A Summer Renga – completed

In February this year I posted that I joined eight poets at Karawatha State Forest (Brisbane) for a summer ginko (haiku walk) with the talented poet Graham Nunn.

Then from that time till mid April we worked on a renga (collaborative poem) using the following form: [SU = summer; A = autumn; W = winter; SP = spring; Misc. = non-seasonal references -- usually about people or feelings or places; Love]

It was a great experience working with these talented poets with a diversity of voices. It certainly unearthed me from my comfort zone of writing humorous poetry for children. It helped stretch me as a poet of haiku (I’m still very much a novice) and Graham’s advice was always invaluable. I learnt so much from this experience.

Now it has been completed, Graham has posted the links to each quarter of the renga on his blog, Another Lost Shark. Incase you haven’t checked out the completed renga, just follow the direct links below:

So drum roll please …

Snake Renga – written by/between: David Stavanger, Andy Smerdon, Cindy Keong, Katherine Battersby, Graham Nunn, Chris Lynch, Trish Reid, John Wainwright, Helen Ross (me) and Andrew Phillips

Part 1:
http://anotherlostshark.com/2013/02/23/snake-weather-a-summer-renga/

Part 2:
http://anotherlostshark.com/2013/03/05/snake-weather-a-summer-renga-part-ii/

Part 3:
http://anotherlostshark.com/2013/03/26/snake-weather-a-summer-renga-part-iii/

Part 4
http://anotherlostshark.com/2013/04/18/snake-weather-a-summer-renga-part-iv/

As I was in Japan at the time that we were working on the final quarter, you will notice my Japanese inspired contribution (couldn’t help but be inspired by the beautiful cherry blossoms).

I think the renga has shaped up beautifully. And though I was always nervous when it was my turn to contribute, I still enjoyed the whole experience.

So thanks Graham, David, Andy, Cindy, Katherine, Chris, Trish, John and Andrew. You are all so inspirational.

xHelen

April Fool poem

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter.

Well, it is the start of a new month. But beware of the jokers as today is April Fool’s Day.

So thought I’d post my April Fool poem from my giggle poetry book, Bubble Gum Trouble And Other Giggle Poems.

APRIL FOOL

You’ve dropped your head
You’ve dropped a tool
Look behind you
April Fool

What’s on your back?
Watch the stool!
Look you’re falling
April Fool

You’ve won a prize
It’s a swimming pool
You lucky thing
April Fool

No running outside
It’s the school’s new rule
Go to the Principal
April Fool

Have you been outside?
In your yard there’s a mule
Eating your flowers
April Fool

I love your sunglasses
You look so cool
You’re wanted for a movie
April Fool

xHave a great day, and a wonderful month.

Bubble Gum Trouble And Other Giggle Poems - published 2009 by Little Steps publishing (Division of New Frontier. Illustrations by Dee Texidor.

Edgar Allan Poe App

It is raining here in Brisbane (Australia) – again.

So, thought I’d do a little reading. I loooove books, especially new books – cracking open the cover is very exciting for me, especially when it is from an author I love. I can’t wait to take my new ‘babies’ home to meet their new family - ie. the other books on my bookshelf. I can feel their excitement as they (yes, I normally buy more than one at a time) jump up and down in my bag – Yay! we have a home.

As such I have been a little reticent about buying Book Apps but thought it time to delve into this ‘new’ (well, new for me) world.

So this week I downloaded six children’s Book/Apps: two were free.

Well, I am excited. I will tell you more about two of the other Books/Apps in a forthcoming post – because I think they are great.

But the one that excited me today were stories by Edgar Allan Poe. Author Karen Robertson actually recommended this one in one of her posts, so thought I’d check it out.

I just loved it. The iPoe Collection includes four interactive and illustrated stories, plus a biography and sketch book. The music is very apt, and has some wonderful moments.

I downloaded this App for free – Free today in the App Store.

https://itunes.apple.com/en/app/id507407813

This is a great book/App to read snuggled up in bed at night, with just a night lamp on – would really help set the mood.

So if you love creepy stories and Book Apps, go check it out. Even just for the eyeball in The Tell-Tale Heart.

A Summer renga

If you love haiku, hope you’ve had a chance to check out the links to the haiku written by the nine poets who recently gathered at Karawatha State Forest. David Stavenger’s haiku, ‘snake weather’, was voted the most resonant poem by the group on the day.

Since this fabulous summer ginko (haiku walk) the poets have  been working on a renga (collaborative poem) using the following form: [SU = summer; A = autumn; W = winter; SP = spring; Misc. = non-seasonal references -- usually about people or feelings or places; Love]

Drum roll please…

Starting off with David’s haiku, here is the first quarter written by/between: David Stavanger, Andy Smerdon, Cindy Keong, Katherine Battersby, Chris Lynch, Trish Reid, John Wainwright, Helen Ross (me) and Andrew Phillips

Snake Weather, a Summer renga: Link at:

http://anotherlostshark.com/2013/02/23/snake-weather-a-summer-renga/

I think it has shaped up beautifully.

More haiku from Summer ginko

Here are some more poems from February’s Summer ginko – haiku walk – in Karawatha State Forest. The backdrop of the forest provided an inspirational few hours of haiku hosted by poet, Graham Nunn.

Please check out the wonderful haiku from poets Trish Reid, Katherine Battersby, Andrew Phillips, John Wainwright, Cindy Keong, David Stavanger, Andy Smerdon, Chris Lynch and moi.

Link at: http://www.queenslandpoetryfestival.com/
Photography courtesy of Andrew Phillips

And if you missed the first selection of our Summer ginko haiku, please click the following link for Graham’s web/blog:
http://anotherlostshark.com/2013/02/11/summer-ginko-karawatha-state-forest/
Photography courtesy of Cindy Keong.

A Summer gingko

Last Sunday, 10 February, I joined nine other poets in a wonderful ginko (haiku walk), hosted by the talented poet, Graham Nunn. Having spent a week or two in Melbourne dealing with legal stuff, it was a lovely way to unwind and just ‘be’ with the surrounds of Karawatha State Forest.

It was a great few hours bathing in the beauty of haiku, and of course the lovely weather. But I was glad to have brought my sunscreen. So after introductions (for those who didn’t know everyone), and a cup or two of Japanese green tea, each poet recited their favourite summer haiku. These recitations provided a great basis for an insightful chat about haiku (no counting syllables here).

Then we set off (taking the left path, the right path or just staying put for a while). It was a matter of finding a place to be still, to become one with the surroundings.

After an hour and a half (which consisted of some walking, observation, contemplation, and jottings of what we saw, felt, heard, sensed, touched, etc., we then regrouped and shared some of our jottings. From this we each set about composing two haiku. Graham provided wonderful guidance, helping us shape our creations.

So drum roll:

You will find a selection of these poems (one from each poet) posted on Graham’s ‘Another Lost Shark’ web/blog.

Here’s the link: http://wp.me/poBwH-2Dl Posted Monday 11 February.
OR
http://anotherlostshark.com/2013/02/11/summer-ginko-karawatha-state-forest/

Graham has also posted a selection of his own haiku from the Karawatha State Forest ginko. Posted on Tuesday 12 February.

Link at:

http://anotherlostshark.com/2013/02/12/nature-trail-a-haiku-sequence/

I will keep you updated with any other links.

Celebrate Picture Book Month

Picture Book Month is an international literacy initiative  that celebrates the print picture book during the month of November.

To celebrate the month, a different author or illustrator will visit www.picturebookmonth.com explaining why he/she thinks picture books are important.

Click here to see their 2012 schedule­: http://www.mylittlebookcase.com.au/featured/november-is-picture-book-month/

Also check out Picture Book Month’s  Celebrate! page with suggestions on how you can join the celebration!

And anyone who loves picture books can become a Picture Book Month Ambassador. Just place their PBM ambassador logo on your website or blog  and celebrate by shouting out Picture Book Month. In exchange, all you need to do is link back to http://www.picturebookmonth.com.

More information at http://www.picturebookmonth.com

Chatting with Morgen Bailey on her blog

This week the lovely and accomplished UK author and blogger, Morgen Bailey chatted with me about my writing journey.

As interviewee number 417, you can find our ‘chat’ at:

http://morgenbailey.wordpress.com/2012/07/01/author-interview-no-417-with-writer-helen-ross/

Morgen’s eNewspaper (via Scoop It) picked up the interview as its headline piece. Link at: http://paper.li/morgenwriteruk/1318769216. This changes everyday (1pm UK time) so the interview can be viewed in the archives (at the top of her eNewspaper). Just select July 1.

Direct link:

http://paper.li/morgenwriteruk/1318769216?edition_id=1ab8d4e0-c37b-11e1-8b80-0025907174dc

The interview was also picked up by ‘Literature and Literacy in the Primary+ Classroom’ – an eNewspaper (also via Scoop It)

And before I go – if you write, in whatever genre, and you would like to be interviewed by Morgen just email Morgen at: morgen@morgenbailey.com<morgen@morgenbailey.com>, and she will send you the questions and any related details. And if you have a writing-related blog / podcast and would like to interview Morgen, please let her know.

Hope you are all having an inspirational 2012.

xHelen

Book competitions at ‘Books for Little Hands’ blog

Children’s author, Renee Taprell, is currently holding book competitions on her blog ‘Books for Little Hands’ at: http://booksforlittlehands.blogspot.com.au/

To be in the running to win a copy of my giggle poetry book, Bubble Gum Trouble and other Giggle Poetry and/or other children’s books by some of Australia’s fabulous children’s authors please click on:

http://booksforlittlehands.blogspot.com.au/p/competitions.html  Current competition details are also on her home page.

Renee is running her ‘win a book’ competitions to celebrate forthcoming Book Week 2012 (Saturday 18 – Friday 24 August). - http://cbca.org.au/bookweek.htm

Book Week is the longest running children’s festival in Australia, celebrating its 65th birthday in 2010.
Each year, many schools and public libraries from all over Australia spend a week celebrating books and Australian authors and illustrators. Classroom teachers, teacher librarians and public librarians develop activities, offer competitions and tell stories relating to a theme to highlight the importance of reading. (taken from website)

So encourage everyone (children and adults) to enter Renee’s competitions. And get your pile of books ready for a week of book celebration.

Also if you missed Renee’s interview with me last year please click on:

http://booksforlittlehands.blogspot.com.au/p/author-interviews-books-for-little.html

You can also catch up on her interviews with other Australian children’s authors.

I just love the world of children’s books.

‘Miss Murtle the Turtle’ features in ‘Fortnight of Funnies’

My blogger friend, the talented writer and poet, Gabrielle Bryden, is hosting a fortnight of funnies (started last week).

And today Gabrielle features one of my giggle poems for the kiddies – Miss Murtle the Turtle.

http://gabriellebryden.wordpress.com/2012/06/06/miss-murtle-the-turtle-fortnight-of-funnies/

So pop over to Gabrielle’s website and  I’m sure you’ll have a giggle or two or ten at some of the video skits, limericks, stories that Gabrielle is sharing.

And to find out the inspiration behind Gabrielle’s ‘Fortnight of Funnies’ click on:

http://gabriellebryden.wordpress.com/2012/05/28/rhyme-punishment-comedic-verse/

Thanks Gabrielle.