Storytime

A few weeks ago, I had the chance to take a teen version of a book chat (the usual co-ordinator/ founder was away). At first I admit to being worried...what do we talk about....what if they just sit there and say nothing....what if we have no connection? I was told not to worry, supply food and talk...they'll talk back. So of course I supplied food.... which they devoured in minutes. I had come semi- prepared. I had a trolley of new books - I had some books listed in the Inky Awards  - and at the last minute I grabbed a pile of books that I had read over the year. I read a lot of Young Adult, mostly because I like it and there are some really good books out there.  My semi preparation paid off. The talk began with the usual 'you're not J'...and I do the usual 'Yes, I'm not J I'm Vicki and I'm taking the group today.' I asked their names, and what kind of stuff they liked to read. It was a small group but they were readers. Eclectic re...

We do a lot of visits at the library. Youth services mean we talk to mum's with new babies, we talk to toddlers and their families, we talk to kinder's and child care's...then it's schools, primary and secondary. Our aim is to get children loving books and reading, and hopefully they'll love them when they are an adult. Recently I had a Prep visit. We did the usual talk about what is at the library....showing them that we not only have books, chapter books and information books, but audio books and graphic novels, we have kits (audio book and book all in one) and magazines, CD's and DVD's, computers and catalogues, CD-ROM's, Garfield comics and Begin to Reads. There was a lot of appreciative oohs and ahhs.  Especially when we walked all the way to the non-fiction area and discovered the dinosaurs.  You can never go wrong with a dinosaur. We then searched the catalogue- found where the information books on dogs and horses were - not too far away ...

Last weekend we celebrated Dad's 80th birthday. We wrangled and invited, asked and bribed---and all four children were there. The first time in years. Lots of years. And all grandchildren were present as well. This was about all that went to plan. The idea was to have a lovely sunny day, so we could loll on the large deck and the children could run riot in the gardens. That was the idea. The deck was unable to be used - due to constant rain and the cold. So we went to Plan B (everyone needs a plan B)- everyone inside. Except for George- he was dressed warmly though. This of course involved a bit of Plan C as well - due to the fact that our road was closed, the guy on the STOP sign had to move cones so family and co could actually arrive....and then of course there was the power. Well lack of power. Yes they were working on the power lines so for most of the day we were in the darkish ( a few candles were lit). Thankfully my other half was working on his gourmet...

Just came back from a long weekend with my writing group- and once again it was a relaxing, nurturing, that much needed push in the right direction. Once again we found ourselves at the beach. As usual I went for walks (although this time no koalas were found - I had to make do with the odd wallaby or two, or four), took photos, talked and dreamed. There were great ocean views and stunning sunsets. We ventured further--- found some friendly faces some wonderful trees. And we wrote, we pondered, we discussed and debated. We workshopped and wrangled synopsis, edited and queried the joys of social media and which was right for us. I edited a whole manuscript while away---mind you it was hard work as the photo here clearly shows. I came home reluctant to face the real world. I wanted to stay and write, and think writerly thoughts. Be with people who know that talking about a book in process is like talking about family. But I also came back with a stronger focus...

Recently I've looked at a wedding venue or two (for baby girl)- and even though the date is a little way in the future, finding the right place is very very important. Not only does it have to sum them up as a couple, not too rustic, not too urban, not too city, not too country. It also has to make a great first impression and then a good lasting impression. It's something I endeavour to remember when I send my work out there. Having been on the 'other side', as in on the editorial committee for Page Seventeen  for several years, I know what I 'looked' for when considering pieces. When you read so many entries (in many years, hundreds) they have to stand out. First impressions count.... But that is not enough....it could be an intriguing title, great opening line....something that captures your attention and makes you want more. Should be easy shouldn't it? But I remember so many stories, articles and poems simply dropped. After this initial ...

What makes a winning poem? I recently went to the Hut Poetry, the last for the year, and they had a competition for the best two poems. A pair of judges sat and listened, deliberated then gave the decision. Bottles of wine were the prizes. As an audience member it was very interesting to compare what I considered were the best, and what were chosen. It reinforces that selecting a 'winner', in this case two, is so very subjective. It was not an easy job for the judges. There were so much good work on offer. And a huge variety in delivery and genre. There were light hearted narratives- there were reminisces of childhood- well observed poems that described everything from Uluru - to the simplicity of a man and his dog walking a street. In this case the detail was what grabbed the judges attention. These poems were more 'page' oriented works than delivered as spoken word. They forced you to listen...made you appreciate the wrangling of words. Often in spoken wor...

Goals are these nefarious things that seem such a great idea at the time then turn into dark shadows that loom overhead. Well they do for me (so don't want to review my goals for this year- I'm already feeling a failure, don't want to see it in black and white). However there are people out there that not only make goals, they focus on them and with much hard work (and often blood, sweat and tears) they are achieved in all their glory. My friend Kim is one that not only kicks her goals out of the park, she then sets more. Making them harder. Higher. She is truly inspirational and on Saturday we went to help her celebrate her latest success. One of her goals that she has been working on for several years... MET fitness - her own training studio. Kim attributes achieving this dream to 'the support of some amazing clients, some good luck, more than a bit of self-belief and a lot of damn hard work.' It's the lot of damn hard work that resonates. Kim d...