zrZLftUgaKrq02Tt68zUihVfCB7ScysUVosCtnHb2rRbgpC5gpKiEUd5A/oaBcQdANFMU+ACKEYtnMZ5Ui2CYzWPWDHLpURFufWhhwqTf+J6Nqj0o8HUtpBylXiExA1tvt+VGP39H6/tVlYjoIYk+kQsQ2ptxyUmCpShrfxHS+wv6UP4r4suQmVwm0Xg7e/vR191SluAhIhcXFiJ2B1PluDzoRiuHOSlTKhKFZgbWINrc9LbaaEV3wcY5nH4806VhOEILTLZ+FoCwiD0P1pZ7c8exTPcKQhwMpd/iBAOb+SYvkO8HYA61bVxZ17DHEM5Q83/itgmAfvATdB+KOhjS4fgn7QCvMh5zK4JspvMgwJN0kRobR6msG3hirD4zdqYEZEt9piooQ5BClwSIiN5M38x1qijgZeCRlKSqCALQTYm3SasL7V4RbiS6464o2CUMqIEXAAAMyOtEX+Nvq8OHwymc2rz4KVkR/wBNuCsnrEDkdKSGnLOXbpG/1GxQoHMHcabQhTwCggrCUg7JQ0kJgnYEhV9PDfal3jjSlYlKALpQhA2MCTJGoJJJAN4yyAacDw5ZbbytoCm83duLF2wqJygm9xOZV5vAqDD4TD4RCn3F5lZoJHiJUQTFtzcxOmpo75sbbWIFbNiecyPh/Dkstl3EryoF43J5Ruo/dpU492iU/wDw0Du2EmQ2N+qz9pXnYbVF2h46vEuSfC2myE8huTGqjr8hpQlAnyrV0miWrzH932mZfqDZx2noBVtAtUiTytVlZlKUwPDOiQCZucxFzfSdJO1VwkqVlSCpXIVo4x1imcz0u6edeJQVqyoSVKOwH5daauBdhXXFBbwKEcvtH0vA8/anXC8FaYTlaay9fteqjf6eVJaj2hXUPU+6MVaVmOekR+D9lli7oKZAyp36k/S9PDbeVDaEwlLYhKR+PU16RFtKjccIk8heelcprdffqmwRgek1qKEq5HX1lbEsJIOkcqH/ALsoXQtSfJRFbcYxmRsuQQj7w5c+X9JpfxfaPIm6x6Tf08qimt8ZBje7tC7mPxDS0qWt1xA1QXDBnrqPSm3gXHcMohCYaUfska/6tz53rljXaB10KyJW4neEyB62qRj97iRhXyOYQTG825U4iWDnErYa2GCZ3VKwRIMiquLdk5RsJVHXQesH261z3gXbgt+DEhSQbSUEaHX03jr5UyYDjCXi5kUFDMDI3BAAPyNHe07CQOYr4RBhKRN9qq4rEbgXrR9RmqjmJCSMxgTqdKxM7jtjAWeLcy3VP5VXxWLSE/EL1U4xx5F2xCiRc7D560ruOE2BpgU8Yha1zyYexDyQPiEb3qieL9R8qmY7OOLbCishRvFqongrgtHyNXrKDgGMIVPeWuKOtAqCSqQoqcMCBCtrzO3SetbcMw5X/hOgqMwFH4pjQ+sXM89jTTwd/ChK8wSCFrBBAMyozoLydesb0l9okBx1TjCS2CYTkkSNM2UCxJAAG+9dajbsrjE49kC4bOZozxN7C4sqTFx4hPhUPL9ERVfjfZkOrGJwKcxkKWxIzczl2KSNgTE+gN4PhocQStKFTYKMhQ8iTNtNxY0M/wDh7jaiCrKgQCdABr6HfUXvzoVlKW8A4Il67Wr7cGU+xGBcYXjUKStCwyoIVdCoChmKDqDlANttKu8I7TJZBTIQr7SixnKj1PepzEjcidau8S4m+lqEqC5BTcGw+EhJmRIItr4ppPTiPvRreR1npt1qKtEpX/k5l7NU27KQzxjtGX1Ad68UDVCEIan1BcPzFC8ViXVpQkghCZyoGgnXUyVE6qJJPtXhcb0NuShflsmx5XvpUCXSSTE8zE05VRXWPKIvZY79Zq02k2nrGm4+lH+Ddl3HkhyciJgRdRjkmbefyoQ834JynXLmCSBziY1i/WjPBUvtp7xKghvU5jrH3RY5tfhuOl6rqGKVllYA+/pPUje4UgnPYdYRX2Tab1BUTZKVHXlMAdf60y8G4CphOYqShR1CB+Juap9n8ecRiEqEr7tJIJA8r2F72F/OmvFJkCfzrnkttsBLOT9B9JutQtRA24P1gXEsvmcr6k8vCn8qFu4fHTHfgjmUJo3j8clMASTvEmqbnGwPsxO6oH9akaVm5Jk+Oq8AD5QUtnH/APaV7g/KR8qkRxXFtp/iYRLoGoS5eOko+pq8eIqXYDfcQPWd/WiGGdJ8J325j2q3gbDmeNoYdJzXivE0hrEIZK+4cGXunBCmnJkCJgJsRy6xWnCOFMIAK0h1YEyvxIEAEwmYIvqoKHlFO3azsl36C6wMr4BCk2yup+6ZtOhSqxkUo8OGd7u12SOabgAAwUm4iTIG4JjWnNKis53jtmJap2CDYe8KL4msizhIGgEBCJ0EAAJ9BvW0EC63DyvAmZ3A1G/L5+YoNtKKGvEZykAeoJjWxGnMGrmAwC1LBUmY2MSN4A0HzP0rQZ0RcngTNCszY6maFC1oKYB08LlxtfSZt61Jw/hAYKHEoyKIIKUmUqGuh33n+1XcZiFd6G3EwiAAAr4ZO8/W3lU5IyhCHQUAnw5cxmb+1/fekbB4hwV4P51jdTGscN+fCXG3AoSD+Y6HcVXxDQVYiq+G4iJzKTCD9uYF9riwHX+xVTciYrA13s+yk715E09PqlfjvFvF8JQB4RfnQcMBKwVzEzYXpxeRQ/FYUK2pNLj3j4aFuG4pDiBBGaBI3HnUqm0TeJ/XWltOGyHMklJ6GtVIUSTmV7/0q5VW5BxAHy9IZw2EQlajqJUTHUkmY1M1PxnDMd0CoBJvlj25H2paxHaVSFON5SmCQLRuemtreetecO4lnypdUDC7kDQGbxqNvYV2JpYncZzwtUAqBIccp5YypcSEg2tB00jL85ETQZ04jN4lFUaQSQNoHK8iBTdjcc0JAKV35EW+s0AxbomQ2oDS4gfPWj1/CBsI9ZRLkoUHMyoGaJIP3ZJym8kEjknWqa2GohMz1v8AQQRRRb+VQCgBNjJuAbGIGwmguLdkkWEH5jnJoywRm6SBMuJEaAIn0+GpkhJM5kcpyZevKJtrUHeZRcgjrlJqBrGpBk3P022MaVJnhkjgQ826ohKQpJMCAEgCBzAT9aLuK/eV/wARsKUBlOVS2kSLCdRInQadKVG8a18QKwZ0BjbpUjHHAkRE+ZV86V1GmFq44+WYxp7nqbIz9o9diEBtx5pSw28D8Bi6RuJ1/saYcZizplnzt9da5o12jVIJdFrJGRSoHmq/0qRfH21/4i3FDkLAeg2pCr2e9Yxn7/8Ak0LNertkqY3YzENk5VOoSTqnOBb8qhaOHB/xmgTGikn6dBSW7xFmQW0pnX4YPvMmq68fP3OsIG3namBo39YE61R/TOl4VhtaxkeQs7AKFx5CigwiUeJakJ81AfU1xZxxRsBY8gL/APqPxqBeJWPtRHLUeXyr36E9zJ/Wg9BOxcW7UYVlJPepURskyfzrlnEuNKdfU8g5CTI56eWtp6RQpDK3DYKVV1HDFp+KQdMoif10pinTis56wF1+4Yl1vihTsAo7+9+c9dvo0cD46ZhCCSNTFhO94/Gk9jh5SpIUIBPWa6dwdbCGQBkSQJiJv1jfrNB1rqABtzK6ZSWODiDBhHMW4cwCUiDYgkjrIG94j8q1xjIwmIbQkgJURPONxcRaZ15+u7vHsjqi1cWmBrrzBHqaqY7AP4zEIUpSWwUym0lI/Mzr8gKpXuXl+FxLttI8vLZhXtJx7DALbQQuxk/ZiwhMXVrrpQrB451EFBBTuCPD5GeZPpb0g4zwBOHFlBRm6jcjlYgCTew5UNw7qhICihAKcyidhoALDNb+5gg9SI1fl5HvgrGcP5uD7o6M49t1JU2TbVO6Z36pP3veDUTSxJBpOxWJDC0utHKf8sGbczpcjUR1piwvEUuwsRf7pt89D0rnvaXsvw/+Wvp9praLWh/I/X7yziOlCFuXN9+f9aJvvCOtAXF3PnzrOpT1j75lftC0M6gJEEk36kbi1x5eVVsE6tIPPnl2Gk+o5nrRLieZLjhQy4fEcxkaztr+RoIcejOVLBSTsE8t4JsdtN67lRlZypzmEktKKpzoTI1iBMG8k/MxpW6yuB42zP8A3R0lXw9LRJvQ5fEGYsVJMA/ETmN7QbTp0qqcWYkSRFwBMeW1reW9SFkcy5jMQtfhK0xGknpzE6VBi0JzlRk5vFIBGviNzy0mqacSkCRnGtzA18h7VPh+IBfgJ8UEJMAz/LsLnTr/AORq2QJ7aTKriEfZEec/hURYm+YCpS62dAPSf/2qFakxt+vOrZEld00yxXij7+Vb9+kcusD9e9T8PShx1KFApB1VBVFidBtb01NhVS2IQBiekqoM/r+tT91zBA6x+PSimJ4C6MsZBMjKoEEWUQCU5kkqCFKkGIAkiRNTGcMW2hay43lQ4WlFJJhwEApugSYJM6QhRGl6C1T3lmrf0lYsmbA/jpW4TawEjUqVpNtgJ+f5GHezqpVDqVBMqJMpMJCCskckhxJJE62kzFjgnCg420pBHik5VJCo8YbBMESkk35WG4r3iJjOZBRumIKw2EUsFIUD0H96vp4WlEBxQBsSNSBzgJPvWzHBX1QpKmz4SZTIHwBzJOX4sigQDIN72tLhOGJW0hwOpzkFWVYBEBZbmySTeNjr61JYespsM3Q8wYhSlnk2hXXoPwirSWZjLhyIgXVB8zqZtWYXhzyMwJSClJIgGLd0VackugyJkpI5VmKZfZCVrUgpWdiT1G4Ol4mb3FVyOxntpHUSwvBZrFKss6aD1AMq+lqvNd0lvxJKUjXKkxG+gig6eJoQkZitR/lMI9I1G3y5VBjOPkjIlIgg6XIHkVfr2qhrLSQwWOnD0suJCW2oTsSY03i3z31itO0eHbw6EuBxCVDQSZtrAuSANq569jnlX7xUWGgSPz2/OoEJJPi+KLggAgX1kAHUn9WGNGd2S0IdQNuAsvvY5x1WZRKp+GVEADn+vwqqF5VawE79eQHnfn9KlQ+kJiQkX011jXf6ReKqvYtPwwPe/law9t+tOjAGImc5zLGGwqsQqYCUib6THleAdSAYzSZqzhyWVlIMt2JAV4QeitJ3keVADioMpzBU7KP4efzq9geGYl2CsFDZ/wCovwpGmmxPShORjzdIZVJ6dYZ4g+SjMCSgmATz1E+x9jQheJVJsP160XxjYCEtIkoBBzKBEkAwADtc63oQpgzXON4YsbZ0nR1pYaV8TrJOIY9SHnYcUPEoEA5rSeZiJt7cqGuvpBkKXJ1mPaJNPPE+wKVlSkvqCipRIItck2+XnQDFfs+xA/wyFztMH6x8/atqvXUNwrDMxjpW6sIJbfJvnTtc5Ar6fq1S4t/DqEJLpM7uC99wBEDprNU8b2axTfxsrjmBI+U0LUwoGCDPLf21o+8mVFKjvCacP91LZGkkmT6ZvwGtajCfzIHqJ0mhYJFrj1rzvOc/r0qPEx2lvCb1hXFpSYcm5MKuLK1k+dz5hVHML2ZaW2hQUsKUhKhJGWVdz0mP4hGuw60os4wpulShPJRHzEVL+8JP+KjMd1RC731i9vvA25a0NmJ6GXCY6xob7LKCZU5BIEJCSTJy+EzBtmkkAgBJ6gRL7PrS33vekAZ8pSkySlLqhlEgwS0obEeEwZpaDKFfAQT91XhUPcwfQz0qJSQkkKSUnkQQfmJqMk/1SRWBziN7vZ1wKcT3wSAopJ8ZzZnFN+SiSkZuXhm5tGeCrDgYdXILS3vACSVBJ1EBaySgi9+UA3U0rT/KPT+lbpIjaNdv1PlUjPr9J4j3RtxfDi2IViG4cUWSZKoCFlK7m4SnwqNxmCxyIq2ngYIXlW+2ttWVHeGEq8LipSQkRPdzYkaXOtJ/eyAFKJCRCRcwJmw5T9amRkjSTvsAOl9Z50QZI6wDACOSeBrbVlDokqCJJXdZnLrAglIAO8p6xu3hGmnGQXlgKKkgpSAkKzrbsZsiRJ5gnypSYxwSoFlspUJgoUqRPqY9I96orUTokC/IH3qefWRtyek6diMKjJDK/huJUTEGICU3jvEqg8gNZEUcVwV1R8bwJE6pUQAO7IiLySvNpMJUdQRSAEKUJJHuBy29R8+Rq9gcPmCvCtVr5UEgC9yQRAtv+dVVWHQ/SecDuI0I7NEpUouoCgU/e1ylSgokWA8Pi0F7aGoXezakryodQpRUECEK1UFkxCYiEKi8EFOlAnVNCyUnQXVYkxySo79eXWvW1rTlKCpBBsQTIkEW6EGDz3q4V/X6Qe5O4hF95xtbgGRa0qyyAAmQACQmBI9BrvUDyHHlDvnLgWCU6DyEDrrWgwjziiSVqJNzeT5n8/wozgOy7itUZP51G/pA/D1rzulS5cgSFDOcIICxbLKPAFLKpBJDYB1uLOq9LakzVrDdm3VILh/hN7KckE+gBPLWJp94P2ewuHTncLdr5lkAC22bf6AUo/tO4qp3ukNJWUKUPElCsskwhIVESSdjrHMVnXe0MAeFznvHqdHu/wCziE+CYPCtJSUALc/zHPwBsBPSam4gQHAXDmWqYGaYHTkKO8A4K3g8MnvlJzkDOtZAgcpO1KvYRoYniWJcmWmrtjaCo5Y6an1rLuNtp8xmlUK687R/uFMRgTkzCTpKYOh3jlVU8EB2HtRjj/F2EvozOphIJIBk67xMxr0rdHaZhQCgl4giQQyuCDuLaVVagCZfxGx0hPEPnMbEp6G/zt86h/eQbTB2CrH5/hWz4BUogZVSdBY33E69RUCxaFC3yrLtcZweYYKMS2M/I+hmoMS0lcBxCVf+SQenK9udQpMfCop+lQvYrEDdKxtIg+968lgH7WI/mQas+kqcR4BgikktttnmbJnrBEelVOCdkmz9lpQJ1QolJuY/xEqjzE1Bi+JuKdDXdZlWulZTG5uBNvMedNXCYQjNmBnlmPsVqn1rf0l13h5diZn3Upu4ElR2ZYTfIkHeAIPmDIV5m/KNKocQ4BhFHxISIFxYSIIsdNJlOh1gG9XMfxfKD4spi2cgT9aReJcacccTEZwdSQR5EixSef8Aem0dzzmLutY4nnGP2doMd0sAJTJJEyCtZBtuBb/TVRn9nuIyx3ySmRCVNhSb6xKrRfT0NHUlQS4kqKfCpMTCkqIzBO+aJgaEZ9DR9OJ7rKF2BHhkagGB5Wy/+1Au1LhcqAYZK+cRCV+zpxQEKCT5KKR1i6teatp0qv8A8uMbtkMX1Im8QPDrveK65hXZg8+tECetUr1jsM4lmqxOJf8AL3iH3U3/AO4Pnb9TUf8Ay+x/+WLbBxJny/rXbHXANapuun0qlvtIp1A/P5nl04M5Ij9nOOM2QB/M5/SrTf7NMR9p1rySVKj/AGxXWcMyCJMVI6+lI2FMrqmK7jgSvhdhOY4f9mivtPgX3bjflJ2q8x+zZI+LEkzqEpyz53uKN8W41EhIBO1AMF2keDhCkKyyIPhyEb8lBXoaX/8ApuThT09wl/0gxkwkz+z/AAydVOK8iB9BPzqyOA4JixbBOwUok+xMe9qKF8qAI3vQXtW06qXGkZzCZAUBYTe+9Ab2jZZkBzke/H2ll0qAjImzvGGWiEpRlB+7BHuKI4dWcZpBB0iuV8V/eF6pKR1g/Smr9njndpU0tXhIkE6Az9Kz7NO1o3E8xsAKCB2jekCQQLjTp5V5jhnbUlRIChEjUcojcGCKmUiK9Hit6+1CqDK4QkyjEYzFrHcFadWHHR3pEfFcAj+X4QfJND8Rw8BayjOAsZSlsGIG3hBtU3aXtG7gnspQlxs3SSm4B2zb3pfxv7QnjZtCU9Tc/UVpLprzyOf5g/1KDgy+zwgNyVIcjnkM+pUR7nS1WP8AiXCo8EujL4YzN2i0fHSJj+0GIeJC3VKH3dB7fnQgMuG4BpqugKPOefdKNqbX6dJ1x3juVxQWlQ8ShO2vOaKYXiKViUqpS4jikFxcn7SvPWKoIfbSbLHrm/C1ZDU5OJtNWhXPSdD76d/lW6FSYv7T9KRf/jbaRPe5ugcVf5Cq+I7YqAhtZHm4ox7iiV6At1EQttRO8Zu0A7lxEpUorIMARYfeJAt0Ji/qGDDPZ2cyIB+EkbEazOmx9a5PjO0zixchRNpJUfaTAoe/xbELQUF1ZbM+BK8qY1NgRM+s1qVUkJsJxEXsBbcJ0jiHdYjCd0wlLiiqELgBWYKhSyrWICjOnIaCg2CYaw2LaaDqXR4gvKdFoutF77AGYkK6Ul4LGvtiELUEfdgKTrebaVddS6+vvSf4iovBTGVKRmBjkPOmFVgu0tF3ILbsTovFOPYfvgtQCUSQlUG6gqVA5ZykmbxeLm4qyxxVpaEthvvEJISgKJUokQRcwVGRJPSdppCwvCsSVHxphRlQUkqFhr8GthcXp04Bw4tQVrBgyAEwAYjeDQ7dqjrLozHiHsGw4EgBLbKQLJ8ayByjMEj0Jq+1hfvLKulgn2AE+s1oysHmatIc6CkCzn4RniYpFDsZiktElwwj9b6UYQ4DWmIYSoEHQ1VtPu5ElXx1gLEcfSnQAjUGdevlQHina5CE3bDijoCuE+ZgE/L1otxHs2hZAsAJsBF+fT9dIWcb2ZyGwkazy8+VVJGfNCqMjywC7x9xSivUnRKRAA5fqa1TjsS4tJACEjQG5+dqIu4ApFrVHgsGpSh51fKdVhFqOOY+YGe7STcxUviOgqqOJtYbu0vqVC0zmA8I8wLx5TRhJSpAW2pK0H7SDI+VInSnJYSheVXuGIcEZRNhYR9KBYvBNJUQFhJGk7+4powz1zGsGPODHziuD4lzEPvqTnOcG4UYI5iBvWhWN6g9OsHuZek7Bw7HEpCTCo+0CCOggXGlX0PkVw84bFMEKGYAGZSTHma6H2G42cQ2pLzkOJvJjxA+15ql2nB86vzIWzPBWFO2HC1YtoZAO9TdMxcfdk6c/wC9KGFWh1CmnG8jiPCtCh4p8jTbj+M4dkypRWoc9vIaevzrnPafjiX3+9AykWlNjbmf1pVlO9QD19ZIBTJ7Sivg6g8tKRmSkZjHKrSFiB4duVR8NLrpX3JVeyjznY9TXhwaxbxVNnONxlqyoJxGHFMlTq7XzqjT7x3kVUxeFWmxSqOsx7xWVlLh32k5mqQu4DHWRFhkAFWYx0tPnJqFrBMrgKlJOwSDtztF+nKsrKapZioOYrqUVWwBCOG7MNKiC4b2IjlPLW4sL1fb7Lj4dbWJUdZvf8IuOtZWU2rGZTAHtPf+GjZSEnyCr6310+o61ewHC7pS4nKLwPF56yTpzvWVlTu7Snhgcww9w1aWwWMOlajYd4sIA3JO/tvS5jkYtMpd4lg8NP2EFZI6WNeVlDD9sQnhjrNcBwFx2yeOFR5JRHWAFOTRL/hDiSLs8TK+QWhQ+eZUe1ZWVJ4OJA5GZCjtFj8GQMe0cmnepgpP+pNwfMCnPhvGEupBQQeh19P17VlZQLBt8w9cSynJ2mXS+CLev9arOpSdUzWVlSFU8kS2SOkoYrAoVqgTzFj+XyrTDcNQFSAqRzH0mvayrhF9JPiN6xa/abhyAyY8MKB6XB350m9kuJvNYhtKHu6SpYzEnwx1m19JPOsrKJSi+YYgrWI24nV8dxrDoJ8SZGsGY/CkXtbxlh+SyxLxIl8DKbX2IzE6SayspNjsJ7w1eWPpAy8ZiFIynTnF/eqmCwhgrSog86ysoAbCnbxzDHJPJ7GH+D9ny4M7qsqNSVcqG9q8CwAe4mAL9T0r2spmiJvzzCHY/jLDDeVYKT0GvWefnUWIwbalKUHnQCSQLWkzH+GfrWVlL2t4bZHeNVorDmf/2Q==" 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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Night Monsters</i> was published November 2013 by <i><a href="http://publishing.nla.gov.au/book/night-monsters.do">The National Library of Australia</a> ,</i> written by Nina Poulos, and illustrated by Cheryl Westenberg. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cackle Kookaburra, Waddle Wombat, Ernest the Echidna, Prunella Possum and their Australian bush friends join together in this rollicking rhyme to reveal who is making all the noises at night.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Larry the Lyrebird finally confesses that he is making all the noises with his mimicking ability. This leads to lively, illustrated information at the back of the book about how the Lyrebird got its name, which has the fancier tail, how they build their nests, and where they live.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With its bright, vibrant illustrations and likeable characters, <i>Night Monsters </i>is a must for children. It begs to be read time and time again as children will enjoy the anticipation of knowing what's going to happen and interacting with the animal sounds. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17756291509110723512noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202162213386349739.post-41066996837119483572013-11-02T10:40:00.001+10:002013-11-02T10:40:31.665+10:00An Aussie Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BQRUZ85L6aMCwbPiPBtc94z1-YcElG3wNbXWDboBrVhckQJTAdq2Y1iL9MHoTCCkzylZb9bn4DUCAeh047JmLCLIN6Gf6lk5N1Q8qMJk_baC32c6qFqv57L8yAkHMCFO2OLG9UweZYQ/s1600/COVER+Aussie+Year+FINAL+-+medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BQRUZ85L6aMCwbPiPBtc94z1-YcElG3wNbXWDboBrVhckQJTAdq2Y1iL9MHoTCCkzylZb9bn4DUCAeh047JmLCLIN6Gf6lk5N1Q8qMJk_baC32c6qFqv57L8yAkHMCFO2OLG9UweZYQ/s320/COVER+Aussie+Year+FINAL+-+medium.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://taniamccartneyweb.blogspot.com.au/">An Aussie Year</a>; <a href="http://taniamccartneyweb.blogspot.com.au/">Twelve months in the life of Australian kids</a> is Tania McCartney's latest picture book for 6-10 year olds, published by <a href="http://www.exislepublishing.com.au/">Exile Publishing. </a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An Aussie Year, features five fresh faced Aussie kids; Ned, Lily, Zoe, Kirra and Matilda, as they take us through a year in their lives. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each character has their own heritage, interests, and family traditions but each represent the salad bowl of culture that typifies our beautiful country.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Illustrator<a href="http://taniamccartney.blogspot.com.au/2009/04/women-who-do-what-they-love-tina.html"> Tina Snerling,</a> has beautifully captured vibrant and detailed works of art for children and adults to read, admire, and share. Bursting with national pride the story meanders through a vibrant landscape of celebrations, traditions and events - both monumental and every day.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is a brilliant resource for the classroom for teachers and students as is supported by <a href="http://anaussieyear.com.au/notes-for-teachers/">extensive teaching notes</a> and it relevant to many modules of the new school curriculum including; humanity and social science, history and citizenship, geography, the arts, languages, and design and technology.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Loving produced with a durable printed laminated casebound cover, An Aussie Year is one of those picture books that begs to be read time and time again as each time something new is discovered and learnt. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 23px;"><b style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Tania McCartney</b> is an author, editor, reviewer and features writer. The founder of Kids Book Review and an ambassador for the National Year of Reading 2012, she is passionate about literacy and has spent many years presenting and speaking on reading, books and writing. She lives in Canberra with her husband and two kids, in a paper house at the base of a book mountain.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><b style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 23px;"><b style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Tina Snerling</b> is an illustrator, children’s wear designer and graphic artist. She lives in Brisbane with her husband, two kids and a wild imagination to draw the world with childhood innocence.</span></b></b></span></span></span></b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17756291509110723512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202162213386349739.post-77540429367920929162013-09-02T09:12:00.000+10:002013-09-02T09:13:20.106+10:00Blog Tour Eco Warriors to the Rescue!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://taniamccartneyweb.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/eco-warriors-to-rescue.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodfqOXhdm-L6F-Hrdb6XXivZwJ-WbihFj5fQLq2BwgvsQlUUjeeSYastJv5pjLUYKHhYjH2mJxnyb4MGPyBpcMQ0NA5MncyKyLmh_038WdrIDNUZD1MQZ5xmvoASotyoDHYziZpe5a2g/s320/eco+warriors+cover.png" width="252" /></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">I'm so excited to be included in <a href="http://www.taniamccartney.com/">Tania McCartney's</a> blog tour reviewing her picture book, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><i><a href="http://bookshop.nla.gov.au/book/eco-warriors-to-the-rescue.do" style="color: #336699; text-decoration: none;">Eco Warriors to the Rescue! </a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Make sure you jump on board</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> the tour by clicking on the links on the bottom of this post.</span><br />
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-554643a9-ba17-ecc8-7f60-0ec6e608dd5b" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><i><a href="http://bookshop.nla.gov.au/book/eco-warriors-to-the-rescue.do" style="color: #336699; text-decoration: none;">Eco Warriors to the Rescue! </a></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">is the latest picture book written by Australian children's author, <a href="http://taniamccartneyweb.blogspot.com.au/" style="color: #336699; text-decoration: none;">Tania McCartney</a> and published by the <a href="http://bookshop.nla.gov.au/category/national-library-publications.do" style="color: #336699; text-decoration: none;">National Library of Australia Publishing. </a> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Banjo, Ned and Matilda are curious everyday kids but they are also real life Eco Warriors. Join them as they search for the best ways to keep our Australian native plants in tip top shape and battle the enemies that threaten our environment such as litter and pollution.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Children will feel inspired to keep Australia green by the colourful glossy photographs of the Eco Warriors in action and will hopefully become proactive in protecting the flora and fauna in their local community.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><i><a href="http://bookshop.nla.gov.au/book/eco-warriors-to-the-rescue.do" style="color: #336699; text-decoration: none;">Eco Warriors to the Rescue</a>! </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">is perfect for Eco Warriors young and old as there's plenty of interesting facts in the back pages to discover, appreciate and care for our beautiful Australian native flora.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">This is another spectacular book for Tania McCartney and the <a href="http://www.nla.gov.au/">National Library of Australia </a>.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Questrial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tania McCartney is an author of both children’s and adult books. An experienced magazine writer and editor, she also founded respected literary site Kids’ Book Review. She is passionate about literacy, and loves to speak on reading, books and writing. Her latest books include </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Questrial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eco Warriors to the Rescue! </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Questrial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(National Library Publishing), </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Questrial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Riley and the Jumpy Kangaroo: A journey around Canberra </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Questrial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Ford Street), </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Questrial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Caroline Chisholm: The Emigrant’s Friend</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Questrial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (New Frontier) and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Questrial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">An Aussie Year: Twelve months in the life of Australian Kids </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Questrial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(EK Publishing). Tania adores books, travel and photography. She lives in Canberra with her family, in a paper house at the base of a book mountain.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Eco Warriors Tour Dates:</span></span></span><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 21px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunday 1 September </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 21px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sneak Peek</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tania McCartney’s Blog</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.taniamccartney.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">taniamccartney.blogspot.com</span></span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Review </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Boomerang Books Blog</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://blog.boomerangbooks.com.au/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">blog.boomerangbooks.com.au</span></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="http://blog.boomerangbooks.com.au/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></a><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Giveaway </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pass It On</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://jackiehoskingpio.wordpress.com/school-magazine/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">jackiehoskingpio.wordpress.com/school-magazine</span></span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mixed Media Illustrations for Picture Books </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Angela Sunde</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://angelasunde.blogspot.com.au/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Under the Apple Tree</span></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="http://angelasunde.blogspot.com.au/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></a><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 21px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Monday 2 September</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 21px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Book Review </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Book Giveaway </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.kids-bookreview.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">kids-bookreview.com</span></span></a></div>
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</b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17756291509110723512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202162213386349739.post-44961714217735014072013-08-21T15:56:00.001+10:002013-08-21T15:58:49.472+10:00Book Review, Eco Warriors to the Rescue!<br />
<i><a href="http://bookshop.nla.gov.au/book/eco-warriors-to-the-rescue.do">Eco Warriors to the Rescue! </a></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">is the latest picture book written by Australian children's author, <a href="http://taniamccartneyweb.blogspot.com.au/">Tania McCartney</a> and published by the <a href="http://bookshop.nla.gov.au/category/national-library-publications.do">National Library of Australia Publishing. </a> </span><br />
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<a href="http://taniamccartneyweb.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/eco-warriors-to-rescue.html" style="clear: left; color: #24bf9a; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNMEpMiG4aYtEDe4u3G_057pEoiqK5n3feYTfa5IGhI65k-cZDmYjgzgrqWhVO1xXcjV2kIHIua5Uq09YcqDdf9kVjuDlqZEVIDYMJr1eriViQTgh7FVcWJU8yR2ypIj-u2UAajbO9IWUj/s200/eco+warriors+cover.png" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px; position: relative;" width="156" /></a>Banjo, Ned and Matilda are curious everyday kids but they are also real life Eco Warriors. Join them as they search for the best ways to keep our Australian native plants in tip top shape and battle the enemies that threaten our environment such as litter and pollution.<br />
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Children will feel inspired by the colourful glossy photographs of the Eco Warriors in action and will hopefully become proactive in protecting the flora and fauna in their local community.<br />
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<i><a href="http://bookshop.nla.gov.au/book/eco-warriors-to-the-rescue.do">Eco Warriors to the Rescue</a>! </i>is perfect for Eco Warriors young and old as there's plenty of information in the back pages to discover, appreciate and care for our beautiful Australian native flora.<br />
<i><br /></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17756291509110723512noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202162213386349739.post-33507597060153174202013-06-12T13:30:00.000+10:002013-06-12T13:30:15.377+10:00Book Review of My Band<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Can you guess which instrument I'm going to play? </span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Can it be a guitar? </span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Can it be a saxophone?</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://bookshop.nla.gov.au/book/my-band.do">My Band</a></i> is an interactive picture book written by Elizabeth Lea, illustrated by Chantal Stewart and published by The National Library of Australia. By using clues to guess which instrument is under the flap, children will discover how the instrument is played and w</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">hether it belongs to the woodwind, the brass, the percussion or the string family.</span></span></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Featuring lively and appealing illustrations, <i><a href="http://bookshop.nla.gov.au/book/my-band.do">My Band</a> </i>portrays the joys of playing a musical instrument and through eight craft activities at the end of the book, encourages children to make their own instruments to play in their own band. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Suitable for children 0-7 years, My Band is the perfect addition to a child's library as it offers endless reading experiences for children with parents, caregivers, teachers or alone, and develops an early interest in the world of music and instruments. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17756291509110723512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202162213386349739.post-70940918824768371232013-03-24T20:14:00.000+10:002013-03-24T20:14:20.779+10:00Book Review Have You Seen My Egg?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNxAR9JWyNfPUde_47kqmC8b-3c3zJ7G_1u4OTa38_3zexEeca0t73MtDmYjlmcW2gMw5X-rrYkXHyMH5l6Gx11Yp99OtMC9gtzJi8YlsYsoFB1T9VWZ8el10dxq9WF2FHNjuF6glfj4/s1600/Have+you+seen+my+egg%253F.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eddy Emu has lost one of his eggs. Has Lizzie Lizard found it? Has Susie Spider or Connie Crocodile seen it? Join Eddy on his search and meet his friends. </span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://bookshop.nla.gov.au/book/have-you-seen-my-egg.do">Have You Seen My Egg?</a> </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">is published by <a href="http://bookshop.nla.gov.au/discount-books/home.do">The National Library of Australia</a> and written by</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Penny Olsen, author of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our Nest is Best</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and illustrated by Rhonda N. Garward.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This delightful picture book introduces children to different Australian animals and their eggs. Lift the flap, and meet the babies that have just hatched. And, finally, find out what happened to Eddy's egg. With stunning water colour pictures and a Did you know? section,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">his picture book will provide hours of fun and learning for adults, children and their own families. </span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17756291509110723512noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202162213386349739.post-90208182597869352062013-03-24T11:06:00.002+10:002013-03-24T11:06:55.529+10:00Interview with Children's Author Robert Vescio<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqIpToXV6BmVsOvDBKT3tqtJskiy32m75bzRqahOKuZ69yVpT4Rif-3UlC6XnJS2FtAPDkUq3afhkZS9ycjTypOIkXISOuAQbJhB7soJ7tldW3llUHrRoNYPow08EyrFDzvuoMX84peQ/s1600/Robert1-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqIpToXV6BmVsOvDBKT3tqtJskiy32m75bzRqahOKuZ69yVpT4Rif-3UlC6XnJS2FtAPDkUq3afhkZS9ycjTypOIkXISOuAQbJhB7soJ7tldW3llUHrRoNYPow08EyrFDzvuoMX84peQ/s200/Robert1-2.jpg" width="144" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;">I'm delighted to welcome <a href="http://www.robertvescio.com/about.html">Robert Vescio</a> to Books for Little Hands.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Robert Vescio likes to write picture books, chapter books and short stories for children. His goal as a children’s author is to inspire, encourage and challenge children to dream big. And remember to Believe in yourself!!<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><b>When did you first know that you wanted to be a children's author?</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLuSrYk_CBuGMw32s7bdyNBhcaBeMORBuO4UnWwaG7G-RTXwAEivrxn_YdbfFOpvogGsM0eSUZ0iTYeC_RWIVf-ECugJk5IN467dErDDIdBFN26TjvqocuMQhGj5J2fQUshlBpQnC-T0w/s1600/NoMatterWhere_Cover_W-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"></span>I’ve always enjoyed writing, even way back in high school.</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana;">I received a number of Literacy Awards in English for story and poem writing and many of my works were published in the school’s yearbooks. I was also actively involved in the production of the school’s newspaper and school magazine. But since leaving high school, I never believed in myself enough to actually continue writing.<br /><br />It wasn’t until I left fulltime work in 2007, to become a stay-at-home dad, that I began to take writing more seriously. I had a great excuse to spend hours in the children’s section of bookstores. The love of reading books made it all the more easier for me to delve into the world of picture book writing.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fr_bBYD8ms"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLuSrYk_CBuGMw32s7bdyNBhcaBeMORBuO4UnWwaG7G-RTXwAEivrxn_YdbfFOpvogGsM0eSUZ0iTYeC_RWIVf-ECugJk5IN467dErDDIdBFN26TjvqocuMQhGj5J2fQUshlBpQnC-T0w/s200/NoMatterWhere_Cover_W-1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><b>What was your process to publication like? Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I started writing children’s stories about five years ago. I think I always knew that someday I would be writing my own books but I just didn’t know when.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana;">It took 2 and a half years to get my first picture book accepted by a traditional publisher. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I’m living proof that the good old slush pile really does work. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana;">I often wondered if I would ever get published. It’s very competitive out there and you can wait a very long time before receiving a reply. So you need lots of patience and perseverance. If you stick it out, it will pay off. Just remember NEVER GIVE UP!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana;">I remember that day when I received my first acceptance – my heart skipped a beat! It was a great feeling.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Writing picture books isn’t easy as it looks. You have to learn to tell a story with very few words in a short time frame. I write many drafts before I’m happy with how it finally reads and flows.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLuSrYk_CBuGMw32s7bdyNBhcaBeMORBuO4UnWwaG7G-RTXwAEivrxn_YdbfFOpvogGsM0eSUZ0iTYeC_RWIVf-ECugJk5IN467dErDDIdBFN26TjvqocuMQhGj5J2fQUshlBpQnC-T0w/s1600/NoMatterWhere_Cover_W-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><b>Tell us about your picture books.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I wrote my picture book <i><a href="http://ipoz.biz/Titles/NMW.htm">No Matter Who We’re With</a></i> (illustrated by </span><u></u><u></u><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://verycheri.blogspot.com.au/">Cheri Scholten</a> </span><u></u><span style="font-family: Verdana;">and published by <a href="http://www.ipoz.biz/IP_Kidz/Kidz.htm">IP Kidz</a>) released March, 2013 following my separation in 2008. The book is a reassuring story about the lives of two children whose parents are separated. Even though the parents live apart, one thing is certain: they are always loved. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpNMQo8x-VPWKSs8RP7GYk7by36KlWPXsmvxuOFRnzTaajS0Q3TrOYNQlKOEP0LSpjGi2ob8ovTrr0tWwx-UTOk94Hr8ilVangWZSpBRNDRfmLRZO8P0P-fyvxgq3CVLaKf1YNk3AieI/s1600/marlocanflymed-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpNMQo8x-VPWKSs8RP7GYk7by36KlWPXsmvxuOFRnzTaajS0Q3TrOYNQlKOEP0LSpjGi2ob8ovTrr0tWwx-UTOk94Hr8ilVangWZSpBRNDRfmLRZO8P0P-fyvxgq3CVLaKf1YNk3AieI/s200/marlocanflymed-1.jpg" width="198" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br />This story helps children come to terms with the separation of their parents, and shows the unconditional love and security children can feel with each parent, no matter where they live.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"></span>My other picture book </span></em><em><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://www.wombatbooks.com.au/marlo-can-fly">Marlo Can Fly</a></span></em><em><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-style: normal;"> (illustrated by <a href="http://www.sandratemple.com/">Sandra Temple</a> and published by <a href="http://www.wombatbooks.com.au/robert-vescio">Wombat Books</a>) will </span></em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><em><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-style: normal;">be released in June, 2013 and is an entertaining story about a magpie who </span></em>doesn't conform to expectations. Marlo doesn't want to fly and would rather try different ways. However, Marlo proves that she can put aside her wishes when it’s important. A fun children’s book, featuring Australian animals, that encourages children to explore and find their place in</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;">the world.</span></div>
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<u></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/PqHEQJ9Xa-U?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span> <u></u></div>
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<u></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><b>What inspires your writing?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">My children, most definitely. A lot of my creative ideas come from observing them. All I have to do is to observe them and the ideas start rolling in. There is a lot of humour and I enjoy looking for stories from their every day experiences.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<u></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><b>What's the best part about being an author?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Sharing my stories with children of all ages. I love to tell a good yarn. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana;">Writing for children is a genre that I really enjoy. I love children’s picture books and </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">the way they express emotions and ideas in simple ways. And</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana;"> I love reading them to my children.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<u></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><b>Do you visit schools and if so, what tips do you have to keeping kids engaged?</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;">Yes, I enjoy visiting schools and sharing my stories with the students. There’s nothing more satisfying for an author, than seeing the smiles on children’s faces. It’s a great feeling knowing that I’m doing something wonderful for them. The students are curious and eager and ask great questions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Also, I like to use props during my presentation, when possible. Props add an element of fun and enhance the atmosphere of the talk.</span></div>
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<u></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><b>What's next?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I have an early reader chapter book <i>Hopscotch Showdown</i> (published by </span><u></u><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://www.jellibeanzpublishing.net/">Jelli-Beanz Publishing</a></span><u></u><span style="font-family: Verdana;">) due to be released in October, 2013. I’m really excited about this project. It’s been an eventful year and I hope the ride doesn’t stop here.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">To learn more about Robert’s books and his writing, visit Robert’s website at<a href="http://www.robertvescio.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.robertvescio.com/</a> and on facebook: </span><cite><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/RobertVescioAuthor" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-style: normal;">www.</span><b><span style="font-style: normal;">facebook</span></b><span style="font-style: normal;">.com/</span><b><span style="font-style: normal;">RobertVescio</span></b><span style="font-style: normal;">A<wbr></wbr>uthor</span></a></span></cite><cite><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-style: normal;"><u></u><u></u></span></cite></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17756291509110723512noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202162213386349739.post-33489035505752125702013-03-01T21:49:00.001+10:002013-03-01T21:57:10.077+10:00Aussie Animal Opposites Book Review<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #424242; font-family: arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>See the quiet quokka rocking her baby to sleep and the noisy numbat on the drums. Watch the energetic emu winning her race and the lazy lizard lunging in the sun (with his sunscreen on, of course).</i></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This delightful board book </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://bookshop.nla.gov.au/book/aussie-animal-opposites.do"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Aussie Animal Opposites</i></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">written by Elizabeth Lee and illustrated by Liz Faul, introduces children to the concept of opposites and will help build a vocabulary in young children in a fun and educational way.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Published by the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><i><a href="http://bookshop.nla.gov.au/book/aussie-animal-opposites.do"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">National Library of Australia</span></a>, Aussie Animal Opposites</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> features colourful illustrations perfect for young children and will have children interacting, mimicking the animals and looking for opposites in their everyday environment. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Not just your ordinary opposites book, the end pages include information about Aussie animals using realistic images and snippets of information. This reinforces the educational component and encourages further discussion and interest. I highly recommend <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><i><a href="http://bookshop.nla.gov.au/book/aussie-animal-opposites.do"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Aussie Animal Opposites</span> </a> </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">as a</span></span> suitable book for young learners and I'm sure children will request again and again.</span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17756291509110723512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202162213386349739.post-59579528427308539632013-02-17T21:11:00.001+10:002013-02-18T10:19:34.304+10:00Interview with Author Josie Montano<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It's a pleasure to Welcome Author <a href="http://www.booksbyjosie.com.au/">Josie Montano</a> to Books for Little Hands.</span></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When did you first know that you wanted to be an author?</span></b></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I have wanted to be an author since age 9 when I wrote my own little fiction stories, self-published them to make them look like real books (of course they didn’t!) but I included title page, chapters, illustrations, dedications, copyright etc. Then I shelved these booklets onto the school library shelves.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; clear: right; color: #2d2415; float: right; font-family: HancockRegular, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Wogaluccis" src="http://www.booksbyjosie.com.au/images/wogaluccis.jpg" style="height: 178px; width: 110px;" /></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Did you encounter any obstacles when trying to get published?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">At age 13 I sent a manuscript to Golden Press for consideration of a golden book story I had written titled ‘Mother christmas’. I was so excited and confident that they were going to publish it, six months later I received a golden envelope in the mail from the publishers …. With my first rejection letter! I was devastated and I believe this pushed me back into a world of belief that authors didn't exist, I had never met one, and wondered how it all worked. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The dream of becoming an author was snuffed out, and I went on with 'real' world activities such as getting a stable job in a bank, marrying, and having children. It wasn't until my mid 20's that the hankering to write actually came back and I began to dabble with stories and attend writing workshops. This lead to a lot of praise and encouragement from the teachers to take it seriously as they believed I had talent. So I then went onto university to study creative writing, as I wanted to add a little structure to that talent ... and as they say, the rest is history!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tell us about your books.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I write all types of genres, from picture books, junior fiction, young adult to non-fiction resources. I have 2 pen names. JOSIE MONTANO is for all my fiction writing – I have 15 books under this name ranging from picture books to YA. I enjoy writing humour and wrote about half a dozen junior fiction novels that were so much fun to pen, some of those are titled <i><a href="http://www.booksbyjosie.com.au/fictionbooks.html">Snot Fair</a>, <a href="http://www.booksbyjosie.com.au/fictionbooks.html">Snot Funny</a></i> etc.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; clear: right; color: #2d2415; float: right; font-family: HancockRegular, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Sunlight" height="200" src="http://www.booksbyjosie.com.au/images/sunlight.jpg" width="133" /></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I find that I tend to use varying degrees of humour and especially if I can discuss a serious topic and incorporate delicate humour ie: my latest YA is titled <i><a href="http://www.booksbyjosie.com.au/fictionbooks.html">Sunlight</a></i> and is about a young girl diagnosed with cancer, it has humour threaded throughout to lighten the darkness.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I’m waiting to write my ‘serious’ novel …..</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">JOSIE SANTOMAURO is for all the non-fiction resources which are on the topic of Asperger Syndrome. There are 26 resources published for families, educators and professionals.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.booksbyjosie.com.au/">www.booksbyjosie.com.au</a></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.booksbyjosie.com.au/images/strictly%20stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Strictly Stars" border="0" height="200" src="http://www.booksbyjosie.com.au/images/strictly%20stars.jpg" width="125" /></a><a href="http://www.booksbyjosie.com.au/images/snotcool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Snot Cool" border="0" src="http://www.booksbyjosie.com.au/images/snotcool.jpg" style="height: 171px; width: 110px;" /></a><a href="http://www.booksbyjosie.com.au/images/snotfair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Snot Fair" border="0" src="http://www.booksbyjosie.com.au/images/snotfair.jpg" style="height: 171px; width: 110px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; color: #2d2415; font-family: HancockRegular, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><img alt="Pop Starlets" src="http://www.booksbyjosie.com.au/images/popstarlets.jpg" style="height: 176px; width: 113px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; color: #2d2415; font-family: HancockRegular, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What books did you enjoy reading when you were growing up?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I was a huge fan of Enid Blyton and started a collection of her books at age 9, and am not ashamed to say I still collect some of her classics and unusual genres such as a school reader, stage play etc.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In my secondary years I enjoyed reading series, anything really – I was always known to be the book worm with book in hand and could be found curled up in the library.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What in your opinion, determines a books success?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There are varying reasons, it can range anything from the current trend, the amount of hype created, to the WOW factor. I also believe a successful book is in the eyes of the reader, one book may be a ‘success’ to one person and boring to another. I don’t write for success, I write to share my stories, to entertain people.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Whats your secret for writing interesting book characters?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Everybody loves to hate or love with a passion, eg: latest reality shows there’s always someone the viewer hates (wants them evicted) or loves (gunning for) – and I think that transfers to fiction characters. We always want to relate to the main character, have a rapport, feel like we know that character inside out, we are their best friend – a good character makes you miss them after the last page.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So what’s the secret? It’s a secret! I’m sure every author has their own little added ingredient they add to create their unique character. My secret may be that I like to think of myself as Dr Frankenstein and create a character from varying different persons eg: incorporate a little of me, someone I know, and maybe someone I’ve observed.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Do you have any routine that you follow before writing?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">No I’m not a disciplined writer and I envy those who can wake at 5am and have written 1000 words before the chickens wake! I am a ‘mood’ writer, and have to be in the mood to write that story. I can’t force the story to come out. A lot of the times it formulates in my head for a while like a cake mix, then when I’m ready to ‘bake it’ I sit at my computer and it all comes out. Although I have to admit a deadline can get me moving!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What do you like to do in your spare time?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I am a volunteer with the State Emergency Services and enjoy the training, team mates and deployments to help the community. Being Italian I love my coffee, but good quality lattes – quite a coffee connoisseur, I like to go on the bean hunt! Enjoy going to the movies and being inspired by a great story. Also enjoy attending the theatre of which I also occasionally tread the amateur boards.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What's next?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Well I have 3 contracts to fullfill,</span></span></div>
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<li style="color: #0041a6; font: 12.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My big Family Pizza – a YA novel of my original Wogaluccis which has been contracted by a US publisher; </span></span></li>
<li style="color: #0041a6; font: 12.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The ASD Zoo from Kalamazoo – a picture book/junior fiction for my US publisher of Autism resources;</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #0041a6; font: 12.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Hidden Curriculum – Relationships – co-writing a resource for adults with Autism on relationships for US publisher.</span></span></li>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I also need to complete my Masters Arts (Speculative Fiction) – I am half way as I have finished the novel, and just need to research the exegesis side of things.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I have also started consulting parents of children/teens with Asperger syndrome, or partners of adults with Asperger....and....I am dabbling with a feature film screen play- a family comedy, and a documentary series on Asperger.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17756291509110723512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202162213386349739.post-41289843110032232582013-01-14T18:40:00.004+10:002013-01-14T18:40:42.015+10:00Interview with Children's Author and Illustrator Bryan Langdo<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I’m thrilled to begin my '2013 Author Interviews' with Children’s Author and Illustrator, <a href="http://www.bryanlangdo.com/home.htm">Bryan Langdo.</a></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>When did you first know that you wanted to be a children's author and illustrator?</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I've always wanted to draw, ever since I was two. In middle school I started taking art lessons from children's author/illustrator Robert J. Blake. He held the class in his studio, so we always got to see firsthand the process of making a picture book. Something just clicked in me when I saw all the possibilities in combining storytelling with drawing.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>How did you get started?</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I started sending book proposals (manuscript plus two or three illustration samples) to publishers in the fall of 1998. I had a list of about a dozen publishers that I focused on. Each time a manuscript came back rejected (which it almost always did), I would put it in a new envelope and send it to the next publisher on my list. While a proposal was making the rounds, I would pretty much forget about it and start on another book idea, always trying to stay busy. I got lots of rejection letters, but every now and then I would receive some advice or words of encouragement from the editors who'd reviewed my work.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>When and where do you write and illustrate most often?</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Most of my process takes place in my head, while doing everyday things like driving. Once I've got the big ideas worked out, I'll sit down at my computer and get to typing. I draw in my sketchbook pretty much wherever: the dining room table, in front of the computer (because that's where I listen to music), on the couch. I have a proper studio that I only use when it's time to do final artwork. I can't sketch in there for some reason.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Tell us about your book characters, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/donuts/id585686738?mt=11">Hippo and Gorilla</a>. What inspired you to write about them?</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Hippo lives life to the fullest and isn't afraid to make mistakes. He's a wonderful friend and always means well, but he doesn't always think things through first. In fact, he almost never does. Gorilla, on the other hand, is quiet and so careful that he sometimes misses out on fun opportunities. Each character helps the other. Hippo gets Gorilla to "live a little" and Gorilla reins Hippo in, keeping him from doing too much damage. They're based (loosely) on my two children, who have very different personalities but are extremely close. </span></div>
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<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/rain-gear/id585722498?mt=11"><img alt="Rain Gear" class="artwork" height="225" src="http://a3.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Publication/v4/79/a4/bf/79a4bf59-e3af-628a-c0ac-947c5c111902/Rain-Gear-iTunes-cover.225x225-75.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.292969) 0px 3px 5px; border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; height: auto; max-width: 190px; min-height: 170px;" width="180" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"> </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/airplanes/id585683458?mt=11" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Airplanes" border="0" class="artwork" height="225" src="http://a5.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Publication/v4/51/a7/ec/51a7ec8c-8ce1-dede-f72c-0a1755e3963f/Airplanes-iTunes-cover.225x225-75.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.292969) 0px 3px 5px; border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; height: auto; max-width: 190px; min-height: 170px;" width="180" /></a><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/donuts/id585686738?mt=11" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Donuts" class="artwork" height="225" src="http://a2.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Publication/v4/60/50/54/605054f1-5d84-cba7-f37d-efb8ec36ddc1/Donuts-iTunes-cover.225x225-75.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.292969) 0px 3px 5px; border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; height: auto; max-width: 190px; min-height: 170px;" width="180" /></a><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Tell us about the concept for your children's <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/airplanes/id585683458?mt=11">eBooks.</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My best friend and I (CJ DeGennaro--he did all the sound, music, and technical stuff with these books) wanted to make eBooks that engage young kids without too much interactivity, which, in our humble opinion, takes away from the simple act of reading/listening to a good story. We both have kids and, while we like a lot of what e-readers have to offer, we don't want reading to become like video game-playing. Our goal with "Hippo and Gorilla" is to create a series that is more like the books-on-tape that we grew up with: narration, limited music, and a few key sound effects.</span></div>
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<b>What do you enjoy about the most about the process?</b><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">It's hard to say... Recording the talented Billy Bob Thompson (our narrator) was a lot of fun, but I'd have to say that my favorite part of the process is the writing. Imagining ridiculous scenarios to stick Hippo and Gorilla in is a blast.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Have there been any challenges publishing in eBook format?</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I'm used to illustrating for print books, so there were a few things I had to get used to, but not much. Most of the real challenge fell to CJ. He spent a couple months learning how to program the books and navigate the e-publishing world. I had it easy; all I had to to was write and draw silly pictures. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>What advice would you give other author/illustrators?</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Edit like crazy. The Hippo and Gorilla stories all started about three times longer than the finished versions. I spent most of my time just cutting words. And don't get too attached to anything. Sometimes a clever sentence that you're really proud of no longer works with the story you've written. Let it go. If you want to write, make the time. If you have two kids and a full-time job, write at night. You'll be happy you did. And if no publisher will publish you, publish yourself. You can do that these days. It's a wonderful thing!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>What's are you currently working on?</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I'm working on a few things. More Hippo and Gorilla, for one. We also plan to re-release my first picture book, <i>The Dog Who Loved the Good Life</i>, which was originally published by Henry Holt & Co. a while back. I'm working on a chapter book series too. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17756291509110723512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202162213386349739.post-60375924468027899882012-12-23T18:26:00.001+10:002012-12-23T19:47:55.753+10:00Christmas Interview with Author Kerry Brown<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0P6TaLP-OuF1T6xo5X9fRK3ZXdqL_NnowJyQEiXAPs1QjgYBQqrB9pnQTuGDPknR5HHvp3DaGZSm8gn4yYHLN5GIukHk9Xkh1gh9LKOXYTnEXwDhirV7HbYCDUOM1mfiLicVcsWVe7U/s1600/kerry+publicity+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #336699; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0P6TaLP-OuF1T6xo5X9fRK3ZXdqL_NnowJyQEiXAPs1QjgYBQqrB9pnQTuGDPknR5HHvp3DaGZSm8gn4yYHLN5GIukHk9Xkh1gh9LKOXYTnEXwDhirV7HbYCDUOM1mfiLicVcsWVe7U/s320/kerry+publicity+photo.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="320" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b></b></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">It's a pleasure to welcome Gold Coast Children's Author, <a href="http://kerrybrown.webs.com/">Kerry Brown</a> to share her Christmas memories and traditions.</span><br />
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How did you celebrate Christmas as a child?</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I grew up in Northern Western Australia near the beach so there was lots of swimming, too much food, late afternoon naps and lots of family time. I love Christmas day - it is the one time every one is on board for a lazy, cruisy day surrounded by food, laughter and fun!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Do you have a family Christmas tradition? Tell us about it.</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Every Christmas I take my children shopping to buy one new decoration each. (Good quality ones form David Jones or Myer) After Christmas the kids carefully wrap each of their unique decorations up and place them in their own box labelled with the year they bought each of them. When they grow up and leave home they will have their own special supply of tree decorations to place on their very own tree.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Have you celebrated Christmas in another country?</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Yes I have in England before. I LOVED the traditional hot luncheon, the snow, the eggnog and the cold for a change. With the heat and humidity we are having here in Queensland at the moment I'd love to do it again!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;"></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>What will you be reading over Christmas?</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I went to the library last week and got out all the children's picture books and novels I have wanted to read for a very long time. Some are re - reads. I have:</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Shaun Tan's 'The Arrival'</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Michael Gerard Bauer's, 'Eric Vale - Epic Fail'</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Enid Blyton's The Enchanted Wood</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> 'Maudie and Bear' by Jan Ormerod </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">And a book by Andy Stanton called 'Stirling and the Canary'. (I love Andy Stanton - I find him extremely funny and my kids love him too.)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Then I might just try and read an adult novel........... to be different :)</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17756291509110723512noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202162213386349739.post-9229571376769656642012-12-21T22:45:00.001+10:002012-12-21T22:45:51.261+10:00Christmas Interview with Children's Author Caroline Stills<br />
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<a href="http://hardiegrant.com.au/Egmont/Books/Book.aspx?isbn=9781921272776" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Picture" class="galleryImageBorder" height="200" src="http://www.carolinestills.com/uploads/2/4/8/0/2480359/5272325.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px;" width="197" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's a fun and exciting time of year especially fun to learn what authors get up to. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My next guest blogger is children's author </span><a href="http://www.carolinestills.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Caroline Stills.</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What does Christmas mean to you?</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christmas to me is about celebrating family and being thankful for the wonderful life we have. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How did you celebrate Christmas as a child?</span></span></b></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.carolinestills.com/books-for-children.html" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="Picture" class="galleryImageBorder" height="200" src="http://www.carolinestills.com/uploads/2/4/8/0/2480359/6624745.jpg?302" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px;" width="200" /></span></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My family lived on a farm in NZ. Before each Christmas, my dad would cut a branch from one of the pine trees that grew nearby so we always had a ‘real’ tree to decorate. I now associate the scent of pine with Christmas. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #575757; font-size: 11px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I remember the excitement of trying to stay awake on Christmas Eve to hear Father Christmas and his reindeer landing on our roof but I could never manage to keep my eyes open for long enough. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My siblings and I usually received a new outfit for Christmas along with some toys. I felt special wearing my new clothes to Christmas Mass where I enjoyed singing Christmas carols. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you have a family Christmas tradition? Tell us about it. </span></span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgzbnwQ_BV1nNfCs9WNipaqqxi1vizNZVDarCCKWN1iLFm8z87JXazVHG93sKtJkh-yARBQ5A74cYI3e4qzes5cxMH60IjVPwnwoXvQ9hvgvOWQvjj5CW3lcXoEBtUuk0anOnL1EHCH4/s1600/xmas+2011+(851+x+1155)-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgzbnwQ_BV1nNfCs9WNipaqqxi1vizNZVDarCCKWN1iLFm8z87JXazVHG93sKtJkh-yARBQ5A74cYI3e4qzes5cxMH60IjVPwnwoXvQ9hvgvOWQvjj5CW3lcXoEBtUuk0anOnL1EHCH4/s320/xmas+2011+(851+x+1155)-1.jpg" width="233" /></span></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To me, having children around is what makes Christmas </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">so special. Just like when I was a child, I now make sure my children always have a real tree to decorate on the first weekend in December (though it is now delivered to us by the local scout group). </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love seeing how excited my girls get before Christmas, writing letters to Santa, making cards for their friends, and making and buying gifts for family. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At least one day immediately before Christmas is spent in the kitchen, together, making special treats to share with extended family (who we always catch up with around Christmas) - like chocolate truffles and a gingerbread house. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On Christmas day itself, it’s fun to get up in the morning to watch my daughters excitedly open their gifts from Santa. Even if the day is hot, the main meal on Christmas day is always roast veggies with ham and turkey, followed by Christmas pudding served with my mum’s special brandy sauce. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am blessed to have such a beautiful healthy loving family and I always reflect on this on Christmas day. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What will you be reading over Christmas? </span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another tradition with my immediate family (me, hubby, children) is to spend a few days at the beach sometime in January. It’s all about relaxing and spending time together, and there is always time for a good book or two. This holiday I hope to read “World War Z” by Max Brooks (love a good zombie story before the movie comes out next year, and “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn which is on many “best reads” list for 2012. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A very happy festive season to you, Renee, and to all your blog readers. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Caroline Stills </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #575757; font-size: 11px;"><a href="" style="color: #cc0000; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="Picture" class="galleryImageBorder" height="199" src="http://www.carolinestills.com/uploads/2/4/8/0/2480359/3683977.jpg?291" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px;" width="200" /></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #575757; font-size: 11px;"><a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/Magic-Mummy-9781742030388"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="Picture" height="200" src="http://www.carolinestills.com/uploads/2/4/8/0/2480359/1239553.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: black; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: black; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: black; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 5px;" width="182" /></span></a></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17756291509110723512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202162213386349739.post-89509090049869044762012-12-21T19:56:00.000+10:002012-12-21T19:56:00.767+10:00Christmas Interview with Children's Author DC Green<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://dcgreenyarns.blogspot.com.au/"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_WLGHhCTimyzZ3goyjiDddx3QPDSV9JRg4jjB_AM4OKAwu999ZRVc6Mt9fV6sUJ2dRDYiufumA9r2TN_ntI9hOeFju7OuxjClJDuRR0jnq2PJRV5e8AnI7oyxWsUO3F-zT3iGazLUJc/s320/IMG_20121219_094832.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Only 4 sleeps till Christmas and a huge welcome to popular children's author, <a href="http://dcgreenyarns.blogspot.com.au/">DC Green</a>. </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Tell us about your favourite Christmas memory?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I was a boy, my whole family spent every Christmas holidays camping in a huge canvas tent at Scotts Head on the NSW North Coast. While the adults would gurgle away their afternoons at the local bowling club, us kids were free to roam ‘Lord of the Flies’ style – surfing, climbing trees and cliffs, exploring the bush, catching fish, cicadas and ghost crabs and generally having the sort of wild, unsupervised fun that would land parents in all sorts of trouble today!</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.barrelbooks.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vZ1SYIwPgm8vLbmi_tNW01mgKRHpdVHmv1A6ocQik6ipcqPyHMpjvkRYlPsl-YS_aQHd2IKA-KxqOG9MNGFrElL7mAx2WT2Ut78xzVKJcsehpoUvoGAi67J9343fNPFRrXt0z9b-sUo/s200/zapp-front-hires.jpg" width="128" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>Which book would you recommend people read this Christmas?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wouldn’t be much of an author without gratuitously self-promoting my latest (and final!) book in the <a href="http://dcgreenyarns.blogspot.com.au/">ZAPP series, Erasmus James and the Grat Siege. </a>This funny and moving story features mutant chooks, ninja horses, a cast of thousands and a desperate siege conducted by an army of giant, armour-covered rats! Oh, and all with the fate of the universe at stake!!</span></span></div>
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How are you celebrating this year?</b></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.barrelbooks.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXo1j1vIaPgQi3JnX4bDb-YjbEVsLdPwiIQp4LiB2SXmw3W6LUbMBDtsCQl2cCA56k-RNab2G76GGy2si3lydoKtqAoZGw5nmdgusdl9GESJxLodxOyWMh-ur5dH2Wpse0JBosjSTMrmY/s200/grat-front-lowres.jpg" width="129" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hopefully I’ll be able to sneak out for an uncrowded, super-early surf </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">before everyone else wakes up! Then will follow the annual present-opening frenzy (which is especially enjoyed by my tinsel and box-loving guard cats) and the traditional massive lunch of over-eating with family and friends.</span></div>
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What’s the best and worst present you’ve ever received?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The two were combined! When I was eight, I received an amazing inflatable kite. It took half an hour to blow up and was only in the air for 30 seconds before another boy tested HIS new Christmas present: an air rifle! BANG! My present was an exploded, shredded plastic skin, and I was back to catching cicadas.</span></span></div>
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<img align="right" alt="Erasmus James, Kink of Kid's Paradise" border="0" class="framed" height="200" src="http://www.barrelbooks.com/images/g_kids_paradise_cover.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; border-left-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 3px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 3px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; clear: both; display: block; float: right; margin-left: 10px; width: auto;" width="128" /><a href="http://www.barrelbooks.com/images/stinky_cover_lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Stinky Squad Cover" border="0" class="framedLeft" height="200" src="http://www.barrelbooks.com/images/stinky_cover_lg.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; border-left-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 3px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 3px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; display: block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; width: auto;" width="127" /></a><a href="http://www.barrelbooks.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://www.barrelbooks.com/pigs.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy50qa1q435b3KA68QhV4Hwkt0M3gCEV-yXYlXEIby9TyRnvjchotoa_weRi1AiGTBvRG_IJkJG0G1285tggBRISVHUU7pFBy_NAQ7V0QCu_qfBO1wbIu7bVBbkV8SBWxVY2eVGCfZFIY/s200/Picture_1.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17756291509110723512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202162213386349739.post-45640044471712708772012-12-18T20:28:00.001+10:002012-12-18T20:28:38.380+10:00Christmas Interview with Author/Illustrator Christina Booth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFwYP2pFmtRYoP61QwfXyjia8bR_Llj4YAssLNUNciRJ9PlO_Q_M937_bjaaY9RvlL7BIgewkHqvrhGhTie4h0XojrFYMyFHpWyiU4jS_eeD0BVGAm0A_svf3wlz62nY-k4oVQaTISLw/s1600/photo-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFwYP2pFmtRYoP61QwfXyjia8bR_Llj4YAssLNUNciRJ9PlO_Q_M937_bjaaY9RvlL7BIgewkHqvrhGhTie4h0XojrFYMyFHpWyiU4jS_eeD0BVGAm0A_svf3wlz62nY-k4oVQaTISLw/s320/photo-1.JPG" width="285" /></a></div>
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It's a delight to welcome popular children's author and illustrator <a href="http://www.christinabooth.com/">Christina Booth</a> to Books for Little Hands.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WH6CdzQ7Fhl_mGLMj_zRUP5wn19JglRldNphc-2FNIW7wHZVabJ-M54yPpdOrSwNdQCcY1wrXHdoKsAPieNAB2RLBilB6fNOlzodP8JFkhRb88PLAc41kdVvMaAAyH0ejJoxeXcElBA/s1600/1stxmasplay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I grew up across the road from the beach and I spent summer in my bathers and thongs. Christmas started for us when the tree went up, usually on Christmas eve. Then we would get all dressed up and go to a midnight service and sing carols. My brother and I would be out of bed well before our parents and poke around the tree. My Dad would go and collect my Grandad from the nursing home and then we would have a yummy lunch (not a traditional one as my Mum is Dutch) and then we would spend the afternoon opening presents and playing with our new treasures. No presents were opened until after lunch! Sometimes the kids from the area would all meet up in the afternoon at the beach and share our bounties and go swimming. One year we took the boat out and went fishing or in the evenings (it didn't get dark until after 9 pm) we would go for a family walk with friends and watch the kangaroos and wombats in the bush.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WH6CdzQ7Fhl_mGLMj_zRUP5wn19JglRldNphc-2FNIW7wHZVabJ-M54yPpdOrSwNdQCcY1wrXHdoKsAPieNAB2RLBilB6fNOlzodP8JFkhRb88PLAc41kdVvMaAAyH0ejJoxeXcElBA/s1600/1stxmasplay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WH6CdzQ7Fhl_mGLMj_zRUP5wn19JglRldNphc-2FNIW7wHZVabJ-M54yPpdOrSwNdQCcY1wrXHdoKsAPieNAB2RLBilB6fNOlzodP8JFkhRb88PLAc41kdVvMaAAyH0ejJoxeXcElBA/s320/1stxmasplay.jpg" width="283" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span>Do you have a family Christmas tradition?</b> </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">A newer tradition we love is that our family gets up for a Christmas breakfast. Because my husband works at a hospital he often has to work on Christmas day so this is a tradition we began so we could have a Christmas meal together before the day was over. We all sit around in our pyjama's and have a yummy leisurely breakfast together, a rarity in our house as we are all coming and going at different times and during the year my son lives away for uni. </span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We hang our stockings on our chairs and set the table ready the night before after we get beck from church. Some of us get up early to prepare the food. Last year a Nerf gun war occurred to get the sleepy heads out of bed! We all buy a small gift for the other members of the family, something that is special to them, and put them in the stockings. Over breakfast we open our stocking gifts as often we don't get back together as a family until the evening. We choose to wait to open our tree gifts until 'Dad' gets home so he doesn't miss out on the fun. Our breakfast has become one of the most anticipated parts of our Christmas day.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Have you celebrated Christmas in another country?</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Yes, twice. Once as a teenager and a few years ago when we took the children to Europe to celebrate my Opa's 90th birthday. We also travelled to London for a few days and loved the winter Christmas atmosphere, putting those traditional Christmas cards in perspective.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We celebrated in Holland. A very different experience from Australia. They have <a href="http://www.thehistoryofchristmas.com/traditions/holland.htm">first Christmas and second Christmas.</a> First Christmas is spent with immediate family and any other family you can gather with. Food is an important part of the day and the whole day is spent preparing it. Small gifts are exchanged in the evenings (well, they were in our family) once everyone had arrived. The gifts were tokens, things you needed, not the huge expensive items that seem to have swallowed our culture. </span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span>Second Christmas, our boxing day, is spent doing it all over again. Lots of food preparation and a huge meal spent with the family you didn't see on Christmas number one and friends.<br />
Everyone goes back to work as normal and even back to school after that. Then they prepare for the next big celebration with yummy traditional foods, New Years Eve!</div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>What will you be reading over Christmas? </b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My plan is to squeeze in some of the books on my to read pile that is steadily growing taller. I have to work over the holiday season illustrating two books but hey, I love it. Some of the books on my pile (certain to be added to after Christmas gifts are given) is the Roald Dahl Biography, The Book Thief (to be re-read for book club), Piano Lessons (Anna Goldsworthy), The Perks of Being a Wall Flower (recommended by my son), Twenty Years A-Growing (Maurice O'Sullivan) and Shade's Children (Garth Nix). My Husband recently purchased some weird comic books I am expected to read as well, Dr. Who meets Star Trek! Supposedly they are really good....</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Happy Reading and Happy Christmas everyone!</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.scholastic.com.au/schools/education/teacherresources/assets/pdfs/Potato_Music.pdf"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4D6kQ92EGA6v13v3-qo6leD7m8z6Df1jXqKFQZ6CxgemfhU_9IYn7wCAlaCKDFAN8i5NZ1XsYigRBbAug-SZoHusItf5dmW9excriF_x7w66YQzv6q_9v0iVHipYgPdcrgFGlZqj97jM/s200/1pm.jpg" width="190" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><a href="http://www.windyhollowbooks.com.au/products/kip"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KmTvDW9B-eWzSZ_hQJn8L85iKjR8cnvDxpqwSwCQuWutbIPhGm89kj50xTvOFpW2fZib7xSFOIfmxa8yzEafirHYRUUForrzMOxJksi1-2wyDag5CF5ZfBA1vNw4nwOHoaHKyjsm3Qk/s200/9781921136405.jpg" width="166" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><a href="http://www.windyhollowbooks.com.au/products/the-carrum-sailing-club"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gfnfNqhqmKM-1YcVb7sz2ohHPN1RAkOabPkUM125Mn_TaAAhx4iXtcn5oF54RlDX1R1Qn5N1IuPf2u3uZmE4eVHyhyphenhyphencJlnUSqvm2RgL6yx-oDRqOsLQ-yuZb-J8sb1vaMMzjThyphenhyphenV4eI/s200/9781921136849.jpg" width="182" /></a></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17756291509110723512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202162213386349739.post-48374871237701042572012-12-17T22:17:00.002+10:002012-12-18T00:28:03.939+10:00Christmas Interview with Author Aleesah Darlison<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqy-lkCFhVt37hJY3tO5P6qsbDDm35lpHPD_43-_8N2iXCqG0dPV-xpTEp6jOiLT2AHGXL6kHnJhuymIPKXsUofOS_T4CJhBM0_N2_eEzy6Bug3qR2l4v_kTaFVoHK8w1EUysNtIKjx9k/s320/Aleesah+Darlison+with+UR+books_low+res.jpg" width="320" /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">20</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333233;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">12 has been a big year for my next children's author and guest blogger, </span></span><a href="http://aleesahdarlison.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Aleesah Darlison.</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333233;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Aleesah shares her Christmas memories and traditions, highlights of 2012, and how she plans to celebrate this festive season with her family and friends. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333233;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tell us about your favourite Christmas memory?</span></span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmP_VoG9eD_tJcSN0fYpZRft3KSAC58qAMeHJqgxwvJd4oF96x_cXey7mEOW7mm4Oe0MUYB9s8noDnIpf-01eSC_lCndUQ9vk6olUC5wt8MFhvF6JrBD5EGeQ_z4y3ut3Yf7jWqz0Jgs/s1600/LGW+Cover+Low+Res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmP_VoG9eD_tJcSN0fYpZRft3KSAC58qAMeHJqgxwvJd4oF96x_cXey7mEOW7mm4Oe0MUYB9s8noDnIpf-01eSC_lCndUQ9vk6olUC5wt8MFhvF6JrBD5EGeQ_z4y3ut3Yf7jWqz0Jgs/s320/LGW+Cover+Low+Res.jpg" width="220" /></span></span></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For me, kids really make Christmas so any Christmas I’ve spent with my gorgeous husband and our three kids rates as the best.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Which book would you recommend people read this Christmas?</span></span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmP_VoG9eD_tJcSN0fYpZRft3KSAC58qAMeHJqgxwvJd4oF96x_cXey7mEOW7mm4Oe0MUYB9s8noDnIpf-01eSC_lCndUQ9vk6olUC5wt8MFhvF6JrBD5EGeQ_z4y3ut3Yf7jWqz0Jgs/s1600/LGW+Cover+Low+Res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span></span></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of mine, perhaps? </span></span><i><a href="http://www.unicornridersbooks.com.au/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Unicorn Riders</span></span></a></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> is fantastic for girls aged 7 - 10 years who like fantasy adventures with a twist/surprise ending. There are six books to choose in that </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">series so everyone’s a winner. </span></span><br />
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</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And </span></span><i><a href="http://aleesahdarlison.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/teachingnotesLittleGoodWolf.197184731.pdf"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Little Good Wolf</span></span></a></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> with its gorgeous red Christmas-y cover suits the festive season right down to the ground. Perfect for boys who like a laugh and are learning to read independently.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">How are you celebrating this year?</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We’ll stay at home, probably getting up at the crack of dawn to open presents then share the day together. My kids are aged 9, 8 and 5 so they’re super excited about Christmas. Thankfully, I’ve done all my Christmas shopping, so I’m in a good place right now.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What’s the best and worst present you’ve ever received?</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Best present: anything my husband gives me is usually lovely. He’s got a knack for buying me gifts. He’s actually incredibly good at picking clothes for me, but don’t tell him I said that.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Worst present: my dad is a serial thong (the footwear, not the underwear!) and bath towel giver. Although both do come in handy, it would be nice to vary the theme now and then.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ANiFP8kTM5ywCCx25JzFMrJzL6XApZIJ5L-cOBsMzr-EGfNRgRn7CH_FARnb6cQC7um2hBei-qBd99plntf1dXPdyeedr9rPPZPozMBLncpyz38GYrmRvBBmLr5PynotAf-vN2sMqnI/s1600/gingerbread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ANiFP8kTM5ywCCx25JzFMrJzL6XApZIJ5L-cOBsMzr-EGfNRgRn7CH_FARnb6cQC7um2hBei-qBd99plntf1dXPdyeedr9rPPZPozMBLncpyz38GYrmRvBBmLr5PynotAf-vN2sMqnI/s320/gingerbread.jpg" width="320" /></span></span></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What does Christmas mean to you?</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Family. Fun. Food.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ANiFP8kTM5ywCCx25JzFMrJzL6XApZIJ5L-cOBsMzr-EGfNRgRn7CH_FARnb6cQC7um2hBei-qBd99plntf1dXPdyeedr9rPPZPozMBLncpyz38GYrmRvBBmLr5PynotAf-vN2sMqnI/s1600/gingerbread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What’s your favourite Christmas story?</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I quite like </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Arthur Christmas</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, which was an animated movie released last year. I liked how the creators modernised the concepts behind Christmas.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Have you got any hints for Santa?</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Books make great presents and they’re easy to wrap!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Do you have a special message for Christmas and the New Year?</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I feel like a highway cop saying this, but seriously: slow down. We all live life far too quickly and don’t appreciate the world around us. We all try to fit too much into our day. We all drive far too fast. Especially at this time of year. So, yep, definitely slow down in everything we do and make the most of each day.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">How did you celebrate Christmas as a child?</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We’d get up very early to go to church. We lived in a tiny country village and our minister had to travel from parish to parish during the day and we were always first cab of the rank. The church was a small, white, weatherboard building with the most beautiful stained glass windows, red carpet and stained-timber pews. It was a very spiritual and special place and I still remember it clearly. Then we’d come home, open our Santa and family presents and have breakfast. We’d then usually have lunch and spend the afternoon with our larger family at my grandmother’s house, which was just down the road. Sounds idyllic, but there were often arguments! There are some strong personalities in my family.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ANiFP8kTM5ywCCx25JzFMrJzL6XApZIJ5L-cOBsMzr-EGfNRgRn7CH_FARnb6cQC7um2hBei-qBd99plntf1dXPdyeedr9rPPZPozMBLncpyz38GYrmRvBBmLr5PynotAf-vN2sMqnI/s1600/gingerbread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Do you have a family Christmas tradition? Tell us about it.</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Not really, we just love being together on Christmas Day then usually go away for a holiday several days afterwards. This year, I made my very first gingerbread house and I was rather impressed (and surprised!) with the outcome. Perhaps I’ll have to make that a tradition. Oh, the other thing is that our Christmas tree goes up on 1 December and comes down on 31 December and we always take the kids out to see the Christmas lights at night. </span></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Have you celebrated Christmas in another country?</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Not yet, but I’d love to have a white Christmas.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What will you be reading over Christmas?</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Shiver</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> by Maggie Stiefvater. I won it at the SCBWI Christmas party last week and I’m looking forward to reading it. Christmas holidays is about the only time I’ll have to do so!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What are you looking forward to about Christmas?</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Not having to work, being able to sleep in (if the kids let me!) and having my husband around for a while.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53bXfsHnrCwXR1mxEJ9FzNRt-FTQb0YN3eT-TWgBZuRMzhQQ5xyv-VjYhT044w8BIV-_-gZDAk9zda9DaQhu3maPpXBD0Re5W7DSDH8lzgee4OhGTm9c8pcedSPwHLhkSyC4iMaoL9Es/s1600/Christina+Davis+from+Hallidays+Pt+PS+reading+her+story-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53bXfsHnrCwXR1mxEJ9FzNRt-FTQb0YN3eT-TWgBZuRMzhQQ5xyv-VjYhT044w8BIV-_-gZDAk9zda9DaQhu3maPpXBD0Re5W7DSDH8lzgee4OhGTm9c8pcedSPwHLhkSyC4iMaoL9Es/s320/Christina+Davis+from+Hallidays+Pt+PS+reading+her+story-2.JPG" width="320" /></span></span></a></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tell us about your year of writing, book launches, school visits, etc.</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2012 has been a huge year for me. I’m exhausted from all the work I’ve done but elated at the opportunities I’ve been offered and the successes I’ve achieved.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I’ve released five books, travelled to Hong Kong for school visits, toured Perth, Sydney, Adelaide, Moree, the Manning Valley, the Hunter Valley and oodles of other places conducting school visits and author talks and writing workshops. I’ve been a guest speaker at several festivals and launched the fourth book in my </span></span><i><a href="http://totallytwins.com.au/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Totally Twins</span></span></a></i><a href="http://totallytwins.com.au/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> series,</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://newfrontier.com.au/news/a-birthday-bonanza-at-the-sutherland-shire/613.html">‘Birthday Bonanza’ at the Sutherland Shire Writers Festival. </a></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I’ve also written two </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: 0px;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">books in my </span></span><i><a href="http://www.unicornridersbooks.com.au/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Unicorn Riders</span></span></a></i><a href="http://www.unicornridersbooks.com.au/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> series, Books 7 and 8</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, due for release June 2013. I’ve had a new fantasy series accepted by Walker Books, the first instalment of which will be released in September 2013. I’m currently (eagerly!) waiting to see the draft illustrations for a picture book called </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Little Meerkat</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, to be published by Wombat Books and illustrated by Shannon Melville. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was a National Year of Reading Ambassador for Taree City Libraries and I created and edited an anthology project which featured local children’s short stories and poems. The anthology was called ‘We Are Now We Are The Future’ and was launched on 7 December at Taree Library to a large crowd.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I’ve had an awesome time during 2012 and have been supported by my loving family, my publishers and the media every step of the way. I only hope 2013 will be as enjoyable as this year has been!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What’s on your Christmas menu?</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Seafood and chocolate pudding.</span></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17756291509110723512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202162213386349739.post-47700877615042744952012-12-17T20:20:00.000+10:002012-12-17T22:31:15.623+10:00Christmas Interview with Author Dimity Powell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>It's very exciting to be posting 'Mini Christmas Author Interviews' on Book for Little Hands but it's </b><b>particularly joyous to interview author and friend, Dimity Powell about her Christmas traditions and to celebrate her debut Christmas book- <i>PS Who Stole Santa's Mail?</i></b><br />
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<b>Tell us about your favourite Christmas memory?</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkeP3d9s2MaagPRh4hNh7rfJG_5iEksckImqdV0CF6Dv-sVY9S_312dbGaK7VbYJtmPUubohXeSileXxR9iw-amdBhkANadJXA_M-Mke9jHDtJEStMiaLBo20Ei3rSi6SivKzgZbwXad8/s1600/Black+Cat+Launch+Black+Cat+18th+Nov+2012+(4)-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkeP3d9s2MaagPRh4hNh7rfJG_5iEksckImqdV0CF6Dv-sVY9S_312dbGaK7VbYJtmPUubohXeSileXxR9iw-amdBhkANadJXA_M-Mke9jHDtJEStMiaLBo20Ei3rSi6SivKzgZbwXad8/s320/Black+Cat+Launch+Black+Cat+18th+Nov+2012+(4)-1.JPG" width="240" /></a>I don’t have just one. Christmas is my all-time favourite season. Having grown up in the searing summer heat of South Australia, means memories of devouring buckets of fresh home-grown stone fruits around the pool are burned deep into my psyche. In spite of the heat, mum also produced three roasts and a ham each year for Christmas lunch! Food is an inescapable Christmas memory. Perhaps my fondest overseas memory was experiencing my first white Christmas in London with my sister. Mum and Dad flew over to visit us. It was an indescribably magic time of celebration – and food! These days, I just can’t go past listening to as much Christmas music as I can and scouring the neighbourhood with my family for the brightest, most light festooned house we can find.<br />
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<b>Which book would you recommend people read this Christmas?</b><br />
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Well, word on the street is that there’s this fabulous new children’s chapter book out, packed to bursting with elves, magic, odd smells, poisoned reindeer and loads of laughs, called PS Who Stole Santa’s Mail?, that’s really worth reading. No honestly, I would never misquote a child! Apart from my own Chrissy book, I adore anything with a remotely Christmas theme and feel it’s more fitting reading them at this time of year. A couple of standout picture books that I recommend this season are: Applesauce and the Christmas Miracle by Glenda Millard and Stephen Michael King and The Christmas Giant by Steve Light, for their simple yet enduring themes, and gorgeous illustrations. There are billions more but it would take a life time of Christmases to list them all.<br />
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<b>How are you celebrating this year?</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_Z6Dt3Sp3NIIVBLyayjMZsyq2PfJWUhXbuz-OOdGie9imFxqp52FE_l816IRxD831fcWpXg5KX75v5PViD4x7A65_BmFH7KjoXpjikq2rQgkRCslJ_UF2RDDjzx4gk8O3JXIlFpO6bA/s1600/Christmas+in+England+with+Michelle%252C+That+Man+%2526+the+UK+family+Dec+2011+%252870%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_Z6Dt3Sp3NIIVBLyayjMZsyq2PfJWUhXbuz-OOdGie9imFxqp52FE_l816IRxD831fcWpXg5KX75v5PViD4x7A65_BmFH7KjoXpjikq2rQgkRCslJ_UF2RDDjzx4gk8O3JXIlFpO6bA/s200/Christmas+in+England+with+Michelle%252C+That+Man+%2526+the+UK+family+Dec+2011+%252870%2529.JPG" width="150" /></a>Very humbly. We spent the last festive season in the UK with relatives waiting for it to snow. It never did but it was still magical. This year, I’ve been incredibly busy with the release of my book so have not even managed to shop, wrap or tie a bow around one single present yet. The tree is still not decorated and my house could do with some attention. But I have steamed a pudding and plan to share it with my family on Chrissy day along with farm fresh duck.<br />
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<b>What’s the best and worst present you’ve ever received?</b><br />
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This is going to sound corny but there’s never been a worst. Anything that anyone has taken the trouble to get or make and give is always received with thanks and joy. Unchecked behaviour and comments are not so well received at this time of year though. Perhaps the best pressie was the birth of my first born a couple of months before Christmas; to share our first family Christmas together was a dream come true. (Corny again but true).<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17756291509110723512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202162213386349739.post-1181602882856055522012-12-17T17:29:00.001+10:002012-12-17T20:00:23.906+10:00Christmas Interview with Author Tania McCartney<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I'm delighted to welcome Australian author, <a href="http://taniamccartneyweb.blogspot.com.au/"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #001ba6; text-decoration: underline;">Tania McCartney</span></a> to Books for Little Hands to share her Christmas stories and delights. </span>You may recognise Tania from her comprehensive writing and reviewing children's book blog called <a href="http://www.kids-bookreview.com/"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #001ba6; text-decoration: underline;">Kids Book Review</span></a> or her book series; <span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #001ba6; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.rileyaviator.com/">Riley the Little Aviator.</a></span><br />
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<b>How did you celebrate Christmas as a a child?</b><br />
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</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you have a family Christmas tradition? Tell us about it.</span></b></span></div>
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We love the advent countdown and on 24 December, the kids receive a brand new tree ornament. Every year, I create a new advent calendar – this time it was made from envelopes. We also, of course, leave out beer and cookies for Santa, as well as carrots for the reindeer. Our gingerbread house, which I also make, is usually smashed to pieces on Christmas Eve, too. It often takes a hammer. On Christmas Day, we have big bowls of coffee under the tree (well, the adults do) and we nibble on special, personalised cookies as we unwrap the presents. Someone is the Christmas Elf – they hand out the gifts and everyone waits and watches as each person opens their gift. Anything to string out the gift-giving!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We tend to have a traditional roast for lunch; I’d love to change it up but the family loves it too much.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes I have. I’ve celebrated it in England, China and Vietnam. The Vietnam Christmas at Hoi An was particularly poignant because we were travelling and had none of our normal traditions. We slurped noodles instead of slicing ham. It was bittersweet – beautiful and different but also a little sad to forgo the traditions that means so much. This year we are travelling just after Christmas instead. Because we’ll be gone nearly 6 weeks, I’ve forgone the massive, traditional tree, and have put up a little feather tree instead, along with white paper lanterns. It’s the most simple thing I’ve ever done for Christmas, and I love it.</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What will you be reading over Christmas?</span></b></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will be reading </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Storteller: The Life of Roald Dahl</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> by Donald Sturrock, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman and </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Writing Down the Bones</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> by Natalie Goldberg. Oh – and Christmas picture books with the kids.</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17756291509110723512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202162213386349739.post-2650335961462924852012-12-15T02:11:00.001+10:002012-12-15T02:13:02.213+10:00Christmas Interview with Author Candice Lemon Scott<span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: right; color: black; float: right; font-family: Times; font-size: small; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></span><br />
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New to the Sunny State-Queensland, and here to share her Christmas memories and traditions is author and </span></span><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Gold Coast friend, <a href="http://candicelemonscott.com/about/">Candice Lemon-Scott.</a></span></span> <div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><b>What are you looking forward to about Christmas?</b><br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"></span>I’m going camping with my family over Christmas this year. This will be the first time I’ve been away on holidays </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">for Christmas so I can’t wait to spend it with my family, enjoying the beach and the warm Queensland weather.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><b>Tell us about your year of writing, book launches, school visits, etc.</b><br style="line-height: 17px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: tahoma, geneva, verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #1e2c38; font-family: tahoma, geneva, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;"><a href="http://www.odysseybooks.com.au/bookstore#!/~/product/category=0&id=15541980" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: #2583ad; cursor: pointer; font-size: 13px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal tahoma, geneva, verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; z-index: auto;"></a></span>This year has been huge for me because my children’s book ‘<a href="http://www.littlerockets.com.au/books/hubert-and-the-magic-glasses/"><i>Hubert and the Magic Glasses</i></a><i>’</i> and my novel for adults <i><a href="http://www.odysseybooks.com.au/products/9780987232571">‘Unloched’</a></i> both came out within a few months of each other. It was a complete coincidence and it’s meant I’ve enjoyed joining in with local events like the Gold Coast Writers’ Festival. I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">’ve also visited quite a few schools including: QIC; Helensvale State Primary School and Payne Road State Primary School. I even went to a Smarter Kids Montessori Pre-School, which was loads of fun. All in all, it’s been great fun doing some ‘magical’ activities with the kids based around the magic glasses idea. I also run a writing service, so it was an absolute joy to discover this year that one of my talented clients, Vacen Taylor, also received her first publishing contract, for a children's story I worked on with her.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.littlerockets.com.au/img/books/3_large.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.littlerockets.com.au/img/books/3_large.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="130" /></a><a href="http://www.odysseybooks.com.au/bookstore#!/~/product/category=0&id=15541980" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: #2583ad; cursor: pointer; font-size: 13px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal tahoma, geneva, verdana, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; z-index: auto;"><img alt="Unloched" height="200" src="http://images.ecwid.com/images/152481/51396710.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; float: none; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 999999px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; z-index: auto;" title="Unloched" width="128" /></a></div>
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What does Christmas mean to you?</b><br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Christmas to me is all about spending time with my husband and our gorgeous children. There’s nothing more exciting to me than seeing the look of wonder on a child’s face as they take in the magical spirit of Christmas. I’ve also hoped to pass on to them that Christmas is a time of giving as much as it is about receiving. Part of that was taking part in the Angel Walk with my daughters to raise funds for Paradise Kids, a charity on the Gold Coast that supports children experiencing grief from loss or change.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"></span><br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>What’s on your Christmas menu?</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"></span><br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />It will probably be a BBQ lunch by the beach – with some tofu kebabs for me, being vegetarian. I love the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"></span>summer fruits too, so lots of yummy strawberries, raspberries, mango and cherries – mmmm!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17756291509110723512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202162213386349739.post-25446680011808912052012-12-14T15:32:00.000+10:002012-12-14T15:32:03.567+10:00Christmas Interview with Author Pamela Freeman<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;"><img height="213" id="ecx0ff878dc-9680-41a9-90f3-a2f9818d09b7" src="https://blu170.mail.live.com/att/GetInline.aspx?messageid=6d1f0279-44db-11e2-a410-002264c17d58&attindex=1&cp=-1&attdepth=1&imgsrc=cid%3a0F9BE343-726C-4C28-9BD3-E5D69FCA1EEC%40optusnet.com.au&cid=9c87ffa7987d88cf&blob=MXxQYW1lbGFCbHVlQS5qcGVnfGltYWdlL2pwZw_3d_3d&hm__login=reneetaprell&hm__domain=hotmail.com&ip=10.15.232.8&d=d4632&mf=0&hm__ts=Thu%2c%2013%20Dec%202012%2011%3a28%3a19%20GMT&st=reneetaprell&hm__ha=01_a1a90ce29545e8b1fb66f3c8d72731a816fac4f43f21e6554777997bd2ba5e1b&oneredir=1" style="line-height: 17px;" width="320" /></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Join me in warmly welcoming author and teacher at the Sydney Writing Centre, <a href="http://www.pamelafreemanbooks.com/">Pamela Freeman</a>.</b></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>How did you celebrate Christmas as a child?</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">After Midnight Mass (very exciting to be up so late) all my family's friends would come over and we would cut the Christmas cake. Then presents in the morning and a huge family dinner. The adults all went to sleep in the afternoon while we kids played with our new stuff.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Do you have a family Christmas tradition? Tell us about it.</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blu170.mail.live.com/att/GetInline.aspx?messageid=6d1f0279-44db-11e2-a410-002264c17d58&attindex=0&cp=-1&attdepth=0&imgsrc=cid%3aB618E4D4-7EAB-47EB-813A-9C058105565C%40optusnet.com.au&cid=9c87ffa7987d88cf&blob=MHxQcmluY2VzcyBCZXRvbnkgY292ZXIgY29weSAyLmpwZWd8aW1hZ2UvanBn&hm__login=reneetaprell&hm__domain=hotmail.com&ip=10.15.232.8&d=d4632&mf=0&hm__ts=Thu%2c%2013%20Dec%202012%2011%3a28%3a19%20GMT&st=reneetaprell&hm__ha=01_850470f09fdb3aa3f7cdb894e9c2122e7597dd32e40598a9408dcf7899158f21&oneredir=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My grandmother, and then my mother, always made the traditional boiled Christmas puddings. I have inherited Nana's cauldron, so now I am the pudding maker for the clan. The process starts six weeks before Christmas with the making of the puddings and hanging them up in their cloths to mature. That's when I know that Christmas is just around the corner. And you get a wish each year as you stir the pudding!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Have you celebrated Christmas in another country?</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I lived in London for a couple of years and celebrated Christmas there. The strangest thing for me was having no cherries on the Christmas table! When I was little that was the only time we ever bought cherries.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blu170.mail.live.com/att/GetInline.aspx?messageid=6d1f0279-44db-11e2-a410-002264c17d58&attindex=0&cp=-1&attdepth=0&imgsrc=cid%3aB618E4D4-7EAB-47EB-813A-9C058105565C%40optusnet.com.au&cid=9c87ffa7987d88cf&blob=MHxQcmluY2VzcyBCZXRvbnkgY292ZXIgY29weSAyLmpwZWd8aW1hZ2UvanBn&hm__login=reneetaprell&hm__domain=hotmail.com&ip=10.15.232.8&d=d4632&mf=0&hm__ts=Thu%2c%2013%20Dec%202012%2011%3a28%3a19%20GMT&st=reneetaprell&hm__ha=01_850470f09fdb3aa3f7cdb894e9c2122e7597dd32e40598a9408dcf7899158f21&oneredir=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" id="ecx16151bbf-1db8-4407-a40f-1d7e05d37f36" src="https://blu170.mail.live.com/att/GetInline.aspx?messageid=6d1f0279-44db-11e2-a410-002264c17d58&attindex=0&cp=-1&attdepth=0&imgsrc=cid%3aB618E4D4-7EAB-47EB-813A-9C058105565C%40optusnet.com.au&cid=9c87ffa7987d88cf&blob=MHxQcmluY2VzcyBCZXRvbnkgY292ZXIgY29weSAyLmpwZWd8aW1hZ2UvanBn&hm__login=reneetaprell&hm__domain=hotmail.com&ip=10.15.232.8&d=d4632&mf=0&hm__ts=Thu%2c%2013%20Dec%202012%2011%3a28%3a19%20GMT&st=reneetaprell&hm__ha=01_850470f09fdb3aa3f7cdb894e9c2122e7597dd32e40598a9408dcf7899158f21&oneredir=1" style="line-height: 17px;" width="140" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span>What will you be reading over Christmas?</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I teach novel writing at the <a href="http://www.writerscentre.com.au/sydney/creative.htm">Sydney Writers' Centre,</a> and I will be reading some of my students' work over Christmas. I'm looking forward to it - I have some very talented students!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I might slip in some crime, fantasy and history as well. But really, my holiday reading comes in January - Christmas is usually too busy to read much!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I hope you all have a wonderful peaceful Christmas and a lovely New Year!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17756291509110723512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202162213386349739.post-2038881373942604782012-12-13T16:23:00.001+10:002012-12-13T16:25:46.295+10:00Christmas Interview with Author Sophie Masson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>It's my pleasure to welcome Australian author <a href="http://www.sophiemasson.org/">Sophie Masson</a> to</b><b> Books for Little Hands.</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJ2HgYmSVE0RvWdgJ0Sp1wJinP_ORzrWOuaycKzUCo3dWmE0_T2h2UkWTRY0du8fqu42twLNo65XOmzrH4SS4PRz1C_6HIkmCaL01i6O9S-bNEt_ZAG2JECkeeeI9a6U_5d0k0e3qm3s/s1600/DSCN0438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJ2HgYmSVE0RvWdgJ0Sp1wJinP_ORzrWOuaycKzUCo3dWmE0_T2h2UkWTRY0du8fqu42twLNo65XOmzrH4SS4PRz1C_6HIkmCaL01i6O9S-bNEt_ZAG2JECkeeeI9a6U_5d0k0e3qm3s/s320/DSCN0438.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>How did you celebrate Christmas as a child?</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We had really traditional Christmases. My parents are French but we lived in Australia most of the time (apart from going back to France every two or three years for a couple of months each time) and so we had a French Christmas but adapted to Australian conditions. For instance though we still had the '<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%BBche_de_No%C3%ABl">Buche de Noel' </a>or Christmas log cake, my mother made it not was a baked cake but as one made from crushed sponge finger biscuits mixed with melted butter and hot coffee, shaped into a log, decorated with chocolate and set in the fridge! </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small;"></span>We often had the celebrations Christmas Eve and we would go to bed really early then get woken up about 11.30 pm. We were allowed a peek at the Christmas tree with all the presents piled around it then we went off to Midnight Mass which was really beautiful, the church all lit up, smelling gorgeous, a huge crib, Christmas carols and then home for Mum's gorgeous big Christmas meal, the opening of presents. We didn't go to bed till 3 in the morning, often! Later Mum and Dad got sick of waking us up, plus we got to be grumpy teenagers who didn't want to go to bed early on Christmas Eve, so the celebrations shifted to Christmas Day. But they were still just as great. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31uUMsHURvm8KrnRIpAJvUOOYc3-DYzklzDe6Cj4fZv_iBui6gzYEbnWGUufagbhYrBHLP5E7GayKwoe0yVDO2_XN-_bZ6SniPCxlB-gnNwhPLUoyjcwNSdDRLsaedy3g-XOZOIefICE/s1600/DSCN0319-1+sophies+kids+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31uUMsHURvm8KrnRIpAJvUOOYc3-DYzklzDe6Cj4fZv_iBui6gzYEbnWGUufagbhYrBHLP5E7GayKwoe0yVDO2_XN-_bZ6SniPCxlB-gnNwhPLUoyjcwNSdDRLsaedy3g-XOZOIefICE/s200/DSCN0319-1+sophies+kids+2.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I have so many good memories of Christmas thanks to my parents so I really wanted to pass that on to my kids. My dad always made sure we had a totally magical Christmas. He's a bit of a kid himself and so there we had things like letters from Father Christmas, a whole ritual of dressing the tree, special outings just before Christmas where he took us to a department store and bought us a really nice outfit then took us to lunch, and the nativity scene too on our mantelpiece was really special because he didn't put it all out straight away but over time so first we had Mary and Joseph approaching the 'inn stable' which was made of stones, then they settled in, the shepherds were in the distance, then closer, Baby Jesus appeared only just before we went to midnight Mass, while the three kings took till Twelfth Night to arrive! I just loved it. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Do you have a family Christmas tradition? Tell us about it.</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Because my parents had made things so special for me and my siblings as children, we all try to do that for our kids. None of that cynical disparaging of Christmas in our family! I love looking for presents and spend ages, months before, tracking down the perfect thing- something unusual and especially for the person. When the kids were little, I did the whole ritual, complete with Father Christmas letters, and always made a Buche de Noel the way Mum always made (still do). We made a real ritual of decorating the tree a few days before Christmas, and we kept it up till Twelfth Night. I was too much of a sleepyhead to keep up the Christmas Eve thing but Christmas Day was special, with a big meal, presents (early!) And Christmas carols at Mass! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small;"></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWe8GcFXu-kWgjeYwMkVz9R769AjsIiB12shccEBl9rwoEUzkau82HEo1jZCwEQjdc8ex7W1ApU2rc-4wn7ni0vr7Kyn8EZhnHmBD8V1YYjDPUu5R9T-FsVZNp6Nr2fWISRU7ZILYW-E/s1600/DSCN0447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWe8GcFXu-kWgjeYwMkVz9R769AjsIiB12shccEBl9rwoEUzkau82HEo1jZCwEQjdc8ex7W1ApU2rc-4wn7ni0vr7Kyn8EZhnHmBD8V1YYjDPUu5R9T-FsVZNp6Nr2fWISRU7ZILYW-E/s200/DSCN0447.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small;"></span>My husband's English so we also do this combined traditional thing, English and French, which is symbolised by the two cakes that form the centrepiece of the Christmas dessert: my Buche de Noel, and David's luscious, fruit-heavy, Armagnac-laced Christmas cake! These days too with the kids grown up we tend to do a big family Christmas with our kids (including son in law!) plus my siblings and their families if they're around (we are still very much a travelling kind of family!) Last year it was all at our place, and totally magical. This year it'll be a big celebration at my nephew's, a kind of double celebration too as he and his wife have just had a new baby. To me, Christmas is all about family, fun, magic, joy. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Have you celebrated Christmas in another country?</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Yes! In France, when we were back one year. It was absolutely gorgeous- just as wonderful as in Australia, but with added snow! </span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>What will you be reading over Christmas?</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.harpercollins.com.au/books/Romance-Diaries-Ruby-Jenna-Austen/?isbn=9781743097090" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDzWmRXZYAOHF1Ory-mF7BtjRqucRBBpgVXh0TV62hAe9rLBCQv7m8-vGRyEp7M6v9h0rgYBgmHkuxLW006pp7_UJWyqTOoqsdt4T90u84TVVKCXwVi2sgLZ9lZdACa2S4PoEJY0zYLc/s200/ruby+cover-1.jpg" width="127" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">A new French novel I asked for, which is apparently fabulous, by a young French-Swiss writer called Joel Dicker <a href="http://joeldicker.com/"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #001ba6; text-decoration: underline;">http://joeldicker.com/</span></a> called La vérité sur l'affaire Harry Quebert (the truth on the Harry Quebert case). Some people are calling him the 'Swiss Stieg Larsson'! It'll be translated soon enough I expect into English but I can't wait for that and as I read French as well as English, I asked my husband to order me a copy!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"></span>I'm also going to be egotistically re-reading my new book which will just be out in time for Christmas (<a href="http://www.harpercollins.com.au/books/Romance-Diaries-Ruby-Jenna-Austen/?isbn=9781743097090">The Romance Diaries: Ruby, </a>written under the pen-name of Jenna Austen.) Its official release is New Year's Day, but it's going to be in the shops not long before Christmas. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17756291509110723512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202162213386349739.post-43034915418215684502012-12-13T16:16:00.000+10:002012-12-13T16:16:00.654+10:00Christmas Interview with Author Geoffrey McSkimming<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What are you looking forward to this Christmas?<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div>
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I'm looking forward to having Christmas with my wife (our first together married- we ran away to Scotland and tied the knot in a castle in October) and the delicious plum pudding she's just made, and to being happy.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font: 13.0px 'Lucida Grande'; letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #333233;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tell us about your year of writing, book launches, school visits, etc.<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font: 13.0px 'Lucida Grande'; letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #333233;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">2012 has been a great year, with my 21st book, Phyllis Wong and the Forgotten Secrets of Mr Okyto, being published by Allen & Unwin and much promotional work for that, including magic performed by Sue-Anne Webster as Phyllis Wong would perform it!</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What does Christmas mean to you?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christmas means a time to take stock and to be thankful for what I have and for the chance to be able to write my stories and live peacefully.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333233; font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What’s on your Christmas menu?</span></b></span></div>
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Christmas menu: Everything home-cooked: chicken, ham, plum pudding, fruit cake and loads of delicious fresh fruit and lots of chocolate and some fine malt whiskies I brought back from Scotland :-) </span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17756291509110723512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202162213386349739.post-25363880511548612742012-12-13T15:46:00.000+10:002012-12-13T15:46:15.907+10:00Christmas Interview with Author and Publisher Paul Collins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blu170.mail.live.com/att/GetInline.aspx?messageid=a3e94568-4385-11e2-a33d-002264c1943e&attindex=2&cp=-1&attdepth=2&imgsrc=cid%3aE372281E-ED5E-4863-9F1D-51A43B311F24%40lan&cid=9c87ffa7987d88cf&blob=MnxNZXJyeSBYbWFzLmpwZ3xpbWFnZS9qcGc_3d&hm__login=reneetaprell&hm__domain=hotmail.com&ip=10.15.232.8&d=d4632&mf=0&hm__ts=Thu%2c%2013%20Dec%202012%2004%3a24%3a30%20GMT&st=reneetaprell&hm__ha=01_b266b9117a5f8ebd04751de894326c96a55399a26b90a40bb2e0ff01f3055e6a&oneredir=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" id="ecx5c067e38-799d-46ca-b218-a440f49220b2" src="https://blu170.mail.live.com/att/GetInline.aspx?messageid=a3e94568-4385-11e2-a33d-002264c1943e&attindex=2&cp=-1&attdepth=2&imgsrc=cid%3aE372281E-ED5E-4863-9F1D-51A43B311F24%40lan&cid=9c87ffa7987d88cf&blob=MnxNZXJyeSBYbWFzLmpwZ3xpbWFnZS9qcGc_3d&hm__login=reneetaprell&hm__domain=hotmail.com&ip=10.15.232.8&d=d4632&mf=0&hm__ts=Thu%2c%2013%20Dec%202012%2004%3a24%3a30%20GMT&st=reneetaprell&hm__ha=01_b266b9117a5f8ebd04751de894326c96a55399a26b90a40bb2e0ff01f3055e6a&oneredir=1" style="line-height: 17px;" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="200" id="ecx1d9b3ff2-368f-4f56-bdd4-b066b8bf2e32" src="https://blu170.mail.live.com/att/GetInline.aspx?messageid=a3e94568-4385-11e2-a33d-002264c1943e&attindex=1&cp=-1&attdepth=1&imgsrc=cid%3aBF8A01A6-2666-491C-9925-6E58BC1D8E81%40lan&cid=9c87ffa7987d88cf&blob=MXxQYXVsIENvbGxpbnMgMi5qcGd8aW1hZ2UvanBn&hm__login=reneetaprell&hm__domain=hotmail.com&ip=10.15.232.8&d=d4632&mf=0&hm__ts=Thu%2c%2013%20Dec%202012%2004%3a24%3a30%20GMT&st=reneetaprell&hm__ha=01_611da0300a46635b39c62659b811442585bafa3cd73de8dc43cd1f4dc8091d82&oneredir=1" style="line-height: 17px;" width="166" /></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's my pleasure to warmly welcome author and publisher </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">of </span></b><a href="http://www.fordstreetpublishing.com/ford/"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #001ba6; text-decoration: underline;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ford Street Publishing</span></b></span></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Bright'; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.paulcollins.com.au/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Paul Collins</span></b></span></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></b></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to Books for Little Hands.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tell us about your favourite Christmas memory?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Snow in England, although I'm told that fifty years down the track snow is no longer a given. Snow fights as a seven-year-old were pretty memorable, silly as though that may now seem.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Which book would you recommend people read this Christmas?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How are you celebrating this year?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I suspect we'll be travelling to Garfield to see my partner's mother. Now to find a last minute booking in a restaurant. I guess the Garfield pub is always an option, albeit a last choice :-)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What’s the best and worst present you’ve ever received?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Best present as a kid was a wagon train set. See how easily we were pleased back in the fifties! Recently my partner gave me a laptop for Xmas (in advance so I could get Office Home 2010 installed before Xmas. I love practical presents. Which maybe explains why I gave my partner an iron one year. Nah, just joking. It was an ironing board.</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17756291509110723512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202162213386349739.post-15166342278849112192012-12-12T23:55:00.001+10:002012-12-12T23:55:31.434+10:00Christmas Interview with Author Josie Montano<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>To kick start our Mini Christmas Interviews on Books for Little Hands, I'd like to give a warm welcome to Australian author, </b><a href="http://www.booksbyjosie.com.au/"><b>Josie Montano</b></a><b>.</b></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">H</span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ow did you celebrate Christmas as a child?</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was brought up in an Italian family therefore we had '<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panettone">panettone</a>' which is Italian Christmas cake, and lots and lots of food on christmas day but not traditional ham, turkey etc. We had home-made lasagna, roast chicken and potatoe in Italian herbs, etc, about 5 courses. Then everyone would have a sleep, then a walk, then start again with seafood of the evening!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We always put up a christmas tree and I remember being quite the ADHD (or possibly OCD!) child and spending hours under that tree - shaking, prodding, feeling, listening to the wrapped presents, trying my hardest to guess what was in them. I have become such an expert over the years that I can now guess what my presents are and my family hate it!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIwk36uL46DZPiwLS_NqBsmQJcyov7p1oYmmlpM0hsM8xWMFrXgQan3lHrV0abE67iVI40_xzsItK2vMUgJwmCb7XrFvOAMYzHAU4v5sGbLPF5SmnTuBnlxrCH1Do-Him3gPcViCk7Gk/s1600/DSC00458-1+Josie's+dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIwk36uL46DZPiwLS_NqBsmQJcyov7p1oYmmlpM0hsM8xWMFrXgQan3lHrV0abE67iVI40_xzsItK2vMUgJwmCb7XrFvOAMYzHAU4v5sGbLPF5SmnTuBnlxrCH1Do-Him3gPcViCk7Gk/s320/DSC00458-1+Josie's+dog.jpg" width="240" /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you have a family Christmas tradition? </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tell us about it.</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have christmas stockings for each person in the house, so we always give each a major present but then fill the stockings with little presents/surprises - after breakfast we sit in the loungeroom and take turns pulling a gift from our stocking and opening it, it's quite a round robin event, and in the end we are surrounded by christmas wrapping - the dog has a ball </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">playing in it all!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have you celebrated Christmas in another country?</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes I was lucky enough to spend Christmas in Italy when I was 11 years old. It was very different, they had their first snow fall on that christmas eve for the winter, so a white christmas was fantastical. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In Italy Santa is called '<a href="http://www.italiannotebook.com/local-interest/babbo-natale/">Babo Natale</a>' but he doesn't really give out presents, children have to wait until 6 January for '<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Befana">La Befana' </a>which is a witch who travels the world giving out gifts. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was my first 'La Befana' and I received presents as well as a piece of fake coal (soap) which apparently was one of the original gifts 'La Befana' would hand out (obviously it was a precious commodity in the villages!).</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What will you be reading over Christmas?</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will be reading a YA novel titled </span><em style="font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Linked Through Time</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> by Jessica Tornese, a fellow Solstice Publishers author - we are reviewing each others YA novels.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17756291509110723512noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202162213386349739.post-65194578964534043452012-11-23T00:52:00.002+10:002012-11-23T01:23:39.197+10:00Interview with Children's Author Dimity Powell<div style="color: #0b5394; font: 12.0px 'Lucida Bright'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's with great pleasure to be interviewing children's author and friend </span></b></span><a href="http://dimswritestuff.blogspot.com.au/"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #001ba6; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dimity Powell </span></b></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">about her debut book, </span></b></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">P.S Who stole Santa's mail? </span></b></span></i></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When did you first know that you wanted to be an author?</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At some point in Year 9 I think. Composition English assignments were my favourite subject (after Biology). I revelled in exciting openings and poignant, clever endings. It was all the middle bits that needed working on! I never really sat down and said, ‘This is what I want to be.’ I just really enjoyed composing tales, mainly of adventure and mystery and usually involving horses. I’ve kept every story, and mock book I ever produced. From time to time, I pull them out for inspiration and a really good laugh. I actually wanted to be a vet or librarian but couldn’t work out how to combine these two, so studied Hotel Management instead.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>What are the greatest obstacles you've experienced on your writing journey?</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Timing. Having the greatest idea in the world is not going to get you anywhere if someone else released a book along similar lines last week. I find that very frustrating but par for the course.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #00679b; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px;"></span>What do you love most about writing books?</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Knowing that they will be read…I hope. I want kids to get lost in stories like I did as a kid; to feel safe, inspired, challenged, and enlightened. Stories are the key to learning and understanding.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you have any tips for writers about the writing process or the path to publishing?</span></b></span></span></div>
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Act like a sponge and absorb as much information as you can. Establish yourself within a writerly community be it online, in a writers’ group or by attending festivals to network. Not only will you meet wonderful people but the experience you gain is worth volumes. And embrace each rejection as emphatically as each small success. Remember, your ship will never come in if you don’t send any out. So, just keep writing…</span></span></span></div>
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You visit many schools to share your love of reading and books. Why is this important to you and how do the children react?</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I was just 8 years old the late Colin Thiele visited my primary school. I sat, front row centre, at the feet of this amazing author, completely and utterly enthralled by his every word. It was like listening to royalty, only better. Here was the man behind the stories and the worlds in which I dwelt for hours and hours. I adore any time I spend at schools with children whether it’s simply for a reading, a workshop or part of a festival. It often involves a lot of hard work, but the rewards are the looks on the children’s faces, their probing, quirky questions and their undiluted fascination in you. You’re their royalty especially if they are avid readers. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The discovery that authors are living breathing beings, not just the name under the title of a book, is a marvellous one for most kids. It makes their involvement with what they read far more personal and tangible; just like meeting Colin Thiele did for me. I think I gain more from conducting writing workshops with kids than they do from me. There’s no finer feeling than when a child approaches you and tentatively asks to share their writing with you.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When do you feel most inspired to write?</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’d like to say every single day but that’s just not true, although I want to write nearly every day. Getting one’s debut novel over the line has consumed most of my creative mojo and all of my time this year. I do still get sudden wonderful urges to write, especially when I can clear enough head space to allow the ideas to swirl around, uninterrupted, and amalgamate into something worth jotting down. This often happens whilst I’m driving. A habit I may have to curb…That said, once I begin writing, I am nearly always inspired to write on and on.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
What advice would you have for anyone wanting to write a book in your genre?</span></b></span></span></div>
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Read! Books from that genre especially but also anything else you have time for. I do not know how anyone can write for kids without having a clue what they actually like to read. I like to hang out in libraries too and watch what kids borrow or talk about with their mates. Also, ask them questions about what they love to read, why, what would they like to change or see more of.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Competition</span></b></span></i></span></div>
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In conjunction with this blog tour, you can go in the draw to win one of three copies of the book PS: Who Stole Santa’s Mail. Send the answer to this question: 'What do you think Santa wants for Christmas?' </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to </span></span><a href="mailto:submissions@morrispublishingaustralia.com"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #001ba6; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">submissions@morrispublishingaustralia.com</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> In the subject line put, PS: WSSM entry.</span></span></span></div>
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The competition will close at midnight on November 30th 2012. All entries will be assigned a number, and that number will be put in a draw. The winners will be notified by email. The book can be purchased at your local bookshop. If it is not in stock, ask them to order it for you. A signed copy can also be purchased from </span></span><a href="http://morrispublishingaustralia.com./"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #001ba6; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://morrispublishingaustralia.com.</span></span></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are the dates for </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dimity's blog tour </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">so jump onboard and don't forget to enter in the competition for your chance to win a copy of PS: Who stole Santa's Mail?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.kids-bookreview.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kids Book Review</span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 17 November</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.mylittlebookcase.com.au/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My Little Bookcase </span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 18 November</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://sherylgwyther.wordpress.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sheryl Gywther </span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 19 November</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://morrispublishingaustralia.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">MPA Australia</span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 20 November</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #001ba6; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://katswhiskers.wordpress.com/blog/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kat Apel</span></span></a></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 21 November</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://elaineoustonauthor.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Elaine Ouston</span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 22 November</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://booksforlittlehands.blogspot.com.au/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Renee Taprell</span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 23 November</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.alisonreynolds.com.au/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Alison Reynolds</span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 24 November</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #001ba6; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://buzzwordsmagazine.blogspot.com.au/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Buzz Words</span></span></a></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 25 November</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://christinemareebell.wordpress.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christine Bell</span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 26 November</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #001ba6; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://deescribewriting.wordpress.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dee White</span></span></a></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 27 November</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.jackiehoskingpio.wordpress.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jackie Hosking PIO</span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 28 November</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://soupblog.wordpress.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Alphabet Soup</span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 29 November</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5202162213386349739" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://angelasunde.blogspot.com.au/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Angela Sunde 30 November</span></span></a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17756291509110723512noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202162213386349739.post-68614490168817271922012-10-18T23:29:00.000+10:002012-10-19T20:57:05.420+10:00Interview with Children's Author Deborah Abela <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8YIknGglUSU8UjWoPbSM81D-V8Dyk1eo1EF4TZFyehAc5BaUCYFKVsqz-IBME9rtsEyBkulYejxT2A8RsMVj6deo9qJVrn6fed2On6aDrNYiew-9tK1-ja2UnJvZvO1t4xomv77gH0I/s1600/Deborah+Abela+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8YIknGglUSU8UjWoPbSM81D-V8Dyk1eo1EF4TZFyehAc5BaUCYFKVsqz-IBME9rtsEyBkulYejxT2A8RsMVj6deo9qJVrn6fed2On6aDrNYiew-9tK1-ja2UnJvZvO1t4xomv77gH0I/s320/Deborah+Abela+2.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">
I'm honoured to welcome popular Australian children's author Deborah Abela to Books for Little Hands. Deborah has dropped by on her</span></span></div>
</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">blog tour </span></span></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to share her spooky writing inspiration for her latest Ghost Club Series Book, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.deborahabela.com.au/site/Ghost_Club_1.html">The Haunted School.</a></span></i></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When did you first know that you wanted to be an author?</span></span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I was 7. I used to watch lots of TV (Get Smart, The Addams Family, The Munsters…there were a lot) and apart from my semi-serious aspirations of accepting Oscars with hairbrush speeches into the mirror, I mostly marvelled at the writing….how week after week writers came up with such great ideas and dialogue. My sister was also intrigued and became a playwright.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Fz_G_Mc9SDosn3W5RL6y7fq2vVPpm0rHBP5hURYSJWFEXmo6fL93u87JLLct9SBHP7bXHaMl6LEDEqp0vSaH9s4EZc8pL3OlfAq5xxMQHpu3bjb6svv0C6RFt09VRP40uOPd6i9dAzQ/s1600/get-smart-don-adams.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Fz_G_Mc9SDosn3W5RL6y7fq2vVPpm0rHBP5hURYSJWFEXmo6fL93u87JLLct9SBHP7bXHaMl6LEDEqp0vSaH9s4EZc8pL3OlfAq5xxMQHpu3bjb6svv0C6RFt09VRP40uOPd6i9dAzQ/s200/get-smart-don-adams.jpeg" width="160" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNjMezrg1rlOAlNcH8cmymoWVTZMPSlOaAhUF69MG7h18SX0aEtPqZayOKp7Ahro-u7rhp-Wh7lPSkR0ZtoYTdU30pIN9FGpXoemtDcTLYU06oEnEwxJmj_Oh1wuFz7soshZnYWCi5Jo/s1600/Addams-Family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNjMezrg1rlOAlNcH8cmymoWVTZMPSlOaAhUF69MG7h18SX0aEtPqZayOKp7Ahro-u7rhp-Wh7lPSkR0ZtoYTdU30pIN9FGpXoemtDcTLYU06oEnEwxJmj_Oh1wuFz7soshZnYWCi5Jo/s320/Addams-Family.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What was your road to publication like?</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wrote and produced a National TV Show for kids for 7 years at Network TEN. It was conveyor belt style writing where every day for 6 days a week we had to come up with ideas for the hosts and write their scripts. It was great pressure cooker experience, but I also craved writing something that would take time and so wrote a few novels in my spare time. My first novel was Max Remy, In Search of the Time and Space Machine. I wrote it in six weeks and sent it to 6 publishers. They all sent hand written letters to say they liked it but, no. A year later I had a call from </span><a href="http://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/deborah-abela/ghost-club-1-the-new-kid-9781742750804.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Random House</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> who said they not only liked it, but they wanted more. I quit my job in TV and have been writing novels ever since.</span></span></span><br />
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</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">T</span></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ell us about your new </span><a href="http://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/deborah-abela/ghost-club-1-the-new-kid-9781742750804.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ghost Club series.</span></a></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was inspired by Charles Dickens, who not only could see ghosts but formed the Ghost Club in 1862. This was a time of Spiritualism and great advances in inventions and technology, such as the phonograph, and Dickens wanted to use this technology to prove ghosts existed. I decided to create my own club where two of the most successful catchers are 11-year-old twins, Angeline and Edgar Usher. Like the real club, they investigate haunted sites with specialist equipment, but the Usher children try to convince ghosts to stop their haunting pesky ways.</span></span></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you write with an age group in mind?</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As the story unfolds, that becomes clear. Who the characters are and how they act and speak with each other, the tone of the scenes and what needs to happen to advance my story… all that comes together as I write and with it, the audience becomes clearer.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.randomhouse.com.au/content/titles/9781742750835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="Ghost Club 2: The Haunted School, Deborah Abela" border="0" height="200" src="http://www.randomhouse.com.au/content/titles/9781742750835.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="133" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptQtQHzOJr6PmSJE-IY0X5didUa68RcaVg6-Pc3eRCCJTe-nnRIDKkb7_FzqOhldTv07Do5KiJlDukE7GUEXJ5tMEE-jcYruLMfa8gFe804Sefo7aB42bcoRlZaAnx7May15dwF8Z508/s1600/9781742750804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptQtQHzOJr6PmSJE-IY0X5didUa68RcaVg6-Pc3eRCCJTe-nnRIDKkb7_FzqOhldTv07Do5KiJlDukE7GUEXJ5tMEE-jcYruLMfa8gFe804Sefo7aB42bcoRlZaAnx7May15dwF8Z508/s200/9781742750804.jpg" width="127" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What's your secret to making your book characters come to life?</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is what I love about writing characters, they are like real people you see from afar at a party. At first you know the barest about them…what they look like, what they are wearing, but as you spend more time with them, you know more. This is exactly how it is with characters and so at first you are directing them but after spending more time with them, there is a moment where they take over and you watch them behave, talk, act and it’s delightful and sometimes surprising.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Did you visit any spooky places or surround yourself with any scary paraphernalia for writing material?</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh I’ve read lots of ghost stories and have visited a few spooky sites, plus my family have their own hauntings that poke up in aural histories. I also have a few pictures around me to help me immerse myself in my imagined locations when I write. The rest springboards from there.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you have any routine that you follow before writing? Coffee, no noise, walk etc.</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wake up at about 6am and very soon after that I am working….it’s the time of day when my mind is freshest. I don’t look at anything on the internet before midday and rarely answer the phone. I drink lots of very weak tea and work for about 12 hours, with a break in the middle and time for a brief look at emails at around midday, then I’m away again.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you present workshops for school-aged children? If so, what do you share about your writing?</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes! And I love this! I trained as a teacher before travelling for three years and completing a Communications degree. I then worked in TV for 7 years before writing books and am in schools a lot, but we had such brilliant lecturers, that I remember so much about the practical activities they taught us to use in the class. Kids need very little stimulus before their ideas take off….a photo, a few lines of dialogue…I tell them I was a poor kid from the suburbs but I always had this plan to be a writer and wasn’t going to let anyone stop me and that most writers are very regular people and if they want something badly, they can have it too….but it does take a bit of stubbornness and hard work.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tell us about your other books.</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I’ve always been short and a bit of a coward and grew up at a time when being a girl was a dainty thing and you weren’t expected to have a career or ambition beyond being married and the books I read all had male heroes. So, all of the heroes I write tend to be girls, who get to be messy and brave and find themselves in adventurous situations where they have the chance to save the day. I write about kids trapped in a flooded city with flying machines and sea monsters (Grimsdon), feisty girl spies (Max Remy), a plucky girl who saves a seaside pier (The Remarkable Secret of Aurelie Bonhoffen) and now kids who face ghosts who they find aren’t as scary as most people think, but are simply beings who need a little help and understanding (Ghost Club).</span></span></span></div>
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have just finished the first edit for Ghost Club Part 3: A Transylvanian Tale and am about to start work on book 4….I also potter away on other ideas that wont leave me alone but that I need much more time to get to know better.</span></span><br />
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<b style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #000090; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Visit the next stop on Deborah’s blog tour:</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://aussiereviews.com/" style="color: blue; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://aussiereviews.com/</a></span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #000090; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Did you miss the previous stop? See:</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.robynopie.blogspot.com.au/" style="color: blue; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://www.robynopie.blogspot.com.au/</a><span style="color: #1f497d; line-height: 20px;"></span></span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #000090; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">To see all the stops on the tour see </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.deborahabela.com/" style="color: blue; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><b style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #000090; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;">http://www.DeborahAbela.com</span></b></a></span></div>
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