Dim's Write Stuff

Do you remember making abstract ink art with your toddler? You know, the type involving splodges and straw blowing? Perhaps you were more into spotting cloud shapes. Maybe finding patterns in chaos is more your thing. The geometry of the natural world and its accidental occurrences is not something we consciously celebrate. These two picture books however standout because of their focus on simplicity and artful creativity. Read on, or better, experience the incisive visual literacy of these books first hand. What's That Splat by Johanna Bell & Amelia Luscombe I love the feel, look and premise of this book. Let's talk about the bevelled, rounded corners first. These give the book a cosy, comfortable feel suggesting there's nothing scary inside here, just a bit of fun. Lusciously thick GSM (page density) guarantees a long life of frequent page turns and reinforces connectivity with the target audience, ostensibly two-year-olds and above, plus it's easy to turn. Colou...

I love words and am a colossal nerd. What a match! Join me over on @daniveebooks_wordsandnerds for a spirited chat about the love behind the books behind the stories behind the nerd  🤓 😉. We chat about inspiration, creative thought, why I write, what I write and how it makes me feel - young at heart! After your first cuppa enjoyed listening to me, check out some of the other fab interviewees as Dani showcases what lurks in a writer's mind . It's not as scary as it sounds but pure fun - and usefulness too! Click on the image above to access or visit Dani's W & N podcast page and search of Ep. 564 with Dimity Powell . Enjoy!

My ability to draw is only slightly less inspiring than my ability to handstand. I can however, picture my stories as I write them with razor sharp clarity, in my head at least. Translating these internal storyboards to a real life illustrator is not always easy so I'm lucky that illustrators like, Siobhan McVey who provided the striking visual narrative for, Oswald Messweather , are adroit enough to create strong ' visual partners ' for my words without my input. I was fascinated to learn that when a storyline and language resonate powerfully enough with a potential illustrator, their creativity leaps into unsolicited action. In other words, sketches and images, characteristics and colours flow authentically and without hesitation. The organic way a visual narrative uncurls in an illustrator's head, eventually spilling onto the page to hug and caress my words is, for me, the most magical part of the picture book making process. To experience more of the magic, read thi...

Since last year, I have been invited to present specialised language programs for gifted and talented school students throughout Australia for the G.A.T.EWAYS Education organisation. It’s always a privilege standing in front of a group of motivated young students no matter who they are. The G.A.T.EWAYS kids are especially challenging for they love to question. Fortunately I love to find answers; to questions like: ‘Where did that idea come from?’ and ‘How to you grow an idea?’ My latest workshops cover these precise quandaries focusing on what ideas become…why marvellous stories of course! Stories themselves illustrate this point best which is why I was delighted beyond words to unearth this gem, What Do You Do With An Idea? by the quietly brilliant award winning, Kobi Yamada and Mae Besom. This book embraces the notion that everything, every single thing, you see and experience around you was once an idea; a huge concept that Yamada breaks down into an absorbing narrative starr...

Stories are for listening to, right? So if watching an animated story time session is not your thing, why not settle back and LISTEN to it instead? If you've got kids in the car or need an audible distraction for your little ones, tune into Little Rockers Radio  every morning (11.00 am) and afternoon (5.00 pm) this week for some online Pippa pitch perfect fun. Little Rockers Radio is a  live streaming program  24/7 online radio station specifically tailored to entertain and enlighten children from birth to six years of age and their parents! Apart from story time there are sessions devoted to songs, nursery rhymes, yoga, mediation and much more.  Pippa's story time sessions are delivered by the uber animated, entertaining duo, Anthony and Lauren behind Story Surprise. In fact you can tune into their Little Rockers Radio podcasts for dozens of other fun story time adventures. 

Part of a children's author's job is to conjure up worlds and situations that give children reasons to read and wonder. If we do our jobs well, their imaginations expand to bursting, so much so, many are compelled to want to create themselves. Most are natural born scribes but for those who want to delve deeper into the mysteries of marvellous-story writing, their first port of call is often their teacher or librarian. That is why it's imperative for these custodians of stories to understand exactly what makes them more real than real life. Queue Amazing Opportunity for Teachers and Librarians. I want to let you know about a one-day PD conference on 26 February 2019 at the State Library of NSW. It’s called Creating Creative Writers and will bring together teachers, librarians and 21 of Australia’s finest children’s authors and illustrators to focus on practical activities to develop enthusiastic, confident young writers.  The speakers incl...

November 13 is World Kindness Day Comos - WKD floral symbol A day to ' to look beyond ourselves, beyond the boundaries of our country, beyond our culture, our race, our religion; and realise we are citizens of the world. As world citizens we have a commonality, and must realise that if progress is to be made in human relations and endeavours, if we are to achieve the goal of peaceful coexistence, we must focus on what we have in common. When we find likenesses we begin to experience empathy, and in such a state we can fully relate to that person or those people.' For me, it's the supreme power of story that promotes empathy. Stories collected over time, through life experiences, embellished with hope and humour and ultimately shared , like the stories we share with children. The best stories of all. When you read with a child, you share more than just a tale in words (and pictures). You share smiles, distribute joy, radiate love and yes, generate emo...

Well, another book baby has been successfully birthed. The launch of my latest picture book with Nicky Johnston , At The End of Holyrood Lane , was memorable, moving and fun for reasons too numerous to mention.  For those who were there to share the joy, those who couldn't make it and those who simply love celebrating the love of kids' lit, this is for you. Massive thanks to Susanne Gervay for hosting and officially launching this special book for me. Jacqui Halpin without whose cupcakes the event would not have been as sweet. My mother and Alena Lemon-Scott for bringing Nicky's visual interpretation of my characters to sublime, vivid reality. Uni and Flick, you rock. Maria Parenti-Baldey and Dr June Perkins whose affinity behind the camera lens ensures every heartfelt moment is captured, along with some goofy ones to boot. To the wonderful book shops who continue to support and nurture children's stories and story tellers. And most es...

Today, we celebrate this   in all its wonderful glory. Thank you EK Books and Nicky Johnston for being part of an amazing dream come true. I'll be celebrating with a live cross to ABC Canberra Radio . Feel free to pop a bottle of bubbles on my behalf until I return. 😊

When I lived in London, what seems like a lifetime ago, I had the good fortune to observe many ritualistic ceremonies, one of them being Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park . This public-byo-soapbox-forum, dating back from the Victorian times was an eclectic gathering place to share one's view point and generally have a bit of a rant. It was and still is a melting pot of political debate and more importantly, a symbol for a free and democratic society. And with the need to expound arises the necessity to create, something people of the pen know only too well. To better celebrate creative life, the good folk of the Centennial Parklands Foundation , Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators SCBWI , and the historic Residences Centennial Park have joined forces along with dozens of writers, storytellers, publishers, arts associations, performers, illustrators, poets, and literacy advocates to present Writers in the Park . This one day festival is choc-block full of ...