What a week!

It's been an emotional and busy week.
Impending launches, blog tours, but most of all, the departure from the school where I teach of a much-loved, inspirational, fun, child-focused principal. Angela is moving on to a new school leaving the staff, students and community here a much richer place for her being here. She has certainly had an enormous impact on me. Today has been filled with much laughter, tears and thanks. How lucky we have all been to have worked, laughed and taught with Angela.

And of course, the blog tour continues. What a day with Sheryl! Her questions were just what people wanted to know.
Friday I'll be visiting Tara Calaby to talk about research and the real characters in Forget Me Not. Look forward to seeing you there.

School, writing and win Pan's Whisper

Today is my first day at the computer for a couple of weeks. This year I've decided to cut back the amount of travel I was doing and return to the classroom as a teacher, part time. I've been very lucky to pick up a two day a week teaching job with the most fantastic kids (and fellow teacher!) The last few weeks we've been preparing the classroom and our lessons, so my writing has taken a back seat, as has blogging, Facebooking and even tweeting.
Now school is back, I can start creating a new routine. Monday, Tuesday and Friday will be my writing days, plus the occasional workshop. Wednesday and Thursday I'll be at school learning and teaching with 26 great kids. How lucky am I?

My advance copy of Forget Me Not arrived this week which while exciting has kicked me into action! Today I've divided the day between working on launch ideas and writing and fiddling in my work in progress's notebook.Oh, and catching up on my blog!

Oh, and in case you hadn't heard, you still have a chance to win a copy of Pan's Whisper. Visit
Need to Read This! but be quick!

Autumn and e-books...

I worked as a teacher yesterday, which I always enjoy. While I was on yard duty, a poppet rushed up to me with an injury - well a scratch, but that's an injury to a Prep. Arms waving in the air, she explained she needed a Bandaid, because she'd... She stopped, arms mid-wave, and gasped. For a second I thought I'd underestimated the scratch, but then her face broke into a massive smile. She sighed and spun around, arms out wide. 'Look at all the colours. The leaves are beautiful!'
She was right, the leaves were the most beautiful colours - rust, magenta, olive, yellow and everything in between.
Bandaid applied, she skipped off to collect leaves to show her teacher after play. I took a little more notice of the leaves.I didn't ever find out what caused the scratch!
This chilly weather is perfect for reading. Finding Darcy, After and Dare You are all available at ebooks.com.

Definition of old...

As well as writing, I work as a casual relief teacher. I've spent a couple of days teaching, which is always enlightening.
Today I discovered the definition of old while on yard duty.
I stopped to talk to a prep student sitting on top of the slide. This bright little poppet wanted to know my name.
'Sue,' I replied.
 'There was a Sue at my kinder. She helped us.' She looked me up and down. 'She was old too.'
I'm always intrigued to know what kids class as old, so I asked, 'Older than me?'
The little girl nodded earnestly, her sunhat slipping around her head. 'Oh yes. She was very old with curly grey hair. I think...' She scrunched up her face. 'Actually, I don't know how old she was but she was OLD. About 20 or something.'
So there you have it - 20 is very old. I didn't stay to ask how old she thought I was.