It's been a bit quiet at my desk lately, which is unusual for this time of year. It's been Book Week season here in Australia, and with it comes a normal flurry of activity and author visits etc. Unfortunately I've been unwell for the last couple of months and as a result have had to cancel all but one of my scheduled visits.
I hate cancelling author visits! Not just because I love interacting with children around bookish themes, but because I hate letting down the teaching staff and leaders who have put so much effort into planning ahead for these types of visits.
My creative output has also slowed down as a consequence of my ill health, which had been disappointing. But I'm plodding along slowly on a couple of priority projects, and am hoping for some answers and improved health in the meantime.
I hate cancelling author visits! Not just because I love interacting with children around bookish themes, but because I hate letting down the teaching staff and leaders who have put so much effort into planning ahead for these types of visits.
My creative output has also slowed down as a consequence of my ill health, which had been disappointing. But I'm plodding along slowly on a couple of priority projects, and am hoping for some answers and improved health in the meantime.
One thing I have managed to hold onto through all this has been my postgraduate study in creative writing and literature. I'm studying online, through Deakin University, and - for someone who hasn't done any serious academic study for a while - am loving it! I'm currently doing a unit on young adult literature so have been using my course (and my health) as an excuse to curl up and read plenty of great YA novels. Some of my reading highlights include: The astonishing life of Octavian Nothing by M.T.Anderson, All I ever wanted by Vicki Wakefield, The Hunger Games (yes, I read it again!) by Suzanne Collins and Knife of never letting go by Patrick Ness (which I'll admit I didn't really enjoy - oh, my heart broke when the dog died - but it was cleverly written and certainly made me think). If you haven't read a YA novel recently, I'd recommend you do so. If you have, I'd love to hear which ones have lingered long after the book was shut. |