What a fantastic night. Thank you to Joy, Dorothy and the team at Berkelouw.  It is such a thrill to see my book on a shelf in a shop. The next step will be to see if people buy it

It’s like an exciting adventure.

Wendy

Lots of exciting things have happened in the last few months.

1. 19th Feb- Launched Bollywood Dreams at Berkelouw Books in Leichhardt. 95 people there and we sold 52 books.

2. 20th Feb- Radio interview with Anita Barar Hindi channel on SBS radio.

3. 6th March- Radio interview with Chris Lewis- local station in Adelaide.

4. 11th March- Radio interview with Don Goldsmith on coast FM 88.7 Adelaide.

5. 18th March- I started Bollywood Dance lessons with my daughter. I’m looking for new ideas.

6. 25th March- I joined ASA, CBCA, SBWI and Society of Women’s Writers.

7. 30th March- Interview with Mary Powis from North Shore Times Newspaper.

8. 31st March- Photo taken for the paper.

9. 2nd April- Gave author talk at Lindfield Library as part of Youth Week.

10. 5th April – Mail out to schools.

11. 8th April-  Received distribution report from Dennis Jones and Associates. Feb- 275 books & March 236 books.

12. 10th April- Article printed in North Shore Times titled ‘First find your dream and then live it.’

13. 14th April- Flier for Good Reading Magazine linking Bollywood Dreams with the HSC english theme of belonging.

14. 15th April- Dee White wrote a lovely review in Buzz Words.

15. 15th April- I taught a one day creative writing workshop for kids at Ku-ring-gai Arts Centre

16. 16th April- Asked to do a radio interview with Jane Arakawa on FM 99.3 about finding your dream.

17. 20th April- Taught another one day creative writing workshop at KAC

18. 20th April- Part of Dee White’s review was printed in Pass It On.

19. 22nd April- Taught another one day creative writing workshop at KAC

20. 5th May- Barbara Brown (editor of The Reading Stack) wrote a terrific review of Bollywood Dreams.

21. 4th June- Chitra Sidarshan wrote a great review in Indian Link newspaper titled ‘Lessons in Integration’.

22. 28th July – Now I am teaching a ‘writing for teenagers’ course at Ku-ring-gai Art Centre in Roseville. It runs from 4 – 6 every Tuesday in term times.

23.  12th July to 27th July – My husband and I did a trip in the Kimberleys, driving along the Gibb River Road, staying at stations along the way. We travelled from Darwin to Broome. It was a great experience. I got lots of ideas for stories.

24.  27th, 29th and 31st July- My interview was shown on TVS  community television with Joy Hruby and Raj Natarajan on Joy’s World. We talked about Bollywood Dreams and they put in some clips of bollywood dancing too.

25.  24th August-  Children’s Book Council of Australia – Book Week School’s Luncheon. I was one of the authors involved in the schools luncheon held on the Steyne boat in Darling Harbour.

26. 25th August – I did school visits to Ku-ring-gai High School and also Mosman High.

27. 26th August- I did a school visit to Cheltenham Girl’s High.

28. 27th August- I did a school visit to Manly Selective High.

29. 30th August- I was an author involved in the Children’s Book Council day at the Australian Museum in Sydney.

30. 22nd September- Found out that 3 of my students won prizes in the Forestville Young Writer’s Competition!

31. 6th October- I taught a workshop, ‘creative writing for kids’ at Ku-ring-gai Arts Centre in the Vacation Program.

32. 12th October- I found out “Bollywood Dreams” has been short listed in the Society of Women Writer’s Biennial Book Award! Winners are to be announced at their Nov meeting at State Library in Sydney on 11th November.

33. 14th October- I taught another workshop for Ku-ring-gai Arts Centre Vacation Program.

34. 17th October- I was a judge for the Miss Bollywood Australia Beauty Contest at Riverside Theatre in Parramatta. The other 2 judges were Mr Raj Natarajan (Oz Indian Entertainment) and Ms Farar Shah (Mango Dance)

35. 20th October – Term 4 starts for “Creative Writing for teens” classes on Tues at Ku-ring-gai Arts Centre.

36. 6th November- Applied to be an extra on the ‘Step Mom’ Bollywood movie being filmed in Sydney this month. I saw the article in the paper.

37. 11th November- Went to the NSW State Library for the Society of Women Writers luncheon meeting. I took my mum. I was presented with a Commended Certificate for Junior Fiction in the Biennial Book Awards. It was very exciting!

38. 18th November- Day on the set of a Bollywood Movie, ‘Step Mom’.

39. 2nd December- CBC Xmas Party at Mosman RSL. Heard Kate Forsythe speak on why fantasy is important.

40. 9th December- Society of Women Writers meeting – did workshop with Libby Hathorn.

2010

1. 6th January- I taught a one day workshop at KAC ‘Writing for kids’

2. 22nd January- I taught another writing workshop at KAC for kids.

3. 1st and 2nd February – Term 1 starts for ‘Creative Writing for Teens’ at KAC.

4. Article in Newswrite Feb/March edition – members story.

5. 11th Feb – Visit to Films and Casting Temple re script.

6. 25th Feb- Author talk at Sacred Heart School in Pymble.

7. 12th March- Taught a day workshop at Mosman Prep School as part of the Harbourside G & T Network.

8. 21st March – Attended the book launch of ‘Fear Factor Terror Incognito’ at Hughendon Hotel.

9. 31st March- Attended the IBBY dinner at Beecroft at Robin Morrow’s house for International Children’s Book Day.

10. 1st April – Took Mark to see “Merchants of Bollywood” at State Theatre.

11. 8th April- I taught a writing workshop for kids at Ku-ring-gai Art Centre in Roseville.

12. 14th April- Gave a member’s talk at the Society of Women Writer’s Luncheon at the Mitchel Library.

13. 16th – 25th April – Went on a trip to Arhnam Land NT with a group from the Fred Hollows Foundation. I went with a writing friend, Jenni Jackson. A fantastic trip.

14. 30th April- Attended book launch for Belinda Murrell and Kate Forsyth at Berkelouw Books Balgowlah.

15. 3rd May – Term 2 started for KAC ‘creative writing for teens’ classes Mon and Tues afternoons.

16.  12th May- Marketing meeting at Karen Robertson’s house with some of my CBC friends.

17. 20th May- Spent the day at the Sydney Writers Festival and met some of my Darjeeling friends for lunch. Great day.

18. 3rd June- Attended the ‘I did it my way’ session at the NSW Writers Centre.

19. 3rd July- I was on a panel at the Children’s and YA Festival at the NSW Writers centre. Susanne Gervay invited me. On our panel was Oliver Phommavan, Brian Cook, Susanne and I.

20. 7th July- Taught a day writing workshop for KAC vacation program.

21. 10th July- Went to Canberra and did a workshop with Virginia Lowe on ‘Create a Kid’s Book’ at the ACT Writers Centre.

22. 12th July- Taught another day writing workshop for the KAC vacation program.

23. 19th July – Term 3 started at KAC for my ‘creative writing for teens’ classes Mon and Tues afternoons.

24. 21st July- CBC Northern Sydney Sub branch committee meeting.

25. 25th July- Attended book launch of Toni Brisland’s new book at Berkelouw books Leichhardt. Demi Chat and the Kent Street Mystery.

26. 28th July- CBC Northern Sydney Sub branch meeting at Belrose Library. Catherine Hammond was the guest speaker.

27. 10th August- I was part of a terrific ‘Kid’s Literature Day’ at Mater Maria College in Warriewood. I gave 2 workshops and was part of a panel in the hall.

28. 11th August- I helped out at the CBC Author Afternoon Teas at Waitara Public School. It went very well.

29. 17th August-  Author Talk at Abbotsleigh with Laurine Croasdale and Jenny Hale.

30. 7th September- ‘Lunch with the Stars’ at St Pats Manly for Book Week organised by the CBC. I am looking after the 2 tables we sponsered from Stewart House.

31. 17th-19th Sept – SCBWI Conference.

32. 22nd September- CBC meeting at Manly Library.

33. 5th October- Teaching a one day writing workshop for KAC vacation program.

34. 8th October-Teaching a one day writing workshop for KAC vacation program.