Dim's Write Stuff

CONGRATULATIONS! Delighted to announce our winners are: Finley Byrd, QLD Kirsten Ealand, NSW Jenny Stubbs, QLD Cecilia Adams, QLD Norah Colvin, QLD Each of you have won a copy of the stunning new picture book, Nop by Caroline Magerl. Your prize is on its way to you soon. Thank you to everyone who entered. It's been wonderful 'travelling' with you all. I've been to England, Uluru, Hong Kong and even inside a video game and back thanks to your wonderful wandering dreams! You are all invited to read my review of Nop   and maybe even launching into a search for your very own, Nop .  Enjoy!

Nop is a scrappy little bear that lives atop of pile of crumbling tumbling forgotten things in a place soft with dust. He has ample time to ponder his past and speculate his future but he’s unable to identify his true presence for he is not sure where he belongs. Could it really be here in Oddmint’s dust encrusted Dumporeum? It’s a strange place, the Dumporeum, where the forgotten things refuse to remain buried. Every night they tinker and mend, experimenting with buttons and bows to make themselves more alluring to prospective buyers. Nop tries too, but none of the scarves or spangles suit this bedraggled little brown being. So he watches, alone as every morning individuals from the pile of raggedy toys find  someplace wonderful to go . Left with nothing but his new red bow and his own thoughts, Nop rescues an idea, a dream to escape the ordinariness of his world and set sail into the unknown. With a little ingenuity and a lot of cross-stitching, Nop’s plan is soon afloat ...

Nop is a scruffy kind of bear. He sits on a dusty armchair in Oddmint's Dumporeum surrounded by the beaders, knitters, patchers and stitchers who are much too busy to talk to him. So he watches the litter tumble until, armed with a new bow tie, he has an idea that will change his life forever. This touching story began with a memory of Caroline's school holidays in Sydney. Her father was welding a steel yacht in a boat yard and she wandered off . . . only to discover the local dump, a home for the things people throw out! Many years later, her daughter Jen made a teddy bear out of scraps for her father. It's a very sorry-looking, but endearing creature. Named Roadkill, ten years later it still sits on top of his desk. Read DIM'S re VIEWS review of Nop to see just how gorgeous this little bear really is. Thanks to the endearing people of Walker Books Australia and to celebrate the November release of Nop ,  Dim's Write Stuff  has not one but  FIVE co...

CONGRATULATIONS! Delighted to announce our winners are: Anna Malta, QLD Kate Justelius-Wright, NSW Each of you have won a copy of the outstanding graphic middle grade novel, Pie In The Sky by Remy Lai.  Thank you to everyone who entered. Honestly your creative culinary suggestions (and recipes!) made our tummies rumble and our hearts melt. It was so hard to choose just two winners - a bit like me trying to decide which dessert to have - impossible! For those who missed out, please fear not; you can get a terrific taste of this book from my review of Pie In The Sky or if you are lucky enough to reside in Queensland, why not go to the Pie in the Sky book launch , 21 June at Where The Wild Things Are Bookshop, Brisbane from 5.30 pm. It's sure to be a sumptuous experience !

Pie in the Sky is the deliciously addictive debut novel by Brisbane author, Remy Lai. It's a story of fraternal love, grief, loss, realising your dreams, cultural adjustment, and more happily, cake! I absolutely adored sinking into this absorbing middle grade tale which is told in heart-tugging prose and entertaining line illustrations (also by Remy). It's an immensely satisfying read sure to spark laughs (and the odd tear or two) in readers aged 8 - 12 although I'm betting adults will get as much out of it. Judge for yourself from my review . Thanks to the sweet people of Walker Books Australia and to celebrate it's imminent Australian release this month, Dim's Write Stuff has not one but two copies of Pie in the Sky to giveaway! To enter, simply tell me in 25 words or less what your favourite food is to cook with your family? Email your answer along with your name and postal address to dimity . The two responses we like best will each win a copy...

I've been tootling around writers' groups for over eight years or so now. They are always seeping with new knowledge, eager scribes and unbridled passion to pen something wonderful which often spills over into exciting writing projects.   The Ten Penners is a group of dedicated writers that encompasses all these elements of story telling and more. Today I welcome one of the founding members of this group, M arion Martineer to discuss more about their latest project, Mystery, Mayhem and Magic!   Ten Penners Co-ordinator and children's author, Marion Martineer Come with us as we launch into their Blog Tour.  

Selfies – more and more, what we once relied on others to do, we now love to attempt ourselves. Book publishing is no exception. The sheer volume of printed (and electronically) produced material out there today is overwhelmingly mind-boggling especially for the discerning parent or caregiver on the hunt for useful literary material to share with children. Here is a small sample of picture book selfies that came my way. They represent a number of notable similarities; namely, their authors are all driven by an insatiable urge to share their knowledge and past experiences with an audience of children. In most instances, this enthusiasm shows in bucket loads. The topics tackled are often more extreme than themes covered in more mainstream publications reflecting the authors’ culture and life values. Karen Tyrrell is one such author. Having released two adult memoirs, her attention is now firmly turned to producing books that empower and educate children on a number of mental...