For anyone hankering for something uplifting, here’s the fabulous Ken Williams from Reading With A Chance of Tacos. Ken has selected the best bits from his interviews with some really cool children’s authors! Have a listen here!

I’m thrilled beyond measure that Anzac Ted has been honoured with inclusion in the very special children’s war book exhibition, Anzac Stories: Behind the Pages!

The exhibition kicked off in Brisbane in February and is the brain-child of renowned New Zealand author, Maria Gill and will be displayed in libraries around Australia for the duration of 2017 and 2018. One of only 25 books to be featured from renowned Australian and New Zealand children’s book authors, Anzac Ted is certainly keeping hallowed company!

The exhibition covers some fabulous “behind the scenes” material regarding the research behind and making of a children’s war book. Including everything from pictures of original story boards to interviews with original ANZACS, if you only see one exhibition this year see this one! Incredibly moving and highly educational, this is something for the whole family including grandma and grandpa, so make sure you bring them along.

Look out for Anzac Stories: Behind the Pages Exhibition – and of course Anzac Ted – coming to a library near you! And don’t forget, Anzac Ted can be found at www.anzacted.com.

Ted debuting at the 2016 Abbotsleigh Literary Festival!

As promised, here’s my recap for 2016! And wow! What an incredible year it was, too!

February kicked off the year with Anzac Ted nominated for the prestigious 2016 Western Australian Young Readers’ Book Award. By April Anzac Ted had also been released in paperback in Australia and New Zealand!

After six months of research, June saw me start a new writing adventure into YA Fiction. I’d wanted to write this story for years and finally sat down to do it! Needless to say I love, love, love writing it and am looking forward to getting it “out there” in the near future.

Gorgeous student artwork during Book Week!

August and September morphed from Book Week into Book Month as Anzac Ted and I took to the road and visited lots of schools and met lots of wonderful children, teachers and parents who all love books!

Love this portrait of Ted!

September came with the brilliant news that Anzac Ted had hit the “best seller” list. Ted and I were also asked to appear as guest speakers for EK Books at the 2016 SCBWI Australia and New Zealand Conference at the Menzies in Sydney.

Suffice to say, while I “stole” the microphone in the room my original Anzac Ted teddy bear stole the hearts!

Again in September  (it was a BIG month!) I was asked by the fabulous NZ author, Maria Gill, if I’d like Anzac Ted to take part in the 2017 Anzac Stories: Behind the Pages exhibition. Would I? Heck yes! This incredible exhibition kicks off in Brisbane in early 2017 so look out for it coming to a library near you!

Just how much excitement can a teddy really bear?

2016 WA Young Readers’ Book Awards – some of the shortlisted titles

I certainly don’t want to sound glib and I know it’s a tad clichéd but that was the question flying around in February, 2016 when Anzac Ted found himself rubbing shoulders – or should I say spines – with some of the best in Australian children’s literature. I am honoured to have my debut picture book, Anzac Ted, included in this illustrious list of exceptional children’s authors and illustrators and extend my heartiest congratulations to everyone mentioned. Of course special congratulations must go to Aaron Blabey for Pig The Fibber; winner of the Picture Book category.

For your own copy of Anzac Ted go to www.anzacted.com.

Friday 14 November saw the mercury hit a sweltering 38 degrees in Sydney – but the heat didn’t deter the sensational crowd from attending my first ever book launch for my first published book – Anzac Ted.

Oh, what a night!

The bubbles flowed, the kids took industriously to the colouring-in table and everyone was in a party mood.

As I said in my short, and almost dry-eyed speech: writing and illustrating picture books may be a lonely pursuit – but it’s anything but a solo one. There are just so many people involved with getting Anzac Ted up and running and I couldn’t be more grateful to each and every one of them.

To my parents for helping me fall in love with words so early on in life, and to my brother, Adrian for nurturing that love. To Anouska, Gareth and the entire team at EK Books (Exisle Publishing) for taking on an unknown author and to Ali and Mark for managing such incredible publicity for the book. To the wonderful and talented Tania, Susan and the Kids’ Book Review team for their exceptional encouragement and support.

To my biggest supporter and inspiration my husband, David, who not just encouraged and believed in me every step of the way but helped me organise every last detail for a successful book launch. To my gorgeous daughters, Samantha and Elyse for their unswerving faith, social-media know-how and terrific pics. To my wonderful sons, Michael and Alexander, who move not just mountains for me but are my tech-savvy saviours and of course to the ever-vigilant Alana and Karen who never fail to roll up their sleeves and make everything run like clockwork.

Being also my mum’s birthday, there was a rousing chorus of Happy Birthday before I signed books for the rest of the night, and watched in awe and wonder as people approached me at the signing table with 3, 5 and in one case 9 copies in hand!

The entire night was a very moving experience for me which was punctuated by so many highlights – but perhaps the most touching was when I was given a hand-written letter from a young Army wife, who had written to me about just how much Anzac Ted meant to her after she’d been given her own Army bear by her husband when he’d been shipped off for training. I was incredibly moved that my book had already made such a positive impact – and immeasurably grateful.

Visit my Facebook page or the Anzac Ted website for more.