It’s been a bit over two months since my last post and these are my sins as always, it seems quite a bit has happened.

• A few days ago I completed my last school visit/author event for 2018. Yay! This year, as well as being invited to a few festivals, I spoke to kids from just over 40 schools in Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia. I always feel privileged to get these invitations and I can honestly say that I enjoyed every visit and talk.

Sheldon College

Norman Park Primary

Burdekin Readers & Writers Festival

Matthew Flinders Anglican College

St Agatha’s Primary Clayfield

Ferny Grove State High

Brauer College Vic (Skype)

Lovely display at St Agatha’s Clayfield

At the Burdekin Festival with Alison Tait, Oliver Phommavanh, Shannon Horsfall and Maria Parenti-Baldey.

• I was very pleased and honoured to launch Samantha Wheeler’s new and very special book EVERYTHING I’VE NEVER SAID.

• My wife and I had a few happy and relaxing days at the Sunshine Coast with Joe and Rita – aka the dynamic duo who are ARTSPEAR ENTERTAINMENT and TOON SANDWICH.

• While there we spent time underwater and also chanced upon a seal colony. Unbelievable!

• On October 23rd at the Queensland Literary Awards I was thrilled and humbled to receive a $15,000 Queensland Writers Fellowship along with Laura Elvery and Jackie Ryan. It was lovely to share this exciting night with my wife and my daughter Meg who was up from down South.
• My Fellowship project is for the writing of a YA novel tentatively titled Gaps and Silences. While certainly not a prequel to my first novel The Running Man, it will be similar in style and will also be set in the Brisbane suburb of Ashgrove but at an earlier time. There may be some slight links or connections between the two stories. Still pondering that possibility.

• Just recently we had a few days in Melbourne. On the 8th of November at the brilliant The Younger Sun Bookshop in Yarraville, I gave a talk and helped announce the winners of the Wilderness Society’s Environment Awards for Children’s Literature.
• These are great awards. I have a great deal of respect for the work of The Wilderness Society and daughter Meg has worked for them in Melbourne for a number of years.
• It was a terrific and well supported night and I was particularly pleased to see friend and fellow Brisbanite Sam Wheeler get a gong for her book Wombat Warriors.
• Also beautiful and moving to see the wonderful Narelle Oliver win an award with her last picture book Tide Pool Secrets and to hear her daughter Jessie speak so proudly and well on her behalf.

Winners Narelle Oliver (daughter Jessie accepting), Kim Michelle Toft, Samantha Wheeler and Anna Walker.

• The following day I met up with Chrissie Krebs at the State Library Of Victoria for the Speech Pathology Australia 2018 Book of the Year Awards. We were delighted that RODNEY LOSES IT! had won Book of the Year in the 3 to 5 years category. Such an important award and a lovely presentation ceremony. Huge thanks to Speech Pathology Australia for their commitment to Australian Children’s books.

All the winners.

Chrissie got one too!

Max Landrak reads his wonderful picture book Danny Blue’s Really Excellent Dream.

• After the excitement of the awards we spent a relaxing day with daughter Meg and husband Ryan at the Organ Pipes National Park in Keilor North VIC.

And I think that’s about it.

Cheers until next time!
Michael

Not yet Meg! My hair!

NOW I’m ready. CHEESE!

Wait, we need Mum. NICE!

Oh. wait! One more thing. If you live in or around Melbourne and Adelaide and you’re interested in a school visit next year, I’ll be in your wonderful cities on the dates below. Contact Booked Out Speakers Agency for bookings, further details and all inquiries.