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The Power of Books
November 9, 2011In the these changing times it’s a fact that books are going to become fewer. But I think that books are going to become very special. Specialised in fact.
Words take on a life of their own once printed and having the tactile object in my hand is very important. I think that’s why I have gravitated to all things publishing. I love the whole process of taking a manuscript and transforming it into a book.
Once upon a time, publishing was more like secret-mens-business. Men ran the company and it felt like some private club that only the prestigious could enter. Welcome the digital age and Hey Presto! publishing really is so easy. And if anyone asks me how to do it, I’m more than happy to share what I know.
In the meantime, Busybird is growing from strength to strength as a boutique publisher and we’re happy to help anyone become a published author whether they’re a budding novelist, a business owner, a poet or a family historian. There are so many great books yet to be made and YOU the creator can have total control over the whole process when creating your own custom published book.
And if you really want to be at the forefront of the digital age, why not make your book an ebook?
Restocking the Well
October 20, 2011
We MUST trust the universe. Lately there have been many opportunities for us to take on more work and because there’s always the fear that if we say ‘No’ it will dry up, we continually say ‘Yes’. Problem with that is that there is the danger of only ever doing work and not taking time out to play.
So, over the last few weeks, all we’ve been doing is work. It’s gotten to the point where I feel like my creative self has disappeared. The well has dried up. All of a sudden I sit down to write a simple blurb for a website and there’s nothing forming in the cotton wool of my brain.
Maybe it was the beautiful spring weather, or maybe my spirit just declared war but yesterday I took the dog for a walk and for the rest of the day did what I felt like doing. Well, within reason. I still had to feed kids, do a bit of washing. Other than that, Kev and I went to the bookshop for inspiration, then a local gallery, the light factory, and the Tea House for tea and scones.
Now the well has been replenished. And guess what? The work was still waiting for me when I got back to the computer and I managed to write something half decent.
The birds are aflutter!
October 8, 2011Well, Spring is here and Daylight Savings has me unsure if I’m Arthur or Martha. And I’ve been telling everyone what a great idea it is to blog but not doing it myself. Tsk, tsk.
Why haven’t I been blogging, you may ask. We’ve been living up to our Busybird name. I’ve been helping people write copy for their websites, writing tenders, laying out books and designing covers for Journey and Page Seventeen, as well as tracking down good venues for book launches.
Les has been editing until his eyes go cross-eyed. Our Journey book is almost ready for layout and we almost have our special Forward written by our special guest.
Kev has been sketching away with me cracking the whip at him. He’s finished the Journey image and is now working on our exciting kids book that we have in the works called Who is Cheeky Monkey?
The Cheeky Monkey project is very, very exciting. Not only will it be a really fun kids book with gorgeous illustrations by Kev (words by me), but we’re working with Pam Fallon on what will be at least an eight book series. We’ll be giving a percentage of profits to Destiny Rescue to help them get kids out of the sex trade.
See? That’s why I haven’t given updates but I think it’s important to let people know what’s going on in our nest because there are many who wait with anticipation for these projects to come to fruition.
Blaise
Sunday Words
September 18, 2011There’s something about spending a Sunday afternoon in conversation with writers about writing and ideas. Today, I was lucky enough to hang out with Penni Russon and Karen Andrews at the Eltham library to talk about Penni’s latest book, ‘Almost Ever Always’.
It was a launch, of sorts. The official launch was a few weeks back but I thought it fitting that we have something local to help Penni give the local people a chance to share in celebrating the publication of her ninth book. Not a bad thing to do on a lovely spring afternoon with a cuppa and some choccie biscuits.
So, the book … I’m still only half-way through the book, but so far I’m really enjoying it. Penni has created a broken land that feels at times from long ago but at the same time far into the future. She gave a little hint in the conversation that she took inspiration from the movie Labyrinth.
And it’s true that this book cannot be classified as simply as we’d like. It’s much easier to shelve books when we can say this is fiction or this is YA but ‘Almost Ever Always’ really is a cross-over novel and I’d recommend both YAs and adults to read it.
The Awards
September 7, 2011Last night, I attended the Victorian Premiers’ Literary Awards. I had been asked to attend because I reviewed one of the 21 books from the shortlist.
It was a first for me and yes, there was a red carpet. The Plaza Ballroom at the Regent Theatre is a gorgeous place to hold an event like this. And what a pleasure to see authors, librarians, publishers in their little black frocks and suits.
The first announcement was the People’s Choice Award, which went to Anna Krien for her book ‘Into the Woods: The Battle for Tasmania’s Forests’. For anyone who hasn’t read Anna’s book, I recommend it.
The interesting thing for me was the discussions around the table about the shortlisted books as well as books in general. I feel so lucky to have a job that revolves around books, reading and literacy. Being on a table of librarians meant that there was a wealth of knowledge and great sharing of reading choices and ideas for getting books into readers hands.
Of course, I shouldn’t forget the winner! The big prize went to Kim Scott for his book ‘That Deadman Dance’. I’m yet to read the book (of course I will eventually) but there was plenty of discussion about its merit at our table.
I came away from the night with one resounding impression, a happy one, that the book is so not dead!