About four years ago, after discussing a story that we had been reading to our sons, I remarked to my husband,
I always thought I’d write a children’s book.
This seemingly innocent comment, said out loud for the first time, has sparked a passion bordering on obsession ever since.
I grew up loving books. I remember my grandmother reading to me from the likes of Just So Stories and Edward Lear’s Nonsense Omnibus (I still love a good limerick). Books were among my most treasured possessions as a child and still are to this day. You can see a picture of some of my favourite books at the top of this screen; some are from my childhood and some are more recent.
It took me a long time to figure out that I wanted to be a writer. It look me even longer to get up the courage to give it a go. But once I started, I couldn’t stop and the hard work has paid off with my first book, Pippa’s Perfect Ponytail, due for release in Penguin’s Aussie Nibbles series in March 2009. To think that a little girl would one day consider my book to be among her most treasured possessions seems almost too much to hope for, but, as I’ve learned over the past four years, dreams sometimes do come true.
Haha, love it, Jules!
You’re off to a flying start!
S 🙂
PS Is that ‘Of a Boy’ I see next to that other fantastic junior fiction, ‘Secrets of Eromanga’? Can I borrow it one day, it’s the only one of Sonya Hartnett’s I’ve still to read.
PS
Your bookshelf looks so much like mine, it’s spooky!
Yes, it is and, yes, you can borrow it. You might have to remind me though …
🙂
J.
Well, I may not be a little girl, but I am a medium sized one and I adore your book! So, maybe you have already (sort of) achieved your dream? By the way, I also had a weird dejah vu moment looking at your book shelf.
Welcome to the world of blogging! No doubt you’ll become addicted to penning more words 🙂
Can’t wait to read ‘Of a Boy’! – thanks for lending it to me, Jules. S 🙂
Welcome to the blogging world Julie. Look forward to the release of ‘Pippa’s Perfect Ponytail’. Are you launching it?
Thanks, Claire. Yes, I’ll do a launch, possibly at my local library. Kath and Sheryl have promised to hold my hand through the whole thing so I’m sure I’ll be fine!
Can’t wait to read the final version. I loved the original. I’m sure it will a massive sucess.
Best wishes
Peter Taylor 🙂
Hi Julie,
Thanks for visiting my blog. Wow, another Briso author ‘debut’ this year. Congrats!!! I’ll add your blog to my reader to see how you do.
Cheers, Belinda
Thanks, Peter. It’s been through quite a few rewrites since you last saw it – all for the better and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the process. See you soon. Jules.
Thanks, Belinda! I’ve enjoyed reading your blog and hope we get to meet up one day. Jules.