2 Book Characters Come Alive

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One of the most exciting thing about writing books, is playing 'god' when it comes to creating characters. You can create absolutely anything you like, in whatever colours, styles, moods, personality traits. It's like imaginary play for grown-ups.

Extending characters by creating 3D models is a whole lot of fun, and how could I resist creating crocheted caricatures of Piglet, Bunny and Cat from my upcoming book, Smile Cry? These beautiful critters came to life from the paintbrush of the gorgeous jessesmess/" target="_blank">Jess Racklyeft, then hopped onto the end of my crochet hook. They'll be coming along to my Canberra launch in early March! (see taniamccartneywebspot.au/p/events.html" target="_blank">EVENTS for more)

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Another delightful surprise regarding book characters came from my dear friend and facebook/groups/418616991575037/" target="_blank">52-Week Illustration Challenge admin member, Lisa-Marie Kerr, who has started a business that will blow your socks off if you're into gorgeous interiors for kidlets. bearandsparrow.au/" target="_blank">Bear and Sparrow. You simply must check it out.

Lisa-Marie surprised me with this beautiful peg doll, based on one of the characters from my first self-illustrated book (our November 2016). Can you believe how gorgeous she is?

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Creating anything, in any form, whether it be painting or cooking a cake, is such a fine way to feel happy, connected and at one with life.

What are you creating today?

0 Cover Reveal - Smile Cry!

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Absolutely delighted to reveal the cover to my latest book--created with the amazing jessesmess/" target="_blank">Jess Racklyeft, out this March in NZ, UK, USA and Canada, and an April release for Australia. 

I simply adored working with Jess on this book for little ones--her illustrations so perfectly convey my words and the emotion behind them.

Huge thanks to Mark Thacker who typeset the book and designed these amazing covers, and endless thanks to my publisher Anouska Jones for yet again making book publication not only a joy, but a breeze.

Below are the book's details, and look out for my book launch to be held at Harry Hartogs, Woden (Canberra) on Saturday 5 March (click poster below for more). You might get to meet these hand-crochets characters from the book!

taniamccartneywebspot.au/p/events.html" target="_blank">

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Smile Cry OUT MARCH/APRIL 2016
(March 2015, EK Books, $19.99, hard cover, 9781921966989)
exislepublishing.au/Smile-Cry.html" target="_blank">BUY

A fun, flip-over picture book for children that reads from both front and back, Smile Cry is an innovative picture book for young kids, showcasing the full emotional range of their formative years.

Readers follow three adorable characters--piglet, bunny and cat--as they react emotionally to a variety of events and circumstances from everyday life. From an 'ate all the pies' smile to an 'ice-cream plopping down cry'; from a 'cosy under blanket smile' to a 'need a band-aid quick cry', children will empathise with the tear-jerking calamity of a popped balloon or lost toy, or feel the smiley warmth of a being tickled.

It's the little things that touch the hearts of children the most, and Smile Cry typifies both the small joys and challenges that are the essence of childhood. Younger kids will respond to the soft whimsical illustrations, while older readers will learn more about the range of their emotions--how it's possible to cry with happiness and also smile with trepidation.

The clever 'flip book' format means that the Smile story reads from front to back, while the Cry story reads from back to front, with both delicious narratives meeting in the middle.

A heartfelt picture book that will be treasured for years, Smile Cry is perfect for ages 3 and upwards.

Teachers' Notes -- coming soon!

0 One Word Wisdom With Author Jacqueline Harvey

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1. What is the best thing about being an author? 
Creativity

2. WhatΓÇÖs the worst thing?
Juggling

3. How did writing the 13th book in the Alice-Miranda series make you feel? 
Happy

4. What do you hope it brings its readers? 
Pleasure

5. What else do you like to do? 
Golf

6. Who has influenced your writing the most? 
Dahl

7. What has been your biggest career reward?
Readers

8. What is the most important contribution an author can make to the world? 
Ideas

9. WhatΓÇÖs your biggest writing goal?
Longevity

10. WhatΓÇÖs next?
Clementine Rose Paris

Learn more about Jacquie's fabulous books 

at her jacquelineharvey.au/" target="_blank">website. 

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1 You Are Invited - Smile Cry Launch Party!

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Come and join us for a launch party to celebrate the release of Smile Cry, a unique double-story picture book, with Smile starting and one end and Cry at the other! A BeginnerΓÇÖs Book of Feelings, join Pig, Bunny and Cat as they explore their emotions with gorgeously whimsical illustrations and lots of humour.

Kids will enjoy a story, book signing, goodie bag, a special animal mask and colouring-in. Yes, there will be cupcakes and maybe even pies, and theyΓÇÖll be able to meet real life versions of the characters!

And the amazing Jen Storer will be in town to launch the book! She might even sign one of her own books for you ...

Perfect for kids up to the age of 6, but all ages welcome.

Bring along smiles, a love of story and your favourite stuffed toyΓÇöespecially if itΓÇÖs a pig, bunny or cat!

Goodie bags are limited, so RSVP to mailto:woden@harryhartog.au">woden@harryhartog.au or 02-6232 5832 if youΓÇÖd like one.

0 One Word Wisdom With Author Jack Heath

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1. What is the best thing about being an author?
Daydreaming

2. WhatΓÇÖs the worst thing?
Repetition

3. How did writing Bullet Train Disaster make you feel?
Tangled 

4. What do you hope it brings its readers?
Focus 

5. What else do you like to do?
Entertain

6. Who has influenced your writing the most?
Silverberg 

7. What has been your biggest career reward?
Education

8. What is the most important contribution an author can make to the world?
Empathy

9. WhatΓÇÖs your biggest writing goal?
#100

10. WhatΓÇÖs next?
Sequels!

Learn more about Jack's fabulous books 
at his jackheath.au/" target="_blank">website. 

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1 International Book Giving Day 2016

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Tomorrow, 14 February, is bookgivingday/" target="_blank">International Book Giving Day!

Perfectly timed with Valentine's Day--what could be more loving that giving the gift of story ... and literacy? You can give books to your kids, to your partner, to your friends or colleagues. You can give books to medical centres or women's shelters or to strangers. Or you can even give them to yourself.

Tomorrow I'll be handing a stash of books I've been saving to up - to random kids in the street. I'll also be heading to a local bookstore to buy up tomes for my kids--and thankfully, it will be my birthday next week and I always gift myself books for my birthday!

Who will you be giving a book to this IBGD? Be sure to use the #bookgivingday hashtag to share your activity!

0 Chief Minister's Reading Challenge

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From Monday 22 February to Friday 9 September 2016, the Chief Minister's Reading Challenge for the ACT, will be in full swing. Kids all over the territory are invited to participate in this wonderful initiative--and all they need to do is read 15 books in that time (or many, many more, of course!).

Schools can register for the Challenge online and each student keeps an individual reading record. Books can include anything that interests them, from poetry to novels and non-fiction.

I'm so excited to be a CMRC ambassador for 2016, along with other local book aficionados, Irma Gold, Jack Heath, Tracey Hawkins and Virginia Haussegger.

Learn more about how to participate dett.gov.au/teaching_and_learning/chief_ministers_reading_challenge" target="_blank">here, and meet the 2016 Ambassadors dett.gov.au/teaching_and_learning/chief_ministers_reading_challenge/ambassadors" target="_blank">here. We will be visiting schools around town these coming six months... I hope to see you at your school!