Ten years ago I started a blog. In the decade that followed my first terrible post (which disappeared in a blog clean-up some years ago), I have written hundreds and …
The first-ever Shoalhaven Readers’ & Writers’ Festival wraps up
If you’ve been reading my blog, or listening to my podcast, for a while, you’ll know that I’ve been heavily involved over the past six months or so in organising …
Taking stock in February 2018
You might remember last month I took up Pip Lincolne’s suggestion to ‘take stock’ each month. To share what I’m loving, thinking, feeling, watching, reading… and so on and so …
My top 3 tips from 9 years of author blogging
Somehow my blog turned nine and I missed it. When I started writing here, the blog was called Life In A Pink Fibro and it was a mish-mash of thoughts …
Taking stock in January 2018
One of my favourite people to visit in the blogging world is Pip Lincolne at Meet Me At Mike’s. Her’s is a feel-good space, full of things that make you …
Give yourself a writerly gift this Christmas
I was going to make this a ‘5 gifts for the writer in your life’ kind of post, but then I thought: ‘who am I kidding?’. If you’re a writer, …
News, reviews + interviews (November 17)
My whirlwind visit to Singapore is over and I thought it was time for one of those ‘what I did at the writers’ festival’ posts, as well as a bit …
News, reviews and Facebook Live…
If you’ve been watching my social media feeds, you’ll know that I’ve been in Sydney for a few days, signing books and undergoing the worst kind of torture (aka, being …
A blog post about listening
Last week, I took Mr10 to visit the doctor. It was one of those ‘just in case’ visits, and one that I’m sure the parents of other 10-year-old boys might …
Keeping my head above water: writing when life is crazy
I have been watching the approach of November for months now with some trepidation. It’s always the craziest month of the year, as a parent, as a writer, as a …
How to grow readers
Both of my boys are readers. Mr12 is a die-hard reading addict, much like his mother, and has the blog to prove it. Mr9 is less obsessive, but always has …
In my not-so-secret garden
If there’s one thing the school holidays does for me, it’s remind me how much I love my garden. It’s a good size, with lots of secret nooks and crannies, …
In the quiet time: the art of active waiting
Last week was a crazy-busy flurry of activity. I spent three days in the Big Smoke for Book Week appearances, and met some 800+ kids in the process. On Tuesday …
How to be Quinn (The Mapmaker Chronicles) for Book Week
It’s that time of year again, when parents the nation over are scouring the dress up box for inspiration for Book Week characters. Or, if they’re very clever, making something …
What happens next?
On Sunday night, I finished the structural edit on book #4 in The Mapmaker Chronicles series, let out a very quiet ‘woo hoo’ (it was 11.15pm so it was very, …
Not a useful post, but a necessary one
Mr9 has taken up beat-boxing, with a vengeance. The boy who used to whistle (entire songs, in tune, at length) is now a whirling dervish of pops and squeaks, clicks …
Yoga makes me angry
If you’re over on Facebook with me, you’ll know that recently I started doing yoga again. It had been 10 years and two kids since my last class, but I …
Do you keep a diary?
After reading this post this morning where Famous Writers talk about the Creative Benefits of Keeping a Dairy, I was left to contemplate my singular lack of progress in this …
Let’s talk about maps
I am currently in the process of sketching out a version of Quinn’s map. By which I mean, I am making an absolutely awful job of putting the world from …
A few of my favourite things
Remember way back when, when I shared this little secret with you that no-one else knew? Well, I’ve decided it’s time to let you in on a few more of …