New home for the blog on my brand new website!

This month we have launched the brand new Jacqueline Harvey website which is also now the home of my blog.  I think it looks fantastic - it's been a while coming but well worth the wait!  The website has been developed to be highly interactive and capable of frequent updates.  There is also a place to subscribe to the monthly newsletter which will have regular competitions among other things.  I'll still be blogging my travels too.  The website caters for fans of the books, parents and teachers, (and those who enjoy following my travels) so there really is something for everyone.  I'd love for you to pop over and have a look and please feel free to sign up for the newsletter too.

You can now filter the blogs as well - so just click on whether you want to see the latest news from me, Alice-Miranda or Clementine Rose.

The website address is www.jacquelineharvey.com.au

A productive week filled with excitement!

Life as an author is never dull that's for sure.  I spent Monday this week with the English faculty at Pennant Hills High School, working through strategies for teaching writing on their Professional Development Day.  They are a great team and I came away feeling really excited about how motivated and enthusiastic they were -no mean feat given it was their first day back after a term break.

My other big goal for the week was to finish the manuscript for Clementine Rose and the Famous Friend. It's the seventh book in the series, so seems a way off in the future as we've just last month released Clementine Rose and the Seaside Escape which is number five.  Clementine Rose and the Treasure Box is set for released in July then Famous Friend will be out in October.  Many hours later and after the usual helping of self doubt, I pressed send yesterday and am now hoping that it passes muster.

There's no break between books as I've already started plotting the eighth story in the series and plan to have it finished by the end of the month.

In amongst all the writing and usual emails and other weekly tasks I was thrilled to learn on Tuesday that Alice-Miranda in Paris has been shortlisted for the Australian Book Industry Awards in the Older Readers Category 8-14.  It's such a huge honour to be there alongside Anh Do, John Flanagan, Nikki Gemmel and James Phelan.

This morning the REAL awards shortlist was announced and Alice-Miranda In Paris is there too but on the Younger Readers list.  I guess that's a good thing, that the stories are read by young and a little bit older!

The REAL (Reading and Enjoying Australian Literature) awards are the shortlist used for YABBA, KOALA, KROC and COOL, the children's choice awards in Victoria, NSW, NT and ACT.  You can see all the books that the children have selected below.

It's incredibly rewarding and humbling to be recognised for doing something that I love - especially given that the books are not just my doing.  So many talented people work with me to create them and quite honestly they make me look much better at this than I really am!

To all of the fabulously talented authors and illustrators who have been shortlisted and the teams behind them, congratulations!

The icing on the cake was finding out this morning that a young writer I've been mentoring for the past year has just had a story accepted for publication.  I have had great faith in Corinne since we started working together - she's a star on the rise and to play a small part in helping her get there is incredibly rewarding.  We are definitely planning some celebrations!

Picture storybooks

• A Bus Called Heaven (Bob Graham, Walker Books)
• Alphabet Town (Bryan Evans & Kimberly Moon, New Frontier)
• Annie to the Rescue (Deborah Niland, Puffin)
• Fiona the Pig’s Big Day (Leigh Hobbs, Puffin)
• First Day (Andrew Daddo & Jonathan Bentley, ABC Books)
• Noah Dreary (Aaron Blabey, Viking)
• The Dreadful Fluff (Aaron Blabey, Viking)
• The Terrible Plop (Ursula Dubosarsky & Andrew Joyner, Puffin)
• The Very Brave Bear (Nick Bland, Scholastic)
• Too Many Cheeky Dogs (Johanna Bell & Dion Beasley, A&U)

Fiction for younger readers

• Alice-Miranda in Paris (Jacqueline Harvey, Random House)
• Andy Roid and the Tracks of Death (Felice Arena, Puffin)
• Billie B Brown: The Best Project (Sally Rippin, Hardie Grant Egmont)
• EJ12: Kimono Code (Susannah McFarlane, Lemonfizz Media)
• Extra Time (Morris Gleitzman, Puffin)
• Extreme Adventures: Monkey Mountain (Justin D’Ath, Puffin)
• Go Girl!: Style Stars (Chrissie Perry, Sonia Dixon & Danielle McDonald, Hardie Grant Egmont)
• Meet Grace (Sofie Laguna & Lucia Masciullo, Puffin)
• The Third Door (Emily Rodda, Omnibus)
• The Wishbird (Gabrielle Wang, Puffin)

Fiction for older readers

• Brotherband: The Invaders (John Flanagan, Random House)
• Con-nerd (Oliver Phommavanh, Puffin)
• Eric Vale, Epic Fail (Michael Gerard Bauer, illus by Joe Bauer, Scholastic)
• My Life and Other Stuff I Made Up (Tristan Bancks, illus by Gus Gordon, Random House)
• Pookie Aleera is Not My Boyfriend (Steven Herrick, UQP)
• Rangers Apprentice: The Royal Ranger (John Flanagan, Random House)
• Specky Magee and the Best of Oz (Felice Arena & Garry Lyon, Puffin)
• The 39-Storey Treehouse (Andy Griffiths, illus by Terry Denton, Pan Macmillan)
• The Ivory Rose (Belinda Murrell, Random House)
• WeirDo (Anh Do, illus by Jules Faber, Scholastic)

Fiction for years 7-9

• The Last Thirteen Book 1: 13 (James Phelan, Scholastic)
• Doomsday (Chris Morphew, HGE)
• Finding Serendipity (Angelica Banks, A&U)
• Hit List (Jack Heath, Pan)
• My Life as an Alphabet (Barry Jonsberg, A&U)
• Pennies for Hitler (Jackie French, HarperCollins)
• Red (Libby Gleeson, A&U)
• Six Impossible Things (Fiona Wood, Pan)
• The Whole of My World (Nicole Hayes, Woolshed Press)
• You Don’t Even Know (Sue Lawson, Black Dog Books).

Children in the ACT, NSW, NT and Victoria will vote for their favourite books in each category in October. The winners of the COOL, KOALA, KROC and YABBA awards will be announced in November. 

Signing at BIG W Katoomba Easter Saturday 1.00-2.30pm

I'm really excited to be doing my first in store event with Big W on Easter Saturday.  A brand new store has just opened in Katoomba and I am going to be there on Easter Saturday from 1.00pm. Fingers crossed that there will be lots of visitors to the mountains for the weekend as well as locals out and about.

I'll be signing and having photos as well as a short chat at the beginning of the event.

Come along and say hello.  I look forward to meeting everyone!

Brisbane Tour - A brilliant couple of days!

I love being on tour.  It's one of the most rewarding aspects of being a children's author - when you have the opportunity to meet the readers.  I recently spent a couple of days in Brisbane visiting schools and bookshops, and the lovely folks of the Children's Book Council, all of which was great fun.

The week started with another four am wake up call to get to the flight at half past six.  That was a little better than the six am flight to Melbourne the week before but I can tell you the barista in the Qantas Club never looks so good as that time in the morning.

Zoe and I were off on another adventure, our first stop, St Margaret's School for Girls.  I love the feeling at St Mag's as it's affectionately known.  The girls are sweet and the location of the school right on the river at Ascot is ideal - they get a breeze and the view is spectacular too.

I spoke to the younger girls then to the older students and had a ball answering their many questions. The Head of Junior School, Angela is a dynamo and I was thrilled to find out the the girls have an exchange program with a school in Japan.  There will be a copy of Alice-Miranda In Japan accompanying the students on their next trip.

We had to leave St Margaret's and zip around to Clayfield College, which fortunately is just around the corner.  Again it was wonderful to meet the students and I talked to them in their beautiful chapel.  The boys were especially responsive and I loved that when they ask me whether 'they're just books for girls' I can tell them lots of the boys' stories in the series' too.  It was a pleasure to sign lots of books and talk to the children one on one afterwards.
 

We then headed back to St Margaret's to sign the girls' books and were treated to a spectacular Japanese lunch with Angela and the librarian Claire.

I was really looking forward to the afternoon event with Riverbend Books in Bulimba.  Owner Suzy Wilson is one of those people who just make things happen.  I first worked with Suzy years ago when she started the Riverbend Readers' Challenge supporting Indigenous communities by providing books. That Challenge morphed into the Indigenous Literacy Challenge and is now the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.  Suzy should be so proud of what she and the team have achieved over the years and it was wonderful to see her after so many years.

The afternoon event was amazing.  There were so many children bubbling with excitement.  It was wonderful to see a group of local librarians there too and families who had come from as far away as the Gold Coast.  One little girl was having her birthday party in the back of the shop.  I went and sat with the girls and signed all of their books and they came to the talk out the front.  It was lovely to meet them all and see how excited they were.

It was great to catch up with Cath Dawson and her three gorgeous children too.  Cath and I used to work together at Abbotsleigh. It only seemed like yesterday but so much has happened since she and her husband moved back to Brisbane.

There were other very special children there - big fans who had left school early and two sisters and their mother for whom Alice-Miranda has provided a welcome respite from some fierce challenges.  I really had to hold back the tears at one stage.

That night I got to catch up with Julie who is my mum's best friend since they were little girls.  She lives in Queensland and we hardly ever see each other so it was really special to have dinner and time for a chat.

In the morning Zoe and I headed around to Dymocks in Brisbane to say hello to the lovely staff and sign all their stock.  Hopefully next time we're up there we can do some events with them too.  Then we were off to St Aidan's School to meet librarian extraordinaire Megan Daley.  She write a fabulous book blog and I was thrilled to be interviewed by Megan before my visit.  She's a stunning cook too - morning tea was delicious.

I talked to the girls in Years 4, 5 and 6 and then had another session with Year 7.  I looked into the crowd of faces and spotted someone I knew.  Mackenzie Curtis - an ex Abbotsleigh student.  I think she was surprised that I remembered her but I certainly did.  What a beautiful young woman she's growing into.

Our final school visit was to West End Primary.  It was hot and I was wilting a little by this stage.  Their lovely librarian Tania rustled up some frozen yoghurts for Zoe and me and that was the little sugar hit I needed to get through the afternoon.  The kids were fantastic and I really have to commend them on their almost perfect behaviour in a very warm space.

I signed lots of books and then we rushed around the corner for a small signing at Avid Reader.  It was wonderful to see so many children coming from school to meet me.  Avid Reader is an amazing shop with a phenomenal author program.  That night they were having Hugh Mackay but he was only one of the big names in for the week.  I love when bookshops really set themselves apart and offer things that patrons can't get anywhere else.  In this day and age with the fierce online competition that hand selling and expert knowledge is so valuable.

From Avid Reader we high tailed it to the State Library to meet the Children's Book Council group.  It was such a thrill for me to meet a lady I have become friends with on Facebook and who I felt like I already knew so well.  Coralie Ross is a sweetheart - always positive and encouraging, I feel like she's been with me on so much of my journey in the past few years.  I loved meeting her and everyone else - and what a treat to be able to talk to them about books and some of my experiences.  They also had delicious pizzas afterwards too!

Zoe and I then drove to the Gold Coast for the Somerset Festival of Children's Literature.

My time in Brisbane was way too short - and I can't wait to get back up there again soon.

Somerset Festival of Literature Gold Coast

This time last week I was coming down from the high that is the Somerset Celebration of Literature. It's the first festival for children's books I ever went to as an invited guest in 2004 and I have to say after my recent fourth return, it still blows me away.

It's always a highlight meeting other authors and illustrators - some of whom I know and many, who I know of, but have never met in person. This year's group was ultra fabulous!  So many incredibly talented people who only add to my 'fraud syndrome' issues.  Case in point -  open one of Vikki Wakefield's stunning books.  I had to re-read the first page of All I Ever Wanted three times because it is soooo beautifully written.  On top of being an amazing writer, Vikki is a genuinely gorgeous person too.

It was especially lovely to catch up with Rebecca Sparrow, who I haven't seen since Somerset 2008 when she gave me some very helpful advice.  So much has happened since then.  I've followed Rebecca's incredible journey into motherhood - with her three beautiful children and the incomprehensible loss of her gorgeous Georgie.  Although we hadn't spoken for so long - other than on the Internet, she is one of those people who you are drawn to and feel like you know. Generous, warmhearted and kind - the sort of woman you just want to be friends with.

The festival opening night on Wednesday was a blast - quite literally, as the fireworks lit up the clear night sky.  Somerset turned 21 and the cake was amazing.  I was so chuffed that one of the cake books was Alice-Miranda Shines Bright and fellow Random House author, Tristan Bancks' new book Two Wolves took centre plate.  As you can see from the photo, we were both pretty thrilled to be included.

There were four of us from Random House at the festival.  In addition to Tristan and me, we had the irrepressible Nick Falk and illustrator extraordinaire Tony Flowers who have just released a new series called Billy is a Dragon as a follow up to their fabulous Saurus Street.  Gorgeous Zoe, one of the RHA publicists who I'd spent the past week and a half with stayed with us on the first day but tag teamed with Sarana - who never seems to have anything but a huge smile on her face.  We had a lot of fun setting up camp in the lawn marquee, meeting children and watching the fantastic flash mobs at lunchtime. The ladies in the book shop seemed very pleased that we were there - and frequently came over with more books to sign and directed children our way too.  I loved watching the students from different schools interacting and there really was a fantastic buzz.

One of the most impressive things about the festival is the volunteers.  School parents who give up hours and hours over many weeks and months to ensure that it really is the best experience for all.  The student volunteers are terrific too and as presenters we are given minders who make sure we get to our events on time and help with the set up.  My two girls, Chanel and Chantelle were lovely - balancing hectic study schedules with their author responsibilities.

It was hot and humid as it seems to be on the Gold Coast in March but the following week they had torrential rain so we were very fortunate, particularly as three of the venues are in huge marquees on the oval.

I really enjoyed catching up with people; Gabrielle Wang, Roseanne Hawke, Mandy Foot,  Mark Greenwood, Tiffiny Hall, Will Kostakis and Fiona Wood as well as meeting many people for the first time - Danny Katz, Andrew Weldon, Wai Chim, AJ Betts, Eleanor Coombe, Shamini Flint, Kim Kane, David Lowe, Juliet Marillier, Debbie Miller, Mark Pardoe, Jessica Shirvington, Vikki Wakefield and Claire Zorn - and apologies if I have missed anyone.  It's always a pleasure to spend time with the Random boys too!

Congratulations to Andrea Lewis and her team for putting on another spectacular Somerset and to Karen Mackie for her great support and inviting me to be part of the program again.  Fingers crossed there are many more Somersets to come!

Upcoming events in Brisbane and Melbourne - this week and next

I've been a bit reclusive on the blog the past month as I've been madly working on Alice-Miranda at Camp.I'm thrilled to say that as of about 3pm it's gone to the publisher!  Tomorrow I begin a fortnight of touring in Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast so I thought I'd publish all the public events below.

Thursday 13 March at 4.30pm at Camberwell Dymocks.  Its at The Well Shopping Centre 793 Burke Rd Camberwell

Saturday 15 March at 11am at The Avenue Bookstore in Albert Park.  You'll find more details on their store Facebook Page The Avenue Bookstore

Saturday 15 March at 2pm Afternoon Tea with Ulysses Bookshop http://www.ulyssesbookstore.com.au/2014/02/afternoon-tea-with-author-of-alice.html (I have heard whispers that this one is sold out but call anyway!)

Monday 17 March at 4pm at Riverbend Books Bulimba in Brisbane http://www.riverbendbooks.com.au/products/780253-MeettheAuthorJacquelineHarvey-Monday17March-RBE17MARCH14

Tuesday 18 March at 3.30pm at Avid Reader in West End http://avidreader.com.au/index.php?option=com_registrationpro&view=event&did=347&Itemid=136&shw_attendees=0

From Wednesday to Friday I will be appearing at The Somerset Celebration of Literature on the Gold Coast. Tickets are available on their website now Somerset Festival

I hope to see you out and about over the coming weeks.  Huge thanks for all the support and love for Alice-Miranda and Clementine Rose!

My Writing Process Blog Tour

I was invited to join this blog tour by the fabulous Lou Kuenzler, a brilliant middle grade author I first had the pleasure of meeting in a Thai restaurant in Queen's Park London, before we appeared together at the Queen's Park Book Festival in 2012.  She is the very first English children's author I met in England.  Lou writes a whole range of wonderful books but I especially love her Shrinking Violet series. Lou has also written Princess Disgrace, Aesop's Awesome Rhymes and many other funny books for primary school age children. She has written for CBeebies too which is one of the children's television channels on the BBC. To read more about Lou click here

What am I working on?
I'm currently finishing Alice-Miranda At Camp, which is another mysterious adventure of epic proportions. I'm right in the midst of its epic-ness at the moment with about 10,000 words to go - so if this blog post makes no sense it's because I've been at my computer since 7am and it's now 9.45pm and I've been writing for about 14 hours.  I'm just reaching that point where I tend to gallop towards the finish (which needs to happen because the deadline is looming so large there is a permanent shadow cast across my desk), but then I'll go back and read it through many times and likely make lots of changes before it goes to my publisher.  I just can't take too long about it though because I am about to go on tour to publicise Alice-Miranda In Japan and then I have to start Clementine Rose's 7th story which I haven't yet decided on the title for and am still really nutting out in terms of the plot.  Fortunately I'm already good friends with all the characters so at least I know who's in the story.  Clementine Rose and the Treasure Box is about to come back from my editor so that will mean another round of changes from me too.  It's the 6th book in the series. Clementine Rose and the Seaside Escape has just landed from the printers and will be in the shops on the 1st April (that's not a joke).

How does my work differ from others of its genre?
My books are character driven with lots of interesting mysteries for the children to solve.  I think it's really important for the readers to feel something for the characters - you know, to love the good guys and hate the baddies.  In the 10th book I've created a new student at Alice-Miranda's school who is just about the most evil piece of work you're ever likely to come across, but I'm enjoying having her in the story because she makes me so cross. I'm also a big fan of interesting settings be they boarding school, big cities like Paris and New York, holiday destinations, hotels, villages and home.  I have a broad range of characters in terms of their ages too.  Alice-Miranda has friends who are very young and very old and that's important to me.  When I'm thinking about the plot, it's a bit like giving ten kittens ten balls of string and chasing them all over the house.  End result is lots of knots.  The plot really comes down to how I can create those knots and then untangle them at the end so it all makes sense.

Why do I write what I do?
I was a teacher for almost twenty years and I have spent my entire adult life working in schools. In some ways I've never truly grown up. In my head when I write I'm usually about nine years old.  I think it's important to remember what it was like to be a child - the wonder of new things, navigating the mysteries of friendships and relationships, exploring the world.  I've always loved to tell stories too - it's a bit of a compulsion and I adore kids. 

How does your writing process work?
I'm a planner.  I need to plan the big ideas and I like to know where my end destination is.  That said, I don't bore myself stupid by plotting every last detail so that I have no room for surprises but I do find, especially as my deadlines are tight and I write a lot, that having a plan guides me and enables me to work more quickly.  I edit as I go, usually writing a couple of chapters at a time then going back to check over them and make changes.  

I think sometimes writing books must be a bit like having a baby (I've never had a baby so this is mere supposition based on the fact that my sister is having her fourth child shortly and I talk to her pretty much every day and let me tell you - some days are golden, others not so much!).  The process of growing the baby seems to vary daily from piece of cake to piece of work!  There are days when the baby moves around a lot and kicks the living daylights out of her and other times when she feels as if she can achieve anything.  Of course towards the end there is more pain (the birth) and then when that little bundle arrives, all is forgiven and everyone's in love.  

I tend to forget the pain of previous books when I'm starting a new one and then I just get going, and a character, the plot or even a single scene gives me a good sharp kick in the ribs to remind me that although the journey might not always be easy, it's worth it for the end result.

I've invited two of my lovely writer friends, Tania McCartney and Krista Bell to continue the Writing Process Blog next week.  Have fun ladies!

Tania McCartney writes books for both children and adults. An experienced magazine writer and editor, she has been writing professionally (print and online) for over 25 years, and in 2009, founded Kids’ Book Review, a highly respected children’s literature site. Tania has many years’ experience in book design and publishing, and has quite the picture book obsession. An Ambassador for the National Year of Reading (2012), she is passionate about literacy, and can occasionally be seen pushing books onto unsuspecting shoppers in bookshops. Or travelling. Or drinking coffee. Always with a book.

Link to blog

Krista Bell is an award-winning Australian author of twenty six books for young readers aged four to fourteen who travels nationwide giving talks and conducting writing workshops for children and adults. She has been an on-air ABC Radio children’s book reviewer for over twenty five years and loves the challenge. Krista’s current titles are: PEEKING DUCKS, a picture book set in China, illustrated by Sally Rippin; WARRIORS, the story of theterracotta warriors of Xi’an, illustrated with Krista’s photos; JACK’S BUGLE, a picture book set during WW1, illustrated by debutante Belinda Elliott; all three published by Windy Hollow Books. BURNING THE BAILS: the story of the Ashes, a cricket story,illustrated by Ainsley Walters, published by One Day Hill. Link to blog

2013 - Where did the year go?

The end of 2013 marks the end of my first year as a full time writer.  It has been an amazing time and as I reflect on all that has happened I feel so grateful to have made that leap of faith.  I'm certainly much calmer and a lot more organised than when I was juggling writing as the hobby in my spare time.  Fitter - not so much.  I need to find a balance between sitting and writing, and exercise.  But now that things are falling into a bit more established pattern, I intend to make 2014 the year of getting fitter and losing those few kilos that are making me feel uncomfortable.  I won't be taking up any extreme sports - just walking and hopefully getting back into golf more regularly.  So, I've written a bit of a summary of the year - here are just some of the highlights of what kept me out of trouble (and frequently out of the state and country!). in 2013.
January
I spent the month madly working on Alice-Miranda's 8th adventure, Alice-Miranda Shines Bright, which was released in September.  According to my calendar notes, I managed to achieve thousands of words per day (and am about to embark on the same for this January!). I was also busy finalising details for my February/March tours of the UK and Singapore and taught a writing course for Abbotsleigh as part of their school holiday program.  On the home front, I spent a couple of weeks having a massive clean out and starting to re-organise in anticipation of our little study extension (which has been a fantastic addition - quite possibly the world's smallest extension but so functional). Alice-Miranda Takes the Lead and Alice-Miranda At Sea were published in the UK.

February
We headed overseas for the Alice-Miranda tour of England and Scotland for three weeks then back to Singapore for two weeks to work with Cheryle Hum from Bookaburra and the lovely ladies at Pansing.  I had dinner with the local SCBWI group and have made a friend for life in Dave Seow.  I adored my first visit to Edinburgh and met so many wonderful booksellers, teachers, parents and children all over the UK, many of whom I had the opportunity to work with again in November.  A huge highlight was meeting the Sayer family - Lily and Emma and their gorgeous parents John and Christine.  They visited us at our hotel in Newcastle one evening.  The girls and Christine are big Alice-Miranda fans and we 'met' online.  Once we met in person I knew we had to visit the girls' school when we returned.

March
We had a fabulous launch for Alice-Miranda In Paris with Shearer's in Leichhardt followed by a six day tour of Melbourne and Geelong.  I started working on Clementine Rose and the Farm Fiasco too and had that finished in near record time.  We also had a fantastic day out at Taronga Zoo with my sister and brother in law and our gorgeous nephews and niece.

April
A week in WA visiting Perth then down south to Albany for the Great Southern Grammar School Literary Festival. Followed up with lots of editing and writing a story called Josephine for the Random House book Stories for Girls which was released in December.  Ian and I managed a lovely short break in the Hunter Valley where we got to play some golf.

May
The month started with Alice-Miranda Diary Revisions and editing Alice-Miranda Shines Bright.  I began teaching at Roseville College for an hour on a Monday afternoon too.  The girls were fantastic and so keen about writing.  Had a lovely second launch celebration for Alice-Miranda In Paris at the Beecroft Children's Bookshop and started teaching an adult course at the NSW Writers' Centre on a Tuesday evenings for six weeks.  May also saw lots of local school visits as part of my RHA touring. The month ended with editing for Clementine Rose and the Farm Fiasco.  Alice-Miranda Takes the Stage hit the shops in the US.

June
There was more editing for Alice-Miranda Shines Bright as well as the plotting and planning for Alice-Miranda In Japan.  I had a wonderful couple of days teaching at Macarthur Anglican School working with students and staff before heading off to Alice Springs for a week in the red centre working at lots of schools and with gorgeous Celia and Ruth.  My mother in law Joan came with me and we had a great adventure. I started writing Alice-Miranda in Japan when we came home and had about 22,500 words completed before I headed off to Adelaide.

July
Halfway through July I travelled to Adelaide for a month on a May Gibbs' Creative Time Residency.  The month was filled with writing as well as visiting schools and doing some in store promotions. I met so many wonderful people and I can't wait to get down there again.  An absolute highlight was visiting Griffin Press where we saw Alice-Miranda Shines Bright being printed - as well as reprints for Alice-Miranda At School and Clementine Rose - it was a surreal day shared with Ian and Clive Jackson (the RHA rep for SA). Ian was able to visit a couple of times and my mother in law, with the newly minted travel bug, popped down and stayed in an apartment around the corner for a week - some of that time with my sister Sarah.

August
I finished Alice-Miranda In Japan and headed home for lots of work around Book Week.  I was a guest at the Melbourne Writers' Festival which was great fun - loved presenting with Michael Bauer but then on the 31st I caught an awful throat bug, which rendered me voiceless for almost three weeks.  The voice went west the same day as my combined launch for Clementine Rose and the Farm Fiasco, Alice-Miranda Shines Bright and The Alice-Miranda Diary at The Children's Bookshop Beecroft.  It was a great day in spite of my ill health.

September
Lunch with the Stars (with no voice), the CBCA Stories on Screen (pushed the voice way too hard) and a bookshop event at St Ives Book Review (thankfully not too much talking) as well as lots of  writing, as I was determined to get Clementine Rose and the Seaside Escape finished before the next overseas adventure.  Fortunately I finished it early, as I then rewrote most of it, having not been pleased with the first result.  Then there was Alice-Miranda Day at Tara School where the Year 2 class is called 2Alice-Miranda!  I had a great time in Queensland as part of the Get Reading Program too.  A highlight was a trip to Toowoomba Library where my Aunty Leah and cousin Scarlett came to see me - and Leah (who stars in the diary with her recipes) baked chocolate brownies which were eagerly consumed.

October
The month began with two fabulous high teas at the Tea Salon in Westfield, followed by editing for Alice-Miranda In Japan and an event at Costco.  Having just submitted Clemmie 5 I rolled straight into Clementine Rose and the Treasure Box (number 6) and hoped to have that finished too before I headed to Singapore.  We celebrated my beloved Pop's 90th birthday.  There were some more school days in Western Sydney before I packed an enormous suitcase with clothes for hot weather, cold weather and in between weather and boarded a plane for Singapore.  I managed to finish Clementine Rose 6 the first week I was there with the help of some 'almost' all nighters.  There were lots of school visits, both teaching writing and working with Cheryle Hum from Bookaburra.  I had a great dinner with the local SCWBI Branch (they are amazing and so welcoming).  My sister Sarah came to Singapore in the second week.  I worked, while she shopped during the day and then we hung out in the evenings.  We had a fun lunch and afternoon with Dave Seow and his mother Eileen.  On the 31st I met Ian at Changi airport and we boarded another plane to London.

November
Two weeks of book touring followed by a week of editing for Clementine Rose and the Seaside Escape then another week of school visits.  So many highlights - visiting schools I'd been to before; Charlotte House and Royal Masonic; seeing booksellers we'd met in February and this time visiting Sunderland to spend a day at Emma and Lily Sayer's school - where I got to cut the ribbon opening the newly renovated library.  As always I adored our time in the UK and can't wait to go back again in 2014.

December
It was time for a holiday.  Ian and I headed for Portugal on 31 November for 10 days.  It was amazing.  Portugal is beautiful and the people are even more so.  We had a terrific time but it was difficult too as back home my darling Pop was fading fast.  I got to talk to him on Skype twice before he passed away and we made it home for his funeral - for which I was very grateful.  I've found it hard to get settled since we've been home.  I think there are times in your life when you just want the clock to stop.  I think it has everything to do with Pop going and realising that no matter how young you feel, time marches on regardless.  I am so fortunate to have had him in my life for so long and I feel extremely lucky to still have both of mum's parents, Ian's mother and his aunt (who are all over 80 and in Aunty Joan's case, 95!) but life passes by way too quickly. 

2013 has been a brilliant year in so many ways and I have much to be grateful for.  I hope you had a great year and I wish you every success and happiness in 2014.