
Our snowy house
A blog about writing and illustrating for children. And, of course, rabbits
Our snowy house
It is a well known fact that I have a bit of thing for rabbits. What is lesser known is that I actually love animals of all kinds. All picture books I write feature animals, usually as the main characters. In fact, recently I have begun working on my first picture book featuring kids, but even then they are all dressed as animals.
A few posts back I did a photo diary about all the rabbits I encountered during a recent trip across Europe. As rabbits feature a lot on this blog, I thought I owed it to all the other animals to give them a bit of blog time. So here are some of the non-rabbits that crossed my path in Europe:
These suspicious geese on a Scottish loch:
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This dog (dug) at an Edinburgh pub:
Dogs could go anywhere in Europe. In pubs, banks, on buses and the underground. I wish Australia was more like this.
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This grumpy bird (eyeing all the Geordies in Newcastle):
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This graffiti pig in Venice:
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This bizarre bronze zoo in the misty hills of Eze (France):
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This snarly lion:
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This Scottish house for elephants:
Actually, this is an obligatory children’s author shot (the cafe where J.K.Rowling penned her Harry Potter series)
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This most enchanting stray dog on the drive from Barcelona:
He so stole my heart I spent several days trying to figure out how to adopt him & get him back to Australia. But he was well looked after by the town & had made his home in a fuel station, greeting all passers by.
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These fish in a Berlin blizzard:
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This delightful stray cat in Niguelas, Spain:
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These noble once-dogs at Edinburgh Castle:
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These hungry goats and sheeps in a Spanish village:
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These wild-eyed things:
You can be sure there will be picture books to come inspired by these animals. They were all quite unique characters in their own ways.
Especially the cranky bird. He had spunk.
So I’ve been working on a new picture book. And for the first time in a while, this one is not about a little rabbit named Squish. The other day my mum asked me what Squish thought about being ejected from my mind for another character. I think he’s coping, but he’s definitely curious about ‘the new guy’ and is reserving judgement.
This is a bit what it all looks like…
It’s a strange thing to have a little blue pig romping around your mind. A strange and wonderful thing. I’m not sure where he will take me just yet, but I’m certainly enjoying getting to know him.
I also thought I’d better put up another photo, in response to this one from my last post:
There’s been a bit of contention as to what’s real. I labelled it as Squish Rabbit reading his own book while wearing a giraffe beanie. After all, it was a cold weekend in Brisbane. Some questioned whether I was being ridiculous (and to be honest, this does happen sometimes) and felt that this was actually just a giraffe toy pretending to be Squish. But here is photo evidence that the giraffe beanie does indeed exist:
I wore it at the Ekka yesterday. In public. And took a photo. I suppose this also serves as evidence that I am sometimes ridiculous.
It’s so easy to get caught up in the time warp of writing and drawing. To spend too long in my own mind with only my ideas for company. Yet I find in order to fuel my ideas I need to keep my creative well full, by getting out of my head and seeing what the creative world is up to – reading, watching, listening … and attending the Adelaide Fringe Festival.
At least, that was my latest creative adventure. I was lured there by my poetically mischievous partner, with promises of music and plays and cabaret and street art, not to mention great food and wine. I was also an Adelaidian for a short while myself, so it was a thrill to return to a city I know quite well – but this time as a tourist.
In the months earlier I put on my designer cap to help create some posters and postcards for David’s performances. Then of course we had to set out and do some poster spotting when we arrived…
Postcards for the band shows at the Spiegeltent (credit: Justin Leegwater's moth illustration and Matt Leasegang's photography)
Postcards for David's solo show with Richard, at La Boheme (think velvet, cocktails and cheeky bar staff)
It was an amazing but ridiculously busy week, and my only regret is that amongst my own work and all the fringe happenings I didn’t get to catch up with some of my favorite Adelaide writers. Next time I will have to make it a more social trip. One of the benefits of having an artist’s pass was that I could get into all the shows for free, so I saw a LOT of art while there…
Fringe Highlights:
Other Highlights:
What I could have done without:
All up though it was an amazing trip. And not only is my creative well full, but my belly is also full of South Australian delights. It seems I have both some writing and exercise ahead of me…
Happy (late) Valentine’s day! Happy day of romance and flowers and winged little fat men toting arrows. Or as wiki would have it, happy commemoration of love and affection between intimate companions (now doesn’t that sound exciting?). So how did I spend this romantic day of days?
I spent it speed dating librarians*.
Yup, you read that right. Last night Book Links, an active QLD group that promotes a love of stories in young people, threw an event called ‘Romancing the Stars’. It was all about Australia’s National Year of Reading 2012 and our Queensland ambassador, Nick Earls, launched it with his usual humour and charm. The Big Read was also launched, an initiative that celebrates books set in Queensland, and the shortlist was announced. You can see all the awesome books chosen and vote for your favourites here (go on – you know you want to). Josie Montano did a hilarious job as MC for the night and the Sunde sisters did a surprise singing skit (clever and so funny).
It was a great chance for local children’s writers and illustrators to connect with teachers, librarians and fellow book lovers. Hence the speed dating. All the authors sat at tables across the room and guests rotated around them, with three minutes to talk to each creator. It was a pretty lighthearted and fun night, and I met (dated) some truly inspirational teacher librarians. I didn’t give my number out to anyone (I’m not that sort of girl, at least not on first dates) but a few people took down my website and I’ve already had some enquiries about school talks.
Hope everyone else had a romantic (if not bookish) kind of Valentine’s Day!
* With my reputation as a tragic romantic on the line, I thought I’d best confess that apart from this event I actually spent the day with my lovely poet. Think breakfast in bed, a French feast and a little late night Casablanca
Last week heralded in the Chinese New Year and with it came the end of a year I’d come to think of as my own: the Year of the Rabbit.
<sigh>
All good things must come to an end.
But let’s not be sad. The rabbits will live on in my mind, as well as between the covers of one small squishy book off hopping about the place. And what better way to mark the passing of such a special year than with a celebration of all things rabbit? Here’s a photo diary of all the wee bunnies I spied in the many places I travelled to over one very busy year…
Demon bunny! An amazing street art installation on the streets of New York:
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A literary bunny very close to my heart. I adored Winnie the Pooh growing up, with the stern fatherly rabbit. This is a display of the original toys owned by A.A.Milne’s son, held in the New York Public Library:
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New York pub bunny (not for the kiddies):
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An awesome graffiti mural in San Fran:
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I LOVE carousels. Don’t they make you feel ever young? This beachside San Fran one was clearly made for me:
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Let’s play spot the bunny (in the sugar made wonderland at Brisbane’s MoMA):
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Totoro! Ok, so technically he’s a Japanese forrest spirit, but he certainly looks rabbit-like. I found him in a funky bookstore in DUMBO, New York:
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A whole ocean of bunnies. A gorgeous print I discovered in a Sydney shop front by Kozyndan:
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Walking Hollywood Boulevard with the stars:
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A bunny with a bright idea (in Melbourne):
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A rabbit-like stone amongst the Living Desert Sculptures. Take a look at the fashion statement on the rabbit in front (it was cold up there and a passing poet gave me his coat):
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A Broken Hill bunny?
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Finally, the rarest of them all … bunny-caninus, so fast and dastardly I hardly caught him on film:
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I hope you all have a luck-filled and prosperous Year of the Dragon.
Squish Rabbit and I would like to wish all our downunder friends a very happy Australia Day. A day for barbecues in the sun. For picnics by the river. For frisbee and beers in the park. Or if you’re one Byron Bay friend of ours, apple dunking and three legged races.
Sound good? Well, all these were plans we had until the skies decided to bless Queensland once again with crazy weather. So instead we’ll be enjoying the rain from the safety of our home, while thinking of all those in the flood affected areas and hoping they stay safe.
We will, however, still celebrate our national day: instead with boardgames, well worn DVDs, an indoor barbie (sausages on the stove top – woo!) and still plenty of beer … it just wouldn’t be Australia Day without it.
Have a good one Australia!
Look what arrived in the mail:
My very own Squish Rabbit Christmas cards! This was a delightful gift from my US publisher, Viking. It turns out they select one book from their list each year to turn into a Christmas card, so they can send it out to all their contacts. They left it as a surprise that they’d chosen my book, so I only found out when a big box of cards arrived on my doorstep. I’m absolutely thrilled, as is Squish. It is, after all, this little rabbit’s very first Christmas.
Among my many treasured Chrissy presents I got some amazing bookish gifts this year. A favourite is the first volume of Neil Gaiman’s Sandman comic, which I’m a little addicted to and nearly through already. I also adore my new copy of Tim Burton’s deliciously dark and playful The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy. The two combined have re-jigged my desire to start developing up an idea I have for a strange / sweet / melancholy kind of graphic novel. But more on that another time…
I have just arrived back from Woodford, the amazing folk festival held on the Sunshine Coast each year, where I called in the new year. I dug up this photo from last year’s festival, where I got a henna tattoo to celebrate the year of the rabbit.
2011 has thoroughly spoiled me, with my first book out, two publishers I adore, overwhelmingly lovely reviews and so much support from YOU dear readers. Thank you. If this year to come is even half as good as the one just passed then I can count myself blessed. A big Happy New Year to you all and bring on 2012!
On Saturday 3rd September a bunch of old friends, new friends, family, families and a horde of little rabbits (plus one spiderman) all gathered together at Black Cat Books to help me launch my first picture book, Squish Rabbit. Everyone warned me that the day would speed by and be over before I knew it, so I made sure I enjoyed every second. The classy Pascalle ‘Bunny’ Burton MC’ed the day, while Michael ‘Bouncing’ Bauer (amazing writer and good friend) did the honours of launching the book. We had live music from the talented songstress Skye ‘Rabbit’ Staniford, while Richard ‘Hoppy’ Grantham entertained with his playful keyboard tunes. There was even an appearance from a real bunny (quite a feat in Queensland where rabbits are illegal), and also a visit from a not so real one…
Some of my favourite moments from the day:
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Then again, rather than telling you about it all, why not let the images speak for themselves?