How Will You Choose To Be Published?

There are many pathways to take you along your journey to publication. Let’s be honest, we all dream of that fabulous contract with one of the big major publishers. A contract that will see our book being sold in books stores to millions of people worldwide. In reality, overnight success is a long and bumpy road full of ups and downs, rejections and successes, big and small. It’s how we choose to enjoy that journey that counts.

Most of us, (including me) will tell you we are in this for our readers. If I help one child enjoy reading a story, then I have succeeded. That’s why I don’t chase the big publishers, even though that would be nice, what is more important, is finding ways to get my stories published so that my words are out there for readers to find.

Building literacy and a love of reading so that children become life-long readers and learners is the most important issue to me. That, and telling a good story that they want to read over and over again.

I have been a children’s author for eight years now. In that time, I have self-published four books, had two traditionally published, one published for a non-for-profit organisation and had seven short stories published in five anthologies.

My collection of published books. Cyclone Kayla, A Lighthouse in Time, Secrets Hidden Below, Alien Shenanigans, Gingerbread Aliens, Frazzled Freya, Emma the Eager Emu.

Short stories published in Anthologies. The Dead Centre of Town in Spooktacular Stories, The Thumping in Things That Go Bump, Save it for a Rainy Day in Enchanted, A Whale of a Christmas Time and Asters Aussie Christmas in Creative Kids Tales 1, and A Renovator’s Delight in Satan’s Holiday. Note: Drop Bears Hate Vegemite is in the Ebook Deep Within the Forest.

So where do you start?

Start with writing a blog. Did you know that by writing a blog you are published? Your words are out in the public domain for all to read. You can write anything you like, maybe start with a short story or two, a poem or simply random thoughts of the day. It’s entirely up to.

Don’t feel confident sharing your work with everyone? Find a critique group. There are many online, just google critique groups in your genre. I made my start with wriitng.com then moved on to more specific children’s book critique groups. I moved around a bit until I found a good fit.

Once you build your confidence, start submitting to competitions and anthologies. I won entry into my first ebook anthology in 2015, and I’m still winning entries into print edition anthologies in 2020. These are a great way to get your name out to readers with only a minimal competition entry fee. Plus I love a fun book launch when all the authors get together to celebrate. Last year I went to four book launches in one month.

This year, I entered my story, Peek-a-Boo Echidna in the Share Your Story anthology competition, ‘Tell Em Their Dreaming- Bedtime Ballads and Tall Tales From The Australian Bush. It was one of those stories I had been trying to write as a picture book for years. It had many versions, none of which worked. When this theme was announced and I now had 1500 words to write a short story instead of a 500 word PB, the story came to life. My little echidna has found a home and a publisher. It will be published in the anthology this October. I love this theme, ‘tell em ‘es dreamin’ is such an iconic part of our Aussie language after the absolutely wonderful mid 90’s movie ‘The Castle’ was produced, the saying became commonly heard throughout our house as it is many others I’m sure.

One of the things I love about the Share Your Story anthologies is that proceeds always go to a worthy charity or cause. Last years Spooktacular story collection donated books to sick kids in hospitals all around Australia. This year, the Bush Ballads will donate sales to raising funds for the NSW Rural Fire Service. After the horrendous Summer we had and the devastating bush fires, which came very close to us losing our home, I am forever grateful to the NSW RFS and so pleased to help support them with this collection of tall tales from the Australian bush.

Being connected to the wonderful people at Share Your Story also lead me to the amazing organisation, Library For All. Early last year they put out a call for proposals to write stories for their natural disaster series. The stories would be made into graphic novels for low literacy learners in Papua New Guinea and the South Pacific islands. With this in mind I put in a proposal and was accepted to write a story on cyclones for them. I found writing to someone else’s brief much more difficult than I expected. In 1500 words I was asked to write a fiction story that included facts about cyclones and how to prepare to survive a cyclone. The language had to be simple for low literacy and contain plenty of onomatopoeia. My story came in at 1700 words. I submitted hoping for the best. The reply came back to cut 500 words! It was now to be reduced to 1200! To my determination and surprise, I did it, and the story was better for it too. I am very proud to say Cyclone Kayla has now been published and is available for free via the app store at Library For All.

Cyclone Kayla, a graphic novel written for Library For All.

Inside ‘Cyclone Kayla,’ a graphic novel written for Library For All.

Inside ‘Cyclone Kayla,’ a graphic novel written for Library For All.

You won’t make any money being published via any of these options. It’s all about branding, getting your name out there and building an audience. Then you can consider whether you want to self-publish your stories or start submitting to publishers. Either way, at least you have a profile, and a collection of work.

The choice to self-publish or traditional publish is another story. Too long for one blog post. Whichever you choose, know there are plenty of groups that will help and support you. As a member of the Story Creators Community we are here if you have any questions.

How do you want to publish?

Why do you want to publish?

What do you want to publish?

Tips on Preparing a Perfect Pitch

As many of you know I recently won the opportunity to pitch one of my manuscripts to Australian film producers, directors and screenwriters. It was an absolutely amazing experience right from the beginning to the glorious end. In this post, I thought I would share with you my tips on preparing a perfect pitch, whether that is for film producers, editors or book publishers.

Fossil Frenzy The Adamson Adventures 3

Queensland Writers Centre Adaptable Competition Shortlist

1. Do your research. There is no point sending your manuscript to everyone. Find the right fit. You wouldn’t send a science fiction novel to a publisher that only publishes humorous picture books. You need to know the market and who is interested in the genre you are writing. I admit I was lucky, I happened to stumble across the Adaptable Competition. I was doing research into publishers for my manuscript ‘Fossil Frenzy,’ when I came across the competition with Queensland Writers Centre.

2. Be Brave and Submit. Once you find a good fit, go for it. Read the guidelines very carefully, and answer the questions to your best ability. Take your time with it, but don’t over think it. When I found the Adaptable competition, the closing date was only two days away. I didn’t have long to submit. My initial reaction was to procrastinate but I didn’t have time for that. The guidelines stated the story had to be set in Queensland. I had such a story, but it was book three in a series and not yet published. I pondered, would I be better sending the first book in the series even though it was set in Bali? No, stick to the guidelines, I submitted ‘Fossil Frenzy,’ set in outback Queensland.

3. Celebrate the small wins. Now the hard work really begins. After waiting an eternity, you get a response. But the shortlist you were expecting has been changed to a longlist due to the enormous amount of entries. Now you are asked to submit the full manuscript and the wait begins again. Within weeks the news comes that the shortlist has been announced and your name is on it! You will be pitching to producers. Eek! You did it! Take time out to celebrate this massive achievement, it doesn’t come along every day.

4. You Got This! Time to whip that synopsis into shape and prepare your speech. Memories of that dreadful first attempt at pitching live to editors come flooding back. You begin to question yourself,. Why did you even think you could do this? Take a deep breath, chin up, small steps, have courage, your work is good.

5. Secret to a strong Synopsis. Start with a great tag/log line. A ten to fifteen word elevator pitch that will hook your reader. It must be succinct yet convey your main character’s driving goal. Mine for ‘Fossil Frenzy’ is ‘ In the drought-stricken present, the only hope is buried in the past.’ Did I intrigue you? Next, think about your main characters. Can you concisely in one paragraph for each, describe both their internal and external goal, motivation and conflict? Add the major turning points throughout the overall arc, the resolution and the conclusion. Don’t leave out any surprises or twists. The editor or producer need to know it all. The hard part is sticking to your word count or time limit, you know your work better than anyone else, remember to use your unique voice and select the most appropriate scenes from the story to demonstrate.

6. Be Inspirational. Just like the beginning of your story needs to hook your readers, so too, the beginning of your pitch needs to hook who you are pitching to. Give them a reason to want to learn more. Have them sitting on the edge of their seat eager for you to continue. I opened with the fact that my story is an action adventure with drama and suspense but also plenty of humour. Then gave them an example that made each of them laugh every time. Then I moved on to my inspiration behind my story which is also my reason for writing it, which led onto my logline and the journey to finding my setting. All the while I weaved a story that also gave them reasons why an audience would want to see my story on screen. I found my point of difference and made sure they would remember both my story and me.

7. Try to relax. The best way to do that is practice, practice, practice. For my very first pitch to editors a couple of years ago, I know I didn’t do this. I didn’t expect my name would be drawn out of a hat, but all of a sudden, there I was standing in front of a panel of editors and a room full of authors and illustrators. I felt like an impostor, I was so embarrassed, I was never going to put myself through that again. Then Adaptable came around, the difference was the Gold Coast film Festival was cancelled thanks to Covid-19. We were no longer able to pitch in person, we were now pitching via Zoom. So I embraced social media, and practised daily via Zoom with a group of author friends. This technology was not going to defeat me. Find a group of friends you trust, I will be forever grateful for my friends who saw me through my stumbling practise sessions. At first it was a complete disaster, but each day I improved a little bit more. So much so, the first producer I pitched to said I had presented her the best pitch she had heard.

8. The secret ingredient. If you need a break, take it. When the pitches were put back by a week or so, I took a week off my practising to clear my head. It was time to rest. I knew my pitch by now, no point overthinking it. Finally, when the time comes, remember deep breaths and warm-up exercises. Before going live on Zoom, I spent ten minutes in my lounge-room doing a few warm-up exercises to get the blood pumping followed by some slow deep breathing. By the time we were ready to begin I was as relaxed as I was going to be. I knew I was prepared, I had done everything I could.

9. One Final tip. I knew my pitch, I had practised it often enough. I tried to make it conversational, so it wasn’t exactly word for word every time. You want it to be conversational, it sounds more natural, but just in case you get stuck you need an occasional prompt. If you are pitching live, then palm cards are the obvious choice. As I pitched via Zoom I was able to use a slightly more subtle strategy. Post-it notes are rather handy.

10. Enjoy the experience, no matter what happens next it doesn’t matter. You have succeeded just by pitching.

Pitching Fossil Frenzy via Zoom

You Can Do This!

Now comes the waiting. I’ve heard the positive responses from the producers. Will one of them read my full manuscript, take it to their marketing team and decide to offer to option it? My fingers and toes are crossed. it’s been a rollercoaster ride of emotions to reach this end point. Is the journey over? I certainly hope not. Fossil Frenzy the Adamson Adventures 3 is yet to be published. Stay tuned, I hope to have it coming soon.

Have you ever pitched to an editor, publisher or film producer. What tips would you add to this list? Please leave your suggestions in the comments section below.

Staying Grateful in a Coronavirus World

Many authors I know choose a word to help them focus at the beginning of each year. My word this year is Gratitude.This post is about the many reason I still feel grateful, even in the midst of living in this strange new coronavirus world. It is part of our #Gr8Blogs Coping in Coronaville Blog Hop, I hope it inspires you to think about the things in your life that you too, are grateful for, and if you enjoy reading this, you will also consider reading the other inspiring posts linked at the end.

As we said goodbye to 2019 and hello to 2020 Australia was suffering from the worst bushfires in decades. We spent most of our Summer isolated, unable to go outside, swim at the beach or travel around this beautiful country as it burned. Wearing a face mask became our daily norm even then, if we stepped outside, it was our only protection from the hazardous thick smoke that engulfed our air. To need to wear a face mask now, is just a continuation of our norm for 2020. While I have previously listed my gratitude to the many men and women of the NSW Rural Fire Service for keeping our community safe during that time, what I am grateful for now, is the green pastures. The rain finally arrived, although in many cases so did the floods, I am grateful everyday to see my water tank full and the rolling hills of our beautiful valley all green again. The birds have all returned, the sound of them singing in the trees is blissful, and the kangaroos are beginning to look healthy again. Now my word for this year seems to be even more valid than ever before.

The valley is so much greener after the rain.

A stark contrast to smoke hazed brown Summer.

I am grateful to live in this rural valley. It’s easy and comforting to isolate out here in the fresh country air, (grateful we can breathe said country air now). Grateful that our neighbours are within sight, but there if we need them, and far enough away to make self isolation easy.

My neighbours to the south are up on the hill in the distance.

My neighbours to the west are nestled among the trees.

My neighbours to the north are over the far side of our northern paddock.

I’m grateful to have Mr B home safely from PNG. Being married to an engineer working in the oil and gas industry means we spend much of our time apart as he travels to sites. The coronavirus at least has him home for the next few months. The hardest part about his return has been self isolating from our grandson for two weeks. Even though Mr B arrived back in Australia before the notice that those returning from overseas were to isolate occurred, we made the sensible decision to do so anyway. Not only did we not want to risk infecting our grandson, but his great-grandfather who also lives with them. Making our poor little man understand why he can’t visit us up in the big house when he lives in the little house right next door on our property has been heartbreaking. Each time I walk outside I hear his cries to Nanna from a distance. I am grateful we only have four more days to go until I can give him big hugs again.

I am also grateful that not only Mr B but my sons, can all work from home. Both son no# 2 and 3, live here on our property with us, keeping family close at this time is comforting. As they both work in different parts of the IT industry, it is possible for them to continue to work away from the office. I only wish son no# 1 wasn’t so far away in Perth. That brings me to another thing to be grateful for - video chat. I couldn’t imagine the separation that isolation brings without being able to chat via messenger/face-time/ or Skype. We have a new grandchild due to be born early July and had planned to fly to Perth soon after the birth. That is looking less likely to happen at the moment, at least I will be able to see him/her over the internet. It won’t be the same as cuddling the baby in person, but at least I’ll know I will have done by bit to keep my family safe. Family is and always will be my number one priority.

Grateful to have had all my family home together for Christmas.

Talking of video chats and Skype. I am so grateful to the team at the Queensland Writers Centre for doing all they can to keep Adaptable going ahead. While events are being cancelled all around the country, including many I was booked to attend, some at least are only postponing. The great team at QWC recognise that it would be very disappointing for this years winners of the competition to miss out just because the Gold Coast Film Festival has been cancelled. Instead, they have arranged our pitches to producers to still occur via Skype. I had my first pitch practice session with a producer the other day and I must admit, doing it over a video chat made it somewhat less nerve wracking. I hope I can feel the same when it comes to the real pitch in a few weeks. I am also grateful that at least one event wasn’t cancelled. The Royalla Country Fair still went ahead before the order to avoid all outdoor gatherings with over 500 people in attendance came into place. It was a fabulous day out here. Admittedly the crowds were down from usual, at least people were able to practice social distancing. I still met and chatted to lots of friendly neighbours and read to a great group of kids.

The last event before everything was cancelled, grateful we had a wonderful day in the fresh country air at the Royalla Country Fair.

Self-isolation and social distancing doesn’t need to be that difficult or something to be afraid of. It is however important to your loved ones and the wider community. We all need to take responsibility and help slow the curve of the spread of Covid-19. As authors we tend to naturally isolate ourselves and rely on the internet to maintain connections. That key to stay connected online is more important than ever before and I am grateful for all the friends I have made. You too, can find new ways to reach out to people, join new online groups or do those online courses you always put off. But the main thing is to remember the most important people in your life, your family. Embrace them and hold them close if you can. Use this time to make memories with them, read with them, share hobbies around the house, walk and explore the garden. My daughter-in-law has even started a vegie garden, something I have been meaning to do here for years. For us, at least we have 13 acres of our own to explore and a fabulous green valley where we can walk and never see another person. Just remember to take time to breathe, relax and think of those things in life that make you grateful.

These are indeed unprecedented and distressing times. What are you doing to help you stay calm and sane? Does thoughts of gratitude help? I hope I have given you something to think about. Please share in the comment section below what you are grateful for? But before you go, click over to the other #Gr8Blogs for more inspirational advice.

Cat Michaels - I Refuse to Waste Away in Coronaville

Rebecca Lyndsey Coping in Coronaville

Rosie Russell - Ideas on How to Cope in a Coronavirus World

Julie Gorges - Ten things Baby Boomers can do if self Quarantined

Chris Gorges - 7 Ways to Cope with Coronavirus Fatigue

Carmela Dutra - How to Stay Positive in a Coronavirus World

James Milson - Coping With The Coronavirus Challenge Now

What Will You Do With An Extra Day?

Have you ever felt that you could do with just one more day in the week, the month or the year, to get things done? Do you ever hear yourself say, ‘if I only had a bit more time.?’

The good news is, this year, as in every four years, you do. It’s February and it’s a leap year. We have one whole extra day to do all those things we keep putting off for another day. How are you going to spend your extra day?

This blog post is part of a #Gr8Blogs Leap Year 2020 Blog Hop, where fellow authors and myself are suggesting ways we are spending our extra day, hoping to inspire your thoughts and actions so that you don’t waste a second of those precious moments.

Research suggests that unless your birthday happens to fall on February 29, to most people, it is just another ordinary day. No one really slows down or takes notice of the fact that it is an extra day in the year. February 29 falls on a Saturday this year, why not take advantage of that and use it wisely. Here’s a little known fact for you, did you know that on February 29 it is said that a woman is allowed to ask a proposal of marriage? Out-dated I know, but a fun fact if you want to take advantage of it.

This Summer has been a particularly long and difficult one for most of us here in Australia. The devastating bushfires have touched the lives of most of us in one way or another. We have been impacted for months by thick smoke that has prevented us from our usual summer outdoor activities, most coastal beach towns were closed to holiday makers and even a simple walk was impossible without wearing a mask. Some of us here in Royalla were impacted by evacuation prospects twice. I had neighbours who were down the South Coast when the fires burnt through there, only to face the same scare several weeks later when two fire fronts, from the west and south, threatened our own small community. When the call-out came to help feed our heroic firefighters, I knew I had to help. I couldn’t evacuate and leave our home until I had done my bit to help in whatever small way I could. Within days we were told the winds had changed, the temperature had dropped, we were finally safe to return., for now We still prayed for rain. The threat continued.

The smoke haze that engulfed our property most of the Summer.

The Orroral Fire in Namadgi National park quickly raged out of control spreading quickly depending on the wind direction. Photo taken from our back deck.

Little did we know, rain too, would bring its own destructive force. Hail hit Canberra in an unprecedented size. Many were caught unaware and 39,000 cars were destroyed. A further 31,00 cars were destroyed in Sydney and Melbourne combined, bringing the total from the storm to 70,000. My son watched from his office window, knowing there was nothing he could do as the hail pelted golf ball sized holes into every panel of his car and smashed both his front and back windows. Like so many people, his insurance company has written off his car, he is still waiting for the payout to purchase a new car. That won’t be an easy task either, with so many people now looking.

Parliament House in the centre of Canberra, two photos taken just a week apart.

Alex’s car as a result of the hail damage.

Amidst all this climatic stress, I also received the devastating news of the sudden loss of a very dear friend’s son. As any mother will tell you, this is impossible to comprehend. It took me weeks to come to terms with this. Even now, I struggle to understand and feel so hopeless being unable to comfort a friend in a time when she needs me most, but we are separated by the size of this huge country of ours. My arms can’t reach across from east to west, although my heart does every day.

The final blow, the termination of my contract. I knew it was probably coming, but I was living in hope. Sadly, due to circumstances out of my control, my publisher can longer continue trading. So, while I have two amazing Adamson Adventures out in the world, I now need to find a new publisher for the third.

2020 has not been a great start for me, but I have made steps forward to change that. Out of the depths of despair comes a ray of hope. I have picked myself up, dusted myself off and am ready to face the world again. I have begun the submission process to publishers for Fossil Frenzy, the Adamson Adventures 3, and submitted two PB’s to a publisher and a short story to a competition. I have started the process of entering A Lighthouse in Time, The Adamson Adventures 2, into Award Competitions for this year and the most exciting bit of news - I entered Fossil Frenzy into the Queensland Writer’s Centre Adaptable Competition and have so far been longlisted. This was a competition I accidentally stumbled across while searching for publishers. The closing date was approaching, so I figured I had nothing to lose and entered. The shortlist of 25 is to pitch to film producers at the Gold Coast Film Festival in April. This shortlist was due to be announced on Feb 15, but due to the overwhelming amount of entries, so far they have whittled it down to a longlist of 40. I feel proud and excited to have reached the longlist, but am hoping my manuscript is strong enough to make the shortlist. Consequently just last Wednesday I attended a course on body language and public speaking to help me prepare my pitch.

The Adaptable Longlist

Kerry Malone and I at the Speakers Institute Workshop on Body Language and Effective Communication.

What does my story have to do with an extra day for leap year? I am spending Feb 29 doing another workshop. Business Skills and Marketing Prowess for Authors. I am not wasting my extra day and I implore you not to either. If there is one thing I have learnt this Summer, it is life can be all too fleeting. We need to be grateful for who we have in our lives, appreciate what we have and fulfil our dreams. Don’t put things off. Make a plan and take action today. Spend the day with your loved ones, take care of your health and rest if you need to, or start that project you always wanted to do.

By the way, for the next month, for every copy sold, I am donating a copy of A Lighthouse in Time to schools down the South Coast devastated by the fires, Have you ever walked into a room and felt there was a presence in there? I have found there is usually a logical explanation, but not always. Research has shown that 35% of Australians believe in ghosts, while over 46% of Americans do. I can tell you stories of my experiences another time. 'A Lighthouse in Time' explores this possibility as the kids investigate the old ruined lighthouse at Cape St George in Jervis Bay. I have been told by delighted readers that it is even scarier than some Harry Potter books. Buy a copy today or on Feb 29, and a school in need down the coast will receive a free copy.

You can purchase a copy here.

Update to this post: Yesterday, 25th Feb, it was announced that I have made the Adaptable shortlist. I’m off to Queensland in April to pitch Fossil Frenzy to producers. Yay, so excited!

I hope I have inspired you to stop and make a special plan for that extra day this month. How will you spend your extra day? Please leave a comment in the section below.

Before you leave, if you enjoyed this post, please consider reading the other #Gr8Blogs about how they'll celebrate a year with an extra day on 29 February..

Cat Michaels - Five Easy Things You Can Do with Your Extra 24 Hours on Leap Day

Rebecca Lyndsey - Very Superstitious...

Rosie Russell - We're Leaping and Hopping for Leap Year 2020

Julie Gorges - How Baby Boomers Can Make Leap Day Count!

Jim Milson - Happy Leap Year Day! What Will You Do With Your Extra Time?

Carmela Dutra - How to Take a Leap on Leap Day

Auden Johnson- How Will You Spend Your Extra Day This Leap Year?

https://www.audenjohnson.com/2020/02/how-will-you-spend-your-extra-day-this.html

Chris Gorges - A Rare Gift https://aslbasics.com/?p=359

Julie Schooler - https://julieschooler.com/3-easy-ways-to-make-february-29th-your-best-leap-day-ever/

December Dreaming - 5 Ways Looking Back Can Help You Look Forward

Not only is 2019 coming to a close, but so we find ourselves at the end of another decade. It’s a time to reflect on what we have achieved and consider where we want to head in the next ten years. With this in mind, My #Gr8Blogs writerly pals and I are diving deep into a special year-end blog hop, December Dreamin.’
Was 2019 a crazy roller coaster ride for you? Smooth sailing? Full of milestone events? It’s been a huge year for me creatively, I have learnt so much.

Join me as ’I remember the happy moments as well as lessons learned from challenges this past year in “My Ups, Downs, and In Betweens on the 2019 Writing Road.” Check out my personal reveals, then visit the other #Gr8Blogs linked at the end of the post for more shared recollections. We hope you'll be inspired to dive into special December Dreams of your own!

It has been an incredible year for me, I have had much writing success and travelled quite a bit due to John’s work. Along the road there have also been disappointments that natural come with submitting work to competitions and publishers. Rejections are a normal part of this writing life. We have to accept them, and move on. I like to focus on the positive aspects of life, so together let’s take a look at what I have learned this year.

Be Brave

I don’t know about you, it’s amazing how many times I ask myself, am I good enough? It doesn’t matter how far down this writing road I come, I still question whether my writing is worthy, will kids want to read my stories? That impostor syndrome seems to like to stay tucked nice and comfy in my mind.

This year was my year to be brave and send my writing out to more possibilities. By being brave to submit my work to competitions and enter a writing proposal, I had successes that I never thought possible before.

The competition was to write a scary story suitable for readers aged 8-12 years, but not too spooky that it would frighten them. I had written a spooky story once before and had it published in an adult anthology, could I write a story to fit these guideline? I had the spark of an idea, it was a combination of something my Dad used to say to us when we went on holidays and a memory of an experience I had in Scotland back in 2010. Put the two thoughts together and I arrived with my story, ‘The Dead Centre of Town.’ Once written I was brave enough to hit the send button and submit it to ‘Share Your Story.’ A couple of months later, I heard the good news, I had won a place in the Share Your Story Spooktacular Stories - Thrilling Tales for Brave Kids.

Around the same time I found the request from Library For All for proposals to write a story for their new ‘Disaster’ series. They were looking for stories to be made into graphic novels for young and struggling readers in remote and rural regions of Papua New Guinea. The topics included, cyclones, bushfires, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. The story had to be fiction but also had to include ways to teach how to survive these disasters in this region along with characters that were relateable to the indigenous reader. As I was travelling back and forth to PNG, I did my research and came up with an idea. My proposal was accepted, then the difficult task of completing the story in 1,500 words began. My initial story was completed at 2,000 words, a little longer than it should have been. I was asked to reduce it to 1,200, which I found quite difficult. It takes bravery to cut your words to fit a story under specific guidelines into such a tight word limit. However, I was brave enough to make the cuts, the story is better for it and ‘Cyclone Kayla’ will be released in PNG and Australia sometime soon when the graphic illustrations are completed, (not by me).

It is being brave enough to put my work out there, that I now have four self-published books, two traditionally published books and six stories in four anthologies. That’s a lot of stories being read by kids around Australia and overseas. With a bit of luck, there’s still plenty more to come.

I have entered other competitions this year without success, but that’s okay, I am still learning and still trying.

My takeaway from this - If you aren’t brave and willing to give something a go, you will never know the wonderful opportunities that are possible. Looking ahead, I will be entering more competitions and searching for further opportunities as we head into 2020 and beyond. What do you need to do to be braver next year?

Be Consistent

If you want to achieve anything, you need to be consistent, show up and do the work.

I have been extremely busy since August with the book launch of ‘A Lighthouse in Time’ the Adamson Adventures 2, and then the two anthologies, ‘Spooktacular Stories’ and the “CKT Story Collection 2.’ While all the events have been a lot of fun, they would not have been possible without the hard work first. It is consistency writing nearly every day that helps me reach my goals. That and being consistent meeting wonderful supportive author friends at the National Library of Australia nearly every Wednesday. Their support helps keep me on track, determined more than ever to show up at my desk and keep creating.

Even among the chaos and fun of book launches, school visits and author events, I still look forward to the time most days when I am consistently writing. Good habits form when you do them all the time, the brain is more creative and I am generally more satisfied. It is because of this habit forming that I can say the first draft of ‘Fossil Frenzy’ the Adamson Adventures 3, is now complete. The editing process will begin shortly after Christmas. I can’t wait to share it with you hopefully come August 2020.

The next chapter book may be drafted, but I am now in the middle of a Junior Fiction course, that is all about consistency. Showing up daily to write a quota of words, no matter how small, means each day you are one step closer to reaching your goal. Every word written today, is one more word than you had yesterday. This is a brand new story that has me all excited as it is something I have never tried writing before, the ideas and possibilities are endless, I can see the spark of a new series forming.

My takeaway from this - no matter what your goal is, show up, be consistent and you will keep moving forward. Looking ahead, I can’t wait to write and meet new characters and stories in 2020 and beyond. Are you consistent with your endeavours or a bit haphazard in your plans and goals?

Leave Your Comfort Zone Behind

Being brave this year, also meant having the courage to step outside my comfort zone and leave it behind. I am a typical Cancer, happiest when left to hide away in my little cosy shell not taking risks and putting myself out there to be judged.

This was my year to challenge that comfy couch. It all began when I agreed to attend the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) National Conference. Although I was only an attendee not a speaker, I did have the opportunity to be at a book signing table with other CBCA (ACT) members. This lead to my being invited to speak at this years ‘Romancing the Stars’ CBCA (ACT) event a month later. While I am accustomed to speaking in front of groups of kids, (as a former teacher, I have no issues there,) speaking to an audience of adults is another prospect entirely. With butterflies in my stomach, I walked to the front, holding my notes in my shaking hand. But once I started telling my story, something strange happened, I began to relax and forgot all about my notes. I can almost go so far as saying, I enjoyed myself.

After that experience, I accepted the opportunity to speak at the Canberra Writer’s Festival. My nerves were not too bad that day, my audience was both parents and children. As part of the advertising for that festival, we were asked to create a video for social media. That really was way out of my comfort zone. I am practising to improve on this, and who knows, you may see more videos from me next year.

My takeaway - Unless you are prepared to leave your comfort zone behind, you never know what you can do. Looking ahead, stay tuned for appearances and more videos, even if they are somewhat embarrassing. What will you do to leave your comfort zone behind?

Show Gratitude

I am thankful every day for the connections and friendships I have made in recent years being part of the community of children’s writers in the ACT and online in writing groups such as Share Your Story and the Duck Pond. It is through knowing and connecting in a positive way that has lead me on to opportunities and opened up possibilities. I am so grateful to be included along with Jacqueline de Rose-Ahern and Kerry Malone in founding the Story Creators Community which we hope will continue to grow in 2020 as we foster and mentor other creative people towards their goals. I know that without the support of these amazing people both on and offline I would not be as far in my writing career as I am today. I still have a long way to go, however I am mindful and grateful to everyone that shares my creative spirit.

Another note worthy of mention is my gratitude to Speech Pathology Australia for recognising the value in ‘Secrets Hidden Below,’ the Adamson Adventures 1, and shortlisting it in their Book of the Year Awards. I am honoured to have one of my stories not only considered but deemed worthy of such an important industry award.

My takeaway - Find your tribe and be grateful for them. Whether you are a children’s author like me, an illustrator, an adult fiction writer, musician or whatever your creative pursuit, there is a group out there for you, and they will help you move forward just by being there to share your wins and commiserate your losses. There is strength in sharing and connecting with like-minded friends. Looking ahead I will continue to be grateful for my tribe every day and never take them for granted. Who are you most grateful for?

Allow yourself Time For Family and Friends.

Life can get pretty busy with events, engagements and social occasions, it is hard to fit everything in. You have to learn to say no, sorry I can’t do that, (because it’s not possible to do everything for everyone). When all is said and done family come first. Relationships with those closest to you must be nurtured. I find myself in the awkward predicament where my husband is working overseas in a position that makes planning or scheduling time together quite hard. Most of my events need to be booked months in advance, his timetable changes daily. So I try to be flexible and take my laptop and fly around Australia to meet him in whatever city he happens to be in. July, he phoned me from Indonesia to say he had a four day weekend in Jakatarta, could I meet him? I met him in Bali instead. We had four beautiful relaxing days and I managed a bit of book marketing while I was there. I then agreed to fly on to Jakarta with him, then Singapore and back to Port Moresby. A four day long weekend turned into two weeks away. This was only possible because I can be flexible with my time and laptop, however, I did need to return home after that as August and September were fully booked with book launches and school visits. Hubby is home for the next four weeks over Christmas and New Year, so I will not be writing or spending much time on social media. This next four weeks is all important family time. We don’t get to spend enough time together so must cherish the time we do have.

My takeaway - Make time for yourself, your friends and most of all your loved ones. Time is precious and time with family is the most precious of all. Looking forward I will continue to do my best to maintain a healthy balance between my writerly life and my family. How do you manage to fit it all in?

Before you go , some of my writing friends are remembering seasonal family traditions in their December Dreaming. Why not stop by their blogs and see their recollections too. To get you started, here’s the link to one of my past memories, then visit my other #Gr8tblog friends too.

I wish you all the best for the Christmas and holiday season, no matter how you chose to celebrate.

Tis The Season for Holiday Traditions

Cat Michaels

Rebecca Lyndsey

Julie Gorges

Rosie Russell

Julie Schooler

James Milson

The Fun of Book Launches and School Visits.

One of the best things about being a children’s author, is being able to take kids along on an adventure with you through story time fun. Over the past month I have launched the second book in my Adamson Adventures, A Lighthouse in Time. This has given me the opportunity to do just that.

During the official book launch at Paperchain bookstore in Manuka and throughout the many school visits I did, kids were enthralled with my story telling as I took them on a journey from my inspiration behind writing the book to decisions I made by asking those constant what if questions. Every time I began my cutting out story, you could hear a proverbial pin drop in the room as every pair of eyes gazed in wonder and amazement at what I was saying and doing. Their faces lit up with awe when the final shape was revealed. I had them not only intrigued with the story but hooked on reading.

Kids ask the best questions and I always answer them as best I can. Here are a few samples along with my answers.

1. Who is your favourite character? My characters are like my children, I love them all equally and individually for their own unique personalities.

2. How do you make your books so realistic and interesting? I like to set my stories in real places. That means I can do lots of research about the area, explore and take plenty of photos and add little bits of information into the story to make it more real. Kind of like adding non-fiction to a fiction story but then expanding on it and having a bit of fun with it. Naturally the caves at Caves beach don’t go back as near as far as I take them in the book, but it adds to the mystery and intrigue by creating a sense of drama and wonder. By the time we finish talking about the Jervis Bay area, Cape St George Lighthouse, Caves Beach, and Wreck Bay, they all want to go down the coast for a visit.

3. When did you start writing the book? When I explain to the kids just how long a book can take from the initial idea, to writing the first draft, then re-writing and editing many, many times before I am happy with a final draft, they are amazed. I have been showing them the original handwritten manuscript where they can see all the scribbles and changes. This brings more astonishment as they realise even authors make a mess when they are starting out planning their story. Kids learn from this that it is ok to make a mess. Ideas and creativity flows better when you are not concentrating on grammar, spelling and neatness. That can all come later.

Sometimes great questions come from parents, teachers and other authors too. During my story time session at the Canberra Writers Festival and my South Coast book launch with the Shellharbour Writer’s & Illustrators group I had to stop and think quickly when asked these two.

1. Are you concerned with the lack of girls as main characters in children’s books? And do you feel you have a responsibility towards including them? My initial manuscript for Secrets Hidden Below contained three brothers as the characters. It wasn’t until my publisher pointed this out that I had to rethink it. As my characters were based on my own three sons, it seemed natural and fine to me. However, my publisher pointed out, and rightly so, that the books would appeal to a wider audience if one of my characters was a girl. I had to agree. That being said, I feel there are plenty of books coming out these days with great strong female lead characters, let’s not forget our boys still need to want to read too. It’s a fine balance to get right.

2. What is your favourite scene in your newest book, A Lighthouse in Time? I had to think long and hard about this one. Then I remembered the feeling I had when I re-read the manuscript after leaving it to rest for a few months. When I reached a certain part in the story I had tingles. I sat and thought, ‘wow, did I really write that?’ I’m not going to give the scene away, you’ll have to read the book and decide for yourself which scene you think I might be talking about.

I loved being swamped by kids asking for my autograph. I felt special and was honoured by how excited they all were to meet me. I was even stopped on the stairs outside the National Library of Australia as I left after my session at the Canberra Writer’s Festival. A young fan who had just bought A Lighthouse in Time raced over to greet me, show me she had the book and eagerly pulled a pen from her bag for me to sign her copy. It made my day.

Do you attend book launches and events? What are some of your most memorable experiences? Let’s chat in the comment section below.

A Lighthouse in Time is now available here on my website along with Secrets Hidden Below. https://sandrabennettauthor.com/books#the-adamson-adventures

Or through Elephant Tree Publishing.

https://elephanttreepublishing.com.au/current-titles/

Both books are also available through your local bookstore. If they don’t have either of them, simply ask them to order through Peribo Distributors.

5 Reasons to Support Independent Bookshops

In honour of Book Lovers' Day on 9 August, my writerly pals and I are sharing all the ways we adore reading with the #BookLuvHop.. We all love books in one shape or another, but do you still buy print books or do you prefer your stories to come from you direct via an ebook? The day after Book Lovers’ Day is Love Your Bookshop Day and I plan to convince you why your local bookshop should be loved.

When I’m done, visit the awesome bloggers listed at the end of this post and find more ways to share your bookish passions. And hey if you blog, add your feedback and share your family-friendly blog link in our comment section, and we'll spread blog love your way!

Listed below, and in no particular order, are 5 reasons why we should support and love our local Independent Bookshops.

1. Among their friendly interior you will find more than the average popular books

You will find original, quirky, fun, mysterious and intriguing books that are different, often new and sometimes old or even secondhand. Books that have a wonderful smell of their own as you turn the pages. Books for learning, exploring or escaping to new worlds and adventures. The new Harry Hartog at the Australian National University, is two floors of bookish fun to explore. It not only supplies text books to university students, but has devoted the entire second floor to second hand books. There is even space for book launches and writing workshops.

The new Harry Hartog on the Australian National University Campus

2. Local Bookshops support local authors

When the big guys won’t carry your small press publication, it’s the little Independent local guys that are willing to take a chance on you. This Love Your Bookshop Day, Saturday 10th August 2019, Harry Hartog Woden is supporting local authors. Their theme for the day is Love Your Local Author and they are holding a day of celebrations where local authors will have an opportunity to sign copies of their books throughout the day. I will be there signing copies of Secrets Hidden Below from 11:00 am. What better way to meet a bunch of local authors in one place than a rotating line-up of book signings.

My Book signing at Harry Hartog Woden last year.

3. Book Launches

Local bookshops are always willing to help promote an author’s latest release by hosting a book launch. Paperchain Book store in Manuka has always been happy to promote my next book. I have held a book launch there for all five of my books so far and they will be hosting my next book launch on 17th August 2019 at 2:00 pm for my new adventure A Lighthouse in Time - The Adamson Adventures, Book 2. I invite you to come and join in the fun and find out about the secrets that lurk among the shadows of the lighthouse.

Book Launch at Paperchain Manuka

4. Make a great meeting place

If you are meeting one person or a group of friends, a bookshop is a great place to arrange to meet. You can pull up a chair in a cosy corner and read while you are waiting, no one will mind at all. You never know who you might bump into. With all the fun events taking place, there is always someone to meet and greet.

Catching up with fellow local authors at Harry Hartog Woden.

5. Atmosphere

Independent book stores have a unique atmosphere. Often cosy, warm and friendly, like Harry Hartog at Woden and ANU or Paperchain. They welcome you in their doors with their inviting nature of old world charm. While others are bright and vibrantly coloured like the National Library of Australia Bookshop with its stained glass windows that draw you in, demanding to be inspected. Different styles, but both just as enticing. Once inside, you can’t help but browse the shelves. I dare you to try to walk out empty handed.

The Bookshop at the National Library of Australia.

Can you walk passed your local bookshop without entering?

Show them some love this Saturday 10th August, support your local bookshop and your local authors.

What book will you choose to buy?

Thanks for visiting. Please visit these awesome bloggers next, who will inspire you and make you smile with more book loving in the #BookLuvHop

Cat Michaels http://bit.ly/31eJSyE_CatMichaels

Rosie Russell https://booksbyrose.com/book-lovers-day-hop/?fbclid=IwAR20diFcHyELHrY7v9ZDM92yVK0z3ZBD9WTpAUA2nt9Kjp_97VtnRbuPjW0

Rebecca Lyndsey https://rebeccalyndsey.blogspot.com/2019/08/for-love-ofbooks.html

Auden Johnson https://www.audenjohnson.com/2019/08/book-lovers-blog-hope-best-fantasy-book.htm

Auden Johnson James Milson https://wp.me/p3RsfU-2BZ

How Do You Face Your Fears?

As an introverted author I’d rather sit at home in front of my computer and write, but the reality is sometimes we have to help people know about our stories if we hope to sell any books. In life, we all have certain fears.

For kids, it might be fear of the dark, for an adult it might be a fear of huge creepy crawly spiders or slithery snakes. What is your fear? We all have them in one way or another.

But we have a choice :

I recently bought and read a beautiful picture book by fellow Canberra author, Mitch Frost, all about helping kids facing their fear of the dark. The Ultimate Survival Guide to Monsters Under The Bed, is superbly written and vibrantly illustrated. With ten ‘scientifically proven,’ reassuring steps to prepare for bedtime, no child will ever be afraid of monsters creeping out of those dark places in their bedroom again. Kids will learn to face their fear in a humours look at the bedtime routine that will even tickle a parent’s funny bone. Kids previously afraid of monsters, and their parents, will have a much better night sleep. I recommend this book for parents of any child 3 and over that is too frightened to turn out that night light or sleep in their own bed.

A couple of years ago, I too, wrote a picture book to help kids learn to face their fears. Frazzled Freya was a frill-neck lizard who had to learn to face everything and rise, but not before she continued to forget everything and run. Freya had to make a choice, and step out of her comfort zone if she was ever going to join her friends and play and have fun in the desert sun. She too, was afraid of monsters, but her monsters were very different to those hiding under the bed.

This year, I have been more determined than ever to take my own advice and stop running, face my fears and rise to each occasion that presents itself. That means showing up at conferences and festivals, mingling in person. Taking more risks to put myself out there, not only with manuscript assessments but talking more about my established body of work. Talking about myself and my books with and to my peers does not come easy for me. that’s why agreeing to talk to a room full of teacher librarians at our recent CBCA ACT meeting was rather daunting. But instead of running from the experience, I took a few deep breaths and faced it head on. Once I started, I relaxed and to my surprise, with my notes in my hand as a safety net, I didn’t need to read them at all. I admit, once I sat down and allowed myself to breath again, I remembered I had forgotten a couple of things, but overall I did a pretty decent talk, I was able to give myself a well earned pat on the back. It wasn’t so scary after all. The best part of doing this, was sharing the experience with five other awesome local Canberra authors, Samantha Tidy, Shelly Unwin, Krys Saclier, Mitch Frost and Cate Whittle.

The next step, was to embrace making a short video clip. At first this felt majorly impossible. Take after take, my tongue tied and my throat dried up. I had a brain freeze and forgot my lines so many times. I almost gave up, the flight receptors in my brain were at an all time high. But I had made a promise to myself,, this was the year I was going to fight those fears. I sought an alternative way to make the video. I can’t give away too much just yet, suffice to say, I did it. I still wasn’t completely happy with it, I admit I did stumble a few times, but I did the best I could and sent it off. Keep a lookout on my Facebook page, I’ll be able to reveal it there soon.

My five take home points for facing your fears are:

1. Find helpful books to read..

2. Take one small step at a time.

3. It takes practice to conquer your fears.

4. Remember to breathe - Deep, slow breaths.

5. Just have a go, regardless of the outcome, be prepared to put yourself out there.

What are your worst fears?

What are some of the tips or strategies you could share to help others overcome their fears?

I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments section below.

Where Do You Find Ideas for Stories?

Stories , like people, come in all shapes, sizes and genres. Each one is different and unique in its own way. With the exciting cover reveal of A Lighthouse in Time, Book 2 of the Adamson Adventures, my new chapter book for middle grade readers this week, I thought we might take a look at finding story ideas.

In case you missed it, drum roll please…. here is the cover for - A Lighthouse in Time. The Adamson Adventures. Book 2.

When I do school visits, one of the questions that kids always ask is, ‘Where do you find your ideas?’

My answer, basically, ‘Stories are all around us. You just have to look and listen.’

Story ideas can come from - talking to other people. Kids, have amazing imaginations, a conversation can spark a fabulous idea. I have often been heard to say, ‘There’s a story in that.’

- everyday life experiences. The things we see and do can inspire a great adventure. Just sit, listen and observe people. It’s amazing the ideas that will spring to mind.

- memories are powerful tools. We can reflect back on the past, growing up as kids ourselves or from observing our own kids grow. Our memories make our writing voice more authentic and original.

- special events. Christmas, birthdays, even a wedding can create possibilities and help present stories of cultural diversity.

- other books. When you read a lot you travel into new and different worlds. A line from a story can set you off on a completely different tangent, leading to exploring and making discoveries of your own.

- prompts. I belong to a Facebook group that has a one word prompt every week. It is the 52 Week Picture Book Challenge. We are one month into the next year and I already have the ideas for four intriguing stories. By the end of a year, I should have the beginnings of 52 new possible stories. How exciting is that! They won’t all be necessarily picture books, some might be chapter books, the possibilities are endless.

So, where do my specific story ideas come from?

Let’s start with my new upcoming children’s chapter book for ages 8-12 years, A Lighthouse in Time.

For me, the ideas tend to come from memories and experiences. A Lighthouse in Time is no different. For as long as I can remember I have been intrigued by lighthouses. On many a driving holiday around our magnificent Australian coastline, if I spot a lighthouse, I must visit it. To explore inside and climb the winding stairs all the way to the top, is even better! I’ve collected lots of photos and statues of lighthouses from every one we have visited. Imagine my curiosity when we discovered the remains of the Cape St George lighthouse only 2 1/2 hours drive from home.

Our boys were in their early teens then and every January we had a camping holiday at Merry Beach on the NSW South Coast. Mr B being a surfer from way back, was always in search of that perfect wave. So we would explore all the beaches within a days drive of our campsite. To my delight we found and spent time at Caves Beach and the lighthouse. The more visits we made to the area, the more my curiosity grew. Caves on a beach, an area called Wreck Bay and a mysterious old lighthouse. What more could a children’s author ask for? I had to learn more about why this lighthouse had been demolished. I could see the seeds of an idea growing. The lighthouse had to be haunted. Slowly, with careful nurturing the idea grew into something a little more substantial.

Cape St George Lighthouse as it remains today.

An artist’s impression of the lighthouse in the 1800’s.

When Elephant tree Publishing offered me a contract for Secrets Hidden Below and asked whether I could use the siblings to make a series, I immediately thought of this partially written story. I hope when you read it, you will enjoy the adventure as much as I did writing it.

Most of you know by now the story behind the idea for Secrets Hidden Below. Again it evolved from memories and experiences. It was a holiday to Bali with the family many years ago where it all began. I loved the culture and was fascinated by the geography and wanted to write a story for children about this beautiful island that they could enjoy while on holidays. Mr B had already spent several years working in and out of Indonesia, so the family was familiar with Bahasa. After our incredible holiday in Bali, it seemed a natural progression for me to extend my teaching by learning Indonesian and become a LOTE teacher. After further study on Bali and writing, I became confident I was equipped with the language, experiences and knowledge to be able to write Secrets Hidden Below. I recently found an old photo album of that initial Balinese holiday and would like to share a few memories here with you. Just a note, these were taken back in the mid 1990’s, so the quality is not as good as today.

Tanah Lot Temple

Offerings to the Gods at the Temple. Balinese people are very superstitious.

Ubud

Inside a Woodcarving shop at Ubud.

Mt Batur Volcano

Mt Batur Crater Lake

Curious about the third book in the series? The seedlings from another life experience are growing. Where are the Adamson family heading next? Hint : There is no surf in sight, Dad will not be happy, but Zac will be living his wildest dreams. That is, until they become Luke’s greatest desires instead. The title for Book 3 of the Adamson Adventures is Fossil Frenzy. Can you guess where it might be set?

Now it’s your turn.

How do you come up with story ideas

Are they similar to my suggestions or do you have alternative methods? Let me know in the comments section below.

Planning a Trip to Bali with Kids? You Need This!

Are you planning a holiday in Bali?

Do you have kids?

Whether you are going during school holidays or school term, I have found the ideal way to keep the kids entertained and occupied.

Let’s face it, kids get bored easily. From the minute you are on the plane, the ‘Are we there yet?’ questions begin. You don’t want them to spend the entire holiday on their mobile devices but what else can you do?

I have found the perfect solution. - ‘My Awesome Bali Adventure - A Travel Journal For Kids, written by Eliza McCann and Phillip Gwynne. It has everything you are searching for to keep the kids busy and have a memento of their awesome holiday.

From the minute you step onto the plane until you return home, this journal has it all.

There are questions to complete about their flight and information about Bali to get the kids excited. One of the things I love about this journal is that it is suitable for all the family.. Kids will enjoy the word searches, crosswords and puzzles, younger kids have the opportunity to colour and play spot the difference, While there are also plenty of pages for the older kids to write about their experiences.

Bahasa Indonesia is of cause the main language spoken in Bali, and throughout the journal there are plenty of fun ways to learn a little Bahasa by completing fun activities.

In fact there is so much information packed into this journal, I can’t believe someone hasn’t thought of it before. Your kids will treasure this book for years to come. There are even spaces for all sorts of cool stuff that the kids have collected. They can glue in boarding passes from the plane trips, entry tickets to places they have been to in Bali or perhaps even that menu from a favourite restaurant. I was lucky to receive a couple of postcards with mine, maybe you will too.

As a former Indonesian teacher and a parent, I can see that this is packed full of value. Worried the kids are missing out on all that learning at school? Worry no more, they will learn so much language, culture, geography, even a little natural science from completing this journal and take home amazing life experiences that they can never learn in the classroom. Best of all they will have had an Awesome Bali Adventure.

To purchase a copy of this fantastic journal head on over to Eliza’s website -

https://www.myawesomeadventure.com/

Connect with Eliza and check out more on this awesome idea -

https://www.facebook.com/MyAwesomeAdventure/

https://twitter.com/@kidstravelbook

https://www.instagram.com/awesomeadventurejournals/

https://www.pinterest.com.au/myawesomebaliad/

Looking for an awesome Bali Adventure to read with the kids while on holiday too?

Don’t forget to check out my own chapter book for kids aged 7-12, ‘Secrets Hidden Below.’ Join the Adamson family in an adventure of secrets, mystery and intrigue. There is pirate treasure to be found, but beware the guardian snake, lots of rotten-egg gas and a volcano spirit you don’t dare to anger.

To learn more about ‘Secrets Hidden Below,’ you can find it right here on my website. Simply click on the link at the top of the page to my books.

If you arrive in Bali and still haven’t purchased a copy of these awesome adventures, don’t fret. ‘My Awesome Bali Adventure’ is available in all Periplus bookstores throughout Bali.

‘Secrets Hidden Below’ is available at Ganesha in Ubud, Biku in Seminyak and will soon be arriving on the shelves at Spellbound in Seminyak.

Are you planning a holiday in Bali? What are you looking forward to most of all? Please leave a comment below.