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.

Hello from long ago - an update

Well, hello booklovers, 

Just wanted to say hi and send an update into the grand void. It's been a while. The last update was August, can you believe it. You know, life and all that - least of all this bonkers year. I don't really know where to start, so this post will be a little random and won't anywhere near include everything. But I'll try.

Most important news of all is that Canberra has had endless weeks of consistent rain. I can't even tell you a) how rare this is, and b) what this means to me (let alone the farmers). It's immensely happy-making for so many reasons, least of all setting us up for an easier summer, hopefully less fires, and a garden out of Eden. Our fruit trees are flourishing for the first time in too-long-to-remember. I'm spending decent tracts of time just walking outside and staring, sometimes sitting and staring. Running fingers over leaf. Sighing. It's just wonderful.

Weirdest thing of all is that I've taken to gum-chewing. I hate gum-chewing, and so do it in seclusion, but my God, I'm chumbling like a freight train (as I type!). A friend suggested it may be a way of dealing with stress, and I suppose it's better than out-of-control shopping. Oh. Wait...

So, America has a new president. That's a grand thing. I felt the Earth's axis tilt a little. That's an even better thing. Let's hope this heralds a new world energy that's exponentially more positive and less crappy.

a wee wintry update

Hello, peeps, how are you travelling? Are you keeping snug in our southern states?

If you are in Melbourne, I'm sending love. What a completely crappy time. I'm a Melbourne girl and have a half-tonne of friends and colleagues and family there - it's all so heartbreaking. How I wish I could sweep you all up and deposit you in the Maldives till Christmas.

It's raining here in Canberra, and this is when I'm most happy. It ever confounds me when people say they don't like it.

For me, as a child in perennially inclement Hobart, rain was comfort. It meant mud and earthworms, pink and wriggling on the surface before the inevitable deep dive. It meant a thriving veggie patch and an Irish-green lawn. It meant a bounty of peaches and plums and apricots on our trees.

Inside the house, it was foggy windows to paint on, warm spirals of baking from the kitchen, the cottony scent of mum's iron, thick socks and flannelette PJs - and any excuse to draw, craft, read, play with lego or dolls. Any excuse to snuggle.

Such deep comfort.

uplift among the chaos - a mammoth June 2020 update

Hey ho, everyone. Grab a cuppa. This is long.

Checking in after a long blog hiatus, where the only real option has been to find centre, breathe and invite a deep sense of calm in the chaos.

The world has shaken us to our core of late, non? It seems we're experiencing a bizarre state of grief, shock, confusion, rage and despair. It's raining realisation and revolution; much of it long, long, long overdue, and absolutely, completely a flood of Everything. Our planet and our people are saying Enough.

And seriously, are we STILL dealing with racism and inequality - we have come so far as a species; why do we never learn?? I'm both gut-wrenched and hopeful with the way of the world right now. Have always believed old orders have to be torn down to invite in the new - and hopefully a more insightful, compassionate and equitable way of life.

I hope you're doing okay and are keeping safe, well and centred. Are you finding ways to seek calm and comfort? It's so important. Yes, we need to fight, but we also need to keep one glove up so we don't take a fall and are rendered useless. We are no good in a useless state. That's when the vultures swoop.

I'm hoping this post brings you some comfort and any kind of uplift. It will be kind of random - a little bit of news, some sharing, some happenings, some links and bits and bobs you might find warm. It's cold here in Canberra, of course, so I'm all for a little warmth right now (am sitting on my lovely sheepskin throw as I type!).

Before I get to some updates and news, some inspiration! Let's start with some pretty pictures on Instagram - some new illustrator finds I adore. Click the image to go to each account.

Review of Fauna in Magpies Magazine

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!

Happy Release Day, Fauna!

Happy release day, Fauna! You are one of my deepest loves, and I hope children all over Australia fall into your pages and marvel at the truly breathtaking and unique and incredible and totally COOL animals we hold dear in this nation.

To celebrate, herewith just some of the animals featured in the book... and stay tuned for my Fauna window, installing at the National Library of Australia Bookshop Tuesday 5 November. The book is already in reprint and you can snaffle a copy online here.

#fauna

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.

Fauna photo shoot - a peek inside!

When your new book undergoes a photo shoot, sweetie darling. 

Fauna is a bit shy. It needed a little tempting (delectable treats and sweet talk), but eventually poked its whiskery face out from the leaves ... and even allowed a page peek. AND a short video! 

Hope you enjoy this glimpse inside the covers - beautiful matte paper and production values to die for. Thank you, National Library of Australia.

Fauna: Australia's Most Curious Creatures is out November. You can buy online or where all good books are sold.

Learn more about the book here. 

I'll be installing a Fauna window at the National Library Bookshop early on Tuesday 5 November. Pop by and say hello! I can sign a copy of the book while you're there (and you can take a peek at the Story Time Australian Children's Literature Exhibition and enjoy a divine coffee at Bookplate - win win!).

COVER REVEAL! Fauna: Australia's Most Curious Creatures

I'm thrilled to reveal the cover for my upcoming book with the National Library of Australia - Fauna: Australia's Most Curious Creatures - a graphic design-style book featuring some of our most curious and marvellous and eye-popping creatures. Being Australian, it's easy to forget how unique and remarkable our animals are - and Fauna celebrates these creations, both present and past ... with plenty of ecological references, including conservation status.

The book is out 1 November, but if you live near the National Library, you might snaffle a book sooner from the bookshop, and you can also pre-order the book right here.

Also, if you live in Canberra or plan to visit, I'll be installing a Fauna window at the NLA bookshop soon - it will be in situ for November and perhaps longer, so do pop by for a look.

Here is some more info on the book... and if you scroll down, you may just see a peek at an internal page spread!

Fauna in Collins Booksellers' Christmas Gift Guide 2019

 

The lovely Jackie Hosking of Pass It On Ezine gave Fauna a quick review, above.

Fauna in Harry Hartog Handbook

So lovely to see Fauna in the Harry Hartog Handbook - December 2019.

Fauna in Better Read Kids Catalogue

Fauna has appeared in the Better Read Kids Summer Reading Guide (above and below). You can see the entire publication right here. And how lovely to see Funny Bones everywhere, too. A great stocking-stuffer and all proceeds to War Child.