In Magic Fish Dreaming diversity comes in many forms. There’s the diversity of wildlife and landscape and the diversity of author June Perkins’ Papua New Guinea/Aussie heritage and her European descent Aussie illustrator, Helene Magisson.
Together they have created something truly exquisite that shares the wondrous Far North Queensland, Australian Environment in playful, lyrical, and inspiring ways.
Meet all sorts of wonderful characters as Magic Fish Dreamingencourages children and families everywhere to hunt for their own nature-based or urban poems.
Mira Reisberg Ph.D. Director of the Children’s Book Academy
So, so exciting! Super, super busy! I think I need a pair of butterfly wings! Flap, flap.
Above is our second last sneak peak of the enchanting illustrations by Helene before the launch. Just one more reveal! No poem to reveal, as you’ll see that in the book. Wow, our caterpillar book is about to fly! No more cocoon. . . so very soon our book will fly into your hands.
It’s final editing of the manuscript time – the point where the poet is not allowed to tinker or fine tune the metre of any more lines, but has to finally be satisfied for the line edits by magic Matilda.
We have some magical people in children’s writing and poetry, writing something about the book as we speak. Can’t wait for their feedback ! They are the first, other than the team, to see butterfly emerge from its cocoon.
Our design wizz Heidi will soon be doing her stuff, taking the manuscript and the art and putting it all together. Ah the decisions on font and so forth will be taking place.
I’ll be off to see the printer to make some final decision before that. Papers, binding, and other mysteries to hide from you all a little while longer. Ah for the mysteries of the cymk that will make the colours Helene has put into her art sing onto the page.
As for launching and so on, there’s still some research to be done, before we fix dates and places. Maybe we will make a trailer? We dream of flying or road tripping North to share our book in the place where the poems were born.
The art work is complete! Yesterday Helene delivered it. Now it is time to scan it ready for designer Heidi to work her magic.
It was so great catching up with Helene as we have both been busy. She has been working hard on the art for the book, and I’ve been managing other aspects of the project and preparing our review schedule.
On the weekend I went to a writer’s retreat at Mt Lamington National Park. This was the view from the room I was staying in! Now that’s Magic!
I enjoyed my time at the retreat and you can read more about it on:
Pearlz Dreaming.
The time near Mt Lamington has renewed my energy for completing the rest of Magic Fish Dreaming and other writing projects. It was educational, vibrant and full of friendship and networking.
I was delighted to find fans of Magic Fish Dreaming attending the retreat. They expressed so much anticipation for our project that it made me smile. I told Helene all about it when we met on Monday.
We look forward to seeing everyone who can make the launch when we announce it. I am working on fixing a date and venue.
This is just a portion of a Magic Fish Dreaming illustration, a teaser, a riddle to make you wonder what the rest of it looks like.
This is so the book will mostly be a surprise when you receive it and read it for the first time.
The illustration process is nearly complete, and soon meetings with the printer will take place and the designer, Heidi Den Ronden, will be taking the reins and working her magic to bring the poetry and the illustrations together on the page.
Helene had this to say recently on her facebook page:
“I have almost completed the whole work, and I wish I could continue illustrating many other of June’s poems. I enjoyed each minute and instant working on this project. The collaboration with June Perkins is just delighting and always very constructive.
I will tell and explain more about the story behind the book (I have so much to say), but I will do it a bit later on my blog.”
Thanks so much for all your support.
Preorders are still available, but only until the end of this month. You need to email June at
For those living in Brisbane there will be books for sale at the official launch later this year.
You can read an Interview with Ali Stegert on Magic Fish Dreaming HERE.
“Magic Fish Dreaming is a children’s picture book project written by my friend and crit-buddy June Perkins and illustrated by Helene Magisson. Today, I interview the author about her beautiful work and her dream of bringing the project to fruition.
A Dreamy Book for Youngsters
Ali: “A dreamy book for youngsters” is my five-word description of your book. How about you describe Magic Fish Dreaming in five words?” FOR THE REST OF THE INTERVIEW CLICK HERE.
So excited to let you know we have just passed $5000, and are now at $5049 raised towards our green light $9000 goal.
Just $3951 more and we will have our project definitely up and away!
There are just a few more hours left in our special Cassowary soft toy and book reward, so if you know anyone that would love this reward with the book, do let them know.
Thanks so much to Dimity Powell, who blogged our project today, and shared her blog throughout her networks. We greatly appreciate the assistance of Dimity and many others who are letting the wider community know about our book.
Mr Koala says check out this: ARTICLE BY DIMITY
We acknowledge continual supporters on twitter like the Children Writers Guild, Alesa Lajana, Nancy, Vacen and Lenora Riegel, Pasifika Tales, Australian Women Writers, and Torey-Ann Torres, as well as their retweeting friends!
A big thank you to Jan Cornall, the Writer’s Journey, and to Di Bates, at Buzz words for sharing information about our project in their newsletters. We now have a few multiple book order options available, as some people are buying one for themselves and one for a friend or library. So check out our custom rewards.
ABC Far North Queensland did a prerecorded radio interview. We will inform you when we know when and where this is airing and if there is an online podcast link.
Today the following stop press went out to schools.
Stop Press – Additional Note for Schools – Workshops Magic Fish Dreaming
We realise that for many schools and libraries to consider the workshop option and day visits they need to budget well ahead of time.
The schedule for this book is that it will be available October/November 2016 and the workshops will commence in 2017.
We recommend if you would love a presentation or workshop or term project for 2017 pre-purchase at least the book or Education Reward 1 so we make sure it happens and goes into print.
You will then have the satisfaction of knowing you supported a book which encourages the development of poets in our community from the earliest of ages.
We will convert your skype in Education Reward to the introductory talk to a large school group.
June has run poetry workshops in schools and for community groups, and has a graduate certificate in teaching and a PhD in writing empowerments. She is currently on an Australian Society of Authors mentorship for writing picture books and works mentoring University students in creative writing.
Helene has taught art in India. She is an award winning artist with four picture books that will have been published by 2017.
They are combining forces to inspire and share the process of collaboration, illustration, and poetry in programs will be suitable for budding illustrators and poets. Much of the information you will need for budget and grant consideration is on our project blog.
Furthermore you can look at the educational rewards in the kickstarter to get an idea of the costs and programs we provide.
First preference for 2017 workshops will be given to those schools and teachers who supported the kickstarter.
