Short Story Publication: The Diving Tower – The School Magazine

Earlier this year I sold a story to The School Magazine. The New South Wales Department of Education releases 10 issues a year to public school students, catering for all reading levels through different titles aimed at stages.

My story, The Diving Tower, was released in Touchdown. It is appropriate story as we come into the summer season in Australia as it is about a young boy, Zeke, who wants to conquer his fear of the diving tower at his local pool. I will say Zeke is a braver boy than I ever was.

It is beautifully illustrated by Australian artist, David Legge.

You can read a digital copy of the story HERE.

If you are a primary school teacher, there are a range of resources you can access to accompany the story created by The School Magazine. For specific activities to accompany The Diving Tower, click HERE.

A teacher friend of mine sent me a picture of the magazine at his school, and I was very chuffed to see kids still draw all over the cover of magazines.

Post Marked: Piper’s Reach Christmas Special

It’s nice to return to previous stories and characters. The collaborative epistolary novel I wrote, Post Marked: Piper’s Reach, while still seeking a home for publication, provides a wonderful depth of characters and ideas to return to.

Jodi (my co-writer) and I have often bounced around ideas for other stories in the world of Ella-Louise and Jude, and the town of Piper’s Reach. 

Two years ago we released a Christmas Special focused on the night of the surf club Christmas party in 1991. There’s a lovely tradition in English television of the Christmas Special episode. Think of Doctor Who.

The night in question is mentioned in the letters so it was a natural place to return to and looked at their burgeoning, and doomed relationship, while also seeing their lives through their family and friends.

Old friends, like old characters, well met. We have a very soft spot for the characters of Ella-Louise and Jude; they are our “comfort writing;” the writing that flows almost unconsciously to create the lives of characters we lived with for so long that we see them almost as real. That if we were to walk down the street we’d recognise them in an instant in the crowd.

Therefore there will be a NEW Christmas Special released this year. Stay tuned for details!

If you’re unfamiliar with Post Marked: Piper’s Reach, drop into the website and introduce yourself to the characters.

if:book – Open Changes

A little while ago I mentioned I had submitted a couple of pieces to the if:book Open Changes project.

I am proud to say I have been included in this project and the artwork for the poster has been released. Included in this wonderful piece of art are a whole bunch of fabulous writers I know.

if:book Open Changes Poster

It is based on the spectacular work of Kathleen Jennings whose art work I seriously adore. Check out her blog and sees the inspiration behind the poster you see above. 

I highly recommend following Kathleen on twitter (@tanaudel) as you will get to see some of her amazing sketches.

I can’t wait for my copy to arrive. I’ll be posting photos.

Nothing But Flowers

This is not your typical Valentine’s Day collection. They are stories of post-apocalyptic love and I’m guessing that not all have a happy ending.

I am very privileged to be involved with the charity anthology, Nothing But Flowers as this marks my first official publication.

On Monday morning, 9am (Australian Eastern Standard Time), the first story rolls off the electronic press followed by a story every hour for twenty-four hours. These stories will be available for free for 48 hours and for purchase from Wednesday the 16th as web-access or eBook.

Pre-release paperback orders open the 16th February.

Proceeds from the sale of Nothing But Flowers will be donated to the Grantham Flood Support fund.

You can ‘like’ the facebook page and have the story links automatically loaded into your newsfeed or join our virtual launch party here. Your ‘yes’ RSVP puts you in the running to win one of four eBooks and a signed paperback.