The premiere of the Queensland Literary Awards

One thousand cheers for the Queensland Literary Awards which were established earlier this year - after the Queensland Premier's Awards were cancelled...

These brand new awards have a clear mission. 

Mission
1. To raise the profile of Queensland writing and writers nationally and internationally.
2. To reward and recognise excellence in Australian writing, particularly Queensland writing.
3. To support the development of Australian writing, particularly Australian writing within Queensland.
4. To facilitate the  production and publication of works by emerging and established Australian writers, particularly Queensland writers.
5. To encourage public debate in Queensland and contribute to the public life of the state.
6. To encourage reading in Queensland, particularly among young people.

Big HOORAYS. Huge!

And the most excellent news is that the shortlists for the inaugural awards have been announced. And there is once again happy-dancing in the House!

Shortlisted for the Children's Book Award

Ten Blue Wrens by Elizabeth Honey

Shortlisted for Young Adult Book Award

The Ink Bridge by Neil Grant 

Three Summers by Judith Clarke 

Sea Hearts by Margo Lanagan

Congratulations to all the authors on the shortlists. 

Oh, happy, happy day!

I'm Still Awake, Still - still!

A story can be told a million ways.

You can sing it.

You can write it

You can read it aloud.

You can paint it.

You can play it.

You can use puppets and pianos and actors and musicians.

Here is Elizabeth Honey telling the story of taking I'm Still Awake, Still! from song, to page to stage, in gorgeous pictures...

Still Awake, Still!

Fairfax Studio, The Arts Centre

28 September - 2 October

Take the kids.

Take the grandparents.

Take the neighbours.

Take the neighbours' kids and grandparents.

Take everyone!*

* Probably not the dog though. Leave the dog at home, lest it get overexcited by all the joyous rumbustification.

I'm Still Awake, Still

In a cream-coloured house

with an upstairs 

and a downstairs

lived Rosalind the Publisher 

and her bunch of Onions.

Rosalind was tall and busy and thoughtful. 

When she heard an editor singing 

in the kitchen one day, she said,

'Time for a choir now, don't you think, Onions?'

'Good idea,' said Sue the Editor. 

Sue the Singer thought so too.

'But I need some lyrics,' she said.

'Who'll write me some words for drifting and dreaming?'

So Elizabeth, the Artist and Author 

dreamed up something wonderous 

and sang about it in her head.

And Rosalind and Elizabeth and Sue-times-two 

danced the songs 

and the words and the pictures 

around and around 

until they become a beautiful book and CD.

'I'm still inspired, still,' called the creators to each other.

So they scooped up their ideas 

and waltzed them all the way 

to the Melbourne Arts Centre.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Jump Leads 

presents

the absolutely gorgeous

totally unmissable

world premiere performance of

Still Awake, Still!

Just in time for the school holidays!

 Where:  Fairfax Studio, the Arts Centre

 When:  28 September to 2 October,  
11am  & 1.30 pm each day 

You can book here: www.theartscentre.com.au/kids

Stay tuned tomorrow for some of the behind-the-scenes story* 

of how this idea was developed from song, to page, to stage.

* Told with some never-before-seen Liz Honey artwork - aww yeah, that's right, we give you the good stuff!

The promise of spring

The depths of winter. Here we are. In it. Brrr.

(Via our good friends at the School of Earth Sciences. )

What we need to keep us going is hope that this winter too shall pass. What we need is a suggestion of spring.

Daffodils. That's what we need. And as it happens, we may just have some to hand.

Inspired by Elizabeth Honey's That's Not A Daffodil! here are some daffodils that Layla & Johnhenry prepared earlier.*


But wait, what? That's not a daffodil! That's a green beak.



Happily, we know how this story ends.

Now, that's a daffodil!

Spring. Bring. It On.




* Thanks KJW & EP for the sharing the photos of their children and their green beaks.