Thrilled to be on the longlist for The Centre for Children's Literature Book Links Award for Children's Historical Fiction!
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Beyond excited to be shortlisted for the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Award for Older Readers with such a stellar lineup of Aussie authors! Writing Inkflower allowed me to revisit my childhood and spend more time with my Dad and I’ll be forever be grateful to Walker Books Australia for letting me put my memories down on paper. Thanks to everyone who came to the launch of my new Young Adult novel, Inkflower. Melbourne Holocaust Museum’s Manager of Adult Education, Dr Simon Holloway, joined me on stage for a wonderful conversation about memory, history, love, hate and hope. It felt very special on this, the twentieth anniversary of my father's death, to reflect on his past as a survivor of Auschwitz, and the many lessons he taught me while living so bravely and graciously with Motor Neurone Disease.
Thanks to everyone who made it to Readings Bookshop to celebrate the release of my first Picture Book, Arabella's Alphabet Adventure. If you'd like Arabella and I to read to your class, library or bookshop, contact us here. We have loads of games and activities... and even a few leftover lollipops!So excited to be counting down to the release of my first ever picture book, Arabella’s Alphabet Adventure!
My last three novels for young adults centred on love, hate, hope, war, racism and gender inequality. Important topics with smart, kind, fierce protagonists, I hoped would inspire my readers to be change-makers. Writing a picture book for younger children was like stepping into sunshine and a great opportunity to return to what ignited my love of words: the picture book. Being the mum of three kids who devoured books, the library became my second home and the perfect setting for a story about an ABC book who longs to be taken seriously. Arabella has 26 letters but not a single word. She’s tired of little fingers scribbling and tearing at her pages and wants adults to adore her. When she slips between the pages of a travel guide to Africa her adventures begin. Will Arabella find happiness in the arms of an adult or will she return home, having learned that she is perfect - and loved - just the way she is? Thinking about it now, my novels and this book (beautifully illustrated by the super-talented Christopher Nielsen) aren’t so different, after all. They’re about the stories we tell ourselves and the importance of recognising that we all have value. I loved writing it. I hope you love reading it (and sharing it with the little people you love.) The Grown Up Girls Report If you haven't checked out The Grown up Girls Report Book Club do it now! I loved talking to Alex for this week's podcast episode. We covered so much in the hour... writing, women's rights, life in Uganda and how tough it is to be a girl growing up in a place where girls are invisible. If you want to learn how to be a changemaker or take a sneak peek into the real stories that inspired I Am Change you can find the episode via your favourite podcast app or via this link: https://webplayer.whooshkaa.com/episode/775270?theme=light&enable-volume=true&iframe-height=190 Thanks for listening! Dimity's Kid's pick:
I Am Change by Suzy Zail ( YA - Walker Books) I absolutely adored Zail's unashamedly barefaced and poetic narrative. She portrays Lilian's innocence and coming of age with candidness and confidence so that the reader's relationship with Lilian is never spoiled. The beautiful balance between Lilian's gritty strength and her childlike naiveté is one of the biggest drawcards of this story making it a compelling and empowering read for teen girls and boys alike. So excited that I am Change has landed in the U.K.!! Same gorgeous cover but this time with Amnesty International's endorsement.
" I can’t think of the last time I read such a strong and independent voice on a challenging topic, but making it incredibly relatable. We’d be delighted to endorse it." Amnesty International, 2020. |