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

How Do You Find Your Summertime Bliss?

In this months post you will find 5 things I have currently been involved in or done this Spring. It’s been another busy writerly month full of inspiration and wonder. However as the Summer months approach I look forward to some quieter time to myself, to write and spend time with family and look forward to the breezy, lazy Summer days to come. Below are things I am currently loving, reading. watching, that are making me happy or I have seen through my camera lens as I make the most of this beautiful season.

Please join me as I reflect on the past month, then visit the other #Gr8Blogs at the end of this post for even more inspiration and smiles.

Loving

October has been another month of celebrations and book launches. As we prepare for Halloween, I was lucky to have stories included in not one, but two anthologies released in time to spread a little spooky fun to kids around Australia.

I loved flying up to Brisbane to attend the launch of the Share Your Story Spooktacular Anthology - Thrilling Tales for Brave Kids. This is one very special book and it fills my heart with joy to know that for every copy of the book sold, another copy is gifted to sick kids in hospitals around Australia. I loved attending the launch at the Queensland Children’s Hospital and the Mad Hatters Book shop. I have brought home special memories from both events.

The book is available from Amazon AU and US.

Spooktacular Stories - Amazon Australia

Spooktacular Stories - Amazon United States

The spooky fun continued in Sydney with the launch of Creative Kids Tales Story Collection 2. I loved three things about this event.

1. Meeting other incredible authors that have stories in the collection, including the wonderful author/illustrator who manages our critique group.

2. Meeting a little girl who was so excited to meet a witchy author and have her book signed by that particular witch.

3. Seeing the delight on my nephew’s face as he listened to my story being read to him after the event.

After Halloween there was one more launch to go. Two author friends and I launched the CKT Story Collection in our home town of Canberra. While I loved dressing up as a witch for all these previous events, it was time to brighten things up a little. So instead of dressing for the Things That go Bump theme, I decided to dress for the Enchanted theme instead. I loved being a PInk Book Fairy for a change and seeing the smiles on kids faces when I spoke to them or simply smiled as I walked passed.

Reading

Obviously with the launch of these two anthologies, I have been busy reading all the amazing stories from so many wonderful Aussie authors.

Sppoktacular Stories -Thrilling Tales for Brave Kids has a collection of 39 stories and poems that are not too scary but will thrill and delight kids who love a touch of spookiness. There was fierce competition to win a place in this collection, and I am proud to have one of my stories included among these awesome contributions by so many talented Aussie authors.

Creative Kids Tales Story Collection 2 - Things that Go Bump/Enchanted, is a little different. A collection of 74 short stories and poems under two themes. This book is designed to read with two front covers. Choose to read all the stories in Things That Go Bump then flip it over and read all the Enchanted stories. This is a clever idea and works well to keep the young reader intrigued and entertained. I have contributed a story to both themes, and am again delighted to be included among so many talented emerging Aussie Authors.

Watching

During my evenings when the day is done, I can no longer concentrate to write, I settle down to binge watch a bit of Netflix. Currently my ‘go to’ is Heartland. This series set on a horse Stud ranch in Canada is full of beautiful scenery, majestic horses and some wonderful story lines. With twelve seasons in total to watch, I’ll be visiting Heartland for sometime to come yet, I’m only in season 4.

I’m also watching my water tank level drop. Winter and Spring have not brought much rain. Not only do we need rain here, but all over Australia. The drought is effecting even the most unexpected places Hubby and I were in far north Queensland earlier this month. We were shocked to see even the tropical north is not as green as it should be. Barren Falls, certainly were barren. When we showed friends and family the trickle of water that spilled over the top, they were all surprised.

Making Me Happy

The best part of attending events like book launches is is seeing the delight on kids faces. Putting smiles on faces of sick kids and their parents at the Children’s Hospital made me happiest of all. It made the trip to Brisbane so worthwhile. People often ask why I write for children? It’s those simple smiles when they read my stories that says it all. That’s all I need. I don’t need awards or peer praise, I am happy if I have made a child happy and they want to read. Due to privacy reasons, there are no photos of the kids or their parents at the hospital.

Seeing in my Lens

Springtime in Canberra is Tulip time and among all the business and fun of book launches, I found time for a walk among the tulips too. Most years we walk around Floriade in the heart of Canberra. Floriade is a magnificent display of tulips on show around the foreshore of Lake Burley-Griffin. This year, we decided it was time to visit Tulip Top Gardens on the outskirts of Canberra for a change. As you can see through my camera lens they did not disappoint.

I always find time to walk, whether it’s around our beautiful bush property or through the city on my way to the National Library of Australia on a Wednesday to meet my writers group. Spring is in full bloom as a stroll through the Rose Gardens at Old Parliament House.

As you can see, it’s been another crazy month preparing for book launches and Halloween. I’ve not had a great deal of time to think about the upcoming Summer months ahead or begin any Christmas plans. I am looking forward to slowing down and concentrating on finishing writing book 3 in my Adamson Adventures. I am having a lot of fun writing Fossil Frenzy, there is plenty of fun and adventure ahead.

Thanks for stopping by! How are you CURRENTLY jumping into winter/ summer? Making big plans? Ticking off books on your to-read list? Please share in the comment section.

Books By Rose

Carmela Dutra https://carmeladutra.com/blog/f/finding-your-winter-bliss-blog-hop?fbclid=IwAR3e62zDk1QrdkpxHx5cHEHtac37_0_VXvTeOXq274TreLPTwYOrgBJf15Y

Rebecca Lyndsey

The Importance of Self Care

Let’s face it, life can get pretty hectic. Kids, grandkids, work, even husbands can be demanding of our time. Some days I have a ‘to do’ list a mile long long. It’s no wonder there isn’t much time left to take care of ourselves. However, self-care is fundamental to our well-being, physically, mentally and spiritually. That’s why when #MichelleWorthington of #ShareYourStory suggested #SelfCareSeptember, I was on board straight away. My calendar for September seemed reasonably clear after a full August with my book launch of ‘A Lighthouse in Time’ and all the events associated with that. So I was looking forward to a quieter September. Time to relax, unwind, breathe. It is too easy to be on the go and run ourselves into the ground. By the end of August, I was mentally and physically exhausted and I had finally succumbed to a winter cold. I’m not complaining, I enjoyed every minute of the month and I would do it all again, but I need to learn to pace myself.

The first of the new month arrived faster than expected, I logged onto Facebook and immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Michelle’s first self care task was easy, Read! Take time out during your day to read. No problem. As an author, I always do that. Day 2, Nap, perfect, any excuse for a Nanna nap in the middle of the day. Day 3, Visit a friend. I did that too, even though it was included in a visit to Shellharbour City Library for an author talk. This was going great so far. Then it all started to unravel. I missed day 4, managed day 5, Meditate, well, I justified that one with my daily walk listening to all the sounds in the bush. I enjoy my walks with Snowy and sometimes when my grandson comes along , even better. It is time to slow down, breathe the fresh country air, relax and listen to the birds high in the gum trees and watch out for kangaroos and echidnas.

After that, forget it, I meant well, but just didn’t seem to get around to it. I glimpsed Michelle’s posts each day, liked them, even laughed at some of them, but did I take heed, no, life was too busy as usual. I try to walk our dog everyday or simply stop and watch the kangaroos grazing in our yard. I consider myself lucky to live in this beautiful country region.

That’s the problem, we always have good intentions, we always say we will look after ourselves, then we find excuses. I’m too busy, the kids need me, I just need to finish this bit of housework, the bills need to be paid, I have to shop, someone is waiting on this email reply, I promised to write this review, the list goes on. I have come to realise, I have to learn to say ‘no’, I can’t do everything and that’s okay. There’s nothing wrong with having some self care time.

As most of you know, hubby is working overseas in PNG for a couple of years. We do our best to make this work with home visits as often as possible. During September he realised at the last minute that he had a long weekend and asked me to book him a flight home. Naturally, the flights out of Port Moresby to Brisbane were all full. I told him I could book him on a flight to Cairns then on a connecting flight home to Canberra, but instead he suggested I meet him in Cairns. This turned out to be the best result for his self care possible. After 4 days in tropical far north Queensland, walking trails through the rainforests, he returned to PNG looking more relaxed than I had seen him in a long time. It did both his mental and physical health the world of good.

So, I am going to make a promise to myself, and I urge you to too. Find and do at least one thing each day for yourself. Whether it’s reading a book for half an hour, taking a nap, binge watching your favourite show on Netflix, taking the dog for a walk, doing a gym or yoga class, cooking something special, or simply relaxing and watching the sunset, just remember to breathe and take a few moments in the day for you. It’s really that simple, you will be happy and healthy and everyone around you will be too.

What do you do each day to take care of yourself? Share it in the comments below.

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.

I'm Currently Preparing for Winter 2019, How About You?

Chilly nights, reading snuggled under warm blankets, or sitting fireside with a hot cup of tea. These are all signs Winter is in the air for me! Meanwhile on the other side of the world my fellow bloggers are enjoying the delightful signs of the beginning of Summer. Come along on our CURRENTLY Winter/Summer blog hop for a bit of fun, meet fellow authors and discover what they are currently up to in their part of the world. Once you have read about my current Winter plans you are welcome to click on the other awesome #Gr8Blogs listed below to read what they are currently doing this Summer.

Currently Loving

One of the best things about living in Canberra this time of year, I love walking among the colourful falling Autumn leaves. Our property is covered in evergreen Eucalypts, but on Wednesdays, I head into the heart of the city among the deciduous trees and walk the 5.5 Km along the foreshore to our National Library. Most days now I am rugged up with scarf, gloves, coat and boots ready to battle the wind, but when the sun shines it is heartwarming. Lake Burley-Griffin sparkles as dragon boats practice, the Carillon chimes and the path is a steady flow of bike riders, joggers and dog walkers.

Changing colours of the leaves as I walk around Lake Burley-Griffin

Currently Reading

An author friend of mine recently lent me two middle grade novels by Jack Heath, who happens to be another fellow Canberra author. These two books are ‘300 Minutes of Danger’ and ‘400 Minutes of Danger.’ I have already finished devouring the first, and am halfway through the second. I love the premise of these books. Each book contains ten short stories, 30 or 40 minutes long each depending which book they are in. That’s 30 or 40 minutes of suspense, thrills and spills to stop even the most reluctant reader from putting the books down. Ten protagonists in each book, equally shared between boys and girls so that the books appeal to everyone.Intriguingly Jack has managed to link the danger in the stories, but I don’t want to give away any spoilers. Since starting to write this blog I have finished 400 Minutes of Danger and now read ‘The Shop at Hoopers Bend’ the latest MG novel by Emily Rodda. My second son loved reading her enthralling series Deltora Quest when he was young, so it was such an honour to meet her in person at the recent CBCA National conference. I only wish I had thought to take a selfie with her. I was so busy talking to her and getting my book signed I didn’t think about a photo.

Currently Watching

I have just finished watching a wonderful Australian series. ‘A Place to Call Home,’ ran for six seasons in total. I hadn’t watched any until now. It was fabulous. Set in a fictional country town within a few hours drive of Sydney in the 1950’s, it follows the story of a wealthy farming family and the community they belong to. Complex issues arise as a result of surviving the horrors of World War 2 and trying to settle back into naive country life along with the social status that being the wealthy family in the community entails. If you have an opportunity to watch it, and enjoy historical drama, I recommend it.

And now for something completely different I’ve now just watched the first season of ‘Chambers’ on Netflix. Gripping, intense and nail biting suspense.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Place_to_Call_Home_(TV_series)

Currently Listening To

Podcasts. I am currently trying to catch up on a whole lot of writerly/informative podcasts. ‘The Happy Book’ by Tania McCartney is packed full of tremendously helpful information. ‘Middle Grade Mavens ,’ by Julie Anne Grasso and Pamela Ueckerman keeps me up to date with great new releases and ‘Q&Q’ Friday by Jen Storer which is part of her ‘Duck Pond’ is an absolute gem of information. It is packed with insightful information every author and illustrator needs to help them on their writerly journey.

https://player.whooshkaa.com/shows/the-happy-book

https://www.middlegradepodcast.com/

https://girlandduck.com/blog/

Currently Thinking About

Book Week in August will be on us again soon. It is the busiest time of year for authors. So many wonderful schools to visit. My second book in my Adamson Adventures. A Lighthouse in Time will be released and I already have schools booking me for visits. It’s time to start thinking about and planning those author talks.I also have two presentations coming up that have me pondering. The first is a talk at the CBCA (ACT), (Children’s Book Council of Australia) Romancing the Stars evening at the end of this month. The second is a presentation at the NLA (National Library of Australia) for the Canberra Writers Festival.

Currently Anticipating

It’s been a busy year writing already and we are only half way through the year. I am now anticipating the book launch of several books.

1. ‘A Lighthouse in Time” The Adamson Adventures Book 2. Launch date 17th August.

2. The Share Your Story Spooktacular Stories: Thrilling Tales for Brave Kids. My story ‘The Dead Centre of Town’ won a place to be included in this wonderful anthology written for brave sick kids in hospitals around Australia. To be launched 12th October.

3. The Creative Kids Tales Story Collection, volume 2. I have two stories included in this one, ‘The Thumping,’ as a response to the theme ‘Things that go bump in the night,’ and ‘Save it for a Rainy Day,’ included in the theme of Enchantment. Due for release before Christmas.

4. ‘Cyclone Kayla’ my story for Library For All will be turned into a graphic novel to be released in both ebook and print and shared to kids in remote areas of Papua New Guinea. I don’t know when this will be ready, but I am eagerly anticipating seeing the beautiful illustrations that will go alongside my story.

The Share Your Story Spooktacular anthology is coming.

Currently Wishing

Wish I new the secret to hiding my nerves when speaking to a group of adults, especially my peers. I tend to give in a little to the impostor syndrome and wonder why anyone would want to listen to what I have to say. I know all our journeys are different as we travel this writer’s life and many people are interested to hear about and learn from my experiences. If I can speak well at the CBCA meeting at the end of this month without embarrassing myself, it will go a long way to improving my confidence.

Currently Making Me Happy

Life is pretty good at the moment. I can afford to put food on the table and keep a roof over my family’s head. We have installed a reverse cycle ducted air conditioning system just last week. The wood fire only warmed the one room in the house, I couldn’t cope with another freezing winter. Now we are all snug and warm. I am so happy to be able to type away at my computer without freezing fingers that refuse to work. I feel blessed to have an amazing and supportive family that I love very much and who support me in all my writing endeavours. What makes me happiest most of all? Spending time with my gorgeous grandson, he is so precious, love him.

Currently Seen in my Camera Lens

The past couple of months have been extremely busy with plenty of networking. Catching up with amazing authors, and generally having a lot of bookish fun.

1. Creative Kids Tales Festival

2. Clunes Booktown Book Fair.

3. Children’s Book Council of Australia National Conference

SCBWI ACT members at the CKT Festival.

Meeting the Mad Hatter at Clunes Booktown festival.

Me with Grug, Happy 40th birthday to an iconic children’s book character at the CBCA conference.

Me with Dr Lara Cain Gray from Library For All at the CBCA Conference

A fabulous flock of ‘Ducks’ quacking madly at the CBCA conference.

Thanks for stopping by! How are you CURRENTLY jumping into this winter/summer? Making big plans? Many Canberrans try to head north to warmer climates sometime during the winter, are you? Keeping it low with stay-cations? Ticking off books on your to-read list? Please share in the comment section.

Hey, Bloggers! Join us on our C*U*R*R*E*N*T*L*Y Jumping into Summer /Winter Blog Hop. Just add your PG-13 post link below in the comment section. We’ll visit your blog and give you some blog love. And if you use #Gr8Blogs, we'll support your family-friendly summer-themed post.

Jump into Summer (WINTER FOR SANDRA!) with more #Gr8Blogs

Cat Michaels on Cat’s Corner
https://www.catmichaelswriter.com/cats-corner-blogging-about-books-writing-and-more

KidLit Blog by Rosie

https://booksbyrose.com/index.php/2019/05/03/may-celebrations-2019/?fbclid=IwAR3qwAht5zoVdIaz0ZdxVc5vng7B6uXpxDLLZuzutj7njSgnT5KNTsPaqS8

Rebecca Lyndsey

https://rebeccalyndsey.blogspot.com/2019/06/ready-setjump-into-summer-blog-hop.htmla

Julie Gorges on Baby Boomer Bliss

http://babyboomerbliss.net/summer-2019-blog-hop-what-this-boomer-is-up-to/?fbclid=IwAR2mlCmiRJHk3Or7QuE3UaxnOibAwBUUjC5rA9DLb_CNyAUggtwgsm9C9Hc

James Milson “Writing & Things” → https://wp.me/p3RsfU-2xU

Carmela Dutra http://carmeladutra.com/blog-post/ready-set-jump-into-summer-currently-blog-hop/

Auden Johnson https://www.audenjohnson.com/2019/06/ready-set-jump-into-summer-currently.html

Mackenzie Flohr:
https://mackenzieflohrblog.wordpress.com/2019/06/16/preparing-for-summer/

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.