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Today the finalists for the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards were announced. This is cause for much celebration amongst us supporting Children’s Literature, particularly in Wellington where no less than eleven of the writers and illustrators of the twenty books short listed books have been named. This means that per head of population- we here in Welly are doing pretty damned well aren’t we?
And I say ‘we’ like it’s a personal triumph. Well, it feels like it and I spent a moment to wonder ‘why I am so excited for everyone?’ Well, it boils down to this: I have some sort of connection with almost every author and illustrator on the list. From touring with them, drinking coffee and /or wine with them, being on the television with them, watching them meet impossible deadlines in their studios, e-mailing and blogging with them, using their books as examples of fine illustration and writing when running courses, making armour with them at Weta, being mentored by them, illustrating for them, or judging books last year with them…you see New Zealand is a wonderfully small place and it is possible to know and experience a great deal of talent personally. So I’m feeling the love!
Congratulations to all my talented friends and colleagues. Your joy is mine too, and I look forward to applauding you on the night! And if you didn’t get short listed this year and are feeling a little blue, then consider that the ones who did are representing us all to the rest of the world when it comes to Children’s Book Publishing and we all have a part in their success in some way with friendship, moral support, networking, reviewing and helping launch each other in our careers. We just can’t do it all alone.
I haven’t been brave enough before to list publicly, ‘books I have been reading lately’ for fear that I will show my true nature. Then I thought…'what IS my true nature?’ and what do I like in a book? Do I read them to impress others or because I think I should or because I chanced upon one or had it recommended to me? Do I take notice of reviews both good and bad and find in the reading that my own opinion is what counts. Does it appeal? Does it have me riveted? Does it make me laugh, cry or think a bit about the world and where I sit within it? Do I press it on other people saying ‘You MUST read this!’
So in that spirit (the one that asserts itself above any pretensions I might have to anything) what I have really enjoyed lately are these three. This is how I stumbled upon them and why I didn’t turn to the last page after the first chapter to see if it was still worth reading…
The Ten PM Question- Kate De Goldi.
Heard reviews, saw it was still on the top ten best seller list and wholly admire Kate for her astounding knowledge and contribution to Children’s’ Literature. Loved the quirky characters, detail and writing style (also the cover by the exceptional Sarah Maxey) Left me with a smile and a genuine fondness for Frankie and his family. I cared about them. Wished I could write like that.
On Top of Everything- Sarah-Kate Lynch
Saw it was still on that top ten best seller list (this is a fairly good indication that something is eminently readable). Had a spare book voucher, was in Whitcoulls at the airport, am trying to write a kind of chic lit myself so deemed it ‘research’. Read it on the plane to and fro the capital, laughed as I continued to read, whilst waiting for a mammogram, then finally, reluctantly finished it late at night, sobbing deliciously into my pillow. Cried in the shower again the next morning just thinking about the ending. Wished I could write like that.
End of The Alphabet- Fleur Beale
Someone pointed out to me that Fleur had written me into her new YA book as 'Fifi on the telly' who on that occasion made houses and shops from boxes. So in case of art imitating life, or is it the other way around? I made the boxes detailed in the text, on the Good Morning Show today and we promoted Fleur’s latest book (see what you can happen if you mention me?) But to talk about the book of course I had to read it. And you know, I learned something new- about getting backbone (which the main character, Ruby, sets about doing). Whilst Ruby’s fortitude is needed around her brother, mine is around my son. So I followed the advice she was given and I can say….it worked! A great read with plenty to offer anyone who feels a little taken advantage of… and I wished I could write like that.
Here are the house boxes I made- 'Dream Homes'. Each has the thing you'd love most in them- you can just see Mr Darcy in one of them, and a man cooking in my kitchen in another. I am hoping that my three authors of the month might just think if they saw them ‘I wish I could wield a glue gun like that!’
I came across these sketches in an old visual diary. They are circa 1995 and were my doodles of some of the people who attended a hui for Writer’s and Illustrators of Children’s Books. It was my first time venturing into the world of kid’s lit- not that I hadn’t illustrated anything back then; indeed I had around 8 books to my credit at that stage. But as a commercial illustrator for advertising and design, children’s books were just a poorly paid hobby that I indulged in from time to time- mostly for the joy of seeing my name immortalized in print (you ever see the artists name on a yoghurt pot beside the fruit illustrations?) Curious about this fringe arm of my occupation, I chose to immerse myself in a weekend full of people dedicated to this bizarre obsession that earned so little money- just for the hell of it and to get away from the demands of a family for a few days.
The hui, initially hosted by Joy Cowley in her Marlborough Sounds home was held at Wellington’s Capital House in Melrose, not far from the zoo. Lions roared eerily at night; the sounds carried up to the conference venue and sent a delicious shiver down the creative spine. So too did the talk. Some of it meant little to me ‘moral rights, global rights, authors fund…’ I barely looked at my contracts when I signed to do a bunch of pics for a book. I was only interested in when the advance would be paid; I obviously had plenty to learn.
I met the famous writers of books my children had read; Joy Cowley, Margaret Mahy, Tessa Duder to name drop just a few. I met illustrators whose worked I admired; Martin Baynton, Robin Belton; Trevor Pye... I met writers and illustrators I didn’t yet know would become best selling authors, mentors and friends. I ate, I drank, I used my brand new mobile phone inexpertly and inappropriately (oh we’ve all come along way when it comes to turning the thing onto silent and let it go to message haven’t we?)
I fell back in love with Wellington which, when I had left it for Christchurch in 1981, had seemed sad and half torn down, bereft of decent bars and prospects. After the hui, I went back sulkily to Christchurch, determined to return to Wellington to live someday. I also went back in-love with the world of Children’s Books. We moved to the capital city a year later. Since then, I’ve done an MA in creative writing, illustrated a heap more books, toured schools with the Storylines Festival and NZ Book Council, written three novels, been an NZPost Book Awards Judge and Convener of the Wellington Children’s Book Association for the past two years. Wow- amazing what a weekend can inspire eh?
So it seems appropriate, given my fascination, that I am on a committee of writers, illustrators, teachers and librarians working hard to bring a full scale Children’s Book Writer’s and Illustrator’s conference back to Capital House in September 18th, 19th and 20th of this year. Keep an eye out on the WCBA blog for more details to be released as soon as we have confirmed our speakers and workshops. In the meantime, see if you can guess who my sketches are of.Of course I know- just seeing if you do!
This weekend hosts the Open Studio Tour during the Wellington 2009 Fringe Festival. Download a map and visit working artists all around the city. This is a free event and this is your opportunity to have a yarn, make a wee Valentines Day gift, inspect some Wearable Art up close and personal, touch a velvet painting, view some original childrens book illustrations and get a feel for where I work and how. Bring yourself, friends, whanau- I would love to see you there!
Well I may dip out on grants, awards and residencies of literary note, but the Glory is mine this week. Or should I say its Penny's, my lovely editor at Scholastic- it's in her inbox as I write. All 39,617 words of it. We have just finished the final edits for this, my third junior fiction novel and now all that remains is the mark up, typesetting, proofs, printing, distribution, launch, marketing, launch and selling of lots of copies...
New Year 2009 and I find myself in a place I’ve never been before. Not the physical space- Hataitai remains the same as ever; Salvation coffee down the road annoyingly closed until the 14th (but I’ll be there panting at the door for Graham’s great brew), the weather mysteriously changeable and the garden suffering a great lack of weeding. But this year, both offspring are working at pizza parlours and restaurants and no, they don’t go back to school at the end of the month; they start Uni semesters late Feb. So we now have two adults in the house all day living vampire hours. I feel in an odd sort of limbo; the ‘going back to school date’ has always been a kind of deadline for me to regroup for the year and start work again. You know, the endless putting stuff out there and seeing if anything comes back kind of life that freelancers have. So here I am on the 13th January thinking ‘Crap! I probably have to start now because if I wait until Uni goes back we’ll be well into the year and I’ll still be dithering, not to mention broke.’
So I have started gently by running a summer writing and illustration workshop with Saradha Koirala who is an upcoming writer and poet with a string of successes under her youthful belt already. We have a keen bunch of 12-14 year old girls in my studio daily, learning skills to inspire them into the future and I am relishing the delight of that age group who are old enough to make witty and entertaining conversation without the teenaged slouch and emo that comes with turning 15.
Our own daughter has been there and done that (giggle, slouch, emo) and has now emerged as a fine young woman about to turn 21. I found this picture I did of her when I had a new box of pastels and she was a ten year old. Who knew at that age what she would find as her passion other than her cat? Who knew who or what would inspire her along the way? As teachers of one sort or another, we can show, point and ask questions of our youth until they find out what it is they love. I hope that out of our little group of aspiring writers and artists this week, some will find their way with words and images in the future and be the storytellers of tomorrow. Because without them, society is colourless is it not?
I'm teaming up with Saradha Koirala this January to run workshops on writing and illustration for 11-14 year students- our storytellers of the future. Saradha recently won 2nd prize in the Wellington Sonnet Competition and she, like myself, are both graduates of the Victoria University IIML Creative Writing MA Programme. Saradha will be running the writing part and I'll be teaching the illustration all in my wonderful sunny studio in MT Cook. Here's the flyer; please feel free to pass it on. We are looking forward to a great summer nuturing bright young talent. .
Well here they all are; my Pin-Up Honeys. Click on the picture to see them in full resolution. My favorite is Gloria- which one appeals most to you? I hung them last night with the help of my fabulous other half Adrian- it so helps to have a tall man at your disposal, that picture rail and those hooks were a long way up! Juanita sold before she even got to the cafe, but tonight is the opening and if I haven't contacted you about it, get your own back and come and drink my bubbly at 6.30pm at the Deluxe, Kent Tce, Wellington. I'd love to see you there!
I waved my 18 year old off on the bus today- on an adventure north to meet up with his girlfriend, the school part of his life having finished for good and the next part of his journey through the world about to begin. I watched him climb aboard the Naked Bus Company, long hair flowing, skinny black jeans clinging and his head plugged into ‘Tool’ via MP3 player and was reminded of the last time I waved him goodbye. The following poem addressing my emotional state was published in Next magazine back in 1995…
