Dim's Write Stuff

This book needs more than five stars. It is a universe of stars, magnificent and absolute. For me, it possesses all the qualities outstanding narrative works possess rendering them utterly impossible to articulate just how magnificent they are. See what I mean. Hopeless.How does one describe a thing that fills them, tears them, speaks to them so intimately, so personally, so honestly? Therein lies the true beauty and unfathomable skill Dalton has: he sees things. He notices us. He gets it all and then, quite astoundingly, has the ability to write to YOU the individual with undiluted clarity and unashamed compulsion. Dalton's novels feel as though they are tailored specifically for the individual, every single one of us. His characters slam feet first, boots and all, against your emotional armour with such force, it makes you gasp. This is not a bad thing. It's a magnificent and absolute and real sensation. So, yes, I loved Lola. Everything. The anguish. The agony. The sorrow. T...

Look, it's true, I’m more of a dog person than someone with a fetish for felines, but Itty Bitty Kitty is so utterly adorbs and cute (although whatever you do, DON'T call her that), how could one not want to cuddle her up. Itty Bitty Kitty features in all three tales that appear in each of the four five books (latest in the series out November 2024!) in this junior fiction series. She is teeny tiny. Winsome and mischievous. But don’t let her size fool you. With her tigress attitude and feline smarts, Kitty is the penultimate adventurer, even if those adventures extend no further than her home with her Humans. Told in endearing first person cat-speak, each instalment is sweet and manageable for young newly independent and emerging readers. Engagingly illustrated chapters provide plenty of visual stimulation. Text is punctuated with bolded words that break up the text and signify significance. Typography aside, Kitty’s tales are full of playful fun and cheeky abandon, perf...

  Hands down, one of the most popular parts of any school presentation I perform is inevitably Q & A time. I honestly think a whole session devoted to questions from kids to authors would trump a 'how to write a story' session any day. So, imagine my delight at being involved in this super new comp by speakers' agency, CKT. Get cracking with your questions kids. Get your school to sub them to CKT and get ready for some mind-blowing revelations!  Dive into the minds of young readers with CKT’s Curious Kids Competition, a delightful initiative that invites questions from inquisitive kids about their favourite CKT author or illustrator. It’s a chance for budding book lovers to ask their most pressing questions and get a glimpse into the magic behind the stories and illustrations they adore. Every class that sends CKT a question for their favourite CKT author or illustrator, will go into the draw for their school to win a FREE 30-minute virtual session with that  CKT Auth...

Life's been a hodgepodge of comings and goings of late. Wins and losses. Swings and Roundabouts. Cliches aside, it's just life. One can't, or shouldn't try to, truncate it even if by attempting to do so creates a sense of accomplishment and win for time management. Regardless, because humans are contradictory beings, here I go, anyway! It's mainly a recap of work , my excuses for failing to write one single new word of fiction for myself thus far, this year. I'm sure or at least furtively hopeful, that my writing mojo will return forthwith but, in the meantime, take great solace and a serious serving of enjoyment in presenting writing workshops, seminars and sessions for kids and grownups everywhere.  And so, the dump: Online masterclass presentations in multiple ending stories proved a hit with the G.A.T.E WAYS gifted and talented kids In school programs with yet more G.A.T.E WAYS kids never fail to entertain and enthral. Visit their site for a swag of brilli...

Today's delightful double-whammy comes loaded with well-meaning flavour, colour and fun. These two picture book gems would make great Easter basket additions but are standalone, any time reads, as well.  Hatch and Match  I'm normally wary of seek and find books that use rhyme as a vehicle for treasure hunting, but this inadvertent Easter-suitable title is pure delight. Bunnies are quickly dispensed with as we focus on a tree chockas with chooks, that's chickens to the uninitiated. And what colourful chooks they are, each sporting a unique colour scheme and pattern.  Our sleeping hens are awakened by the dutiful rooster and immediately set out to locate their eggs. Where could they be? Well it's simple if you follow the match and hatch pattern prompts! Spry lyrical narrative and pages and pages filled with eye-popping rainbow colours transforms the reading experience into the best egg hunt, ever ! All tied together with a satisfying reflection on differences and sames. A...

Influence and impact. Two words lightly applied to a number of situations and experiences yet can carry a great deal of weight. Where does one gain inspo? Why are the touted influences of a few often revered by the many? How does this impact on societal well-being or more importantly on the individual? When podcaster and noted educator, Karen Caswell invited me to join her for a session of shared inspiration, I was super excited. And anxious. What possible gems of wisdom could I possess that others might find useful? Fortunately for us both, my innate ability to wax lyrical about myself, my wants, likes and pet peeves reminded me that most of us revel in self-talk, have a tendency to overshare and thus will inadvertently pass on some nugget of truth or bearing that will eventually tumble into smoothed meaning for others. Well, I hope so.  You be the judge. Tap on the links below or explore your fave podcast platform to listen to my takes on what I do, why and whom for, seasoned wit...

The meaning of life. The beginning of time. Existential significance for human kind. Pretty hefty topics for pre-schoolers and those over 14 years of age. And yet, here are an eclectic collection of picture books that I feel do these notions proud. Funny, informative and touching; the scope is broad as are the concepts but their combined purpose further serves to broaden our children’s minds in the aspects of time and space and humanity. Enjoy! Ada And The Galaxies by Alan Lightman and Olga Pastuchiv and Susanna Chapman Ada loves the night sky and not just for its twinkling stars. Yet living in the city can make it difficult to appreciate distant galaxies of stars, let alone see them! So, when Ada spends time with her grandparents at their seaside home, new universes of nature, meteorology and space become accessible in the most spectacular way. Visually arresting and factually fascinating. A gem in the night sky. Walker Books Australia (Mit Kids Press imprint), September 2021 ISB...