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Greetings! Welcome to my website.
I am a writer who is extremely fortunate to live on Phillip Island (Bunurong Boonwurrung name Millowl), Victoria, Australia. Having been involved in the writing community here for decades, I am using this website to tell the world about my own writing, and the writing of other Bass Coast area writers. Hop on to the About page to find out more about me. Read on below to see news of writing and writers in Bass Coast, and visit my blog for my essays on a variety of local topics. I'll also be posting interviews with local writers there, link posted here.
"Literature duplicates the experience of living in a way that nothing else can, drawing you so fully into another life that you temporarily forget you have one of your own. That is why you read it, and might even sit up in bed till early dawn, throwing your whole tomorrow out of whack, simply to find out what happens to some people who, you know perfectly well, are made up."
- Barbara Kingsolver
Today: $200 donation from my book sales...
Thanks to all the wonderful people who have purchased my book, Minibeasts of Phillip Island Millowl. Land insects, spiders, molluscs and crustaceans, I was able to donate part of the proceeds of the sales to the Phillip Island Penguin Foundation today. The $200 'cheque' was handed over in Turn the Page bookshop to my friend Jane Jobe, chairperson of the Penguin Foundation, which contributes in so many ways towards research and very practical assistance to penguins and other wildlife here on Phillip Island Millowl. The book is for sale through Turn the Page bookshop, 40A Thompson Ave, Cowes, or contact them Tel :03 5952 1444 info@turnthepagebookshop.com.au This great little independent bookshop is operated by Brendan and Kylie, who are so supportive of local writers, and sell three of my books. You can see my books, with links to their Turn the Page sales pages, on the book section of my website. And of course they ship and take phone or online orders.
Turn the Page stocks a big range of books, large and small in many different genres, including all the latest best sellers. Have an explore of their range on their website here: https://turnthepagebookshop.com.au/
Here's a photo of Jane, me and Brendan today in the shop, with my Minibeast book and the $200 donation 'cheque'.
My works in Progress....
Scenic Estate Conservation Reserve book...
I've lost count of how many books I've collaborated on - maybe 20? But funnily enough I've never done a book with my own husband. That is until now! John is leading a group from the South East Australian Field Naturalists Association around Scenic Estate Conservation Reserve on the north east coast of Phillip Island Millowl today 20.4.24, and another group tomorrow. So I got the bright idea about a month ago when they booked John, that a book about the reserve would be a good resource for him to have.
What's not to love about writing a good-news environmental story?
John agreed it would be a good idea, and that kick-started a thorough trawl through his massive archive of info on that wonderful little reserve, accumulated since before the reserve was created. We didn't quite get a copy of the book worth selling, but we have reached a 'Working Draft Only' stage book, which my printer Paul printed two copies for us. Here's the draft cover, which features images from different parts of the reserve. It is very diverse and contains over 150 native plants, most of which are PI Millowl indigenous plants and a few are endangered. So stay tuned for the completed edition folks! Maybe about 4-6 months away I'd say.
My latest Blog essay - a Bingo! moment in research:
I never imaged that last month's blog about Dr Jan Bassett discovering a cache of letters from a World War One New Zealand soldier to her grandmother would be reflected in my old mate Laurie Dixon providing me with an album of postcards sent by a foster son to his Ventnor farmer mother in 1916-18. You can read my illustrated essay,tracking Percy Dominick's war through some of the post cards he sent to Jessie McGregor on my latest Blog on Bass Coast Post:
https://www.basscoastpost.com/christine-grayden/post-cards-from-world-war-one
Or click on the Blog menu button above to be taken to my Bass Coast Post page. Here's a beautiful hand embroidered post card Percy sent from France, featuring flag colors of the Allies.
Fun series of sea creature books for little children
While purchasing fish at our local fresh food outlet, 'Bass Strait Direct' in Boys Home Rd, Newhaven, Phillip Island Millowl yesterday, I spotted a series of fun, brightly coloured picture books for small children - concept and writing by professional fishermen at Port Franklin, Wayne Cripps, who is one who supplies the shop with fresh fish, and illustrated by Tegan Osborne, who has used an excellent digital enhancement program with layers of color to get the vibrancy. Here's some photos 6 of the covers. While they only have the two story books for sale at the moment, with stocks of the other titles arriving soon, they do have all of the coloring books made from the story title books for sale. If you can't see them on display, just ask, because they may well just not be out on the shelves.Or you can buy all of the titles in the series online in many outlets.
Wayne has his own basic website, where you can view all the titles, and some merchandise - caps and teashirts - for little tackers. Just go here :
Ibis Writers will meet next on Tuesday 4.6.24 at the Education Room, National Vietnam Veterans Museum, Veterans Drive, Newhaven. Turn at first left past Cape Woolamai/Phillip Island Tourist Rd roundabout. Start time 1 pm. All welcome!
