Happy New Year – what a year it was!

I almost felt overwhelmed at the thought of my first post for 2014. I have so much news. So much has happened over the last few weeks so I will try to be brief…

ASA PROGRAM COVER
The Australian Society of Authors selected me to illustrate the 2014 Professional Development Program cover for 2014. What an honor! Over 7000 copies went out with my illustration on the front! I was very excited to have this exposure for my work and get paid for it.

The Australian Society of Authors have been so wonderful. They have featured my illustration on their home page, Facebook banner, and featured it in the newsletter. I am so appreciative – I really am!

LIVE WIRES PROGRAM
I was invited to entertain the kids at the Concern Australia’s Live Wires Program publishing event in December and it was the best fun. The kids and made a book during the year and was launching it that day. I was invited as the guest author. I read to the kids and as they play-role my book Without Me? (they had been reading an advanced copy) and we played squiggles drawing. They certainly put me through my paces with the most elaborate squiggles. I had to think on my feet!

BOOK LAUNCHED
Without Me? was launched in December also and there were were great too. I am discovering that the fun is not just in writing and illustrating. Best of all, playing with the kids is a real delight. They are always so engaged. This part of what I do tickles my heart bone…if I had one. Bookaburra was very enthusiastic to be at a book event and I was sure to give my special guest a big hug.

BOOK PUPPET
As well as the obvious preparations for Christmas in December I was also busy sewing my Without me? charter. I am not a seamstress in the least but I had a go. I think he could do with his eye lashes trimmed though.

NEW PICTURE BOOK FOR 2014
Just as I was launching my new book Without Me? I was also secretly finishing off another book for this year. I will be publishing a new picture book called Better than a Superhero, written by debut author Belinda Francis and published by Even Before Publishing ( a subsidiary of Wombat Books) I am very excited about the illustrations in this book. It was super-fun to illustrate. This time the illustrations were watercolour. Each book (so far) has been illustrated in a different media to the others. I will sign any pre-orders of this new book ordered here before mailing.

ILLUMINATION BOOK AWARD WIN
I was thrilled to receive news this week that I had won the Bronze medal for my picture book Adoptive Father in the Illumination Book Awards. This has been so encouraging. To first be a finalist for the Caleb Award late last year and then to pick up a medal this year for my first book is astounding. I feel very blessed that this book is so well received and being a new writer off to such a wonderful start. Someone said to me, “You are now an award winning author.” How cool is that!?
Better still, late last year Adoptive Father was also shipped into yet another territory – Cambodia!

MORE CREATIVE CHALLENGES
My next post will be a 25 week illustration challenge. Why don’t you join me – kids included? You can view all posts so far for the 52 week challenge here