Feelin cranky about the evidence of sock puppetry that has been emerging on the intramawebb in recent weeks. Authors, some established with good books and careers behind them, made up 5 star reviews on their own books and one star reviews on their competitiors using fake identities. Of course we also know some folk are paying for others to make up lots of lovely five star reviews to bolster their cache. On the one hand, after reading what Justine Larbalestier had to say on the topic of reviews, I guess I shouldn't worry. Your ratings don't seem to have a great influence over book sales, better to be talked about than not talked about yadda, yadda, yadda. On the other hand I think the minute someone discovers that some reviews are fake, it casts doubt over the integrity of all reviews. And I'd just like to say I haven't faked any reviews for myself or any other book I've reviewed online or elsewhere. If I haven't read it I won't review it till I have. If I tend to have a lot of positive things to say its because I pick books I think I have a good chance of liking. And I try my hardest to be fair and straight up. I feel proud of the good reviews my books have, and intrigued by the not so starry. And I couldn't bring myself to give a bad review with the object of hurting another author's success. What is with some people?? And if doubt is cast over all reviews than reviews have no meaning at all. Why would you do that to authors everywhere. That is a huge cost for some very selfish behaviour. Shame on you
I'm also feelin a lot more cheerful over some other things. I had my second session (and fourth visit) as author-in-residence at New Windsor School yesterday. Usually a school visit is a one off, or I run a series of workshops over a number of weeks with a small group of students (something I've done previously with Auckland Normal Intermediate and Hebron Christian College). Being an author-in-residence offers a very different kind of opportunity, one that's new to me as well as to the school. I have to say, so far, its a terrific experience. It allows you to build a special kind of relationship with the school and the children. I've had hugs, hellos and fan mail. We've been chatting and extending some things we started in the first visit. Maybe schools could have an adopt-an-author programme where they have a particular author make several visits over a year providing more structured workshops along with informal chat or Q and A sessions, or as I am doing with New Windsor, working with their book club. Everyone benefits. What a great start for the book creators of tomorrow. Maybe the NZ Book Council might like to consider this as an alternative or option to their writers in schools programme.
In other news I think the latest MS is off to the book designer today. That text is closed to alterations now - it is what it is. I feel incredibly excited and nervous all at once. Yeehah!!
Showing posts with label author in residence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label author in residence. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
What a week it has been...
Well, what a time it has been. I dragged my poor SO out of bed at 5.30am last friday morning so he could drop me at the airport in time for my 6.30am flight to Christchurch (thank you honey, you are a peach). I almost didn't get on as the machine wouldn't accept my e-ticket and the queue to sort things out was impressive. The two gents in front of me had tried to get to Christchurch the night before and failed because of fog. They'd come back via Wellington. Through luck we all got on the plane in time and flew down south to be told just outside of Christchurch that we might not land because of fog and would probably head to Wellington. Mother Nature eh? The power of water vapour over invention, engineering, and sophisticated instrument landing systems.
Well the pilots were good at their job and we landed. Phew. because I had a date with some very cool children from Hammersley School at Shirley Library. I had breakfast with fab book designer Kim Dovey and met up with book-fiend and brilliant blogging librarian Zac Harding. In the afternoon I kept Kim company while she completed her preparations for the Storylines Family Day on Sunday.
I had Saturday to myself. My accommodation was at the north end of the city and I took a wander round to see what nature had done to Christchurch. She'd been pretty mean. I'd seen a lot of images on tv and in the papers but it gives you a deeper level of understanding to see it for yourself. It is broken and I admire and respect all those people who have lived through it all. It made me sad and it would be hard living with that kind of sadness every day.
On Sunday wonderful fellow writer, Jane Bloomfield and I walked down to the Catholic Cathedral College for the Christchurch Storylines Family Day where we met up with our third Kiwiwrite4kidz musketeer, award winning author Leonie Agnew. What an excellent day we had: meeting with keen readers who checked out the books of our kiwiwrite4kidz members, talking with keen writers and meeting other folk from the writing community. It was very exciting for me to meet Trevor Agnew and Bill Nagelkerke and his wife. And its always wonderful to see so many families coming out to support their children's love of books and reading.
On Monday I got to visit two Christchurch schools, Redcliffs and Redwood Primary, both filled with enthusiastic students and teachers. I wished I had more time at both schools. At the end of the day I got the chance to meet my Canterbury University tutor and then it was time for me to catch the plane home.
Tuesday was my first visit as author-in-residence at New Windsor School. I got a fantastic welcome and spent the morning talking with the whole school and then had the chance to chat to some smaller groups and meet with their bookclub who had started with my novel Jack the Viking. What a great school. And wednesday night I got to read some of my books at their Milo Storytime. I dressed up in my jammies, dressing gown and slippers and had a lovely evening. Thank you so much New Windsor. I'm looking forward to my next visit in September.
This coming weekend I am running a writing workshop on plotting for older children at the National Library and Sunday I will be at the Auckland Storylines Family Day. I'm really looking forward to meeting more keen book fans and having the chance to talk about YA books at the panel discussion on Sunday afternoon. I hope I get to meet you there. See you then :)
Well the pilots were good at their job and we landed. Phew. because I had a date with some very cool children from Hammersley School at Shirley Library. I had breakfast with fab book designer Kim Dovey and met up with book-fiend and brilliant blogging librarian Zac Harding. In the afternoon I kept Kim company while she completed her preparations for the Storylines Family Day on Sunday.
I had Saturday to myself. My accommodation was at the north end of the city and I took a wander round to see what nature had done to Christchurch. She'd been pretty mean. I'd seen a lot of images on tv and in the papers but it gives you a deeper level of understanding to see it for yourself. It is broken and I admire and respect all those people who have lived through it all. It made me sad and it would be hard living with that kind of sadness every day.
On Sunday wonderful fellow writer, Jane Bloomfield and I walked down to the Catholic Cathedral College for the Christchurch Storylines Family Day where we met up with our third Kiwiwrite4kidz musketeer, award winning author Leonie Agnew. What an excellent day we had: meeting with keen readers who checked out the books of our kiwiwrite4kidz members, talking with keen writers and meeting other folk from the writing community. It was very exciting for me to meet Trevor Agnew and Bill Nagelkerke and his wife. And its always wonderful to see so many families coming out to support their children's love of books and reading.
On Monday I got to visit two Christchurch schools, Redcliffs and Redwood Primary, both filled with enthusiastic students and teachers. I wished I had more time at both schools. At the end of the day I got the chance to meet my Canterbury University tutor and then it was time for me to catch the plane home.
Tuesday was my first visit as author-in-residence at New Windsor School. I got a fantastic welcome and spent the morning talking with the whole school and then had the chance to chat to some smaller groups and meet with their bookclub who had started with my novel Jack the Viking. What a great school. And wednesday night I got to read some of my books at their Milo Storytime. I dressed up in my jammies, dressing gown and slippers and had a lovely evening. Thank you so much New Windsor. I'm looking forward to my next visit in September.
This coming weekend I am running a writing workshop on plotting for older children at the National Library and Sunday I will be at the Auckland Storylines Family Day. I'm really looking forward to meeting more keen book fans and having the chance to talk about YA books at the panel discussion on Sunday afternoon. I hope I get to meet you there. See you then :)
Friday, June 1, 2012
Why schools will benefit from having an author in the house...
As part of my recent Evening with Melinda Szymanik event I offered to be the 'author-in-residence' for a school. To apply school's need to say why they want me on board, and how they would utilise me in their school. You have until June 8 to get your applications in. See details at the bottom of this post.
There is no funding behind this initiative. Funding for creative endeavours in New Zealand is highly sought after and I have not been successful in the past. Applying and hearing back takes time and unfortunately I didn't have enough time. But I knew I wanted to run with this idea. It is important that authors get paid for their time, whether its for school visits, appearances, or workshops. - I have argued this myself on a number of occasions. But there are always exceptions. When we write, more often than not we write speculatively. We spend hours working on our manuscripts with no guarantee that the story will work, will be completed, or will be picked up by a publisher, and if turned into a book, will succeed. The author-in-residence idea is like a manuscript. It is a speculative initiative. Because one of the things that all children's authors could benefit from in New Zealand is a raised profile amongst our potential readers. And our readers are in schools. And it would be good for New Zealand children to know more about their local authors. And I want the chance to show schools and other interested bodies that having a programme like this can be a win-win for everyone involved. I think this idea has a lot of potential. And I am prepared to give some of my time for free at this stage to demonstrate the benefits. In the long run this could have positive implications for a much wider number of New Zealand authors and children in schools.
Why do I think an author-in-residence is a good idea for schools? Communication is fundamental in human communities, in families, friendships and workplaces. Books are our training ground for effective communication both written and spoken. Books are a source of information and entertainment; our window on the wide world. Books are knowledge and knowledge is power. Books change lives. Books are freedom. I will be sharing my love of books, and a love of reading. It will be a chance to extend keen readers and writers and encourage those who are a wee bit reluctant. It will be about finding enjoyment in books. Because if people enjoy something they will want to do it again and again.
Oh, and I have some skills in writing too. I am a published working writer and I can share my knowledge, tips and techniques with any keen writers you might have at your school. I can talk to students and teachers. And the school and students can choose how my time will be used. If you want me to read books aloud I would be delighted. I love reading aloud. If you want me to give one-on-one advice I can do that. I can give workshops to small groups, or run a regular book club at your school. I can answer questions on writing, reading, books, the writers life, and literature. I have degrees in Science and English Literature and am widely read. I am currently studying towards a diploma in children's literature but I have studied adult literature as well. I have visited many schools, given talks to groups of 30 children up to 300, and taught workshops to a range of students from primary to adult. I won an award for one of my books. I am excited by all the possibilities. Oh the places we'll go!
There is no funding behind this initiative. Funding for creative endeavours in New Zealand is highly sought after and I have not been successful in the past. Applying and hearing back takes time and unfortunately I didn't have enough time. But I knew I wanted to run with this idea. It is important that authors get paid for their time, whether its for school visits, appearances, or workshops. - I have argued this myself on a number of occasions. But there are always exceptions. When we write, more often than not we write speculatively. We spend hours working on our manuscripts with no guarantee that the story will work, will be completed, or will be picked up by a publisher, and if turned into a book, will succeed. The author-in-residence idea is like a manuscript. It is a speculative initiative. Because one of the things that all children's authors could benefit from in New Zealand is a raised profile amongst our potential readers. And our readers are in schools. And it would be good for New Zealand children to know more about their local authors. And I want the chance to show schools and other interested bodies that having a programme like this can be a win-win for everyone involved. I think this idea has a lot of potential. And I am prepared to give some of my time for free at this stage to demonstrate the benefits. In the long run this could have positive implications for a much wider number of New Zealand authors and children in schools.
Why do I think an author-in-residence is a good idea for schools? Communication is fundamental in human communities, in families, friendships and workplaces. Books are our training ground for effective communication both written and spoken. Books are a source of information and entertainment; our window on the wide world. Books are knowledge and knowledge is power. Books change lives. Books are freedom. I will be sharing my love of books, and a love of reading. It will be a chance to extend keen readers and writers and encourage those who are a wee bit reluctant. It will be about finding enjoyment in books. Because if people enjoy something they will want to do it again and again.
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