Excitment at the library

It's not often we get the opportunity to meet a REALLY FAMOUS author.  Last night Jackie French visited our local library, giving a talk about wombats and how she approaches writing historical fiction.

She collects lots of information, always seeking to verify the truth for the foundations before weaving her story over the top.  She also makes sure there's a happy ending.  Little things, like Queen Victoria being a very 'modern' queen and having introduced the fashion of wearing underpants, becomes a wonderful children's book.  She read this to us, pointing out that in fact Queen Victoria DID have her underpants all marked with the royal seal and numbered.

If she's coming to visit your local area, I do encourage you to take the children and go along.  I do know she'll be in Croydon (Victoria) this weekend:

Saturday 5 June, 2 sessions: 1pm-2pm & 3pm- 4pm.
Clayton Theatrette, Clayton Community Centre, Cooke Street.
Jackie is one of Australia 's most celebrated children's authors. Jackie will give two talks as part of Wordfest.
1. How to speak wombat, and other adventures with books at 1pm, and
2. The Battles We Almost Won...the true stories behind The Night They Stomed Eureka, A Rose for the Anzac Boys, and The Donkey Who carried the Wounded at 3pm.

http://www.monlib.vic.gov.au/

 We could have listened to her for hours, or better yet, had her visit for dinner. :)