Launching a Giant - THANKS AND THANKS AND THANKS!

Well the Giant and the Sea is out in the world now. I’ve signed a nice stack of books, we had a wonderful launch at Avid Reader, and a Storytime at Readings in Melbourne, both via Zoom. Both were recorded so I'll post links when they are put up.

Thanks very much to Megan Daley for her wonderful Q&A, and Rovina Cai for being part of the launch, it was so lovely to launch it together! Something that wouldn't have happened if we had had a physical launch.

I'm always so grateful to Avid Reader, and our shop's owners Fiona Stager and Kev Guy, who are at the heart of Avid Reader and the West End community, it's been my home for twelve years, and, of course, Where the Wild Things Are, our children's bookstore. There aren't better booksellers anywhere than in these two shops. And it's certainly the best place to work if you are a writer.

Thanks also to Krissy Kneen, who has kept our events alive and vital. She is not only one of Australia's most talented and hardest working writers, but she is a living masterclass in event management, the envy of events folk the country wide. And she is one of my best friends. I honestly don't know what I would do without her in my life.

Thanks again to Hachette and the wonderful Emily Lighezzolo who has worked as publicist for the book, and has gone above and beyond.

Thanks too to Alex Adsett, who I think is one of Australia's finest agents and the greatest advocate for this book. She has pushed me to dream big dreams. Unwavering faith matched with a critical eye is all an author could ever hope for, and certainly more than I deserve, but I'll take it.

Well, I know it was good launch because usually I feel a bit flat afterwards, but with this book I felt energised. I know I am going to be happy talking about this book for a good long while yet - even as I start moving on new projects.

There's something special about writing a children's book, and I don't think I understood that until this book came out. The writing and reading communities around children's literature are generous and kind to a fault. And I've already enjoyed the new readers, and enthusiasm that this book has encountered. What a wonderful thing that is.

Finally, thanks to my wonderful partner Fiona, and my daughter Essie, who is the finest reason for getting up in the morning, and writing stories, and reading stories, and singing songs, and being silly. Parents are just moments in their children's lives (of course they become a deep forever in ours) and this book is hers, even though she wasn't conceived when I wrote it, it's hers and it will be long after I am gone*.

*obviously not for a good while yet!