A few good things...

It has been a week of news :)

I'm so thrilled to say I get to be a part of this year's Auckland Writers Festival. I've been involved in the Festival before and I didn't dare hope I'd get to take part again. I'll be running a workshop on writing picture books called Picture Book Practice, talking about key attributes, common mistakes, and avenues for publication. It'll be a 90 minute primer with lots of juicy information and a fun exercise to set you on your way. Information on the session is here. Sunday 21st of May 4.00 - 5.30pm at the Aotea Centre. The festival is jam packed with all sorts of amazing goodies and I can't wait to go along!!  Exciting times. Check out the full programme here.

I think one of the nicest types of feedback I can get on my workshops, school visits and other events is repeat business. I recently got invited back for the second time to an annual event, and received a request for a school visit from someone I've visited for before. I'm always working to improve my talks and workshops and always thinking of ways I can add value to what I do, so to know I'm on the right track with content and delivery is enormously helpful.

And a very exciting kind of feedback is acknowledgement of our books by the children's literature community. I'm very proud that Fuzzy Doodle, my picture book with Donovan Bixley, has been named a Storylines Notable Book for 2017. Here is the list of picture book fabulousness that I feel honoured to be a part of:

Storylines Notable Books List 2017

The Storylines Notable Books List 2017, for books published in 2016, has been announced. The award-winning titles are:
 

Picture Books

• If I was a Banana by Alexandra Tylee, illustrated by Kieran Rynhart (Gecko)
• Gwendolyn! by Juliette MacIver, illustrated by Terri Rose Baynton (HarperCollins)
• Tuna and Hiriwa by Ripeka Takotowai Goddard, illustrated by Kimberly Andrews (Huia)
• Maui – Sun Catcher by Tim Tipene, illustrated by Zak Waipara (Oratia)
• Gladys Goes to War by Glyn Harper, illustrated by Jenny Cooper (Penguin Random House NZ)
• Fuzzy Doodle by Melinda Szymanik, illustrated by Donovan Bixley (Scholastic NZ)
• Gorillas in our Midst by Richard Fairgray, illustrated by Terry Jones (Scholastic NZ)
• Henry Bob Bobbalich by Juliette MacIver, illustrated by Link Choi (Scholastic NZ)
• Witch’s Cat Wanted Apply Within written by Joy H Davidson, illustrated by Nikki Slade-Robinson (Scholastic NZ)
• The Harmonica by Dawn McMillan, illustrated by Andrew Burdan (Scholastic NZ)
• Rasmas by Elizabeth Pulford, illustrated by Jenny Cooper (Scholastic NZ)
• The Best Dad in the World by Pat Chapman, illustrated by Cat Chapman (Upstart)

Junior Fiction

• The Road to Ratenburg by Joy Cowley, illustrated by Gavin Bishop (Gecko)
• Annual edited by Kate De Goldi and Susan Paris (Gecko)
• The Diamond Horse by Stacy Gregg (HarperCollins UK)
• Rona by Chris Szekely, illustrated by Josh Morgan (Huia)
• Enemy Camp by David Hill (Penguin Random House NZ)
• The Impossible Boy by Leonie Agnew (Penguin Random House NZ)
• Grandad’s Wheelies by Jack Lasenby, illustrated by Bob Kerr (Penguin Random House NZ)
• Barking Mad by Tom E Moffatt (Scholastic NZ)
• Sunken Forest by Des Hunt (Scholastic NZ)

Young Adult

• Lonesome When You Go by Saradha Koirala (Makaro)
• Coming Home to Roost by Mary-anne Scott (Penguin Random House NZ)

Non-Fiction

• See Play Do: A Kid’s Handbook for Everyday Creative Fun written and illustrated by Louise Cuckow (Beatnik)
• Bruce Wants to Go Faster by Dreydon Sobanja, illustrated by Murray Dewhurst (Inspired Kids)
• Armistice Day: the New Zealand Story by Philippa Werry (New Holland)
• Speed King: Burt Munro, the World’s Fastest Indian by David Hill, illustrated by Phoebe Morris (Penguin Random House NZ)
• Jack and Charlie: Boys of the Bush by Jack Marcotte (Penguin Random House NZ)
• The Beginner's Guide to Netball by Maria Tutaia (Penguin Random House NZ)
• Cricket with Kane Williamson by Kane Williamson (Penguin Random House NZ)
• The Cuckoo and the Warbler: A True New Zealand Story by Heather Hunt, illustrated by Kennedy Warne (Potton and Burton)
• ANZAC Heroes by Maria Gill, illustrated by Marco Ivancic (Scholastic NZ)
• Much ado about Shakespeare written and illustrated by Donovan Bixley (Upstart)

A downloadable poster in PDF format of all this year's Notable Books can be found here.