NBWG reps (r-l): Kristin Prescott, Kylie Pfeiffer, Susan Steggall, me, Chris Lake & Madi Duncan
Yesterday I made the long trip out to the Children’s Hospital at Westmead in support of The Kids’ Cancer Project and their Write-a-Book-in-a-Day, or WABIAD, challenge. I enter the challenge every year and invite members of the writers’ group I run, the Northern Beaches Writers’ Group, or NBWG, to enter with me and together raise much needed funds for research into childhood cancers. I’m lucky enough to be supported by many of you, readers kind enough to sponsor me. Thank you! Over the last four years, you’ve helped raise over $10,000 in sponsorship and subsequent book sales. Woo hoo!
NBWG’s 2016 parameters
The main part of the challenge is of course to write, illustrate, print and bind an entire book in one day. We’re given a set of parameters and have to stick to them. This year we got some tricky ones – try writing a book for kids involving an escaped convict, a kidnapping, a spider, a beautician and a rubbish tip! It was a challenge! But twelve hours later, we had written “The Time of the Jade Spider”, a fantastic adventure featuring an ancient spider amulet and time travel! Read more about that day here.
I’m so proud of what we achieved, even more so because our writing was acknowledged at Westmead yesterday when we were awarded National Best Book in the open category, 2016. Squee!
It was so lovely to see ‘Northern Beaches Writers’ Group’ up in lights! Thank you for participating this year: Leah Boonthanom, Madi Duncan, Chris Lake, Mijmark, Kylie Pieffer, Kris Prescott, Susan Steggall and Kirsten Taylor!
What’s even more wow is that my teams have won ‘Best Book’ four years in a row now! Thank you, WABIAD!
Thank you also Owen Finegan, CEO of The Kids’ Cancer Project, for presenting our award! It was lovely to meet you afterwards as well.
The next part of the challenge for me is to get “The Time of the Jade Spider” to a publishable standard, which involves re-plotting, re-writing, editing, proofing, laying out and putting the entirety of my creative support business at the story’s disposal until it’s perfect. The process is already in motion, so watch this space for news of the story’s release early next year! Once published, profits will continue to go to The Kids’ Cancer Project, because donating to the charity throughout the year gives me all the warm feelies.
Let’s find them more money every year!
What’s that? You like warm feelies too?
Then why not help The Kids’ Cancer Project right now?
Donate through this link or buy one of the Northern Beaches Writers’ Group’s previous books, all of which you can buy through any good online bookstore or this link here.
Thank you again, dear readers, for the role you play in supporting an issue so close to my heart as a mother, and for helping sick kids across Australia. Good on youse!
