Film Cilip of Mother McGinty's Goat

         A film clip of Mother McGinty's Goat 
                        The first two pages of this book.

 

 I decided today was dads day.  Lots of fathers enjoy reading to their children. Andrew Walker was up for it after he had packed up the camp ready to head home to Melbourne. 

His two boys Leo and Gus enjoy stories and especially love goats.

Mother McGinty's Goat was my second book illustrated by Richard Herbert in Tongala.  We employed a local goat to pose for the illustrations!

This story was written about one of the goats I remember well from my childhood in Ballarat.  Mum's favourite song at the time was Paddy McGinty's Goat so every goat was a McGinty's goat to us. 

 

To order your copy of Mother McGinty's Goat email me for a list of those stocking my books in your area.  susiesarah@hotmail.com.au

 

 

 

Film clip of The Bunyip in Fiery Creek

 

Film clip of The Bunyip in Fiery Creek - a chapter book for older readers.

 

 

 

 

Sue is a Palawa aboriginal woman and lectures in Aboriginal studies.  She very kindly offered to read  part of this story about the Bunyip in Fiery Creek.
The bunyip story fascinated me and I wanted to take it from pre settlement to present day.
Sue helped me by reading the manuscript to ensure I had presented all the Koorie information correctly and sensitively.
At the back of the book I have produced the newspaper article from the 1950's which was reprinted from an earlier edition in the 1800's. 
Introducing a young Koorie boy from the city to the bush was quite a challenge but Levi proved to be a vital link from first settlement of the land to present day.
I hope everyone enjoys this celebration of the relationships grandparents have with their grandchildren.
 This story is suitable for 8 to 80 year old readers!

To order your copy of The Bunyip in Fiery Creek email me for a list of those stocking my books in your area.  susiesarah@hotmail.com.au

Film Clip of Wilberforce the Wombat

        Film clip of Wilberforce the Wombat -  
         a tiny ant book for young readers.

                                                                

 

Sally Triggs and her family were camping at Wonboyn Lake when she kindly offered to read  a couple of pages of this story to her children Chloe and Jessie.  The children were still a little sleepy as it was quite early in the morning.  Not long after they packed up and headed off towards Victoria on their way to Perth, Western Australia.  They love wombats and we have a big fellow who wanders the park after dark, feeding on the grassy slope just near the laundry with a mob of kangaroos.

This story was initiated by a family camping trip in the high country.  Uncle Tot just happened to pitch his tent on a wombat trail.  He refused to move it and was kept awake all night by the wombat bouncing off his tent.

Helen has managed to capture the almost slapstick wombat behaviour beautifully.  Her illustrations create great hilarity with littlies rolling around laughing at Wilberforce.

 

To order your copy of Wilberforce the Wombat email me for a list of those stocking my books in your area.  susiesarah@hotmail.com.au

Film clip of Snug Cove Sam

                           Film Clip of Snug Cove Sam -
                 a tiny ant book for young readers.

          

 

It was a beautiful day at Snug Cove - perfect for filming this little film featuring the first two pages of the book.  This time I am the reader and my patient, long-suffering husband Brian filmed the clip. 

Helen Leach's colourful illustrations reflect the beauty of this busy port in Eden on the New South Wales coast - not all that far from Wonboyn Lake where we live.  A huge cruise ship had just arrived and over 2,000 passengers and crew were disembarking. 

Small fishing trawlers were returning at the same time - much the same as the Jaunty Jane, the boat in this story - I wonder if their catches were good ones?

 

To order your copy of Snug Cove Sam email me for a list of those stocking my books in your area.  susiesarah@hotmail.com.au

 

Film Clip of Playing Possum

               Film clip of Playing Possum

My project for 2016 is to provide an insight into my books with a film clip of just the first page or so.  I hope you enjoy these little tastes of each story. 
It's pretty obvious that l'll never be a contender for an Oscar. 

 
Using the QR code on my business cards and those on the latest books readers can visit this blog and see the parts of each book.
My niece Julie was here for a visit with her children Kaitlin and Jarek.  Playing Possum, my first book, is one of Kaities favourite stories.
Each night they were out spotlighting possums in the park and visiting the kangaroos feeding on the grassy bank just near their cabin.
Richard Herbert's gentle illustrations have made this story a classic now in it's third reprint.

To order your copy of Playing Possum email me for a list of those stocking my books in your area. susiesarah@hotmail.com.au

 

     COLOURFUL BOOK SIGNINGS

 

My pre Christmas book signings were great fun and more than a little social as you will note by the photos.  The tour started at Bairnsdale and Sale Collins stores then on to Euroa Naturally Made and finishing with the Tumut Newsagency. The two ladies on either side of Rita, who with her husband Michael own the Mallacoota News Agency, were at the book signing in Euroa at Naturally Made with shop owner Leah Jones. It was a fast forward week and extremely successful for all - I met a descendant of Ned Kelly which was a great surprise to us both I think!

                                                   

Heading home along the Snowy Mountain Highway I finally saw a mob of brumbies and almost wore out the camera taking heaps of photos.  At one of the roadside stops Brian noticed this sign on the concrete track - thankfully we didn't see any snakes.  Being on the road does have some wonderful moments!

 

BUNYIP MAYHEM TOUR - AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2015

Wow! This is the latest release now with the printer and due to be out in September.
The story set in rural Victoria near Ararat features young Billy who is a student at a little country school.  He discovers more than he could possibly dream of when researching the history of his family farm while shearing is in progress.
Into the mix comes Levi, an urban aboriginal boy with attitude. With the help of his grandfather and Billy Levi learns how to fit into a country school. 
This story has been flagged as a "reconciliation classic" by Koori educator Sue Barclay of the Palawa people.
This chapter book for advanced readers will really get you thinking about whether bunyips did exist.
Helen Leach has again performed her artistic magic bringing the characters to life with her black and white drawings.
The book also touches on the early settlement of the area in the 1830s and brings the past firmly into the present through the links of the Koori people with white settlers.
WILBERFORCE THE WOMBAT
And there's more - now meet Wilberforce  - a rather short-sighted wombat with attitude!

This slap stick character was introduced to me by my Uncle Tot who managed to pitch his tent over a wombat trail when camping in the high country with my cousins.
A wombat bounced off his tent several times before Uncle Tot finally got the message and moved his tent.
So Wilberforce was born and went on to create mayhem as he made his way to a grassy paddock to enjoy a feed with his wombat mates.
Before this story headed to the printer children in country schools enjoyed hearing of his mishaps and gave Wilber the 'thumbs up' with much laughter.
This is number 3 in the "Tiny Ant" series of stories perfect for the pre-school to year one children.
Helen had quite a challenge to illustrate Wilberforce stumbling his way through the book.  Here are some gems for you to enjoy and a photo of Helen's daughter Jenny wearing the glasses Wilber was kindly given to help him out. Classic!

I leave Wonboyn Lake for Victoria on the 24th of August with my first school at Newmerella on the 25th, then Thorpdale on the 26th, a book signing at Bunyip Newsagency on the 27th and the Bunyip Primary School in the afternoon.  On Saturday the 29th I'm at Valley Books with Joan and Geoff then Verney Special School in Shepparton on September 1st, Katandra West combined with Invergordon Primaries on the 2nd then Numurkah Newsagency with Andrea on Saturday the 5th, Eaglehawk Post Office with Adina on the 9th, Red Rock Books in Horsham with Marion on the 11th, and the Gifted Wombat in Stawell with Raie on the 12th.  The books are launched at THE ARARAT VISITORS CENTRE  on Monday the 14th at 4-5pm by the wonderful Ararat Mayor Paul Hooper.  This promises to be quite an event with a mini exhibition of Helen's illustrations as well.  Come along and get your book signed and inscribed!

I will also be at Ararat Primary on the 14th, then Moyston Primary on the 15th, Trawalla on the 16th, Slades Newsagency with Chris on the 17th, Blanes Newsagency in Colac on the 18th, Cobden Newsagency on the 19th and my last event is at Kates Castle in Maryborough for a children's activity day from 11am - 3pm.  Along the way l will stock up all my stores and catch up with plenty of Little Ant fans - many are waiting for this chapter book and wondering what next year will bring.

 

Watch this space for some special pictures taken while on tour!