The Better Machine is almost here!

SUPER excited about this one. My very first book was a picture book – The Ballad of Dexi Lee illustrated by the incredible Lucy Culliton – and THE BETTER MACHINE will be my second. I feel incredibly lucky to have Michel Streich illustrate this tale. To say I am a HUGE fan is a complete understatement. People alway ask how do I choose illustrators and the answer is I don’t. That is the job of the publisher. I  have no reason to even speak to them – the whole process is managed by the publisher which in this case was the brilliant Beck Young – but I always find myself reaching out. Usually to tell them how grateful I am for all they have brought to the story. It’s such a thrill to see your characters brought to life. And I’m so in love with Moz and Vivian!

If you could put any thing in The Better Machine, what would it be?

Watch out for THE BETTER MACHINE. Available in all good book stores, October 1st.

I got a new hat!

Do you like my hat?

It was made by my talented friend Anne Kwasner. Anne is an artist and she makes many beautiful things. I asked her to make me a hat to wear to schools. And for when I tell stories. My hat helps me slip into other worlds. It’s magic like that. I guess it’s my magic hat!

Why not invite me to your school and I can wear my hat! There’s a whole menagerie of animals who’ve made themselves at home up there. We can play spot the zebra (clue – take a left-hand turn at my right eyebrow, meander past a bird or two, mosey past the big blue flower and you’ll find her…)

Pigs in a Pickle!

You may have heard, those pigs are in a pickle! Seems The Fox is suing them for defamation. The fox claims that book is a pack of lies and those pigs have ruined his reputation.  And he’s brought in the big guns – top silk Sue Chrysanthou!

It’s true. I’m, not making it up.

Check it out for yourself! https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQvnb57kjX1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Cover Reveal

Take a look at these cheeky pigs. That’s daring and adventurous Pongo on the left and cautious old Stink on the right.  But what’s that sneaky fox up to? Apparently there’s a shifty Shih Tzu you need to keep an eye on as well. It’s a jungle out there in the country. Who knew…

 

Vincent voted top ten read aloud by YKNR

What a thrill to see Vincent & The Grandest Hotel on Earth voted in the top 10 read aloud books for children of all time, along with the classics by E.B White, Enid Blyton, Astrid Lindgren, Kate DiCamillo and The Wild Robot’s Peter Brown. Your Kid’s Next Read is an online community with over 35,000 members (and excellent taste in read alouds, clearly). Thanks to YKNR & brilliant author Allison Tait for compiling. You can also listen to their podcast about what makes a great read aloud where Dr Boogaloo and The Girl Who Lost Her Laughter also gets a mention. Every book I write I write to be heard (or is that listened to?) The rhythm and musicality of language is something that completely delights my brain.

 

Meet Bartholomew Stagger

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The What On Earth Institute of Wonder comes out 31 August. I’m excited and nervous all at once…..

Illustration by Cathrin Peterslund. Design by Atticus Mordue

 

Competition Closed!

That’s it! Entries are now closed for the Grand Drawing Competition. Thank you to everyone who entered! The winner will be announced very shortly (Monday 27th July)  and pocket dog despatched as soon as possible. All entries will also be displayed on the website.  I can’t wait to show you the spectacular imaginations and talents of everyone who entered. Stay tuned!

Grand Competition

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It’s on!

A competition to design some new rooms for The Grandest Hotel on Earth!

Here’s what you need to do. Think up an idea for a new room. Draw it. Write a few lines telling me all about the room. And then email it to me: lisa@lisanicol.com.au

Entries close 15 July 2020. Due to that old corona virus, the deadline for entries is being extended until 22 JULY.  (There’s a lot of uncertainty when schools will be back and some teachers have requested a little more time)

All drawings will be displayed in a gallery on the website. And the winner of the BEST NEW ROOM drawing will receive their VERY OWN POCKET DOG!! ( It will not be living I’m afraid. It will be stuffed. But it WILL fit in your pocket!!). The winner will be announced on Friday the 17th of July. 

If you need a refresher of what rooms already exist at The Grand, you’ll need to reread Chapter 6!

Can’t WAIT to see all your drawings and ideas for rooms! Happy imagining everyone!

Rosie’s Drawing

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I got a lovely surprise in the mail the other day. A beautiful letter and a magnificent drawing from a girl called Rosie. Rosie said it was OK for me to share her picture. It’s a family portrait of everyone at The Grand. I think her likenesses of Rupert and Zelda are particularly wonderful. And how cute is Min!

Rosie suggested I write a sequel to Vincent. I often think about it. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see what happens. Rosie is a writer too. I’m looking forward to reading Rosie’s work one day.

Kakapo

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Recently, I was sitting at my desk in a bit of a funk. I was having problems with a story.

Big problems.

I couldn’t seem to get it to work no matter what I tried. I hated everything I was writing.  Maybe I don’t have any more stories, I worried. Fear curled up in the pit of my stomach like a sleeping snake.  So I just kept on writing  – anything! – trying not to disturb it.

Then one morning, early, while I was writing, writing, there was a scratchy kind of tapping noise at my office door.

I got up and opened it. And watched in disbelief  as a strange bird walked in, climbed up onto my desk and plonked itself next to my keyboard.

I had never seen a bird like it.

It was as big as a duck with owlish eyes and mossy green feathers.  And I don’t mean to be rude, but it was quite fat.

‘Well, since you seem to be all out of stories,’ said the strange bird, ‘how about you write one of mine?’

It can talk?

‘You better believe it,’ replied the bird. ‘And have I got a story for you.’

‘You do?’

‘I do.’

Well, I had to admit, I was intrigued. For a writer, that’s a good sign. So I inched towards my chair, trying not to go too close to the fat feathered creature, and sat down.

‘Ahem,’ I sorted of coughed, my hands hovering over the keyboard. ‘So..um.. what’s your name?’

‘Hector,’ said the bird, ‘And I am a kakapo. That’s K – A  – K – A – P – O.’

Glorious photo of a Kakapo by Mike Bodie