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Sorry, I’ve been distracted again with another DOT drawing challenge and been introduced to a wonderful  illustrator and his blog.

I love the idea of his book “Julia’s House for Lost Creatures” and the look:  Ben’s style appears simple but isn’t – it’s clean, concise but clear.

If I don’t win a copy, I’ll be buying one – it’s on my wish list for my two little granddaughters who adore any sort of ‘creature’ and would love to fill their house with them!

 

#FrancesMacaulayForde  #BenHatke   #JuliasHouseForLostCreatures  #DOTDrawingChallenge

 

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EFrancesPortrait1BW Rambling on…

 

For THROWBACK THURSDAY I thought I’d post this piece, written way back in 2008.

 

A Trilogy of Creativity

Imagine a film culture that values and celebrates their writers – as well!

Where the film opens with  ‘A Film By A Brilliant Writer’  in HUGE letters….  

Wait… wait… I’m visualizing….   

Imagine if the writer was credited first – just as the script came first!   It should be standard in every contract.

Imagine if, in all the publicity, as many times as the producer/director are mentioned – so is the writer!

A trilogy of creativity! 

At the very least, equal status and consideration, even listed before the others! 

I know – I know… often the script is taken and the writer never consulted again while others input their talents.

That’s where writers get lost and forgotten – while everyone else is contributing. 

But in the end, imagine if the world remembered the root – how the tree grew from a tiny seed and who planted that seed in the beginning…

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It’s not just a case of reminding those in the industry of the contribution a writer makes but also, informing the public – for them it would be a subliminal statement of value.

Once the mind-set of valuing the writer is established, everything else will follow:  

            the time (money) to develop scripts,

            the appreciation of the time true craft takes

            the education/practice required to deliver the skills of screenwriting.  

No-one expects a novel to be written in 3 months (rare).  Nor do we expect them to go straight from the writer to the printing press.

We know novels need to be edited and edited again and again, throughout which the author needs to be consulted and considered. 

And when the novel/book is finally printed, we revere and promote the author as creator – even send them on book tours, because we realize and fully acknowledge their involvement in the final product.  

The author is often what sells the book – once you’ve read one you want to read more of the same quality.

Imagine if we had the general public going to films by their favorite writer?

Imagine if screenwriters were feted in the promotion of the film on a level with its directors and producers? 

What a wondrous world for screen writers that would be.

A trilogy of creativity!

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2008

#FrancesMacaulayForde  #Screenwriting  #TrilogyOfCreativity

 

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Last week I attended a masterclass with illustrator Alison Lester.  So inspiring I totally forgot to take photos to share the experience (sorry) but have a look at her website and the wonderful 25+ books Alison has been involved in either writing or illustrating.

I came home with two beautiful books signed by Alison to my grandies:  Kissed by the Moon  was recommended for my 19 month old by Alison and Imagine with a sparkly cover things to do while we read, for my 5 year old.  

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Kissed by the Moon #AlisonLester © 2014

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Imagine by Alison Lester #AlisonLester © 2014

When I read each of these for the first time, I got shivers of sheer enjoyment from the beautiful illustrations and simple but so evocative wording – hard to do.

I confess, I was not aware of Alison before the class but I’m now a HUGE fan and intend to build a library of as many of her books as possible  for my grandchildren.

I consider no other gift as valuable as the love of books and like my children, my grandchildren already have an excellent collection of (especially but not exclusively) Australian writers.

Now they have two more treasures.

Our very active and totally encouraging local Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators:  SCWBI WEST volunteers, organised the Masterclass to be held on the same day as Duelling Illustrators.

No less than 6 illustrators took part, with three writers offering their unpublished manuscripts as the stimulus for furious flaying of arms around large sheets of paper.

An exciting and great fun, FREE event with standing room only.    If you missed this one, don’t miss the next event which happens once a year at the State Library in the Perth Cultural Centre – one of my all time favorite places to be.

SCWBI West members stayed back “Behind Closed Doors – a view from the Publisher’s desk” with Cate Sutherland  from Fremantle Press and Jane Godwin from Penguin Books.

Many lucky members left the next morning for a writers retreat held over last weekend on Rottnest Island,  just 14 Km off the coast of Perth.

Can’t wait to read the wonderful books which result, as they do every year.

If you’re a West Australian writer or illustrator – or talented enough to do both, I highly recommend you join in the fun and nurturing at  SCWBI West.

 

#SCWBIWest  #AlisonLester  #FrancesMacaulayForde #DuellingIllustrators

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My daughter’s studio. #JessicaMcCallum © 2011

My daughter Jessica McCallum’s  3rd exhibition ‘All the Pretty Ones Are’  (all things Circus) was held in 2011 at the Heath Ledger Theatre foyer in the new and exciting State Theatre Centre.

I feel the poetry I wrote to the artworks of  that exhibition, was some of my best; particularly this one written from a childhood memory of the circus coming to our small town in Africa.  Although he was an Indian elephant –  African elephants can’t be tamed and I love them more, for that.

The Global March for Elephants and Rhinos is a call for a world-wide response to the continued senseless cruelty – the terrible things happening to these beautiful, wise, gentle creatures.

Just weeks ago what’s said to be the largest bull elephant in Africa; Satao of Tsavo in Kenya had his face hacked off for his magnificent tusks!

All this information is thanks to  Harry Owen on Facebook:  I’ve  mentioned before, his book to raise funds for the cause of saving Rhino’s and can’t wait for my copy…

Meanwhile  I thought I’d share another of my poems from that exhibition.

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Artwork 2 of 4 from the ‘Play’ series, sketch in progress. #JessicaMcCallum © 2011

 

When I was a child

I remember thinking

that chain around

the elephant’s leg

wasn’t strong enough.

 

Elephants are tough!

 

If he wanted, he

could free himself just

by lifting that mighty foot

shaking the metal loose

and walking away…

 

Why does he stay?

 

No-one could stop him

If he chose to go, take

his own path. No more

performance on command

– he could find some green.

 

Walk through jungles again!

 

Elephants are tough so

why does he stay, stroll

through sawdust, put up

with that lady who leans

into his ear, whispering…

 

It’s because he loves her.

 

#FrancesMacaulayForde   #JessicaMcCallumArtist  #AllThePrettyOnesAreExhib  #HarryOwen  #GlobalMarchForElephantsAndRhinos  #SataoOfTsavo

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A couple of weeks ago in my blog posting ‘SOME FOLKS FOLK’  I mentioned the Monday Supper Club with special guest poets Glen Phillips and John Ryan.

My musician Hubby agreed to go because the amazing Ken Nicol, once the guitarist in Steeleye Span, was also appearing…

I previously included a photo or two but now can share my short videos taken that night, so click onto the screenshots and the links will take you to the YouTube performances.

Although I must apologize for my spur-of-the-moment video skills, I hope you enjoy the local glimpses anyway!  It’s all about spreading the love 🙂

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‘Dryandra Dreaming’ #GlenPhillips #FrancesMacaulayForde

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‘Ice Maiden’ #GlenPhillips #FrancesMacaulayForde

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‘Mid Stride’ #GlenPhillips #FrancesMacaulayForde

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“Wine” #JohnRyan #FrancesMacaulayForde

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“My Kentucky Country Roads” #JohnRyan #FrancesMacaulayForde

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“Inside a Jarrah Tree” #JohnRyan #FrancesMacaulayForde

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‘Stratford’ #KenNicol #FrancesMacaulayForde

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“Initial Variations” Instrumental #KenNicol #FrancesMacaulayForde

#FrancesMacaulayForde   #GlenPhillips     #JohnRyan   #KenNicol  #MondaySupperClub  #SteeleyeSpan

 

 

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To quote WritingWA from Facebook yesterday:

“Hooray! There’s a Hippopotamus on our Roof Having a Birthday Party” by Hazel Edwards.

Classroom playscripts encourage literacy especially if linked to a fun picture book. ‘Hooray! There’s a Hippopotamus on our Roof Having a Birthday Party’  paperback out soon (from Hazel Edwards) but classroom performance script based on hardback available for free download.   http://www.hazeledwards.com/files//classroom_playscripts_from_picture_books/pb_hazel_edwards_classroom_playscript__birthday_hippo.pdf

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“Wilfred Gordon McDonal Partridge” by Mem Fox

I know this.  I was commission in 1998 to adapt a well known book by Mem Fox to a playscript, so children visiting Joondalup Library could act out and enjoy the story more. The characters in “WILFRED GORDON MCDONALD PARTRIDGE” provided lots of opportunities for young minds to express themselves and enjoy putting themselves into the story.   And they did – with gusto!

So I know, the play script so generously provided here by Hazel, will be a huge hit – just as her book will be.

 

#francesmacaulayforde  #WritingWA  #HazelEdwards  #MemFox  #JoondalupLibrary

 

 

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CRANNOG Spring 2014 Journal

A free subscription was included with entry into their competition, so I’ve just received my copy of  ‘CRANNOG Spring 2014’.

Wish I’d read it before entering…    The book feels slim but the 88 page volume is packed with clever writing.

The Galway editorial board did a superb job of choosing short stories and poems which affect the reader – and they did.

Like “Worship”  by Ruth Quinlan:  Your white shoes aren’t white at all.  They’re just cream pretending to be white and when you hold them against the Communion dress they look old and discoloured  even though you know they’re new.   

The words put put me right into the moment of my own Holy Communion (which I haven’t thought about since) remembering the crisp feel of new material and the smell of polished shoes.  Wonderful writing.

Or Breda Wall Ryan’s  “Crushie” poem:  The rain has stopped. Sunlight/veneers a table set between windows. /The year turns.   

The journal CRANNOG Spring 2014  is available for Kindle fans or surprisingly cheaper as a printed version.

Certainly well worth the few dollars to enjoy such gifted authors.

 

#FrancesMacaulayForde  #CrannogSpring2014  #RuthQuinlan  #BredaWallRyan

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Munster Literature Centre, Cork, Ireland.

When I was a member of the Munster Literature Centre, I did a masterclass in Short Story with James Lasdun.  

The title story of his published collection The Siege: Selected Stories, was adapted for film by Bernardo Bertolucci as Besieged ,  only one adaptation.

 Sunday was based on his story Ate Menos or The Miracle and co-written with Jonathan Nossiter. (Info from Wiki.)

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Frances and James Lasdun during the 2003 Masterclass at MLC, Cork.

Later that year, I attended a festival at MLC with Richard Ford speaking, who’s novel Independence Day  was adapted and directed by Roland Emmerich in 1996 and a huge hit.

The Paris Review  did a very good interview with him soon after the film was made.

So, yesterday, I found this amazing resource – opportunities for competition and publications for writers of  SHORT STORIES:   Paul McVeigh   and just HAD to share.

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I’m very proud of our  State Library  situated in the beautiful  Perth Cultural Centre:

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State Library Western Australia. (Photo: Frances Macaulay Forde @ 2005)

Years ago the staff supported me when I ran  Poets Corner @ Pages Cafe  for 3 years between 2005 and 2008.  The Library provided a microphone and speaker, displays and advertising in the Library Book shop on the 1st floor and generally encouraged and supported our endeavors.

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Poets reading at Poets Corner @ Pages Cafe

More than 80 poets from emerging to firmly established, to first time readers and writers participated for the love of words, sharing them with a new audience; other writers and importantly, the general public.

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The audience included luminaries such as (L to R) Andrew Burke, Andrew Taylor and Glen Phillips. 2005

Pages Cafe allowed us to meet there on the 3rd Saturday of each month and welcomed the influx of word-smiths, considering the noise levels and while reading, helped by quietly proving excellent service to patrons.

The library and cafe continued to support myself and many others when launching many, many books (where else would you do it – seriously) over the years:

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Interviewing a West Australian Living Treasure, T.A.G. Hungerford for BooksAustralia CTV during ‘An Afternoon with Tom’ at Poets Corner in 2005.

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Annemaria Weldon with her book ‘The Roof Milkers’ July  2008

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Sarah French was one of many writers included in the ‘Lines in the Sand’ anthology published by FAWWA in 2008. (My poem ‘desertification’ appears on page 28.)

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Tracy Ryan and her book ‘Scar Revision’ from Fremantle Press. 2008

 

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An anthology I published to thank the more than 60+ poets who participated at Poets Corner during the WA Spring Poetry Festival in 2005.

Today you’ve accepted the  Film & Television Institute  into your midst on the 2nd floor!

I LOVE and THANK my State Library of Western Australia.

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W.B. Yeats Statue in Sligo, town center, Ireland.

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