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M.A. Notaras

Goodreads Author

Born

Sydney, Australia

Website

https://melanienotaras.wixsite.com/authorpage

Genre

Fiction, Children's, Fantasy

Member Since

December 2016

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M. A. Notaras can read and write backwards, always eats cheese toasties for lunch and likes writing best out of the bunch of weird jobs she's had so far.

In 2001 her rhyming story "The Big Cheese" won first prize at the Sydney Writers' Festival's inaugural Write a Story to Save Your Life competition. The prize included reading her story as a live broadcast on national radio and a Robert McKee writing seminar.

She lives with her kids, five death-defying goldfish and precocious vegetable patch in the inner suburbs of Sydney, Australia. Her favorite pastime is snuggling up with a book at bedtime while smuggling bits of chocolate to join her.

M. A. Notaras is a member of SCBWI and publisher of My School Adventure Books (personalized children's adv ...more

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Popular Answered Questions

What books are on your summer reading list this year?

M.A. Notaras I have to admit I'm not a list maker - more of an impulsive book grabber as I walk past the shelf! At the moment I'm enjoying reading "City of Endless…moreI have to admit I'm not a list maker - more of an impulsive book grabber as I walk past the shelf! At the moment I'm enjoying reading "City of Endless Night" by Milo Hastings (written in 1918 but eerily prescient today) and newly published "The Urban Farmer" by Justin Calverley & Ceres (I love food gardening). Current (out loud) bed time reading to my 8 and 12 year old kids is the classic "Pollyanna" by Eleanor H. Porter, and we are finding this book a real hoot. It lends itself to funny voices, and Pollyanna's ridiculously relentless positivity (in the face of actually a quite despairing situation) is hilarious. While we read Pollyanna, my 10 yo is devouring "The Sisters Grim: The Problem Child" by Michael Buckley - middle grade fantasy just finished by my 8yo (which she LOVED) - and I'll read it next! Guess I do have a list after all :)(less)

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What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

M.A. Notaras Here's some of what I've learned along the way:

1) create extremely in-depth character profiles before you start writing, otherwise the characters will…moreHere's some of what I've learned along the way:

1) create extremely in-depth character profiles before you start writing, otherwise the characters will be really bland
2) write every day to keep your momentum up
3) if you're writing for children and have a few of your own, read your story out to them - they'll be your best cheer squad and will inspire you to write more!
4) read your writing out loud to yourself - if it doesn't sound natural or make sense, change it
5) read lots of your genre to understand it, but don't copy - write with your own ideas and voice
6) listen to great podcasts from more experienced authors, join writers groups (can be online) - they have great tips and you are bolstered by their community.
7) don't get disheartened about the length of time it takes to write, the process can take a lot lot lot longer than you originally think (especially for the first book) it's a learning curve, after all!

Happy writing!(less)

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M.A. Notaras’s books

Average rating: 4.44 · 9 ratings · 5 reviews · 5 distinct works

	The Art Show That Came To Life at Bundock Primary School 4.63 avg rating — 8 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Framed: Mona Lisa's Story liked it 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Mona Lisa Mini-Story: A mini-story from The Art Show That Came To Life At Bundock Primary School 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Art Show That Came To Life At Sacred Heart Primary School Highgate 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Art Show That Came To Life At [Your School Name Here] 5.25x8in AU/UK 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars