Japan - Love to You

When news broke of the earthquake (and subsequent tsunami) that hit Japan I was frightened.  I spent the entirety of 2010 in Japan teaching three year olds and my thoughts instantly went to my little babies, their families and the staff of my school.

They aren't in the direct hit area but I want to send my love.  One mum told me "It was soooooo horrible.  We are okey".  This makes me feel better for them but my love goes out to the country that made me feel so welcomed.  It is truly frightening to see people go through this kind of horror.  My love to them all.

Dog Aunt Adele

I've been nagging my sister for a niece or nephew for years and within the past few months I got both.  Just in fluffier, non verbal form.  First there was Lucy (or Lucy-goose).  She's already got the alphabet down and is hitting the books hard!

And for the glamour shot...

...slightly out of focus.  She has wonderful taste in books.

And now there's OP - - - - otherwise known as Optimus Prime.

What is the point to all this dog randomness?  Well the Centre for Youth Literature has just launched a website called InsideADog after the Groucho Marx quote - "Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read."  It's YA Goodreads (except book trailers, chapter and audio book samples are attached) with a YA author as writer in residence every month, book clubs, forums and a blog overseen by me.  (Teachers and librarians there are resources specifically for you too!)  I am even posting reviews as SnarkyWench!

This month the New Zealand author Brian Falkner is our writer in residence.  In honour of his presence we are hosting a competition to win a prize pack of his books - just post a picture of your dog reading to be in the running.  There are some gorgeous entrants already....check em out!

Two Months: PSnark is still quiet

Tomorrow I celebrate my second month working at the State Library of Victoria.  That means I have been living in Melbourne for two months and one day and I cannot believe how fast it has flown by.

Plenty has changed.  For instance...

• I thought that scaling back on Persnickety Snark would be tremendously difficult having spent so many hours on it over two years.  Weirdly it hasn't been.  I post every now and again.  I plan on reviewing YA movies when I have the time and updating people on what I am up to but I don't miss posting daily.  I love Persnickety Snark but the opportunity to direct my passion for YA into a profession, my career, is more than a worthy replacement.
• Privacy.  I've always been someone who approached PSnark as professionally as I could.  I made minimal connections to my personal life. That made transitioning to the library easier but I do have to watch what I tweet (thus less tweeting) and post here (thus less PSnarking).  (Unfortunately this has increased my use of thus.)  Honesty is great but my words can reflect on my employer - even if my opinions differ from theirs.  
• Colleagues and friends.  I've never worked or been friends with people who read.  That may be hard to believe but I realise now that was part of the reason I started blogging.  I am not particularly shy or inhibited, I just couldn't find people who loved what I love.  Now I am surrounded by them at work and outside of that and I feel like I am flying.  Don't underestimate how important these kinds of connections are, especially if they are genuine, smart and passionate people.

• Melbourne.  I love it.  I love it.  I really, really do - to quote Justine Clarke.  I still hate getting up and close to people I don't know in the train but then I am lifted to the surface from the Melbourne Central subway and I cannot help but smile.  Some people love a sunset, I love the Shot Tower and it's cage cone (or cornucopia if you will - where is Katniss?)
• Bookstores.  I've been slowly getting to know more around the city and hope to start working my way out.  From Readings, to the (Lil) Little Bookroom, to Rendezvous - I love booksellers who know what they are talking about.  I still have so many more to visit and that makes me exited.  I feel like I should document my bookstore jaunts on a map while wearing a hat and wielding a whip.  I am taking suggestions....
• Borders and A&R.  I would say I am surprised that the bottom fell out but I am not.  Anyone who is in the industry or blogging about the industry would have been well aware.  It doesn't mean that it doesn't make me sad.  I grew up in country towns where bookstores were the secondhand basket at the petrol station - I still get zippy from being in any bookstore.  It feels like a privilege.
• Blogging differently.  I am now the main contributor for the insideadog.com.au news blog, the teaching and librarian professional blog Read Alert as well as their associated Twitter and Facebook profiles.  Believe me when I say that I am still blogging a lot, just not here.  The former blog is teen directed and involves short, sharp and shiny posts about books, films and authors.  The later involves referring people to great resources, suggesting fun reads, reminding people of dates and (hopefully) soon showing off professionals who are great at their jobs.    (Links to all of these are in the right sidebar).
• Work.  I've been crazy busy but I love it.  It can be draining but the pay off is huge.  Seeing people's faces when they see the redeveloped website, or planning elements of the upcoming Reading Matters conference is simply rewarding.  Last night we launched the website (more info here) at The Age and it was a brilliant opportunity to meet many individuals that I have known from Twitter and blogging - Marg from Adventures of an Intrepid Reader, Megan from Literary Life, Andrew from YA Bookpile, Rhiannon Hart who's transitioning from blogger to blogging author, a range of authors and a whole host of teachers, teacher librarians and librarians who are knowledgeable, enthusiastic and just darn nice.  They made me feel welcomed into their community in a way that is impossible to describe.  Thank you.
• I need to find time to read.  I've always read a lot and very fast but it's become more difficult.  I rarely get to sit on a train and find it impossible to both read and retain my balance.  That being said I have read a few lately - Leanne Hall's This is Shyness, Elizabeth Euberg's The Lonely Harts Club, Denis Wright's Violence 101 and Ursula Dubosarsky's The Golden Day.  Diverse and fun.
• Weirdly, some people I tweeted with who were unrealted to YA blogging have become friends in Melbourne.  
• I still have no idea where I am in Melbourne outside of the immediate city. If you ask me where I live, I can say the name but not point in its direction.  I wish I were kidding.
• I cannot believe how much coffee Melbourne people consume.  I swear if one of them were bitten by a vamp the caffeine in their system would repel the vampirism.
• I have a burning urge to study - even if it is for my own amusement or into my family history.  I just want to fossick around and unearth information on things that interest me. 

Stay cool and please consider checking out insideadog.  You can add reviews of YA books, start book clubs and check out the gorgeous pictures of dog reads in the forums.

x

Adele