Woohoo! I am very excited to announce that Grandpa versus Swing is in stores now! I have had a lot of fun writing it, and learning about the publication process. I hope you have just as much fun reading it!
Our beautiful book is here
My first hard copy of Grandpa versus Swing arrived yesterday, with a lovely note from the very supportive publishing team at Scholastic NZ. I am so excited to be holding a real book in my hands! Lael Chisholm's artwork is absolutely gorgeous on the printed page. Grandpa versus Swing is already available for pre-order, and … Continue reading Our beautiful book is here
Cover art!
Here is the cover art for Grandpa versus Swing, illustrated by Lael Chisholm. This gives just a taste of the wonderful humour and style of her artwork throughout the book. Lael won the Storylines Gavin Bishop Award for children's book illustration in 2017. You may know her work from the Granny McFlitter books (written by … Continue reading Cover art!
Happenings, March and April
Last things first, Grandpa versus Swing is right now at the printing stage! Thanks to the wonderful illustration, my little manuscript has become a riot of colour and energy, and I can't wait to see it on paper. While I wait, autumn continues its slow, shy appearance. There is a nip in the air morning … Continue reading Happenings, March and April
Learning curves
Oh, there are so many learning curves! Can I call them learning curve balls? We have had another short, sharp lockdown. They are becoming routine, and through a public health lens they seem to work. On a very small scale though, we in our household have yet to iron out the wrinkles. I have just … Continue reading Learning curves
National Flash Fiction Day NZ, 2021
Another annual opportunity for New Zealand writers is coming up. The National Flash Fiction Day competition has a limit of just 300 words, and is open to New Zealand citizens and residents. Submissions are now open until April 15, 2021. Winners will be announced on June 22, which is our shortest day of the year … Continue reading National Flash Fiction Day NZ, 2021
Lovely deadlines
I accepted a lovely new deadline yesterday. In fact, the deadline is of my own making: what I accepted was a lovely invitation, out of the blue. It is to an upcoming, all-comers gathering of local writers. I have only attended once before. It was brilliant, but my social adventures are limited by the restrictions … Continue reading Lovely deadlines
Leaving room for pictures
When I was very young, we had exercise books that were partly ruled and partly blank. They were my favourite books of all to write in, because they held so much possibility. Pictures and words! That's a storybook. That's a non-fiction book. That's a book. It can be tempting for a writer to paint the … Continue reading Leaving room for pictures
Annual submission opportunities
Here is a brief list of annual opportunities for New Zealand picture book writers, in order of closing date. Scholastic NZ Valentine's Day submission: unagented, unsolicited submissions open for one day only on February 14. Walker Wednesdays: Walker Books open submissions for Australian and New Zealand writers. The submission date for 2021 is June 16. … Continue reading Annual submission opportunities
Something resembling patience
Patience is not one of my strong points. I figured this out only a few years ago, in a moment of deep personal insight. "I think I'm not actually a very patient person," I said to my husband, to inform him of both my enormous capacity for meaningful introspection, and the startling fact that I … Continue reading Something resembling patience
Tania Scott Sickling 