Archive for writers
May 19, 2013 · Filed under Authors, Books, Children, New Zealand, Star Author, writers, Writing · Tagged Books, May 2013 Star Author, New Zealand author, Sarah Johnson, Star Author, writing
I promised I would tell you a bit more about some of the fabulous children’s writers who appeared at Word Café with me. But before I do that, I have to put right a terrible oversight…
I woke up in the middle of the night last night and realised I had forgotten to mention something, or rather someone very important in my last post. Can you guess who?
Winnie the Pooh of course! Now the Winnie the Pooh story’s not about poo at all, but Pooh Bear himself has got to be the all-time most famous poo of all, and terribly lovable and funny to boot, so I was sorry that I had forgotten him.
But now that I’ve remembered him, I might just reread his story, and his second story The House at Pooh Corner, and also some of his poems, my favourite of which goes:
Wherever I am, there’s always Pooh,
There’s always Pooh and Me.
Whatever I do, he wants to do,
“Where are you going today?” says Pooh:
“Well, that’s very odd ‘cos I was too.
Let’s go together,” says Pooh, says he.
“Let’s go together,” says Pooh.
Do you know it? It’s called ‘Us Two’ and it’s from A.A. Milne’s book Now We Are Six. A.A. Milne is the author of all of the Winnie the Pooh books, but the stories will always belong to Pooh.
Speaking of authors, I had the good luck at the Word café festival to present a workshop with a very talented author called Andre Ngapo who also lives in Raglan, like me. Andre won the Sunday Star Short Story Competition in 2008 for his story ‘Te Pou’. The story isn’t a children’s story as such, but it is about a child. After that, Learning Media contacted Andre and he has been writing stories for the School Journal ever since. Keep an eye out for him. He has a story out this month, and several more in the pipeline.
I also did a reading with another clever Raglan local, Margery Fern. Although she was reading her books, Margery is the illustrator, rather than the author. The author is her sister Jennifer Somervell who lives in Oxford in Canterbury (they’re the ladies in the picture: Margery is on the left). Together they produce a series of picture books, called Tales From the Farm about their amazing childhood growing up on a farm in the Hawkes Bay.
There’s a funny one about their father blowing up the cowshed with gelignite (a true story) and another about an old truck that they had in shed, which is now the only working truck of its kind in the world. Their next one, Josephine, is about an amorous pig (I hate to think) and then they have a book planned about an eel hunt. Now I happen to love eeling (I don’t kill them; I just haul them up on a piece of string to get a closer look at them), so I’m really looking forward to that.
The last children’s author who was there was Tui Allen. Tui doesn’t live in Raglan, but she lives in Te Pahu at the foot of Mount Pirongia, which is close by. Tui’s written lots of books for children, but her best known is probably Captain Clancy and the Flying Clothesline, about a city clothesline that escapes its city existence to live on a tropical island. Although Tui published it nearly 20 years ago, the story is still a favourite on National Radio’s story time.
For Word Café we asked all three of these wonderful storytellers what their advice was for aspiring writers and illustrators (that may be you). Here’s what they said:
Andre
Write from your experience, from what you know, where you’ve been — not necessarily physically — cover the emotional landscapes you’ve traversed. Write from the heart.
Margery
Practise, practise, practise! Team up with a writer, trial create a book together and just give it a go!
Tui
Find a great critique group. Either in the flesh or online. Make full use of it. Do your share of critiquing and develop trust within the group. Listen to them, especially their criticisms. The most important thing you want to hear is what’s wrong with your work – not what’s right with it.
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May 15, 2013 · Filed under Authors, Books, Children, New Zealand, Star Author, writers, Writing · Tagged May 2013 Star Author, New Zealand author, Sarah Johnson, Star Author, writer, writing
What a fantastic time I had at the Word Café Raglan writers and readers festival at the weekend. Books are so much fun! And so interesting. And so are the people who read and write them.
Around 35 people came along to the workshop that Andre Ngapo and I ran on getting started in writing for children. (Andre’s in the picture, doing his stuff on the day: I’ll tell you more about him in my next post.) That’s 35 avid writers and readers of children’s fiction all in one room. It was electric.
We had a wonderful discussion about what makes a great children’s book. It reminded me why I love them so much (and also of all the things I should be doing in my stories to make them even better). Everyone agreed that there needed to be:
- lots of humour – kids (and the adults reading with them) love to laugh
- a great story – that’s a beginning, a middle and an end, with lots of twists and turns in between
- plenty of action – whizz, pow, bang, uh-oh, ah-ha, ahhhhhhh…that sort of thing
- fabulous characters – no dull and boring please
- not too many messages – the aim is to entertain
- a pinch of amazing – that special something that makes a story zing.
Can you think of anymore?
Personally, I think there is one, and it’s a bit of a magic ingredient when it comes to stories. That something is poo.
In the 20-ish years that I have been writing stories, I have noticed that, along with humour, kids love poo. Look at all the books that have been written about it.
For starters, there’s Baa Baa Smart Sheep by talented New Zealand author and illustrator duo Mark and Rowan Sommerset, about a bored sheep that tricks his mates into eating, you guessed it, poo.
Then there’s the hilarious Poo Bum by Stephanie Blake (she’s not a new Zealand author, but her publisher Gecko Press is from here) about a little rabbit who will only say one thing: “Poo bum”. That is, until he gets eaten by a wolf, at which point he changes his tune to…read it and find out.
Then there’s Captain Underpants by Dave Pilky about all things to do with undies, wedgies and toilets (that’s got to count poo). And the all-time poo-topping favourite, The Little Mole who Knew it was None of his Business by Werner Holzwarth, about a mole that is poo-ed on (it lands on his head) and runs around trying to find the culprit (and encountering many and varied poos along the way). It even has a plop-up version!
That’s just off the top of my head (the list that is, not the poo). There’s no denying poo is popular.
So at the moment I am busy writing my own story about poo. I can’t give too much away, except to say that it’s a picture book and it’s about a dung beetle who spends his nights rolling endless little balls of poo (well dung, but it’s the same thing). Until one day he looks up and discovers…
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May 7, 2013 · Filed under Authors, Books, New Zealand, Star Author, writers, Writing · Tagged May 2013 Star Author, New Zealand author, Sarah Johnson, Star Author, writers, writing
Hi,
I am busy this week getting ready for Word Café, Raglan’s first ever writers’ and readers’ festival. It is happening this weekend (10 and 11 May) and there is going to be an amazing line-up of writers.
I have been helping to organise the event, and am also presenting a workshop and reading some of my stories. I’m really looking forward to it, but am also a bit nervous. Like a lot of writers, although I love words, I am more comfortable writing them, than speaking them!
Still, getting out and promoting yourself seems to be part of a writer’s job description these days. And I do find that going along to writing festivals, workshops, readings and other bookish events is really good for my own writing.
Hearing other writers talk is very inspirational and gives you a real creativity boost. I always find that my mind is humming with ideas for new stories and ways to improve my old ones after I’ve listened to someone else talking about their work.
There is an American writer, Julia Cameron, who writes books for artists and writers about how to access and boost your creativity. One of her ideas is that you have to pamper your inner-writer (the place where your ideas comes from), so that it remains happy and creative. You have to give it treats and take it for days out to fun places: like writer’s festivals.
I like this idea, especially as the treats can involve fancy stationery (which I love) and chocolate (no comment needed).
I also think it’s important to go along to writing workshops and events, if you can, so you can improve the craft side of your writing. Part of writing is inspiration, but a much larger part is craft (learning how to make and structure a story, the best words to use, how and when etc).
You can learn this, just like any other skill. One way is practice. The other is by seeking out and learning all there is to know, so that when you sit down to write your story, your writing toolbox is full.
This weekend, I am going to be working alongside and listening to some very inspirational children’s writers at Word Café; I’ll tell you a bit more about them next week. After that, the next writing event I’m going to is the Golden Yarns: Children’s Writers and Readers Hui 2013, which is happening down with you, in Christchurch, at the beginning of June. I can’t wait! I wonder when I’ll find time to write?
Talk soon. Sarah
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May 6, 2013 · Filed under Children, Christchurch, Competitions, writers, Writing · Tagged Andy Griffiths Writing Challenge, competition
Thanks to everyone who entered our Andy Griffiths Writing Challenge last week. You all wrote some wonderful stories, poems and lists and we loved reading them.
The winner of the Typo prize pack and a copy of Andy Griffiths’ book, Once Upon a Slime, is Ben Somers. We loved all the wonderful and creepy things that were behind your Twelve Doors.
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May 3, 2013 · Filed under Children, Christchurch, Competitions, writers, Writing · Tagged Andy Griffiths, Ella, Once Upon a Slime, Twelve Doors, writing, writing competition
Check out this awesome story that Ella wrote using Andy Griffiths’ Twelve Doors writing exercise.
THE TWELVE DOORS
Good morning, stranger, and what brings you to my door?
Ah, you need not say anything, I can guess where you are heading.
How, you ask? I have seen many young people pass my door, all with the feverish look in their eyes, all heading the same way.
But I can see in your eyes, stranger, that you are still not sure about your choice, were you pushed into this, stranger, called a coward, because you were not sure? How do I know this, as well, stranger?
Ah, I am what people call a Reader. No, I do not read books, I read people. I can read their desires, their fears, their deepest regrets, yes, I can see right in to you soul, stranger. No, I do not know your name, my gift, does not allow me to see that. Nor do I wish to know it, for it makes me remember the people who walked past my door, to their deaths.
Now, stranger, tell me the real reason, you are walking this path.
Ah, wait. Close your mouth. I am a Reader, remember. Wait, I am looking into your heart, yes… yes… It is a women, isn’t it, stranger? You are deeply in love with her, you would walk the ends of the earth for her, so deep is your love for her. Now, what has she done, to make you walk this path, hmm? Ah, now I see, it is her father, yes? I thought so.
So this is why you are walking this road to your death, you are poor, your job does not supply you much money, you have a little sister who you love dearly, but she is sick, and one day soon, you fear she will die. And this women you are in love with, she is a rich, isn’t she? And even though she loves you, and you love her back, her father, doesn’t agree to the match, yes? He does not want a poor peasant marrying his beautiful rich daughter. He thinks she should marry someone else and he has someone in mind who is very, very rich but is also cruel, yes?
And this father, he is scared that you will runaway with his daughter, makes a bargain with you. If you go to The Twelve Doors, and come back with the prize, he will let his daughter marry you and even make you a knight, so you have a position in his household. So you agreed to come on this quest.
So that is your story, stranger, and a strange one, too. I knew as soon as I saw you stranger, that there was something different about you, and now I know. You tread this path, for the people you love, not for greed, which is all the other poor souls who came this way have fallen too.
And for that stranger, I am going to give you a word of advice for what you face ahead. Now, come closer, so I may whisper in you ear.
Now, are you listening, stranger? Good. What you need to face the horrors ahead is not a weapon, but your wits. Yes, stranger, your wits. For the horrors that hide in the eleven doors, are actually spirits, evil spirits, that are desperate for fresh souls, but they can only kill the souls that are already tainted. That is why the greedy travellers that have gone before you have never came back, for their souls have been tainted with greed. Now, you, stranger, Your soul is pure, I can sense it. As the spirits try to take you soul, fight them with your mind. Think of all the good things you have ever done, and most of all think about the love you share with the women. The spirits can not battle against love for it is to pure and beautiful for them. They will slowly weaken and grow transparent and then disappear.
In each of the eleven doors, their is a spirit, and the more doors you grow through, the more evil they are…
When you reach the twelfth door, and that is if, you survive up to the twelfth door, take your treasure, and begone from that evil place. Go home and marry your lady and forget The Twelve Doors.
Now go, for I have helped you in all the ways I can.
What is it, stranger?
What is the treasure, you ask? Ah, I can not say, for it is supposedly different for everyone. Now go.
Farewell, Stranger. And… good luck.
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May 3, 2013 · Filed under Children, Christchurch, Competitions, writers, Writing · Tagged 50-word Pet Story, Andy Griffiths, Louie, Once Upon a Slime, writing
Check out Ella’s ‘Louie’ that she wrote using Andy Griffiths’ writing prompt, 50-word Pet Story.
LOUIE
Golden gold,
wagging tail
spoilt rotten
steals the mail!
Sniffing this,
sniffing that,
finding the scent
of a dirty rat!
Snoozing by the fire,
where it’s nice and hot
jumps up barking,
when he hears a knock!
Wet pink tongue,
big brown eyes,
and big happy grin,
that doesn’t lie.
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May 3, 2013 · Filed under Children, Christchurch, Competitions, writers, Writing · Tagged 50-word Pet Story, Andy Griffiths, Once Upon a Slime, Tierney, writing
Check out Tierney’s ‘Angus’ that she wrote using Andy Griffiths’ writing prompt, 50-word Pet Story.
Angus
Five foot tall,
emerald green,
my dog Angus is
easily seen.
Neighbours complain
when they lose
their mail;
it blows away because
our Angus
constantly wags his tail.
His puppy fat
is so much that
I carry him in a wagon.
Everyone’s scared,
because they think
Angus is a dragon!
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May 3, 2013 · Filed under Children, Christchurch, Competitions, writers, Writing · Tagged A Study in Custard, Andy Griffiths, Once Upon a Slime, stories, writers, writing
Check out Tierney’s ‘A Study in Custard’ that she wrote using Andy Griffiths’ writing prompt,Make the unbelievable believable.
A Study In Custard
“Scientific studies show that eating custard three times a day with fish fingers will minimize your chance of catching yellow fever; a disease cured by eating liberal amounts of custard,” says Dr. Gloopicus.
“I heard on the news that there are 154 ways of making a custard pie,” 73-year-old Mrs. Splatt explains, “but I know this to be wrong. I tried every method ever heard of, and there are actually 155.”
“Recent research findings prove that custard will withstand large shocks without being destroyed, making it a perfect substance for building houses,” says Prof. Dratsuc, who works at the University of Custard. “We are currently working on the first custard skyscraper.”
“Statistics show that 78 percent of people prefer their custard hot.” These poll results were published in Custard Monthly, a popular magazine. However, some disagree.
“Experts say that cold custard is fantastic on rough skin around areas such as heels and knees,” says supermodel Clarisse Ustard, who launched her nail polish brand this year; C. Ustard Nails. “I use custard on my skin once a week- and look at me!”
“It’s a well-known fact that lying in a bathtub full of cold custard improves your chances of passing exams by 35%,” claims mathematics teacher Ms. Yellow. Ms. Yellow gives out cartons of custard for her students to snack on while studying.
Nine out of ten doctors reccomend keeping a 2-litre carton of custard in your fridge for first aid emergencies. Custard can cure sore throats, paper cuts, headaches and hunger.
Sir C. Cream was unable to give his opinion on the matter, as he was tragically killed when he was sucked into a patch of custardsand while studying foreign custard recipes in Africa. May he rest in custard.
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May 3, 2013 · Filed under Authors, Books, Children, Competitions, Fun, writers, Writing · Tagged Andy Griffiths, competition, Once Upon a Slime, Terry Denton, writing
Andy Griffiths, the author of Just Crazy, Just Tricking, Zombie Bums from Uranus and The 13-storey Treehouse, has just released his book about writing, called Once Upon a Slime. In this very cool book he gives lots of tips about writing and some activities to help you become a better writer. You’re probably looking for something to do in the holidays so why not try an Andy Griffiths writing challenge.
In the box below there is a writing challenge from Andy’s book, Once Upon a Slime. Why not try it out and post your writing here on the blog. Just post your piece of writing as a comment at the end of this post, along with your name and email address. At the end of the week we’ll choose our favourite piece of writing and the author will win a prize pack of goodies from Typo.
Make the unbelievable believable
Add a made-up piece of nonsense to the end of each of the following sentence beginnings.
- Scientific studies show…
- I heard on the news that…
- Recent research findings prove that…
- Statistics show…
- Experts say…
- It’s a well-known fact that…
- Nine out of ten doctors recommend…
For more great writing ideas check out Andy Griffiths’ new book, Once Upon a Slime.
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May 3, 2013 · Filed under Authors, Books, Children, Christchurch, Picture Books, Star Author, writers, Writing · Tagged May 2013 Star Author, New Zealand author, Sarah Johnson, Star Author
Hello and it’s lovely to be here. Well, not exactly here, as I am writing from my desk in Raglan, a little town half up the West Coast of the North Island, but still it feels as if I am down there in Christchurch with you.
I really am very pleased to be part of this wonderful book-fest blog, and especially pleased to be following hot on the heels of David Hill, who is a wonderful and very funny author, in my opinion. So, a double treat.
Unlike David, I am not an established children’s author, but just a beginning one. That’s exciting in itself, as (other than a brief time between the ages of 6 and 9 when I wanted to be a pony), being an author is the only thing that I have ever really wanted to be. So it is wonderful now to have written a couple of books and to be able to do proper author things, like take part in this blog.
I don’t always find it easy, at the moment, to find time to do author things, as I have four small children who are very, very messy, and very, very noisy. Now I know you’re thinking, “oh yeah, everyone says kids are messy and noisy”, but I’m telling you the truth; my kids are extremely, excessively, rampageous-ly messy and noisy.
I think this might be because they have quite a lot of Scottish blood in them, and they have seen too many of those movies where the highland warriors run around the hillsides, wearing kilts and brandishing swords and yelling “Arrrrrgggghhhh”, for extended periods of time. I think they may now be using these as a model for their own behaviour. But I am having difficulty proving it.
Anyway, this shortens my writing time a bit, as I spend quite a lot of the day running around the house with my hands over my ears, tripping over things and dodging sword thrusts. But I have managed to do another writerly thing this week, and that is launch my new website.
I am very pleased with the website, as it is very beautiful, with lots of amazing pictures (taken by a friend of mine) of Raglan, the fabulous place I live. So why don’t you take a look: www.sarahjohnson.co.nz. It also has some information about my books. And if you send me an email to let me know you’ve visited, I’ll post you one of the bookmarks I had printed to celebrate the launch.
Talk soon.
Sarah
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May 2, 2013 · Filed under Authors, Books, Children, Competitions, Fun, writers, Writing · Tagged Andy Griffiths, competition, Once Upon a Slime, Terry Denton, writing
Andy Griffiths, the author of Just Crazy, Just Tricking, Zombie Bums from Uranus and The 13-storey Treehouse, has just released his book about writing, called Once Upon a Slime. In this very cool book he gives lots of tips about writing and some activities to help you become a better writer. You’re probably looking for something to do in the holidays so why not try an Andy Griffiths writing challenge.
In the box below there is a writing challenge from Andy’s book, Once Upon a Slime. Why not try it out and post your writing here on the blog. Just post your piece of writing as a comment at the end of this post, along with your name and email address. At the end of the week we’ll choose our favourite piece of writing and the author will win a prize pack of goodies from Typo.
50-word Pet Story
Tell a story about – or describe – a pet you have owned (or would LIKE to own) in exactly 50 words. See how much of your pet’s personality you can convey in those 50 precious words.
It may help to write the story first and then subtract any words that aren’t strictly essential until you have 50. Your title can be any length.
For more great writing ideas check out Andy Griffiths’ new book, Once Upon a Slime.
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May 1, 2013 · Filed under Authors, Books, Children, Competitions, writers, Writing · Tagged Andy Griffiths, competition, Once Upon a Slime, Terry Denton, writing
Andy Griffiths, the author of Just Crazy, Just Tricking, Zombie Bums from Uranus and The 13-storey Treehouse, has just released his book about writing, called Once Upon a Slime. In this very cool book he gives lots of tips about writing and some activities to help you become a better writer. You’re probably looking for something to do in the holidays so why not try an Andy Griffiths writing challenge.
In the box below there is a writing challenge from Andy’s book, Once Upon a Slime. Why not try it out and post your writing here on the blog. Just post your piece of writing as a comment at the end of this post, along with your name and email address. At the end of the week we’ll choose our favourite piece of writing and the author will win a prize pack of goodies from Typo.
Write a TO DO list
Make a list of all the things you HAVE to do in a typical week. Now make a list of all the things you would LOVE to do instead. Combine both lists to create your ultimate TO DO list.
For more great writing ideas check out Andy Griffiths’ new book, Once Upon a Slime.
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April 30, 2013 · Filed under Authors, Books, Children, Competitions, Fun, writers, Writing · Tagged Andy Griffiths, competition, Once Upon a Slime, Terry Denton, writers, writing
Andy Griffiths, the author of Just Crazy, Just Tricking, Zombie Bums from Uranus and The 13-storey Treehouse, has just released his book about writing, called Once Upon a Slime. In this very cool book he gives lots of tips about writing and some activities to help you become a better writer. You’re probably looking for something to do in the holidays so why not try an Andy Griffiths writing challenge.
In the box below there is a writing challenge from Andy’s book, Once Upon a Slime. Why not try it out and post your writing here on the blog. Just post your piece of writing as a comment at the end of this post, along with your name and email address. At the end of the week we’ll choose our favourite piece of writing and the author will win a prize pack of goodies from Typo.
Twelve Doors
Imagine that you are standing in front of twelve doors. Behind one there is a fabulous treasure. Behind the others are eleven of the most dangerous things in the world. Describe what lies behind each one.
For more great writing ideas check out Andy Griffiths’ new book, Once Upon a Slime.
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April 29, 2013 · Filed under Authors, Books, Children, Competitions, Fun, writers, Writing · Tagged Andy Griffiths, competition, funny, Once Upon a Slime, Terry Denton, writing, writing tips
Want something to do these holidays? Enter the Andy Griffiths writing challenge and you could win a Typo prize pack.
Andy Griffiths, the author of Just Crazy, Just Tricking, Zombie Bums from Uranus and The 13-storey Treehouse, has just released his book about writing, called Once Upon a Slime. In this very cool book he gives lots of tips about writing and some activities to help you become a better writer. You’re probably looking for something to do in the holidays so why not try an Andy Griffiths writing challenge.
In the box below there is a writing challenge from Andy’s book, Once Upon a Slime. Why not try it out and post your writing here on the blog. Just post your piece of writing as a comment at the end of this post, along with your name and email address. At the end of the week we’ll choose our favourite piece of writing and the author will win a prize pack of goodies from Typo.
Write a story starring YOU!
You don’t have to be able to make up imaginary characters or exotic settings to tell a good story. A fast way to create fun, believable-sounding stories is to start with the character you know best in the whole world (YOU!). Choose one of the following scenarios and describe what you would do and what happens next.
- You wake to discover that you can no longer speak – you can only bark like a dog.
- You are in class. It’s a hot day. Your friend starts taking off their clothes…their shirt…their shoes…their socks…their pants!
- You have a strong suspicion that your teacher is a vampire and, worse still, you suspect that they know you have discovered their secret.
So get writing and see what you can come up with!
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April 26, 2013 · Filed under Authors, Books, Children, New Zealand, Star Author, writers, Writing · Tagged April 2013 Star Author, David Hill, New Zealand author, Star Author, writers, writing
I’ve spent quite a lot of time this week working on TWO novels. Does that sound impressive??
First, I’ve been going over the page proofs of a novel that’s coming out in June, called Brave Company. It’s about a teenage NZ seaman, who is on a NZ frigate during battles in the Korean War of the 1950s. Page Proofs are the final stage before the novel is actually published. Everything is set out exactly as it will be on the pages of the book, numbers and illustrations and all, and the author has to go – very carefully – through them, seeing if any mistakes have been made. There hardly ever are any; editors are a very efficient lot. But a final check is always a good idea.
The page proofs come after a series of stages in the making of a book. First, the author writes it. (Easy! Simple!) Then, if the publisher likes it and agrees to publish – and this often doesn’t happen; please don’t think that everything I write gets published – the editor will make suggestions on how to improve the book (add details here; cut bits out there; stop describing so much; stop the feeble jokes, etc) and author/editor work on these till they agree. This part can take weeks. After that, the designers make suggestions about cover, set-out, illsutrations / maps / diagrams, etc. And then come the page proofs.
The second book I’ve been working on is one I wrote over the winter / spring / summer. It’s about a NZ teenager in the 1970s who somehow gets involved in French nuclear tests in the Pacific. How? You’ll have to read the book – if it ever gets published. If that does happen, it won’t be till next year. I researched it, I wrote the first draft. I wrote the second draft. I wrote the third….. And now I’m going over and over it, taking out a sentence on Monday, putting half of it back on Tuesday, getting the book as good as I can before I submit it.
So that’s what the author’s life can be like. It can also be full of pleasure. When you write anything – a book, a story, a poem, a letter – you make something that never existed in the world before. It’s special. It’s unique. And that’s something that nobody can ever take away from you. So the very best of luck with your own writing and reading.
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April 19, 2013 · Filed under Authors, Books, Children, New Zealand, Star Author, writers, Writing · Tagged April 2013 Star Author, David Hill, New Zealand author, Star Author, writing
I took a day off during the week. Yes, authors are allowed to take time off, especially when they’re as lazy as I am. My wife Beth and I (I write about my dear wife a lot in my short stories for adults; I also write about my kids and grandkids in my children’s stories – but I always change details so they don’t recognise themselves and beat me up.)
I’ve lost track of where that paragraph was going……Yes, my wife and I rode a golf-cart along a railway line for 120 km. You know those funny little motorised carts that you sometimes see golfers trundling around golf courses in? A tourism business in Taranaki where I live has converted some so they run – very slowly – on railway lines, clattering along past farms and through tunnels. We rode in one from Stratford to Whangamomona and back. Isn’t “Whangamomona” a brilliant name? It’s right in the middle of inland Taranaki; it has no shops; one hotel, a population of about 20 people, 200 dogs and 2000 sheep. I may write a travel article about it.
I’ve also been trying to write a story about when I was learning to ride a bike for the first time, years and years (and more years) ago.
I’m a great fan of writing about your embarrassments and disasters and mistakes. Other people always enjoy reading about them, and you always feel much better after you’ve turned them into a story or poem or play. So I’m writing about how I could never stay upright on the bike; how I’d manage to pedal for a few metres only, then I’d start wobbling or leaning over to one side till I fell off. I just couldn’t seem to learn how to keep moving and stay on the seat. To make it worse, there was a guy who lived along the road from us, who was really good at sports and anything that involved being fit and confident. He could ride a bike and do no-hands tricks on it, and stuff like that. Every time he saw me trying to ride, he’d sneer and yell sarcastic comments.
Then one day I could ride. Just like that. My Dad had taken me down to a rugby field where nobody was playing, and he’d walked along beside me, holding the bike while I tried to pedal. Suddenly his voice sounded distant, and I realised he WASN’T holding the bike any longer. I was riding by myself.
I still fell off a few times, but I’d learned the trick. And a couple of days later I was riding (very carefully) along our street and met that other guy. I’ll never forget the amazed look he gave me. So that’s what I’m trying to write a short story about, and I think that in the story, I’ll make him so amazed that he falls off his bike into a hedge. That’s another thing I sometimes enjoy writing about: getting revenge on people…..
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April 5, 2013 · Filed under Authors, Books, History, New Zealand, NZ Post Children's Book Awards, Star Author, writers, Writing · Tagged April 2013 Star Author, David Hill, My Brother's War, New Zealand author, NZ Post Children's Book Awards 2013, writing
I guess the main event for me during the first week of April has been that I’ve been lucky enough to be short-listed for the NZ Post Children’s Book Awards. My novel My Brother’s War is in the Junior Fiction section, so you all have to rush straight out and vote for me!
Authors are always asked “Where do your ideas come from?” and the idea for My Brother’s War came from my Uncle Fred.
The book is a story of two NZ brothers in World War 1. William can’t wait to enlist in the Army, and experience the thrilling adventure of war. Edmund however is a Conscientious Objector: he believes that all war is wrong, and he refuses to enlist. So he’s arrested and sent to prison. In different ways, the two brothers are sent to the terrible battlefields in France. What happens to them? You’ll have to read the book to find out, heh, heh.
Anyway, my Uncle Fred was my father’s eldest brother, much older than my Dad. He was a gentle, white-haired farmer, always shy and quiet. I never took much notice of him. Then Dad began telling me about him – how he’d been in WW1; how he’d fought in France and been badly wounded by shell fragments; how he had nightmares for years afterwards, and ended up totally opposed to war. So the book really began because I wanted to honour someone who mattered to me. A lot of what I write starts that way.
I don’t expect to win in the Awards, by the way. There are wonderful books by other authors. Do read Kate de Goldi’s The ABC with Honora Lee, or Mandy Hager’s The Nature of Ash, or…or ANY of the other finalists.
Anyway, I’ve also been writing during this week. I sit at my untidy desk, in a little room between the kitchen and the back porch, in a small side street in new Plymouth, and I mumble to myself and scribble and scratch on the paper. I’ve been writing some book reviews, plus a small story about a kid at a new school who wants to seem special, so makes up all sorts of stuff about herself, and gets into a real tangle. It’s full of terrible jokes. I like writing terrible jokes……
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March 11, 2013 · Filed under Authors, Books, Children, New Zealand, NZ Book Month 2013, writers · Tagged author interview, Fast Five, Fast Five Questions, New Zealand author, Nic Brockelbank, Nic's Cookbook, NZ Book Month, NZ Book Month 2013
- Why did you want to be a writer?
To fundraise for charities. My first hand-written cookbook I sold to raise money for the Christchurch Earthquake Relief Fund, and then I hand-wrote two books to raise money for the True Colours Charitable Trust in Hamilton. “Nic’s Cookbook”, which has been published by Scholastic is raising money for the NZ Muscular Dystrophy Association.
- What’s the best thing about being a writer?
The great experiences I have had, like meeting Simon Gault and Brett McGregor and going on “What Now” to do a cooking demonstration.
- What’s your favourite New Zealand book?
Taste of a Traveller, by Brett McGregor.
- What do you love most about New Zealand?
The great people that live here. And luging in Rotorua.
- What do you love most about libraries?
They are quiet and full of books.
Nic wrote Nic’s Cookbook, which was published last year by Scholastic, when Nic was ten years old. You can check out www.nicocool.com and www.facebook.com/nicscookbook for details about Nic and his cookbook.
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March 1, 2013 · Filed under Author Interview, Authors, Books, New Zealand, NZ Book Month 2013, writers · Tagged author interview, David Hill, Fast Five Questions, New Zealand author, New Zealand Book Month, NZ Book Month 2013
Throughout NZ Book Month we’ll be posting lots of mini interviews with New Zealand authors and illustrators. Our first Fast Five is with
David Hill.
- Why did you want to be a writer?
Became an author partly because i wasn’t much good at anything else. Also because I liked telling jokes and stories to people and making them laugh and listen. Also (No 2) because when our kids were born, I thought they were so special that I wanted the whole world to know about them – so i started writing stories about them for adults.
- What’s the best thing about being a writer?
When you write a story / poem/ review, you’ve made something that never existed in the world before. It’s an amazing feeling, and it’s one of the special pleasures of being an author.
- What’s your favourite New Zealand book?
I’m a great fan of any of Maurice Gee’s books. I love the ways he mixes reality and fantasy. He turns our world into something strange and fascinating.
- What do you love most about New Zealand?
I like the light of NZ. It’s bright and clear and very special. I also like the fact that so many of our museums, libraries, art galleries, places like that are FREE! It doesn’t happen in many other countries.
- What do you love most about libraries?
Libraries are gyms for the mind and the imagination. You read books; your mind becomes fitter and more active. You go on trips that people who don’t read will never experience. Books provide you with this. Libraries provide you with those books!
David Hill is the author of See Ya Simon, Aim High, Journey to Tangiwai, and My Brother’s War.Like this:
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March 1, 2013 · Filed under Authors, Books, Celebrating New Zealand, Children, Christchurch, New Zealand, NZ Book Month 2013, writers · Tagged New Zealand, New Zealand authors, New Zealand Book Month, New Zealand illustrators, NZ Book Month, NZ Book Month 2013
New Zealand Book Month starts today and runs for the whole month of March. It’s the month where we celebrate all the wonderful authors and illustrators that we have in New Zealand. Here on the Christchurch Kids Blog there will be lots of cool things happening, including:
- Fast Five Questions with NZ children’s and young adult authors and illustrators, including David Hill, Sherryl Jordan, Diana Noonan and Donovan Bixley.
- Guest blog posts from Melinda Szymanik and Barbara Else.
- Lots of NZ book reviews and promotions.
- NZ book giveaways.
Make sure you check back in March to help celebrate New Zealand books, authors and illustrators. You can also check the NZ Book Month page on the library website to see what’s happening in Christchurch throughout the month.
Don’t forget to pick up or download your $5-off voucher that you can put towards any book you buy in March. For more info see the NZ Book Month website.
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