Sandy Fussell's Blog, page 20

I first met Aleesah last year at the Children's Book Council Book Week Lunch on the Steyne Ferry where she was receiving the Runner Up Award in the prestigious Frustrated Writers Compeition. So I knew she could write but what impressed me was the commitment, drive and passion I heard in her voice when she talked about her writing and her soon-to-be realised dream of becoming published.

Today I want to jump up and down and yell, "Yay. YAY." But that wouldn't be very fitting launch behaviour, especially as I am wearing a very expensive virtual evening gown (the only sort I will ever own and the only sort that will ever look decent on me!). So instead I am going to make a polite comment about how talented, how deserving and how hardworking Aleesah is. I'm thrilled to be sharing this day with her as I declare Totally Twins: Musical Mayhem "loose in cyberspace' which is virtual-speak for "offically launched."
To celebrate I am putting Aleesah in the hot seat. Hi Aleesah. I'm glad you could join me here.

Thanks for hosting me today, Sandy. This is my first ever blog tour and I'm very excited about it.
Can you tell us a little bit about the Totally Twins series?
The Totally Twins series features identical ten-year-old twins, Persephone (she's the sensible one) and Portia (she's the messy one) Pinchgut. The books are for girls aged 7 plus and are written in diary format by Persephone, or Perse, for short. In Book 1, Musical Mayhem, which is out now, Perse begins writing her own personal secret diary. She's horrified when she has to audition for the school musical because she can't sing a note. As the Heartfield Heights musical extravaganza launches into full swing, Perse takes comfort in recording her secret thoughts and fears in her diary.

Why did you write a series about twins? Are you a twin or do you have twins in your family?
Sadly, I'm not a twin and I don't have twins in my family either. But I've always been fascinated by twins and I've always wanted to be one! I don't think that's completely unusual, lots of people have told me they often wished to be a twin, too. Writing as Perse, I can be a twin, I can make my dreams for twin-ness come true - and hopefully entertain readers at the same time.

Did you research twins for the stories?
I did research twins and found out lots of interesting things about them. Some of those things, I've tried to build into the books, like the 'Top 5 Trying Twin Questions' that Perse records:

1. So, you're identical twins. Does that mean you're sisters?
2. Which one of you is smarter?
3. Do you like being a twin? (As if we know what it's like NOT being a twin!)
4. If you have a stomach ache, does your sister get it too?
5. Wait for it, it's a good one … Do you ever wake up and forget who you are and think you're the other one? As if!!!!
This list is based on real questions asked of twins - which is obviously funny, but also bizarre when you think about what twins get asked.

The books are illustrated throughout. What's it like to work with an illustrator?
The illustrations for the series are done by Serena Geddes, a talented up-and-coming children's book illustrator. Serena is great to work with. We live near each other so have been able to collaborate closely on the books. We've met several times for hot chocolate and a chat about the series and how each story should read and look. I'm really happy that Serena sought my input in the illustration part of the process. She was very considerate and valued my feedback. Her illustrations are simply divine by the way, I've been delighted with everything she's done. Overall, I think we make a great team!

What have you done to celebrate the release of the series?
Besides the blog tour, I organised a major book launch at Berkelouw Books, Balgowlah (Sydney). We had prizes and goody bags to give away on the night and around 80 people turned up which was magnificent considering a huge thunder storm was raging outside at the time. It was standing room only in Berkelouws! I've also been travelling up and down the east coast of Australia promoting the series. It was launched at the CYA Conference in Brisbane in September, at the CBCA Northern Sydney children's literary lunch titled, 'Lunch with the Stars', and also at the SCBWI Conference by Marc McEvoy, Books Editor at the Sun Herald.

I've also been doing loads of school visits and festival appearances. In November, I'll be returning to Brisbane for more events including an appearance at TLC bookstore in Manly. I'll also be visiting the Manning Valley, where I grew up, and in Tasmania. You know the song, 'I've Been Everywhere, Man', well that's me at the moment. It's been a wild, wild ride, but I've thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.

When is Book 2 in the series due out and will you be launching it?
Each time I launch a book, I try to do something different. I'm hoping to be able to launch Model Mania, the second book in the series, in a school and I'm just trying to work out details for the event now. I have some fun ideas in mind!

What has been the best part of having this series come out?
Connecting with kids, most definitely. Kids are so passionate and enthusiastic about the books and about me as an author. I love their feedback, I love hearing them laugh at what I've written (laughing with me, not at me!) and the illustrations that Serena has drawn. The books themselves are really beautiful - if I do say so myself - and they're also fun and quirky and real so I think they have loads of girl appeal. When a child comes up to me and tells me they really loved reading Perse's story, there's nothing better.

Do you have more books planned in the series?
I have loads more adventures planned for Perse and Portia. I absolutely love writing as Perse and fulfilling my twin fantasy - even if it is only in my books! I guess we'll have to wait and see how well the first two books do, but fingers crossed, there will be more twin adventures heading my way soon.

Thanks for dropping by today, Aleesah. Where can people catch up with you next?
I'll be stopping at Kirsty Burow's Be A Fun Mum blogspot tomorrow at: www.beafunmum.com . For a full list of my blog tour stops, you can visit my website at: www.aleesahdarlison.com .


For those who want to know a little more:Aleesah Darlison grew up on the mid-north coast of NSW, but now lives on Sydney's Northern Beaches where she writes stories with humour and heart for children and young adults and reviews books for The Sun Herald. Her short stories have been published in the black dog books Short & Scary anthology, The School Magazine and Little Ears and she has won numerous awards for her writing. In 2009, she was awarded an ASA Mentorship and was runner-up in the CBCA Frustrated Writers Program. Aleesah's first picture book, Puggle's Problem, was released in July this year. Totally Twins: Musical Mayhem was released in September and is Aleesah's first novel for children.

I love cutting and pasting - ever since I was given a pair of plastic scissors (bright yellow!) and a pot of Perkins paste (bright pink!) in kindergarten. I've spent my parenting years hovering over school projects hoping to be asked to cut and place a picture (although more often than not being told to butt out!!). And then I discovered scrapbooking - where its OK for an adult to play with scissors and glue. I don't do all the fancy stuff. I like my cutting and pasting kept simple. It's great fun and very relaxing.

Lately I've had no time for such frivolities. The materials are not so easy to find as scrapbooking has had its popularity spike and the suburban stores have disappeared. Only us die-hards are left. Everything is on-line now. Not just the materials, even the process itself has gone digital. e-scrapbooking!!! It's sooo easy and much quicker.
But to me its not the same. Where is the thrill of the cut and paste? The feel of the paper in my hand? Deja vu. I've been here before. It's the ebook scenario all over again. Still, it gives me hope. There's always going to be room for both. I am not anti ebooks in any shape or form - and yes I have an ipad for reading too. But I equally love the feel of a book in my hand, the turn of the paper page and the spines all lined up on my bookshelf.
My newest shelf sitter is the first book in Aleesah Darlison's Totally Twins series, Musical Mayhem. Tomorrow I have the privlege of launching Aleesah's blog tour. Drop back tomorrow when I pop the virtual champagne cork and interview Aleesah about the series, its promotion and her future plans.
Check out the other stops on the Totally Twins Mega Tour:
Wednesday 6 Oct Be a Fun Mum with Kellie Burstow
Thursday 7 Oct Kids Book Review with Tania McCartney
Friday 8 Oct More Than Words Blogspot with Debbie Johansson
Monday 11 Oct The Book Chook with Susan Stephenson
Tuesday 12 Oct Book Blog with Dave Hibbins
Wednesday 13 Oct Alphabet Soup Blog with Rebecca Newman
Thursday 14 Oct From the Mouths of Babes with Katrina Roe
Friday 15 Oct Squiggle Mum with Catherine Oehlman
Monday 18 Oct Let's Have Words with Claire Saxby
Tuesday 19 Oct Sally Murphy's Writing For Children Blogspot
Wednesday 20 Oct Book Blog with Dave Hibbins
Thursday 21 Oct Read Plus with Pat Pledger
Friday 22 Oct BooBook Blogspot with Rebecca Newman

I believe in many things. I believe in the power of libraries.

Book Week was a blast. Exciting, exhilirating, exhausting and downright dangerous. A decision to stay in Sydney overnight (to avoid six hours of travelling on each of the first two days of a busy seven day schedule) literally kick-started the great toe trauma. Which to cut a long story short (my editor would be pleased to hear I am learning to do that!) is basically a warning - do not ignore a badly stubbed toe and continue Bookweeking without even looking or you will discover how big a toe can swell, how many colours it can go and how it can hurt more than you ever imagined.
My last visit had to be cancelled and the ever patient Warrawee PS (and their wonderful librarian Bronwen) enthusiastially welcomed me a few weeks later than expected. I have to admit having surived the whirlwind Book Week proper, as I dragged myself out of bed at 5am for the three hour haul up the train line, I wondered: why am I doing this? Standing in front of all those smiling faces later in the morning and I knew my answer. Because it is fun. Because the kids. Because I love being a children's author. And I secretly wish I was a teacher librarian.
And because there are such wonderful rewards. Like this one . During question time a Warrawee Year 5 boy asked me what book I was most proud of. I started to tell how Shaolin Tiger is my favourite book then realised that wasn't the question. The book I am most pproud of is Jaguar Warrior. It took far more effort and rewrites than any other. Twice I put it aside to write more Samurai Kids books. Each time I came back to it I had to work hard to reimmerse myself. And by the time I finished enough time had transpired that I was a better writer than the one who had written most of the book. I started again.
Later that same night as I sat down to a major re-engineering of Golden Bat (Samurai Kids 6), I felt tired after a long day and a little overwhelmed by looming deadlines. Then I remembered what I had said earlier in the afternoon - how hard and how long the rewrite had been but how proud I was in the end. Suddenly I felt re-energised. It's a few weeks later and that big rewrite is well underway. I'm of proud of how it is coming together.

During September my local art gallery, Beach Art, has been holding a local Authors and Illustrators exhibition featuring among others, the work of Sue Whiting, Donna Rawlins, Ann Lamb, Lexie Watt, Rhian Nest-James and myself.

To kick off the first day of the school holidays, I spent an hour in the gallery making origami and chatting with the kids who called in to say hello. We made samurai kabuto hats, ninja, talking dinosaurs, sumo wrestler, cups and more. Sometimes the simplest things are the most fun as we launched our twirling butterflies into the airstream of the fan (butterfly instructions here)

I am a regular visitor to Anita Heiss Blog. I particularly enjoy her I am grateful for... posts and you can find the most recent one here.

Lately I have felt weighed down by the layers and layers of small problems that have descended on me en mass and I have found myself often saying "I am grateful for..." and filling in the blanks.
It happened again this morning. As I returned from a visit to the tyre shop (never a promising start to a day) and a rushed 'hand in the assignment on time' dash t...

September 1 is an important day in my household. First, it's Indigenous Literacy Day, which aims to help raise funds to raise literacy levels and improve the lives and opportunities of Indigenous Australians living in remote and isolated regions. And if you are wondering what you can do to help, check out the suggestions on Anita Heiss Blog. We can at the bare minimum buy a book today (you can never have too many books and if you think you can, buy one as a gift) or make a donattion on-line. ...

I don't often tweet or blog quotes. Enough others are already doing it really well. But I love a good quote and every now and then one hits me in the gut and it feels so good I have to share. This one I found in the latest NSW Writers Centre e-newsletter:

She is too fond of books and it has turned her brain.
- Louisa Alcott

Here in Australia, Children's Book Week has just ended. It's been a week long celebration of reading, writing and children's literature - and for me as an author, school visits and video conference hookups. I'm not in the mood to finish celebrating yet especially as this month also saw my first US release - White Crane (Samurai Kids Book 1) - and next week will see the Australian release of Fire Lizard, the fifth book in the series.

So today I have stepped out of the Kidlitosphere shadows, whe...

It's day three (four more to go!) and I've met just under 750 kids from 9 different schools at 5 different libraries. I wanted to share my favourite question so far - the one that made me grin the widest:
A Year 5 boy says: I love the Samurai Kids books. They are my most favourite ever. Who inspires you to write them?
Asked and answered!