Just So Stories

It certainly flew by! But what a great year it’s been. Of course, there were a few bumps but overall, for both The Kid and I, it’s been a very happy, productive and busy year filled with much love and laughter.

The Kid has been finding her feet as an employed adult and, after a disappointment with a potential traineeship, she is now on her way to completing the Cert III in Individual Support, and already working regularly as a support/carer for our friend-like-family who has MS.

She is thriving in both the course and the practical application of it. Meanwhile, she continues with her art, her surfing and her lifesaving. She’s gained her marine licence for both boat and jetski, and will soon be taking up the training for driver of the IRB. She also is now on her green Ps and ever more confident on the roads.

As for me, I’ve never been busier I don’t think and, really, I have no idea how I had time to go to work full-time! I’ve done very little supply teaching and, frankly, I’m happy about that. It was very pleasing, when I went to my accountant, to realise that I had earned more than twice the amount of income for writing than I had for relief work [author friends tell me I’ve earned as much as some of them have from their writing].

I’ve not only had many commissions for teaching notes from publishers but also from individual authors, plus I’ve had numerous opportunities for magazine writing which will continue. And, of course, the most exciting is that my (5) non-fiction readers are in the process of being published, with the first released in February. Also on the writing front, I was placed in the Totally Lit micro-fiction competition so that was a nice ‘puff’ and had my little haiku published in this year’s Science Rhymes anthology.

In other professional activities: I finished my second year as YABBA secretary I presented a session for ALIA New Librarian Symposium on bibliotherapy which was extremely well-received, I was a judge for the Forevability Awards,I’ve been working closely with colleagues in a mentoring capacity, and have had fun at author talks and book launches including meeting legends like Gus Gordon, and the always delightful, William McInnes and my network of kids lit/writerly friends continues to grow.

And the blog? Well, the blog just keeps growing and growing of its own organic accord – now heading into the 13th year. I’ve been busily moving older reviews to a newly established archive over on Substack to free up storage space. It’s been so much fun revisiting old posts and realising that, right from the start, my individual style was apparent (and though others try hard to mimic it, they just don’t have the chutzpah!).

We have also had a great year personally, and our circle of love with adopted-family grows daily [you know who you are!]. We’ve had lots of trips to the coast, both day trips and sleepovers, and another fun few days in Canberra. Next year we are thinking of a Melbourne visit and perhaps even further afield, once The Kid completes her studies. We have also had outings to movies, special exhibitions like Pompeii, Ancient Egypt and Leonardo da Vinci Inventions, live performances – saw Mic Conway in Pomona with his documentary! – discovered new places and had new adventures. Along the way, I’ve lost around 25 kgs and definitely regaining my fitness, with exercise every day- I am gearing up for an active retirement indeed! 2026 promises more of the same: beach, dear friends, happy times, adventures and joy.

I want to thank each and every one of you who chooses to come visit here and, especially, the wonderful publicists, authors, illustrators, creators who entrust me with their work and offer me such wonderful feedback.