What I am currently reading: - ‘The girl and the ghost’ by @jacquelineharvey.bsky.social - ‘Maddy McAllister: shipwreck detective’ by Deb Fitzpatrick - ‘A very special moon mission’ by @rebeccafung.bsky.social

The Design of Books was an interesting and informative book on book design, cover and interior for different kinds of books. I liked its accessibility for non-designers - it steps through books and explains terms and considerations for readers and self-publishers.

Love this Rebecca! Hope you had fun and see you again soon! #globalbookcrawl

I went to a talk by Tristan Bancks at Apple Sydney on storytelling and how to use Freeform to work through story ideas. He's an interesting speaker and gave some useful tips for writing, including free writing and storyboarding. If only the iPads were free not just on loan!

Sometimes you have a day when both good and bad news comes. I had some disappointing news. I also had someone order multiple copies of both #Septopus and Princess Hayley's Comet. Thanks for putting much-needed sparkle in my day! Order at owltitude.com

On Gallant Wings by @drhelenedwards.bsky.social is a WWII middle grade historical fiction bringing up the dilemma of whether wrong things can ever be right, exploring how families were affected by the Darwin bombing, and exploring the wartime pigeon postal service. Very interesting read.

The annoying thing that many of us authors, especially self-published authors, find, is that even when self-published there are so many others who demand a hefty cut of your sales yet you seem to be doing all the work. Platforms for selling. Distributors. Bookstores.

Last day of #globalbookcrawl! I visited @gleebooks.bsky.social Here is Septopus in the kids' section. I am honoured to be placed next to some amazing books, including On Gallant Wings by @drhelenedwards.bsky.social which I'm reading right now. Trot into Gleebooks and check us both out!

Legend of the Lighthouse Moon @drhelenedwards.bsky.social - is a middlegrade historical tale that blends mystery and magic, set at a lighthouse. I love the sea atmosphere and the warmth that pervades the book - a beautiful sense of family while exploring the magical environment.

Should I not have visitors, so there is no need to scurryfunge?

Signed copies of #Septopus are now available at Read on Books in Westfield Eastgardens. Support this wonderful independent bookstore - the staff are an absolute delight. I saw some kids peeking at my book as this photo was taken - I hope the shark didn't scare them!

Thank you to Better Read Than Dead bookshop at Newtown for stocking my book, #Septopus! For those who buy the book in this store, there's a fun little surprise between the pages - more fun with Septopus! Happy reading.

Super excited to be on both the adult and kids’ programs at SWF this year! www.swf.org.au/writers/al-t...

Two lovely-looking reads by @drhelenedwards.bsky.social arrived today! I look forward to exploring them both. On Gallant Wings and Legend of the Lighthouse Moon.

I love unusual #words like this. I'm looking forward to dropping this in a conversation sometime. I have a meeting today so maybe I will absquatulate just so I can say it!

It's March, so march into Abbey's bookshop in the Sydney CBD and pick up a signed copy of #Septopus! Thanks to all those who've already done so and please keep spreading the word!

Thank you to readers of #Septopus and Abbey's bookshop in Sydney CBD! We had to restock twice in two weeks because of your eagerness. Keep buying and keep telling your friends - signed copies still available. Join the Septopus Admiration Society! (find out more in the book!)

Hey! I have a #newrelease 🏳️‍🌈 A new episode in my WW2 spy thriller series, 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑆𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝐷𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐚𝐫 is set in 1942. There's murder, kidnapping, assassinations and forays across the Atlantic and meetings with Nazis in war-torn Europe. #historicalfiction #spythriller #writeLGBTQ

My top tips for #NationalStorytellingWeek: 1) Write the story YOU want to read. 2) No writer can write a perfect story in one draft. You need to write, read, edit, rewrite. Rewriting IS writing! (see art below, by Charles M Schulz) 3) Whatever happens - NEVER GIVE UP! sfsaid.com/2017/01/thre...

I heard someone use the word 'cad' yesterday. I used 'pash' today. Does anyone else use these words or do they sound hopelessly dated? Are there any words you use that you think most people wouldn't use or understand ... But you use them anyway? #words

“Foolscap” is A yellow notepad’s Funny Nome de plume Don’t know why They call it that Tradition I assume As #umbrella Friend used one To shield self From the rain His poems Got washed away Wet “fool’s cap” Is to blame To be fair— Tho friend’s no fool It’s funny All the same #vss365

Children's books are everyone's books! I told this to someone just the other day. You can derive much from reading children's books as an adult. And if you read and enjoyed a book as a child, if it was great it often lives on inside you in adulthood. Even when you're not thinking about it.

Sydney Writers! Are you interested in joining or starting a writing group? There's an information session on writers' groups hosted by Writing NSW this Saturday 15 February - free but you have to register. I thought it may be good to meet other writerly types. writingnsw.org.au/whats-on/eve...

I went to the opening of Sydney CBD's Dymocks' new children's book department. It's a lovely fun new space and today's event included activities, giveaways, colouring-in and talks/drawing lessons from Jacqueline Harvey, RA Spratt, Jade Goodwin and Bill Hope.

Happy #YearoftheSnake! In #Septopus, Stanley involves some sea snakes in a special mission - here I read from Chapter 4 - Stanley and the sea snakes. www.instagram.com/reel/DFcggbK...

#Septopus has been restocked, signed copies at Abbey's Bookshop in the Sydney CBD! We want to thank those who bought all the last stock and please ... Head down and buy more and tell your friends! This 7-legged octopus is so grateful to have readers #middlegrade #childrensbooks

From Nine Nasty Words: John McWhorter's observations on Russian usages of some nasty words!

Excerpt from Nine Nasty Words by John McWhorter. I have a fantasy that someone 'fires my ass' someday so I can say this!

Snoopy knows

Nine Nasty Words is a fascinating exploration of the world of offensive language. This is a book for #word geeks. If you like taking a word and teasing out history, etymology, social impacts, usage, analysing the [bad word!] out of it, like I do, this is for you. I loved it.

Buy the books you love now, series or not. You are supporting the author/illustrator/publisher 1. The creators may be encouraged to turn them into a series. 2. The creators may be supported/encouraged by success to make more books, more of that book style is likely to get out there.

I completely understand why you should support an author early and haven't even read all of John's thread - it's like a TV series, it'll get cancelled if the first ones don't take off - but publishers PLEASE keep the series cover styles same as book 1 then!

Just how far will a father go to save his daughter? Where does the moral scale between survival and savagery lose its balance? Can he save her? Will it cost him everything? www.amazon.com/Demon-Ever-D...

A list of sorely missed Victorian-era slang… Got the morbs = temporary sadness Gigglemug = always smiling Scandal water = tea Bitch the pot = pour the tea Sauce-box = mouth Cupid’s kettle drums = breasts Dash my wig = OMG Tight as a boiled owl = drunk Poked up = embarrassed Not up to dick = unwell

Look what I received for Christmas! Someone of impeccable taste gave me this, I will have a lot of fun summer reading! By @adamcsharp.bsky.social It's been on my wishlist for a while.

Less than a week till Christmas! Give #Septopus to someone you love ... Or even just like ... Or feel indifferent to. They will enjoy Stanley's story just the same! At Abbey's Book Shop Sydney CBD and St Ives Book Face (Berkelouw) or email [email protected] $16.99 AUD

John Marsden on writing: "I'd rather have [criticism] than have a bland book that people read and forget," he said. www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12...

Note to self: Remember no draft has to be perfect except the final one. But it needs to get done, so you can review the story and have the other drafts after it. Finish your first draft and make a book possible. - Wrtr #amwriting Keep Writing. #author #writing #writer ~ #authorsky

This gives hope to many of us that our books that aren't finding immediate success may be successful later. But gosh it's a long time to wait! #books #classics #Mobydick #booksky

Perfectionism as a writer. #Snoopy #writingcommunity #words

The joy of finding the right words - a writer's happy place! #Snoopy #writingcommunity #words

That is the kind of Christmas I want. Frog and Toad make everything better.

Reader, I googlied him

Why did no one tell me that Queen Elizabeth I had a guinea pig for a pet?

I like the German saying “do you expect fried pigeons do just fly in your mouth” (erwartest du, dass dir die gebratenen Tauben in den Mund fliegen), for someone who expects results from doing nothing.

Names for a lazy person from eight different languages: 8. A lazybones (English) 7. A sluggish banana (Danish) 6. A flaccid fish (Norwegian) 5. A snake king (Cantonese) 4. A free-bread-getter (Serbian) 3. A day-thief (Flemish) 2. A nothingdoer (Hungarian) 1. Director of Free Air (Lithuanian)

How to draw an owl

Last minute Christmas shopping? You still have time to buy #Septopus for Christmas, perfect for 8-12 year olds! It's in @abbeysbookshop (signed), Book Face St Ives or order from [email protected] for $16.99 (+ shipping) Review here: www.buzzwordsmagazine.com/2024/12/sept...

I would love there to be more short brilliant books like Animal Farm, A Christmas Carol and Of Mice and Men. I know they may seem to disappear on the bookstore shelf. But seriously these are amazing and have stayed with me way more than many longer books. The value in their brevity is enormous.