It's writery stocktake time, and I have to say, this year has been a bit of a wild ride. I always find it interesting to look back over the year that's been because I always forget things - often the best things - that have happened. And - surprise, surprise! - it's often the bad or sad things that bob to the surface of my memory first, keeping the nicer, happier stuff stuck just beneath, out of view.
So what went on in 2024 - I had a book contracted (yay!) and a book contract cancelled (boo!). Several other picture book manuscripts didn't find a home, but one of my picture books was published in German. I had poem acceptances and poem rejections (11 children's poems and four adult poem's appeared on online publication sites this year, with one more children's poem set to appear sometime in 2025). I wrote a couple of writing-related articles for the Sapling, and interviewed fellow writer Feana Tu'akoi for Magpies Magazine. An early chapter book I wrote for the Ministry of Education was published. I was filmed for an NZSA Writers Toolkit on 'Writing Picture Books' and you can check this out here - this was a cool experience albeit fairly nerve wracking, but I've had some very nice feedback from folk who've watched.
I visited some schools, ran some out-of-school creative writing workshops for intermediate age students, and also gave my one day writing workshop for adults. I spoke to teaching students about using NZ Children's books in the classroom. I was involved in a range of meetings and events as a Trustee on the NZ Book Awards Trust. I was part of a panel discussion on poetry. I did quite a few picture book manuscript assessments, was on the NZSA manuscript appraisal selection panel and did one junior fiction assessment.
I attended NZSA Board Meetings as a rep and became the organisation's Vice President. Two of my books were shortlisted for the NZ Children's and Young Adult Book Awards. And one was shortlisted for the PANZ Design Awards. And I got invited to be a part of the Bookaroo Children's Literature Festival in Delhi, India.
Next year is mostly a mystery. I have three events locked in - one is the day long workshop and the other two are small summer gigs at local libraries. I have a picture book, BatKiwi and the Big Wet, coming out in February illustrated by the amazingly talented Isobel Joy Te Aho-White and published by Scholastic. I've resigned from the Book Awards Trust from February next year, so I can devote a bit more time to my own writing. And any travelling we do is most likely to be around Aotearoa/New Zealand. I am super excited by the promise of time - but based on previous experience I know all sorts of unexpected things will pop up and demand my attention. Being an author means many aspects of my work are outside of my control - I am kind of used to it now. I have goals and aspirations but not the kind you can necessarily plan for. I have some irons in the fire - a few things submitted here and overseas, and I plan to keep on writing and submitting through 2025 - after all, that IS a part of my job that I can control. I hope you have some nice surprises looking back over you 2024, and have some cool things to look forward to in 2025. Have a wonderful Christmas and a safe and happy summer y'all - see you on the other side.
