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....

Touring Northland with Storylines ...

I went travelling last week. Thanks to the most excellent organisation Storylines, I toured Northland schools and pre-schools with Tim Tipene, Diana Menefy, Anne Marie Florian, Terry Fitzgibbon and Maria Gill. We talked books, reading, writing and illustrating, and their value and importance. We were wrangled by the lovely, patient, expert driver, and literature fiend, Anne Dickson, who deserves a medal or two for getting us to all the places we needed to go. I visited and spoke at 18 schools, kindergartens and related events. Group sizes varied from  22 to 225 (plus teachers). Ages ranged from 3 months to 13 years. Sometimes groups comprised a whole school, years 0 to 8. It was pretty full on. But as you can see I was still smiling on Friday.

We met a lot of children as we travelled. I talked with students at Tauhoa Primary, Tapora School, and Tomarata Primary on Monday. Mangawhai Beach School, Waipu, Maungaturoto and Paparoa (and Tinopai) Primarys on Tuesday. Maunu and Onerahi Schools, and Whangarei Intermediate (a workshop) on Wednesday. Thursday I visited Hurupaki, Hukerenui, Pakaraka and Kaikohe West Schools and in the afternoon/evening we did an event at Kerikeri High School in association with SLANZA. Friday we wended our way home via Our Place Early Learning Centre, Kerikeri Community Childcare Trust, (Makana Chocolate Cafe - not a school) and Horizon School in Snell's Beach.

We covered a lot of miles (1,812km!!) and got to see many beautiful parts of Northland (including some I'd never seen before). This is me, Tim, Diana and Anne Marie at Whangarei Heads School where Diana and Anne Marie spoke. Just the most amazing backdrop, don't you think?

I received the loveliest gift and card from Maunu School, and was sung a waiata at Kaikohe West School, and at Kerikeri Community Childcare Trust. Everyone was so welcoming everywhere we went.

I was a bit weary by the time I returned home Friday evening but the whole week was a total blast. I felt very lucky. If I got the chance I would do it all again. I had felt a little daunted by the prospect of all that public speaking in such varied circumstances but the children were wonderful, respectful and enthusiastic. My travelling companions were the best company and we had a lot of laughs. Storylines have created a wonderful thing. There will be more tours around other parts of New Zealand over the rest of the year. If you would like an author and/or illustrator to visit your school or preschool you can apply here.