Wednesday, March 18, 2009

The Eastern Regional Library Show 25th February 2009 & 11th March 2009

Library staff members Lesley Conway and Pia Butcher run a radio show each Wednesday 12:05pm-12:45pm on Eastern FM 98.1 called The Eastern Regional Library Show. Tune in next Wednesday for a great show.

It's 2 for the price of 1 today, as I did not get around to putting in Pia's session from the 25th February.

On Wednesday 25th February show

For listeners from a fortnight ago who wondered what became of the titles of the picture books which Pia had on the program, I am now adding those to our blog.
Baby Dragon by Amy Ehrlich, illustrated by Will Hillenbrand : Baby Dragon waits for his mother to come back, just where she told him to. He counts his claws, he sings a song and he doesn't run off to play with Weasel or Frog. But waiting is hard-especially when Crocodile swims by and offers him a river-ride...

Mr Big by Ed Vere : A true friend comes in any shape or size. Mr Big is big and scary to others. No one stays around to discover what he is really like. Inside Mr Big feels very small and lonely. People are captivated by Mr Big's piano playing and this leads to him being invited to "jam" with some musicians. Mr Big finds he has another problem now- no time to himself but that is just the way he likes it!

Too many toys by David Shannon : Cooper has lots and lots of toys. Everyone gives him some. His Mum and Dad decide that enough is enough...some of the toys must go. Mum and Cooper carefully sift through his toys and put some into a big box for disposal...however!

Louise, the adventures of a chicken by Kate Di Camillo and Harry Bliss : Louise is a little chicken who has lots of exciting adventures... sailing with pirates, joins a circus etc. In the end , Louise discovers that home is the best place to be.

On Wednesday 11th March show
Today I spoke to Anthea Wynn, joint author with Val Nigol of Aged Care Homes : the complete Australian guide, who was on the program last year giving some background to her research into aged care. I wanted to talk to her at greater length because she has had a fascinating working life, and I thought she would have some interesting things to pass on about how her writing career developed. She had her first article published at the age of 14, in a local Melbourne newspaper, and given the response that we receive for the Eastern Regional Libraries National Story Writing Competition, there are still many writers diligently entering short works and articles to the many competitions, newspapers and journals which foster non-professional writing. Anthea encourages all writers with ambition to pursue these avenues, and particularly to become a member of the Victorian Writers' Centre, www.vwc.org.au. For a very modest joining fee, you can be kept up-to-date about competitions, work shops and informative talks given accross the state.

Anthea became a freelance technical writer focusing on marketing communications in the mid-90's, and wrote on a broad range of subjects from advice on hysterectomy to consumer credit risk. She continues to write, and also she says, to find it both daunting and fun. Her most fundamental advice is, just do it. As with most skills, it is practice which helps us perfect our work, and she quoted popular author Joanne Harris who made three hours a week, in the midst of a busy family and working life, her writing time. The discipline payed off and Harris is now a best seller.

Anthea's next project is a small book on the fortified wine, port. There may be a larger book about fortified wines to follow. We hope to talk to Anthea in the future about these projects.

----Lesley

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