This week began with my attending the exciting and rather overwhelming SCBWI Conference in Sydney. (SCBWI stands for Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.) While my supportive husband and mum helped with the kids and their routines, I caught a train to the city. I rubbed shoulders with a HEAP of other writers, illustrators and editors, overnighted, went to sessions all day Tuesday and then returned home to crash! 
This was my first SCBWI conference and although it wasn't quite as I'd expected, I did learn some new things about how the book industry works in Australia and some interesting differences between here and the US market. AND I got to hang out with writer friends I knew, like Aleesah Darlison and Penny Morrison (fellow shortlisted author for the CALEB prize I mentioned in my last post).
But it wasn't really relaxing - at least not for an introvert like me. 
So I've spent the rest of the week laying low, soaking up the silence while the kids are at school and chipping away at one of my new stories. 
And today, feeling almost normal again, I put my boots back on and drove over to Beecroft, where the lovely Children's Bookshop is, to celebrate the launch of the other Penny's Captain Sneer the Buccaneer!
What a fun book with lovely illustrations and a terrific sense of humour! It's certainly worth adding to the Christmas shopping list.

​But as for me? It's time for a cuppa and feet up again - Oh, and maybe a bit of self indulgent reading while the boys are at the footy...

August is an exciting time of year for authors and books lovers as Book Week swoops by with all it's book-ish enthusiasm.
This year, my Book Week contained an extra piece of excitement when I learned that Fearlessly Madison was among five shortlisted titles in the picture book category of the 2016 CALEB Prize!
(This is the award Wonderfully Madison won in 2013.)

So, what is the CALEB Prize? It's one of two (the other being SPARKLIT's Christian Book of the Year) book awards for titles published by Christian Authors in Australia. While the Christian Book of the Year Award has only one category for published work, the CALEB award recognises several different categories each year it runs. This year it celebrates children's picture books as well as general books for an adult readership. The award focuses on excellence in faith inspired writing.     

Other shortlisted books include: 
Same by Katrina Roe and Jemima Trappel, The Word War – Mark Hadley and Amy Lees, Hey! Is That How God Made Animals? – Penny Morrison and Jesus Walks on Water – Shan Joseph and Natasha Percy.

The winner of this an other 2016 CALEB categories will be announced during the CALEB Awards Night of the Omega Writers Conference. Tickets for the event can be purchased here.