To kick of the start of my
Australian Story blog tour, I'm delighted to share with you some photos from my launch yesterday at the National Library of Australia. For those of you who have never visited the library, this is some special building.
We held the launch in the Brindabella room on the fourth floor, overlooking Lake Burley Griffin. Having had a torrent of rain for what seems like weeks, it continued on through the launch, only breaking when the party was over.
We had a glorious line up of Aussie-themed snacks for the kids, and they showed immense willpower not to tuck in before the launch proper!
Warmest thanks to the gorgeous
Jennie McClelland for taking some wonderful shots of the book reading, despite being handed a camera on the totally wrong setting. Despite their grainyness, I think the photos look kind of retro cool, don't you? Perfectly apt for
Australian Story.
Here I am being introduced by my lovely friend (and current NLA bookshop manager) Meredith Wright . . .
Working the crowd - the kids were all piled onto mega cushions at the front.
Just take a look at that spectacular view from the Brindabella Room, out over Lake Burley Griffin.
I took the audience through the pages of
Australian Story, highlighting some notable occurences and events . . .
I was talking to them about the change to decimal currency, and I had my own little 20 cent piece (and a dollar coin sister, too!) in the audience! Talk about special.
At the end of the book peruse, I asked several volunteers to don props from the book, and then asked them to sort themselves into chronological order, from the dinosaurs right through to Julia Gillard . . .
Yes, that's our little Julia Gillard at far right (below), her wig a little askew thanks to the cutest top knot underneath.
The kids looked absolutely fantastic - we awarded prizes to a colonial girl, a convict (who we cuffed), a jackaroo, an Indigenous Australian decked in animal fur, and our twenty cent and dollar coin, of course!
Next was a book signing and goodie bags . . .
Following was catch ups with some truly fabulous people - friends old and new - and some fellow authors, editors and writers . . . Stephanie Owen Reeder, Irma Gold, Cate Whittle . . . and it was a thrill to meet popular children's author
Lorraine Marwood (below) who happened to be in town, and came along.
Thanks to everyone who braved the downpour for this fun afternoon - thanks to the lovely Meredith for her legendary chicken sandwiches and vegemite sandwiches, and to NLA marketing manager Maureen for her superb jellies and all the hard work she put into this event.
And now - I'm on tour! Come along and join me on this whirlwind internet tour to some very special sites. You can read some insider info on the book, read some reviews and some articles, and even win a copy of Australian Story. Come along for the ride!
Monday 5 March
Blog Tour Schedule and Book Giveaway
Kids Book Review
Book Launch Party Wrap-Up
Tania McCartney’s Blog
Book Giveaway
Alphabet Street
Tuesday 6 March
Book Review
Buzz Words
Australian Story Research Process
DeeScribe
Book Review and 10 Reasons Why History is Exciting
Soup Blog
Wednesday 7 March
Australian Story Teaching Notes for Key Stage I
Sheryl Gwyther’s Blog
Book Review and Teaching Notes Ideas for Key Stage II
The Book Chook
Book Review
Kids’ Book Capers
Image-Sourcing for Australian Story
Blue Dingo
Thursday 8 March
Book Review
Reading Upside Down
Book Review
Pass It On
Book Review
Bug in a Book
Friday 9 March
Book Giveaway
HerCanberra
The Writing Process for Australian Story
Sally Murphy’s Blog
Book Review
Books for Little Hands
Saturday 10 March
Book Review
Kids Book Review
Book Giveaway
Posie Patchwork Blog
Book Review
Suite 101
Sunday 11 March
Book Review
My Little Bookcase
Book Giveaway
Australian Women Online
Blog Tour Wrap-Up
Tania McCartney’s Blog
