A brief stint on the high wire ...

Well that month went super fast. It was already looking pretty busy with a bunch of school visits for the Otahuhu Project and one or two others, as well as some planning, plotting, organising and wrangling for the Storylines Hui and then, what-ho, at the 11th hour I got an invite to take part in the Storylines Nelson Tour with some other wonderful writers right smack dab in the middle, and I couldn't resist saying YES!!

So here we are - Apirana Taylor, Gareth Ward, myself and Juliette MacIver looking fresh and shiny on our first day (all photos by our intrepid driver, and all-round awesome author and schedule wrangler, Vicki Cunningham). We toured around Marlborough and Tasman, visiting schools and libraries, and school groups in libraries.

I did my best Hobbit impression.

The scenery was beautiful (on the way to Takaka) ...

... and pretty as a Picton (photo by me).

and we had a fabulous time! What wonderful schools, stellar students, amazing teachers and librarians, and brilliant travel companions!

I hadn't run away to the circus after all, like some of you might have been thinking. Well I had. But only for a week. Now the month is nearly done I will be putting my nose back to the grindstone and tickling the keyboards as I get on with my WIPs. But before I do I will be taking part in the Storylines Hui in Auckland over the first full weekend in October. I'm looking forward to catching up with old friends, making new ones and talking shop. Events like these are always a terrific boost, lighting a fire under my creativity and making me itch with excitement over my chosen career. October here I come....