News

Skyping for World Literacy

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Image courtesy Mel Irvine, children in Philippines Reading Magic Fish Dreaming

 

So excited that I will be skyped to the Philippines in September, to read  poems to some of the children gathering there to celebrate World Literacy Day.

My dear friend Mel Irvine, who supported the kickstarter creation of the book and purchased it to share with Philippino children, has recently extended this invitation to me. I thank her so much for the opportunity to share poetry and my story live to an overseas audience.

I applaud all her wonderful efforts working to empower the children and young people through the arts and education and feel both blessed and privileged to know her.

Will let you know how it goes!

Writing for Children’s Panel: Introducing JR Poulter

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Introducing JR Poulter – Panelist for Writing Poetry for Kids at the Queensland Poetry Festival

J.R.Poulter Multi-awarded writer /poet with 30+ traditionally published children’s and education books here and overseas, the former senior educator, librarian, book reviewer, once worked in a circus. J.R. workshops/ writes on poetry, prose, performance, and heads Word Wings collaborative, creating beautiful books. As J.R.McRae, she’s a multi-awarded, internationally published poet, fiction/YA writer/artist. Works include novels, Picturebook/YA crossovers, poetry collections, with poetry/prose/art in international anthologies including  Colours of Refuge, Mytho, 100 Stories for Queensland, Basics of Life, Quadrant Book of Poetry, 2000-2010, The Spirit of Poe, Guide to Sydney Rivers. J.R. was flagship presenter for QPF 2007 Schools Program.

 

www.wordwings.wix.com/publishing  

Queensland Poetry Festival Performing Artist

You can find out more about JR Poulter on Ripple Poetry.

Writing for Children’s Poetry Panel: Dr Virginia Lowe

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Virginia-Lowe-226x316Introducing our chair for the  Writing for Children’s Poetry Panel  (Brisbane Square Library and Queensland Poetry Festival partnered event), Dr Virginia Lowe.

Dr Virginia Lowe has had poems published in anthologies and is a Melbourne Poets Union prize winner. She has written many papers and chapters on children’s encounters with poetry (in Styles’ Poetry and Childhood), their own poetry ‘writing’, and on nursery rhymes. Her thesis was published as Stories, Pictures and Reality (Routledge, 2007).

Dr Virginia Lowe at the Queensland Poetry Festival

Silver Birch Press

You can find out more about Dr Lowe in the following interview over at Ripple Poetry

Writing Poetry for Kids – A Conversation and Reading

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Writing Poetry for Kids

When Saturday, August 26, 2017, 1 – 2pm

Are you thinking of becoming a children’s poet? Are you already a children’s poet looking for a way forward in your journey? What can poetry do for children?

Join poets Sally Murphy, Dr June Perkins and JR Poulter, in-conversation with Dr Virginia Lowe, for this fascinating discussion.

Brisbane Square Library, 266 George Street, Brisbane City

Bookings required.

Phone Brisbane Square Library on 07 3403 4166 to reserve your place.

Queensland Poetry Festival & Brisbane Square Library

Cost FREE

Magic Fish Dreaming Heading to Boonah

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Delighted to announce that Magic Fish Dreaming will be shared in Boonah at this festival celebrating the Environment.

There will be tie dye magic,  Jim the Letter Box Man, a Junk Orchestra Jam, recycling artists demonstrating how to make their creations, the showcasing of a community tree jumper, as well as environmental educators and more!

It is normally held close to June 5th World Environment day, but this year is on Saturday 15th July starting at 9am, but then every day is a day to care about the environment.

Festival goes will also be invited to help create a community poem!

So do bring along your wish to add to this poem  – ‘What if you could have anything you wish for the world?’

Universal participation warmly encouraged!

June will share poetry during the day and copies of the book and a beautiful calico bag will be available for purchase.

Cash sales only, but of course there are eftpost machines in Boonah not far from The Outlook if you forget!

$18 for The Magic Fish Dreaming book, and $20 book and book cover calico bag, $5 for bag only.

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For more information on the various workshops and stalls head to the World Environment Day Festival facebook page.

Books@Stone May Visit

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Thanks to the lovely owners of Books@Stones, the people who stopped to chat today and the two lovely young ladies passing by who said ‘Wow, looks lovely’ at the top of their voices.

Today I shared ‘Discovering Magic,’ ‘Tawny’ and ‘Wishing for A Fish’ and met a young lady who loved music, mathematics, poetry. . . and Fish.  I pointed out Helene’s latest illustration work in Whirlpool to this little Miss and her Grandma.

A big thank you to Kara McLeod, a fellow SCWIBI and Write Links buddy, for listening to me read some poems with a couple of other lovely people.  It was a delight to see your smiling face there. Thanks so much to my daughter and son who kept me company sitting at the shop and hubby who helped set up and pack up.

The family took turns at the table with me and when off duty enjoyed exploring Stones Corner. It is a wonderful shopping area for the bargain hunter and the popular culture fan, with five op shops, and a Marvel comic and games shop as well.  Adding atmosphere were two buskers at either end of the street (one a violinist). Perhaps I need to take my two youngest ones busking with me at markets and sell a few poetry books that way too.

The community passing by whilst I sat with my soft toy pals was quite diverse, with people seeming to come from all corners of the globe. Someone asked me if I am related to a very famous Perkins family, and I said I wasn’t but what an amazing family of film makers and activists for human rights. We discussed why I love to have diversity within the Magic Fish Dreaming book.

Lovely to know that some more grandparents will be reading the poetry with their children.

There are still books at the shop if you would like pop in and buy one so we officially add Books@Stones to our list of shops who want to share the magic of the book.

Celebrating Australian Authors and Stories – Magic Fish Dreaming Heading to Books@Stones in May!

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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!)

Magic Fish Dreaming – The Book Trailer

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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!