This week I’ve been working with school children on developing their writing voice. I know plenty of adults who would have a hard time defining this concept, so it might seem like a mature topic for kids. But the reality is – students are marked on their voice in NAPLAN tests, so, it’s an aspectContinue reading “How to strengthen your writing voice”
Category Archives: Writing
Happy New Year!
I hope you’ve had a great start to the year. I’ve been flat out working all summer. My friends and family would probably say otherwise, that I’ve been lazing around on holidays, that I’ve barely had my laptop open. But that’s just the point. I’ve been travelling, gazing out of plane windows, eavesdropping at restaurants,Continue reading “Happy New Year!”
Chatting with the masters
I’ve been catching up with some amazing Australian writers over at Boomerang Books. They’ve had hundreds of books published between them, won countless awards and even have a few Order of Australia Medals to their names. They are so very inspiring that I had to share a few snippets from my interviews with Susanne Gervay,Continue reading “Chatting with the masters”
The Call of the US
BUY IT NOW Get ready, girls of the US – the Choose Your Own Ever After series is heading your way. The US publisher Kane Miller has just acquired rights to my second book in the series The Call of the Wild. My first book in the series How to Get To Rio is due for release in theContinue reading “The Call of the US”
Get Smitten Anywhere
Great news for fans of the Smitten young adult romance series who don’t live in Australia. Lust and Found and Tall, Dark and Distant, as well as some other very hot Smitten titles have been released internationally. You can now get Smitten in paperback from international book suppliers as well as all of your favourite Australian onlineContinue reading “Get Smitten Anywhere”
So, that’s what you think
Writers can be fragile little things. I cried long and hard when my editor returned my first manuscript covered in comments and changes. I think I’ve toughened up a bit since then, improved my writing, and decided not take take every comment personally. But positive feedback? Well, I’m taking that very personally. Thanks to Written Word Worlds forContinue reading “So, that’s what you think”
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”
Call of the Orangutan
Happy International Orangutan Day – or not so happy, as the case may be. August 19th is being marked to recognize the dangers facing the most iconic victim of the palm oil industry. I first encountered orangutans twenty years ago. I was holidaying on the island of Borneo and came across a sanctuary where young orphanedContinue reading “Call of the Orangutan”
The Call of the Wild
A super-cool party or a save-the-orangutan fundraiser – that’s the choice facing Phoebe Wright in my newest Choose Your Own Ever After story – The Call of the Wild. The book lets you decide how the story goes. You can follow your heart right to the end, or go back and choose all over again.Continue reading “The Call of the Wild”
Julie Fison 