Contributors

Sunday, June 13, 2010

What I'm grateful June 11...


Today I’m grateful for the staunch women who inspire me:
1. JUDITH RIDGE: From memory I first met Judith at the Children’s Book Council of Australia conference in Sydney in 2006. My three days at the CBCA conference as a keynote speaker and panelist helped confirm for me my need to leave academia and write full-time. I wanted to be like all to those happy and content teacher /librarians and childrens book authors (OK so I’ve since made a career as an adult novelist but I still got out of academia!). Since then my work and social life has crossed Judith’s on numerous occasions, most recently at the Indigenous Writers Night at Blacktown Arts Centre, which Judith coordinate. Now, in between writing her blog and tweeting endlessly, she manages to easily fulfil the role of Western Sydney Young People's Literature Officer, and in that role she is helping us coordinate the launch of the Twugia anthology. I tell you, I am grateful this deadly woman knows how to multitask!
2. TIA ROSS: Tia is the long-serving conference director of the Black Writers Reunion and Conference held each year in the US.I first met Tia in 2008 at the Tampa conference, and have since been in awe of her ability to pull together such a mammoth event each year. I have been to writers’ conferences, festivals and other arty gatherings all around Australia and across the globe and I tell you this woman is one of the best conference organisers I have ever had the pleasure to work with. If you’re planning a conference, you need Tia on your team! As I head off to Atlanta shortly, I am grateful for having had Tia coordinate my workshops again this year.
3. ROSIE SCOTT: If you’re interested in Australian literature then you MUST read Rosie Scott. I’m not saying that because I love her dearly and she’s a writing mentor of mine. I’m saying it because I’ve read most of her novels including Glory Days, Lives on Fire, Movie Dreams and Feral City. But my favourite: Faith Singer. Today I was grateful for dinner with Rosie. Every time I leave our dinners I feel inspired about life generally. Check out Rosie’s work here.
4. MUM (ELSIE): My mum amazes me with her generosity and compassion, at least for me. I am so incredibly lucky and grateful for her every day (even if I don’t show it).
5. AUNTY PHYLLIS: My Aunty Phyllis is possibly the kindest woman on the planet. I don’t think I’ve ever heard her raise her voice or get cranky, and certainly never at me. I’m grateful for having her in my life, as a reminder of how I can be a much kinder person myself. I’m especially grateful for the lovely texts she sends me out of the blue, just to say hello. [Today’s pic of Mum, Aunty Phyllis and I]

4 comments:

Misrule said...

Hello lovely! I'm very grateful for you, too! But we did actually meet a few times before 2006, although I'm not surprised you don't remember. You meet a LOT of people and it wasn't until the Conference that we really talked and started to get to know each other. I'm proud to call you a friend and am thrilled at the opportunity to work together—with much more to come!

Hugs and cheers to you, my deadly friend!

Judith xoxox

tia said...

What an awesome compliment & honor. Thank you, chica. I ♥ you too. You already know you're one of my she-ros as well. :) Can't wait to see you--8 days! xoxo

Anonymous said...

Glad to see your recognition of the women who inspire you. love your books. Aunties Day this year is 25 july, a good time for us all to honour our Aunties - again!

Dr Anita Heiss said...

Thank you for the heads-up on Aunties day... I will have to remember that and call my Aunties! Much peace, Anita