'Meet the Anzacs' is launched!

Yesterday, Mark Wilson, talented Melbourne author and illustrator (and musician and conservationist ... ) travelled the breadth of Melbourne to launch my new picture book. He talked about writing war for children and included some amazing diary entries and photos. 

A young audience member read his copy of 'Meet the Anzacs' as I did, making sure I didn't miss anything.

He didn't take me to task, so I'm taking that to mean that I got it right.

My husband 'turned pages' digitally as I turned the paper pages. As I was writing this spread, I was visualising Melbourne Town Hall, but the illustrator, painter Max Berry, is a Sydneysider and he's drawn Sydney Town Hall. It's beautiful, as are all the images, but in my head, the men are still lining up in Swanston St!

I thanked the library staff directly, even though they were downstairs, but I'm sure my words floated down through the windows ...

Mark is holding an extract from a WWI diary ... amazing document

I had hard tack biscuits (tasted by some hardy souls!), Anzac biscuits, cake, tinned corned beef and more. There were army boots that my son's gf threatened to steal ... amazing construction, completely leather lined and a leather stacked heel. I can't blame her.

I am so grateful to friends and family, teachers and librarians who travelled to share yesterday with me. I love the opportunity to show them what I've been doing ... that it's not all faffing about and gazing into middle distance.

Today I was in the city prerecording a radio interview for RN Drive with Jonathan Green and John Schumann (author and singer of 'I Was Only Nineteen' illustrated by Craig Smith). Listen out for that on 621 next Wednesday or Thursday evening.