Adelaide writers, teachers professional development talk with author Dawn Meredith

I had SUCH a great time in Adelaide. Thanks so much to all those wonderful people who made it so easy for me, taking me everywhere, having coffees, dinners and chats. The May Gibbs Children's Literature Trust does a fantastic and generous thing encouraging writers and illustrators such as myself by providing a lovely apartment for time away. For all the kids at Victor Harbour School, I am pleased to report that I have at last finished FLIGHT!!!!! Now I just have to wait for my publisher to get to me.
Fingers crossed there's not too much revising to do...

Writers, teachers librarians having a go in my writing workshop. They all look very intent, don't they?

Some of the beautiful houses in Norwood. 

 The gorgeous waterfall ten minutes' drive from the apartment. That Mary certainly can walk fast!

What a fantastic view!
cheers, Dawn

Dawn Meredith interviewed by Fran Knight for ReadPlus

Just read the write-up of my interview with Fran Knight in Adelaide a few weeks ago. We met in the fabulous cafe/bookshop Mary Martin's, in Norwood. As the sun streamed through the leadlight windows of the Heritage-listed Baptist church we chatted about books and education, reading and writing. It seems Fran and I are on the same wavelength about quite a few things, but she thinks I am brave in my assertion that there will always be a market for physical books. The touch and feel and smell and joy of holding something printed and bound that you can appreciate and pass on to the next generation will always have a place in my world, at least! I enjoyed meeting Fran immensely. This lady has a wealth of experience and a quiet but confident optimism for the future of literature in this country. Her current project is a literacy and curriculum support book for classroom teachers which lists books and resources by theme. curriculum resource book

Read our interview here and tell me what you think:  interview for Read Plus

cheers,
Dawn

Steampunk - What's not to love?

It's taking the world by storm but is by no means a new concept. Steam Punk has been around for decades, with loyal enthusiasts creating marvellous gadgets, costumes and even a house on wheels for conventions, films and get-togethers. Victoriana with a twist, its sort of like an alternative universe based upon the premise: What if steam were still our main source of energy? How would we adapt our lives to use it?
Steam Punk is full of adventure, creativity and a sense of nostalgia for days gone by, with luscious fabrics, ingenious creations in a fledgling industrial age, when people knew the meaning of 'manners', lived in smaller communities and actually talked to each other! (Now I'm getting off the subject and stepping onto one of my soapboxes) My friend Richard Harland has had enormous success with his first two steam punk novels, Worldshaker and Liberator. In Richard's world most human beings live on giant mulit-storied, steam driven juggernauts, roaming the great land masses of Earth.Worldshaker
Enjoy the pics!
Cheers,
Dawn