Newsletters
are a wonderful way for an author to stay acquainted with their readers and are
becoming increasingly popular. They contain current information, book news and
release dates, and anything else the author wants to share. It’s a targeted,
and possibly more mature, version of a blog. And there seems to be an
increasing demand from publishers and editors for authors to have one. So, keeping
that in mind, is it silly to be excited that a popular author kindly mentioned
my blog in her latest newsletter?
Consider me for one of those hug-me-tight white jackets then. Mrs Harvey
gave me permission to share this, but the highlighting to the ‘good bit’ is all
mine. ;)
Unfortunately, my blog page won't support all her wonderful photos at this time, (which means I'm either not clever enough to work out how, or it truly doesn't support embedded pictures due to copyright issues) so I apologise for sharing a text only version. It's disappointing considering the impact the images made. However, if you'd like to link to Jacqueline's page, you'll find her photos and artwork there.
Dear Dannielle
From the desk of Jacqueline Harvey
Hello Everyone,
Welcome to the August Newsletter. It’s a huge
book month in Australia as we celebrate Children’s Book Week with
lots of schools having visits from authors and illustrators. There
are numerous festivals and launches happening around the country too.
The theme for this year is Australia: Story Country. I’m involved with a
number of activities starting this week with the Abbotsleigh Literary Festival, and ending
mid-September with a fabulous High Tea in Queensland. I'm also thrilled to
announce Sydney launch details for Alice-Miranda in China
this month too!
I’ve been busy writing Alice-Miranda’s 15th adventure,
which at this stage is still in need of a title. I’m almost finished
the draft so no doubt something will leap out soon. I must admit that
there is a scene early on that had me in floods of tears while
writing it, but rest assured everything will work out in the end!
The celebrations to launch Clementine Rose and the Paris Puzzle
continued with a great High Tea at the Tea Salon in Sydney. Once
again, Jill and her team did a brilliant job. On the other side of
the country, we made a speedy trip to Busselton - our event at
Dymocks was quite simply, fantastic. A big thank you to those who
came out in such inclement weather (it was raining cats and dogs!).
The Busselton Guest House was an absolute highlight,
too. It was lovely to meet so many big fans.
In July I got to visit the fabulous team at Kids WB. For those of you
who missed our interview and challenges (how did they know what my
favourite sport was!), click here to go to my special blog post which links
to the clips on Nine GO. You won't believe who Crawf dressed
up as for his challenge!
Gladstone's Curtis Coast Carnivale certainly delivered on the warmth and
warm weather. The festival was fabulous and I loved sharing the stage
with Dave Hackett (aka Cartoon Dave), Gregg Dreise, Lucia Masciullo
and Kathryn Apel. Sadly, this was to be the last CCLC as the
organisers have decided after 14 years and lots of hard work that
it’s time to move on to new challenges. A huge congratulations to Dr
Robyn Sheahan-Bright and her team for giving the children of
Gladstone and surrounds so many wonderful years of visiting authors
and illustrators. There
were many highlights during the four days including a wonderful
workshop for adults (one of my participants, DD Line has written
a terrific account of the events on her blog here) a fabulous exhibition opening at
the Gladstone Art Gallery and the opportunity to meet and present to
loads of students and teachers. We had a gorgeous launch party at
Tannum Sands State School for Clementine Rose and the Paris Puzzle and Hattie
was the most perfect Clementine – she’s thrown out the challenge
for Book Week Dress Ups that’s for sure. I also loved that I got to
catch up with a friend and former colleague, Gilly - who I hadn't
seen in ages!
However you're celebrating Book Week (or month), I hope you do it in
style!
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Big Events Coming Up
Alice-Miranda in China Yum Cha Launch in Sydney
Alice-Miranda in China is only weeks away
from release and we are hosting a YUM CHA launch party in Sydney on
Sunday 28 August at Zilver restaurant in Haymarket. Bookings are
strictly limited, although we will be considering a second event once
the first is filled.
For details go to
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/sydney-yum-cha-launch-of-alice-miranda-in-china-tickets-26962818516
Tickets are selling fast!
Gold Coast - Brisbane High Tea at Brookwater Golf Club
We are thrilled to be hosting a wonderful high tea at Brookwater Golf
Club, situated between Brisbane and the Gold Coast and just 20
minutes from Ipswich. There will be a scrumptious High Tea, a talk
and book signing and of course lots of questions from the audience.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this event. For booking details
click the link to the EVENTS page on my website.
Book Week and Beyond
I’m heading to the Central West for Book Week and looking forward to
meeting kids in Dubbo and Narromine. We will be having a public event
at The Book Connection Dubbo on Wednesday 24 August – for details
check the events page on the website.
Melbourne Writers' Festival School Days and Roald Dahl Day
Tuesday 30 August School Days Program 10am and 12.30pm -
Bookings are still available. Click here for details.
Sunday 4 September is Roald Dahl Day!
I am so excited to be part of the Roald Dahl Day celebrations at
Federation Square in Melbourne. Roald Dahl is one of the most loved
children's writers in history (and an absolute favourite of mine!).
This year, he would have been celebrating his 100th birthday.
Although sadly, Mr Dahl is no longer with us, thanks to Penguin
Random House and the Melbourne Writers' Festival, some of Australia's
favourite children's authors will be appearing at this very special
event to commemorate all things Dahl. Come and join Felice
Arena, Tristan Bancks, Gus Gordon and me as we weave a day of magic
with special readings and events, face painting, an exhibition and
much, much more!
From 10am in Federation Square - FREE but please register your
interest here
Dymocks Top 51
For the past few years I’ve been thrilled to have Alice-Miranda or
Clementine Rose (or both) on the Dymocks Top 51 Favourite Children's
Books. Voting is now open for the 2016-17 list. If your favourite
book is not listed, just type in the title and it sholud come up.
I’ve already voted for my favourites!
https://www.dymocks.com.au/Votes/Kids-Top-51-Voting
There are plans afoot for tours in other states in Australia later in
the year, along with the October/November tour of the U.K., Hong Kong
and Singapore. For more details of where I will be in the coming
weeks and months, go to the Events page on my website.
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Alice-Miranda and her friends are on a school
exchange in China! There's so much to see and do, and plenty of new
people to meet. Among the whirlwind of sights is a breathtaking
circus show, a hair-raising feat and an encounter with a family of
acrobats.
While some are having a great time, others haven't quite landed on
their feet. Throw in clashing personalities and the theft of a
priceless antiquity, and sparks are set to fly. There may be more
than just fireworks in store for Alice-Miranda and her friends . . .
In all good bookshops and retailers from 29 August 2016.
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The Alice-Miranda Journal is the most positively
perfect place for writing. Keep track of your thoughts and ideas,
make notes about your day, write down your absolute favourite things
and maybe even your secret hopes and dreams.
In all good bookshops and retailers now.
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Clementine Rose and her family are off to Paris!
It's Clementine's first big trip and there's so much to see and do.
She's been practising her French and can't wait to say bonjour to
her friends Sophie and Jules.
Exploring the city is lots of fun and, with the help of Lavender,
Clementine encounters some rather curious characters. After a series
of strange coincidences and a last-minute disaster, Clementine begins
to wonder if it's all part of one very tricky puzzle!
In all good bookshops & retailers now.
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July 2016 Competition Winners
We were inundated with brilliant trivia questions
for the July Competition. Congratulations to the winners who will
receive a copy of the brand new Alice-Miranda Journal which is
completely gorgeous!
- Paige
Jessop
- Solveig
Johnston
- Rachael
Seaton
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August 2016 Competition
This month in honour of Book Week, we’re running
TWO competitions.
August 2016 Competition PART 1
The first is a game of skill and luck. Answer the following three
trivia questions (from the winners of the July competition)
correctly and your name will go into the draw to win a choice of
two books from either the Alice-Miranda or Clementine Rose series'.
- What
is the name of Stanley Frost’s property?
- What
toy belonging to Jasper, does Lucas destroy in
Alice-Miranda on Holiday?
- What
is the age difference between Alice-Miranda’s mother, Cecelia
and her younger sister, Charlotte?
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August 2016 Competition PART 2
Many schools will celebrate Book Week from 20-26 August with
special dress-up days and character parades. This year, the theme
is Australia! Story Country. Once again, because I never
cease to be amazed by the imaginative efforts and fabulous costumes
the readers come up with, we are doing it all again for the August
Competition!
Dress up as one of the characters from the books (it doesn’t have
to be for school – you could just dress up at home - especially for
those who do not have Book Week at this time of year!) and send in
a photograph to go into the running to win your choice of any two
Alice-Miranda or Clementine Rose titles.
To enter August 2016 Part 2 competition click here.
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Australian Events
August/September 2016
Jacqueline will be having events in NSW, Victoria
and Queensland during these months.
Please click here to view Events on the website.
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International Events
October/November 2016
Jacqueline's next scheduled overseas trip is in
October/November 2016 visiting:
- Hong Kong
- Singapore
- United Kingdom
If you would like to arrange a school visit, please send an email to:
jacqueline@jacquelineharvey.com.au
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Copyright © 2016 jacquelineharvey.com.au, All
rights reserved.
You're receiving this email because you signed up to our newsletter at http://jacquelineharvey.com.au.
Our mailing address is:
jacquelineharvey.com.au
Level 3, 100 Pacific Highway
North Sydney, NSW 2060
Australia
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Yes,
I know, blink and you’d miss it, but it’s good to know someone thinks something
you wrote was worth sharing. Which is
why when I have the opportunity to share something with other aspiring writers,
I’m only too happy to do so. :)
For
example, here’s a snippet from another local writer. :)
Mr
Roby is beginning to bother me. I’ve mentioned before on another blog that he’s
a great story teller, is funny, artistic and can most definitely sing. (He’s
the President of the Performing Arts Group to which my oldest child belongs.)
But now it seems I have a fitness freak to deal with who makes my clinging to
the computer chair in order to shout out about other people’s achievements seem
more like a lazy excuse. Hmmm.
I
will share a newsletter from another author next month to show different ideas.
Meanwhile...
Reviews
If
you could see the grin on my face you’d know whose latest release I’m about to
share. :) That’s right, the
next in Ms Schwartz’s Collegium series – Hollywood Demon. Here’s the blurb.
Feel
the Earth move!
A camera can’t steal your soul—but a demon can! Mark Yarren
suspects a demon has found a way around the spell his great-grandfather cast to
prevent demons sucking souls through the camera’s lens. Digital photography
dangerously omits the silver wash that was photography’s century-old defence
against Hell.
Mark is Hollywood royalty, descended from the early
Hollywood stars: the studio bosses and directors, the producers and actresses.
Now he lives alone in his palatial Beverly Hills estate.
Well, not quite alone.
Clancy Ramirez is back! She’s tried life in New York, in
Iceland, and in Hawaii, but she missed California. She missed the grumbling
roar of the San Andreas Fault with its leagues-deep molten geology. Clancy is a
geomage and she can make the earth shake—or grow still. But California isn’t
her territory. She has no place intruding or tapping its energy.
But a demon shackled for a century is breaking free, and
Collegium rules, old heartaches and strained family loyalties will break, too.
The Big One is coming.
Disgraced
and dismissed due to circumstances beyond her control, Clancy Ramirez left the Collegium
and her career behind for the solace of her home in Hollywood, California. She
can control herself long enough not to overstep the rules of the territory, can’t
she? That promise waivers when she’s barely stepped on home turf and senses a
demon lurking near the front gates. Duty bound to follow its trail, Clancy runs
into her old teenage crush, missing the demon by seconds. She soon learns Mark,
whilst not strong enough magically to control the demon, has crossed paths with
it before – in the accident that took his fiancée’s life. When Clancy discovers
the truth behind the accident, she understand Mark’s obsession with trapping
the demon, but a man with very little powers of his own and a geomage who can’t
control her magical strength have little chance of capturing a high level and
very powerful demon, one that believes manipulating Clancy and Mark all but
guarantees its freedom. And it will use anyone and anything to get what it
wants.
Now
I’m not a geomage, but I am an earth sign and I found it quite eerie in the
first couple of chapters to discover how similar Clancy was to myself – to the
point where I wondered if there was a hidden camera around. Not that I’m going
to admit to which aspects of Clancy’s personality traits I claimed. J What
I will admit to is how much I loved the story and the characters. Flawed, yet
humble and caring, I loved the family dynamics played out between Clancy and her
brother, the geomage in charge of California. Once again, Ms Schwartz made me
change my mind regarding how I felt about certain characters, especially when
Clancy literally ran into her teenage crush, Mark. I love the way both Clancy and Mark faced
their personal demons to claim their true selves.
Hollywood
Demon has just been released, but I know Ms Schwartz is already working on the
next in the series, which is due out at Halloween – such a long wait. ;) But while I’m waiting for the next book, you
can learn more about Jenny and her stories here. :)
News
I
attended a book launch a couple of weeks ago in support of another local indie
author. Ms Higgins certainly put in plenty of work behind the scenes to ensure
the release of the third book in her trilogy was a complete success. There were
plenty of smiling faces at the venue, all keen to have a chat with the author
or pose for a picture and everyone who bought a copy of her book waited eagerly
for her to sign them, all of which Ms Higgins graciously did. She also gave a
speech and read from her novel and considering I knew how nervous she was; she
did a wonderful job. I’ve no doubt I would have shredded my notes, my hands would
have been shaking that much. ;) Now I have two new books to read as I bought
the set. (I reviewed her first book in the previous blog.)
https://ljhiggins.com/
I
also took part in a paranormal / supernatural speculative fiction competition
so I’ve ‘met’ a plethora of authors and have more books to read. The pile is
growing again. I’ve also been asked to read and review an advanced copy of a
story, which is the second in a trilogy. I loved the first book so lucky me.
Although I kept asking the author when the next one was coming out so perhaps
she shared her ARC with me so I’d stop nagging. There’s also a couple of debut
novellas on my list from authors in the Aspiring Group from RWA, so I have new
authors to cheer on too. :)
I
will have more news next month of what I’ve been up to and it will explain why
this month’s blog is late (and shorter.) My apologies for that. And if my blog
makes less sense than usual, it will explain that too. How do people function with
little sleep again? Anyhow, busy, busy, busy with books to read and review.
Until then, follow your dreams and may happiness be a constant companion. :)
You? Nag? Never. Think of it as gentle persuasion to hurry up and get the next book out.
ReplyDeleteVery cool to see you in the newsletter and keen to discover what happens next for DD Line.
LOL That's it. Some gentle persuasion. Very happy to be reading your latest book. :)
ReplyDeleteD, you are so busy! I wondered how you did everything and now I know - no sleep! :)
ReplyDeleteI may have neglected a few other things so I could read your fabulous story, Jenny. :) (Which was totally worth it.) I'm sure I'll catch up on the sleep eventually.
DeleteGeomage is such an interesting idea!
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is, and Jenny's version is well worth the read, Ashlyn. :)
ReplyDeleteYou constantly amaze me, D.D. at how much you can fit into a month! Lovely mention for you in the newsletter too!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately my writing time is suffering so I'll have to work a little harder to be worthy of your admiration. :)
DeleteIt was lovely of her to mention me, and she was every bit as lovely in person. :)