November already?

This year has just flown! I've visited so many schools, met terrific people and had a ball.
A few weeks ago I spent the day in beautiful Balmoral. It was Halloween and the primary kids were dressed up. Now let me tell you, giving an author talk to a room full of ghouls, ghosts, witches, Harry Potters and assorted freaks was, well, a freaky experience.
The secondary guys were dressed normally, thank goodness - enough of the witches and ghouls! - and were a fantastic help with research questions . Thanks to Paul especially and the rest of the crew. I wrote pages of notes after talking to you!
Apart from school visits, I'm working on my next novel, which I'm excited about, and I've been reading heaps.
Have you read Digger J Jones yet? It's fantastic! I laughed out loud and read bits to my husband and daughter. Find it and read it. You'll love it - and it's a fantastic insight into race relations in Australia in the 60s.

Montevideo Maru - Finding Bill!

In my book, Finding Darcy, Darcy explains to her family that she doesn't care how her great-grandfather died, she cares how he lived.
Darcy's words are my feelings - after years of silence, I feared who my grandfather was had been lost to us. That has changed in the last few weeks.
Last week I did an interview with ABC Local Radio about Finding Darcy. We talked about not only the book, but about the 2/22nd Battalion, the sinking of the Montevideo Maru and my grandfather, Bill McLennan, who died aboard the ship. I mentioned in passing that Bill was from Stanhope, Victoria.
As a result of the interview, I'm now in contact with a man from Stanhope who is compiling information about the Stanhope residents who died during World War II, and so about Bill.
I know now he captained the 1935 Stanhope footy side, where the family farm was and best of all, there are a few old people around who still remember him.
So I guess now, I'm finding Bill!

School Visits

Last term I visited the Year 3/4 students at PLC. What a warm, enthusiastic and friendly group of girls. I had a fantastic time and must thank their fantastic librarian, Jan Robertson for inviting me and for making my visit so enjoyable.
The Year 3s were reading Tessa as a class novel, so I had to be careful not to give away too much about it.
The Year 4s participated in a workshop with me - what sensational story ideas!
I also visited Penleigh and Essendon Grammar towards the end of term and worked with the Year 10s. Colac is sensational, guys, thanks for asking!! ;)
During term three I'm off to Yarrawonga, Strathfieldsaye, Geelong, Port Fairy, Dennington and Melbourne to visit schools, and am very much looking forward to it.
I also have a September deadline for my next book - it doesn't freak me out if I say it quickly!