Dim's Write Stuff

While it's been hot enough here to melt the toenails off an elephant, I'm looking forward to cooling my heels and chilling out with a room full of glacial bright and beautiful stars this Friday. Book Links QLD's inaugural Romancing the Stars Gold Coast night is all set to kick off at the All Saints Anglican School from 6.30 pm. Tickets are still available via Try Booking - visit the site, here to make one and for the full details. Do you know a young person who can't get enough of children's books? Someone who loves the art of story and writing or perhaps there's a budding artist in your life itching to see how real life book illustrators do it. Then bring them along, too. Children are welcome for the discounted price of $25. Not only will they and you get to 'speed date' dozens of children's book creators like myself, but there will be games, raffles, books signings, yummy things to tuck into and, joy of joys, AIR CONDITIONING. Simi...

The race to Christmas felt more frenetic than a skyful of reindeer on a gingerbread sugar rush so in an extreme effort to replace the usual SE Queensland Christmas glitter and heat, I headed overseas to the only equatorial city on earth that could celebrate Christmas with even more glitter and heat, Singapore. Not as bad a choice as you may think. There were sites a plenty to keep us goggling well into the fairy-light encrusted evenings, cheap local delights to banish every sensation of hunger, and enough chilled department stores pumping out Michale Buble carols to remind us what time of year it was. But 'dreams and schemes and holidays must always have an end' and as another summer of  magnificent holidays melts into a new school term and a new full year, I pause for thought. There's a heck of a lot about to happen and a lot that has already happened in Dim's world of words. Here are some of the more 'wow factor' ones that it's about time I made a b...

 I know, these are food shots and not very brilliant ones. But that hardly matters when you're gobbling down fist fulls of bonsai gingerbread men and mouthwatering fruit mince pies. It's beginning to taste more like Christmas now. For recipes and more Christmas fun, check out the PS Who Stole Santa's Mail? downloads page on my website . You'll be whipping up rounds of Santa's favourite sweet treat in no time. Created by Dimity, iced by her husband, consumed by the neighbourhood children  

Like many things I attempt by hand, they can be a long time in the making and never quite perfect. But it's sure fun having a go at getting them right. So now, here, just in time for Christmas - Dim's shiny NEW WEBSITE . It's bright and has lots of bits of me in it. I hope you like it. Let me know either way. Enjoy.

Christmas. And... Dim's new Web Site . One lower in calories than the other but just as delectable. Stay tuned...

The argy-bargy that sometimes accompanies the gratuitous use of the terminology 'awards' on social media profiles is entertainment I often find chuckle worthy. Colour me mission brown and call me Splinters if you like, but as a habitual fence sitter, I appreciate both sides' argument: stating you are an award winning author having amassed nothing more than a feeble handful of competition placings compared with someone whose work has gained notable international or national recognition is a bit of a stretch of artistic license and one we have all indulged in from time to time, yours truly included. It does not seem to matter that those very competitions you so diligently entered and conquered no less touted themselves as 'Awards' in the first place. The causal observer may not distinguish the semantics of the situation so easily as they can the sublime subterfuge of it. Nonetheless, if you enter something and are rewarded in some fashion for it, the fact of the m...

Who would have thunk it? Career advise from a sportsman that makes sense (to a non-sportsperson). T20 Player of the Year , Glenn Maxwell sums it up nicely. Apply these inspirational words of wisdom as necessary to your own; day, life, writing project, sporting event...I did. Maxi's Top Tips: Play to your strengths Prepare early Be patient Be brave - don't be intimidated Take the initiative - be confident and look for opportunities Avoid over analysis- don't over think things, it can distract you from getting the little things right. Take things slowly - try to stay relaxed and don't rush Stay positive Be selective  Keep your eye on the ball - don't lose sight of your goals PRACTISE   ‘Sometimes if you concentrate only on trying to do big things, you end up forgetting the small stuff that’s really important.’      Wise words, Maxi. I think I have a new hero... If you want to discover more about   Glenn Maxwell or his cricket...