Look at all these amazing people: authors, illustrators, organisers, publishers, wonderful bookshop people, mentors, children's book council, book charities- the beating heart of the children's book industry.

AND - there's been SECRET BOOK STUFF happening:
 - Cover design (Oh - I wish I could show you - it's AMAZING!)
 - Reviews in the making
 - Editing - more scenes, less scenes, dotting the i's and crossing the T's.
                                                                     And too many cups of tea.

The other excitement, being a big Potter fan, was getting to see the Cursed Child on stage. (Yes - it was a very windy day!) Who doesn't love some wizarding magic?

With 1 week to go, I've still got time to squeeze in a few more paragraphs.
Happy writing, Happy Holidays - and I hope you enjoy some fantastic reads over the summer!
(P.S - there's some great ideas in the slideshow!)

We made small road trips between floods - Picton, Coffs Harbour, The Hunter, Sydney.  I took a lot of nature photos!

**Images mainly taken from the children's program.

Over a year of work has paid off in the resoundingly successful Words on the Waves Festival, and weren't we lucky to hold it before being thrust back into lockdown! Here's an overview taken from our Words on the Waves website:

The first-ever writers festival to take place on the Central Coast of NSW, Words on the Waves, has marked a hugely successful inaugural event over the June long weekend 11 – 14, hosting nearly 20 sold-out sessions, over 40 inspiring authors, a schools program attracting 1200 primary school students, and a bustling bookshop run by local independent bookseller The Book Shop Umina.

Commencing with an address by Children’s Laureate Ursula Dubosarsky, who implored the young communities of the Coastal region to “read for their life”, the festival continued with its school program featuring First Nations writers and environmental messages with the theme ‘Warrior for Change’. Participating writers included Deb Abela, Kirli Saunders, Oliver Phommavanh and Susanne Gervay.

After a rousing opening night event with Richard Fidler alongside David Hunt, the main program kicked off on Saturday June 12 with five sessions, and then four sessions on the Sunday. Themes included place, belonging, identity, equity, and our shared environmental future, with authors as varied as OzHarvest founder Ronni Kahn, student climate activist Daisy Jeffrey, literary writer Emily Maguire, local historian Garry Linnell, crime novelist Candice Fox and more.

Festival Patron Margaret Pomeranz AM hosted an intimate movie screening and conversation alongside lauded film and theatre director Neil Armfield on the Saturday evening, and on Sunday June 13 Matt Stanton led a rollicking family fun day, the culmination of a Coast-wide illustration competition for youths.

The weekend concluded on Monday with a literary cruise through the scenic Brisbane Waters, led by authors with a tie to the region, historian Grace Karskens and memoirist Vicki Hastrich. 

Despite currently having no federal, state, or council funding, plans are already underway for the 2022 festival as well as regular events throughout the year.

I am so proud to have been part of this amazing team and am jumping back on the sponsorship horse ready for another amazing festival.
If you would like to be involved or chat about partnering with us, I'd love to chat!