Today I dropped some books off at the lovely Books@Stones. What delightful owners and shop.
The dear owners, Karen and Michael Weibler, are kindly putting a display up and I left a few things for them to work with.
We had a brief chat about the wonderful children’s literature community of Brisbane and the great Independent bookshops we both admire.
A big shout out to Riverbend!
I am so looking forward to reading some poetry at the shop next week and sharing a little of the world of Magic Fish Dreaming.
Hope to meet some new readers for Magic Fish Dreaming. So if you are free would be great to meet you.
And to all grandparents and parents looking for a book to share with their grandchildren in the upcoming June school holidays, this book has already become beloved of a number of grandparents and parents.
It is designed to be read aloud!
I am sure if you want to have a sneak peek of the book before Saturday you can do that.
Look at that front door, just so inviting (and there is a poster letting you know I am on the way!)
Today we finally have a book trailer for Magic Fish Dreaming!
I have been wanting to do this for a while.
There is so much for Indi (Independent) publishers to do, and we try to do as much of it as we can ourselves.
So we find ourselves doing publicity, sales, distribution, accounting, book trailers, our blogs, websites and more!
The Magic Fish Dreaming team is so pleased to have our book in twelve shops in two states, and to have three suppliers on board (they do libraries and schools).
This trailer is especially to assist all our sales outlets and suppliers boost the public’s knowledge of the book. We hope it helps!
Half the challenge with books is having people walk into the shop and ask for it, or spot it on the shelves.
If you love our book we would love you to share this trailer so it can make it out to more families.
Do support the wonderful book stores who continue to promote and support Australian and diverse authors, and their local authors.
There is so much pressure with globalisation to lose the local voice and flavour in favour of mass popular products, however there will and should always be a place for the diversity of voice and art and for beauty, poetry and joy!
For Indi Authors, sometimes our best friends are those fabulous indi book stores!
It was such a delight to attend Folk at Magdas last Saturday night.
After hearing my children perform at the launch of Magic Fish Dreaming in October Merv has been persistently and gently encouraging them to attend and perform at this regular event hosted at Magdas.
We began by attending one last year to see what it was like, and have also been back to attend a concert by a fantastic guitar duo earlier this year (Magdas are also involved in the Brisbane International Guitar Festival), but finally this weekend my children were ready to perform there once again.
They had a ball.
They’ve since decided to name their duo, come up with a style of how they dress, and work on their performance banter, as they loved the storytelling of some of the performers on the night. They are going to write some original material as well as do covers, and have offered to set some of my poems to music. So watch this space.
They are persuading their older brother (a brilliant guitarist who is still shy to perform much in public and who secretly has the most beautiful rich deep voice to share with the world) to join their duo and make it a trio!
There is nothing like seeing your children find their confidence, and seeing them nurtured and given opportunities by others. This is dear friends, the power of community.
What I love about Magdas is how community minded they are and the opportunities to meet other creatives and people who love the arts there.
The MC of the evening Caroline Hammond had a great chat with me, and her and Jodi Murtha, who recently put out a debut album, brilliant voice and songs, had lovely things to say about my children’s efforts and their set. I thank them so much for their warmth!
I share this story, not just as a proud mum, which of course I was, but as a creative nurturing young people. Nurture your little ones to write their poems, and write their songs. Enrich their lives with art and find community events that will support them in a caring way to develop their talents. Connect with other artists, writers, musicians and it will enrich your life too.
A big thank you to Magdas and the amazing sound man and other black board musicians for making our first Folk at Magdas a great night. Sorry we couldn’t stay for the whole evening!
If you live in Brisbane, or are ever passing through, join their facebook page and subscribe to their newsletter. A great venue, showing its love and support for the community through the arts.
Jodi Murtha
Gill and Julius
Daylight Moon
Sandon and Merv
Now Sheridan and Sandon are looking for a name..
Daylight Moon with unnamed Duo
NEXT MAGIC FISH DREAMING EVENT
I have a book signing in a couple of weeks. I’ll read you a poem, sign your book, and am happy to chat about how we can keep nurturing the creativity of the young people of our community.
“I shared my journey outlining five major influences: my birth family, nature, my family today, writing groups and spirituality of the Baha’i faith. I especially focused on the racism my family endured when living in Tasmania, which in some ways lead to the loss of one of my brothers, and how education, my family and community, played a role in empowering me, to create the poetry book for children and family Magic Fish Dreaming, a subtle celebration the oneness of humanity – which is reflected in its illustrations. I feel compelled to write by the desire for the children of the world to grow up in a world free from prejudice. ”
(Short Extract, full write up of my participation in the festival is on my Pearlz Dreaming Blog
Photos from Sheryl Gwyther, June Perkins, Jo Hoffman, Kara McLeod.
Please note I didn’t quite make all sessions, but did interview one of the school visits presenters.)
Brief Notes
A big thank you to David Perkins for assisting me with setting up and packing up my stuff during the festival.
Since the festival I’ve begun receiving more queries about school visits and will share some details about what they might include, and what the cost will be.
First off Helene and I will be doing some collaborative workshops looking at both writing and illustration in June at two Brisbane libraries, Kenmore and Ashgrove (see our events for listing).
I am working on some other exciting projects, including more panels and lots of writing which I will share with you when I am able.
Inspired by the festival speakers I’ll be making sure to find more hours to write and want to try for 1000 words a day! Maybe I’ll start at 6.30 am though, rather than 5 am.
I wish for every child in the world, freedom from war, freedom from hunger, free education, and someone who cares for them and loves to read them poetry.
Thanks so much to the following people for their much valued and precious feedback on Magic Fish Dreaming.
Thank you to the Children’s Book Academy for their recent interview.
Thank you to the Sandcliffe Writers Festival for giving me a voice. And everyone who stopped to look at my book and those of other presenters on the table at the Bracken Ridge Library.
All the people who helped make this book delight in knowing how young readers are responding to the art and the stories and I do pass your messages on to Helene Magisson our illustrator as well.
It gives me hope!
I have begun work in earnest on a sequel to Magic Fish Dreaming. Will keep you posted.
**
Just read your book to my kids and they loved it, June. I am going to take a copy to their school library tomorrow. What beautiful book. My daughter is 5 and loves to dance, so ‘Storm Dancers’ is her favourite. My boy loves the tawny frogmouth. His favourite. I hope it lands in every library. It’s a gorgeous read.
Lauren Elise Daniels, Brisbane Writers Workshop and Professional Editor
Read your book to a child in detention on Nauru. He just loved it and wanted it read to him again and again, especially the funny one, ‘Discovering Magic.’
Worker on Nauru
Absolutely gorgeous book…I purchased one for my grandson Fletcher…we sit together and read its our special book xxx
Tracey, Grandmother from Tasmania
We are .. . grateful that this beautiful book exists because of its beauty, its diversity, and the environmental caring it subtly weaves through inspiration.
Delighted to add two recently opened and enthusiastic bookshops to the stockists of Magic Fish Dreaming.
A big congratulations to Chapter, at Hill St, Yeppoon, QLD. What a wonderful campaign in the opening of your shop! Those videos you post are so much fun!
So excited to have Magic Fish Dreaming now available in Tasmania, where June grew up!
Stories Bookshop thanks so much for keeping bookshops alive in Launceston, the place where June spent most of her childhood. Libraries and bookshops were an important part of that childhood and without them Magic Fish Dreaming might never have come to be.
Stories Bookshop is at
Level 1, 75 St John Street
7250 Launceston, Tasmania
Presenting at Sandcliffe Writers Festival photo courtesy of Jo Hoffman
“One of the best parts of running the Children’s Book Academy is seeing the beautiful books that our students make. This one is from June Perkins who took our Self-Publishing with Crowdfunding course, co-taught by Jed Alexander and myself. Magic Fish Dreaming is truly gorgeous, getting rave reviews, and most importantly getting into children’s hands in June’s native Australia.
June did not want to wait for an editor or agent and the incredibly slow process of getting contracted and published. Because it’s a book of poems, which also makes it harder to be picked up by a traditional publisher, June was wise to follow her heart and take her destiny into her own hands to create the book that she wanted. With the help of her illustrator Helene Magisson, and a small village of both professional and non-professional help, June has created something very beautiful and meaningful.
We are so grateful that June was sympathetic with our instructions by getting her poems professionally edited and hiring a really high-quality professional illustrator and designer from the money she raised in her successful Kickstarter campaign. We are also grateful that this beautiful book exists because of its beauty, it’s diversity, and the environmental caring it subtly weaves through inspiration.
After the book came out, I was delighted to interview June for this blog in hopes that others will purchase it and learn from June’s innovative poem structures, the exquisite art, and about this magic place in far North Queensland where Magic Fish Dreaming takes place. Here’s the interview where June shares about her experiences of self-publishing and about her process in making the book.”
To find out more about our Instant Access Self-Publishing with Crowdfunding course click here. There’s currently a $60.00 discount with this Promo Code: ILOVEKidLit
Last year when I was running my kickstarter campaign I came across the Sandcliffe Writing festival online, and it looked kind of cool because it was concerned with diversity and was in Brisbane.
I emailed them to let them know I thought their festival looked great and to say I had a book coming out, Magic Fish Dreaming, would they be interested in my participation.
I promptly forgot all about it, and then early this year an email from the lovely Adele Moy arrived, with a phone number and asking me to ring her about the Festival, she apologised for taking so long to get back to me.
I phoned Adele as she requested and had the most beautiful conversation about diversity, life, writing, family and my book which went much longer than I think we both expected, and next thing I know I am on a panel to tell my unique story.
I met Adele for the first time in person at the Insights of an Outsider Panel last week, and felt like I had known her for years. She greeted me with such friendliness and warmth. Thanks for that Adele.
I am going to give you three photographic hints about my presentation on Saturday, and well you will have to attend to find out fully what this all means. I am going to share the story of my main inspirations, and the things that have compelled me to write.
Can you guess what they might be?
With my Grandmother
With my Family
Mum
My favourite literary character, Mma Ramotswe, in The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency novels, by Alexander McCall Smith, because she is curious, caring and looks for the most just resolution to any situation. She also knows a story for almost every situation.
Join authors Duncan Richardson, June Perkins, and Michael Aird as they talk about their inspiration and ideas and what compels them on their creative journey, where they are today, and where they hope to be in the future.
A huge thankyou to the Sandcliffe Writers Festival Organisers for giving me the opportunity to share the story of why I love writing so much and how I set about becoming an author! I also look forward to the literary dinner with Matthew Condon on Friday, the panel following ours (and the lunch!) and catching up with Lauren Daniels.
detail from Magic Fish Dreaming – By Helene Magisson
PLEASE NOTE
I will be selling copies of Magic Fish Dreaming, $18 each and signing them at the event.
Please bring cash, exact change if you can is much appreciated.
For $25 in total you can receive a custom printed calico bag with your book.
This bag is available only at events and book signings.
