My May Gibbs Children's Literature Trust Fellowship, Adelaide, June 2025

 

Mary Wilson Fellow, May Gibbs Children's Literature Trust
Work: a picture book for older readers on the life of artist, Ellis Rowan
Adelaide, June 2025

My month of creative immersion and contemplation - reading, researching, writing, sketching, painting, walking, foraging. A joyful time, head-down at the Burrow in Norwood, pockmarked with the odd get-together with beautiful people, and some life experiences I'll never forget.

Here is a rundown of some highlights.

May Gibbs Collection at NCACL

Last July, I commenced work on a hugely comprehensive archive of May Gibbs’ works and ephemera, compiled by Adelaide-based Jane Brummitt, who is related to May by marriage. The collection was an astonishing thing to move through – and left me in awe of May Gibbs (and her life and work) all over again.

But it also left me in awe of Jane’s dedication to collecting and covering May’s legacy, notably the fight for her Neutral Bay home, Nutcote, and the protection of her works and legacy in a world that’s fast leaving the past behind.

Book lovers—it’s important to note that May was an OG when it comes to Australian children’s literature, and her work is one of the important first-steps in our now burgeoning industry.

The May Gibbs Collection is housed at the National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature here in Canberra. Director Belle Alderman guided me to ensure this collection is presented in a way that inspires future generations to come. The database will soon be available on NCACL’s website and a Finding Aid is currently being produced.

You can read my blog post about the Collection’s journey – and how my personal connection to our illustrious May continues to warm my heart.

Click here to see a post on the Mamie launch.

Image: me and Jane Brummitt at the launch of Mamie (on the life of May Gibbs) at Carrick Hill Estate in Adelaide, November 2018.

procreate illustration workshop

SAVE THE DATE! Thursday 31 July, 12pm - 1.30pm

I’m delighted to be presenting an online Procreate event for The Cardboard Box Illustrators in July.

You’ll learn all about my picture book creation process—including roughs and finished art. Learn how to work with Procreate or improve your existing skills or just come along for a behind-the-scenes ride!

For all the deets, head to: cardboardboxillustrators.com.au/event/tania-mccartney

Love Your Bookshop Day - FLORA reading at Bookface Gungahlin

Gotta love our fabulous bookshops! Join me to celebrate Love Your Bookshop Day at Bookface Gungahlin on Saturday 12 October. It runs all day, but I'll be reading from Flora and Ivy Bird at 10am - so do pop by!

Event by BOOK FACE Gungahlin
The Marketplace, 33 Hibberson St, Gungahlin

Join us for Love Your Bookshop Day! 

Come dressed up in book theme to receive a free gift on the day (while stocks last)

Meet some local artists selling their wares in store, as well as some local authors who will be signing their books.

Stay for storytime with Tania McCartney at 10am as she reads some of her picture books and takes kids through her new release -FLORA.

FLORA at Floriade!

I’m thrilled to be hosting a special event at Floriade at 10am on Sunday 6 October - featuring FLORA: Australia’s Most Curious Plants.

There will be a book reading/chat - and I’ll be asking kids lots of questions to test their botanical knowledge!

There’ll also be activity sheets, some dried flowers, leaves and pods to pick apart and explore, and I’ll guide kids through a series of wildflower drawings.

Hope you can come along! Click the post above for the deets.

See you there!

FLORA book launch!

 

Save the date! I'm delighted to be hosting a FLORA launch at the National Library on the morning of Sunday 22 September. 

There will be a book reading and signing, a lucky door prize that includes a limited edition FLORA print, some fabulous FLORA activities, including making your own wildflowers, and your very own wildflower seed packets!

Click the poster above to reserve your spot! And stay tuned for more on a Floriade event on Sunday 6 October.

Plume: Christmas Elf Launch

Today we launched Plume: Christmas Elf, hosted by the glorious Peter, Hannah and the team @ The Book Cow - Kingston!

 
We had a beautiful spot in leafy Green Square, with stacks of candy canes, goodie bags and the cutest mylar balloons (which were a huge hit!).

 
Thank you thank you to everyone who came along and braved that truly melting humidity this morning. I was terrified the book pages would curl in protest, but it was such a magical, fun time, with lots of laughter and candy-cane-sweet moments.

Thanks to my beautiful industry friends for the love and support - some gals I haven't seen in years! Indeed, this is the first launch I've had in 5 or 6 years. Has been a long time between page-flips and it meant so much to have you there.

Thank you to my beautiful girl Ella for the pics.

Wishing you a truly sensational Christmas season, and a well-deserved summer break (particularly teachers and TLs!). With love from me and Plume.

Click below for more...

Plume: Christmas Elf Christmas Party Book Launch!

Ok - we have a revised launch date for Plume Christmas Elf! The party will be held at The Book Cow, Kingston on Saturday 9 December at 10.30am.

There will be a book reading and signing, mylar balloons and goodie bags, a polaroid frame to have your pic taken with Plume, goodie bags, a lucky door prize with some items featured in the book - and the chance to cuddle Plume!

Come dressed in your best Christmas sparkle! A wonderful way to celebrate the upcoming festive season.

Be sure to RSVP - click right here or email helloATbookcow.com.au and let them know how many kids will be attending.

Plume and I can't wait to see you!

Dorrie Window is GO!

Dorrie window is go!

Huge thanks to Harry Hartog Bookseller Woden Westfield for this superb space, yet again. Dorrie and Blinky feel so at home here among the glorious book and gifts!

Thanks to Caitlin and Jemima for helping me sort this install. And to Emma at HarperCollins Children's Books Australia for sorting the image printing. Ever thanks to my divine publisher Lisa Berryman HarperCollins and editor Evie Tonelli (now publisher!) for this beautiful Dorrie journey.

I’ve left some signed copies of the book instore, so do pop in if you’d like one. Or seven.

See more about Dorrie right here and see my Instagram for a video.

Dorrie event at the State Library of New South Wales

Join me at the State Library of NSW on Friday 21 April for a journey through the illustrations in Dorrie - my picture book on the life of Dorothy Wall, creator of Blinky Bill.

We’ll do a book reading, then will compare illustration styles with Dorothy’s works. There’ll also be some of her original artwork on display!

Kids will also enjoy an illustration tutorial on some of Australia’s most beautiful plants and animals. My little Blinky Bill toy from the 1970s may help out, too.

There will be some Dorrie colouring sheets to take home and I’ll be signing some books, too.

The event runs from 11:30am to 12:30pm. Head to the State Library of NSW website for more info and to book.

PLUME Prize Pack Giveaway!

It's just one week till Plume: World Explorer hits the shelves (did you know you can pre-order, too?) and to celebrate, I have a supersonic prize pack to give away to one lucky kid!

 Here is what you could win:

• A signed copy of the book
• A giclée print of Plume diving
• 2 x Plume greeting cards
• A Plume mug 
• A penguin mylar balloon
• A pair of penguin socks
  
• A world map cushion cover
• A world globe key ring
  
• A mega pack of penguin stickers as well as one rare Plume sticker
• Some Plume postcards

All this is valued at almost $200!

To enter, all you have to do is head to my Instagram page and follow the instructions there. I'll draw a winner this Saturday 23 October at 5pm, and will message the winner via Instagram message.

Please note that this parcel can only be sent to an Australian address. And if you miss out, you can also enter to win a copy of the book via Kids' Book Review, which starts 23 October.

Did you know you can also order a signed copy of Plume via The Book Cow? Just head here for more info - orders close Friday 5 November.

Get set to travel the world with Plume.

GOOD LUCK!

 

Blogger in Residence for WestWords

Hey, kids!

I'm so happy to be the blogger-in-residence for the Clubhouse at WestWords this month. Have you heard of the site? It's totally fabulous, it really is.

Based in Parramatta, WestWords is dedicated to celebrating and championing the stories of the people, places and cultures that comprise the heart of Western Sydney. WestWords believe in the power of literature and literacy (written, oral and visual), self-expression and creativity - and its ability to change lives and the experience of communities. With a focus on children and young people its work includes a comprehensive program of workshops, residencies, fellowships and support for writers.

I've already uploaded three posts already, and I'll be adding over a dozen more these coming weeks, with the final post scheduled for 4 November. Kids - there'll be tips, tricks, behind-the-scenes stuff, a studio tour, how to illustrate with Procreate, fleshing out your characters, using synonyms - ALL SORTS of fab stuff to get your creative juices flowing.

You can check out the Clubhouse right here. There's an amazing line-up of past authors and illustrators your kids can enjoy, too. And for parents and carers - if you're homeschooling, this fabulous site may be a dream spot for you.

See you there!

 

MAMIE Story Walk at the National Aborteum

On Saturday, I visited the National Arboretum (Canberra) to enjoy the Libraries ACT Story Walk - starring Mamie! What a joy to see the book come to life through the exquisite grounds of the Arboretum, and during Canberra Tree Week, too.

 

A handful of poppets joined me for a walk along the story route, stopping at each station to read a pocket of Mamie, and of course - took in nature at its absolute finest. The morning fog added a sense of magic as we walked through the Discovery Garden and into the forest. It began to clear as we returned to the Visitor’s Centre, revealing a superb view over the hills. 

 

This Story Walk was installed quickly and we didn’t have much time to promote this little author signing, but it may be insitu this coming week (from 10 May 2021). If you miss it, it may be moving elsewhere, and I will add that to my EVENTS page.

 

Thank you to our little group for sharing in the walk, and huge thanks to my dear friend and endless support, Stephanie Owen Reeder, for taking these photos. Huge thanks to Louise and Michelle and the team from Libraries ACT for this gorgeous opportunity and for coming along with the kids today. And thank you to Deb and Mel and the team from the Arboretum for hosting this event. 

 

It’s been quite a few years since I visited the Arboretum—it has grown and developed so much, I’m stunned and delighted at its beauty. I really need to return sometime this week to enjoy the walk all over again. You simply must go visit.

 

More pics...

LECTURE: Images and Roles of Australian Animals in Picture Books - National Library of Korea

Earlier in the year, I was invited to speak at the 국립중앙도서관 National Library of Korea.

Alas - you know, Covid.

Huge thanks to Hyung-Joo Park and her amazing team, the event is going ahead virtually. I will be lecturing (along with Dr Christopher Richardson and Hyung-Joo Park), and my talk will be on the images and roles of Australian Animals in Picture Books.

I hope to share a small portion of the lecture later.

How wonderful it is to share and promote a passion for literature between our countries. It's been the most glorious experience.

Signed copies and goodie bags at Harry Hartog Woden

Hello, everyone. The world is in a strange place right now. After our devastating bushfires, it seems particularly cruel to be book-ended with another crisis; this time global.

Cate Whittle, Stephanie Owen Reeder and I were crushed to cancel our Launch in 3 Acts yesterday at Harry Hartog Bookseller. We chose to do this to help prevent the awful and potentially steep gait of that Coronavirus curve, and we're glad we did, as things have escalated even overnight.

We have, all three of us, popped in to Harry Hartog at Westfield Woden here in Canberra, to sign a stack of books and to drop off the goodie bags that were destined for our launch. If you get get in store this week, or even phone the store to see if they can post items, you can score signed copies of the books listed below. And be sure to ask for a goodie bag at the front counter--there are quite a few but they will probably go quickly.

If schools face closure these coming weeks, keep an eye on my blog as I will have some treats in store to help out teachers and parents. Also check out my Instagram page later today as I'm offering the decorations from my Evie and Pog window, which I just took down from Harry Hartog today. I can post anywhere in Australia and I'll throw in some dog paw stickers and activity sheets, too.

As we lock down to prevent that awful steep viral curve, I hope you and the kids find comfort in reading. Remember, this is so very much about community and for me, there could be nothing more comforting than staying home and curling up with a book.

Stay safe and well, all. Sending stacks of love.

Tx

Signed books currently in store
Emergency Rescue Angel by Cate Whittle
Trouble in the Surf by Stephanie Owen Reeder
Will the Wonderkid by Stephanie Owen Reeder
Marvellous Miss May by Stephanie Owen Reeder
Amazing Grace by Stephanie Owen Reeder 
Lennie the Legend Heritage Heroes edition by Stephanie Owen Reeder
Evie and Pog: Take Off! by Tania McCartney
Evie and Pog: Puppy Playtime! by Tania McCartney
I Heart the World by Tania McCartney
Fauna: Australia's Most Curious Creatures by Tania McCartney
Ivy Bird by Tania McCartney and Jess Racklyeft
An Aussie Year by Tania McCartney and Tina Snerling
See Hear by Tania McCartney and Jess Racklyeft
Smile Cry by Tania McCartney and Jess Racklyeft

Evie and Pog window at Harry Hartog Woden

Huge thanks to Kate and the team at Harry Hartog Bookseller for this fab opportunity to introduce Evie and Pog to Canberrans - such a gorgeous space and I'm ever grateful.

Window will be in place until just after my combined book launch with Stephanie Owen Reeder and Cate Whittle on 15 March at 10.30am.

More pics below. Hope you get a chance to see the window, and see you at the launch - more details right here.

books, smoke, fire, heartbreak, hope - hello, 2020

a chirpy cockatoo on my walk this morning

Well, the year has started with a firestorm. Literally. The loss has already been incalculable, and there's more to come. Australians are drenched with grief and distress at the lives lost, the animals lost (current estimate is at 1 billion), ecosystems lost, houses and other structures lost, including heritage buildings. It's been too much to bear for so many.

FAUNA window is live!

FAUNA window is live! Huge thanks to Lynda at the National Library Bookshop for her help this morning as I installed koalas and wombats and crocodiles and plenty of foliage.

And a big thanks to the lovely Leanne Barrett for popping by and helping out with her sharp eye and photographic skills - these pics are great!

Here's a peek at the installation, as well as some in-process shots, and scroll to the end for a little video.

Thank you, NLA - this was heaps of fun! Learn more about the book here. And a wee note on the bamboo book stands holding the book's pages open - the Bookshops sells them - they are divine!

Inspiring events, a mountain of books, illo peeks, and where was Autumn??

Grab a cuppa. This is long. And, by the way, what happened to Autumn? I never saw it happen.

Hello, my name is Tania and I'm a bookaholic.

As part of my therapy, I'm starting this lengthy blog post with my latest book buys. Please don't hate. We need to keep the book industry alive, and I've signed a few contracts of late and I haven't bought holidays or shoes (okay, well, I'm lying about the shoes part) and I'm a grown gal and I can spend my earnings on whatever I like, and a lot of these were thanks to Readings' bargains and some were op shop finds and some were gifts.

Hang on. What am I thinking???

I know anyone reading my blog posts loves books and will be wondering why the hell I'm trying to justify these purchases. So I'll shut up now and instead say ... here, for your ogling pleasure.

Ivy Bird Auction!

In celebration of the release of Ivy Bird, my latest picture book with Jess Racklyeft (Windy Hollow Books), I’m auctioning two of the birds I crocheted to celebrate the book. All proceeds (less postage) will be donated to Bird Life Australia, an organisation dedicated to creating a bright future for Australian birds.

To partake, head to my INSTAGRAM account.  

Auction runs until Saturday 14 September, 5pm, Sydney time. Bids are in Australian dollars.

Each bird has a reserve of AU$50. Bidding must be in increments of $5. Smaller bids won’t apply.

To bid, leave a comment stating the bird you are bidding on and the bid price (e.g. PEDRO $55). Bid as many times as you like.

The last bids for both birds will win – please note that the bids MUST have been placed BEFORE the clock ticks over to 5pm.

Birds can only be posted within Australia.

Winners will find some little surprises in their package along with the birds.

Winners will be tagged straight after auction and will be private messaged for postal addresses. PLEASE NOTE: winners have 24 hours to respond to the message and to send payment before I offer to the next bidder. I will outline payment options in the private message.

ABOUT THE BIRDS

COSSIMA THE CANARY is an actress and singer. She's stylish, sleek and has a magical voice. She can often be found in the world's finest jazz bars (where she's been likened to Edith Piaf), but she loves nothing more than singing along to an audio book. Her favourite book is Ivy Bird. Cossima measures 30cm from head to claws.

PEDRO THE PEACOCK may look showy, but he's humble and extremely intelligent. He likes to spend his time exploring and solving problems, and especially loves analysing the impact humans are having on climate change. At night, he simply adores wrapping his feathers around a good book. His favourite book is Ivy Bird.

Birds are handmade, with no removable parts.

Learn more about the book, Ivy Bird, right here.