Archive

Regularly, I wonder if I have previously written a post on the same topic as I am currently writing. When this happens I need to consider whether my thoughts and perspective on the subject have changed from the previous time that I posted (or at least thought I may have posted!). Experiences allow for a […]

The Queensland Writers’ Centre – Books from Our Backyard catalogue was released this month. We are very happy to be featuring 14 of our books in amongst the 200 books celebrating Queensland writers. This program would not be what it is today without the tireless work of the Queensland Writers’ Centre. I am very grateful […]

Those who know me, nice would not be one of the words that are usually used to describe my personality. General feedback from people are more along the lines; direct, abrupt, or straight to the point. To me there is a very fine line between being honest respectfully and being honest disrespectfully. The line of […]

While there is the saying ‘fake it until you make it’, you cannot fake authenticity. Building relationships with people takes time. Creating remarkable stories takes time. Building a remarkable brand with great relationships takes time. While attending Kick Start Smart, by Collective Hub, in Brisbane during August (sketchnotes below), the concept of relationships and authentic […]

Have you thought about how colour evokes emotions? If you would like to look at the beautiful use of colour, then you should take a look at the following artists: Lisa Congdon Lynn Giunta Wolfgang and Rose Dinara Mirtalipova Katy Halford Liz Payne Each of these women use colour in their unique way to express […]

Keeping the monster of self-doubt at bay is a daily challenge for many people. Questions like: Will other people like this? Is this going to work? Am I providing value? Will other people be better than me? The answer to all of these questions is yes and no. Understanding that you will not be everything […]

While reading Mike Rohde’s The Sketchnote Handbook, it reminded me of the importance of filling in the empty spaces in my notebooks with quotes. This is a great practice on a number of levels. First, it encourages you to consider the thoughts of great thinkers and how you might apply those thoughts to your own […]

Jacque Duffy is an artist and writer. Both her art and her writing take many forms. The art ranges from photorealism to complete abstraction through to illustration and graphic art. The writing stretches from poetry, educational children’s books, picture books and short stories. Some how she managed to fit in some time to chat with […]

While reading Aesop’s fables I was curious about the origins of these stories. Wikipedia gives a mixed understanding of who or what Aesop was. Regardless, the stories continue to resonate today. The ability to provide meaning in a short story is a great skill, and Aesop’s fables indeed focus on providing short and sharp stories […]

Since the beginning of 2015, we have started listening to audiobooks on a regular basis in the car with the kids. For a start, it stops a lot of the arguments. Secondly, I can concentrate on driving. Perhaps the best reason is that it provides the kids with the opportunity to engage their minds in […]