Are you close to your neighbours?

Are you close to your nieghbours? The question could be answered in two completely different ways, socially or geographically? Do you live in an inner city apartment where the walls are so thin you can hear everything your neighbours say and do? Are you in the suburbs where the houses are so close the neighbour's gutters almost touch your own?

In relation to distance my neighbours are not exactly a hop, skip and jump over the side fence. I can't yell through an open window and hope they might hear me, in fact to even see if my neighbours are home I need either a pair of binoculars or a telescope.

But would I say we are close? Yes, definitely. :) We might all live some distance apart, (in fact to visit each other we become inventive and use any manor of transport, horse, bush buggy, quad bike or ride on lawn mower), but somehow that brings our community all the closer together. We not only get together for social events like major milestones of birthdays, (any excuse for a bonfire and a party), neighbours drop by to simply say hello, share vegies and plants from their gardens and generally keep an eye out for one another. We share life's joys and successes and support each other whenever someone is in need.

Many city people don't understand the lifestyle choice that comes with living in the country, they believe you isolate yourself. In our neighbourhood nothing could be further from the truth. I have felt far more isolated living with neighbours right next door who you never saw or would never speak to you. People who would come and go and keep totally to themselves.

I've also lived in a quiet little street where all the kids came out to play of an afternoon while the mums watched on over a cuppa and a chat. The neighbourhood was a safe and friendly place for the kids to grow and learn.

Throughout all the places I have lived I have made some wonderful lifelong friends. From my time in the gated community compound in Thailand, to the quiet cul-de-sac on the Central Coast NSW, to our rural community that I love so much now.

Since writing "Gingerbread Aliens" I have had many kids and parents ask if my character Mrs Witherbottom, stems from any of my past or present neighbours? My initial reaction is usually no, not really, however if I dig deep into my sub conscience I find her hidden there as an amalgamation of quite a few neighbours I have known over the years.

Mrs Witherbottom reflects the kindly neighbour next door we all know and love. The neighbour we all go to for all the gossip as we know she will know it all! If there is something happening in the neighbourhood Mrs Witherbottom represents the neighbour to snoop and find out all the juicy details. It is with great delight that Mrs Witherbottom returns once again in "Alien Shenanigans" to meddle and generally find herself in circumstances she has no control over.

So how close are you to your neighbours? Have you taken the time to get to know them? Leave a reply below and tell me about your neighbours. I hope you get along with them as much as we do with ours.

Alien Shenanigans should be released March 2015.

Teachers that Inspire Everyday.

Teachers that inspire everyday are found in classrooms everywhere throughout the country. With the summer holidays in Australia now over and students preparing to head back to the classroom for another year I wanted to remind them that there are some wonderful  and inspirational teachers ready and waiting to take them on a journey of discovery and learning. Over the years I have known and taught with many motivational teachers that seek to bring inspiration into their classroom through unique and diverse learning experiences.

Whether your child is taking their first steps towards kindergarten or their final steps into year 12, over the years they will come across an amazing variety of exceptional people to guide and nurture their growth and understanding of the world around them.

Teachers hail from many walks of life and bring with them life experiences that remain in our children's memory throughout their adulthood.

In the second book in my early reader series, 'Alien Shenanigans' we meet a new character, Mr Haggardy, that I have modeled from several colleagues that I found to be exceptionally inspirational teachers.

In the story, Mr Haggardy is the year six classroom teacher that Brian Bradberrie finds himself with. A teacher with previous life experience and a love for science that he brings to the classroom.

"Mr Haggardy was a cool hippie-like dude with long blonde hair he kept tied in a pony tail. He had an unkempt beard and he wore torn jeans with a Hawaiian shirt never tucked in or ironed. You could have a joke with him, but you also knew when he was serious and this, was one of those moments"

Although I could say there are many teachers I have learnt from over the years. One teacher that stands out in my memory of my high school days was my Ancient History teacher. I will never forget the day someone asked him a question in class he did not know the answer to. We didn't have the internet or Google in those days so a quick moment to research in class was impossible. Instead he without hesitation admitted he didn't know, but promised to go to the library that evening and find the answer. As promised he returned with the answer the very next day. This has always struck a chord with me as not only was he honest but he had no hesitation in owning the fact that he didn't know something. This was a teacher that until then I believed to be the oracle of all things to do with ancient history. I realised that day that teachers couldn't possibly know it all and that it was ok to admit it. This teacher was one of my inspirations for becoming a teacher myself. I took this lesson learnt with me into my own years as a teacher and although I always prepared my lessons as best I possibly could, I was confident in the knowledge that it was ok to show the kids I was human too!

When my sons embarked on their educational careers they too encountered many wonderful teachers. I wrote a blog 3 years ago when my youngest son began university. The blog post bestowed some of the special qualities of the teachers that stood out to me for him and his brothers. In it I mention the Kindergarten/Year one teacher who inspired my youngest to always challenge himself and strive to reach his full potential. The two teachers who helped mould my second son into a compassionate and tolerant adult and finally the teacher who my eldest son was lucky to have teach him twice, in year one and again in year 5. This fellow opened up the world of science to him in the most extraordinary ways. My eldest is now about to embark on his Phd as he continues along his journey of research and his thirst for knowledge. You will find further discussion on this at the link below.

http://gingerbreadaliens.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/teachers-are-like-gems-precious-and.html

Teachers surround us throughout our life even outside of the classroom. Mentors, work colleagues, other parents, even people in social media can all have an influence on our behaviours, knowledge and understanding of the world around us. We are never too old or too young to learn. So whether it is a teacher like Mr Haggardy or someone like my Ancient History teacher in high school, I hope your children find that special teacher this year that piques their curiosity and inspires them on to strive towards whatever the future has install for them.

My best wishes for another wonderful year of learning.

Keep having fun reading.

Read together everyday.

Alien Shenanigans will be released very soon.

The Mischief Continues - It's Almost Here!

Brian, David and Simon Bradberrie return in part 2 of their Alien Adventure. The wait for "Alien Shenanigans" is almost over! Unexplainable trouble with a classroom science experiment leads our three brothers on a secret mission that will inevitably find them in more disastrous circumstances.

More science experiments, more humour and a lot more out of this world fun.

There is trouble afoot in Mr Haggardy's classroom. Yes, this time we meet Brian's year 6 classroom teacher. (More about him later).  An unexplainable explosion in a science experiment wreaks havoc once again and Principal Penwright knows exactly who to blame! Can Brian and his brothers solve the mystery before the snooping Mrs Witherbottom discovers the unbelievable truth behind all the shenanigans?

The fearsome Principal Penwright returns and so too, does the boys nosy next door neighbour, Mrs Witherbottom.  What could possibly  happen to her this time?

Mischief and mayhem abounds whenever they are all involved. The school is a disaster zone but is it really the Bradberrie brothers fault this time?

Alien Shenanigans - The Bradberrie Brothers Alien Adventure. Book 2. Is coming very soon!

Alien Shenanigans_cover_FNL  (Click on link to reveal cover)

If you haven't read Book 1, "Gingerbread Aliens," now is your chance before "Alien Shenanigans" is released. I promise you'll laugh from beginning to end.

Book Launch Tour: DOG BONE SOUP is Simmering!

Children's Author of "Amazing Matilda A Monarch's Tale", Bette Stephens has written her first adult novel, "Dog Bone Soup." To find out about her latest offering read reviews and a sample chapter below. I"m sure her latest offering will be another memorable read.

Christmas in Darwin and Beyond.

While everyone in the Northern Hemisphere is busy building snowmen, snuggling up with layers of blankets or jumpers and generally doing their best to keep warm during the next few months, we here in Darwin are as usual sweltering under a hot and sticky sun. At least we can celebrate the season on the beach with a sandman instead. :) The humidity this time of year is at its worst as the wet season is just beginning. I sit here and watch the storms roll in over the bay, thunder rumbles all around while sheets of lightning flash across the horizon. As the storm approaches the sky darkens and the monsoonal rain begins to pelt down. I find myself wanting to hide under the table or better yet under the covers of the safety of my bed. I am home alone and feel somewhat vulnerable. Memories of our years in Thailand during monsoons come flooding back.

My babies were only one, four and seven years old when we first experienced the frightening effects of a tropical storm. The electricity in the house we lived in was not grounded and every time a storm came through not only did the power go out, we had a build up of water pool in the light shade over the dining room table.Doesn't sound so bad? But the table was on the bottom floor of a two storey house, I could never figure out where all the water was coming from? I asked the resident Thai maintenance man if he could please fix the problem. His solution....."Mai pen lai madame" (not a problem madame) and he promptly deposited a bucket onto the middle of my dining room table, problem solved! He smiled and left.

My dear husband resolved to fix the problem and had a fellow from work arrive to install a circuit breaker on our wall just inside our front door. Problem solved? Ah no! The next storm that came through the circuit breaker blew up and flames flew up my wall. Hubby arrived home late from work to find the house pitch black,  a burnt smell as he entered and myself and three little boys sitting upstairs in the middle of our bed reading by torchlight.

So now when I experience the storms here in Darwin some twenty years later, all alone while hubby is at work, the boys all grown up and no longer at home with me to give mum support, I can't help but wonder what will go wrong  here?

So far so good. But I have heard some people say we are due for another big wet season and even another big cyclone. It has been 40 years this Christmas Eve since Santa didn't make it into Darwin when Cyclone Tracey struck and to top it off I believe Tracey crossed the coast right here at Cullen Bay where I am living! Fills one with a lot of confidence!

So I'll trim the tree and cook the traditional roast. I'll wrap all the presents and send out all my Christmas cards and I'll look forward to spending Christmas with all my wonderful family and friends down south and say a silent prayer for everyone here in Darwin that they stay safe while I am away. Last but not least I'll pray that a cyclone doesn't hit and devastate families anywhere in Australia this season, Queensland, Western Australia or the Northern Territory. Then I'll return early in the New Year to watch the storms build up across the bay once more.

As a Christmas special i am offering a two for one deal on Gingerbread Aliens. So while you cook gingerbread this festive season you can read with the family a different kind of gingerbread story. What better gift at Christmas than sharing the gift of time, laughter and imagination with your kids and being able to give that gift to another family as well.

http://sandrabennettauthor.com/gingerbread-aliens/

Emma finally has a face.

It's only a draft front cover at the moment, but after several long years in the dark, thanks to Dianna Budd, (my wonderful Illustrator and friend) Emma the Eager Emu finally has a face she can show the world. :)

Emma is an Emu eager to learn to fly just like all her other bird friends at Flying School. but no matter how hard she tries or what strategies she employs, Emma does not fit it. Along her journey Emma enlists the help of her friends, (other Australian birds) Rosie Rosella, Patsy the Pink Galah, Cathy Cockatoo and Kelly the Kookaburra who all suggest strategies to help Emma learn to fly. Emma embarks on a quest of self discovery where she must learn to accept that even though she is a bird just like her friends, they all have differences and can celebrate their uniqueness and individualism. It is a subtle lesson but nonetheless one worth teaching to all young children of pre-school and early school age.

I wrote Emma a few years ago and entered her into a children's story writing contest as "Emma the Emo Emu." At the time I not only won the competition but received rave reviews and many responses requesting to see her in picture book form.

After collaborating with Dianna we decided to slightly change her name even though she is still a very sad and emotional emu, we thought perhaps young children might struggle with the concept of "emo." As Emma is eager to learn to fly and be the same as all the other birds at flying school, eager is a more suitable way to represent her feelings.

The wait is nearly over, "Emma the Eager Emu" is coming soon as a beautiful new children's picture book. For further updates on her release follow me here on my blog or on Facebook.

Gingerbread and Aliens a Brilliant Combination.

This week I was given the wonderful opportunity to be the caretaker of a gorgeous little gift shop here in Cullen Bay, Darwin for a couple of days. This lead me to meeting some amazing people not only from our own beautiful huge backyard called Australia but tourists from all over our magnificent world. I met a couple that had embarked on a cruise from Melbourne, but the cruise ship had broken down in Perth. Unperturbed they flew on up to Broome then finally to Darwin. A family that had flown to Alice Springs then driven around the Northern Territory visiting all the National Parks, including Katherine Gorge, Kakadu, and Litchfield and were finally in Darwin for a well earned rest.

Then there was the fabulous Irish couple that brought much laughter when they came into the shop. We were instant friends when they learnt my maiden name was "Branigan." The fellow had a friend back home he was trying to buy a special gift for, the request seemed rather unusual. "Did I have by chance or know where he could purchase a small wooden model casket?" His friend, he offered by way of an explanation, was an undertaker and had seen one when he was over here on holidays. I wasn't able to help my Irish friends, I was however able to help an American lady that was now residing here in Darwin.

She took one look at my book and exclaimed, "Gingerbread and Aliens! How brilliant! What a perfect combination to interest boys in reading." She continued to inform me that I had hit the mark precisely for young boys choosing two subjects that they adore reading about. I couldn't go wrong! Since living in Darwin she had resisted making gingerbread at Christmas because it was too difficult to roll out in our humidity but she had already agreed with her six year old that this year she would turn on the air conditioning and make some. She agreed both her boys would be so excited about the prospect of turning their gingerbread men into Gingerbread Aliens. I told her that if they did make some gingerbread aliens and took a photo or two I would be happy to add them to my website. This would also encourage her boys to read the story. She bought a copy of my book and asked me to sign it for her boys as it would be perfect not only for her six year old son but also for her eleven year old reluctant reader.

Before this I had found myself wandering around Mindil Markets, last Sunday evening, where I spotted a sign that reminded everyone that it was only 14 more Sundays til Christmas. How timely to notice that sign? This wonderful mum had also just reminded me it was time to begin to make plans for this Christmas. If you and your family are also into baking gingerbread men at Christmas, why not consider Gingerbread Aliens instead? Buy and read the book with the kids, have a great laugh, then have some fun in the kitchen as well. The recipe is available on both my sites, the links are below.

http://sandrabennettauthor.com/2013/06/05/16-simple-steps-to-cook-a-gingerbread-alien/

http://www.gingerbread-aliens.com/recipes.html

If you happen to be in Darwin, come on down to the gift shop, Shine Gifts, Cullen Bay & the Waterfront, Darwin, or for those further south or overseas you can purchase a copy here on my website, I'm happy to post anywhere in the world, there is still plenty of time before Christmas. Just click on the link below, my home page or the Gingerbread Aliens page.

If you prefer ebooks it is also available on Amazon where you will now see the special reduced price.

http://www.amazon.com/Sandra-Bennet/e/B00CB58LEO/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

If you and your family enjoy reading Gingerbread Aliens and baking a few over Christmas, please take the time to not only send me a few photos to share, but to write a review on Amazon, GoodReads etc. It is a great educational experience for your children to see that their writing, along with yours, are valued.

Sandra Bennett - Out of this World FUN!

My newest and candid interview is now posted by Jessica Schaub. Read on to learn where I get my ideas from. Find out what are some of my greatest moments in my writing career and learn my suggestions to aid struggling readers.

A Mission, A Dream, and a Cat - Meet Virginia Ripple

This weeks Pay it Forward Interview is from Christian Fantasy Author Virginia Ripple. On reading it I was surprised to learn that Tolkien's Lord of the Rings was considered Christian Fantasy. You learn something new every day! She has some great advice on time management for those writers struggling to organise their daily routine and I love the point Virginia makes about taking time out each day to be still, quiet and listen, Read on to find out more about this fascinating and prolific author.

Same Country yet Poles Apart.

While everyone gathered at the beginning of the week in the Northern Hemisphere to celebrate the summer solstice by watching the sun rise over Stone Henge, we down under looked towards celebrating the marking of the days beginning to grow longer. Aussies are in the depths of winter and counting the days towards summer warmth where they can once again embark on that much loved sport of swimming in the ocean.

Hang on! Why wait til summer? Not likely, Aussies are made of much tougher stuff and wait for no right weather conditions. Residence of Hobart, our most southern capital city, (if you head any further south you'll be in Antarctica), chose to mark the winter solstice with a naked dip in the Derwent River. Well almost naked, they all wore red swimming caps. The water temperature was a chilly 11 degrees C as all 700 brave Tasmanians held their breath and took the plunge into the shivering waters.

Meanwhile, here in the Top End of the country where the winter nights never fall below 17C and the days still reach a balmy 30C, Territorians braved the depths of the ocean for their annual winter swim. Fannie Bay Life Saving Club held a race across the bay that took my breath away when I first heard of it. I have been warned never to swim in the ocean up here for danger of crocodiles, sharks and box jelly fish, yet these amazing brave souls took to the water like a school of fish splashing about in a frenzy.

Two major swim events, both held on the winter solstice, in the same country, yet they couldn't have been further apart.

I on the other hand chose to spend the day amongst petrol rev heads at the V8 Super car races held annually at Hidden Valley race track. As I gulped down another bottle of water,  wiped the perspiration from my face and applied yet another layer of sun block I wondered what on earth I was doing here? Then I guess the petrol fumes embraced me as the roar of the F18's soared overhead, the drivers revved their engines and the race began! Maybe raising three boys has rubbed off on me a little more than I thought as the enthusiasm pumped through my veins.

As for swimming, yes I did eventually collapse into our pool on my return home. So I guess I did eventually end the day the same way as so many other Aussies began it, with a dip in the cool  refreshing waters of Australia.

Only two days later I was reminded again just how poles apart we are in this country. While the heat continues to reign down over Darwin, the south of the country was in the grips of the largest blizzard in years. The Snowy Mountains had their best snow fall to begin the school holiday season in ten years or more and my boys called to say it snowed on our property all day.Did it make me homesick? It sure did. We may only get light snow that melts when it hits the ground with the occasional thin blanket enveloping the ground and surrounding mountains, but it is beautiful.

I sound like a tourist campaign, no matter what the weather you are looking for, we have it somewhere here in Oz. As the Queenslanders say, Australia truly is"Beautiful one day, perfect the next!"