The Three Broad Beans - book launch a success!

On August 23rd 2010 I held a book launch for my first picture story book -The Three Broad Beans. It was a most amazing experience and so wonderful to see so many people from my past and present: all my sisters were there and my in-laws came all the way from Horsham too! There were friends and children I have taught (some now in primary school and one in high school and a couple of my older students from TAFE with their children!!) I was overjoyed to see everyone and to experience this celebration with them all.

It was held at the Belmont library and sponsored by the Geelong Regional Library Corporation. Susan Hall (librarian) gave a heartfelt introduction & spoke of the oral tradition of story telling and how this story, being one of those told over generations has now been written down. It impressed her that it should be done by the youngest daughter of this migrant family. It was a celebration for my family and for my mother who was very humble in life but now one of her story lives on for others to enjoy! It can be found at the Geelong libraries as well as the state (Victoria) and National Libraries of Australia. My mothers Italian story is now part of the fabric of Australian history!

I feel so happy about this and now that the books have sold out, I have decided to reprint them and they are due to arrive sometime in the next two weeks. I will have to work out the best way of selling them!

If you'd like a copy please feel free to contact me with your details and I will be very happy to send one to you. They will cost $19.95. I hope you'd like a look!

cheers,
Gracie

Competition winner -second place!!

Hey!  Guess what?  I entered some of my illustrations from my story book and one of the illustrations (collecting beans) won second place in the Illustrated picture book category at the CYA Later Children and Young Adult writers and illustrators conference in Brisbane, 2009!

Wow!  I feel so pleased because the winning entry was also my favourite one which means that I do have a good sense of what it takes to be a good illustration!

Book off to be published!

I feel very excited and content.  Had a meeting with Monique from Mono Unlimited publishing business to organize self-publishing by picture story book!  All text and illustrations complete and deposit paid (ouch!).  All going well it will be ready by November!!  

This is something I have always wanted to do.  Translate one of my mum's Italian fairy tales for my darling nephews and neices and illustrate a book for me!

Am looking forward to seeing what it all looks like in the end!

Last illustration complete!

I am happy to announce that I have made the last painting for mamma's fairytale book.  It was great to have my sister Irma come over and help me decide which image would be best for the front cover.

I am just awaiting an edited Italian text from my eldest sister Germana which hopefully will be here by Tuesday...I am beginning to feel rather excited!!  

Find attached another illustration for the book - the children climbing the beanstalk to pick beans higher up till they reach the clouds...

THE GOOD SORT

I also run a small business called "The Good Sort"= making books to help children understand time and the order of their day whilst at kindergarten or day care.  My most recent new branch of this business-let is making song cards with the title of the song and a little image beside it.  Children begin to associate the image with the song and by having the text there, it helps them understand that print means something.  In time children can recognize letters and this helps with literacy learning and song selection too!  

I will  attach a sample of one of the drawings for home time

Le tre favette -The three broad beans, an Italian fairytale

Almost nearing completion is a project I have wanted to do for many many years.  I am excited to say that I have completed all illustrations and am just awaiting help with editing some of the text.

Here is a sample of one of the illustrations in the book.  I hope you like it.  I've used pen and inks on watercolor paper. Scroll down and see the image below...sorry it's not the right orientation but could not quite work out how to turn the image!!!