Ellie Royce's Blog

hybrid

/ˈhʌɪbrɪd/

noun

the offspring of two plants or animals of different species or varieties, such as a mule.

"the bird was a hybrid of a goose and a swan."

2.a thing made by combining two different elements. "jungle is a hybrid of reggae and house music."

adjective

of mixed character; composed of different elements.

"hybrid diesel-electric buses."

Similar:

cross, cross-breed, mixed-breed, mixture, blend, meld, amalgam, amalgamation, combination, composite, compound, conglomerate, fusion, synthesis, mash-up.

Helloooo! Well, friends, it's been a while! But that's life for a lot of us of recently, isn't it?

New times, new challenges and new resources, new avenues to explore and new ways of doing old things. Personally, I've decided to try an experiment that's new to me but, as I've discovered, quite commonplace to many others. That is, I've decided to make some books - from the writing stage through to the actual holding it in your hand stage- overseeing the whole process myself ( with the assistance of some wonderful professionals , illustrators, editors, book designers and PR experts.) The first book in this experiment is ,"Avery's Hat- Tastic Adventures - How Does a Hat Save The Day?" written by me, illustrated by Mardi Davies and designed by Flo &Ebb Studio. This , apparently, makes me a "Hybrid Author" which I like the sound of ! It has a cool "Dr Who" kinda' vibe, don't you think?

But , again, as I've mentioned in previous posts, it's still a label, and I'm not really a 'label' fan. Because labels are like stereotypes, like 'thin stories' in narrative therapy, they keep you pinned down to see yourself in one dimension.

I mean all of us are many, many things all woven together, a synthesis of so many experiences, skills, talents, abilities, dreams, plans, hopes and fears. We are all made of stories.

Authors and illustrators are also marketers and booksellers. Booksellers can be authors and illustrators. Publishers are also authors and illustrators, as are librarians, teachers , you get the drift. All of us who love and want books and stories in our lives, especially those who want to create them for others, seem to eventually move through different aspects of the bookiverse over time- and that feels pretty right and natural to me.

If you want to listen to the story behind how this all came about , I was fortunate enough to chat ,about it with the lovely Joanne Morrell on her podcast "The Hybrid Author."

So far, I'm loving this journey. Learning about the book making process is a dream come true and I'm so excited to share the first result of that dream - a quirky little junior fiction book with a couple of feisty female best friends and their canine buddy , about friendship, community, gardening, creativity, problem solving , (oh... and hats... there's a whole story I want to tell you about the hats- but that's for next time.)

Talk to you then and don't forget - We Are All Made of Stories!

What’s on YOUR mind?

Zoe ( the Zoe Collins of https://www.zoecollins.art/) and I always have lots on ours. After “The Great Technical Meltdown of 2021” where I lost all my files for the podcast and then because of various other occurrences the pod had to go into suspended animation for a bit.

What are these occurrences Ellie? You may ask.

Well, since you asked...

My new picturebook with Andrew McLean , published by Ford Street Publishing was released-

as was the delicious human my daughter ( and son- in law!) made. I love this photo - it expresses the bemusement he so often seems to find in this strange world he finds himself in (and really, who can argue with that?)

Auntie Uncle Drag Queen Hero won the Rubery International Book Award Children's and YA Category, which I have to say, thrilled and terrified me at the same time!

And then, we had to say goodbye to my darling mate of 15 years, our dog Yogi. I'm still dealing with it, so I can't put a photo here- maybe later . I can never be grateful enough for his presence in our lives.

But while I attempted to ride the waves of Life, my little podcast project stayed in my thoughts and finally -

FINALLY ...

I’m almost

er… back where I started?

Anyhoo - we’re here!

Me and Zoe are kicking off the new iteration of “We Are All Made of Stories” sharing stories about intuition, vaccination, ( *note- I say the F word* earlyish on just so you know , but I said it so fast I couldn’t edit it out, apologies to anyone who finds it offensive) stories about resistance, creativity, business, narrative therapy and SOURDOUGH!

Anyone who has ever visited either of my insta accounts will know of my love, bordering on the weird ( look, people talk to their plants, and it's alive, so I talk to my starter, okay? Well actually, I talk to everything...) for sourdough.

In fact- we’re embarking on an experiment to air dry some of my my sourdough starter and send it to Zoe ! (Tune in next time to see how I go.)

Are you missing a chat with mates down the corner caf? Over the front gate ? Then maybe you’ll enjoy hanging out with us for a bit.

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I’d love you to leave a comment, a review or whatnot on the podcast, but I’d REALLY love you to head over to the Podcast Instagram account @madeofstorieswithellieroyce and say hi, comment on the episode and tell me what’s on your mind- any thoughts on what you want to hear about ?

Last but definitely not least, shout out to Gemma Patience for mentioning the pod online and telling us she enjoyed it ( unfortunately this happened just before the aforementioned Great Technical Meltdown so I didn’t get to thank her then.)

Stay safe everyone,

I can’t tell you how to live your life, but I can share a story with you - and maybe it’s just the one you need.

Talk to you soon!

Ellie xx

Welcome to 2021, story lovers!

"Wait a minute Ellie", I hear you say, "aren't you a bit late to the party?"

Weeeeell, yes and no.

See, for one thing I'm all about 'lunar time' as opposed to 'patriarchal, socially constructed and agreed upon but with no real basis for actually making January 1st a new year' time.

Also, it always just seems to take me until February to get my act together.

You know?

So, for me, Lunar New Year it is. And what a glorious New Year, New Moon 2021 brings, with all those planets in divine Aquarius.

"Hold up Ellie," I hear you say again "what's all this blather about Lunar New Year and planets and stuff? Aren't you a kidlit author?"

Good question!

Yes I am a kidlit author. I love writing books for kids . I love reading books for kids. I love the kidlit community. I'll always be an advocate for books and reading and literature, especially for and with kids. I have a new picture book coming out in June, which I'm thrilled about !

But.

I'm also a lot of other things. I am a WHOLE person. As, dear reader are you! My word for this year has revealed itself to be... WHOLE. ( My other word for the year is 'clarity.' Why two words? I dunno. Go figure. They're both right up there though.)

So in 2021, my mission, which I have chosen to accept, is to remember I’m a WHOLE human.

Sometimes we forget that, in a world where mono-focus rules.

Think about it.

From agriculture to business, focusing on 'one thing' is what our culture (and for clarity, when I say this I mean my culture, which is white, middle class, western consumerist based) tells us is the right way to live our lives. "Jill of all Trades Mistress of None", right?

In fact, we get broken into bits, with some bits ‘approved’ by society and other bits not so much.

We lose parts of the story of our Selves.

Now, don't get me wrong. We need to focus and hone our respective crafts, whatever they may be. Our MAIN story needs energy and focus and passion. But, you know what?

That story can change. You're not locked in to ONE thing for the rest of your life.

AND... there's a whole lot of other threads in our stories that make life rich, hilarious, and beautiful that are also worth time, energy and passion. Even if we never master the ukulele it's pure joy to play with for an hour a week. Even if we never enter a triathlon, the pleasure of being outdoors for a day can carry us through a whole week of other stuff.

This year, I’m rebelling against “The Rules” that say you must only be one thing in order to live a joyful, rich, abundant life, or to be successful communicating with others.

I'm puttin' my WHOLE writin,' readin', podcastin', starwatchin', moon gazin', seed plantin', knittin, cookin, storytellin', vintage lovin', self out there. (Or maybe it's in here, but either way, it's the WHOLE package.)

I've been learning, one of my FAVOURITE things. I’ve been learning about stories, one of my other favourite things. I'm learning about Narrative Therapy, and how the stories we tell and hear about ourselves impact on our lives WAY more than we think. I’m also learning about how stories are built into the architecture of our brains and how we humans actually need stories to survive and thrive, especially in 2021 and beyond.

It’s blowing my mind. It’s magical. It’s helping me make sense of so many strands of my own

story.

I want to share that with you!

I'm also reincarnating MOON RITES because people have asked for it! It's book about how tapping into the magic of the lunar and our own cycles can unlock a wellspring of personal power that's purely life changing. Exciting stuff.

So look, this is really to let you know what I’ll be up to for the rest of this year at least, and invite you along for the ride.

You can find me here at www.ellieroyceauthor.com on my written blog, or at my Podcast “We Are All Made of Stories”.

If you’re interested in the Lunar Lifestyle, pop over to www.moonrites.com .

But here’s an idea...

If you subscribe to my newsletter you can get the skinny on ALL of it bundled up in one place (the WHOLE shebang!) and decide where you want to go and what you want to dive into for yourself.

You want to? Amazing! I’m so excited to have you alongside me on this crazy trip!

Let’s do this thing. Let’s make some magic!

See, I can’t tell you how to live your life… but I can tell you a story. Maybe it’s just the one you need.

Be talking to you soon, Story Lovers!

Hi there, Story Lovers! Welcome to 2021 and what nicer way to kick it off than with a new podcast episode about an absolutely gorgeous non- binary main character?

When I wrote Auntie Uncle: Drag Queen Hero , I had no idea the it would afford me the opportunity to meet so many fascinating, creative , passionate people who also champion diversity and inclusion in children's literature. I'm fortunate enough to also be able to share their stories with you- and here is the first one for this year!

Lori Starling is a writer, poet, amateur ukulele player, and lover of all things Edgar Allan Poe, Emily Dickinson, and Sylvia Plath. Through their writing, they strive to create realistic worlds for their readers to explore, where marginalized voices are heard and empowered.

Starling holds an MFA in creative writing, as well as a BA in English & creative writing with various associate degrees. In addition to their writing shenanigans on loristarlingwrites.com, their writing can be seen in places like One Green Planet, Life in 10 Minutes Lit Magazine, and Beyond Queer Words: A Collection of Poems. Recently, they have co-founded Clay Literary, which houses two weekly online publications: FLEDGLING and RAVEN. Toby Wears a Tutu is their first children’s book

Published by Brandlylane Publishers, Illustrated by Anita Du Falla, this is the blurb:

It’s the first day of school, and Toby is dressed in their best and ready to make new friends! But first, Toby’s new classmates want to know: Is Toby a boy or a girl? Toby isn’t sure how to answer. Toby likes to wear basketball shorts and tutus. Toby plays ninjas and dances ballet. Finally, after a little thought and some encouragement from Mom, Toby has a declaration to make: they can eat, wear, do, or be anything they want! Toby isn’t a boy or a girl—Toby is just Toby.

,Click here to come on over to the podcast and have a listen to Lori's Story!

Do you want to keep up with my shenanigans in the world or know when new episodes are coming out? Why not sign up for my blog and newsletter? I'd love to hang out with you!

Talk to you soon ( real soon, if you're going to the podcast LOL)

Every story has a beginning, a middle and an end- but within that are sentences pages and chapters, new beginning and new endings all the time. I keep saying We Are All Made of Stories and it's true! I find people's stories endlessly fascinating and am so pleased to be able to share their stories with you too. Some time ago I approached prolific Australian Author and all around talent Dee White to share her story, and then a few things happened, (like 2020!)

I'm happy to share Dee's story finally. Enjoy!

The Beginning

I’m the author of more than 20 books for children and young adults, but some of my books like my recent release, Beyond Belief are being enjoyed by adults too. I’ve always loved writing for kids and teens because they are so open to new information and thinking. And I love it when I go to schools and festivals and meet enthusiastic young readers who are so honest and authentic in how they respond to my books. As writers we put so much of ourselves into our work so it’s wonderful when readers connect with our books. I love travelling and I’ll go pretty much anywhere in search of a story. I spent a month in Paris researching Beyond Belief and this included a tour of the sewers.

The Middle

It takes a while to find your voice and what works for you as a writer. I love variety. I love writing whatever I’m in the mood to write. I don’t like to be restricted. I’m happy to work to a brief, but usually I’ll be working on something of my own choosing at the same time. I love delving into books like Beyond Belief on serious topics and doing everything necessary to walk in the shoes of my characters. But this takes quite a toll on me emotionally so if I start to feel overwhelmed, I transfer my attentions to something much lighter that draws on different kinds of emotions, often humour. While I was working on Beyond Belief, I was also working on Eddy Popcorn’s Guide to Parent Training which hits the shelves in May.

I started writing Eddy’s story when my son was eleven or twelve (he’s now twenty-one) and I drew on his humour and dry wit as inspiration for Eddy. (My son is still very funny). I also drew on memories of me at that age and the things that bothered me about my parents.

Eddy Popcorn’s Guide to Parent Training has lots of illustrations by the amazing Ben Johnston and they’re really funny. He’d never even spoken to me, but somehow he seemed to see inside the inner workings of my mind and capture Eddy perfectly. Eddy was always Eddy in my head but he didn’t have a last name until I was doing the SCBWI Nevada Mentorship program in 2013 and was travelling with a dear friend, Mina Witteman from the Netherlands and we had booked to stay at a golf course near Lake Tahoe, but never got to play golf because the course was covered in snow. The resort where we were staying had 24 hour free Popcorn … and I was scooping myself out a bucket when I had the epiphany that Popcorn was the perfect surname for Eddy.

The End - which is always a new beginning!

I’m currently working on Eddy Popcorn’s Guide to Teacher Taming which will be out with Scholastic Australia next year and I also have a couple of historical fiction works in the pipeline … The Explorer’s Niece, about an epic journey undertaken by explorer Hamilton Hume’s niece and family after her father was murdered by bushrangers. This story is set in Australia in the 1840s. My other historical fiction WIP is set in Leeds during WW1 and has a working title of Canary Girl and it’s about a twelve-year-old girl working in a munitions factory. And because I like to step outside my comfort zone and try new things, I’m also working on a paranormal thriller movie script.

Check out Dee's webpage at https://www.deescribe.com.au/ for all of her exciting and multitalented offerings ( she's also a writing coach, did you know that?) Thank you for sharing your story Dee.

That's it for now, I'm working on a new podcast episode ( you didn't know I'm doing a podcast ?) and a few other exciting projects.

Stay safe, talk to you soon and remember - #weareallmadeofstories

OH JOY! After some months of creative wanting, doing enthusiastically but not very well, re- doing, learning, re-doing some more, learning some more and finally re- doing again - A new podcast is born! It feels scary and exciting, familiar and alien, all at the same time.

2020, right? If you're any kind of creative, it's been all about "pivoting" finding new ways to connect with the world, mostly digital. I tried video but, at least at this stage, it just didn't feel right for me.

And then, I tried podding.

You know how it feels when you slide into bed after you've just made it with fresh sheets, all crisp and smelling lovely?

No? That's just me then...

Anyway, think of something that feels wonderful, familiar and comfortable but still exciting and you'll understand how I felt when I fiddled around with recording stuff.

It's such a special way to connect with YOU, dear readers (and perhaps listeners) and to share the magic and power of Story - my story, other people's stories, imaginary stories, ALL the stories. See, I know for sure that stories change us, that they can help and heal, inspire and support us. Of myself I can do nothing, but I can share a story with you... and maybe it's just the one you need.

It's the next right step outward from this blog, in fact.

Is it "What's Your Story" on steroids?!

Maybe...

It's a bit loosey goosey still, and I'm on a steep ol' learning curve, but I'm strapped in and ready for the journey.

I'd love you to come along for the ride in 2021 and beyonnnnnddddd... Here's what it's all about, read on!

Are you a Story Lover ? Stories are threads that weave us into families, communities and cultures. As this strange year of 2020 draws to a close, I'm setting off on a long awaited podcast-style exploration of stories, what they are, what they mean , how we consume them and how they help us navigate our way through this twisty, turny thing called" life". I have no idea where it will take me but one thing I know for sure, it'll be interesting.

NOTE TO LISTENERS- THIS PODCAST IS ADULTS HAVING AN ADULT CONVERSATION (MORE OR LESS...) SO THERE IS AN OCCASIONAL SWEAR. NOTHING EXPLICIT BUT IF YOU HAVE LITTLE ONES AROUND YOU MAY WANT TO WEAR HEADPHONES.
Episode One is called "So Many questionable Career Choices, So little time to Apologise"

In spite of the title , Zoe and I never actually got around to discussing her questionable career choices. Maybe that's because we talked about so many other things- creative voice, how creativity manifests itself, finding the exact right sticky tape, talking to yourself, rabbit holes leading to mathematical explanations for individuality, how to maintain your creative flow when you're a Mum and the dire consequences of not, isolation, introversion versus extroversion, plus a food story or two.

I also discuss how this year has been for me as an Aussie kidlit author with her very first U.S publication "Auntie Uncle ; Drag Queen Hero" (published by POW!Kids Books in New York, illustrated by Hannah Chambers) when the world has basically shut down!

Here is the LINK TO THE EPISODE!

Or you can listen on Apple or Spotify!

Thanks to Zoe for sharing her stories.

Zoe Collins BIO
In writing her bio, Zoe Collins finds it increasingly difficult to define her creative endeavours. She writes, paints on canvas, collages, draws on her iPad, crochets, cooks, eats, talks, writes newsletters and sometimes imagines herself as a backing vocalist for an 80s rock band. She also has a quiet ambition and desire to avoid working for the man. Her latest creative endeavours include a range or two of spunky earrings, a tea towel design and random drawings on Noritake fine china.

As a graphic designer and illustrator she has worked in studios, run her own business and taught in universities. Her current teaching endeavours are strictly unbureaucratic and lean heavily towards creative problem solving and play.

Zoe lives in Brisbane with her three favourite humans, the best dog ever and a bastard of a cat. She enjoys making paper journals with her long-arm stapler and feeding appreciative eaters.

Find Zoe online at https://www.hellozoecollins.com.au

Fabbo people we mention in the podcast:
'Wooly'John Woolrych - director at Colour Chiefs https://www.colourchiefs.com.au/
Jen Storer https://girlandduck.com/
Lilla Rogers https://makeartthatsells.com/

Julia Cameron "The Artists Way"

Podcast music by The Joydrops- "Not Drunk".

This month we wish a happy book birthday to "Waiting Together" by Danielle Dufayet, illustrated by Srimalie Bassani and published by Albert Whitman and Company.

Waiting is not easy! And waiting can take a long time. Like waiting on the drip, drip, drip of rain to stop or the ding of the timer for cookies to be done baking. But there's one thing that can make waiting go a little bit faster--a friend! A perfect read aloud, this book encourages readers to enjoy every kind of wait.

Danielle is sharing her story with us this month. I can't wait! (see what I did there?!)

The Beginning: I was born in Yonkers, New York and moved to Monterey, California when I was seven. I am first generation French and spoke only French until I was about five. My mom and dad were both professional artists, so I was luck and got some of their creative genes. I started writing poetry and drawing cartoons when I was seven and fell in love with writing.

The Middle: Back in 2002 I decided to get my masters in Psychology. Not only do I love the subject, but I somehow knew getting the credential would come in handy in my writing. I was right! I ended up writing not one, but two picture books (You Are Your Strong and Fantastic You) for Magination Press -the children's imprint of the American Psychological Association. Both my books came out of a difficult time in my life and so I wanted to write self-empowering books for kids.

The End- which of course, is always a new beginning!: My third book, Waiting Together, is a fun book about all the kinds of waits a kid does throughout the day. I wanted to show that, yes, waiting is not easy, but you can still enjoy the moment; and, that waiting is always better with a friend! I just sold my fourth picture book (can't reveal yet!) and I have a fifth in submission which is about how we are all our own stories and how we interpret our stories makes us who we are.

Thanks so much Danielle, you're preaching to the choir there about stories making us who we are! All the best with your beautiful book and thank you for sharing your story with us.

Talk to you next time story lovers and remember to make your story one you love...

Hi, fabulous story-lovers!

Hasn't this been the weirdest year on record, ever?

I mean, apart from having a fabulous and exciting and beautiful picture book launched into the world in April, that I couldn't really do much about as it was published on the other side of the world in the middle of a global pandemic ( What? You missed that bit? You can catch up on my blog here, if you like...) I've been writing a lot. A LOT. But that's not interesting- except to me. 

"How's the book going?" people ask.

"Yeah, up to chapter six" I reply.

"Hmmm, weren't you up to chapter six last time I asked?"

I think of the fifty thousand words I've written and deleted, the adventures my characters have lived, the inside out and upside down way I revise revise revise and revise and say

"Yep, that's right. Chapter six."

Most people have stopped asking, for which I can only thank the Gods.

I've been posting regular blogs of other peoples stories, mostly my lovely fellow kidit creators. There will be a lot more coming from me soon though, so if you enjoy reading the rambling reflections of a regional writer of words for the most important audience in the world - KIDS- then I'd love to meet you here.

If you're REALLY keen and want to keep in touch with what's going on in my slightly confused world - you can now subscribe on my website and I'll email you every time something interesting happens! (Heads up- I'm not that interesting- it probably won't be more than once a month...)

Oh yes- I've also been on the You Tube!

It was in JULY.

Once at one o' clock in the morning doing a reading of Auntie Uncle for my US publisher.

Honestly, I don't think there was anyone there and I don't blame them because the connection was awful on my computer, the light was awful and I'm not really at my best at 1 am these days .

The other one was at a far more civilised hour of 10 am when I was interviewed by the lovely Michelle Worthington - it'll definitely be more watchable when it comes out since I discovered that zoom works amazingly well on my phone, even though I was so nervous that I totally forgot to mention any of my books.

But you know, third times a charm... Anybody?

Cue crickets chirping...

Michelle's done a fabulous bunch of interviews with people who actually know what they're doing as well as me, and they are great. Why not check out her channel?

And here we are in AUGUST! For many reasons, I'm taking a leap into the unknown and doing something I've always wanted to. I'm going to POD. or CAST. (I'm not sure which is correct.)

Yes, finally, the WE ARE ALL MADE OF STORIES Podcast will be coming to a device near you! 

There's something about this year that's called me to fulfil my dream of not only foisting my thoughts onto an unsuspecting public, but to share the stories of other creatives too. Because, well, if you don't realise by now that I'm obsessed with stories, that I believe stories have power and each one of our stories is a thread that weaves together  the fabric of our lives, our communities and our world and that we need stories of all kinds to feed our souls...

you've probably had a lucky escape!

Haha. 

Stay tuned for more about the podcast adventure.It's not far away now!

Until next time, stay safe and well...

This month I'm talking to Kidlit Author Meera Sriram.

Meera grew up in India and moved to the U.S in 1999. An electrical engineer in the past, she now enjoys writing for children, leading early literacy initiatives, and advocating for diverse bookshelves. Meera is the author of picture books, The Yellow Suitcase and A Gift For Amma, and has also co-authored several books in India. Meera believes in the transformative power of stories and likes to write on people, places, and experiences less visible in children's literature. For more information, visit www.meerasriram.com

Every story has a beginning, a middle and an end. But within that bigger story are lots of little ones, chapters, scenes and volumes…

Meera Sriram, what’s your story?
The Beginning - who are you and what do you love about kidlit?

I was born and raised in a bustling city in Southern India. School and free play in the backdrop of loud hawkers and honks pretty much filled up my childhood. I went on to become an electrical engineer because I love science. I moved to the U.S over two decades ago. And when my kids came along, the universe of kidlit opened up! I was not only reading picture books as a parent but also making up for all the years I didn’t have access to them as a child. Raising kids of color across cultures, I realized our own experiences were almost completely absent in the books we read. A thirst to create set in, and I recalibrated my purpose and passions as a person and in my career. I love picture books because they’re very powerful - the marriage of evocative art and sparse words to tell a story can affect and influence young minds in seemingly simple ways.

The Middle- where are you in your journey right now?

I started my journey co-writing – four kids’ books I co-authored were published in India. In 2015, I decided I wanted to write for publishers in the U.S, stories with children like my own and all of our experiences. My debut picture book, THE YELLOW SUITCASE, a grief story inspired by my own family’s experience came out last year.

My second picture book, A GIFT FOR AMMA: Market Day in India, comes out in August. This book is special because the story is set “in the backdrop of the loud hawkers and honks” I mentioned earlier J It is a colors concept book for children 3-8 years that captures the unique liveliness of street markets in India. And Barcelona-based illustrator Mariona Cabassa’s art does an absolutely wonderful job of taking the readers through the bustle and beauty.

The End, (which is always actually a new beginning!) What’s next for you in your story?

I love that you call the “end” the new beginning! For a writer, with every story ending comes a fresh start. My next picture book, BETWEEN TWO WORLDS, is a biography of the Indian-Hungarian artist Amrita Sher-Gil. I’m also working on my fourth picture book project.

I hope to continue writing stories centering people, places, and experiences not often seen in “mainstream” children’s literature.

And finally, what advice about your craft, or books or art, would you give your younger self back at the beginning of your story?

I think I’d nudge myself to read more authors that write in the genre and category I aspire to write in as I have a tendency to keep going back to a few favorites. While being impatient and restless has pushed me to work harder and faster, I would definitely tell myself to be more patient with everything – learning, revising, submitting, networking, promoting – and eventually growing as a good writer, takes time. And I should remember to enjoy the process as much as the mile-markers.

Thank you, Ellie, for having me! I thoroughly enjoyed sharing my story.

Thanks so much for being here, Meera! You have a fascinating story and your books are so beautiful.

That's all from me for now, but remember until next time, #staysafe #stayhomeandread

and I'll talk to you soon...

Usually I talk to a Kidlit creator once a month (who isn't me) about their story , but as I've just celebrated the release of my new picture book Auntie Uncle: Drag Queen Hero written by moi, illustrated by

The Beginning : One of the questions that people ask, especially people who know me, a middle aged, white, cis gender woman is- what inspired you to write a picture book about a Drag Queen?

I take this as a compliment because I love to surprise and challenge people. I love to encourage them to look at things in a different way.

Chatting with my daughter one day about three years ago, we discussed the kinds of books that she and her friends wanted to read to their kids, and the fact that they were largely nonexistent.

She was talking about the kinds of books that show diverse families and their perspective on life. This is a bit of a sensitive issue, given that I totally support own voices stories and I certainly didn’t want to encroach on, or appropriate, a story that wasn’t mine to tell.

However, it did really make me examine my writing process and ask myself why I was using the same old framework to construct my stories when society had clearly moved on and needed to see real communities with real diversity portrayed in children’s literature. It seems as though it’s always been okay to use anthropomorphism to get around this conundrum but honestly, I’m just not very good at that type of story, so it was a real challenge to try and get it right.

The Middle:

I started thinking about the themes and concepts I wanted to work with, respect, diversity, inclusion, equity, courage and unconditional love, and about how these essential qualities exist everywhere, in all kinds of people.

Then I recalled a former colleague of mine who cared for disabled and elderly people as his day job and did it beautifully. His clients absolutely loved him. He did drag on weekends and had a whole tribe of nieces and nephews who adored him.

I was also really interested in the concept of ‘courage’ because it seems to me there’s different kinds of courage. There’s the outward kind, as in when my character dives into the path of an oncoming float to save a runaway puppy, then there’s the kind that is personal and maybe the hardest to muster up, the courage to be your true self.

Society accepts and often rewards that outward courage, but the other kind, the courage to be true to your heart and soul - despite possible negative reactions/responses from others - that’s usually much more of a challenge to deal with.

Everyone can identify with this challenge in their own way, but I feel it’s particularly relevant to LGBTQI+ kids and rainbow families.

How to roll of this up into a child-centred story?

And of course, that was the key. Seeing this relatively complex scenario through the child narrator’s eyes and listening to their voice was when it became simple.

They told me: I love my Uncle Leo; I love my Auntie Lotta and it’s really cool and fun that they’re both the same person!

When the question was posed who should accept the award, the answer- through my child narrator’s eyes- was simple. Why can’t you both accept the award?

When the gender of Leo and Lotta becomes a bit more fluid and less binary later in the story, my child narrator simply says: I love Uncle Leo and Auntie Lotta, but I think maybe I love my Auntie Uncle best of all

*spoiler alert* There's a happy ending!

The End: which of course, is always a new beginning!

This story was a joy to write, and perhaps that’s partly because I never for a minute thought it would be published!

Just three short years ago, the world was quite a different place. Australia hadn't even voted YES to same sex marriage (or as I prefer to call it, love is love.)I wrote the story and then hung onto it until one day I saw a tweet that said - "where are all the picture books about drag queens?"

Taking that as my cue, I sent the text to my U.S. agent at Storm Literary, and was thrilled and almost astonished when someone ( fabulous Jordan Neilsen) expressed their interest in publishing it!

Fast forward three years and we see Drag really having a moment right now. I feel like the best thing about Auntie Uncle being out in the world is seeing it in the hands of the people I wrote it for! I’ve connected with at least half a dozen real life “Auntie Uncles” who are overjoyed with the book, and this is such a heartwarming and validating outcome.

It’s been a very special project and I’m extremely grateful to have been able to work on it. I love the vibrant and emotive illustrations Hannah Chambers created, they are an animator as well as an illustrator, you can tell, can’t you? The illustrations just leap off the page and into your heart.

And as for both my my daughters, well, there are no grandkids on the horizon just yet. (No pressure, you guys!) But when they come along, I’ll be so proud to read this book to them, hopefully with lots of others that show all kinds of different ways of being a happy and decent human being and all kinds of loving families.

Of course, the global pandemic that we won't name happened at the same time as Auntie Uncle was released, so there wasn't an actual launch party ( although I did make a little video about it

You can buy Auntie Uncle online, or ask your local bookstore to order you in a copy. If that's not possible for you, why not ask your local library to stock it? I'd love to see it in as many libraries as possible, then it becomes accessible to everyone who wants to read it!

I hope you've enjoyed the story about this story. I have another picture book due out later this year also about a rainbow family... but that's another story!

Talk to you soon,