What a gorgeous day we had for the Children's Book Council of NSW Big Book Day Out on the 13th of September at the NSW Writer's Centre. I got to catch up with some wonderful authors and illustrators,  meet some fabulous readers and read my book in the story tent! We also had books to give away - congratulations to the winners! Here are a few pics from the day...

I can't tell you how super-excited I was to find this hiding in my letter box today - my Highly Commended Flash fiction  in the Fellowship of Australian Writers Queensland (FAWQ) magazine, Scope! Thank you to judge Dimity Powell for her thoughtful exposition of the entries. Congratulations to first and second place-getters - Pat Simmons and Christine Johnson  - fantastic stories! Thank you FAWQ for offering this competition.

What a wonderful day sitting with the incredibly creative bunch from Balgowlah Heights Public School in the amazing St Patrick's seminary in Manly for lunch. I felt like royalty! And with fabulous kids and teacher-librarians to keep company with, and incredibly amazing authors and illustrators to listen to, watch and meet, it was a fantasmagorical day! See the gallery of photos... (any guesses for the theme of the table? Leave in comments below!)

Some of the 'talent' are in the photos below. The students were entertained by the inimitable Belinda Murrell. The hall echoed with laughter as Andrew Cranna had us all drawing in wild and wacky ways, and the 'Room to Read' Yack worked the room inciting the students to riotous acts to fund-raise for this worthy cause.