I met an Icon of Australian Picture Books.

I met Mem Fox!

Such an incredible icon of children’s picture books, Mem Fox, and little ol’ me.

Mem Fox has been writing picture books for forty years. Several generations have now grown up delighting in the joys of her books, especially Possum Magic and Where is the Green Sheep? among so many others. Imagine my delight to be able to meet and chat with this incredible international best-selling author and icon of Australian children’s literature.

I was invited to attend Goulburn Bookfest again this year, which is held every two years in the Goulburn Mulwarree Library.

Goulburn is a lovely little country town in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, just an hour drive north-east of Canberra and about two hours or so, driving south-west of Sydney.

Each bookfest, famous authors are invited to present talks, workshops and hold debates over a Friday night and Saturday. It is a great opportunity for the readers of the community to come together to learn from these amazingly talented people. It is also a wonderful opportunity for local authors to become involved through participating in the Author Alley that lines the library as people head towards one of the rooms where the presentations are held.

The Author Alley at Goulburn Bookfest.

The Author Alley at Goulburn Bookfest.

A couple of days before I attended I posted a comment on Facebook that I hoped I would have the chance to meet Mem Fox, but I doubted I would have any possibility of that dream coming true. Mem was one of the first speakers in the room near where I was sitting with my books. It was a great spot to be able to snap a photo through the window, even though I couldn’t hear whatever she was speaking about. I was satisfied with that and didn’t give it another thought throughout the day.

Mem Fox speaking to a sold-out crowded room of fans.

Fast forward to just after 5 pm and I decided it was probably time I took my cup back to the tearoom to wash it up. To my surprise and delight, guess who was sitting in there having a quiet coffee? Mem Fox was chatting to only one other person. The rest of the room was empty, so I asked if I could join them. After a while, I was brave enough to ask if I could go and get my phone to take a quick selfie with her. Mem Fox was so gracious and kind and of course agreed. It was such a special moment, you can see the excitement on my face. This will be a memory that will last a life-time for this somewhat unknown children’s author,

Mem Fox and me.

I didn’t get the chance to meet Kate Forsyth, that too would have been a dream come true. I have previously done a writing masterclass with her, which I adored. At least, I managed another quick photo through the glass while she presented.

mot the greatest photo of Kate Forsyth, but at least a took one.

Then there is the wonderful illustrator Danielle McDonald. I have known Danielle for many years as we have both been members of SCBWI ACT for ages. We don’t get the chance to catch-up very often, but it is absolutely lovely when we do. Danielle is kept very busy illustrating the junior fiction series The Ella Diaries written by Meredith Costain. as well as other series by the same amazing author.

The wonderful illustrator Danielle McDonald and I.

I also enjoyed sharing the day with my writing buddy Jacqueline De Rose-Ahern who had the table next to mine. Jacqui and I have been helping each other along this writing journey for many years, encouraging each other and helping with editing. It is always a privilege to spend time with her and push each other out of our comfort zones. We had fun chatting with the other authors lining the alley, including a few mischievous games to keep us occupied when things were quiet that were spurred on by the hilarious Rhian Williams. I think Rhian could have kept us entertained for hours.

My wonderful friend and fellow author, Jacqueline De Rose-Ahern.

It is always such a joy to spend a day with other like minded people who like writing books and sharing their knowledge about marketing, writing or whatever.

If you could spend a day with an author who would it be?

Who is the one famous author you dream of meeting?

Teaching Resources for Tracks in the Mist

Teaching resources for a children’s book are often part of the package. They are an essential resource to use in the classroom when reading with students for an holistic and educational response to the book. Teachers appreciate resources that cover every part of the curriculum and when they find these readily available are more likely to select your book for use. Often authors take this for granted.

Here on my website you will find resources available for Fossil Frenzy, A Lighthouse in Time and Frazzled Freya. I have had the resources for Dragons Drumming and now Tracks in the Mist, ready for some time, however I am still waiting for my website manager, my son, to get around to setting up their pages. It seems you can’t get good tech support these days when it’s free. Haha.

In the meantime, for those teacher/librarians who may wish to take advantage of the resources for Tracks in the Mist, I am posting them here. These are with great thanks to Romi Sharp from Just Write For Kids On an Educational Hike with Tracks in the Mist who spent much time reading, researching and planning these activities for me.

Tracks in the Mist the Adamson Adventures 4

Middle grade readers will be gripped with their sturdiest hiking boots in this mysterious, intrepid mission to save more than one beloved creature. Tracks in the Mist is the highly-anticipated finale in the Adamson Adventures series by Sandra Bennett for readers from age eight to twelve (and beyond). Today we will explore a few ideas to incorporate into your lessons following your reading, including English, Science/STEAM, Sustainability and Visual Arts. So, let’s get tracking!

Discussion 

Before Reading: Ask students to recall the story of the Adamson siblings and their adventures so far. What do you think Tracks in the Mist might be about? What does the cover make you wonder?

After Reading:

Where did the story take place? Are you familiar with this area? Locate the area on a map.

What did you learn about the characters? Were any of their behaviours surprising, predictable, or unexpected?

How did the findings of the captive animals make you feel?

What is the main lesson or messages the author is intending to portray?

What is your favourite part, and why?

Has this book inspired you to learn more and act on wildlife conservation practices? Why, and how will you go about it?

Activities

For ages 8 to 12.

English

Character Profile

Years 3 & 4 English: AC9E3LA02 AC9E3LA06 AC9E3LA07 AC9E3LA08 AC9E4LA08 AC9E4LA11

Years 5 & 6 English: AC9E5LA08 AC9E5LE03 AC9E5LE04 AC9E5LE05 AC9E6LE05

Create a character profile sheet about one of the main characters, Luke, Clare or Zac, or Zoe the Demon Duck of Doom. Include adjectives, fun facts and a picture. Think about the way they speak/act, their impact on others and what they look like.

Persuasive Writing

Years 3 & 4 English: AC9E3LA03 AC9E3LA04 AC9E4LA03 AC9E4LA04 AC9E4LA09 AC9E4LA12 AC9E4LE02 AC9E3LE03 AC9E4LE03 AC9E3LE05 AC9E4LE05 AC9E3LY06 AC9E3LY07 AC9E4LY06 AC9E4LY07

Years 5 & 6 English: AC9E5LA04 AC9E6LA08 AC9E5LE04 AC9E5LE05 AC9E6LE05 AC9E5LY03 AC9E5LY06 AC9E5LY07 AC9E6LY06 AC9E6LY07

Choose the viewpoint of either the siblings or the researchers and write a persuasive text either arguing for or against the need to study a prehistoric creature, such as the Demon Duck of Doom or the Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger), if you were to come across one in the wild. Include an introductory paragraph with their opinion, supporting arguments and a conclusion to sum up their reasoning.

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics)

Animal Study and 3D Model

Years 3 & 4 Science: Biological sciences: AC9S3U01 AC9S4U01 AC9S4H01 AC9S3H02 AC9S3I01 AC9S4I01 AC9S3I02 AC9S4I03 AC9S3I04 AC9S4I04 AC9S3I05 AC9S3I06 AC9S4I06

Years 5 & 6 Science: Biological sciences: AC9S5U01 AC9S6U01 AC9S5H01 AC9S6H01 AC9S5U04 AC9S5H02 AC9S6H02 AC9S5I01 AC9S5I02 AC9S6I02 AC9S6I03 AC9S5I04 AC9S5I05 AC9S6I05 AC9S5I06 AC9S6I06

Years 3 & 4 Visual Art: AC9AVA4E01 AC9AVA4D01 AC9AVA4C01 AC9AVA4P01

Years 5 & 6 Visual Art: AC9AVA6E01 AC9AVA6D01 AC9AVA6C01 AC9AVA6P01

Cross-curriculum priority – Sustainability: SS2 SW1 SD1 SD2 SD3

Additional information on the animals from Tracks in the Mist the Adamson Adventures 4.

Students research and write / draw about their favourite animal from Tracks in the Mist (refer to the index ‘About the Animals’), including our present-day wildlife. Find out about its characteristics, special abilities, habitat, food, breeding, and so on.

Students can:

• Write and complete a detailed diagram about the animal’s life cycle.

• Research and write a report / chart / slideshow all about their chosen animal, including interesting facts and information, a map of their location, and photos and pictures.

• Make a 3D sculpture of their animal using natural or recycled/upcycled materials.

• Find out conservation methods to ensure the survival of their animal (or what has been done in the past).

• Share their findings and encourage sustainability and wildlife conservation practices amongst the community.

Animal tracks from Tracks in the Mist the Adamson Adventures 4.

Animal Tracks

Students study different animal tracks with the following activities:

• Refer to the index of Tracks in the Mist: ‘Animal Tracks’ for a list of species and their footprints. Discuss what you notice. Compare the shapes, sizes and patterns of the tracks.

• Copy sets of these tracks and play ‘Snap’ or ‘Memory’ and identify the correct animal with the picture.

• Make your own tracks using toys or tools in sand, playdough or dirt. Ask a friend to guess the animal.

• Visit your local garden or park and hunt for animal tracks on the ground. Observe and predict what animal made the tracks. Sketch or photograph your findings.

Do you use teaching resources supplied by authors in your classroom? Do you find them helpful?

As an author, do you supply teaching resources for your books?

A Writer's Pilgrimage

5 Incredible Locations, 5 Amazing Authors.

As someone who loves to read and write and is an advocate for literacy, it’s only natural that when we were on holidays recently, that I would seek out the locations where some of my favourite authors have written their children’s books.

Beatrix Potter

Everyone know this famous writer and illustrator of the most gorgeous picture books with the most absolutely adorable little bunnies and friends as characters. My childhood was filled with her stories as were my children’s and grandchildren’s and I’m sure yours too. While staying in the Lakes District of England it was a definite must that I visited her cosy cottage.

Just a bit of a walk up the hill from the quaint little village of Hawkeshead lies Beatrix Potter’s 17th Century cottage called Hill Top. It was bequeathed to the National Trust along with 4,000 acres and 15 farms when she died in 1943. While the National Trust walks through many of the acres are all free and well maintained trails, there is an entry fee to the cottage, but for fans of Pater Rabbit, it is so worth paying to visit.

Mr McGregor’s vegetable garden is smaller than I expected, but it was wonderful to see it well kept with tools and a watering can left laying around as if Beatrix Potter or Mr McGregor were still there. Inside, as you wander around each little room, there are books open to pages where you can see the scenes that she drew from different perspectives in the house. In one of the rooms upstairs you can try on several hats just like the Puddle-Ducks did in the Tale of Tom Kitten. To my surprise and delight there is also a manuscript draft that you are invited to turn the pages of and look through.

While Beatrix Potter did not actually live in this cottage, her home was another farm across the road that is not open to the public, she did spend many days here finding inspiration and writing. For avid readers of her beautiful tales, this is a must visit place on my tourist list. Bookings are essential as they try to limit the number of people going through at one time.

William Wordsworth

Still in the Lakes District, in Grasmere, the town where we stayed, you will find the William Wordsworth Hotel, the churchyard where he is buried and Dove cottage where he lived with his family from 1799 to 1808. It is said that it is here among the rolling hills around Grasmere that he found most of his inspiration for writing his poetry. Up towards the back of his gardens is a sheltered seated area where he could look out across the valley to the lake and the hills beyond. Sadly there are a few buildings now blocking part of the view, but you can still get an idea of the gorgeous scene that he could see. Wordsworth and his sister walked around the area for miles daily. I certainly took the opportunity to do several beautiful walks myself.

One of his most famous poems is The Daffodils or I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud. Here are the first few lines -

I wandered lonely as a cloud

that floats on high o’ver vale and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd

A host, of golden daffodils.

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

As you sit overlooking Dove Cottage or wander the hills of Grasmere, it is certainly evident how inspired he was to write this poem. As luck would have it, we were there in early Spring when the daffodils were in bloom everywhere, adding to the ambiance and atmosphere.

Inside his cottage is set-up just as Wordsworth left it. You can imagine him writing at the table by the warmth of the fire with his young children playing at his feet. On the property is also a museum where you learn more about this fascinating man and his love for nature. Wordsworth was so forward thinking for his time that not only did he write a guide to the Lakes District for visitors and hikers, he also encouraged the area to become National Property, which later inspired the establishment of the National trust and National Parks. There is also a fee to enter Dove Cottage and the museum, bookings are essential.

J.K. Rowling

On arriving in Edinburgh, one of the first places I wanted to visit was the Elephant Café, known as the place where Jo Rowling penned the first drafts of the Harry Potter books. These books inspired a new generation to read, a generation that included my own three boys. Can you imagine my disappointment when the concierge at our hotel said that the café had burnt down a year ago. We decided to at least take a walk and find the street where it had once stood. To my surprise and delight there was a note on the door that gave directions to the new location where the café had moved to after the fire. It was only a short walk around the corner into the street that is said to have been the inspiration for Diagon Alley. I had wanted to see this street anyway, so it was a bonus to find the Elephant Café now set-up right in the middle of tone side of the street.

As we entered the building and climbed the stairs I was excited and overjoyed. It felt like entering into the world of witchcraft and Harry Potter. We sat at a table by a window that overlooked the incredible scenes of the street below. I found it intoxicating and exhilarating to be there. We sipped on peppermint tea and nibbled delicious mouth-watering shortbread and soaked in the atmosphere.

Memorabilia of J.K. Rowling and her time there was everywhere on the old stone walls and heavy thick timber rafters and window frames. I could image this resembling The Three Broomsticks Inn in Hogsmeade, the village near Hogwarts.

JK Rowling’s writing desk in the original building looked out a window to the view of Edinburgh Castle just a little way up the hill. There is no such window in the new café, instead there is a framed window with the image of the castle just as she would have seen it. While this is obviously an image, it still gives the appearance and feel for what it would have been like to sit there and ponder the drafts while filling her mind with imagination. I was thrilled to be able to write a note in the book placed on the table, maybe one day, JK will read my message.

Hans Christian Anderson

I grew up with the fairy tales of this Danish children’s author. Some of my favourites were, Thumbelina, The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, The Emperor’s New Clothes and The Princess and the Pea, just to name a few.

On arrival in Copenhagen, Denmark, it was wonderful to come across a tall bronze statue of this famous author from my childhood. He is seated wearing a suit and top hat and holds a cane in one hand and a book in the other. We had caught the train into town from Aarhus where my nephew lives, as he was taking us on a walking tour of the city and a visit to the National Museum. I had not given any thought to finding this statue, so when we stumbled across it, I was delighted.

I had hoped however, to see the statue of the Little Mermaid. My nephew was not so keen, he believed it was too touristy and impossible to get a good photo because of all the crowds So I had to be content with a glimpse from the boat while on a river cruise.

He did take us for a walk along the beautiful and colourful canal, and showed me where H.C Anderson had lived. I took a photo of the plaque on the wall and sat on the steps at the front door where he had stepped so many times. The house is in private ownership, so there was no going inside to explore.

Kenneth Grahame

On our return to London, we stayed a few days with Hubby’s cousin. He just so happens to live just around the corner from the woodlands of Bisham near the picturesque village of Cookham Dean with it’s beautiful views over the Thames Valley and river. Kenneth Grahame spent his childhood exploring and playing in these woods and returned as an adult to write the magnificent and memorable Wind in the Willows.

As we roamed the many twisting trails we played spot the squirrel and I could image Toad, Mole, Badger, Ratty and the weasels chasing each other through the long grasses, purple flowering fields and climbing the trees.

Like Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter, I think many people would have fond memories of reading Wind in the Willows during their childhood. I certainly do and loved my afternoon breathing in the fresh country air and filling my mind with imagination.

My writer’s pilgrimage complete, I was ready to come home.

These are my 5 top picks for incredible places to visit about 5 amazing authors. I could have added Alnwick Castle in Northumbria, as it too was so much fun reliving Harry Potter scenes and making memories, but I think this post has been long enough.

If you could travel anywhere in the world to see where your favourite author wrote your favourite book, where would you go and why?

Travel and Adventure Go Hand in Hand.

It’s been a few months since I wrote my monthly blog post. Where have I been? I have been travelling, making memories, experiencing new environments and discovering adventures.

I love nature, and exploring the country is my happy place. This time I was not confined to Australia, as we travelled to the UK and parts of of Europe. It was an experience of a lifetime and inspiration for what I am sure will be at least one new adventure story, if not, a new series.

When we were last in Tasmania, we explored many wilderness areas on foot that culminated in my being able to write Tracks in the Mist, The Adamson Adventures 4. I can only imagine at the moment where my latest adventure will lead my writing.

Several places we visited stood out and are sure to be great resources for my creativity.

The Lakes District, England.

Four places here stood out and set my mind and senses tingling with ideas and possibilities.

Twice we walked around Gracemere Lake and the surrounding hills. We found moss covered dry stone walls, intricate and beautifully designed gates that lead into magnificent gardens that begged me to enter and explore. Sadly they were private, so the gates remained closed, but I did stop to take in the ambience and imagine where the beautiful stone winding path might lead as it wound through thick ferns and gardens, across a stone arched bridge with a babbling brook below and further beyond stone stairs that disappeared among the vibrant green hues of the flora. We followed Heritage Trust trails through meandering fields, along a crystal clear blue water’s edge of the lake and up into the splendour of the mountains. Trails climbed the hillsides rough and rocky at times. We jumped trickling streams and stopped to marvel at the view. Could this be the place where fairies flutter as they scatter and laugh wistfully in the gentle breeze? One trail eventually lead us to a cave. At the entrance it had large stepping-stones through freezing water, the depths of which I didn’t particularly want to fall into. Could this be the opening to a dragon’s lair?

My gloved hands touched cold standing stones in not one, but three stones circles. Only one of these was in the Lakes District, the other two were on the Orkney Islands. Each were however, in open wind swept fields and drizzling rain. Could they be time portals that lead to another dimension? I cannot say, but I did ask my hubby to follow me through just in case I suddenly disappeared.

Then there was the cascading waterfall, with torrents of water that gushed over the edge and roared as it fell to the river waiting below. I traversed many steps and crossed more stone bridges with both the descent and return ascent, all the while wondering what could have been lurking in the rushing water or hiding beneath an arched bridge.

Lastly, an old ruined castle and it’s enticing gardens. I followed a trail through tall trees that first opened to a magnificent view of the sweeping valley below with a little village almost hidden in the distance. Continuing along the track as gravel crunched underfoot I imagined a lost castle snuggled among the thicket of lush green.

Lucerne, Switzerland.

This old town was definitely enchanting as it sat encircling a river and beautiful blue bay. One of the oldest covered wooden bridges in Europe crossed the river in a long arc that invited visitors to traverse as they examined the medieval paintings that adorned its triangular support beams. High atop a hill snuggled behind the town was a magnificent white chateau that beckoned me to explore. This fairy tale castle had to be the home of fantasy and royalty. Timber stair cases with age worn steps climbed as they wound their way up though tall turrets that lead to secret chambers. Long corridors with huge thick timber doors opened into more mysterious rooms. Then hidden out the back beckoned a tall pine forest full of aroma that tingled the senses as I filled my lungs with fresh mountain pine filled air. After passing a massive pile of wood cuttings that instantly brought to mind an old woodcutter spending his days harvesting, I discovered smoke that wafted from a tiny timber cottage. Was it the home of the woodcutter or a witch stirring a cauldron with her latest magic brew? As we followed trails that lead further into the forest I imagined mischievous goblins and pixies that could be a problem to the unsuspecting traveller.

Who knows where these memories will lead my imagination just yet. There was so much atmosphere to soak up that I need a little time to take it all in and let it simmer in my mind. These above mentioned places are just the beginning. I’m sure a story will emerge, just like Tracks in the Mist did after visiting Tasmania. if you’re keen to read how that adventure turned out, or any of the others in the series, you can purchase a signed copy of the book Here.

What sort of adventure do you think I should write from my recent travel experience?

What would you like to see me write next?

Have you ever travelled and thought about turning it into an adventure story?

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

The Key to a Great Book Launch

On Sunday 25th February I held the book launch for Dragons Drumming, my newly released picture book.

Below are my tips for making it a successful day.

Arrange with the book shop well in advance.

We are lucky here in Canberra to have not only a supportive writing community, but a supportive local independent bookshop, The Book Cow - Kingston .Never- the-less it is still important to talk to them well in advance of when you would like to hold your launch. Bookshops are busy places and this one in particular has many events booked well in advance. It’s also a good idea to take the time to get to know the people that run the bookshop, then they will be more open to a discussion about hosting the launch for you.

As luck would have it, the perfect date for the launch coincided with the end of Chinese Luna New Year, and the celebration of the year of the dragon. As such, the bookshop had already organised the Chinese Lion Dancers and drummers that day, so it was perfect for a launch of a book about Dragons Drumming to start immediately after they finished.

Dragons Drumming Book Launch at the Book Cow Kingston.

Chinese Lion Dancers and Drummers celebrating Chinese Luna New Year at the Book Cow Kingston.

Start your marketing campaign early.

Not only is the bookshop a busy place, but families are also busy on weekends. You need to take that into account and give people plenty of notice with your advertising. Set-up a Facebook event page and then invite people to attend. Be specific, don’t invite everyone on your friends list, be practical and invite those who you know live in your area. No one is going to attend from out of town.

The Facebook events page for Dragons Drumming book launch.

Use all your social channels.

Think of a variety of ways to use your socials to get the message out to everyone. Photos, reels, longer videos, and ask questions to engage your audience. Provide a hint of what to expect from the book and an idea of what to expect at the launch.

I made this graphic a couple of weeks before the events page and invitations went out.

It’s a good idea to show your readers a sneaky look inside so they know what they are getting.

Be prepared and organised.

If you have promised craft activities, make sure you know well in advance what you plan to do. Make an information sheet to hand-out to parents so that the craft activity may be taken home to do later. I made a step by step guide on how to make a paper plate dragon. Then, I painstakingly drew all the dragon pieces onto twenty paper plates for children to take home, cut out, make and decorate later. Don’t forget to pre-make an example of your craft activity so that kids can see what it is they are going to do.

I also prepared a sheet for a different paper dragon so that children had a choice. Not everyone wanted to make the same dragon, but all the sheets happily disappeared.

Being a book about drumming, we couldn’t have a launch without percussion instruments. I bought these well in advance and kept them neatly all together in one box.

Some of the best book launches don’t simply involve a book reading, make it as engaging, interactive and inclusive as possible.

Make sure you pack all your bits and pieces the day before too, it will save you time, energy and stress. It also allows time to check your list that you have everything you need.

Eager hands went up everywhere when it was time to hand out the percussion instruments.

When you are well prepared it’s easy to relax and enjoy yourself.

Celebrate with a special treat.

I also made cupcakes. It’s important to celebrate the launch with some kind of treat. To help relieve any stress on the day of the launch, I made the cupcakes the day before. However, I did not ice them until the morning. I had pre-ordered edible cake toppers with an image of the book cover. These did have to be added when I iced the cakes, but couldn’t be done too far in advance as they would run and be ruined if they were to sweat.

Cupcakes all boxed up and ready to go.

Yummy cupcake treats on the table beside my books waiting to be devoured…. and they were!

Relax and enjoy the day.

Arrive early to give yourself plenty of time to set-up. It’s amazing how many people will also arrive early and want to talk to you. You don’t want to feel stressed about the organisation, so be prepared and have a helper or two to lay things out for you. Don’t try to do it all yourself. Have your speech well planned too, whether you use notes or keep it all in your head, make sure you have thought about what you want to say and don’t forget to thank everyone involved that has helped you reach this point, including the bookshop for hosting your beautiful event.

When it’s all over, relax, don’t rush, enjoy the chance to chat with people while you are signing their books. Engaging with people is important, especially when you have never met them before. Take your time and make a connection with them.

All set up and ready go.

At the end of the day it’s always great to sign books and chat with great supportive friends.

When all is said and done, take a deep breath and congratulate yourself on a job well done.

Have you been to book launches? What did you like best about them?

5 Parenting Tips to Help Alleviate Fear of Thunderstorms.

Thunderstorms usually occur in the hotter parts of the year, and this Summer we have had some stunning ones. I have lived in tropical Darwin, Australia and Pattaya, Thailand where I witnessed what I would have said were the most amazing thunderstorms I had ever experienced, but this Summer brought some equally amazing storms right to my own back door in country NSW.

The season isn’t over yet. There could be still more to come. What about you? Have you observed any amazing thunder and lightning shows in your neck of the woods? How do your children feel when they hear and see them? Are they frightened, do they hide under the bed covers or snuggle into you for comfort?

Being frightened of a thunderstorm is a natural part of early childhood. How can you help? Here are 5 parenting tips to help you help your child overcome their fear.

Stay Calm

It’s true, children can sense how you feel and will reflect that emotion in their mood. That means that no matter how strong the storm is, it is important that you try to remain calm. If you can feel your emotions bubbling to the surface, stop, take a moment to do some deep breathing exercises. This could be in the form of a quick meditation, 5 minutes of tai chi or whatever it takes to help you breathe slowly. You could even encourage the kids to join you, it’s fun, easy and very relaxing.

Play some soothing meditation music to help keep them calm.

Tai chi is really relaxing especially when you concentrate on your deep breathing.

Marvel at the Nature of the Storm.

Young minds are often also inquisitive minds. A thunderstorm is an ideal opportunity for a science lesson in the wonder of the nature. You can discuss the water cycle, cloud formation and the different types of clouds. Explain what causes the electricity in the clouds and how it becomes lightning. Then there’s that big boom thundering and rumbling around after the lightning. Count how many seconds after you see the lightning to when you hear the thunder. Your answer is the distance in miles that the storm is away from you. Watch the lightning dance across the sky and marvel at the beauty the light produces in the clouds.

You can keep your explanation of the water cycle simple or if your kids are more inquisitive, make your answer more in-depth.

Extend this by not only learning the names of the types of clouds, but take photos and draw on them to make pictures. What can you see in the clouds?

Keep Your Kids Busy.

Sometimes all it takes is to keep little minds active and distracted. Then they are having so much fun that they forget all about the storm outside. Obviously in the middle of a massive storm is no time for TV or plugged-in devices. Make it family time with a board game, perhaps monopoly or snakes and ladders for the littler members of the family. Packs of cards can be handy too. A game of snap can keep kids occupied for ages.

There are so many entertaining board games out there to consider. One I remember fondly from my childhood was ‘Sorry!.’

Uno is a great card game. We played this for hours when my boys were younger.

Hug and Comfort Them.

Sometimes all kids need is a big hug from someone they love. Knowing they are safe is all the reassurance they may need. Build a blanket fort or snuggle in a tepee or tent if you have one. Take in a torch or flashlight and read a story. A good book for this special time is Dragons Drumming written by me, and beautifully illustrated by Maya Bora. help your child explore their imagination in a world where magical dragons whimsically play percussion in the sky. After reading the story you could encourage your child to think about something else that could make the noise of thunder. I remember when I was little, my parents told me it was God moving his furniture around. Maybe it’s the angels becoming a little too heavy footed and stomping in the clouds. Can you think of anything else it could be? Have fun with it.

Classroom clip art

Dragons Drumming is the perfect reading companion to overcome the fear of thunderstorms.

Try Headphones.

If after all this the thunderstorm is still all too much for your little person to cope with, try some calming music, or their favourite sing-a-long and dance music in headphones. They’ll be so busy concentrating on the musical sounds they’ll no longer be able to hear the thunderous commotion outside.

Baby boy wearing headphones classroom clip art

Classroom clip art child wearing headphones

Above all, remember, all storm do eventually pass, and so will this one. Next time you’ll have the strategies in place and ready to go.

Do you have any other ways to help children overcome their fear of thunderstorms? Let me know in the comments below.

With a New Year Comes Time to Contemplate

Happy New Year. Are you ready to embrace 2024? Do you ever look back at the year that was and consider whether it all went to plan? Or do you consider the possibilities that the new year might bring? As a writer or business owner most people often take the time to see what they have achieved (or not) and how they might move forward. Join me as I reflect on 2023 and look forward to 2024. Then, perhaps you too, might like to reflect on the year that was, and plan for the year that is just beginning.

2023 in One Word. - Contentment

I was happy to stay home, continue to focus on my health with lots of walks and exercise. Spend time with my family and friends and even squeeze in a bit of writing time most days.

My Biggest Challenge in 2023 - Finding time to write.

I realised that it was taking way too long to complete book 4 in my Adamson Adventures, Tracks in the Mist. It was a story I had been planning since writing book 3, Fossil Frenzy. We had finally managed our trip to Tasmania in July 2022 for me to complete my research for the setting, and twelve months later I had still not progressed the story any further. I learnt that small steps are important. It doesn’t matter if I don’t sit down to write for hours each day, as long as I write a little bit, it all adds up and eventually the story is complete. It’s important to be kind to myself and not to stress over timing. Everything gets done in its own time.

If you would like a few suggestions on how to find time to write, visit Here for some great strategies.

The Happiest Day of 2023 - Too many to name one.

Days spent visiting my grandson in Perth and my two grandchildren who live right here next to me.

Days connecting with readers at book events and writing workshops.

Reaching my goal of walking up several of the hills and mountains around Canberra.

The days we celebrated milestone birthdays for both hubby and myself.

This year I have already had more enjoyable days with all my family together and look forward to many more. I will try to organise more school visits. With two new book releases this year, I hope to engage more kids in the joy of reading. I also plan to continue to challenge myself with my walks, and am excited to be doing this later in the year in the Lakes District in England.

I had the opportunity to read and chat with families, at the National Dinosaur Museum twice this year.

One Change or Difficult Decision made? Deciding to self-publish again.

As I said earlier, life is pretty content for me. I am generally a happy person and grateful for the life I share with my family and friends. I continued to strive for fitness and good health and encouraged my hubby to join me.

The biggest most difficult decision was regarding my writing. I had been working on a picture book manuscript for quite some time. I had sent it for manuscript assessments, re-written and edited it over and over. My big mistake was to send it out to submission to publishers too soon. I should have known it wasn’t ready. I believe strongly in this story, and am sure it will delight and inspire many young readers, that’s why Dragons Drumming is now being published by myself and will be released next month.

This year when I finished my next manuscript, I won’t be in such a rush to submit it to publishers. I know to go slow, take my time and be more cautions before sending it out into the world.

Need help to choose your correct path? Here are 3 Ways to Help Make Decisions Easier.

Regrets - None

As I said last year, I don’t believe in regrets. There is no point dwelling on what might have or could have been. It is better to keep moving forward with whatever cards in life we are dealt and do our best to make the life we have as happy as we can. I could say I regretted submitting Dragons Drumming too soon, but it did lead me to produce the beautiful quality book myself I now am proud to release it.

What am I excited about for this year?

1. The release of Dragons Drumming next month. This picture book has been so beautifully illustrated and I can’t wait to share it with everyone.

2. The release of Tracks in the Mist, The Adamson Adventures 4, in June. I am so proud of this chapter book. It’s been too long coming and I can’t wait to share it with readers of the series.

3. Our trip to the UK and Europe in March/April. We planned this holiday last year but put it off to focus on our health. I have done my research on walks, monoliths and standing stones and there are so many wonderful places I am excited to see.

Picture book - Dragons Drumming, written by Sandra Bennett, illustrated by Maya Bora.

The Most Courageous Thing I did in 2023. - I climbed mountains.

Both physically and metaphorically. I pushed myself to my physical limits determined to reach heights I never thought I could. I am determined to not let my Parkinson’s diagnosis prevent me from doing all the things I still want to achieve. This year I will push even further out of my comfort zone with my book marketing. You may even see me attempting reels on Instagram.

Long walks in the bush, challenging myself to climb steep hills, keeps me grounded, fit, healthy and happy. It also allows me time for contemplation.

My Biggest Accomplishment in 2023

Finishing Tracks in the Mist, the Adamson Adventures 4, to be released June 2024, while continuing to increase the length of my walks and hours spent exercising. This year I intend to continue on my path of wellness while publishing and marketing these two wonderful new books to bring them to readers everywhere so that they too, may enjoy the love of reading stories.

Tracks in the Mist, the Adamson Adventures 4.

Look out 2024, here I come. Are you ready?

I hope you are now ready to complete your own reflection and head into the next adventure that is 2024.

If not, perhaps consider reading a few other author’s perspectives. I will list them below.

Rosie Russell

Julie Gorges

5 Books About Dragons to Read with the Family.

If you have been following my writing journey for some time now, then you’ll probably know I have a fascination not only for dinosaurs, but for Dragons too. I recently wrote two previous posts on dragons, Dragon's in Children's Stories and Are Dragons Related to Dinosaurs?

With my picture book ‘Dragons Drumming’ becoming one step closer to reality, I thought today we would take a quick look at 5 Books About Dragons to Read with the Family. Each of these books are on my bookshelf and have been family favourites.

The Dragon’s Egg - Written by Diana Noonan, illustrated by Gabriela Klepatski -

Is a picture book that we have had since its release in 1992. It was a favourite with my boys when they were little and now is repeated aloud many times over to my grandchildren. With it’s lyrical rhyme and meter, the story takes two children on a fun and slightly scary adventure when they find an enormous egg and decide to take it home. They are soon to learn the secret of what lies within and how many days it takes to hatch a dragon from its egg.

Picture Book - The Dragon’s Egg, has been a much loved story to read aloud in our house.

A page from the picture book The Dragon’s Egg.

Dancing With Dragons - Written by Amy Dunjey, illustrated by Jesus Lopez -

Is an absolutely stunning picture book published by Larrikin House in 2020. The illustrations are vibrant and inviting as two gorgeous dragons dance in the woods. When a little girl discovers them both, she is asked to judge their dance competition. Kids adore the fun and awesome dance routines in this rhyming tale of adventure and friendship.

Picture Book - Dancing with Dragons published by Larrikin House

One of the many gorgeous and vibrant illustrations inside the pages of Dancing with Dragons

Dragonology, the Complete Book of Dragons -

Published by Five Mile Press in 2003, and edited by Dugald A Steer, this book is a magnificent compilation that for all purposes looks like a non-fiction picture book resembling an encyclopedia of everything you would ever need to know about dragons. From where in the world to find dragons to all the many different species both Eastern and Western. This book even includes an Australian own marsupial dragon species that resembles a kangaroo with tiny wings and breathes a bluish fire. Perfect for your little budding scientist or historian, this book has all the information on dragons they could ever look for.

Dragonology - The Complete Book of Dragons is a fascinating ‘non-fiction’ like picture book.

information on the marsupial dragon on one of the pages inside Dragonology- The Complete Book of Dragons.

Dragon Skin - by Karen Foxlee -

Published by Allen and Unwin in 2021, this fabulous book is for your middle-grade readers. Set in outback Queensland in an old mining town, the story evolves around a young girl who discovers a baby dragon dying in an almost dry riverbed. As the story develops she learns to save the dragon, helping it grow with plenty of love, nurturing and friendship. It is a heart-warming tale that is also surprising and full of hope. I can’t recommend this book enough. It was so good, I couldn’t put it down and even my husband, (who never reads fiction) read it in only a couple of days.

Dragon Skin is a heart-warming unputdownable middle-grade beautiful story. Published by Allen & Unwin.

The blurb on the back of Dragon Skin to help tempt you to read it.

Eragon- by Christopher Paolini -

Originally self-published in 2002, this epic fantasy adventure is best suited for the upper range of middle-grade to young adult. My boys all read it in their early teens. Eragon is the first book in the Inheritance series that will captivate you with its galloping tale of action-filled adventure. When a teenage boy finds a beautiful blue gemstone, it is soon revealed to be a dragon’s egg. Once hatched, the boy and dragon become good friends and the boy learns to become a dragon-rider and sets out on an adventure like no other. Complete with the complexities of Norse, Anglo-Saxon, German and even Russian myths and language, it has an old world charm that will delight fantasy lovers. If you enjoy the book, you might also enjoy watching the movie (2006) if you can find it streaming somewhere.

Eragon, the first book in the Inheritance series, and well read in our house.

Eldest is the second book in the inheritance series, also well read in our house.

Bonus: How to Train Your Dragon, by Cressida Cowell -

First published in 2003, this book has been reprinted many times and has also been made into a movie. This is one of my favourite dragon stories as it fills me with warm memories reading it to my kindergarten class in 2005. As a chapter book I read this out loud every lunchtime while my class ate. It captured not only their attention but imagination. Many a time, we would reach the end of a chapter and they would beg me to continue reading. The antics of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock 111, his dragon (Toothless) and his Viking clan had them in uproarious laughter as anything that could go wrong, inevitably did. Sadly I seem to have misplaced this much loved book, (I’ve probably leant it to someone and it’s not been returned.) If your kids haven’t read it, get it, they’ll love it.

As for my picture book, Dragons Drumming, I can’t wait to share it with you. I hope to reveal the cover sometime this week. I have seen all the adorable illustrations and they are just magical. Dragons Drumming will help your little ones overcome there fear of thunderstorms as they orchestrate a glorious symphony of dragons playing percussion in the clouds.

Do you have a favourite dragon story that you remember reading as a child?

Is there a dragon story that your kids or grandkids love to read over and over again.?

Please share them in the comments below.

Five Fascinating Birds of Australia.

This month I have been researching more about the five fascinating birds that you will find in the pages of the Adamson Adventures, Book 4. With each month that passes I am progressing one step closer to the release date next year. The manuscript has now been edited while I have been writing the information pages for the back of the book. I am excited to share with you some of the pages I have designed, but that will remain a secret for just a little longer.

Last month I shared with you information on Five Fascinating Animals of Tasmania, this month it is the turn of the birds. You will notice however, that I have titled this birds of Australia not just Tasmania, because some of these are also found on the mainland. Some information on these birds can be seen on my author pages on Facebook and Instagram where I shared my sketches, but you will find more fun facts here.

Swift Parrot

The Swift Parrot is a small, beautifully coloured migratory bird that is critically endangered. It is easy to see with its bright green feathers that cover most of its body, with red and yellow feathers that are found around the face, throat, and tips of the wings. It also has a long purplish-red tail. However, it is often confused with birds of similar colouring such as the musk lorikeet, green and eastern rosella and even the rainbow lorikeet. It nests in the Summer in Tasmania and migrates north to mainland Australia in the Winter. They mainly eat nectar and pollen from specific eucalypt flowers but will also eat insects, fruit, berries, larvae and seeds.

With the continued deforestation of their habitat both in Tasmania and on the Australian mainland, swift parrots are listed as critically endangered as their numbers continue to significantly decrease. With less than 750 Swift parrots left in the wild, it has been voted by conservationists and public alike as the 2023 Australian Bird of the Year. Hopefully this will help draw attention to its devastating situation.

The swift parrot is a migratory bird that is endangered.

My sketch of the swift parrot.

Lyrebird

Do you know where the lyrebird got its name? It is said that the tail was thought to resemble that of the musical instrument, the lyre. The lyre is a hand-held stringed instrument much like a harp. It has two curved arms and a cross bar that joins the arms, with the strings connected from the body to the crossbar. If you look at the tail feathers of the lyrebird, they are remarkably comparable. However, it is only the male that has the superb longer tail that forms the shape of a lyre. The females have a much plainer tail. While the younger males take three to four years to grow their magnificent lyre tail.

The lyrebird is quite musical and very clever, it has the ability imitate any bird sound it hears in the forest but will also mimic any other unusual sounds it hears, such as car alarms, camera shutters, video game noises, workmen and their chainsaws and even dogs barking. The lyrebird composes songs from all these amazing sounds and the songs can last up to twenty minutes. A male lyrebird will compose a long and complex song to attract a female, while the female will whistle a lyrical tune to warn other females to stay away from her territory.

These birds roost in trees at night, then forage on the rainforest floor during the day. They do have the ability to fly, but rarely bother unless they feel they are in imminent or immediate danger.

A lyrebird on the forest floor.

My sketch of the superb lyrebird.

Wedge-tailed Eagle

Although widespread throughout Australia, the Wedge-tailed Eagle is threatened in Tasmania due to habitat loss and persecution. These are the largest birds of prey, (raptors) in Australia and while their main source of food is rabbits and other small mammals, they have been known to take lambs, hence large numbers of these eagles were once shot or poisoned. Since their near extinction in Tasmania, the Australian government has now banned all hunting of wedge-tailed eagles in all States of the country. They do prefer to prey on carrion, (the carcass of dead animals) but will also swoop in to catch live food. Wedge-tailed eagles will mate for life, and they tend to maintain a nest in one area, usually in the highest tree.

Even though the wedge-tailed eagle does not have the largest or heaviest body of all the eagles, it does surprisingly have the largest wingspan at over two metres, (six and a half feet). Other birds are often threatened by the predatory nature of the wedge-tailed eagle and will join to chase them away from their nests. Unlike most birds the female is larger than the male, but the pair share duties such as hunting, territory patrol and feeding of their young. Most eagles will only produce one egg at a time, but in the case where there are two eggs, usually only the strongest will survive.  

The wedge-tailed eagle.

My sketch of the wedge-tailed eagle.

Masked Owl

The Masked Owl is found all around coastal regions of Australia. It is listed as threatened throughout the mainland but endangered in Tasmania. It is a bird of prey that as a nocturnal animal, hunts in the evening for small mammals. They swoop from trees looking for prey on the ground, from as small as insects, to larger animals like rats, rabbits, possums and even bandicoots and gliders. Sometimes it will also hunt other birds like kookaburras, magpies, sparrows and even chickens.

Like the wedge-tailed eagle, the female masked owl is larger than the male and as such will hunt for larger prey. Masked owls like other raptors, will regurgitate parts of their prey such as bones, claws, and fur in forms of pellets. Instead of a gentle hoot that you might expect from an owl, this one makes quite a loud screech. However, it makes up for that noise when swooping for prey as its wings have evolved to be completely silent.

Nests are usually in rock cavities, or holes in trees along cliff edges. They lay between two to four eggs that are incubated for five to six weeks. Both parents will continually feed their young every hour for ten to twelve weeks until the young are ready to fly. They will remain with their parents for a further few weeks as they are taught to hunt for themselves.

The Australian Masked Owl.

My sketch of the Masked Owl.

Demon Duck of Doom

Okay, I know what you are thinking, the demon duck of doom is extinct. So technically it doesn’t belong here among the other birds. However, it is unique to Australia, and thanks to all the readers who wanted to know more at the end of Fossil Frenzy, book 3, the DDD makes another appearance in book 4.

These avian dinosaurs have a scientific name of Dromornis planei, and were also formerly known as Bullockornis planei. It was a huge flightless bird that roamed an area in the Northern Territory of Australia called Bullock Creek during the late Pleistocene epoch, (50,000 years ago) to as far back as the Eocene epoch, (55 million years ago) that are all part of the Cenozoic era. Close relatives of the bird were also found in Queensland.

Nicknamed the Demon Duck of Doom because of its close relationship to ducks of today, it was originally thought to be related to emus, cassowaries, and ostriches. However, on the discovery of further detail of the head and bill, it became evident that this creature was in fact closer genetically to ducks and geese. Even more recently research has suggested that it could even be related to chickens and turkeys.

The bird was heavily built with a long, thick neck, enormous legs, a head as big as a horse and a huge, curved bill. Interestingly, it is the curious nature of the bill that has caused much debate among scientists as to whether the Demon Duck of Doom was a herbivore or carnivore. It has been thought that the bill was ideal for cropping and breaking tough plant material which is backed by the discovery of gastroliths (small stones) that would be swallowed to help with digestion of plant material. While other researchers believe that the beak was more suited to tearing meat and crushing bones. The beak does not however, have a sharp tip which is found on all other birds of prey, nor is the beak seen to be strong enough for a meat-eater as even though the beak is deep, it is thin.

A photo I took of a replica of the Demon Duck of Doom at the discovery Centre in the Daintree Rainforest, in far North Queensland.

My sketch of the Demon Duck of Doom.

Have you learnt something new today?

Do you enjoy reading fun facts about little known animals and birds?

I hope you have found these articles on animals of Tasmania and birds of Australia fascinating.

Keep an eye out for more exciting information on book 4 in the Adamson Adventures coming next year.

Five Fascinating Animals of Tasmania

This past month I have been steadily working away on the back matter for book four of the Adamson Adventures.

Yes, it’s been a long time in between book 3 and four, but I hope it’s worth the wait.

I don’t want to say too much about it just yet, except that I plan to release it in June next year. There’s still much to do before then.

For this one, besides drawing a map as usual, which helps the reader see where the story is set, I decided to include illustrations and information about each animal that is mentioned in the story. I’m no illustrator, but I do like to give drawing a try, so I have been brave to attempt these myself and share them with you now. I also shared them one at a time each day on my Instagram and Facebook pages, but in case you missed any of them, here they are all in one place.

Thylacine

No story set in Tasmania would be complete unless it included the Thylacine, (Tasmanian Tiger). Presumed extinct since 1936 when the last one died in captivity in a Hobart zoo, I like to imagine that this elusive carnivorous marsupial is still hidden out in the vast, thick wilderness somewhere. Will the Adamson kids find one in their next adventure? If you've read any of their previous adventures, you know anything is possible.

 The Tassie Tiger was hunted into extinction by farmers who saw it as a threat to their livestock. Now the Thylacine is being hunted for a different reason. Today people search in the hope that it does still exist out there somewhere. As it was the largest apex predator in Tasmania the Thylacine has left a huge gap in the balance of the forest ecosystem. Today the largest predator is the Tasmania Devil which cannot compare in size. Researchers are trying to use DNA samples to bring back the Thylacine and reintroduce it into the wilderness in the hope that it will restore the balance of life and reduce and control the populations of kangaroos and wallabies.

Thylacine image courtesy of Australian Geographic archives.

My sketch of the Thylacine, commonly known as the Tasmanian Tiger.

Tasmanian Devil

Below is a Tasmanian Devil, a nocturnal, carnivorous marsupial that prefers to scavenge for its food rather than hunt. They have very sharp claws and teeth and make incredibly loud raspy screams when they fight. Have you ever seen one in the wild or in a zoo? Last year when we visited Tasmania, we were lucky to catch a glimpse of two devils in the wild. I couldn’t take a photo, they disappeared into the bush very fast when they saw us.

However, it was an amazing experience to see them in the wild. I have only ever seen them in a zoo before. These little critters are listed as endangered with numbers depleting quickly due to a cancerous facial tumour which has been spreading fast throughout the population in the wild. Fortunately, there is a conservation breeding program happening on the Australian mainland in the mountains of northern NSW. called Devil Ark, where the increasing numbers of devils are enjoying the similarities in vegetation and climate to Tasmania without any threat from disease.

Tasmanian Devil in the wild.

My sketch of the Tasmanian Devil.

Spotted Quoll

The Spotted-Tail Quoll, also known as the Tiger Quoll, is a relative of the Tasmanian Devil and the Tasmanian Tiger. Like his relatives he is also a nocturnal carnivorous marsupial. He may look cute, but watch out for those very sharp teeth. Quolls can be found on mainland Australia, where they are listed as endangered. while so far in Tasmania they are listed as vulnerable. There is only a population of around 14,000 quolls left throughout Australia.

Their numbers have drastically reduced due to introduced predators such as foxes and feral cats, deforestation from logging, land clearing for housing development and natural bushfires.

Spotted Quoll - WWF Australia

My sketch of the Spotted Quoll

Pademelon

The cute little Tasmanian Pademelon is much like a kangaroo or wallaby but smaller. It has a shorter neck and a thicker, rounder body. Pademelons can be found in the rainforests all around Tasmania and throughout the mainland even as far north as Papua New Guinea.. We encountered several during our bushwalks and even outside our cabin door at Cradle Mountain.

They live in thick damp forests but will come out into clearings to feed in the evenings. However with regular land clearing we are continually reducing their chances of survival. Pademelons are usually solitary creatures, but will forage at night in groups. An interesting fact about these little fellows is that when startled, a pademelon will thump his foot, (much like the rabbit, Thumper from the Bambi movie) to alarm the rest of the group to hop back to the safety of the thick forest.

I took this photo of a pademelon just outside our cabin at Cradle Mountain,

My sketch of a Pademelon.

Wombat

The Common Wombat is in abundance throughout Australia, however the Southern and Northern Hairy Nose Wombat are much more declined in numbers. Wombats found in Tasmania are smaller than common wombats and their fur is much thicker and softer than the wiry fur of a common wombat.

Did you know that these herbivorous marsupials have a backwards pouch? This is to protect their joey from the dirt that spays up as they dig their burrow. Wombats are one of my favourite Australian animals, we even have one that has made its home under a container at the back of our house. If the opening to the burrow gets any bigger, I fear our container will fall in! Wombat burrows are usually closer to creek beds and water sources, but in years when rain is plentiful, they will move further away.

A fun fact that I recently learnt is that wombats glow in the dark when you shine a UV light on them. Scientists suspect the reason for this bio luminescence is so that wombats can see each other in the dark and know when it is safe to come closer to a fellow wombat instead of another animal that they would prefer to keep at a distance.

Southern Hairy-Nose Wombat

My sketch of a wombat

Stay tuned for more information next month on the birds that are also in book 4 of the Adamson Adventures.

I enjoy adding fact and information pages to the back of my stories. It helps curious young readers learn and hopefully encourages them to research further. Did you learn something new today?

What is your favourite Australian animal?