Bernadette Kelly
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Posts
- Adventure in the wind
- And then there were three…
- Riley and the Curious Koala Blog Tour with Tania McCartney
- Tania McCartney Blog Tour Is On Now!
- Guest Blogger coming in November
- Visit to Canberra
- July 2010
- May Gibbs Fellowship
- Back to Winter
- EQUITANA MELBOURNE
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- Events (1)
- News (13)
- Uncategorized (16)
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Adventure in the wind
News | Posted by Bernadette on Tuesday 14 June 2011
So, the flights are booked and before I know it the day will be here! I’m off on an adventure of giant proportions this coming August and I expect to come back armed with stacks of pics and a whole mess of travel stories. Right now I’m trying to spend lots of time in the saddle training for my African horseback safari. Yes, that’s what I said and in case you can’t tell…I’m excited!
Sooooo looking forward to riding amongst herds of Wildebeest and Zebra, and getting up close to lion and Elephant…then straight after that I’m off to see some mountain gorillas in the jungle. It all seems unreal now but check back here after August to hear all about it and see some pics.
Meanwhile, the time flies by and I seem to be so busy I hardly get to update this blog anymore…plan on getting back here more often from now on…and hope to have news of new book projects soon…can’t say too much right now.
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And then there were three…
News | Posted by Bernadette on Tuesday 14 June 2011
I’ve been busy finding special homes for my beautiful ponies. With my daughter living away at uni and my son now spending his spare time on the ski slopes or his motorbike, I just don’t have enough time to ride so many horses. Last year my lovely little Tredway Cruise went off to live with Chloe and what a wonderful pair they are together. A few months back Doc settled in to his new home with Emily and they too are going from strength to strength.
So now my horsey companions are just three.There’s Tuck, who truly believes he owns the place and everybody in it, but what a character! He’s my oversized Naughty Norton for sure. And the elegant Cadence, named of course after Erica’s dressage horse from Riding High, and such a beautiful filly with a nature to match. She’s now started under saddle and going kindly for daughter Josie when she comes home from Uni to ride her. And my little star, Jaspar. He’s not so little any more and currently spending some time away from home to learn how to be a stock horse. I can’t wait for him to come home again, when I’ll be able to ride him for the first time. I have a really good feeling about Jaspar and I just know we’ll have heaps of fun together. I’ve been busy writing too…more news to come in my next post. To all my Riding High and Pony Patch readers, happy horsing around till then!
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Riley and the Curious Koala Blog Tour with Tania McCartney
News | Posted by Bernadette on Wednesday 17 November 2010
Riley and the Curious Koala Blog Tour with Tania McCartney
www.taniamccartney.com
ILLUSTRATING THE RILEY SERIES
A fabulous sneak peek at the illustrative process behind the Riley travelogue books with sensational illustrator Kieron Pratt.
Writing a book is great fun… but illustrating it is even more fun, especially when someone else who’s really clever does it for you.
My first Riley book – (Riley and the Sleeping Dragon, was illustrated by Canadian Mo Qovaizi. I never met Mo – he was based in Canada and me in Beijing at the time. So we did the entire book by email.
This worked out surprisingly well and Mo provided me charming illustrations that first brought Riley to life…
…but once I was ready for book two – Riley and the Dancing Lion, I had already returned to Australia and now looked back on Mo’s illustrations with old-time whimsy… something like Disney’s Steamboat Willy/Mickey Mouse incarnation, if you will.
But how to find a new, fresh talent to illustrate my second Riley book?
I first found acutely clever Canberran, Kieron Pratt, under a cabbage leaf on a cart trundling along a bumpily road to FunnyVille. He was wearing a loin cloth made of hilarity and clutched a computerised graphic artist’s pen that he was chomping on ferociously. Let’s just he changed my life (and that image has been burned into my retinas for life, too).
The illustrations Kieron brought to my Riley series still cause very embarrassing fits of laughter at my computer screen (think coffee spurted on keyboard… and mums who’ve had babies will also empathise) and kids just love them soooo much. At school readings, I’ve lost count of the times my reading has been swallowed up in a room full of laughter and pointing and giggling and general roustabouting, and let’s not even talk about the time Kieron joined me at a school to show the kids how he draws the Riley characters.
Thank goodness the school provided a naughty chair, is all I can say.
Working with Kieron on the illustrations for Riley and the Dancing Lion was a barrel of laughs and honestly some of the funnest time I have spent doing anything at all. Not only is he super talented, he is quite simply super funny – and his drawing processes were amazing to watch unfold.
For Riley and the Dancing Lion, Kieron drew a series of lions in various states of dance. We did virtually the entire book by email – whereupon I would send Kieron the text and he would create a sketch pertaining to that text. Here are some examples of the very first Chinese fan dancers Kieron drew…
I decided to go with the dancer in the dress, so Kieron sent me a more precise sketch of how each dancer would look (you can see here, he hasn’t done the eyes yet)… and then he did finals for all five dancers (with a variety of animals on their heads; don’t you love the monkey?), coloured in a variety of colours. This colour stage is flat – no highlights or detail yet.
When Kieron had finished adding highlights and special touches to the Chinese fan dancers, I placed them on the relevant page, and this is how they turned out in the end…
This kind of thing just went on and on between us. It was awfully good fun. For Riley and the Curious Koala – the brand new book being released in, like three days (!) – I asked Kieron to show me a selection of koalas and this is what he sent me…
I then had to choose which one I liked the best and I must say, this was difficult! We also talked about ways we could hide the koala in the photographic scenes, because part of the allure of this story is that Riley can’t find koala, yet koala is all around him.
Kieron came up with some fabulous ways to hide koala – both literally and in an abstract fashion… can you spot him in this photo final for page 19?
As you can see, Kieron had not only the task of drawing characters for the Riley books – he also had to insert them into photos and aeroplanes, in sand and on water, in Ferris wheels and clouds… using his most clever of cleverness to do so… I really can’t understand how he achieves such illustrative achievement. He’s an achiever!
In Riley and the Curious Koala, our hero has a ball searching for Koala all over Sydney, and Kieron’s illustrations once again bring my third Riley book to life – I hope you love the story and pictures as much as we had fun working on them. The humour, colour and style is something I’m really proud of – and still have an aching giggling belly over.
Monday 15 November
Writing Out Loud Blog
AUTHOR INTERVIEW http://writingloud.blogspot.com/
Monday 15 November
The Book Chook
CRAFTING A BOOK USING PHOTOS
Monday 15 November
Handmade Canberra Blog
BOOK GIVEAWAY! Win Riley and the Curious Koala! Run!
Tuesday 16 November
Dee Scribe
MARKETING A SELF-PUBLISHED BOOK
Tuesday 16 November
Reading Upside Down
A CURIOUS LIFE
Tuesday 16 November
Australian Women Online
HOW TO SELF-PUBLISH A CHILDREN’S SERIES AND REMAIN SANE
Wednesday 17 November
Little People Books
READING TO LITTLE ONES
Wednesday 17 November
Miss Helen Writes
TRAVEL, BOOKS AND CHILDREN
Thursday 18 November
Soup Blog
STORY WRITING IDEAS
Thursday 18 November
Bernadette Kelly’s Blog
ILLUSTRATING THE RILEY SERIES
Thursday 18 November
Posie Patchwork: The Blog
EXTENDING YOUR BRAND and BOOK GIVE AWAY!
Friday 19 November
Sally Murphy’s Writing for Children Blog
APPROACHING PUBLISHERS
Saturday 20 November
Sue Whiting’s Blog
THE PROS AND CONS OF SELF-PUBLISHING
Saturday 20 November
Sheryl Gwyther’s Blog
FROM BEIJING TO CANBERRA
Saturday 20 November
Kids Book Review
LIVE QUESTION TIME WITH TANIA!
The conversation will take place all day long – just post a question and Tania will answer.
Sunday 21 November
Sandy Fussell’s Stories are Light Blog
AN INTERVIEW WITH RILEY!
Sunday 21 November
Kids Book Review
RILEY AND THE CURIOUS KOALA BOOK GIVEAWAYS!
Sunday 21 November, in the evening
Tania McCartney Blog
BOOK LAUNCH PARTY
Join Tania as she takes you through her book launch party, held at Dalton’s Bookstore in Canberra City. There will be photos, stories about the launch and lots of fun!
—END POST—
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Tania McCartney Blog Tour Is On Now!
News | Posted by Bernadette on Wednesday 17 November 2010
TOUR DATES HERE
Monday 15 November
Writing Out Loud Blog
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Monday 15 November
The Book Chook
CRAFTING A BOOK USING PHOTOS
Monday 15 November
Handmade Canberra Blog
BOOK GIVEAWAY! Win Riley and the Curious Koala! Run!
Tuesday 16 November
Dee Scribe
MARKETING A SELF-PUBLISHED BOOK
Tuesday 16 November
Reading Upside Down
A CURIOUS LIFE
Tuesday 16 November
Australian Women Online
HOW TO SELF-PUBLISH A CHILDREN’S SERIES AND REMAIN SANE
Wednesday 17 November
Little People Books
READING TO LITTLE ONES
Wednesday 17 November
Miss Helen Writes
TRAVEL, BOOKS AND CHILDREN
Thursday 18 November
Soup Blog
STORY WRITING IDEAS
Thursday 18 November
Bernadette Kelly’s Blog
ILLUSTRATING THE RILEY SERIES
Thursday 18 November
Posie Patchwork: The Blog
EXTENDING YOUR BRAND and BOOK GIVE AWAY!
Friday 19 November
Sally Murphy’s Writing for Children Blog
APPROACHING PUBLISHERS
Saturday 20 November
Sue Whiting’s Blog
THE PROS AND CONS OF SELF-PUBLISHING
Saturday 20 November
Sheryl Gwyther’s Blog
FROM BEIJING TO CANBERRA
Saturday 20 November
Kids Book Review
LIVE QUESTION TIME WITH TANIA!
The conversation will take place all day long – just post a question and Tania will answer.
Sunday 21 November
Sandy Fussell’s Stories are Light Blog
AN INTERVIEW WITH RILEY!
Sunday 21 November
Kids Book Review
RILEY AND THE CURIOUS KOALA BOOK GIVEAWAYS!
Sunday 21 November, in the evening
Tania McCartney Blog
BOOK LAUNCH PARTY
Join Tania as she takes you through her book launch party, held at Dalton’s Bookstore in Canberra City. There will be photos, stories about the launch and lots of fun!
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Guest Blogger coming in November
News | Posted by Bernadette on Friday 24 September 2010
Remember to check in here on Friday November 19th. The talented Tania McCartney will be my guest blogger as part of the celebrations for the release of her new book, Riley and The Curious Koala -A journey round Sydney with a blog tour.
Check out Tania at: taniamccartney.com
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Visit to Canberra
News | Posted by Bernadette on Monday 13 September 2010
Speaking to Students at Erindale Library, Canberra, during Book Week 2010
So the month of August has been and gone, and so has my May Gibbs Fellowship in Canberra. To all the wonderful people from the May Gibbs children’s Literature Trust, I cannot thank you enough for allowing me the luxury of an extended time to work on my current writing project. Thanks in particular to Virginia West, who came to my rescue when I needed her, and to Nan Halliday for keeping me in touch and informed during the lead up to my visit.
One of the highlights for me was the opportunity to speak in libraries and schools during book week. It’s great to see so much enthusiasm for books and writing out among the community and students. Thankyou to all the wonderful students and teachers who made me feel so welcome during my visits. It was such a pleasure to be able to share some of my experiences as a writer with you all.
My month in Canberra was made extra special by the people from the Canberra branch of the Children’s Book Council, thanks for your warm welcome ladies! What a thrill it was to visit the Lu Rees Archives at Canberra university, and how wonderful to see my books included in such a comprehensive collection of Australian children’s Literature.
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July 2010
News | Posted by Bernadette on Friday 9 July 2010
It’s been ages since my last post here. Life is so busy and so fast the time slips by without me realising.
I was very sad last week to have to say goodbye to my lovely Spider, my beautiful Australian Stock Horse. He was only four years old but had developed a problem with his bones in his front legs when he was only two. We tried everything we could but he was quite lame and in pain so it was time to say goodbye. I will always remember him. He was the tiny, doddery foal who I fell in love with the very first time I laid eyes on him as a newborn. For the first day he could not get up on his feet without my help but he grew into a cheeky and lovable palomino who loved people.
On a brighter note, Cadence has now been started under saddle and is going well. She is very quiet and seems to enjoy the attention she gets when she is being ridden by either myself or my daughter, Josie. Jaspar is lagging behind but his turn will hopefully arrive soon. Doc is getting very little work now that Josie is off at university and Tuck is being ridden almost daily by Valentina, a young friend of mine who is visiting all the way from Italy. He and I have been out on a few navigation rides, which has been fun. The talented and beautiful Tredway Cruise, my other little Morgan horse, now has a new home around the corner from me with Chloe. He and Chloe are having a great time getting to know each other and I know they have a fantasic future together.
The Riding High novels are doing just that. Books five to eight of the series have just been sold to Capstone in America, where they join books one to four. Here in Australia with Black Dog Books, more exciting news about Riding High is in the wind…look here for future announcements!
In just a few weeks I will be off to visit Canberra on my May Gibb’s adventure. I will be meeting people from the Children’s Book Council of New South Wales and children from the local area. As well as catching up with lots of Canberrians, my plan is to work really hard on my next book, a young adult novel. At present I am busy preparing for my trip and making arrangements for all at home while I am away. A month away is a long time – while I am very excited to be going I am also going to miss my children and my animals.
I hope everyone is enjoying the best of what winter in Australia has to offer. If you happen to live in Canberra, maybe I will see you there!
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May Gibbs Fellowship
News | Posted by Bernadette on Monday 8 February 2010
Exciting news! I have been awarded a fellowship from the May Gibbs Children’s Literature Trust. This will involve a month long visit to Canberra In August. What heaven, a month to focus on writing and visiting schools. I’m looking forward to meeting lots of Canberra school students, as well as having a chance to explore our capital city.
The first four titles of the Riding High series are now on sale in the United States. The books have been given fresh new hardcovers and Making the Grade will be known as Courage To Ride.
Also on sale in the USA are my Pony Patch books. They are in hardcover and the series has been retitled Pony Tales. Losing Norton has been retitled as Who Stole Norton, and Norton’s Blue ribbon is known as Norton’s First Show.
And an update on my horses at home…My daughter and I have been working on the two young horses, Jaspar and Cadence. Cadence went to her first show in November last year and behaved brilliantly. Both are learning how to wear a bridle and saddle, stop and turn, and both have been sat on. They have been very good and seem to enjoy all the attention. They have both had a ride in the horse float and have been taught to work on the lunge. Cadence has now progressed to working with long reins – Jaspar’s turn next.
The rest of the horses are having an easy life. No competitions, just an occasional trail ride, and they seem to enjoy going out. I hope all my Australian readers had a lovely summer holiday and have settled back into school life. Before we know it, it will be holiday time again, with Easter upon us.
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Back to Winter
News | Posted by Bernadette on Thursday 18 June 2009
Those of you with horses to look after know that winter is not always about having fun on horseback. Riding is still great, of course, and the ponies are always wonderful, but it’s cold outside and sometimes it’s harder to make the effort to get out and do stuff. The horses are muddy, and long winter coats are harder to groom than glossy, sleek summer ones. But with the extra work comes plenty of reward as the competition season is at its peak in the winter months.
For me, this winter means navigation rides, my Morgan, Cruise, and I have again teamed up with our friends, Andrea and her quarter horse, Commanche. We rode our first nav ride for the season last month at Maryborough and then the next day at Beaufort. Both were great rides and we even managed a third place at Beaufort so it was nice to bring home a ribbon. next one is at Echuca, where we will be riding through the beautiful Barmah forest.
The other ponies are mostly just hanging out in their paddocks with not much work to do. Jaspar and Cadence are now 20 months old and looking like horses instead of foals. Both are very quiet and easy to handle so should be no trouble when the time comes to train them for riding. Bickham has a new home with my friend, Diane, to be mated with her lovely young stockhorse stallion, Merool Flashboots.
Spider is resting in the paddock. Now 16 hand high and almost four he has grown up to be a beautiful big boy. Tuck and Doc are basically just having a bit of a holiday and not being ridden too much, but that will change when my daughter Josie finishes year 12 in November.
In my book world the Pony Patch series is soon to be re-released as a collection with a cute new cover, and exciting news, there will be a new picture book out next year.
I now have a page on Facebook so take a look, friends! Also on Twitter as ‘Pony Author’.
Happy reading everyone!
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EQUITANA MELBOURNE
News | Posted by Bernadette on Friday 5 December 2008
Were you lucky enough to make it to Equitana this year? I was. Equitana is a celebration of all things equine. Last year’s devastating attack of Equine influenza in our country meant that Equitana had to be postponed from 2007 until 2008. Well, was it worth the wait? Absolutely!
The venue was the Melbourne Showgrounds and I was lucky enough to be invited to be part of it with Saddleworld Australia. For four days I had the chance to catch up with readers and talk to them about my Riding High and Pony Patch books. I was kept busy signing – everyone wanted to buy a book. Some wanted stocking fillers for children and friends and some just wanted them for themselves. Lots of you had already read some or all of the books and some of you even bought books in from home for me to sign!
As well as plenty of book signing action, I got to watch the World Cup Showjumping event, which was won by Olympian Laurie Lever. I also had the chance to see a demonstration by well known trainer and bush poet, Guy Maclean. What a wonderful way he has with his beautifully trained horses and he’s a born entertainer too. Olympian eventers, Megan Jones and Clayton Fredericks, proudly sporting their silver medals from Athens, were also at the Saddleworld store.
There was so much to see and do at Equitana that it was impossible to fit it all in. Can’t wait till the next one in 2010 so I can catch what I missed this time!