Yikes It's December 2024!
Happy to report I have a poem "Pussies Galore" page 53, in Issue 9 of Tarot Poetry, edited by Kit Willet. Heaps of great Kiwi poems in this issue, and groovy cover art!
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| Artwork Claudia Parentela |
If you missed me in conversation with Kyle Mewburn at the Queenstown Writers Fest, November 2024 don't fret! Kyle very generously wrote out her responses post event. Read the 'transcript' now more a Q & A for "Surviving Bigotry &Central Otago Winters to learn all about the work behind Kyle's bestselling debut novel "Sewing Moonlight". The perfect Xmas present for historical fiction fans.
Linkage to My Three New Poems in - Does It Have Pockets Mag, October 2024 Issue
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| Art by Anne Anthony, Anchala Studio |
I write about Leonard Cohen, Sharon Stone, Bob Dylan and my grandparents.
Save the Date - Buy the Tickets - Don't Miss Out -1st Nov 2024
I'm chairing Kyle Mewburn at the Queenstown Writers Festival, Sunday 3rd November, 3 pm about her new book, Sewing Moonlight, it's sure to be an entertaining hour.
The 2024 festival is hosting many other Kiwi literary greats including - NY Times Bestseller Jacqueline Bublitz launching her latest crime novel, Steve Braunias discussing crime, Rachael King on children's books, Gavin Bishop on children's books, Hera Lindsay Bird on poetry. Take a look QT Writers Festival Programme Early Bird Tickets at a discounted price until 30 September.
Hola! August 19 2024
New CNF up at the fabulous Roi Fainéant Press 71 Bull Run
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| love the cover art |
Thanks to EIC, Marianne for selecting this piece about my visiting my dear old dad in hospital the week before he died. Does discuss death and dying, and blood donors.
"You've Been Great Audience, Goodnight"
Hola, July 24 24! Here is my latest CNF (creative non fiction) on the groovy -
Roi Fainéant Press
Boy Wonder
Huge thanks to, Editor Marianne for selecting this piece about a family ski trip to the land of Oz, a lot of road kill and more.
Hola July 1st! This is my latest CNF @ Does It Have Pockets
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| love this artwork by Anchala Studio! |
Huge thanks to Editor Cami and the Pockets Team for picking up this piece about my dear old Dad and his Alzheimer's.
Hola it's 23 June 24 - Press Publication Day @ Roi Fainéant Press
Jump on this link to read my prose poem "Like a Bat out of Hell" Loads of great reading on the Confession 67 issue! Take a look around!
Hola it's 12 June 2024
Woke up to minus three-degree frost at my place this morning - the world completely frozen crystal white from the toes of the grass to the tips of the mountains. My local ski field is due to open this weekend, the snow guns are pumping but it's pretty scratchy up there - more cappuccino than full snow white (view from my office window.)
Winter is a great time to write in the deep SI. I'm loving and learning heaps diving into prose poetry and flash CNF. I was so happy my lover letter to the Calm App talent - "I Fell In Love With The Sleep App Guy" found a greater audience in Memezine lit magazine, 1st June.
Meanwhile, I have a prose poem dropping 23 June at 'All the Writing, Half the Sugar' - Roi Fainéant Press and a CNF dropping 2st July. Plus, a CNF dropping at the fabulous Does It Have Pockets 1st July, and three poems 1st October! Feels like Christmas. Stay warm, y'all.
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| artwork: @kossvisualpoetry |
Hola it's 31 May 2024
I'm kinda sick of over May tbh but with June rolling in tomorrow it's only twenty-one days til the shortest day for us wintering in the southern hemisphere. This always feels like a milestone in the mountains I can tell ya.
Meanwhile, this beauty appeared in my inbox this morning and made me nostalgic for the days when everything was printed. On paper. It would look good on my bookshelf. You can download the full PDF on the Tarot website there is a lot of great reading. Feast your heart!
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| Cover Art: Katia Krpo |
Hola it's 10 May 2024
And approximately 1 degree Celcius! So to remind you of those hot summer daze here is the 'Celebrity' Issue of - a fine line - NZ Poetry Society, with sweet cover art by Lester Hall, and my Napoleon poem (amongst a lot of fabulous reading available to members!) This really warms my cockles.
In other poetry news, I have poems forthcoming in MEMEZINE (late May) and Tarot (1st June.) I've really been enjoying spreading my creative word thoughts in this new-to-me genre. I've inter-met some lovely, supportive editors and been spurred on by the poetry community on X which I (mostly) watch from afar. Plus oc my local poet homie Melinda is a great sounding board and source of encouragement. All I'll say is it's never too late to write something new! Off you go ... meanwhile, I'm off to knit some stockings brrrr.
Hola it's March 2024
Excited to say I have a poem forthcoming in the next issue of a fine line - New Zealand Poetry Society! Meanwhile, please enjoy this poem I wrote for #WorldPoetryDay2024 about (mostly) peaches.
I also have some other writing on the go - in some exciting new-to-me genres - but more about that later in the year.
Hola it's February 2024
The bluest skies you've ever seen are in Seattle, sang Perry Como. Seattle is also home to the poetry journal Does It Have Pockets and my poems "Lady Writer on The TV" and "Rapunzel Tie Up Your Golden Hair" in their February 2024 issue, along with three other fab poets.
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| artwork: @anchalastudio |
I love all the poetry editor Camille Grieb selects. Grab a herbal tea or a cheese sandwich and have a read!
Hello it's January 2024!
18/1/24 - I'm thrilled to announce my first poetry acceptance of the year! In January! I have two new poems in the forthcoming issue of Does It Have Pockets poetry journal, released 1st February 2024. (Unlike most journals Does It Have Pockets is able to pay contributors, which is super cool!) Most of the gen pub probably have no idea how much writing is given away for 'free'.
Meanwhile, I spent about 500 hours on this poem about the curious perfumes of cats, until it came together. I even ran it past my poetry buddy, Melinda, as I'd become a choking furball reading it aloud to myself over and over (a great thing to do if your writing is barking not singing.)
One for cat lovers old, young and in between love is ... a good cat.
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| Cowboy the kitty riding Star, aged 32 |
5/1/24
I just read a v funny Brian Bilston poem about January being the only month of the year that seemingly never ends. I hate January. But talking of poems, I delved into this (new for me) genre back in May '23 after completing a Dominic Hoey Zoom course. I'd been absolutely crushed creatively when my agent cold turkey dropped me on September 13, 2022. (I can laugh about the whole episode of ego crushing nervous breakdown proportions now.) It will end up fictionalised in all its glory one day! Moving right along, I found 24 hours of dipping into senses and sins unleashed a torrent of the unsaid for me. DH says, to write poems about the things that wake you up in the night. Mostly my poems tend toward the humourous ironic sides of life. And I'm thrilled to say, I tasted success in Tarot Poetry Journal Issue #7 with "There is no Champagne in Champagne Ham" and Turbine | Kapohau 2023 with my prose poem 'How to Read a Kiwi Penguin Classic".
A collection has been suggested. Meanwhile, I've written a screenplay.
The Queenstown Writer's Festival November 2023
Meeting and interviewing the fabulous and funny Megan Nicol Reed was definitely the highlight of my 2023 writing year. It's always nerve-wracking interviewing a writer, especially an experienced journalist and debut author. But Megan is one of those genuine women you immediately want to be your new best friend. She definitely saved the best for last and our whole session was candid, insightful and often laugh out loud hilarious. Here we are dressed like sisters!
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| Photo credit James Allen Photography |
Hello it's Spring
I feel as though I've been in hibernation mode all winter and I'm only just emerging from my bear cave and smelling the sweet scents of spring. I have three fragrant jasmine vines flowering in an indoor planter box, which I stand beside each morning and inhale deeply. Divine. They were midget plants last autumn and how they've managed to wrap themselves skywards around their trellises and bloom come spring, I don't know. They're in an unheated part of the house with only southern winter daylight for fuel.
My Second Gig for 2023
Save the date! I hate that saying but the Queenstown Writers Festival has put together an outstanding lineup of Kiwi authors for their 11 -12 November mini-festival, only fools would miss. I'm excited to be in conversation with well-known Sunday Star Times columnist and debut novelist Megan Nicol Reed. We've been given the directive to delve behind the twitching window blinds of the moneyed middle class - should be fun. Megan's bestselling first novel 'One of Those Mothers' was published earlier this year.
My First Gig for 2023
Come along to Queenstown Library to celebrate #WorldBookDay and their 'Festival of Authors' events this April. I'll be speaking with the lovely Amy about the dementia themes in my Lily Max children's trilogy (amongst other things) Saturday 15th April, 1- 2pm. This talk is aimed at adults. I'm happy to offer any writing and publishing tips to attendees. My dementia knowledge is not professional but based on a wide family history. My biggest writing tip is to buy a pot of bum-glue. It takes a lot of sitting down by yourself to write a book ... Hope to see you there.
It's a Wrap!
I chaired the final fiction author session at the 2022 Queenstown Writers Festival on Sunday, with Christine Leunens. I don't really want to critique my own interview BUT Christine was engaging, funny, v touching, v informative, v intuitive (I really wish they recorded these sessions) and well, it's Wednesday and I'm still fizzing. As you can see, I am mostly stuck for words aside from adjectives rn so I'll leave you with photographic evidence that this epic event took place. I hope you were there!
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| Christine Leunens, yours truly & Maxine Alterio |
Spring has Sproing! 1st September 2022
I can now reveal ... I'll be chairing world-renowned author, Christine Leunens at the Queenstown Writers Festival, 11 - 13 November, 2022. Christine's latest book 'In Amber's Wake' is a love story set in New Zealand during the tumultuous 1980s era of the no-nukes movement, Springbok tour protest and the Rainbow Warrior bombing. Originally a playwright, Christine has already penned the screenplay for 'In Amber's Wake', which is being made into a movie by Mimi Polt Gitlin, the producer of Thelma & Louise.
No newcomer to the movie business, Christine wrote 'Caging Skies', which was adapted into Jojo Rabbit by Taika Waititi and picked up an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 2020 Oscars. Christine was there! I plan to ask her what she wore, amongst other riveting questions.
See you at the festival!
And It's August 10, 2022
I had a super fun trip to Bali, as you can probably tell by my flurry of stories! Post-pandemic air travel felt pretty wild but and international transit terminals are still godforsaken ghettos but if you can it's well worth the effort. I hadn't seen my girlfriend and Bali host, Caroline, for four years! We had a lot of catching up to do. I travelled solo and it really was the #EatPrayBali junket I was after.
The Storylines Kit Lit Hui was great fun and I'm glad I made the effort to attend. Kudos to head organiser Leonie Agnew who handled speakers pulling out at the last minute with covid etc as you would a kid at a birthday party dropping a plate. Cool as a cucumber. My highlights were Mandy Hager's keynote referencing the plot building of her award-winning novel 'Singing Home the Whale'. Vasanti Unka's keynote referencing being the daughter of potato farmers in Papakura and arriving at school already able to read. Kyle Mewburn's wit and verve stole the show, MC'ing the high tea. But Tom Moffat's jokes were pretty good; anyone with joke mad kids should buy his books!
In author type news, I've been asked to interview an internationally famous author at a fab Writers Festival, which is cool. I'll wait till the programme is up before I spill the beans. I plan to do a pre presentation quick-fire question post (similar to the one I did with Emily Writes) with my interviewee, in the buildup. Meanwhile, I have lots of research to do! Great to have something on the calendar that gets me away from my writing desk.
Happy August, it's almost spring! And I now have two novels on submission. Jane x
2022 June 27th
It's a misty Monday, and also the countdown to my second international travel expedition (Covid put a kibosh on the last one.) Wish me luck! I'll say no more - where I'm headed for instance, whether I have bikinis or art gallery boots packed but I will say where I'm going afterwards ... Auckland to The Storylines Writers & Illustrators Hui 2022. My main aim for attending is to catch-up with the fab kidlit community of New Zealand, (and see my agent.) We are a friendly and supportive bunch and welcome newbie writers and old hacks alike. I would have given up writing kid's books many long years ago if it wasn't for the fun writer friends I have made along the way. It is not a cheap conference but if you've sold any writing for cash you can treat it as a tax-deductible expense. An investment in your creative-career. See you there! Registration starts 3pm Friday 15th July.
2022! How Did We Get To May Already?
I'm happy to say that the children's novel I was working on in my last entry is now sitting on publishers' desks all over the world. After a tick of approval in January, a rather l o n g rewrite took place. Well, more of a write-more exercise tbh. A villainous character needed more padding and a set of scenes towards the end of the story needed a spookier set design, and a load more magic-action. Rome wasn't built in a day, nor was any book of mine! I've just blogged about how learning to ride side-saddle aged twelve came in mighty handy when writing one poignant part of the story. Life imitates art and all that.
In other news, I've recently had Covid. Who hasn't met Omicron? I cannot say the experience was too flash. I had every symptom on the MOH survey (bar one) but here I am. I couldn't help myself from thinking of all those poor souls who perished with Delta, and thanked my lucky stars my family and I are fine. The only after-effect for me is that my already insanely overactive nasal smelling capacity has escalated right off the scale. Sesame oil, coffee and body sweat - keep well away from me. Not to worry, it pays to have all your senses on full alert when writing fiction. Stay well, friends! Jane x
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| Nobby! |
It's 4th November 2021, New Zealand is in various states of lockdown as we endure a Delta outbreak. Living in the South Island we are mostly free, aside from face-masking wearing and religious scanning in. Meanwhile, in my writing life, I've clocked up over 77,000 words this year on two middle-grade novels. The second of which I'm soon to finish, then leave for a rest before I revise. It's been fun and challenging to work in a new genre. I guess you'd call it magic realism with humour. Fingers crossed it gets the magic wand of approval cast over it before too long. Stay well, friends! xo
Writer's Festivals
If there is a month for writer's festivals in New Zealand it's May. These festivals circuit the main centres and 2021 boasts a fantastic and varied line-up. I'm getting along to the Dunedin Writers Festival, 7th May for Nalini Singh's workshop "Lusting For Words". This workshop covers 'romance writing as a genre' (a closet fascination of mine) and 'world building' (setting, setting so so important to make a book believable.) Take a look at the festival programmes, grab a friend and get along. NB. These festivals are equally directed at readers and writers. They are always entertaining and stimulating. Post festival, I'll be getting back to writing adult fiction over the chilly, Queenstown winter.
12th April 2021
The leaves have turned to gold in Queenstown and I am nearing completion on my new children's novel. I wrote a crazy 30,000 words over my three-week summer residency at the Michael King Centre. What a fairytale time that was, with the beautiful villa on the maunga pretty much all to my self! A fairytale time filled with words, two #level3 Lockdowns, one tsunami and a pool party of up to five Tuis every afternoon in the birdbath outside my writer's hut window. When I type 'The End' I can draw breath and write about my experience. All I will say right now was that it was truly MAGIC!
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| Alumni Hallway, MKC |
10th November 2020
I'm over the moon to announce that I have been awarded a 2021 Michael King Writer's Residency! From the 15th February - 8th March next year, I shall be working on a new children's novel (my 5th I realised) at the Signalman's House, Mt Victoria, Devonport, Auckland. This is my first-ever residency. To have uninterrupted writing time, with a stipend to boot, is an absolute dream. I plan to get a bicycle (with a basket) so I can cycle to Cheltenham beach for a daily dip in the ocean before I commence writing each day, in the writing hut. Where I hope to channel the energies of the great writers who were there last year. Pip Adam, Josh Pomare, Janey Arthur, Hera Lindsay-Bird, David Eggleton. To name a few! This is quite a pinch-me moment tbh. And a real honour.
Michael King's Writers Centre, Signalman's house
29th October 2020
My sources tell me that tickets for all events at the Queenstown Writer's Festival, 6 - 8 November 2020 are selling real fast. Don't miss out on hearing visiting, kiwi-literary-royalty speak about their craft. Dame Fiona Kidman, Witi Ihimaera, Becky Manawatu, Shayne Carter, Tom Scott, David Eggleton and more, all gathering in the Central Lakes to entertain the locals is very cool.
Grab a friend or two, and don't miss out!
ps. My shortlist for the festival's story competition will be up very soon!
10 October 2020
The Queenstown Writer's Festival, Short Story Competition is now closed. I'll begin judging the primary school section next week. We got a great response from young southern writers. I'm really looking forward to reading them. The winner and 2nd & 3rd Placegetters will be announced at this year's festival which commences 6th November.
September 2020
This crazy covid-year continues and I'm finding it poses many opportunities. I had an ageist episode in the bank so I wrote about it - Aging & The Subtle Art of Giving A Lot of Phucks About It.
Soon after, journalist (& literary agent) Nadine Rubin Nathan was writing a piece for Stuff NZ about dealing with her long, slightly greying hair over #Lockdown. She asked to include some of my aforementioned post in her Stuff - Life Style - Beauty. Silver-Vixens unite, I say.
22 June 2020
Hey hey keen young #competition #writers! I am the current Fabo Story writer/judge. Here's your chance to complete "Pearl and The Golden Apples". That is ... if you're not afraid of WITCHES & spooky stuff?! Good luck! I'm loving the spooky stories coming in. 7 - 13-year-olds have until Friday 3rd July, 7pm to enter ps. Pony lovers! My story contains a handsome black horse!
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| Sergeant of Elfin Bay |
Pearl and Golden Apples
by Jane Bloomfield
“Rise and shine, sleepyhead,” said Ma, tugging back Pearl’s quilt. “I need you to ride over to the old miner’s place and collect some golden apples.”
“Golden apples?” said Pearl warily. She lifted the sack curtain over the window above her bed and peered out. Sunlight danced on the tall poplar tree that stood like a giant sentinel beside their tiny stone cottage. An invisible breeze carried three yellow leaves; they fluttered down towards Pearl, like corn-coloured butterflies.
Ma was stirring porridge at the coal range. She slapped a bowl down on the table, startling Pearl from her reverie.
“Shall I just get blackberries, Ma? Folk say that apple tree belongs to a witch who puts curses on the children who pick ’em!”
“Nonsense,” said Ma.
“So why are the apples gold, then?” asked Pearl.
“Because they’re Golden Ambrosia apples, silly-billy. No one’s lived there for years. Don’t dally, the weather’s changing.”
Pearl pulled on her woollen riding habit and slowly laced up her leather boots. Her porridge tasted like dust.
Darcy, her big black horse, was waiting at the gate. He whinnied, hello, flicking his head. Pearl whispered to him, “You wouldn’t be acting so fresh if you knew where we’re headed.”
Darcy munched his oats, while Pearl brushed him down and plaited his long forelock. She buckled on her largest saddlebags and slipped her tin whistle in one and a crust of bread wrapped in muslin in the other. She grabbed her shawl and the pair trotted off.
By the time Pearl had played all her tunes and eaten the bread, they arrived at the golden apple tree. Without daring to scout around, Pearl rode Darcy right up beside its laden branches and started picking. She’d almost filled one bag when Darcy snorted and started jigging. All the silvereyes darted from the tree and Pearl heard a strange voice ... (this is where you begin, and complete the story in 550 words or less.)
/=/=/=/
June 2020 seems to be a busy month of judging short stories for me. Yay. Check out: the Queenstown Writers Festival competition. There are three age categories. Great prizes to be won! It's open from now until 1st September 2020. Open theme ... I'd imagine my entry would be set in winter. I always find it easier to write about the elements if I'm currently living them. Minus 6 degrees Celsius in Queenstown this morning. Brrrrrrr. Good luck!
May 2020 #Level3 #Lockdown Day #4hundredandfiftymillion.
Along with writing children's fiction and blogging, I occasionally dabble in poetry (tbh it's on my bucket list to write a publishable poem!) Anyhoo during #lockdown, I took part in The Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature Possibilities Project organised with cool Hawea poet, Liz Breslin. I have never been in front of the camera reading my work before, but too much sourdough baking does strange things to writers. Yikes! You get to see my tiny and super cluttered office-tower.
"I prefer the absurdity of writing poems to the absurdity of not writing poems."
Wislawa Szymborska. 'Possibilities'
Wislawa Szymborska. 'Possibilities'
New Zealand is on Day #12 of #Lockdown & I'm on The ReadingRoom's front page promoting a cool kids writing competition, which I'm very proud to be part of. Fabostory is running weekly during #Lockdown. So un-lock-your-imagination, kids, and get plotting! It's free to enter & each winner receives a booky prize, supplied by Puffin New Zealand.
Previously in 2020 ...
2020 got off with a bang at the February launch of my lovely friend and editor, Sue Copsey's book Wife After Wife. Clever Sue, writing under the pseudonym Olivia Hayfield launched her first book for grownups at the Ponsonby Cruising Club, Auckland. Kiwi acting royalty, and recently named New Zealander of The Year, Jennifer Ward-Lealand read excerpts from this bestselling novel. If Henry VIII returning to the 21st century as a sweet-smelling, womanizing, media mogul appeals, this modern retelling of the most famous ginger tyrant in history is for you! I read Sue's first chapter of Wife after Wife way back when she won a pitch slam with High Spot Literary. I told her she was on to a winner. It's been so fun travelling with Sue and Olivia on her amazing publishing journey. And being able to offer advice on aftershave and male underwear.
You can read about British born kiwi Olivia Hayfield on her interactive website while learning more about the Tudor king and his wives. Wife After Wife is published by Hachette NZ, Penguin US & Little Brown UK (release July 2020.) Available NZ-wide. Audiobook on Amazon. Buy it for yourself! Buy it for your mum! Then keep a lookout for the sequel Sister after Sister ... @suecopsey
ps. Sue Copsey edited Lily Max #2 and Lily Max #3. She also writes children's books and is a freelance editor.
2019 - November going on
Oh golly here I am again, looking slightly more real:
Background Book-Business:
In October 2015, I published my first book. It's a story about an exuberant 12-year-old fashionista called Lily Max and her quest to be crowned Snow Queen.*Lily Max* Satin, Scissors, Frock #1 was a finalist in the NZ Book Awards for Children & Young Adults, received a Storylines Notable Book Award, and has been reprinted 5 times.
*Lily Max* Slope, Style, Fashion #2 was released October 2016
And was Woman's Day Magazine Top Ten Reads 2016 (+++ Reviews below)
* Lily Max * Sun, Surf, Action #3 was published November 2017 to rave reviews.
All three books are still in print (just) flick me an email if you care to purchase, readers!
My Super-Girl-Models-12 @ Lily Max #3 Pool Party Book Launch (author demonstrating the super-power of the sunglass while the young pros squint-smile into the sun)
The Lily Max surfwear runway show was dressed by Rockies Queenstown. Thanks, Rockies!
What readers around the world are saying about the book -
"It's really good! It's the best one!" Edie, Bookworm, 8, Arrowtown
Fabostory repeat winner Indigo, 10, of Ohope, New Zealand: "I really enjoyed this book. I loved Lily Max’s cool beachwear ideas and would recommend it to any girl who likes #fashion, #surfing, adventure or mystery. I was kept wondering to the end."
"Hi Jane, Thank you for the awesome book. It’s a great book...perfect to read over the Summer holidays. From Holly" Auckland (Holly won her book in my Xmas giveaway)
"Jasmine thoroughly enjoyed your new book which she received for Christmas." Nadine, Remarkables Primary Librarian/Mum, Queenstown
"Lily Max; Sun, Surf, Action is a wonderful book for anyone my age. I'm not really into reading much, but I really enjoyed it and found it easy to read. Lily Max reminds me of my friend Greta and I thought you captured her personality really well. I thought the lighthouse mission was really exciting. It was a fun adventure."
Ellie Dann, age 13, Auckland
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"I had to book a surfing holiday after the first chapter!" Guy, 47, Barcelona
"This is a rollicking beach read."
Sarah Forster, Booksellers NZ/The Sapling, Wellington
This book is full of sun and joy. It has suntan lotion all over it! Steve Braunias, publisher
Goings On:
I'm taking part in the Queenstown Writer's Festival, 9 - 10 November 2019. WHOOP whoop. I'll be talking about my fictional heroine Lily Max and myself. Plus! I'm interviewing the fabulous and funny Emily Writes, author of "Rants In The Dark" & "Is It Bedtime Yet", and parenting editor at The Spinoff. This is my time first eva as an author-participant-interviewer. Too exciting. Hope to meet you there.
Previously
Friday 23rd August 2019. I was at the Central Otago Arts, Poetry event "Take a Risk, Make a Poem" in Alexandra. Poet giants, Michael Harlow and Brian Turner, recited their work. Along with Jillian Sullivan, Kyle Mewburn and Mike Riddell. Then there was an open-mic. Hello Joe-and-Jane-public. I sent in this prose poem for the COA's public display and was subsequently asked to read. I set off to Alex, a 55-Year-Old-Poetry-Mic-Virgin, but I did not return as one!
July 2019 - My lovely young writer friend, Indigo, 11, was employed as beta-reader to peruse and comment on my children's novel, currently under submission (the novel mentioned in ***Feb 2019.) Indigo complained, "This book gave her a serious chocolate hankering!" Ha that's what I call author-success. Indigo's letter gave me serious warm fluffies.
It's so great to get feedback from my target audience. Indigo also said, "It's original, creative and entertaining ... overall it was a nice light, funny read (that I think my younger sister, 8, would enjoy.) Interestingly I enjoyed it more the second time around." ps. I could show you Indigo's groovy horse pic but I don't want to reveal the name of my main-pony-character. Just yet.
23rd June 2019 - My FaboStory went live. FaboStorys is an online writing competition, for children aged 8-13, run by a bunch of super cool kiwi kid's authors. I received 88+ entries this time around. It's an equally fun and daunting job reading all the entries and judging a winner on the final weekend. But it's quietly thrilling to know (hope) that some of these keen writers will go on to be writers in the future. My winner was Indigo Tomlinson.
May 2019 - I went on a fabulous holiday to Bali and read this life-changing book while lying on a sun lounger with this view. ps. I don't feel back about my neck! But do read on to discover how I feel about my ELBOWS!
3rd March 2019 - The NZ Blind Foundation contacted me to request the PDF of Lily Max: Sun, Surf, Action. This completes the Lily Max set, available in E-Text and large print format. It means more children around the globe can access the stories of my wild-child-fashionista (which really gives me the warm fuzzies.) It is a huge job to convert books, hence why the foundation request assistance from publishers. E-Text can be accessed via a braille device, or a screen reader, which reads aloud text from the document. Even the description of images is verbalised. Pretty cool. (The "Blind Foundation NZ is a not-for-profit organisation that supports people who are blind, deaf-blind or vision impaired.")
Previously
Friday 23rd August 2019. I was at the Central Otago Arts, Poetry event "Take a Risk, Make a Poem" in Alexandra. Poet giants, Michael Harlow and Brian Turner, recited their work. Along with Jillian Sullivan, Kyle Mewburn and Mike Riddell. Then there was an open-mic. Hello Joe-and-Jane-public. I sent in this prose poem for the COA's public display and was subsequently asked to read. I set off to Alex, a 55-Year-Old-Poetry-Mic-Virgin, but I did not return as one!
July 2019 - My lovely young writer friend, Indigo, 11, was employed as beta-reader to peruse and comment on my children's novel, currently under submission (the novel mentioned in ***Feb 2019.) Indigo complained, "This book gave her a serious chocolate hankering!" Ha that's what I call author-success. Indigo's letter gave me serious warm fluffies.
23rd June 2019 - My FaboStory went live. FaboStorys is an online writing competition, for children aged 8-13, run by a bunch of super cool kiwi kid's authors. I received 88+ entries this time around. It's an equally fun and daunting job reading all the entries and judging a winner on the final weekend. But it's quietly thrilling to know (hope) that some of these keen writers will go on to be writers in the future. My winner was Indigo Tomlinson.
May 2019 - I went on a fabulous holiday to Bali and read this life-changing book while lying on a sun lounger with this view. ps. I don't feel back about my neck! But do read on to discover how I feel about my ELBOWS!3rd March 2019 - The NZ Blind Foundation contacted me to request the PDF of Lily Max: Sun, Surf, Action. This completes the Lily Max set, available in E-Text and large print format. It means more children around the globe can access the stories of my wild-child-fashionista (which really gives me the warm fuzzies.) It is a huge job to convert books, hence why the foundation request assistance from publishers. E-Text can be accessed via a braille device, or a screen reader, which reads aloud text from the document. Even the description of images is verbalised. Pretty cool. (The "Blind Foundation NZ is a not-for-profit organisation that supports people who are blind, deaf-blind or vision impaired.")
***But FYI! I have a new book out on submission (not a Lily Max.) Another children's novel written, polished and edited during 2018. It contains three quirky siblings on a mission. And ponies. And dogs. But mostly ponies. It's a bit bonkers tbh. But I like bonkers. Let's hope someone out there gets the giggles when they read it and loves it enough to publish it. Fingers, toes, ears and everything crossed. I've dreamed three times that Chris Riddell wants to illustrate it ...
23 October 2018 - I was the author up, on Maria Gill's 'Five Quick Fire Question' read my answers on her Kids Books NZ blog. I talked about, Guy Fisher, the extremely talented artiste who visually created my Lily Max character.
16 October 2018 - I interviewed the extremely prolific and very lovely Aussie, mid-grade author Jacqueline Harvey for The Sapling.
October 2018 - I am back in my tower office. Writing. Writing. Writing ...
24-27 September 2018 -Waiheke (Kids) Writers Retreat with Sue Copsey, Suzanne Main, Kyle Mewburn, Melinda Syzmanik, Julie Scott. Manuscripts were polished. Submissions were made. And far too much of the three C's were consumed: Cheese, Chocolate & Chardonnay. 😉
21 - 23 September 2018 - National Writers Forum, Auckland Uni A great weekend meeting authors of all genres. And upskilling at the exceptionally inspiring masterclasses run by Aussie writing legend John Marsden. (What a super nice guy!)
7 September 2018 - New Zealand Book Council #WritersInSchools visit to Holy Family School Wanaka. Such fun to talk to these children about my writing life and to run a story writing workshop.
20 August 2018 - My story-starter 'The Final Call' went live on FaboStory. I loved being an author/judge on this great online writing forum for kids -13 years, and reading the 60+ entries. Indigo above was my winner.
10 August 2018- I interviewed the famous Aussie author, Jacqueline Harvey via Messenger. The interview should be up anytime soon on The Sapling. (We nattered for one hour so what doesn't get into The Sapling piece will end up here WTS)
23 July 2018 - After writing for two months I sent the completed draft of a new book to my lovely editor Sue Copsey for reading. Phew!!
4 July 2018 - Holy Family School, Wanaka, Creativity Conference Expose. It was nice to be invited back to see all the amazing work the students had completed.
6 May 2018 - Sydney Writer's Festival I was lucky enough to see Chris Riddell and AF Harold perform. And watch the wonderful Jacqueline Harvey Introduce her Kensy & Max kids spy series.
1st May 2018 Creativity Conference, Holy Family School, Wanaka Lucky HFS Kids! I'll be running: Lily Max Paperdoll Workshop for Juniors &
Lily Max Character Workshop for Seniors
16th April - 20th April 2018 - Poetry Course with Glenn Colquhoun, Wanaka Autumn Art School I felt privileged to take part in this week with New Zealand's top GP/poet and super funny nice guy Glenn C.
20th March 2018 - Wardini Books, Havelock North, Fashion Show & Book Signing
Huge thanks to Lou, Adele, Kat and Gareth of Wardini Books for organising such a fun event. And to our main fashion sponsor William (in brown lower left) of Fortify Clothing! Plus to my truly amazing 99 years young Gran, Edith, for representing my HB family xxx
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Press
12th December 2017, New Zealand Herald Interview - Twelve Questions with Author Jane Bloomfield
29th November, Stuff NZ Entertainment/Books Interview "Feisty heroine Lily Max is launched into her third adventure" (includes pic of my insanely messy office, yikes)
Events
28th October 2017, NZ Bookshop Day - Thanks to the Otago Branch of the NZSA and University Bookshop Dunedin, the third book in my Lily Max series had her first outing on this annual love-your-bookshop day. UBS's come dressed as a pirate-theme was just poi-feck. I mean look at the back cover of my book:
Events
28th October 2017, NZ Bookshop Day - Thanks to the Otago Branch of the NZSA and University Bookshop Dunedin, the third book in my Lily Max series had her first outing on this annual love-your-bookshop day. UBS's come dressed as a pirate-theme was just poi-feck. I mean look at the back cover of my book:
24th November 2017 - 5pm Super Summery Surf Party supported by Queenstown PaperPlus will take place in Dalefield. All beach bunnies welcome! Kids togs. Women a kaftan!
25th November 2017 10am-ish . Book signing and Lily Max Xmas Angel making (suitable for crafters 8+) at Wanaka PaperPlus's Santa parade.
29th August 2017;
Seems I've been pretty quiet on it since I interviewed UK CHILDREN'S LAUREATE, Lauren Child in May. (Sorry, I'm still utterly overjoyed about this career highlight of mine!)
This is because the third book in the Lily Max series has just gone to my incredibly talented book designer, Katrina Duncan, who has the very tricky job of arranging within the text all Guy Fisher's illustrations.
Guy after reading this book, immediately scheduled a summer surfing holiday to Morrocco and taught his daughters to surf. Sue Copsey, editor extraordinaire, when doing her final read-through shed a tear on the last page. You have been warned.
In more great news, Creative New Zealand is backing this project, by way of a 'Quick Response Publishing Grant'. I did have to crack out a cartwheel or two when I heard this news. I am truly grateful for their utterly generous support.
ps. This will be the last book in the Lily Max series, published by the wonderful Luncheon Sausage Books. Put it on your child's summer reading list already! Although I do have another story idea for Lily Max which involves Milan Fashion Week ... you never know with this kid quite where she'll end up!
BTW - Lily Max 1 & 2 are in the "Whitcoulls 'Junior Fiction' Recommended Reads 2017-18"
May 2017:
During Auckland Writers Festival, I was lucky enough to interview the UK Children's Laureate, Lauren Child for : The Sapling
(pinch me yes this did actually happen. I'm on the left)
16 May 2017
I had a fun and very productive writing-day with Year 5 & 6 students, exploring Plotting and Editing, at Remarkables Primary. With the help of Lily Max, a glue gun, a pair of Dr Martens, a dress-up box and storyboarding prompts.
+++For Reviews on Lily Max Slope, Style, Fashion see below:
13th December 2016 Podcast: Jesse Mulligan Afternoons on Radio NZ National with 'Book Critic' and children's author James Russell, rate * Lily Max * Slope, Style, Fashion. At least 10/10!!
December is the month of lists. Every author l o n g s to get on them. Or at least one. It helps book sales. (Sadly authors do not earn minimum wage). So I was pretty thrilled and humbled find myself hanging with the big girls and boys on this list:
Cheers and huge thanks, Sarah-Kate Lynch and Woman's Day ("NZ's No.1, top-selling, hottest weekly women's magazine")
Other stuff people have said:
(Stuff.co.nz)
Previously in 2016:
Monday 12th December - Xmas Fun at with Lily Max at Dorothy Browns Bookshop & Cinema. 4 - 5pm. All welcome.
Friday 11th November - Join me for the official *Lily Max* Slope, Style Fashion book launch with Queenstown Airport PaperPlus, 5pm @ The Front Room, 10 Memorial Street, Queenstown. Bring your friends! Bring your kids! Bring your Mum! rsvp jane@lilymax.co.nz
October 29th, 12 - 2pm #NZBookShopDay, Wanaka PaperPlus Join me to celebrate this fantastic bookish day. I'll be in store with my latest book *Lily Max* Slope, Style, Fashion I'm planning loads of Lily Max fun with - bookmarks, ski-themed cupcakes, Lily Max word games and more!
August: Kate de Goldi discusses *Lily Max* Satin, Scissors, Frock and other NZ CYA Book Award finalists, 'Saturday Morning with Kim Hill' on Radio NZ National
2 August:
I'm running a Character Workshop at Arrowtown School, as part of the NZ Book Awards Finalist Tour.
6 August:
Su Ikin from Dunedin Public Library interviews moi on 'The Library Mix', Access Radio at 1pm. Should be riveting. I think my recorded voice sounds like a boy?!
27 August:
I will be running craft activities at the Storylines Family Day in Dunedin - making Lily Max chokers and Wristlets.
20 August:
My daughter Lily turns 18. (I only partly borrowed her name for by book series!)
28 August:
I'll be doing the same at Storylines Christchurch, as well as a "Character Workshop" with Leonie Agnew.
I've also written stuff about writing courses and writing my book on The Spinoff
If you want to contact me directly - jane@lilymax.co.nz
If you want to buy international rights to my book. Or movie rights. Or soft toy rights, you better speak to my publisher at LuncheonSausageBooks.com He's cool!
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