Hi
Lloyd, 9, wrote this brilliant acrostic poem about Stumpy:
Strong, imaginary friend
True friends with Audrey
Unbelievable to Price and Mrs. Barlow
May not always behave well
Peers through bushes
Yet he is silent.
Thursday, 29 October 2009
Friday, 23 October 2009
'Audrey Goes to Town' Wins Peace Award!
Hi'Audrey Goes to Town' is joint-winner of the 2009 Children's Peace Literature Award. The award is given every two years to an author of a book that promotes peaceful resolution to problems or relationships. The prize is given by Psychologists for Peace.
This photo shows me (third from the right holding the book) and the judging panel, which is half book experts and half psychologists.
A psychologist studies and works with people on how they think and behave.
Here is what the judges wrote about the book ...
Audrey and her family temporarily relocate to Beltana when Audrey's mother is expecting another baby. They board with Mrs. Patterson, known locally as Patterson's Curse (a noxious weed). She is a prickly woman who has strict rules and a list of dos and don'ts for the children.
When Audrey's mother is taken suddenly to hospital, Mrs. Patterson declares that Audrey has become her "project". She wants to ensure that Audrey learns good manners, how to knit and how to behave like a lady. However she does not anticipate Audrey's perceptive response, "And you're mine. I'm looking for your good side."
A situation which could have developed into unpleasantness is slowly changed by Audrey's beguilingly honest, direct, humorous and compassionate approach to her carer. Audrey makes an effort to please. She is kind and thoughtful but does not allow herself to become a victim. Audrey acknowledges Mrs. Patterson's kind gestures and is prompt to express her gratitude.
Indeed warmth and generosity are modeled by the Beltana community.
Audrey's perseverance is rewarded when she realizes that Mrs. Patterson's grimness is mainly due to the sorrows she has experienced in her life.
Mutual trust and appreciation develop.
As Audrey says, "At first it was hard to find things on your good side. But then it got easier. You've got one, all right".
Sunday, 18 October 2009
'Audrey Goes to Town' shortlisted for Peace Award
Hi
Some good news this week - 'Audrey Goes to Town' is shortlisted for the Children's Peace Literature Prize.
It is given every two years, to the author of a book for children that has 'literary merit and for demonstrating a balanced example of constructive, non-violent approach towards the resolution of conflict.'
The award is given by Psychologists for Peace.
Keep your fingers crossed for Audrey!!
Christine Harris
Sunday, 11 October 2009
Hi
I receive quite a few emails and letters, asking questions about Audrey of the Outback. Here are a few I've had several times lately, so I thought I'd put them here on the Blog so we can share the answers:
How old is Audrey?
I don't often say how old a main character is because I think it's better for each reader to make up their own mind. Recently I did a little experiment where I asked young readers of different ages what age they thought Audrey was and they each gave their own age. Which is exactly how I like it. And sometimes Audrey sounds quite young, but other times she is very wise. So she is a mixture.
What inspired you to write the Audrey books?
There are always mixed beginnings for stories. For me, anyway. It is usually several things put together. With Audrey, she was a character in 'The Diary of Jimmy Porter 1927-1928 (which is now out of print, but should be available again April 2010 in paperback, with a new cover). Audrey began as a minor or small character, but she kind of grew 'larger' as the novel went on. Audrey makes a strong impression. So she ended up with three books of her own.
What does Audrey eat?
This question has been asked several times and I couldn't think why at first. Perhaps a class of students happened to email me when they were hungry??
But then I thought, maybe, the question was because there are several scenes involving food and eating in the books.
Outback, 1930, and in a poor family, Audrey and the other Barlows eat a lot of meat, mostly kangaroo or rabbit. Because they don't have a fridge, the meat has to be salted so it won't go bad.
They also have a vegetable garden out the back of the house. The rabbits get in sometimes and nibble the vegies, but everyone works hard to keep the vegetables alive.
There are also quandangs - wild peaches - that grow in the bush. There isn't a lot of flesh on them, but Audrey's mum makes pies or jam from them.
The Barlows also eat bread, freshly baked in the outside oven made from crushed ants' nest.
And when Dad goes to a town, he buys jam and a little fruit, which Mum dries and hangs from strings on ceiling hooks in the kitchen to try and keep the dried fruit off the mud floor and away from ants.
And the family have chooks, so they also eat eggs.
Audrey's dad ate tadpoles once but he didn't like them too much.
Does Stumpy always listen to Audrey?
No, not always. Do your pets always listen to you?
Stump also likes to play tricks on Audrey - like poking his head through the open window to make her laugh when she's doing her lessons at the kitchen table. Sometimes he runs off into the bush and doesn't come back for a while. But Stumpy and Audrey are very close and look after each other.
Is there going to be another Audrey book?
The publisher, Little Hare, has a picture book text. So it's up to them when they use it. But it does take time for illustrators to do their work. And Ann James is one of the best. It takes longer, naturally, to draw or paint for a book that has a picture on every page than doing black and white drawings for a novel.
I hope this answers some of your questions. More to come later!
I receive quite a few emails and letters, asking questions about Audrey of the Outback. Here are a few I've had several times lately, so I thought I'd put them here on the Blog so we can share the answers:
How old is Audrey?
I don't often say how old a main character is because I think it's better for each reader to make up their own mind. Recently I did a little experiment where I asked young readers of different ages what age they thought Audrey was and they each gave their own age. Which is exactly how I like it. And sometimes Audrey sounds quite young, but other times she is very wise. So she is a mixture.
What inspired you to write the Audrey books?
There are always mixed beginnings for stories. For me, anyway. It is usually several things put together. With Audrey, she was a character in 'The Diary of Jimmy Porter 1927-1928 (which is now out of print, but should be available again April 2010 in paperback, with a new cover). Audrey began as a minor or small character, but she kind of grew 'larger' as the novel went on. Audrey makes a strong impression. So she ended up with three books of her own.
What does Audrey eat?
This question has been asked several times and I couldn't think why at first. Perhaps a class of students happened to email me when they were hungry??
But then I thought, maybe, the question was because there are several scenes involving food and eating in the books.
Outback, 1930, and in a poor family, Audrey and the other Barlows eat a lot of meat, mostly kangaroo or rabbit. Because they don't have a fridge, the meat has to be salted so it won't go bad.
They also have a vegetable garden out the back of the house. The rabbits get in sometimes and nibble the vegies, but everyone works hard to keep the vegetables alive.
There are also quandangs - wild peaches - that grow in the bush. There isn't a lot of flesh on them, but Audrey's mum makes pies or jam from them.
The Barlows also eat bread, freshly baked in the outside oven made from crushed ants' nest.
And when Dad goes to a town, he buys jam and a little fruit, which Mum dries and hangs from strings on ceiling hooks in the kitchen to try and keep the dried fruit off the mud floor and away from ants.
And the family have chooks, so they also eat eggs.
Audrey's dad ate tadpoles once but he didn't like them too much.
Does Stumpy always listen to Audrey?
No, not always. Do your pets always listen to you?
Stump also likes to play tricks on Audrey - like poking his head through the open window to make her laugh when she's doing her lessons at the kitchen table. Sometimes he runs off into the bush and doesn't come back for a while. But Stumpy and Audrey are very close and look after each other.
Is there going to be another Audrey book?
The publisher, Little Hare, has a picture book text. So it's up to them when they use it. But it does take time for illustrators to do their work. And Ann James is one of the best. It takes longer, naturally, to draw or paint for a book that has a picture on every page than doing black and white drawings for a novel.
I hope this answers some of your questions. More to come later!
A good book has no ending. ~R.D. Cumming
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