Dawn Meredith - Author

As part of the CBCA (Childrens Book Council of Australia) our local Blue Mountains branch has had the enormous fun of putting together five Little Free Libraries loaning centres, located in shops around the  mountains. These are intended for kids (and adults) to borrow books free of charge and return them to the location (or a new book of their choice). Ours are IKEA units but there are amazingly creative ones elsewhere, like this one on the left! So far we've had a fantastic response from the community. When launching this initiative, we were so fortunate to have our local ALP member Trish Doyle to do the honours. Herself a former teacher, Trish is very enthusiastic about literacy and was very pleased to launch our program. Normally she has her photo taken for the local paper and its usually to do with issues that the community is NOT happy about, therefore, she cannot smile and be her lovely self. But when launching LFF Trish got to smile! And had a great time at The Ginge...

We drove to the stock feeds place the other day to buy yet another chicken, after third one was taken by a QUOLL. Cute, but vicious little things. And very clever. Yes, a wild quoll has been decimating the chicken population in our street for some months now, slowly making its way down to our place, the last stop chicken shop. After many tears and a burial, we decided to re-enforce the chicken pen and get a new birdy. We ended up choosing a Rhode Island Red cross. But the BEST PART of all was that I met this little guy! (Well, not so little, about the size of a cat) and he let me stroke him and feed him banana. Apparently he comes into the stock feeds shed most days looking for bugs and any food on offer. My daughter happened to be eating a banana at the time, so i whipped it out of her hand, broke off half and gave my new friend some small pieces, which he took very gently. I was allowed to stroke his side. So gorgeous! Although I'd love a pet iguana or something I am ha...

Just saw this in the KYD (Kill Your Darlings) newsletter. Unfortunately, I'm not eligible, but you might be! The KYD Unpublished Manuscript Award This award will assist an early-career author in the development of their unpublished manuscript. The award is open to writers of adult fiction and adult non-fiction. The winner will receive a $5000 cash prize and a mentorship with KYD ’s Rebecca Starford (non-fiction) or Hannah Kent (fiction). Submissions open 9am AEDT Wednesday 1 February 2017. Submissions close 5pm AEDT Friday 31 March 2017. The shortlisted entrants will be announced on 1 June 2017. The winner of the KYD Unpublished Manuscript Award will be announced on 3 July 2017. Please read the full   KYD Unpublished Manuscript Award Submission Guidelines and Terms & Conditions here . The judges for the KYD Unpublished Manuscript Award will be announced in 2017.