Raindrops on rooftops
And glistening fresh tree leaves
Are delights of spring.

© 2008 Trevor W. Hampel

All rights reserved.

Heat haze shimmering
Over sun dried crisp dead grass.
Shady tree comforts.

© 2008 Trevor W. Hampel

All rights reserved.

One of the units I am studying at present is called Writing for children. Our lecturer is award winning author Rosanne Hawke. In our early lectures and workshops we looked closely at how to write picture book texts. Writing this kind of book is a passion for me; I love reading them and sharing them with children - and adults.

One of the things that Rosanne impressed upon us from the very beginning was the importance of reading picture books - as many as we can get our hands on. I’ve always read plenty of picture books, first when I was a teacher librarian, and then as a classroom teacher.

When I retired from teaching four years ago I drifted away from reading picture books as regularly as I used to do. Rosanne has given me the impetus and reason for getting back into this exciting and enjoyable area of books. So once again I’ve reactivated the use of my library card and I am borrowing ten or fifteen a week to read. And I’m thoroughly enjoying the activity.

There is another incentive: we need to keep a reading log of what we are reading, as well as write some short reviews of the books we read. This is a required, assessable component of the course. It is a very enjoyable part of the course I might add.

Good writing.

Good reading.

“A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.” Richard Bach.

The big difference between an amateur and a professional writer can be summed up in one word: persistence.

There are several other words I could have used, words like perseverance and patience.

Writing is a long-term activity; very few - if any - successful writers are overnight success stories. Even the so-called overnight success stories are, in reality, the end result of many months and years or even decades of never quitting.

So good writing - and be persistent, persevere and patient - and never quit.

Last week I read the novel called “Zenna Dare” written by Rosanne Hawke. (Rosanne happens to be one of my lecturers at present.)

“Zenna Dare” is suitable for young adults and above. It is a story of mystery, family secrets and the importance of relationships.

I found the story to be fascinating; I could not put it down. The author has done an incredible amount of research and brings this dedication alive on the pages. The main character Jenefer finds a mysterious photograph. This leads her on an intriguing quest to find out about her family history. She discovers that some members of her family have had rocky relationships and great hardships to deal with, while at the same time trying to deal with her own developing relationship with a fellow student and the prejudices still at large in the community.

What is most pleasing about this story is the impetus it has given to my thinking about a novel I am planning to write. Actually, I am being very optimistic about the idea; it could well turn into a trilogy. It would be a fictionalised account of my own family’s struggle to emigrate from Prussia (now part of Poland) to South Australia in the 1840s to escape from religious persecution. It is a story of triumph over extreme hardships, and an unshakable faith in God.

I’ll keep you posted - when I get around to writing the novels.

Meanwhile - good writing and reading.