Make your own monster: in Japanese and English

I’m just back from a terrific conference with the Society of Childrens Book Writers and Illustrators. It was great!! I am all inspired and fired up to start work on ideas for a Takeshita Demons book 5 (and I think book 4 is nearly ready to start writing!) Monster self-introductions If you’re looking for inspiration [...]

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What can a children’s writer learn from category romance?

Last weekend I spent an entire day blissed out: 1) I rode my bicycle to a writing conference: the wind was in my hair (under my helmet) and my legs wobbled like jelly (I haven’t gone any distance on my bike since Fergus was a twinkle in my eye!) and I LOVED IT 2) I [...]

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I LOVE LIBRARIES

Although I can’t seem to pronounce “library” (apparently I say “lye-berry” and this is wrong?)(how did I get to this ripe old age and noone has ever told me that before??), I do love them. This week I went to the State Library of Western Australia for the MEET THE TALENT session with a stack [...]

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A+++: a trilogy, a speaking engagement, Amazon

The last couple of days have been AMAZING, and for so many reasons: 1) Takeshita Demons is becoming more real! Woo hoo! Takeshita Demons has a cover (thanks to everyone for your input: you picked a winner!) and its own ISBN! (978-1-84780-115-9, in case you were wondering)(Can I get this as a personalised bicycle plate?). [...]

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Babies, contracts, membership cards: It’s all happening

While I was sleeping: Baby life The last few weeks have been a delicious haze of sleep deprivation, little fingers and toes, and all-permeating baby-milk smell. There have been trying times (you won’t eat, you won’t sleep and it’s 1am; repeat every three hours) and incredible times (watching Fergus figure out how to handle his [...]

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