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Dorothy Johnston

20 July 2016

Hello!

Welcome to my bookish corner where I get to talk all things reading, writing and editing, and generally just be a word nerd. Expect ramblings on literature and the world of publishing. Great to have you join me!

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The water yesterday. You’d think we were in the tropics. Sadly, I think it was our last real taste of summer.

#beachdays #beachlife #pointleo #summerdays

Lazy Saturday morning in bed reading Hilde Hinton’s second book and it is full of such loveliness. It is an absolute delight to be inhabiting the quirky kindness of Evelyn’s world, and I can’t wait to chat with Hilde at the Sorrento Writers Festival next month.

I was supposed to be in conversation with Hilde in Canberra about her debut, The Loudness of Things Unsaid, and then Covid hit. We all know how that story went. Happily, we get to tell a different story in Sorrento. Looking forward to finally meeting you, Hilde!

@hilde.hinton @sorrentowritersfestival @hachetteaus #writerscommunity #writinglife #writerslife #authorlife #asolitarywalkonthemoon

Tonight’s walk was Melbs at its schizophrenic best. Sun, rain, sun, rain (repeat indefinitely). And to think I almost came out in a singlet and shorts. Haven’t quite nailed this crazy (but wonderful) place yet. Not four seasons in one day, more like four seasons in forty minutes!

#mountmartha #morningtonpeninsula #walking #walkingadventures #dailywalk #beachdays #beachlife

I love this photo of me and my publisher, Anna Solding, taken from the balcony at the launch of my novel, The Breaking.

I have recently signed another contract with MidnightSun for my sixth children's book and I'm super excited to be working with Anna and the team again.

Shout out to the wonderful Dylan Jones who was the official photographer and captured this moment so beautifully. This launch was one of the best moments of my life, surrounded by so many people who I love.

@annasolding @midnightsunpublishing @dylanhughjones #TheBreaking #booklaunch #newbookcontract #writinglife #writerslife #authorlife #authorsofinstagram #writingcommunity

After-school beaching on a hot day is the greatest.

#beachlife #beachdays #summerisntoveryet

It’s National Thai Elephant Day! I’m so in love with these beautiful creatures that I wrote a book for adults *and* a book for kids to shine a light on their plight. So wish I was in Thailand today. If you’re travelling to Thailand or any country with animal tourism please do your research thoroughly to avoid supporting abuse and exploitation ❤️

@midnightsunpublishing @walkerbooksaus @elephantnaturepark @saveelephantfoundation @surinproject #elephant #elephantlove #elephantlover #saveelephants #saveelephantfoundation

Glorious morning coffeeing with the gorgeous Leah Kaminsky, plus a walk in this pretty part of the world.

When I first came to Australia we lived here but I have no memory of ever visiting this beach. We must have, but maybe it is lost to the trauma of arriving in a blistering summer and being teased mercilessly for our accents. Now I love those blistering summers and wouldn’t be anywhere else.

@leah_kam #redbluff #walking #walkingadventures #writingcommunity #writerslife #writinglife

And we drank into the night, staying wild 🙃

@s1m0ne_22

Perfect morning. Cafe writing sesh. Then walked St Kilda to Brighton and back. Wrapped up with a paddle-boarding sesh. Now working on a perfect afternoon.

#writing #writinglife #walking #walkingadventures #stkilda

Two years since the wonderful @karen_viggers launched my novel The Breaking (and now we’re co-hosting the @secretsfromthegreenroom podcast together). On Monday it’s National Thai Elephant Day and as good an excuse as any to pop into a bookshop and grab (or order) a copy and go on a journey through Thailand with my two feisty protagonists, Deven and Hannah.

#TheBreaking #nationalthaielephantday #elephants #elephantlove #elephantlover #saveelephants #thailand #travel #wanderlust #writingcommunity #writerlife #authorlife #authorsofinstagram @midnightsunpublishing @elephantnaturepark @saveelephantfoundation @surinproject

Another day, another beach scene. Today it’s all shimmer and wildness and exhilaration.

Everyone keeps telling me that it looks like I never work and I’m always beaching. In truth I’m working full-time editing a bunch of gorgeous books — I promise! — but I’m freelance, so the flexibility is amazing.

I do get down to the beach most days though, whether walking, paddleboarding or lounging, because why wouldn’t you with this on your doorstep?! Today was more spray dodging, but I love it all.

#beachlife #beachdays #walking #walkingadventures

&Juliet was so freaking fun. And doubly fun that I got to go with my girl. The Regent Theatre is just gorgeous, which of course gave Miss A license to take a bazillion photos. But hanging out with your adult daughter is an incomparable pleasure no matter where you are.

@flowergirl_amsy #julietmusical #lifeshouldbeamusical

It’s no secret that I absolutely love my job as an editor, and one of the perks is that I develop close relationships with brilliant authors as I work with them on their books over many months, sometimes without ever meeting them because we live in different states, or even countries.

Today was the first time that I (finally!) got to meet Suzy Zail after working together for well over a year. She is a stunning author and a gorgeous person and her novel Inkflower (out soon!) is mind-blowingly good. The weather was gloomy but I could have walked and talked with her all day. And we twinned in all black @authorsuzyzail!

#inkflower @walkerbooksaus #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #editing #editinglife #editorslife #writingcommunity #writersofinstagram #writerslife #authorlife

Currently reading A Constant Hum which is made up of 47 linked stories that together explore the aftermath of the Black Saturday bushfires of 2009. Most of the stories are short – only a few pages long – with some as short as two lines. The way Alice Bishop uses language is exquisite, and she has such a sharp eye for detail. I feel like I need to sip at this book, just reading a few stories at a time and savouring each one.

#AConstantHum @alicebishop @text_publishing #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #blacksaturday #blacksaturdaybushfires #booklove #shortfiction #shortstories #womenwriters #bookaddict #booklover #booknerd

Both feeling a bit dusty after last night but so good to shake it off with a walk. Hot and sultry and very beautiful.

#walking #walkingadventures #beachdays #beachlife

Another sleepless middle-of-the-night session. I’ve been meaning to read The Lebs ever since it came out and I’m glad I finally found my way to it. It’s set in Punchbowl Boys High School, in Sydney’s western suburbs, where Michael Mohammed himself went. The school has predominantly Muslim students and no one but the central character, Bani Adam, appears to want to learn, though his teacher Miss Haimi is a major distraction. His ambition is to marry her and become a famous writer.

The book is unflinching in its exploration of teenage Lebanese culture, violence of the every day, masculinity and misogyny, and the negative stereotypes propagated by the media. It’s an important contribution to Australian literature and was shortlisted for the 2019 Miles Franklin Literary Award. I’m hoping not to bring you another sleepless book tomorrow!

@hachetteaus @hachettebooks #michaelmohammedahmad #TheLebs #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #booknerd #booklove #booklover #bookaddict #writingcommunity #readingtime

Taking a break from editing to walk alongside this gorgeousness. I know, my life totally sucks 😝

#walking #dailywalk #morningtonpeninsula #beachlife #beachdays

Couldn’t sleep so I kept reading and finished this at 4 am. The ending made me cry (which didn’t leave me any closer to sleep!). It’s the story of two sisters, Marlowe and Harper, who has Down Syndrome (or as she calls it, the Up Syndrome). I utterly adored Harper and her view of the world. And I found the exploration of the heart and lung transplant black market in China riveting. Congrats @hannahbent_author on such a beautiful debut.

#whenthingsarealivetheyhum #bookstagram #booklove #booklover #booknerd @ultimopress @arrjaydub @jameskellow

Over 30 years ago, my beautiful gran insisted on taking the entire extended family to see Phantom of the Opera. There must have been at least 25 of us, and it was my first experience of musical theatre. It was the OG cast of Marina Prior and Anthony Warlow, and it was magic. Afterwards I bought the cassette tapes (!) and listened to them obsessively. I saw Phantom once more a year later, but not again until now. I loved every second every time. And I maintain that life would be better if we all lived it like a musical.

Thanks to @enaji89 for telling me I must go, and @s1m0ne_22 for being my plus one.

#phantomoftheopera #musicaltheatre #melbournelife #lifeshouldbeamusical

Loving Dominicana by Angie Cruz so much. It’s based on the story of her mother’s arrival in America from the Dominican Republic and I’m gulping it down. Today’s perfect beach accompaniment.

Side note: I have had a bad reading run recently with nothing really hooking me and thank god this has broken the cycle.

@writercruz #dominicanathenovel #bookstagram #booklove #booklover #booknerd #bookaddict #beachdays

Finally joined my new local library and how lovely it was to see The Breaking on display. Also picked myself up a pretty little reading stack.

Did you know that every time you borrow a book the author gets paid? So it’s always better to borrow from a library than from a friend, or even to buy from a secondhand store. Plus libraries are just awesome. Get in one! (And while you’re there, borrow my books 😉)

@frankstoncitylibraries #librariesrock #TheBreaking @midnightsunpublishing #writinglife #writingcommunity #authorlife #writerslife #australianauthor #librarylove #library📚 @hannahbent_author @alicebishop

Another evening beach walk. And yes, life is as good as it looks 😊

#beachlife #beachdays #beachwalk #walking #beachvibes

On my writing mornings I’m slowly sampling local cafes in my new hood. This one is my fave so far, with so many pretty GF vegan cakes.

#writing #writinglife #writingday #authorlife #coffeegram

Loved hearing my beautiful friends reading the English and Spanish versions of Where the Heart Is side by side. And so fascinating to hear what choices the translator made. Thanks @sofiah and @martindlr0! xx

#wheretheheartis @oh.susannah.illustration @ekbooksforkids #kidlit #childrensbooks #picturebook #penguin #penguinlove #brazil #riodejaneiro #spanishedition

The boys making friends with a beautiful big ray 🖤

#beachlife #beachdays #summertime #stingray #oceanlife @doddsnick

This girl ❤️

@s1m0ne_22 #friendsforlife

Jetty jumping is the kid’s new favourite pastime. We are loving this beach life hard.

#jettyjumping #beachdays #beachlife #summertime #holidays

The Chinese edition of Where the Heart Is (called Back to You) arrived on my birthday! Best present of all 💙

#wheretheheartis #penguinlove #brazil #kidlit #picturebooks #childrensliterature #penguins #dindim

Perfect little hideaway in Cape Conran where we have all the beautiful beaches on our doorstep plus a resident lace monitor, kangaroos and even an ostrich who threw a courting dance at me (is this normal, anyone?!) Gorgeous lunch spot on the East Cape. What more could you want in life?

#capeconran #beachdays #summertime #beachlife

Last year we were tipped off by a publican in Lake Tyers that Cape Conran is a little-known gem and he was not wrong. Stunning beaches and beautiful walks and barely a person around. And yes, we hike with wine 😁

#capeconran #beachdays #beachlife #summertime

I fell in love with paddleboarding the first time my partner introduced me to it and now I’m on it every chance I get. Such loveliness being in the middle of the ocean with the sun on your skin. Standing for zen cruising and banjo shark spotting, kneeling for power 💪

#paddleboarding #paddleboardingadventures #beachlife #beachdays #summertime

Dindim is now in Mandarin with his own book trailer 😊 I have no idea what it says but I love it! And I love that Where the Heart Is (called Back to You in this version) is now reaching Mandarin speakers around the world 🖤

@oh.susannah.illustration @ekbooksforkids #penguins #penguinlove #brazil #china #mandarin #booktrailer #kidlit #wheretheheartis #picturebooks

Rone was pure magic. Felt like we’d slipped into an otherworldly space. It goes down as one of my all-time fave art experiences. People of Melbs, you must go!

P.s. Writer friends, the library is the stuff of fantasies.

@flowergirl_amsy #rone #melbournelife #artinstallation

Slowly sampling all of the peninsula’s beaches. Balnarring beach is definitely the warmest so far, though it may have a slight seaweed problem. But when you know peeps with this view there’s really no contest.

#morningtonpeninsula #beachdays #beachlife #summervibes #goodtimes

What a gorgeous day was had with the peninsula writers crew thanks to @andrearowe_coastwriter! So very happy-making to connect with such fabulous kid lit authors. And thanks to Andrea for these beautiful words about my latest picture book, Seree’s Story, illustrated by the incomparable Wayne Harris.

Repost with Regram
. . .
Do you have a reader who loves animals, is interested in their welfare and how they can thrive in the wild?

Seree’s Story is a compelling story to read and re-read to activists and environmentalists in the making. It’s the story of elephant safety and care, but so much more written by @irma.gold who has just moved to the Nitch.

So glad she chose our ‘hood so we could gather today for #summersoiree

@pen.harrison @emma.bowd.au @debi_hudson @vikkiconleyauthor @louendicott_illustrator @naomiwoodrose @danielleburns__ @p.pittock @becksmuse #sereesstory @walkerbooksaus #writingcommunity #writinglife #writerslife #authorlife #kidlit #picturebooks #elephants #thailand

Well, this is bloody amazing — a Chinese edition of Where the Heart Is to kick off the new year! Can't wait to get this one in my hot little hands. Foreign editions really are one of the biggest thrills 🤩

#wheretheheartis @oh.susannah.illustration @ekbooksforkids #penguins #penguinlove #penguinbooks #brazil #travel #travelgram #animalconservation #penguin🐧

Evening loveliness with @doddsnick.

#beachwalks #eveningbliss #sunset #beachdays #summertime

Thank you to Abby and Zeke at @idreamofallthebooks for this beautiful 5-star (or 5-bottle!) review. Love that Seree is touching big and small hearts everywhere, and opening eyes to the plight of elephants.

@walkerbooksaus #wayneharris @saveelephantfoundation @surinproject #elephantlove #elephantlovers #thailand #travel #travelgram

A little story about friendship. But first a (relevant) tangent. I doubt any of you will remember the band Indecent Obsession but the children’s choir I was in spent one glorious day in some huge mansion with the band and Molly Meldrum doing a photo shoot (having previously recorded backing tracks for their album). I indecently obsessed over the lead singer, David Dixon, and my bestie, over the other singer, Michael, so there was no competition 😂

Mandy and I had so many great times in that choir together — singing and recording a music video with John Farnham, touring the US and doing Countdown, the Early Bird Show and heaps of other TV shows and gigs. It was all so fun, but we lost touch after we got too old for the choir.

Then a few weeks ago Mandy tracked me down via social media, and now here we are. Neither of us is still singing but it’s been so great reconnecting after more than 30 years. For all the pitfalls of the socials, they can sometimes deliver magic.

All this prompted me to pull out albums I had almost forgotten existed. So please enjoy this 90s memorabilia from that day at the mansion, including a Smash Hits mag article where I am smiling in spite of my bad hair and truly awful chorister get-up. Note that in the photo with David my little brother inserted himself between us, clearly ruining my chances 😂

#friendship @enaji89

What a fabulous way to start the new year with Lucy from Brisbane’s gorgeous Where the Wild Things Are bookshop naming Seree’s Story one of her fave books of 2022! I love that she called it ‘a heart story’ because that’s exactly what it is to me. So very happy-making!

Also love that I’m alongside Craig Silvey — my chat with him about Runt was one of my fave events last year. And rubbing shoulders with Alison Lester and Bob Graham — what a thrill!

Thank you Lucy ❤️

@wherethewildthingsare_bookshop @walkerbooksaus @elephantnaturepark @surinproject @craigsilveyauthor @alisonlesterbooks #sereesstory #elephants #elephantlove #thailand #elephantlover #kidlit #picturebook #kidsbooks #readingtime

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