Penny Morrison - Blog

A Perfect Little Monster Launch Party

4/21/2020

It was a blast to celebrate the launch with a party at Harry Hartog Booksellers--the perfect location.

The hosts of One More Page Podcast launched the book and entertained us with a skit and song about a few of their favourite (monstery) things.

I couldn't pass up the opportunity to dress up as Iris to read the book. The fun continued with lucky door prizes, morning tea, craft, book signing and lolly bags. Thanks to everyone who joined the party.

Kate Simpson, Liz Ledden and Nat Amoore were hilarious as Fang, Mum and Iris.

Thank you to Georgia and everyone at Harry Hartog Booksellers

The first official reading of A Perfect Little Monster

Lucky door prize number 1.

The book is dedicated to Deb, my perfect little sister.

Yum! An Iris biscuit.

Lucky door prize number 2.

Katrina Roe

9/9/2017

Katharina Colmer, me, Katrina Roe, Debra Tidball and Penny Reeve

The highlight of the afternoon, in my opinion, was Molly, who the book is dedicated to. Katrina and Molly entertained us with a comedy routine.

Katrina announced that we would sing some songs together before she read the book. But a few bars into 'Rock-a-bye Baby' Molly shouted, 'STOP!' The song was too scary because people would be afraid of the baby falling. 'Incy Wincy' (stop!) would scare people with a fear of spiders and 'Twinkle Twinkle' (stop!) was no good either, because some people are afraid of the dark. They eventually agreed to ignore parents' fear of getting the carpet dirty and sang 'Twinkle Twinkle Vegemite'. (if you drop it upside down, it will turn the carpet brown)

This was Monkey's first book launch. Monkey isn't usually allowed to leave the house at all, but it's a sequel to his favourite book, so we made an exception.

I enjoyed celebrating another friend's book launch today. Katrina Roe launched her fourth book, Gemma Gets the Jitters.

Katrina sure knows how to put on a great launch! When we arrived there was a band playing, craft for the kids and a delicious afternoon tea. Authors Katharina Colmer and Marian McGuinness talked about writing and psychologist Collett Smart talked about how to help with kids' anxiety--very helpful! I will use all her ideas with my own kids. Some of her points which stuck with me were:
- Never ridicule a child's fear.
- Don't allow them to completely avoid their fears.
- Give them gradual exposure, getting a step closer to the goal every time.
Collett has also written the parent notes at the end of the book.

Molly was hilarious!

My little introvert actually wanted to come to a book launch for once, because Gemma gets the Jitters is about being scared of heights. Also because the first book in the series, Marty's Nut-free Party is one his favourite books. He is amazed that the series covers all his own issues - allergies, asthma and fear of heights. He wondered what issue might be covered next ... smoking??? He can't understand why this made me laugh.

Debra Tidball

9/4/2017

Debra Tidball launched The Scared Book, her second picture book, on the weekend. Debra is such a supportive friend--she is always at friends' launches and tweeting about other people's books. This was obvious at her launch, because The Children's Bookshop was packed with authors who came to celebrate Debra's success.

Debra is part of COW (Children's Omega Writers) and a few of us were there to cheer her on - Zoe Gaetjens, me, Penny Reeve and Katrina Roe are there in the photo on the left with Debra.

As well as being a great friend, Debra is a fantastic author. Her first book, When I see Grandma, is a gentle story about visiting a grandparent with Alzheimer's.

The Scared Book shows has a dramatically different tone, showing what a versatile writer Debra is. The book is scared and readers are invited to rub away goosebumps, blow away butterflies and flick away monsters. It's such a fun interactive book, which will work well with groups or individuals.

Book week 2017

8/27/2017

Schools and library marketing manager Steve Spargo loves No Bears by Meg McKinlay and Leila Rudge. I considered bringing this as my favourite Walker book too ... or Luke's way of looking ... or The Extraordinary Mr Qwerty ... but Captain Sneer really is my absolute favourite Walker book.

Walker Books President, Angela Van Den Belt.

The best thank you gift is to see how kids were inspired by my books.

I'm explaining who the illustrator of Captain Sneer is.

Here's my best pirate sneer.

I absolutely loved book week this year. When I began writing, I never imagined a child dressed as my character, proudly carrying my book for a book week parade. I feel so honoured when I see these photos.

I enjoyed a book week cake day with Walker Books. Steve Spargo's cinnamon cake was delicious.

Mmm, cinnamon cake.

Julie Vivas showing off her beautiful new book, Koala.

Macarthur Anglican School gave me such a warm welcome. The kids were super excited to have me there - I felt so honoured. They had even made me books of artwork inspired by my Hey! series. Thank you Macarthur Anglican!

Reading Hey! Is that how God made me?

Reading The Mighty Mighty King Christmas Book

Teaching the children an action rhyme.

Love Your Bookshop Day

8/11/2017

Autographed copy!

Matt and Beck Stanton's books are hilarious. But I had no idea they are local--what a surprise. It was great to meet them.

Harry Hartog is a wonderful bookshop. They have a huge range, inspiring displays and there's one in walking distance from my house. I should walk more often.

When I met staff member Mel, she immediately asked me to sign copies of my book and introduced me to the manager, Abby. Abby was excited to meet me too and booked me to come in for a story time. I was so surprised that they were so keen to support a little local author like me.

Today I've been in for Love Your Bookshop Day.

And they have a BIG book. I couldn't resist.

YA author Tonya Alexandra chatting with Liz De Montford about her latest book, The Impossible Story of Olive in Love.

CYA Conference

7/1/2017

I've wanted to go to CYA conference in Brisbane for years, but it has always clashed with our family holidays.

This year, we arranged our holiday around the conference. It has turned out to be the perfect year to attend, because I won an award: Commended for 3 unpublished picture book manuscripts. Who knows? Maybe one day you'll see these titles as published books.

Here I am receiving my award from Suzanne O'Sullivan, Hachette publisher. What an honour!

I was thrilled that my friend Coral Vass won our category (published authors), not just because she's a great author and lovely friend, but because her next picture book is illustrated by none other than the talented Gabriel Evans. I can't wait to see it when it comes out in August.

Here I am with the writing friends I flew to Brisbane with, Ramona Davey and Kim Astill. What a fun weekend!

CYA later, alligator!

Notable

3/25/2017

Every year I want to go to the CBCA announcement of the Notables list, but I always have something on. A few of my friends went this year, but I already had something on my calendar. Oh well, maybe next year.

That evening I felt my phone vibrate and discovered a list of missed calls from my friends. Oh no! Why was everyone trying to call me? Something terrible must have happened. And then I remembered. They were meeting each other at the CBCA event. They were probably asking me for each others' phone number. Yes, that would be it.

No! They were ringing to tell me Captain Sneer, the Buccaneer was on the Notables List for Picture Books! I had forgotten it was even possible. Even then I didn't want to get excited in case they had made a mistake. But Shelly sent me photographic proof. My book really is notable. How exciting!

The Mighty Mighty King Christmas Book

3/25/2017

Lisa Flanagan and I launched The Mighty Mighty King before Christmas, but with all the Christmas craziness, I forgot to blog about it.

Koorong Penrith hosted our launch. Initially I wondered if enough people would want to come, considering how recently I had launched Captain Sneer. I didn't need to worry--the room was overflowing with friends and fans. There wasn't even space outside the door for people to see in! I felt so bad for people who came for our launch and had to stand outside. Thank you everyone for coming to celebrate with us.

Youthworks sent our editor Natasha Percy to launch the book. They also sent a box full of fantastic lolly bags. The highlight for me was watching Lisa's 'illustrated journey'. She told the story of Mary and Joseph travelling to Bethlehem, drawing their journey's ups and downs. I knew the lines on the page were going to turn into something recognisable by the end, but I gasped along with all the children when the last stroke turned the squiggles into a sleeping baby. It felt like magic!

The winner of the dress-up competition was a shepherd complete with cuddly sheep. The winner of the door prize was my own Dad. He won a gorgeous pack of cards by Lisa. The kids decorated kings' crowns and went home happy because there were just enough lolly bags for everyone.

Book launch tour: Warringah Library

10/8/2016

The crew lined up to show off their pirate outfits. The prizes went to Harrison (he wasn't Captain Harrison, he was Captain Sneer. Of course.) and Pirate Hugo.

On weekdays Pirate Lea King works as a librarian. Thank you so much to Pirate Lea (and Warringah Library) for hosting the launch and for all the work you put in to help it run smoothly. And an extra big thank you for the treasure chest full of fruity treasure!

Harrison looked just like Captain Sneer. He had his parrot on his shoulder and even had a map hanging out of his pocket.

Picture This, my writing buddies. We meet regularly to critique each other's picture book manuscripts. Ramona Davey, Kim Astill, Kate Simpson, Shelly Unwin, Liz Ledden and Catherine Pelosi.

I think he shaved half-way through the launch.

Pirate Hugo - what a fierce pirate!

Book launch tour: The Children's Bookshop Beecroft

10/6/2016

I've been to many book launches at The Children's Bookshop, which made it extra exciting to launch my own book here. One of my kids said, 'It's good you're launching it there. It's THE booklaunch place.' The bookshop owner Paul Macdonald is a fantastic host.

I was honoured to have Cathie Tasker launch the book. Cathie was my teacher for the 'Writing Picture Books' course at AWC.

'Though other pirates be at large, our crew is safe with ME in charge.' But where is Captain Sneer?

'Our map is lost. Our water's dry. We won't find gold. We're going to die.'

Pirate Molly, winner of the Best Dressed Pirate award. (With first mate Bronte)

Paul Macdonald runs this amazing bookshop and is a deserving winner of this year's Lady Cutler award.

'My loot, my loot'

Nicola Robinson was the enthusiastic editor behind the book being accepted in the first place and was one of the editors who worked on the manuscript with me.

Number one supporter, my sister Deborah Wood.

It was lovely to catch up with friends like Carol Gooch.

Author Georgina Ballantine.

I was at uni with Elizabeth Nix and thrilled she could come.

Authors Katrina Roe, Debra Tidball and Penny Reeve. (I found it so amusing that they were chatting in a group while I chatted to my sister and sister-in-law (Catriona, Deborah and Penny).

SCBWI Conference 2016

10/6/2016

The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators has a conference in Sydney every second year. It's great to meet other authors and illustrators, get to know them and hear their stories.

Susanne Gervay talking about the industry around the world.

The team from EK publishing: editor Anouska Jones and some of her authors and illustrators.

We had opportunities for manuscript or portfolio assessments with editors and art directors. (I didn't meet with Sue, but she was one of my amazing editors for Captain Sneer)

I was honoured to be part of a SCBWI event at The Children's Bookshop which showcased 6 authors from around Australia and New Zealand.

Book launch tour: East Willoughby Preschool

10/6/2016

It poured with rain but the preschool was packed with little pirates. Arr! Thank you to Anna, Vici, Heidi, Sharmila and Mei Ling.

Piratey fun at preschool and school visits

10/6/2016

After years of looking at roughs, proofs and possible covers, it was wonderful to finally remember what it was about it the first place--reading the book to children. It was so satisfying to chat to the kids about different aspects of the book and to see them enjoy it.

Yr 3 wanted to hear all about how books are published and of course, the most important question--how much do I get paid?

We talked about rhyming words, opposites, being brave and ideas for pirate names. The kids showed me their very best sneers.

Publication Day!

8/31/2016

The day I've been waiting for has finally arrived! Captain Sneer, the Buccaneer, is finally here. It's over 3 1/2 years since the manuscript was first accepted, but the book looks so amazing that it was worth the wait.

Here it is on the shelf at Warringah Mall Dymocks. It seems much more real, seeing it in the bookshop, compared to seeing it on my shelf at home.

Over the last couple of weeks I've had lots of exciting packages arrive in the mail:

Captain Sneer mini bookmarks

Captain Sneer stickers

Captain Sneer magnets

And tomorrow is the first launch. Woo hoo!

Captain Sneer, the Bucaneer, is nearly here

6/7/2016

There was a mystery parcel for me at the post office today. I wasn't excited until I saw 'Walker Books' listed as the sender.

I said, 'Oooooooh, looks exciting.'

The post office guy shrugged. 'It looks like a book.'

'It is! It is! It's my book.'

He recognised my name as the author and managed a happy face. I guess it's hard to get excited about parcels when you're a post office guy.

But not when you're an author and you get an advance copy and it finally feels like it's a real, actual book. Woo hoo!

Surprise!

3/26/2016

I got a wonderful surprise last week - a contract in the mail!!! Yes!!! It's enough to make any author overuse exclamation marks!!!!!

Youthworks will be publishing my Christmas picture book - The Mighty Mighty King. The book is lots of fun and will show children how the events of Christmas point to Jesus as the king.

In the meantime, I'm preparing for the launch of Captain Sneer and still having fun showing off my Hey! books. My wonderful publishers have even made me magnets.

Today I've been up at Katoomba Easter Convention to display the Hey! books for Karl, the wandering bookseller.

An author talks

11/6/2015

Inspire Conference - Austinmer Anglican Church

I was so nervous about book week that I was even terrified of preparing for it. My books are TODDLER BOOKS! I was terrified that I would have nothing to say, especially to kids in yrs 3-6. I regretted agreeing to it at all.

But of course, I had no option other than to sit down and start writing and see what I could come up with. And I surprised myself. I had interesting things to say and I found fun ways to present it. Once I was prepared, all my nerves were gone.

I was surprised to be booked for a whole bunch of author talks recently. I've visited preschools before, but none of these visits were for 3-5 year olds. They were all way out of my comfort zone!

I spoke to primary school students in book week, the kids at a church conference, adults doing children's ministry at Inspire Conference and writers at the Christian Writers Conference.

Volunteers dressed up as babies while I read 'Hey! Is that how God made me?' to yrs 3-6.

Still, I knew I'd be nervous on the day. But I had a plan. I would pretend I was Deb Abela. If I could pretend to be confident, then the kids would never suspect.

I woke in the morning to find I still wasn't nervous. I was sure I would be when I arrived.

I was nervous when I was stuck in a traffic jam on the way, but when I arrived, I didn't think of Deb Abela once. (Sorry Deb!) I was having too much fun.

The kids enjoyed my presentations and workshops and seemed genuinely interested in everything I had to say. Unbelievable.

I went through the whole stupidly-nervous-until-I-was-prepared thing again for Inspire Conference. I had to write a talk and 2 workshops. Again, all my jitters disappeared once I was prepared and I loved speaking at the conference.

I will be more relaxed about future bookings. You know, the kids were very impressed by me. It had nothing to do with my books or my workshops though. They thought I was great because I ... you won't believe this ... I've actually MET Andy Griffiths. He signed my book. Wowww!

Year 2! Woo hoo!

2/13/2015

It's doubly exciting getting my author copies this time. I have just started a DynaMites Music group at my church, so this means I get to USE my own program.

It has been great running the first three weeks with a program all ready to go - amazing compared to when I started out and had to write it myself each week. And so much easier than when I had been running it for a few years and had to spend time each week searching for new ideas and songs. AND I can use all the clip art and songs from the CD ROM.

I've now made a website for DynaMites Music. I've put links to samples of the books and I've begun a forum for anyone running a music group. And here's a link straight to Year 2.

Ten things I love about picture books

11/22/2014

Click here to read my post for Growing Faith website about why I'm so obsessed with picture books.

Raising a child with Asperger's

11/16/2014

Click here to see the post I wrote for the Growing Faith website on overcoming the challenges, dealing with guilt, and the long journey ahead.

I got to meet Bob and Larry!

11/15/2014

I went to my very first author expo today, at Koorong Books, West Ryde. I'm thrilled that Koorong is making an effort to promote Sydney picture book authors and illustrators.

As well as meeting parents and children, I enjoyed hanging out with some other authors. Here I am with author Katrina Roe.

I also got to meet Jemima Trappel, the illustrator of DynaMites Music, for the first time.

The day was lots of fun, with face painting, sausage sizzle, lollies and helium balloons, but the highlight for everyone was meeting Bob and Larry. (Actually, a few kids were terrified)

Larry looks impressed with my book, doesn't he?

Maybe he even learnt something about how God made fruit.

Kids behaving badly

11/15/2014

What happens when children don't act like you hope they will?

Click here to read my post on the Growing Faith website.

A boy and his books

10/25/2014

With my two big kids away for the weekend, my seven-year old book-loving boy had me to himself. And he had plans. We needed to make a lamington man, just like in the picture book by Kel Richards and Glen Singleton. And it would be made of bread.

He spread, he cut, he sprinkled.

Our lamington man had to be exactly the same as in the book. But made of bread.

And with chocolate spread instead of sauce.

And with white sprinkles instead of coconut. Because coconut is yucky, it tastes like cheese.

After a taste-test, he decided coconut was okay. It was really yummy, although he had tasted it once, and it tasted like cheese. I pointed out that he has never tasted cheese.

And then we had a lamington man picnic. One lamington man each. He ate mine.

Hey! Did I mention I had a book launch?

10/25/2014

Marshall Ballantine-Jones officially launched 'Hey! Is that how God made animals?' and 'Hey! Is that how God made families?'

We had story time,

and learnt a poem.

Then there were prizes. And food.

The highlight was kindifarm.

To top it all off, people even asked me to sign their books - such an honour. I'm glad so many people could celebrate with me. Thanks Youthworks!

Hey! Come to my book launch this afternoon. It will be fun.

6/14/2014