A Girl Called Corpse

Today Reece Carter is visiting to talk about his wonderful debut, A Girl Called Corpse: An Elston-Fright Tale. He answers some tricky questions on how he wrote this book … and I’ve reviewed it.

Reece Carter’s debut novel, A Girl Called Corpse: An Elston-Fright Tale was the subject of an international bidding war, with rights already sold in Norway, Italy and Spain – and it has been published in ANZ and the UK simultaneously.

Reece grew up in rural Western Australia and holidayed along the south-west coast as a kid. The coastal setting of A Girl Called Corpse is inspired in particular by Cape Leeuwin in WA, and the witches’ shack is inspired by Sugarloaf Rock. ‘This is the kind of story you would expect to see set in a Transylvanian castle or a graveyard in Salem,’ says Reece, ‘so for me one of the biggest joys of writing this book was knowing that its landscapes were inspired by Australia, and that the language is unapologetically Australian.’

ABOUT A GIRL CALLED CORPSE

Reece Carter’s A Girl Called Corpse: An Elston-Fright Tale is a fresh, unique and heartwarming debut about a lonely kid ghost searching for answers. With a body made of wax, seaweed for hair and polished abalone shells for eyes, Corpse is bound to haunt the Witches’ sea shack forever. She has no memory of her name or who she was before the Witches snatched her and took her to the rock-that-doesn’t-exist.

One day, a ghost called Old Man gives her a message: a treasure exists that can reunite Corpse with her family and her name. Corpse sets off in search of answers, bringing her trusted friend Simon, a huntsman spider, along for the ride.

Allen and Unwin

WELCOME REECE

Hey Reece, thanks for visiting. I’m interested to know, who or what inspired the character of Corpse?

Hi Dee, thanks for having me!

The character of Corpse came about reasonably fully formed (pun intended) when I was trying to get to sleep one night. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness I realised that the manhole in my ceiling was ajar – eep! I began to wonder who or what might live inside a roof, peering through a gap down into the world below, and I came up with the character of Corpse – a kid ghost with a body made of wax, who wanted more than anything to rejoin the living world.

She is clearly flawed as well as dead, but still very likeable? Were you worried that readers might not engage with a ghost? If so, what changes did you make to get around this?

Funny – I never even considered that might be a hurdle! We see all sorts of non-human protagonists in children’s stories, from animals to stuffed toys, aliens to talking trucks – and, yes, ghosts! The thing they all have in common is that they are written with childlike qualities. That is, I don’t think it matters too much what your character is, as long as you write them as if they were a child.

This is where voice comes in really important. I tried as much as possible for Corpse to sound, act and think like a child. When I’m writing her, in fact, I quite often forget that she’s a ghost because first and foremost I’m focused on writing a stubborn, headstrong, but totally loveable child!

Did you develop profiles for your main characters before you started writing or did they evolve and develop along with the story?

I had a very strong idea of who Corpse and Girl were when I went into writing the book, so I never sat down to type out profiles or anything like that (though I did plot the novel out in a spreadsheet), and the rest of the characters just evolved as the story went on.

Flip was the exception in a way because he was a character from another manuscript of mine that was never published. He fit so well into the world of Elston-Fright, and I just love him so much, so I found a place for him in A Girl Called Corpse.

I love Simon. But am wondering why you decided to give Corpse a sidekick who’s a spider?

Corpse needed a sidekick, but the reader also needs to see her as quite lonely (initially, at least) and so it didn’t make sense for her to have another ghost as a sidekick. It just wouldn’t have worked. And so, I decided on an animal sidekick. Why a spider? Ultimately, it felt like a natural fit! A spider is the exact kind of critter you would find inside the roof of a rickety old shack, and so it made sense.

Corpse clearly has an intriguing past. Did you know her family history at the outset or did it evolve as you developed Corpse and her story?

I knew Corpse’s backstory before I started writing, but it’s continued to evolve and grow more detailed as I move deeper into the series. We learn quite a bit in the first book, but there’s lots more for readers to uncover in the next books too.

Which character do you like best – Corpse or Girl? Why? Which was the most fun to create?

I love them both equally! Although I will say that I expected Girl to be a favourite among readers. She’s very sweet. She’s honest. She’s kind. I assumed she would be the character readers loved most. I was way off though – Simon is the clear favourite! Kids, as well as grown-up readers, always ask for more Simon.

Corpse has a really strong character voice? Did her voice come to you fully formed or was this something you put a lot of work into?

Both! Her voice was quite clear from the outset but making sure that it landed on the page in the way that I was imagining it involved a lot of reading and re-reading, to make sure the words were having the right effect.

Voice is such an abstract concept, but so important to get right. It really does involve a lot of trial and error, playing with sentence structure and word choice until you can read your work back and it feels faithful to your character.

I understand that A Girl Called Corpse: An Elston-Fright Tale is your debut novel although you have been writing for many years. What would be your top two tips to aspiring authors?

My first tip is to keep writing! The hardest part of being a writer, in my opinion, is grappling with the self-doubt. There is a lot of rejection, and a lot of opportunities to throw it all in and give up, so sometimes just keeping on writing can be the hardest part. It’s a rubbish feeling, but I don’t know any authors – published or unpublished – who don’t experience it. Self-doubt is a yucky part of the job. Don’t let it stop you from writing though.

Secondly, I would encourage aspiring authors to take the time to learn as much as they can about the craft of writing. Take a course. Take two courses! Read widely in your chosen genre to see what works and what doesn’t. Hire a developmental editor if you can. I personally don’t believe in talent; I think writing is a skill set that can be learned.

WHY I LOVED THIS BOOK

I wasn’t sure how I’d respond to a book where the main character is dead, but this story is way livelier than it sounds, and Corpse’s enigmatic and delightful character really hooked me in – as well as the wonderful illustrations by Simon Howe.

Right from the start it’s clear that Corpse is a lot more than she appears to be.

There has to be a reason the dastardly witches, Worst-Witch, Gorflunk and Scraggleknee are so focussed on her destruction.

Author, Reece Carter cleverly brings Corpse to life with her unique voice and fascinating quirks.

I loved her pet spider, Simon and it was easy to empathise with what Corpse has lost and what she’s searching for.

All the characters in the book are so well drawn and complement each other’s narratives, and readers will want to know more about Girl, the friend Corpse lost early in the book who clearly brings out the best in her.

Corpse doesn’t seem as though she was a particularly nice when she was alive and yet she’s an engaging and intriguing character in death. So, we already know that in death she must have undergone some transformation and it piques our interest even more. It appears that even dead people can grow and change, and this makes us keen to learn about Corpse’s past, her present and her future.

There were plenty of twists in this book and I was wondering how the loose ends would be tied up, but seamless tied up they were.

And although A Girl Called Corpse: An Elston-Fright Tale works so well as a stand-alone there are clearly more adventures in store for Corpse, and I for one can’t wait to find out what they are.

An intriguing, fun and creepy read that will charm middle grade book lovers. It tackles themes of friendship, family and loss in a unique and insightful way.

Off To The Market

I was lucky to review this gorgeous new illustrated picture book from Scribble, Off To The Market, written and illustrated by Alice Oehr.

I remember as a child, loving going to Victoria Market on a Sunday and finding the produce and the people wondrous.

So when I read Alice’s book, it brought back some special memories.

Off To The Market, is a little unusual in that the text and illustrations start from the very first page so readers are met with a burst of colour and interest as soon as they open the cover. And right from that first moment, I loved the diversity of race age and life stages reflected in the vibrant illustrations.

In a charming and colourful way, Off To The Market, goes through all the things you’ll need for a day at the market – money, a list and something to carry your purchases. I love the environmentally friendly options given.

Young readers are introduced to different types of produce and the fact that there’s more than one kind of potato and that fruit and vegetables don’t have to be pristine and perfectly shaped to taste good.

Alice Oehr takes us through a fascinating journey of fruit and vegetables and what they can be used for.

We’re also introduced to all the different store holders and we see the differences in how they present and prepare their wares.

There are fascinating facts about different types of eggs. I learned that each chicken will lay the same colour egg every time.

This beautiful non fiction-book is a feast of colour, introducing readers to the market experience and homegrown produce in a fun and interesting way.

I also like the way the shopping list appears regularly with the purchased items crossed out – a fun activity that readers can do as they walk around the market.

Off To The Market really is a ‘celebration of markets, cooking, and fresh food.’

Off To The Market, is written and illustrated by Alice Oehr and she has stopped by the blog to answer some questions

What is your favourite part of going to the market and your favourite purchase?

I love the array of colour at the market– so my favourite thing is really the feast for the eyes. I love chatting to people about what’s in season, and making a plan for cooking with it. My favourite thing to purchase is something that may only be in season for a brief time and is therefore a bit special – a custard apple, persimmons, figs.

What was the most fun thing about writing and illustrating this book?

I loved putting my experience of visiting the market each week onto the page– the people I see and know, and all the beautiful fresh produce was a joy to draw. Incorporating a fluro orange ink into my work was heaps of fun too.

What was the most challenging part of writing and illustrating this book?

It was hard to know which season to situate the book in, as I wanted to show a range of Summer & Winter veggies. 

How long did it take you?

I worked on this book over a couple of years; slowed down during the pandemic. The idea and text came early, but I took my time working out exactly what parts of the market I wanted to include and finding the right visual style. 

What do you hope readers will take away from it?

I would love it if young readers could foster a relationship with fresh produce, and the people who grow and sell it. Shopping for and preparing your own food is a lifelong pleasure and I think it’s great to start learning about it young!

Alice is a graphic artist from Melbourne. Her distinct colourful style incorporates her love of food, pattern, collage and drawing. Many of her ideas have made their way into textiles, homewares, magazines and books. Off To The Market is her first children’s book.

The Edge of Limits – an important book by a much loved author

ABOUT THE AUTHOR – Susanne Gervay

Awarded the Lifetime Social Justice Literature Award, Order of Australia, nominated for Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, you’ll find Susanne planting 3000 mangroves in Kiribati; in Istanbul speaking to 1000s of kids about NO bullying; in remote indigenous schools bringing literacy to kids from pre-schoolers  to young adults.

Susanne Gervay’s loved books include her anti bullying I Am Jack books; YA books Butterflies (disability), Shadows of Olive Trees (feminism); picture books Elephants Have Wings (Harmony Day), The Boy in the Big Blue Glasses’ (Vision2020) and Heroes of the Secret Underground empowering kids to become warriors for justice. Her latest release, is the cutting edge YA novel The Edge of Limits. https://sgervay.com

The Edge of Limits is a stunning new YA novel from popular Australian author, S.J. Gervay.

ABOUT THE EDGE OF LIMITS

Sam is 17 and struggling to cope after losing his beloved grandpa. He’s finding it hard but going on a school survival camp is about to take his hurt to a whole new level. Sam spent a lot of time camping with his grandpa and being out in the wilderness without him just heightens his feelings of loss.

He faces some incredible physical challenges, but it’s the emotional ones that are the toughest. It’s not just his own loss he has to face. He keeps remembering a shocking incident he witnessed at a recent Rave and the perpetrator, Watts, is throwing his weight around on the survival camp. Sam is haunted by the fact that he didn’t say or do anything at the time of the incident.

But perhaps it’s not too late to speak out, to make Watts accountable for his actions.

On the survival camp, Sam learns the importance of mateship, acceptance and truth, that he’s braver than he realises and that he has skills he didn’t know he had.

This is an important story about sexual consent and the power that men have to bring other men to account for acts of violence and abuse.

Set against an evocative backdrop, S J Gervay takes us thoroughly into Sam’s world and the vividly described setting is truly another character in the story.  It provides an ideal backdrop for the themes of toxic masculinity and the power of physical challenges to help emotional development.

We follow Sam’s journey from a lost and confused teen into a more confident young man with a greater understanding of himself and his place in the world.

The Edge of Limits is a perfect blend of action and emotion – physical and emotional conflict.  

Once you pick up The Edge of Limits , you won’t be able to put it down.

Highly recommended for young adult readers. A great book for discussing these important issues both in the classroom and the home.

ABOUT THE JOURNEY

In her acknowledgements, S J Gervay talks about the journey of this book. It will help the reader understand why it’s so authentic.

I thank the generosity of my son and daughter for giving me the authenticity and understandings to write The Edge of Limits .

The Edge of Limits is a brave journey into consent. One that I could not have done, without my son’s insights and honesty. I ‘sucked’ out his young adult brain and his stories of mateship, partying, parental expectations, betrayals, love and relationships with girls. I learnt to rock climb, badly. Put up a tent, not too badly. Climb to the top of a mountain and contemplate who we are. He sent me on a pathway that unlocked the great issues of courage, power, peer group pressure and love.We all want love, but how to get there? I am glad my son has found his true love now, but what a rugged ride.

I also could not have gone on this journey without my daughter, who shared her stories and observations with insights and honesty.The stories of girlfriends, family, dating, love, coercive control, assault, rejection and that devastating impact on self-esteem. Then there is consent.What is it?

S J Gervay

You can buy this important book here.

Ask No Questions – a memoir by Eva Collins

Eva and her family left Poland during the Cold War. Her verse memoir describing this period is published by Puncher & Wattmann. She graduated with two BA degrees, (Philosophy and Fine Art Photography) an MA in Contemporary Art, a Diploma in Professional Writing and a Graduate Certificate in Secondary Teaching.

As a writer and photographer, she captures evocative images with camera and pen, paying tribute to precious, fleeting moments and unsung heroes. She has published poetry and articles and exhibited photography and short films.

ABOUT ASK NO QUESTIONS

Ask No Questions is a refrain that Eva Collins heard her parents say whenever she questioned their decisions whilst living in Communist Poland.

Heartbroken to leave her homeland, 12-year-old Eva recounts her family’s departure, their boat trip, impressions of other countries and the culture shock she experienced in coming to Australia in the 1950s.

Eva uses simple language to convey powerful images. Its restrained form matches the caution and alertness her parents felt whilst living under the surveillance regime and widespread anti-Semitism.

At the book launch.

Eva’s father’s decision to go to the other side of the world was ‘to be as far away from Moscow as possible’, sadly topical today with the war in Ukraine.

Aside from the actual story, the theme has universal implications. It applies to all migrants and refugees from anywhere. Eva says she has used pathos and also humour to carry the message across.

At the book launch. Eva with MC, Rosie Lew AM

Ask No Questions fits with the Intercultural Capabilities of the Victorian Curriculum prescription for the Year 10 students.

WRITING THE BOOK

What was the hardest part about writing Ask No Questions and how did you overcome it?

The hardest thing about writing my book was to know what to include or what to exclude.

On one hand I wanted to include enough detail so that a full picture of the story would be there to immerse the reader. On the other hand, I didn’t want to make it too long or overstated.

I hope I overcame it by putting in enough detail to make the reader ‘hungry for more’. As a result the story is a little understated, but the language is accessible to everyone and the images powerful enough to carry the meaning.

What is the hardest thing about being an author?

As an author my aim was to write in a spare, simple informal language as otherwise it would come across as lofty and pompous.

It was easy to overcome, as I prefer direct, every-day language. It’s the images which are most important rather than formal words.

Eva’s book can be purchased via her publisher here.

The Raven’s Song – A Harmonious Collaboration Between Two Much Loved Authors

Bren MacDibble and Zana Fraillon are two of my favourite YA and children’s authors so I was so excited to read their new collaboration, The Raven’s Song.

Bren is the bestselling author of How to Bee and The Dog Runner, and Zana Fraillon – the multi-award-winning author of THE BONE SPARROW.

They have joined forces to create The Raven’s Song, an absorbing dual narrative, set in a post-climate change, post-pandemic (not COVID-19) world.

AND THEY’RE VISITING THIS BLOG TODAY!

YES, they’re here to chat about the way they worked together to create this amazing book. I asked them some ‘crafty’ questions about how they wrote The Raven’s Song.

1. How did the collaboration come about?

Bren: Zana put a call out on twitter for ideas to help her with her current novel, I offered an idea, Zana said, ‘No but I’d like to write that novel with you.’ And we did.

Zana: I’m not a big social media user – but one of its great wonders is how quickly and easily you can access help and support from your community (this is at least true with the wonderful kids lit community). I have always been a huge fan of Bren’s, so when she jumped in to help with a plot problem I was having, I was thrilled. And although it didn’t work for my WIP, the world of the story itwould work in was quickly unfurling in my head. I was only half joking when I suggested that we use her solution to craft our own book together, and when she came back to ask if I actually wanted to, I think I may have squealed.

2. What was the most challenging thing about collaborating on this book?

Bren: The collaboration was a breeze. The most challenging thing was when Covid overtook our pandemic novel and we both agreed it would never sell, but we were having too much fun to stop.

Zana: I have honestly never had as much fun writing a book as I did collaborating on this with Bren. It wasn’t work. It wasn’t hard. It wasn’t difficult. It was like we were playing. I think because we both said from the outset that this would be an experiment and that we could pull out at any time, there wasn’t any pressure to succeed. There were no stakes, and if nothing came of it, then we would both have improved our craft and enjoyed ourselves. It was really just an exploration of what ifs. As Bren said, the challenge was Covid turning up and inserting its reality into our fiction (we had a fictional pandemic! We didn’t want a real one!). We didn’t want to stop exploring and experimenting and having fun, but at the same time, we worried that a book about a pandemic would just be too close to home. But in the end, we decided to keep going for our own benefit. We didn’t want to stop! And as it turns out, I can see now that having books about something like Covid, can be a way of processing everything that has changed because of it. The Raven’s Song is all about change and dealing with change and how to keep going when things get tough and how to shift your perspective about the world you think you know. Strangely enough, it seems to have become a book for our time.

3. What did you enjoy most about the collaboration process?

Bren: The whole two brains thing. Zana says it better. Zana brought ideas and knowledge to this story that I just didn’t have, plus she has a really poetic writing style and I think the readers will like the tempo of moving back and forth between timelines and her poetic ancient times, her thoughtful careful boy character and my stark reality loud girl character. I like that we each got to do what we do best and it works so well together.

Zana: I agree – having someone who knows the story inside out, who knows what we are trying to do, where the thoughts came from, where the story is headed – it is like having two brains working on the one story. I could shoot a one-line message off to Bren and she would know exactly what I was talking about and come back with some brilliant idea that my brain would never have arrived at. Or at least, never have arrived out without months of circling around and tripping over itself. I also loved having Bren there to question my assumptions about what we could or couldn’t do. There is a scene that comes towards the end of the book, and I said to Bren, ‘We couldn’t actually do this, but how cool would it be if we did XXXX’ (no spoilers!). Bren’s response was, ‘why can’t we do that?’ And of course we could, and we did and it is still one of my favourite parts of the story. And the other thing is, it was so quick to write and edit! Two brains really are better than one…

4. With Covid, I imagine you weren’t able to be in the same actual space working on the book so how did the collaboration work practically. Did the discussions/editing take place via Zoom/email or some other form?

Bren: We’re also on opposite sides of the country and though we once both lived in Melbourne have never actually met. The initial bouncing of ideas was on Twitter messages, quick back and forths and brainstorming real time a lot of the time, then we went off to each write our characters timelines and then came together to work once we’d pieced the novel together, mostly via email.

Zana: It was actually incredibly magical. After Bren and I had a huge Twitter brainstorm of all the things we could do with this book (messaging each other so quickly that our ideas were tumbling over each other and evolving more quickly than either of us could keep up) we each had a character and a very vague idea of where that character was headed and where we thought the story would go. So we both went off and wrote their stories. I don’t think we really messaged much during that process – other than a couple of check ins – but when it came time to piece the book together, I sent my half to Bren and miraculously our chapters slotted into each other as though we had written them together. It was incredible. I think we needed to split one chapter in half to even it out, but that was it. And then once we were at the next stage, we took it in turns sitting with the manuscript and playing before sending it back.

5. Were the characters inspired by anyone you know?

Bren: Don’t they say you put a bit of yourself into every character you write?

Zana: Not consciously! Although none of my characters are firmly based on, or inspired by real people, there are always bits and pieces of people I know in my characters. It is how I make them real in my mind. Even if it is something small, like a phrase they use, or a habit, or the way they walk. Adding the little details brings them to life for me, and hopefully, for the reader also.

MY REVIEW OF THE RAVEN’S SONG

The Raven’s Song, a stunning collaboration from much loved and awarded authors, Bren MacDibble and Zana Fraillon, is set in a post climate change, post pandemic (not covid) world, but despite its intense content will give readers hope for the future.

Shelby and Phoenix are living one hundred years apart in very different worlds, but they are joined across time, and the future of one depends on the other.

Phoenix lives in a world that is choking under the excesses of human consumption and destruction of the environment. When a deadly virus is released from the bog near his home, his life, and the whole world is changed forever.

Shelby and her ancestors inherited this damaged world and for the past 100 years have been working to put things right. They’ve created a working civilisation that respects and lives in harmony with the ‘honoured and natural world’.

Shelby and her best friend Davy live quiet low-tech lives in a closed community that is made up of exactly three hundred and fifty kind, ethical people living on exactly seven hundred hectares.

When they climb through a hole in the perimeter fence to venture into the surrounding jungle, what they find is more astonishing than anything they could have imagined. They discover a relic city from Phoenix’s time, and remnants of a life that could destroy all the healing that has taken place in the last 100 years.

Phoenix and Shelby’s stories and their worlds are seamlessly interwoven by these two master storytellers. I loved both the carefully crafted characters, and we get their unique and contrasting perspectives through the dual narrative.

Shelby is feisty and strong and courageous.

‘Right down in the base of my skull I have a nagging that someone needs my help and I gotta be brave.’

Phoenix is kind and sensitive and gifted with a sixth sense and a deep awareness of his surroundings. ‘This was the first time Phoenix had seen something so strange that he knew it couldn’t possibly be there.’

Shelby and Phoenix’s worlds are both so evocative, they are like extra characters in this story and help to provide the edge of your seat tension.

I connected instantly with Shelby and Phoenix and could not put this book down, wanting to know what would happen next.

Although sometimes, ominous, ravens represent prophecy and insight in The Raven’s Song and their symbolism is used throughout the book to coherently connect the two worlds and the narrative.

This unique and thought-provoking story is about family and friendship and the passing down of knowledge through time.

I highly recommend The Raven’s Song to readers over the age of 9 who are looking for a page turning story, characters they can identify with, and hope for the future of human civilisation.

The Raven’s Song is published by Allen & Unwin.

The Book of Wondrous Possibilities by Deborah Abela

ABOUT DEBORAH ABELA

Deborah Abela is the internationally published and awarded author of 28 books including her cranky climate change trilogy, Grimsdon, New City and Final Storm. Her family’s survival in WW2 and migration to Australia inspired Teresa A New Australian. The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee and The Most Marvellous Spelling Bee Mystery was inspired by her fantabulous grade 4 teacher, Ms Gray. She’s also written picture books, Wolfie, An Unlikely Hero and the 2021 CBCA Notable, Bear in Space.

The Book of Wondrous Possibilities is her love letter to books, booksellers and reading.

REVIEW – A WONDROUS BOOK

The Book of Wondrous Possibilities is the latest book from award-winning author, Deborah Abela, and delivers everything that the title promises.

It’s a charming story set in a world where all books are special, but one in particular has the power to do wondrous things.

For those who love adventure, there’s plenty of that too, and in fact,The Book of Wondrous Possibilities moves along at a rollicking pace.

‘Arlo lives with his uncle in a run-down flat above their bookshop. His only friend is his pet mouse, Herbert.

But when a girl called Lisette bursts in and begs him to hide her from a murderer, Arlo’s life changes forever.’

Arlo’s life has already been changed by the loss of his mother, a year earlier in a suspicious accident, and Lisette is just the person he needs to help him face the world again.

Arlo’s adventure starts when Lisette delivers him a parcel and inside is a book, a present from his mother.

It’s no ordinary book and contains a story that Arlo’s mother has written about him in which he does seemingly impossible things. This remarkable book is called a grimoire and when you read it with special glasses, the illustrations come to life and incredible things happen.

Arlo can’t see himself as that brave, adventurous person depicted in his mother’s story, but when Lisette is kidnapped because of the book and he must save her from a murderer, he becomes someone he never knew that he could be.

I loved this charming story of magic and a little bit of mayhem.

Arlo is a likeable, unassuming character, and the feisty and fun Lisette brings out the best in him. I also loved Herbert, a tiny mouse with loads of personality.

The Book of Wondrous Possibilities is full of optimism and resilience and encourages readers to step outside their comfort zone.

Deborah Abela uses luscious language to draw the reader in, and I love the way she doesn’t shy away from words that readers might not know but will gather from the context or be inspired to look up the meaning. The Book of Wondrous Possibilities will not only extend vocabulary, but it will also inspire a love of reading and books.

Readers will be transported into this magical world and will realise that they too can be heroes.

The Book of Wondrous Possibilities is a story full of charm, humour and adventure for readers aged 8+

Monday Motivator with Shae Millward and The Rabbit’s Magician

Shae Millward is the author of The Rabbit’s Magician, Koalas Like To, and A Boy and a Dog. Shae is an enthusiastic advocate for literacy. She aims to inspire through a love of books, the joy of reading and writing, and the art of storytelling. Shae enjoys writing picture books, poetry, song lyrics, funny or inspirational quotes, short stories and more. Shae’s creative writing skills once helped her win a trip to Disneyland!

The Rabbit’s Magician

The Rabbit’s Magician is a gentle story of love, loss and comfort inspired by a fundamental law of nature: Energy cannot be created or destroyed, but it can change from one form into another.

The book contains references to and representations of the moon and its phases. It is a children’s picture book, but offers comfort to anyone of any age who has lost a loved one – person or animal. 

The Rabbit’s Magician is illustrated by Andy Fackrell and is out this month with Ford Street Publishing.

What was the hardest thing about writing that book?

The potentially sensitive subject matter. I had no intention of writing a story about loss. But a scene appeared in my mind of a rabbit looking up at the moon. I sensed he was waiting for something. The moon changed phases, and still, he waited. What are you waiting for? I wondered. And then, he told his tale. In a matter of moments the whole story suddenly existed, like a neatly wrapped gift.

How did you overcome it?

Although there was still some hesitancy on my part in regards to the subject, sometimes you just have to get over yourself (and any pesky doubts about what you ‘should’ be writing). Sometimes it’s all about the story, not all about you. Because of the blessed way in which the story came into being, I felt it was not only a gift for me but for anyone who needs it. 

What is the hardest thing about being an author?

Being on the Autism spectrum has its positives, like unique perspectives and creative thinking, but it also has its challenges, with social communication being one. Just think awkward, so awkward, haha!

How did you overcome it? What has kept you going?

I’m lucky to have a supportive publisher who allows me to play to my strengths. I’m grateful for his wisdom in dispelling the thought that you must force yourself to do ‘all the things.’

Fortunately, these days there are a good variety of promotional avenues one can partake in.

Books On Tour PR & Marketing has a number of packages, and options within which you can tailor to your needs. Romi is a superstar – super helpful and brilliant to work with.

Having an illustrator who is also active in promoting – which Andy is – certainly helps and provides team spirit. *enthusiastically does spirit fingers*

Monday Motivator With Susannah Crispe

ABOUT SUSANNAH
Susannah Crispe is a Canberra-based children’s book author and illustrator. She studied art history and zoology at university and has volunteered with native wildlife throughout Australia. She worked in museums and bookstores for about 15 years, until discovering her true passion for creating books.  Susannah works from her glorious home studio in Canberra; drawing inspiration and support from her rambunctious four year old son, step daughters, super-husband and the cutest dog in the world.

ABOUT SUSANNAH’S BOOK
Under the Moonlight is Susannah’s first book as both author and illustrator. It is a gentle story about showing bravery in the face of your fears. Set in a snowy, Scandinavian forest, an enormous, brave and solitary moose settles down to rest. Unfortunately for Moose, his tranquil sleep is about to be shattered by a fright in the night. The story follows Moose as he shows great bravery in facing his fear of the unknown and investigating the source of the night-time fright. Told in lilting, roll off the tongue rhyme with the character of Moose is playfully rendered in quietly humorous scenes.

HARDEST THING ABOUT WRITING THIS BOOK
The hardest thing in writing this book was working out how to turn a nonsense monorhyme poem that I wrote years ago into an actual story. Once I got my head around the structure and stepped away from the monorhyme, I was able to map out the plot visually. I saw scenes illustrated in my head, almost like a stop-motion film and the words just fell into place.

MOST CHALLENGING THING ABOUT BEING AN AUTHOR
In general, I find the most challenging thing as an author and illustrator is having to stop writing and illustrating to do real world things. I have a seemingly endless list of ideas for both stories and illustration, a million techniques to try, a laptop filled with downloaded (and unstarted) courses, and a very limited amount of time to do it all. I love my work so much, and if I had my way, I would write and illustrate to the exclusion of everything else. My family, friends and other commitments have different ideas.

OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES
I overcome this problem (but absolutely do NOT advocate this for anyone who wants to retain their sanity), is to work until midnight or 1am, 6 or 7 nights a week. The thought that this is a temporary state of being gets me through, as I fantasise about an improbable day when I have no responsibilities and limitless time to explore all my ideas. Well, that and the litre and a half of tea I drink daily.

Monday Motivators – The Whole Truth

Writing biographical fiction about someone who’s still alive is easier in some ways because you can run things past them. You can check the facts, make sure you have them right. But it comes with its own challenges.

I must admit I was a little daunted from the beginning at the thought of writing about someone as successful and inspiring as Professor Emma Johnston, a leading marine ecologist and TV presenter and the subject of my new Aussie STEM Stars book published by Wild Dingo Press.

Emma is a staunch advocate for the women in science and I connected with this straight away, not that I ever had aspirations to be anything other than a writer, but my mother was one of the first women scientists with the CSIRO long before Emma was born. My mother loved her job, but she was forced to leave when she got married, and her wage was half what her male colleagues were paid for doing the same job.

Fifty years later, I learn from Emma that obstacles still exist women wanting to shine in science, and she’s passionate about breaking them down. I became more determined than ever to write this book.

Emma is truly an inspiration. She’s on the board of the Great Barrier Reef Marine authority, has done amazing work for the marine world of Sydney Harbour and has dived under the ice in Antarctica to learn more about the ecology there and she’s also a FOXTEL tv presenter. She has done so much to advocate for the environment and to help marine life faced with the impacts of climate change.

Because of her commitments, our interview time dwindled to just a few hours. So it wasn’t possible to delve into things like ice diving training and life on an Antarctic base. I had to find out about these things myself.

I did as much research and writing as I could and Emma spent hours reading through the drafts and gently correcting anything that I might have accidentally misrepresented, misinterpreted or not been able to find out.

It took at least 12 months longer than planned to get the book to publication, and our Wild Dingo editor/publisher was ever patient and understanding.

At first I felt insecure about the process, so many changes to my manuscript, so many rewrites. But I had to let that go.

In the end, the most important thing was to help readers discover Emma and her inspirational work and find out how they could help the marine environment. It was more important to be able to tell the whole truth, to depict Emma’s life and works in the most accurate way possible.

It has been a longer journey than I anticipated, but I’ve learnt so much along the way and I’m proud to have a book that sits alongside the other inspiring Aussie STEM Stars and their creators.

Monday Motivator with Andrew Dittmer

ABOUT ANDREW
I’m a children’s fiction author from Sydney. I like being outdoors and active. Find more about me and my writing as well as book reviews and interviews with kids book creators at my website: https://www.andrewdittmer.com/

ABOUT SNUFFY

Everyone has unique gifts and talents. Sometimes they’re not always recognised and appreciated. Snuffy is a cute puppy with an amazing sense of smell. Her owner, Grum, thinks her nose is nothing but a nuisance… until she finds an opportunity to show how amazing her gift can be. If kids put on their detective caps and study the illustrations (by Jenni Goodman) carefully, they’ll find all the clues to the story. 

Snuffy has just been shortlisted in the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards.

THE HARDEST THING ABOUT WRITING SNUFFY

Deciding on the final storyline. I had so many drafts all going in different directions. 

HOW DID YOU OVERCOME IT?

I tried to boil down the message I was trying to convey into a sentence or two and then I tweaked the story around that message.

HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING AN AUTHOR

It is very difficult to devote significant time to it because of needing to provide for the family financially and also fulfilling the roles of husband and father properly.

HOW DID YOU OVERCOME IT? WHAT HAS KEPT YOU GOING?

I’m still trying to make it work. But I’m very grateful that this year, I’ve been able to reduce my normal job to three days per week and devote two days per week to writing and family. What keeps me going is I have no other choice but to keep writing. I can look at the situation logically and think, this is a terrible return on investment of time. But because it’s what I believe I was born to do, I keep doing it anyway. Nothing could stop me from writing.

I’m sure there are many creators who can relate to Andrew’s story. Perseverance is definitely one of the keys to being a successful author. Feel free to share any of your tips on the time juggle of being a creative.