Ready to Ramble?
Here we go again. (Or here I go again. On my own. Going down the only road I’ve ever known.)
Katrina Germein is an Australian best-selling author of award-winning picture books such as Big Rain Coming, the My Dad Thinks He’s Funny series, and the CBCA Honour book, Bev and Kev. Her recent release, One Little Duck, is shortlisted for a CBCA Book of the Year Award and a Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Award. New titles in 2024 include Little Book Baby, My Dad Thinks He’s a Scream, and Fabulous Frogs.
Hello.1 Welcome!
This month’s newsletter snuck up on me. June snuck up on me. This edition is another ramble of ideas that meander along and hopefully mean something. We should probably all agree that Thiryt-two Pages has settled into its place on Substack as a loose but genuine look into picture book life. I do love writing it. It helps to loosen my writer's mind. Something else I often do as a writing warm-up is a picture book critique; I read someone else’s manuscript. I’m a member of a SCBWI critique group so there’s a weekly story to assess from one of our group members. I find it a useful way to start a writing day. Critiquing has me pausing to think about why a story is working or isn’t. Why a sentence flows or doesn’t. Which characters engage me or don’t. And why a narrative feels complete or lacking. Then, almost without thinking, I take that curiosity to my work in progress. Being part of a critique group is not just about the feedback you receive. Many times I’ve read work that feels flat and when I analyse why I realise that I often make the same mistakes. Of course, you can do a similar thing with a published book but they’re more polished so the process is less gritty and less sticky.
I’m eager to see what feedback I receive from my crit group on my latest manuscript. When I shared a previous version no one understood it. (Good to know!) They made comments like, This is different to your usual voice. I’m not quite sure about the character’s motivation. Interesting beginning but I found it a little hard to follow from there. Then I sent it to another friend who said she wondered if I’d had a stroke. Um. No. Just trying something new, unsuccessfully apparently. But I’m ready for Round Two.
This industry is partly a numbers game and trialling fresh ideas helps. The more you write (and polish and persevere) and the more you submit, the greater your chances of being published. Obvious really, but sometimes aspiring writers pin all their hopes on one little story. Occasionally it works but… Stories can be hard to sell.
In April when I was signing copies of Little Book Baby across Adelaide one bookseller said something lovely. She proudly announced that when people ask if the store will price match larger discount stores she chooses to reply, “No. We charge what the book is worth.” What a wonderful answer.
I have a list of notes on my phone about possible newsletter ideas but today I’m scooting around all the juicy ones. (Can you tell?) To use an annoying expression it’s because, “I don’t have capacity right now.”
One of the notes on my phone says Disappointing civetdy which is some kind of typo but I’ve no idea what for. Anyone know?
I also have a note on my phone which says, ‘Cry when writing poetry’ which I know is a reference to me blubbering through a poem I wrote during last month’s writing retreat. I thought I was writing a happy verse but when it came my turn share, I was crying. Still not sure what happened but I haven’t got the capacity to unpack that right now. (Unpack! See what I did there?)
The next point on my phone says, ‘The ego of editors’. Whoa! Not touching that right now but I’ll leave it for when I’m feeling brave. It’s not how it sounds.
Tadah! Look at this. A new book.
My Dad Thinks He’s a Scream is due for release this September. Orange because, Halloween! I like that the first book in the series has a (muted) orange cover and now we have a (bright) orange cover because I never envisaged a series when My Dad Thinks He’s Funny was born. It’s a wonderful surprise when a book spores something larger than you ever imagined, and I’m beyond lucky to work with genius illustrator Tom Jellett. Thank you to everyone who has embraced the My Dad books. I love you and can’t wait to share this new one. Here’s the Walker Books spiel.
From the bestselling team, Katrina Germein and Tom Jellett, comes the spookiest addition to the 'My Dad' series. Guaranteed to put you in good spirits! Dad’s ghoul, calm and collected and he takes scare of that trick-or-treating business in this dead funny booooo-k. Because when you’ve got it, haunt it. Come on in. The ghost is clear!
Spotlight Picture Book
Each month I include a Thirty-two Pages focus picture book. So here’s June’s. It is the same review I shared on Instagram so scroll past if you’ve read it, or take this as another reminder to seek it out.
Published last year, how did I miss this? A Friend for George is a beautifully constructed picture book filled with action, tension, emotion, and gentle humour. The initial theme of loneliness is handled with a light touch so readers will empathise with the main character George rather than pity him. George is an endearing, scruffy dog who wishes he had a friend but loves living by the sea and jumping and skipping over rocks. When George befriends a little fish in a rock pool, he names it Claude and can’t stop smiling. But when the rockpool disappears at high tide George sets out to find, and capture, Claude. Skillfully illustrated, I love the textures of the ocean and sky and the colourful sea creatures. The illustrations show the expanse of both the sea and Claude’s sadness. His glum little face in a small fish bowl made me think of all the millipedes, moths, and slaters I’ve seen carried around in cardboard boxes by well-meaning young bug lovers over the years. There are so many lessons in this story, should you choose to explore them. Their power lies in Evan’s ability to weave them gently throughout the narrative rather than smack you in the face with them. This sweet story is fun and engaging before all else so readers and educators can choose how many layers they wish to explore. The themes that stood out to me were the ocean, kindness, friendship, and freedom. A gorgeous picture book. 💙
Lastly, some lovely news. I was delighted to see One Little Duck shortlisted for a Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Award (Three to 5 years) this week. It’s an extra thrill because Danny Snell and I first spoke about creating a duck book together in 2019 when we were in Melbourne receiving a Speech Pathology Award for Let’s Go Strolling. It feels like a special circular acknowledgment to be on the list together again.
I said lastly because I’ll list my upcoming events below. I posted them in the previous newsletter so you may wish to sign off now.
Thanks for rambling with me. (Was fun, wasn’t it?)
Love Katrina xx
I’ll be presenting at the SLASA and CBCA SA | 2024 Conference: Captivate, Connect and Curate in June. My session is titled ‘Captivating Readers, an author’s perspective Placing young readers at the centre of the writing process’. You can read the full description in the program.
Also, on the same day (!) I’ll be a part of this, "To celebrate the South Australian Launch of the national Juvenilia Exhibition, Unley Libraries is hosting a Creatives' Showcase. Join us to meet and greet some of SA's best children's authors and illustrators. This is the perfect event for budding writers and artists, those looking to become published and families who value rich children's literature.”
Apologies for the Whitesnake reference. I couldn’t resist.
So value your comments and yes, critique groups are worth gold.
Civetdy is an excellent challenge … could be ‘cavity’ perhaps? (About a disappointing trip to the dentist?!) Congratulations on the shortlisting. 🌟