Happy New Year! Sorry I’m a bit slow off the mark. I’ve been travelling on the cold side of the world – reconnecting with friends, catching up with family, revisiting some familiar places and gathering ideas for my next project. I lived in England for 11 years, but there’s something very special about returning after a longContinue reading “How many resolutions on your list?”
Category Archives: Life
Archibald stories
It takes me thousands and thousands of words to flesh out a character, but how clever are the artists who can capture someone without needing to use any words at all. I was blown away (again) by the finalists in the Archibald Prize for portrait painting at the Art Gallery of NSW. So many great stories here, but hereContinue reading “Archibald stories”
Getting creative on the Scenic Rim
I’ve read the research: hanging out in nature reduces stress levels, enhances creativity, improves intelligence and even makes you a nicer person. So after three days of stomping through muddy gullies, tramping up mountain tracks and following black cockatoos on Queensland’s spectacular Scenic Rim, my latest story should basically write itself. As for the impact of all of that deliciousContinue reading “Getting creative on the Scenic Rim”
How to get to Rick
Ta da! Copies of Como ficar com Rick – the Brazilian version of How to get to Rio have just arrived and don’t they look delicious. The book is part of the Choose Your Own Ever After series which lets you decide how the story goes. In Como ficar com Rick Kitty Maclean has to choose betweenContinue reading “How to get to Rick”
Happy 2016!
You know you’re on holidays when you relish the chance to get out of bed at daybreak. With the Noosa River calling, and a paddleboard with my name on it, who has got time to sleep. Sting rays are flitting across the river bed, pelicans are sailing past, early-rising fishermen head for the bar, andContinue reading “Happy 2016!”
Books for Christmas
Queues, dodgy carols, aching legs, confusion over what size feet my nephew has. Not for me, this Christmas. This year I’m avoiding the festive-season shopping chaos and buying everyone a book and a pig (or maybe an orangutan). Here’s what my Christmas list looks like. (Look away now if you’re hoping for a present fromContinue reading “Books for Christmas”
Rich and Rare launch night
How many writers and illustrators can you pack into the offices of an independent Melbourne Publishing house? Ford Street was going for the record on Friday night with the launch of Rich & Rare – the latest anthology for teens, edited by Paul Collins. Ford Street was packed with hugely talented and wonderfully witty AustralianContinue reading “Rich and Rare launch night”
Sugar is sweet
There’s nothing like a break from the daily grind to get the creative juices flowing (or dripping at the very least), and a holiday never lets me down. A week in the Whitsundays was going to be my chance to do lots of reading – always useful before the start of a new project. Unfortunately sailing,Continue reading “Sugar is sweet”
Without words
It’s not often the internet can be accused of underselling anything, but no amount of online browsing prepared me for my recent visit to the Art Gallery of NSW to see the finalists of the Archibald Prize. The winner – Fiona Lowry’s portrait of architect Penelope Seidler, blew me away. You have to stand inContinue reading “Without words”
Author alert: Blog tours can be dangerous
Call me accident-prone if you like (you wouldn’t be alone), but I may be the first author to sprain an ankle on a virtual book tour. As you know, over the past month, I’ve been visiting writing buddies across the country talking about my first book in the Choose Your Own Ever After series –Continue reading “Author alert: Blog tours can be dangerous”
Julie Fison 