Belinda Jeffrey

Media and promotions are kicking off nicely for Big River Little Fish. A lovely mention at Kids Capers (click here) . I was absolutely delighted when a children’s bookseller offered this feedback:

Belinda Jeffrey’s book, Big River Little Fish, was a wonderful experience of immersion; in a time, place and a feeling. I was right there on the Murray in 1956 waiting for the levee to break; I felt as though I could see inside the heart and mind of every expertly drawn character. This is a quintessential Australian novel which I would recommend without reservation to adults and teens alike. I didn’t want this book to end. It was beautiful.

There is absolutely nothing better, for me, than knowing a reader has enjoyed my book. Filled with all sorts of warm fuzzies this afternoon.

At long last – ok it hasn’t been that long but author years are like dog years – Big River Little Fish has made it into the world. Set on the banks of the Murray River in South Australia during the 1956 flood – the biggest natural disaster in SA’s history – it tells the story of Tom Downs.

From the moment Tom Downs was born backwards – the moment of his mother’s death – time has held him the wrong way round, like he’s caught inside a fractured story. But the thing about the Murray river rising, the thing about Tom’s town flooding, and the thing that takes him by surprise is not what Old Mother Murray takes away, but who she brings back.

I’m thrilled with the way it looks, I love the cover to bits and am so priviledged to have, once again, worked with the fantastic team at UQP. So. If you like the sound of this new little book, track down a copy and give it a read. I’ve also tried my hand at a book trailer. What do you think?  Big River Little Fish book trailer

As a part of the 2010 QLD Writers Centre Blog tour, I’m blogging here about my writing space.

I was gong to post a picture of what is technically my study though, after moving into a  town-house, this is just a little corner in a garage among everything else we have to store in there. It houses the mad mess of ideas and research for my novels, plus the paints and paper, ribbon, boxes and ’stuff’ for artistic endeavors, should anyone feel inclined, and the washing machine.

My preferred writing space, though, is a small table at Gloria Jeans at Indooroopilly Shoppingtown. Yes, I know, it’s not the most ‘ambient’ of places. It has no atmosphere, it’s opposite Woolworths and it is just a re-claimed space in the middle of the mall. But it’s where I go everyday to write (when I can).

The advantage of this particular place is that there is a constant background noise that cocoons me into my own thoughts. Too much quiet around makes my own myriad of other thoughts seem way too loud. Hmm. I feel like chocolate, damn I fogot to hang out the washing. When was that electricity bill due? Too much noise, like music, has me tuning in and singing along, that’s me in the corner, that’s me in the spotlight losing my religion. But with a constant level of background noise, I forget where I am and everything else except the novel I have in front of me. Oh, and the coffee is good and the staff know me. It’s the small things. People drop by for a chat, and it’s not far from home.

By current novel, Big River Little Fish, was mostly written here and it will be published by UQP in September.