TEASER TUESDAY

The Teaser Tuesdays meme is hosted by Should Be Reading. It's easy and fun. Open your current read at a random page and share two sentences from somewhere between lines 7 and 12. There's one important rule - no spoilers!

I was secretly please when Letters to Leonardo fell open at one of Matt's letters to his long dead hero. It was so appropriate. Not just because of the title. But because of the story. Matt's letters are the heart of this gripping, emotional telling. Yes, I've read it now but that doesn't stop me teasing. Here goes - except it's just a little more than two sentences *grin*:

Dear Leonardo,
My life is layers of paint. Things keep getting peeled back and it's hard to know what's going to be revealed next.

Lies, lies and more lies?

Not sure where this journey's going to end but I have a bad feeling about what happens next.

Still, you and me, Leo, we have to know the truth - it's who we are.

Not sure Mrs D is going to get this letter either.

Matt

IN MY MAILBOX - GREAT BOOK COVERS

I was very excited to receive Dee White's Letters to Leonardo in the mail this week. I've listened with interest to Dee discussing her ten-year-journey from idea to publication and am looking forward to reading the final result. The cover looks wonderful. Dee's cyber launch is happening here on 1st July and her blog tour begins on 24th June at Sally Murphy's Writing for Children Blog with Dee and Matt (the main character) talking about promoting Letters to Leonardo online. 25th June 2009.

Talking of brilliant covers bring me to Little Bird by Penni Russon. Unfortunately this book didn't arrive in my mailbox, it came in to The Reading Stack and another reviewer saw it first. It's a cover no reader could ever go past. First in first served, and I was too slow. I'm going to buy this one as I thoroughly enjoyed her previous title in the Girlfriend fiction series, The Indigo Girls. A chance tweet led me to Allen and Unwin's Alien Onion blog where other designs by the same graphic artist are featured. Definitely worth a look here.

OZ LIT REVIEW #9 - Five Little Owls

Five Little Owls. by Mark Carthew - New Frontier Publishing. Picture Book. Hardback rrp $24.95.

Five Little Owls is wonderful fun. Not many books can claim to be truly interactive but this is one of the rare few that succeed.

The rhyming text tells the story of five little owls who, one by one, fly off to play hide and seek in the forest. As each leaves to join the game, a beautifully presented double page illustration encourages young readers to find the concealed animals and play too. Mini Goss is one of Australia’s foremost illustrators and her drawings of mice, rabbits, frogs, bats and owls are both educational and entertaining.

The repetition of phrases, such as the owls calling Tu-whit Tu-whoo, encourages young listeners to share telling the story. They will love the rhyming rhythm and the predictability of counting down from four to zero.

My son enjoyed searching for the hidden animals over and over again. Even after he knew where every one was. Many ‘find-it’ style books are too difficult for younger readers, but this one is perfectly pitched for three to six year olds.

Hide and seek. As in the previous sentence “fly off to play hide and seek”. If you still think it needs clarification then replace with ‘and to play the game with the owls.” Either way is ok with me.

OZ LIT REVIEW #9 - Can You Keep A Secret

Can You Keep A Secret? Compiled by Mark Carthew and Illustrated by Jobi Murphy. Random House Australia. Hardcover rrp $32.95

(A review by Barbara Brown reprinted courtesy of The Reading Stack)

I started to read this book while sitting in bed one early Sunday morning but immediately felt it needed a more critical reviewer –– my son! I didn’t have to wait long before he climbed into bed with me, attracted to the beautiful coloured pictures on the page pointing out the story (he can’t read yet).

Naturally he wanted me to read him the text. I did. He turned each page, insisting “and this one!”. Next thing I knew an hour had passed and we were at the end of the book. What a wonderful mother-and-son way to spend a Sunday morning!

Can You Keep A Secret? is a collection of nursery rhymes and lullabies from all over the world. I was pleased to see a traditional Gunditjmara (indigenous Australian) lullaby included.

I nostalgically recalled the words and actions of a lot of the songs and am grateful to Mark for giving me the last 4 verses of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. I had forgotten they even existed but I am now enjoying them with my son. Many, many times over.

This is a book which will invoke wonderful childhood memories while providing a means to pass them on to a new generation. Old memories are recreated as new memories when the pages of Can You Keep a Secret are shared by parent and child..

The book is bound in purple cloth and has a thick padded cover with a ribbon bookmark and coloured illustrations that will delight all. It would make a wonderful gift for a new born or even for a young child, to be treasured until the next generation. Don’t keep this book a secret, share it around!

OZ LIT PROFILE #10- Mark Carthew

I'm going to rearrange things a little this weekend for Mark's profile. Usually it would be Saturday for the questions and Sunday for a review of the profile author's latest release. But the problem here is I have an old favourite I can't possibly overlook. It's a few years old but it's a great book and for me, Five Little Owls is associated with some wonderful memories as (a much younger than now) #2 son and I read and enjoyed it together.

So one day early, I'm introducing Mark Carthew. First I'm stealing a blurb from the web: Mark Carthew is an award winning editor, author & primary teacher. Best known for his books and series exploring wordplay, music, movement and drama, he has always loved the joy of wordplay and music. and secondly I am going to add that in my children's early years Mark was always Top of the Reading list. You can find out more about Mark at his website

1 The last children's/YA book you read (fiction or non-fiction Children’s – The Flight of the Bumblebee by Hazel Edwards illustrated by Mini Goss (New Frontier) Y/A – Chronicles of Stone: Scorched Bone by Vincent Ford (Scholastic NZ)

2 If it wasn't an Oz title, then the last Oz title Y/A – Shark Bait (Extreme adventure series) by Justin D’ATH (Penguin)

3 Name one favourite book from your childhood The Ragamuffin Mystery by Enid Blyton

4 Name one picture book that you love for the illustrations Luke’s Way of Looking by Nadia Wheatley, Illustrated by Matt Ottley

5 What is your personal favourite among the books you have authored/illustrated Who do love more your mum or dad? It’s TOO hard a question! You love them equally, yet in different ways. My latest ones - Five Little Owls, The Gobbling Tree, Newts, Lutes & Bandicoots, Wicked Wizards & Leaping Lizards and Can you keep a Secret? are all special though…

6. What book do you wish you had written - for love or money For love - The Lord of the Rings For money - Harry Potter

7 If you could be a character in a book, who (or what) would you be GANDALF (from The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien)

8 Do you have a favourite quote - from a book or life in general! Anything. ‘Never give up, never surrender.’ from the movie GALAXY QUEST

I'M GOING ON A BLOG HUNT

I love this blog that I found via Twitter. It's good for the soul, it's full of heart and it's unlike any other blog I've ever visited. Over at Tiny Art Director, Bill Zeman has a tough job. For three years he has been filling artwork commissions from his daughter (now 4). But the Tiny Art Director is not easy to please. She has definite ideas about how she expects her paintings and drawings to look and she's a harsh, unrelenting critic. This web site is wonderful fun. It's joyous. You'll smile. I promise. And Bill Zeman, is no doubt smiling too. Tiny Art Director (the book), originally self-published, will be released by Chronicle Books in Spring 2010. I'm definitely buying myself a copy! {Note: The cover image is the self-published title no longer available}

MACARTHUR LIFELINE BOOK FAIR

A fortnight ago (before I got sick and my blog world crumbled) I was fortunate to be invited to speak at the Macarthur Lifeline Book Fair along with my friend and fellow author, Di Bates. We're both ex-locals so it was a coming home sort of event for us. I was born in Camden and went to Camden South Public School and later Camden High School. Di taught in Campbelltown, edited a local newspaper and lived at Cawdor.

I had a wonderful time, talking to people, reconnecting with a few old schoolfriends and what does one inevitably do at a book fair... browsing and bagging a few (no, a whole bag full) of bargains. Here is what I found for me - not to mention the books I brought home for other family members.

Korea Old and New: A History There's always a treasure to be found at book fairs and for me, this was it. I am mid researching and writing Samurai Kids 5 (title still unknown *grin* write it and it will come). It's set in Korea and resource material is hard to find. Obviously I need a trip there but my research funds won't stretch that far. The Internet has sadly let me down. On-line book shopping has not fared much better. Libraries have left me empty handed. Bits and pieces are falling my way but this - from the Korea Institute of the Harvard University - pure gold!

Boy Overboard Because G is for Genius and G is for Gleitzman. I couldn't let this perfect condition copy of Boy Overboard languish any longer. It's my mission to personally guide it to a good home. I know a kid who will love this.

The Secret Knowledge of Water This is a strange book. Beautiful poetic language in what is a non-fiction account of a man (a ranger I think, I haven't read more than a few chapters) mapping out water deposits in the US deserts. "There are two easy ways to die in the desert: thirst and drowning." It just know I need to read this and I know it's going to be great atmosphere and setting research for my next historical novel which involves a trip across the desert.

Pooh and the Philosophers Because Pooh never was a bear of little brain. Only one so smart could deceive us all so well for so long.

LAUGH OUT LOUD

We all need a good laugh and this did it for me, thanks to Dianne Curran at Write On Track who not only pointed me in the right direction but showed me how to share the giggle around. My blog wasn't quite wide enough to directly embed the code but anyone who is interested (or needs to see a bigger view) can find it at Pearls Before Swine. Enjoy!

SHERLOCK HOLMES and the Case of The Neglected Blog

My blog has been sadly neglected. It would have been worse except I managed to have a post pre-scheduled for last Monday. My excuse - I have been sick with the flu. Just the ordinary kind but it knocked me for six. I rarely get sick so I was not a good sport about it. And I was not a good patient. As soon as I am 100% I am heading off to get a flu shot and I can hear the sighs of relief around me.

The world is a lot brighter when you don't have to carry a tissue box every step of the way. One small consolation for a week of snuffly-cough-filled misery - I found some time to read - hours well spent with a wonderful new book that was also a wonderful old friend. At exactly the right time, a review copy of Allen and Unwin's new bindup of the four Sherlock Holmes novels arrived on my desk.

I haven't read Sherlock Holmes since my childhood. I remembered how I enjoyed it and crossed my fingers that the passing years - mine and those of time and its technology -had not dated the telling. I didn't need to worry on either accounts.

What makes a story such a survivor? For starters, the blue-ribbon cast. The protagonist is one of a kind and Dr Watson his perfect sidekick. When Moriarty finally enters, the triad is complete. Although Holmes is a 'student' of the science behind his forensic observations, his true specialty is the anysis of detail. It doesn't matter if the science is obsolete, the story is in what Holmes draws from it and how he does this.

The book is a classic and this new presentation feels right in my reading hands. Sure it's much to big too be carried around but it's perfect for lolling on the lounge. It's not a bulky package but its certainly not flimsy. The cover is soft but the binding solid and the pages firm.

I love the way this book looks and feels. I love the way the plots unravel, even second time around. I just wish all the short stories were available in a second matching volume (hint, hint if anyone is listening...)

WRITER RESOURCES - SCAN

SCAN is the quarterly subscription journal of the NSW Department of Education Curriculum K-12 Directorate. It's full of useful information for authors who want to know what's happening in the world of education, how books tie to the (NSW) curriculum and how they can provide curriculum resources for their own books.

There is a strong focus on library technology which I particulaly enjoy reading about. Book reviews - fiction and non-fiction - and internet site reviews, are referenced to User Level (Stage) , KLA, Syllabus and SCIS subjects where appropriate. SCAN directs me to the most amazing kid and education orientated web sites. It's worth reading for that aspect alone.

This month I was fortunate to have two books reviewed in SCAN. It's always inspiring to get a good review so I am going to quote briefly before rushing off, all inspired, to write some more.

Samurai Kids: Owl Ninja A fast paced plot filled with adventure draws the reader into an ancient world...The second book in the series, this wonderful novel can stand alone as a narrative.

Polar Boy Inuit The harsh reality of this relentless environment , with its dangerous predators, both animal and human, is graphically portrayed in words. This well constructed story is sure to appeal to reader who enjoy historical adventure novels.

PRINT VS. ON-LINE

On the screen or in your hand? Print or on-line? Will the book survive the Internet? Will Kindle and other electronic readers make the bound book obsolete?

I've thought about this vaguely. Until now. I love the Internet and am completely at home there but I figured the book would always meet that comfort need - to curl up and relax on the couch. Today it all came to a crux for me and I voted with my wallet!

A few months ago I opted to replace my print Good Reading magazine subscription with an electronic one. I thought I would save paper. Save money. It would be convenient for looking up past articles and reviews.

Not so. I found navigating the screen to find what I wanted more confusing than flicking pages. Too many extra steps. I can never remember my ID. The process of settling down to read begins with a frantic scrabble to find the necessary numbers. Then I don't feel like reading any more or the time window has slipped away.

So I have returned to the print version. It's worth the extra money. I can read and relax again.

What do you think? Will print survive? Is my reaction a generational thing?

I'M GOING ON A BLOG HUNT

There are many excellent blogs reviewing children's and YA books. A new one which I am already a regular visitor to is Robin Gaphni's The Book Nosher. Robin is passionate about children's literature - in her work, her studies and 'hands-on' as a parent.

So far she hasn't reviewed a single title I've recognised - and that's great because I am discovering lots of new books. Robin carefully identifies the target audience for each title - taking into account a range of factors including, age, literacy level, gender and interests - as well as adding her own unique perspective.

She not only writes excellent reviews but provides that 'something extra'. Each review is accompanied by "Tidbits" where facts about the author and the book and relevant links are provided. But my favourite part is "Activities" where Robin suggestes activities to support a reading of the book. I've already borrowed quite a few of her ideas.

[The image accompanying this post comes from another favourite site of mine, Jeff Bucchino's The Wizard of Draws. He does some absolutely 'magical' work' (go look and see what I mean) and today's image, while it suits this page, isn't a good indication of the scope of his work and talent. While I'm talking about wonderful illustration... drop into The Well Read Rabbit where a little white floppy-eared heart-stealer lives.]

WORD COUNT WEDNESDAY

I have my calculator out again. Samurai Kids Book 5 is due on my editor's desk 1 November. Beginning 1 June and taking the weekends off I have 110 writing days. I'll probably write about 40,000 words this time. So that's 365 words a day. I know it doesn't sound like much but sometimes a good 365 words that don't all get deleted the next day is a hard ask.

{365 words = a year of words each day. I like the sound of that!}

So tonight I should have 1,095 and I have... drumroll... 3,600. I'm not celebrating just yet.The beginning is always the fastest flowing section for me but I know how quickly those words dribble away. I love writing beginnings but chapter 5 is my choke and splutter point. Around about then I start to think how much fun it would be to write the first chapter of a new manuscript. But once I am on to chapter 6, it's all down hill. Around about then the last chapter will start to form. I'm old enough to have watched the A team - more times than I care to admit - but to quote George Peppard: I love it when a plan comes together.

WHAT MY KIDS ARE READING

I'm feeling just a little bit famous blog-wise - I've had a (small) helping hand in inspiring a meme! I'm pretty chuffed as I only learned the word 'meme' two months ago. Which reminds me, I must send it to The Word Spy and find out where it came from. I love The Word Spy website. Today I emailed in 'boogle', a group of weasels. You can read about that here.

But back to the meme. The Well Read Child is now hosting What My Children Are Reading. It's a terrific idea about sharing what your kids are reading and a great way to get ideas from other bloggers for new books to read with your children? Your posts can be a list of books you're reading with your kids, books your kids are reading on their own, old favorites that get picked up again and again, summaries of your favorite books you love to read together, books you just started reading with your kids, etc.

So here goes. #1 son (17) is reading Short. It's an anthology of Australian short stories compiled by Lili Wilkinson. He's reading it as research for his Extension English project. It looks great and when I sneaked a peak at a few stories - it is great. I'm reading it next.

#2 son (9) and I are reading a review copy of Greatest Blogger in the World by debut author Andrew McDonald. It hasn't been released yet so I won't go into details but suffice to say it is not only inspiring #2 son to read (when I refused to read another chapter tonight he said defiantly "I'll read it myself then") but it also inspired him to write. He's going to blog!