My First Blog Tour

Well it all starts next week. I'm touring some blogs to chat about Puggle and writing in general. I hope I can think of enough things to say! Please join me on some of the dates and cyberplaces below.

At the last blog, I'll be evaluating what I've found out about blog touring.

April 12 http://scribblygum.wordpress.com/
April 13 http://deescribewriting.wordpress.com
April 14 http://sallymurphy.blogspot.com/
April 15 http://www.letshavewords.blogspot.com/
April 16 http://orangedale.livejournal.com/
April 17 http://sherylgwyther.wordpress.com/
April 18 http://sandyfussell.blogspot.com/
April 19 http://katswhiskers.wordpress.com/
April 20 http://belka37.blogspot.com
April 21 http://angelasunde.blogspot.com/
April 22 http://trudietrewin.com/blog-ramblings/

Creating Your Own Publicity

It's not enough to just give birth to a story these days. After those initial heady days of first conception, nurturing and monitoring the progress of your little creation comes the first time you hold it in your hands...and it's wonderful, don't get me wrong. But then you start to worry, how will it do out there in the big world. Will it be a success, will people like it? What can I do to help? How can I help it to make friends?

Increasingly, publicity is becoming the responsibility of the author. The internet provides fantastic opportunities...which while exciting can also seem quite daunting. It's simply not enough these days to have a web page. We must blog, facebook, tweet... and I must say I find it tricky to decide what to put on line. How much do I want my year 10 students to know about my life, should they stumble upon my blog? What is the etiquette when someone you've never met requests to be your friend on facebook? Will your friends be annoyed if you keep putting up what can sound like blatant plugs?

While not a luddite, I do like to know that things work before I jump right in. I remember thinking that a friend was quite mad a few years ago when she started up a myspace site. I took it as evidence that she was undergoing a mid life crisis. While she had chosen an alter ego, she was still easily identifiable. I have an alter ego myself. Actually it's just someone else with my name. She lives in Limerick and I know a lot about her. Mainly because when doing a bit of 'self googling' her bebo posts would pop up while she was young. I knew what she did on a Saturday night and wondered if she knew this middle aged woman on the other side of the world was stalking her. She's now at university and trying to get in to modelling. Sometimes I hope that people searching for me will find her because her photo is much nicer than mine!

With this in mind I tried to keep facebook for friends or people whom I had personally met. I figured if my daughter threw up all over the bench in the school library, my friends might get a laugh but the whole world didn't need to know. However, this doesn't allow me to use the full power of facebook as a networking tool. So I now have a facebook fan page. It's only got about 8 fans. I'm hoping for more! The beauty of this is that when I look, these aren't people I've met and they are still interested in what I have to say...maybe!

Twitter! I thought I could avoid that altogether but apparently I shouldn't. I have a twitter page. A tax adviser in the US is following me after I tweeted about my frustrations completing my UK tax return. I know many writerly friends use it for chatting on subjects writerly but I haven't quite worked that out yet. I'll have it figured out by the time the next new big thing comes along.

And now to blogging. A friend put this quote on facebook...never has so much been said by so many about so little. Or words to that effect. However, there are some fantastic blogs out there. I just have to work out what mine is about.

I'm setting myself little technology goals this year. Inaddition to blogging, I'm going to undertake my first blog tour, where I visit other people's blogs to promote my new book Puggle. So far only one person has offered to host me. Fingers crossed more wil fill up.

Then the NEXT BIG THING. Well for me anyway. Book trailers. Lots of great book trailers on youtube. Arrrgh...can't the world just stay still and let me catch up!

Puggle: Baby echidna photos.

Just a short note today.
I've just posted new pictures of the real Puggle, the baby echidna in my book.

http://www.catrionahoy.com.au/html/puggle.html

Thanks to Helen Joakim for sending these to me.

Puggle the baby echidna is launched.

On Saturday, I launched my picture book, Puggle, at the Toorak/Sth Yarra library...and my family has almost forgiven me! I was a bundle of nerves on the day, which was silly, considering I'd done two talks at country libraries the previous weekends, basically doing a practice run. Still it's different when you are far away from home!



I owe a really big thankyou to the following people:

• Claire and Linda from Jeffreys Books in Malvern for coordinating the event.


• Stonnington Libraries for providing the venue and supporting the event with refreshments.


• Patricia Arkoudi from Stonnington Libraries for helping with organisation.


• Lily Merry from Stonnington Libraries for her fantastic efforts on the day, with setting up and clearing up, you have my eternal gratitude!


• Andrew Plant for his delicious echidna cake and for his patience in drawing animals for my daughter and her friends.


• Helen Joakim for providing the gorgeous photos of Puggle growing up.


• Adriana Simmonds from Wildlife Victorie for her heartfelt speech and launching the book with such enthusiasm.

And most importantly my editor and publisher Jane Covernton of Working Title Press. Working Title Press is a small, independent, Australian publisher. It has been wonderul to work with Jane as her dedication to every aspect of the book is legendary. She's made me work hard as a writer and I've learnt a lot. Despite the fact that she is a small(ish) pulisher, Jane had no hesitation in providing wine for the launch and for that I am doubly grateful. It inspires me to work harder to make the book a success for us all.



And of course everyone who came! It was great to see so many friends, some of whom I hadn't seen in years as I'd been overseas.





I was quoted by Virginia Lowe in her newsletter recently, talking about book launches. I'm not sure if it came out right or not. Her question was, did I expect everyone to buy a book who comes to my launch. My answer was no...books are expensive, especially hardback picture books. For me a launch is a chance to celebrate those successes which are often a long time coming, to share with friends and also publicity. Of course, I'd like to sell books too! If people don't buy books, there are other things they can do to support me, such as fill your glass, give you a kiss, tell everyone at school/work what a great book it was and recommend it to others. They can blog about it, or tweet about it, request it from their local library.



Bridget Jones also has a lot to answer for. Like many people, before I started writing I thought that publishers put on a lovely party for you...perhaps they did once. Perhaps they do for famous people. The reality is that most writers organise their own launch. If you are lucky, a bookshop might support you, throw in a couple of bottles of wine, some sandwiches or a venue. My first launch, for My Grandad Marches on Anzac Day was sponsored by the East Malvern RSL, who provided wonderful food, wine and a venue. Many books were sold on that day but the resultant 'buzz' was what was important too.



So....how did my day begin?



Firstly, I was a little seedy from the night before. Not a great start but it was Twilight Sports at my youngest daughters school. I made lots of hamburgers and put loads of sausages in buns, just managed to see my daughter lose her race in the great family tradition but then I SHOULD HAVE GONE STRAIGHT HOME.



Next, my husband woke me with his incessant restlessness at 3am because he has a dodgy knee.



Then daughter number two had a fancy dress party and I'd forgotten to get a present so we had to brave the hordes at Chadstone.



I had to run to Harvey Norman to get a remote for the laptop.



I went to the wine shop to get more wine as I panicked.



My husband cleaned the house and told me I should have a glass of wine to calm down. ...I didn't .



My daughter told me to calm down and that allwould be fine.



I rang the library to check numbers and convinced myself that no one was coming.



I dropped daughter off at a friends, who would then take her to fancy dress party.

Once people started arriving, I was fine. I realised that these were supporters, not hecklers and it wasn't like I was going to be voted off the island if no one liked my speech.

Andrew and his family had made a beautiful echidna cake, complete with chocolate bullet spines. It was such a shame to cut it and slightly surreal to see children eating it's head.

Adriana Simmonds from Wildlife Victoria gave an inspirational speech about why it is important to care for all our wildlife, not just those on the endangered list. As a carer herself we could all tell how much she loved Australian wildlife.

And I apologised to my family for being a bad mum that morning. I guess they're the ones I should really thank most of all. They put up with me day in , day out.

Several glasses of wine, and many signed books later, I managed to herd the last people out of the library just as the security guard was shutting up.

So for pictures of PUGGLE, they'll soon be posted on my website.

Hooroo.

SCBWI Regional Meeting

Last week I drove up to Castlemaine, to the SCBWI regional meeting held in Stoneman's bookstore. A real old-fashioned bookstore it was, full of nooks, crannies and interesting finds. If you are ever in the area, make sure you check it out. John was a great host, even providing us with a showbag. I'm using the sleeping mask that was in my relaxation kit every night...

We heard from two different speakers, Bernadette Kelly and Glenda Millard, with two different approaches to their writing. Bernadette spoke about her determination to be published and how she used every opportunity to become involved in the trade. She did volunteer work and in one project, worked with primary school students to edit and publish books of short stories. This successful venture continued for a number of years. Bernadette is the author of the Riding High and Pony Patch series of books and also writes non fiction.

Glenda Millard had us all in stitches with her descriptions of local life and growing up in Castlemaine. She had a little snippet of gossip about everyone and made me feel as if I'd grown up there too. I'm looking forward to reading some of her work as she has such as sense of character, time and place. Her book 'Perry Angel's Suitcase' is shortlisted for this years Patricia Wrightson Award.

During the break, we were treated to a reading of Claire Saxby's new picture book 'There Was An Old Sailor.' This is a fantastic book and is sure to do really well for Claire. Growing up, I always enjoyed books that were not only entertaining but where I learnt something too. Claire's book excels on both counts. A variation on the old rhyme, there was an old lady who swallowed a fly...Claire's sailor swallows a krill....of course 'it'll make him ill!' A succession of sea creatures are swallowed by the sailor to catch that krill. Claire says that although she had the scaffold of the original rhyme, she had a lot of work to do to find creatures and rhymes that would work. The endpapers are a delight, with funny facts about the sea creatures. Cassandra Allen's illustrations are perfect. The sailor never looks daunted by the creatures he swallows and we are amazed as he manages to fit them all in. This is such a great read aloud book that every home and school should have one. I'm looking forward to Claire's launch in a week's time.

The first book launch I attended was for Leigh Hobbs at Books Illustrated. This was when I was just an aspiring writer with a dream. Upstairs was jam packed and I was flattened against the stair railing, glass of champagne in hand. It was fantastic to be able to see the artwork for Old Tom as I didn't at that stage have an appreciation of the visual side of picture books. Seems silly doesn't it, now I write picture books!

Anne Haddon and Anne James have now moved from the Gasworks but now operate a gallery for illustrators by appointment. It means they can have more time off. Anne Haddon spoke at the SCBWI meeting about some of the things they had been doing recently, including preparing tours of illustators work for regional areas. Anne H prompted by Anne J also gave us an insight on their trip to China and what that country is looking for in terms of books... and the sometimes difficulties of setting up exhibitions without and interpreter.

As always a drink afterwards, unfortunately half of us were on febfast. What a silly month to have it!

Faking It.

One day when I'm grown up, I want to be a real writer. I wonder what it will feel like. My friends say..'that's ridiculous, you have five published picture books, of course you're a writer.'

But my secret fear is that each book will be the last. I have a book coming out in March and one in September in the UK. BUT I STILL DON'T FEEL LIKE A WRITER! Happily this week I had an acceptance for another book so that feeling that it's all going to evaporate tomorrow has gone a little for now.

When I first started out all I wanted was that first acceptance. But it wasn't enough.

I was worried that I would be the Plastic Bertrand of childrens books. There, showing my age now. But Ca Plane Pour Moi can still get middle aged people at a person dancing like a bungee jumper. Then the next acceptance came. You'd think I'd relax then but no, it was worse. What if I only had two ideas that were any good??? I'd always wanted to be a writer and be able to utter those words, so I told myself that once I had three books published I could actually say to people, 'I'm a writer.' But now, I tell people I'm a chemistry teacher. Go figure.

I'm friends with some wonderfully talented writers. It's nice to know I'm not the only one who feels that way. This was a comment from Trudie Trewin (http://trudietrewin.com/) I wish I was as funny as her. She must be a real writer!

Says Trudie 'I really hope there's a point where the pretend-writer feeling goes away
too! Or will there be a Current Affair expose one day, with me trying to
slam the door on the camera - and the reporter calling out 'You just
fluked it a couple of times, didn't you - you're not really a writer are
you? - Can you tell us what a mixed metaphor is Mrs Trewin? or a
fragmented sentence? ... Mrs Trewin?... we know you're in there'

It's nice to know someone else feels the same way!

Handling Rejection

Late January is the time when editors and publishers come back from holidays, like the rest of Australia. It's a time of excitement for some, with phone calls and contracts. For me the year began with two rejections.

I emailed a friend and her reply was sympathetic. She's a single mum with two kids and she has just joined an on line dating agency. Of the fifteen 'nuffies' sent to her, the only one she was interested rejected her before they had a meeting. Her take on it was, rejection sucks no matter what form it takes.

I guess I know I've progressed somewhat up the writing ladder. I submitted to my UK publisher and received an email rejection in a couple of days. In between time, I went camping with the family. I sat under the shade , with my feet in a river, drinking a cold beer and dreamt of my next book. It's like the time between buying a lotto ticket and when the numbers are drawn.

When I first began submitting to publishers, the wait could be as long as 9 months, which was a very long time to wait. Because of this long wait, writers who are just starting out often ask the question about multiple submissions. You'll get lots of different answers. I started out being a little indiscriminate about submitting and submitted to many at a time, anticipating rejection. I knew what those large white envelopes addressed to me, in my own handwriting meant when they were sitting in my mailbox. Sometimes I'd bring the envelope in and leave it on the bench and pour myself a large glass of wine before I could bring myself around to opening it.

Publishers get so many submissions, they can't give personal rejections to everyone and many are simply one line standard letters stating that your manuscript doesn't fit their list. My first submission was amateurish in the extreme, poorly written, with a cover letter which was an embarrassment. Thankfully, I received a nice rejection letter from Penguin, encouraging me to keep writing. Their rejection letters seemed varied ...it was only later when I heard one of their editors give a talk that I found out they have rejection letters from about A to K!

Still, I knew I was progressing, when my rejection letters began to sound like someone had actually read the book and evaluated it's potential. My Grandad Marches on Anzac Day was rejected by a number of publishers before it ended up with Lothian. It continues to be reprinted every year. I still have the rejection letters which said 'we only publish works which have commercial potential or literary merit' and the one which said ' we like your book, but it would only sell once a year.'

I comfort myself with thoughts like this when I have a rejection now. However, then I have to pick myself up, read the reasons for rejections and decide whether I can a) improve the manuscript, b) target it to a different publisher or d) put it in the bottom drawer.

My husband is a teacher and yesterday had a professional development session where apparently the topic came up about handling rejection. He piped up with, 'I know all about that, my wife's a writer.' He told them that this was a bad week as I'd had a rejection and he was asked how he handled it and supported it. In a way, existing in my own little vacuum of self pity, I didn't realise it affected him. I share rejection with my on line buddies, who I feel really know what that rejection letter or email feels like. But maybe my friend is right, rejection is the same no matter what form it takes and it sucks.

But tomorrow is a new day and I'm really liking writing about mad chickens at the moment. Until then, my daughter wants a new haircut, I need to tidy the house and decide whether I'm really going to start stripping the skirting boards in the hallway.