A Bookish Adventure

I started this blog to document an extended trip to the US and UK in 2012, introducing children to my Alice-Miranda series. It's hard to believe that it's just on four years since we launched the first Alice-Miranda title - and now there are nine books out in Australia with another five still to come. When I first came up with the idea of this precocious seven and a quarter year old, I had no clue that she would take me on such an amazing journey, not only in Australia but also across the world. I visited 37 schools while we were away in 2012 and gave over 80 talks - it was fantastic. In 2013 I've been on lots of new adventures in the UK - visiting schools from London to Southampton, Lancashire, Scotland, Newcastle and back to London again. After that I headed off to meet readers in Singapore. In Australia I've been to Melbourne, Perth, Albany, Alice Springs and Brisbane. There's a new series too - about a gorgeous little girl called Clementine Rose. She and Alice-Miranda don't know each other yet, but they will soon.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Meet Clementine Rose - my first ever book trailer!

This week the lovely team from Random House Australia sent me the book trailer for Clementine Rose.  I LOVE it - the music, which I know Sarana and the team spent ages selecting, is simply perfect and the trailer is adorable.  I love that Lavender does loops jumping on Clemmie's bed too and if you don't see if the first time, have a look at the portrait on the top of the stairs and what happens to Aunt Violet's glasses.

Clementine Rose and the Surprise Visitor has debuted this week in the Random House Australia top ten YA and Children's books at number six - a huge thrill and particularly when Alice-Miranda Shows the Way is in there at number four.  To have both my girls in the one list is amazing.

I also had a beautiful email from a woman who has just named her baby girl, Clementine Rose (before the series was launched, so just a lovely coincidence).  To top things off there was a great review for the first Clementine Rose book in Magpies magazine (which I'm always a little afraid of  as they can be tough!).

Anyway, this post has to be short and sweet as I've been a bit under the weather recently and am way behind on a deadline for Alice-Miranda In Paris.  Hope you enjoy the trailer!

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Two releases in one day and two months to go!

Today marks the release of two books for me.  In Australia, Clementine Rose and the Surprise Visitor is officially in stores.  I'm really excited about Clemmie's launch into the world and I hope that little girls love her as much as I adore writing her stories.  She's quirky and funny and has a tea cup pig - what's not to like a about a pet pig called Lavender!  I'm thrilled too that Clementine is on the Get Reading Program - which is a promotion that happens throughout September, encouraging Australians to do just that, and get reading.  It's wonderful to have that level of promotion, particularly for a new series.
In the UK, Alice-Miranda On Holiday is officially out today too (although today, means Friday 31 August).  I'm excited that the series is getting a foothold in the market there and Random House UK will release two more books simultaneously in February.  It's hard to know how things will go when you are across the other side of the world, but I will certainly tour the UK again sometime next year as I think being there and being able to talk to your potential audiences is so important.

I've got two months until I finish up at Abbotsleigh as Director of Development.  Yesterday we ran a new event for our parents and friends; a corporate sports lunch in the city at The Establishment.  I was really anxious about this one, but it was fantastic.  We were so fortunate to have Rebecca Wilson as the MC (she is wonderful - and was a brilliant MC) and Ellyse Perry, Rod Kafer, Jason Ball and Laurie Daley on the panel.  They were all engaging and professional and the feedback has been amazing.  Not to mention a whole table of Olympians including Dan Noonan from the men's rowing four who brought along his bronze medal too!  I know I'll miss the community of the school - there are so many things I love about being there, but Alice-Miranda and Clemmie need me and so, I am really looking forward to being able to give them my full attention.