When my first young adult book was about to come out, my publisher Dyan Blacklock predicted that I would love being part of the children’s writing community in Australia.

As usual, she was right. I did. And I do.

In my experience it’s a community filled to the brim with lovely, talented and supportive people who care deeply about what they write and how they write and why they write. And more importantly, they care about the people for whom they write.

On my laptop there are hundreds of photos/selfies from over the years of me with writing friends and colleagues – shots from school visits, writing festivals, literary panels, book launches, awards nights, conferences, dinners, talks and other get togethers.

These are photos that generate so many happy memories and give me so much joy.

But sadly, because of events of this week, some of those images have had the joy and happiness ripped from them.

I’ll probably end up deleting them.

But of course that won’t delete any of the shock, disbelief, sadness or anger. Nor will it delete the damage already caused or any of the pain and betrayal that I’m sure readers and parents and those involved in children’s writing in this country will be experiencing.

But our children’s writing community is still filled to the brim with lovely, talented, caring and supportive people.

And there’s no deleting that either.

Love
Michael