Running writing
Running through glades, writing new stories, signing my first YA book, and preparing for a month on the road ... it's all here, packed alongside retreat news and an Advance Picture Book Masterclass.
My throat’s a little raw, my shoulders tight, after sitting seven long hours recording myself read back my current young adult story. Phew! That’s a lot of listening to my own voice!
Authors around Australia currently pack suitcases and gather banners, Strepsils, USBs, and cables as they prepare to hit the road to visit kids in schools. So I wanted to get my story in good shape before touring month commences.
I’m feeling good about it too. I won’t lie, I’ve had an emotional few months, but my story has been a joyful place to retreat to and dabble around in. As I keep telling you here, I’ve spent about six-times longer writing this story than any others. Partly because the story took longer to come together, partly my emotional state, partly using Scrivener for the first time … mostly, and this isn’t a flex, but I think I am becoming a better writer. A more considered writer, anyway. I take way longer crafting sentences. I ask way more of my characters and plot. Then, you somehow have to make the strings disappear so hopefully the story feels like it was a breeze … which in many way it’s been. Maybe my patience has grown. In any case, writing full time means you constantly evolve. I’m open to it.
It’s hard talking about a story so vaguely, without going into specifics about who the characters are and why I love them so much. So I’ll waffle on about the writing process and hope that in a couple of years’ time, you’ll get to finally meet them all!
Running writing
Last month, I told you about my trail run in Minyon Falls. After a near sleepless night, and a solid day of writing in Rosebank with Sarah Armstrong, I took myself back to the forest where I ran through mossy tracks lined with ferns, the afternoon sun sinking. I never listen to anything when I run. Well, I do—the birds, the water. The forest is actually quite noisy. Meanwhile, my imagination ebbs and flows, ironing out kinks in my story. Dreaming up new ideas. Most of my ideas, these days, happen on the track.
Two hours later, I was complete again, and needless to say I slept beautifully. Running is my therapy. Writing is my therapy. Both things are necessary for me and are intertwined.
Book contract news
Speaking of book ideas on trail runs, a couple of years ago, I was running around the Promised Land behind Bellingen when a story concertina’d in my mind. The characters were inspired loosely by people and events from my life. But on this run, they took shape. I could hear Vinnie. I could see Roo. I knew roughly how their story would unravel and maybe come together again.
Just this week, I signed the contract for my first young adult book, published next September with Hachette, Australia and a big, big US publisher (which I promise to tell you about soon!) I’m grateful to my agent Lori Kilkelly for her sharp edits and her love for this story, as well as shipping it into the world. It’s my first international deal, and I’m beyond thrilled to get to work with Hachette in Australia.
More than anything, I release an enormous sigh, knowing that Vinnie and Roo will be actual characters in an actual book next year. I am so darn excited.
Teen readers
As well as trail running, I’ve discovered this month that my other secret weapon is my live-in editor, my fourteen year old daughter, Elka. I love our book chats—she has so many canny insights and deep wisdom—so I paid her to read my manuscript. I thought, if I can please Elka, I am happy.
She loved the story. And each morning, she’d enthusiastically give me detailed and constructive feedback. Her insight into character, her plot suggestions, even her grammatical pick-ups were above and beyond any editing I’ve had before. Also, she’s the age I am writing for, so makes the perfect YA editor.
Teen book club
Elka and her friends meet monthly to chat about YA books they’ve read. We try to tie in an experience related to the book. This month, we ate Greek food inspired by the Greek cafe in Will Kostakis’ We Could Be Something. The girls adored Will’s book (as did I) and when he called in on video, they got the chance to ask some pretty savvy questions.
We sat by the fireplace while the girls knitted and crocheted. We also talked about Lili Wilkinson’s A Hunger of Thorns and Kathryn Barker’s Waking Romeo. We dig deep, discussing themes, characters, writing style. Well, I mostly sit back in awe, listening, grateful to be a fly on this fabulous wall.
Speaking of teen readers, lovely thirteen year old Coco Johnston has offered to review The Raven’s Eye Runaways this month, which is published by Allen and Unwin. Thanks Coco! And thanks A&U for the review copy.
Book review, The Raven’s Eye Runaways by Claire Mabey
The Raven’s Eye Runways is a magical adventure full of mystery and intrigue. From the moment I started reading I couldn’t stop and in each chapter it became more and more captivating.
The author, Claire Mabey, has sculpted words into clear scenes and the main characters are nothing but endearing and loveable. Even though this book is set in a time before ours the characters are so relatable. The balance between these characters and the more sinister ones adds to the depth of the story.
The way Claire explains places, feelings and smells really transports you into the world, such as the way in which she describes the smell of books, the details in buildings, or the description of a characters emotions.
I love the way mysteries in this book unfold to reveal themselves. I think Claire Mabey writes like a poet and paints scenes like an artist. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys magic, mystery and friendship.Â
And what about that Italian writing retreat?
As often happens in life, plans change, which means we now have one more spot available on our Italian retreat. Only one! So if you’re keen, book early or make contact to discuss a payment plan. Find out more and book here.
Sunny Scribblers: Advanced Picture Book Masterclass
We had a wonderful response to the first Sunny Scribblers short course on story structure.
Next time Zanni offers a course, my strong advice is ‘do it!’ Today I attended the story structure workshop that Zanni ran. It was absolutely gold, chock-a-block full of fantastic and resources for us to grow and learn as writers. - Mandy Langlois
This month, I’m offering Advanced Picture Book Masterclass which will be a one-hour intensive, extending your picture book knowledge and helping you write better picture books. This course assumes some knowledge but beginners will be able to follow along.
Register: https://www.zannilouise.com/services/p/sunny-scribblers-picture-book
Included:
advanced visual narrative techniques
live manuscript development
information and examples of different types of picture books including narrative, concept, rhyming, humour, and well-being as well as recommended publishers
resources to help you refine and pitch your next picture book.
Sessions are 1hr on Zoom (plus Q&A) and the recording is sent to you with notes and resources. Sunshine House paying members get $10 off full price. This session will be held 1pm Thursday 29 August. (But if you can’t make it live, the recording is just as good.)
Creative Corner with Julie Murphy
Each month, I invite an author friend to share their reflections on creativity. This month, we chat with Julie Murphy, author of Cheer Up, Blobfish, published by Affirm Press.
We are often asked where our ideas come from. My answer is everywhere. They come from things I’ve seen or heard, places I’ve visited, books, movies, dreams, childhood memories … anything can trigger the next book idea.
My new picture book with Rachel Tribout, titled Cheer Up, Blobfish!, started with a visit to the Melbourne Museum with my family, where I was fascinated by a blobfish specimen in a jar. It looked more like a pudding than a fish! And after I moved on to look at other displays around the gallery, I kept hearing other people reacting to it. It certainly struck a chord with people, which made me think that a blobfish might make an interesting picture book character.
After going down a rabbit-hole of research, I came up with some compelling reasons to write the story. Firstly (and I always check this first), there were few other fiction picture books with blobfish characters. Next, the species is found in Australian waters, and was only quite recently discovered. I also learned that blobfish are actually not blobby at all in their natural habitat on the ocean floor. They only become droopy when people catch them and bring them up to the surface where the pressure is much lower. That’s a STEM school curriculum connection! So, you could say that the blobfish has been misnamed and misunderstood, which adds a personal connection to the narrative. Who hasn’t felt misunderstood at some time or other?
Now, at long last, this rhyming story about a blobfish who won’t smile at the Festival of Fish hits bookstores. With Rachel Tribout’s glorious illustrations, and supported by STEM-related back matter, I hope this book will amuse, entertain and inform young readers while sneakily inspiring them to love reading, learning and the natural world.
Cheer Up, Blobfish! by Julie Murphy and Rachel Tribout is published by Affirm Press, April 30, 2024.
So long and see you on the road …
This weekend, I take a big breath in and out, because from Monday, I’ll be running to airports, buses, train stations … If you see an author, wild-haired and wooly, on their travels this month, give them a high-five or maybe a chamomile tea.
I’ll be in Queensland for a full week, Melbourne for a week, Sydney for Book Week, then Glenn Innes in country NSW. Between it all is Byron Writers Festival! I think I have over seventy sessions in schools, will meet thousands of kids, and have two days at home all month. It’s going to be epic but I can’t wait to meet all those bright shiny faces!
Have an amazing Book Week everyone! See you on the other side!
Thanks so much Bianca!
What a fantastic post, Zanni! I can't wait to read your YA next year, and all the best with Book Week this year!