It's a Festival year

The thing about writing a book is you really only have a small window (like one of those little castle windows) of opportunity to talk about ('promote' in publishing speak) your book before it gets old and you really ought to move on.* That or, it's time to start writing a new book. There are plenty of writers who loath getting out and talking about themselves and I understand where they're coming from but generally, especially these days with publishers' smaller advertising/promotional budgets and with the competition for shelf space, it pays to put on your salesman garb (waist coat, fedora, pipe etc) and speak to people. Besides people like hearing about books and how you put your book together. I enjoy listening to creative people speak about their processes - everyone seems to work differently. Whether I'm visiting schools, speaking at book festivals, talking to librarians or aspiring writers and illustrators, it's a great way to not only promote your books but also promote a love of reading books. It's pretty simple. Plus I get to catch up with fellow book folk that I haven't seen for some time. And drink wine.

This year is a particularly busy speaking year for me. So far I am speaking at these festivals and events:

Perth Writer's Festival, West Australia 20 - 24th February

Write in the Great Southern festival, Albany, West Australia 24 - 26th February

Somerset Celebration of Literature festival, Gold Coast, Queensland 13 - 15th March

Newington College Literary Festival, Sydney, 22nd March

Writer's Victoria, Book Writers & Illustrators Professional Development Day, 23rd March

Wheeler Centre Children's Book Festival, Melbourne, 24th March

Voices on The Coast Youth Literature Festival, Sunshine Coast, Qld, 3 - 4th June

Brisbane Writer's Festival, Queensland 4 - 8th September (program to come)

Ipswich Festival of Children's Literature, 13 - 15th September

Aside from those festivals I have speaking tours lined up for schools during Book Week in Melbourne (19 - 23rd August, contact Booked Out for details), Brisbane (26 - 30th August, contact Speaker's Ink for details) and Sydney (contact Lateral Learning).

Lastly I am travelling to the US in October for the release of Herman and Rosie on the 15th. Will let you guys know the details when they come. Anyway, maybe I'll see you out and about! We can talk about books.

* Just quietly, some people never move on.