Awards

2 Comments Posted on announcements, Audio books, Awards, grants, new work, novels

A new project for the new year..

Delighted to say that I’ve just heard that I’ve been awarded a Small Project Quick Response Grant from Create NSW, to work in the new year on a fabulous project: the first draft of a short adult novel (around 30,000–35,000 words), intended for the audio format, which I will write over the first four months of the year. As I write it, I’m also going to be documenting its creation through a series of posts on this blog. More soon about the book itself!

It’s going to be such a fun project, an exciting challenge to try my hand at something different, and I am so looking forward to it! And I’m very grateful to Create NSW for their generous support.

1 Comment Posted on announcements, Authors, Awards, Illustrators, Picture books

Shortlistings for two of my picture books!

I’m thrilled to announce that two of my recent picture books have been shortlisted for the 2020 Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards!

They are There’s A Tiger Out There, illustrated by Ruth Waters and published by Little Hare, which was shortlisted in the Birth to Three Years category; and and Join the Armidale Parade, illustrated by Kathy Creamer and published by Little Pink Dog Books, shortlisted in the Five to Eight Years category.

The Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards are announced every year and aim to promote quality Australian books that help children get the best, most literate start in life.

Each book is judged on its appeal to children, interactive quality and ability to assist speech pathologists and parents in communication and literacy development.

Winners are announced in November.

5 Comments Posted on announcements, Awards, Celebrations

An amazing honour!

(This post is for the readers of my blog who haven’t seen this on social media yet. Apologies if you have already seen it)

Amazing news! I have been awarded an AM (General Division) in the Order of Australia, announced in the 2019 Australia Day Honours List. My citation reads: ‘For significant service to literature as an author and publisher, and through roles with literary organisations’. I couldn’t be more delighted, honoured, and grateful. Thank you so much to the lovely people who nominated me, to my dear family and friends who have always encouraged and supported me, to the many great people I’ve worked with in the literary and publishing communities–and to the wonderful country which has given me so much since I first set foot here as a wide-eyed non-English-speaking kid many years ago.
You can read more about it here.