To everyone at the Rosalie Writers Festival:

I don’t know about you, but I had a load of fun dredging up some of the things I got up to when I was your age. From killer paper planes to all the different ways to fall off a bike, it was a real trip down memory lane.

It wasn’t all spectacular crashes, though. I managed to work in a quick talk on ‘how to put together a short story’, which might have given some of you a few useful tips & ideas.

So, thanks for having me at the school, and I hope to meet up with you all again!

Go here to see a special link on Simon’s site just for Rosalie kids.

Did you know …

… that during the festival, Mark Greenwood was very busy because Frane (Lessac) was in Darwin? So after slaving away each day at the festival, he had to go home and be cook, househusband, cleaner, animal carer and human taxi service. And no one heard him whinge once!

Here he is looking quite cheerful really. If you click on the photo you’ll see a bigger version. Are you in it?

And here’s a message Mark sent this week and asked me to pass on to you:

To the Rosalie students…

I was honored to be invited to the 2008 Rosalie Writer’s Festival.

You - the students - were so enthusiastic and well mannered.

The Rosalie staff made all the authors and illustrators feel very welcome.

I like festivals because it is also a chance for writers to meet and talk. We’re all very close friends. It was a rewarding experience for all of us to share our books and encourage your interest in reading.

Most of the students who came along to my sessions know I’m a bit of a storyteller.

Writing is really just telling a story on paper. But good writing can stimulate the imagination, contain sparkling dialogue, evoke deep emotion, tickle the funny bone or tingle the spine.

My message to all the Rosalie kids is:

Get hooked on reading. Find yourself a good book … one that takes you to places never imagined or shows you things that dazzle your mind.

Find a book that challenges you to think about the world and your place in it. Read a rollicking yarn that tweaks your sense of adventure. Find a book that inspires you to discover more.

A vast treasure of thoughts, deeds and dreams lies waiting to be discovered in books … and reading is the source of knowledge about writing.

Keep reading. Keep writing … and one day it will be one of you – our authors of the future – who will be telling kids how YOU wrote your book!

I’m off to the Crocodile Islands now!! Hmmm I can feel a story brewing!

Best wishes
Mark Greenwood

PS: The Crocodile Islands are off the coast of the Northern Territory in Arnhem land. Frané & I are making books with the Indigenous kids on one of the little islands called Millingimbi which is located 440 km east of Darwin and 206 km west of Nhulunbuy.

People of Rosalie Primary School, and I mean people, not the large, awkward, flat foots, the ones that stand tall, park anywhere and drink smelly stuff in big cups, not them, but you lot, the smaller, tastier folk who can read and write and laugh loud without embarrassment, yes, you lot, I love youse all.

Seriously, I go to lots of primary schools and your mob is about the best ever.

Some of you I can name out loud and say I think you are excellent and that when I’m done with this house I live in you can have it.

But even more seriously, thanks a lot.

Every time I visit Rosalie Primary I have the best fun and it makes me want to live a lot longer.

Yours on planet earth (almost)

Jon Doust

I thoroughly enjoyed myself at Rosalie.

Did I mention that on the Tuesday, prior to the festival, I was interviewed on 92.1 RTR-FM about my new book, and that I was attending the Rosalie Writer’s Festival. Rosalie was mentioned 2 or 3 times at least.

The children were so well behaved at the festival.

From the moment I arrived, with shouts of, ‘There he is! Mr Caddy! Mr Caddy! We are your helpers…’, I felt at home, and welcomed.

I must say it is a bit strange that my main character in Whammy! is Dave Thompson, the same name as the year 6 Teacher at Rosalie. Dave Thompson is brave, tough, fantastic, a real hero - the same as your one!

In case you didn’t make it to the evening event - Words and Wine - on Wednesday 21st May, Kate McCaffrey was our speaker. She sent this message today for Rosalie families:

Thanks for having me at Rosalie this year. It was a great night, even though I’d just arrived from Sydney that morning at 2.45am on a delayed flight - thanks Qantas - but I should probably whinge about that on my own blog.

I loved the festival atmosphere - it was indeed a Words and Wine night - though the words were largely my own and as for the wine - if I’d known about the raffle prizes well, then I’d have bought a bundle.

One of the best things about nights like these is catching up with other authors and feeling that the ‘Literary World’ is alive and thriving over here in WA (which I’m sure is almost a country of its own now!).

The other great part is speaking to readers - whether they be teenagers or their parents - and I was lucky enough to have both.

Thank you to the organisers and attendees who permitted me to talk at length about my favourite subject (the right response here is, of course, Australian literature - but for those who attended, you know I largely spoke about myself!!).

It was a pleasure and an honour! I hope others got as much from the evening as I did.

Cheers
Kate McCaffrey

I’d love to hear what you thought of the festival. Hallam came home on Tuesday and announced: Mum I want to be an author. How great is that?

Here are a couple of comments I got today from Rosalie:

Peter Humbert: Just want to say congratulations on such a successful and well run Writer’s Festival. I am hearing fantastic feedback from the students and teachers alike.

Judith Robinson: Well done to all the organisers and helpers. We were discussing some of the activities in the staffroom at lunchtime today - lots of positive feedback from children/staff absolutely loving some of the sessions and really being inspired. In fact a Year 1 student has just been in with a super book that he went home and wrote on Tuesday after one of the sessions.

I want more books about missions like zac power and some books about the anzac war and Egyptians and dinosaurs, outer space too! I would also more books about ben ten, star wars and Batman, animals and the airforce.- Max

I want more books about life because i dont know about life. I like books about starwars because I like Light Sabres. I would like more books about treasure and special types of rocks aswell!- Angus

I want more books about harry potter and I spy. It is very exciting.- Joel

I want more books about Wisaryoligy, History, Sports, Army, Zac Power, Shreck, Starwars, Harry Potter and the Air force, Transport and also rocks.- Ed

I want more stories about Zac Power and because i like the missions and ancient Egyptaians. I would also like more books about outer space, Asterix and diamonds, transport and the beach and animals that live in Antarctica like penguins!- Timothy

I want more stories about the Army and Zac Power and Captin Underpants and Wisardology and Pirateology and Dragonology, rocks and crystals, Transformers, transport and Ben Ten and Deltora Quest and outer space.- Ben

I want more books about Eygypt Tombs and pharos and more books about Dragons, Transformers and Batman.- Jacob

I want more stories about starwars lightsabres and space and Zac power and Asterix, Ispy, Captain Underpants Garfield and Airforce!- Riley

I want more books about weather because i want to learn. Also Cats and dogs, polar bears, penguins and Cheetas, Crystals and diamonds, Possums and tigers!!- Claudia

I want more books about the months of the year. I want to learn about it. Also Cats and dogs and animals in the antarctic & crystals and gems.- Emma

I want more non-fiction books about animals! I would also like books abou crystals and diamonds!- Hannah

I would like some more books on missions like zac power and deltora quest. I would like books on fantasy and magic like harry potter. Also books about history, army, airforce, Egypt and Tin-tin, animals, transport, outer space and rocks.- Oliver

I want more books about harry potter because it is magic! Also I would like books about starwars & Indiana Jones!- Peter

I want more stories about non-fiction, aswell as dogs, penguins and cats!- Raji

I want more books about peoples lives when they were young. Especialy Chapter books & transport!- Andrea

I want more stories about Star Wars with Light Sabres! I’d also like more books about the North Pole & creatures under water.- Levi

I want more books about dogs and puppies that are non-fiction! I would also like more books about horses, Egyptians, Ispy, Crystals, famous singers, guiness book of world records and stones.- Olivia

I want more chapter books on bonnie + sam. It is non-fiction. And about horses!- Samantha

I want more stories about dogs and cats and Garfeild.- Aimee

I want more books about captain underpants, because its funny. I would also like more books abou Garfeild and I spy!- Lachlan

I want more stories about the army and starwars and Lord Of The Rings, Ben ten, bears and batman!!- Daejahn

I liked the pictures that Wendy Binks drew. I would like to be an artist when I grow up.- Genevieve

Mark Greenwood told us about his adventure. He found Lasseter’s Diary and a box saying keep the box closed. He gave us clues.

1. Dig in campfire
2. Dig under fire
3. Dig in floor top end - Nick

I liked Mike Lefroy. He showed us the depth measurer and my mum was there. Mike helped us sing a sea shanty. We sang it as we pulled the rope for the sails. I liked him very much.- Rosie

Mike Lefroy showed our class and the other year one class about stuff and he sung a song about six sailors who were prisoners of Fremantle prison. He sung a Sea Shanty and he taught us about a ship.- Laura

Wendy had a book about emus and she brought her pottery with pictures of birds on it. She brought in her books.- Pearl

Mark Greenwood was interesting. He had books. He had gold nuggets in a box.- James

I liked Mike because he told us really interesting things. He also told us about the depth measurer and he told us about the cat of 9 tails. I really like Mike. He is really cool and we sang sea shanties and we sang Fifteen Pigs on a Pirate Ship Yo Ho Ho and a Packet of Chips.- Kate

Dear Wendy. I liked your pictures and I liked the emu pictures. It was funny when the dad emu had to find the baby.- Anton

I like Wendy’s pictures of emus because they do funny things.- Lars

I like the colours that Wendy had on her pictures. I like drawing castles.- Xue-Lin

Mike Lefroy, I liked your cat that was in the red bag and I like your rope.- Olivia

I like Wendy’s cup with a picture of an emu looking between his legs backwards. When I grow up I want to be an artist too.- Sean

I liked Wendy Binks because she made pots out of clay and she painted birds and koalas on them.- Ted

Mark Greenwood I liked your story about Lasseter and I liked when you showed us the gold.- Cameron

Mike Lefroy had the cat of 9 tails in a red bag. Kate whacked him with it.- Misha

Mark Greenwood told us about when Lasseter was 17 years old and went searching for gold and I liked it how he found gold.- Dom

Mark Greenwood found Lasseter’s diary and he also had a box that said do not open the box. He opened the box and there was gold in it.- Lauren

I like Mark Greenwood. I liked when he showed us the gold from Lasseter’s Reef.- Cambell

Mark Greenwood had gold he found and Lasseter’s diary that had the map to the gold.- Rebecca

I liked the bowls Wendy made and her funny pictures of emus. One was wearing sunglasses.- Hugo

Mike Lefroy told us about the spices from different countries because they wanted pepper on their food.- Lachlan

Mark Greenwood wrote books about stuff like gold and silver and spooky stories.- Ben

Danny: I would like stories about mechanical things and robots. I would also like a few books about wizards.

Nadine: I would like stories about dogs. They are my favorite things. If I had a dog I wouldn’t want it to poo ever.
Georgia: I would like stories about Australia because I live there.

Simon: I would like a shark story and a superman story. I want an insect, spiderman and dinosaur story.
Leila: I would like a story about rabbits because I have a rabbit at home and it’s my favorite animal. I would also like a story about robots. I’d also like a story about ghosts and scientists because we made some ghosts at school. I think scientists make potions. Also Star Wars.

Lachlin: I would like a story about surfing scientists because they make potions and lots of other things. They are crazy.

Emily: I would like a book about horses because I ride them. I would also like a book about acrobats.

Ben: I would like a story about superheroes who get killed. I would also like stories about mad scientists and Star Wars.

Meg: I would like stories about action things. I would also like stories about sports like soccer and stuff.

Jayson: I would like stories about dinosaurs because I used to like them and I still like them now. I would also like stories about volcanoes and ghosts.

Abbey: I would like a story about panda bears because they are my favorite animal. I would also like a story about dancing. I would also like a book about puppies and zebras and about a mouse, too. Also books about moons.

Claire: I would like a story about puppies and kittens. They would get born nicely. I would also like a book about butterflies because they’ve got nice patterns on their wings. Also a book about blending sounds (phonics). An example is “br”.

Kailen: I would like a story about robots and sharks. I already know one thing about robots, but not anything about sharks, except that they do eat meat. I would like Star Wars, dinosaurs, Indiana Jones and James Bond.
Thomas: I want a story about Indiana Jones. It would be an adventure story. I would also like a story about sea creatures. I would like a story about James Bond and dinosaurs.

Alex: I would like a story about whales, dinosaurs, sharks, humpback whales, and crocodiles. Also Indiana Jones.

Nicolas: I would a story about dinosaurs, Indiana Jones and sea creatures.

Peter: I would like a story about Indiana Jones and sea creatures. Also I would like a story about Nintendo 64’s and a Wii, dinosaurs and James Bond.

Joshua: I would like a story about ghosts. People would die in the story. I would like a story about dinosaurs because they would stomp on you, James Bond and Star Wars.

Amadis: I would like a story about Indiana Jones, horses, sea creatures, robots and science. I’d also like a story about counting and Xray stories. Also Star Wars and Eric Carle books. Also dolphins, seals and insects.

Sophie: I would like a story about flowers (the names of them), ghosts and fairies. I would also like books about different clothes in different countries, different languages, jewels and unicorns.

Sophia: I would like to read a book about rabbits. I would also like to read a book about horses.

By Subiaco Primary School Year 6, Upper 5.

Chris: I’d like to read books about action and fantasy.

Dan: I’d like read realistic fiction, something that I can relate to. I also really like sport books which have lots of sudden moments that you don’t expect and comes out of the blue.

Ben: I would like sporting books with an exciting ending. Endings like miracles and things that you don’t know are going to happen.

Doogs: I would like to read plain fantasy, just anything about fantasy. I also like mysteries where you have no idea how it’s going to end.

Emily: I would like to read about fantasy and horror. I also like comedy.

Ralph: I would like to read exciting books with action and a tad of fantasy. I like books that have normal people and then out of the blue they get turned into something else, like the style of Anthony Horowitz.

Aidan: I would like to read science fiction books with futuristic technology. I like stories with one main character who goes on a big adventure.

Brandon: I like adventurous books with lots of gadgets.

Louis: I like books with descriptive words that make it more interesting.

Uday: I like mystery books with a lot of suspense that keeps me on the edge. I also like realistic fiction with a bit of comedy.

Noah: I like to read drama and fantasy. I also like old history and adventure stories.

Isaac: I like stories with violence in them. I also like horror stories.

Mac: I like stories with comedy in them that relate to kids. I like adventure stories with fantasy in them.

Shabrina: I like spooky stories and comedy.

Mim: I like realistic fiction and fantasy that are really funny and very descriptive. I also like a really big twist at the end.

Izzy: I like romantic comedies with lots of cliffhangers.

Vanessa: I like romantic books that are funny and thrilling. I like horror stories with lots of suspense.

Dean: I like stories with lots of comedy and violence.

Josh: I like intense old war stories. I like scary thriller stories.
Jack: I like lots of violence, spies and interesting stories.

Bianca: I like old stories that are interesting. They make me read more and they are funny.

Tal: I like stories that read like an action movie.

Marika: I like horror suspense novels with a little bit of comedy in them.