Blog
Sep 22:
Fan Mail Letters
hi Gabrielle i just got the 2nd Poppy book : poppy at summerhill and i have already read it in half and hour! and i have read it 3 times!!!! I love your books from Maija
Sep 19:
Fan Mail Letters
Hi Gabrielle, My names chloe and i saw you today 8th september thursay and we drew peng and i won ghost in my suitcase the book but my friend is reading it thanks for seeing us and choosing my drawing even though it was T-E-R-R-I-B-L-E!!! From Chloe
Sep 19:
Fan Mail Letters
dear Gabrielle Wang my name is chelsea and i’m 11 years old me and my class have just finished your book the garden of emress cassia we enjoyed it really much everybody went crazy when it was in the libary again i am now reading a ghost in my suitcase me and my mum love […]
If you would like to buy this, you have to buy a set of Aussie Bites. But here is the link to Chinese Amazon if you would like to buy the boxed set.
These amazing paper sculptures accompanied by poetry have been appearing around the Scottish city of Edinburgh. Click on this link to read the article and see how truly beautiful these gifts are.
At the Ipswich Festival of Children’s Literature, the visiting authors were treated to a seminar about picture books and the ipad. We saw how cute the Winnie the Pooh app was when apples could be shaken off the tree – little interactive tricks where children could play with the illustrations. But we of the old […]
Sep 09:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Gabrielle, Thank you for a wonderful workshop. I have just completed my review of the workshop which includes a poem about Peng. I would love you to visit my blog at http://artkidtayger.wordpress.com/ I was sad when the workshop was over. It felt like the workshop had only just begun. I am currently reading The […]
Sep 09:
Fan Mail Letters
Hi Gabrielle, I just wanted to say that I am a huge fan! I have only read one of your books so far, The Garden of Empress Cassia. It was amazing and it has inspired me to read and write much more often! After reading The Garden of Empress Cassia I really want to read […]
Sep 09:
Fan Mail Letters
Hi my name is Mackenzie you met me today i go to Silkstone State School 6C i would like to say thankyou and that I am reading one of your book i am reading A Ghost in my Suitcase it is a very good book i like it and i can’t wait to read more […]
1. How did you get your first book published? My road to publication was paved with a combination of persistence and luck. I started sending short stories to publishers when I was doing my Bachelor of Arts at uni. Many years later, […]
Chinese painting workshop
Sep 01: Booktalk
On Monday I visited Our Lady of Help Primary School in Ringwood to do a Chinese painting workshop with the Year 3s to 6s. First I taught them the four treasures of a Chinese painting studio – brush, paper, inkstone and inkstick. Then how to hold a Chinese brush. Everyone picked it up so quickly. […]
Aug 30:
Fan Mail Letters
Ciao Gabrielle, Ho letto alcuni dei tuoi libri (in inglese) per me improvare il mio inglese. Ho sentito che impari italiano, e perchè il mio inglese non è troppo buono, ho pensato che scriverei a te in italiano. Mi piace studiare inglese (come puoi vedere dal mio e-mail). Amo il tuo libro “The Lion Drummer” […]
Aug 30:
Fan Mail Letters
Hi, my name is Tien and I am currently studying for the HSC in Sydney. Although I should be focusing solely on my studies I still manage to find enough time to read books that interest me. I just finished Little Paradise and I loved it. I love learning about History and reading romantic novels […]
Aug 30:
Fan Mail Letters
I really love your books that contain lots of advencures and mistorys that take me to a nother dimention. What books of yours do you recommend for me .thank you sooooo much for coming to are school! Ps I loved the book garden of emperss cassia so thank you for putting you books and thoughs […]
Aug 27:
Fan Mail Letters
THANK YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU !!!!!! THANK YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! this message is about saying how much you have brought me, my class, year 5 and WHOLE of Fiona !!!!!!!!!!!! so thank you thank you for showing us how to make PENG !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thank you for being there and commenting us with our Writing, […]
This week I was very pleased to receive copies of the Chinese publication of The Lion Drummer.
This is a weekly series of guest posts on How Writers Work. This week YA author and television script writer Fiona Wood gives us an insight into her writing life.
for the love of a horse
Aug 14: Booktalk
This is my horse, Prince. He took me to far off lands, over snow covered mountains, through misty valleys and shimmering forests. Sometimes he wore a crown of silver, sometimes a cape of gold.
This is a weekly series of guest posts on How Writers Work. This week, award winning children’s picture book author and illustrator Narelle Oliver gives us an insight into her writing and illustrating life.
Aug 07:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Gabrielle wang, my name is Tylah and im very inspierd by your books! i read them usually when im not doing anything.i love the garden of empress cassia!! i love all your books,could you please reply.also i would like to give a shout ut to Jayme,Brooklynn and Ethan i love you guys xx and […]
Something creepy came my way a few weeks ago. Call it lucky, call it just plain old spooky, but for sure it has enhanced my WIP. I was working on the umpteenth draft of my ghost short story,
This is a weekly series of guest posts on How Writers Work. This week, children’s author and illustrator Peter Carnavas gives us an insight into his writing and illustrating life.
Aug 02:
Fan Mail Letters
Hello, It is such a pleasure writing to you.I think all your books are fascinating and they all very entertaining. Your ‘Meet Poppy’ series are very intriguing,I am totally enjoying them. My favorite books that you have written is “Garden of Empress Cassia”,”Pearl of tiger bay” , “Ghost in my suitcase” and “the hidden Monastery”. […]
This is a weekly series of guest posts on How Writers Work. This week, Tristan Bancks gives us an insight into his life as an author.
Serendipity in New York City
Jul 28: Booktalk
This is my New York City interview with Mary-Lea Awanohara. Mary-Lea writes a fascinating blog called The Displaced Nation. Before I give you the link to the interview, I would like to tell you how it all came about. It’s worth sharing for its strangeness. Again it demonstrates how connected we all are.
This is a weekly series of guest posts on How Writers Work. In particular, children’s writers. Kate Gordon gives us an insight into her life as an author. 1. How did you get your first book published? I know that I was lucky to get my first book published in […]
There are two worlds authors inhabit – the one inside their heads and the one that is all around them. I spend so much of my time sitting at my desk, inside my imagination, I wonder if it will take me over one day.
Lasting Impressions
Jul 13: Booktalk
The noise in New York fills every space, inside and outside your head. You could pick one of the myriad sounds and follow it to its source and there would be a story. There is so much to inspire
Sunday in New York City
Jul 04: Booktalk
Clothes are cheap in NY and there is so much to choose from. Chelsea market in the meat packing district is cool with a wonderful sushi/fish shop. Bought wild salmon for dinner packed in ice and walked down Fifth Avenue to Central Park.
Sounds of New York
Jul 03: Booktalk
The Museum of Modern Art was my first stop today. In one of the rooms filled with paintings by Chagall, Kandinsky and Rousseau I heard a beautiful voice. It was soft but in perfect pitch and seemed to echo around the room. When I looked
My host family’s beautiful organic garden in San Giovanni Valdarno which means on the valley of the Arno River. This is the river that runs through Florence which is just a short 30 minute train ride away.
Gathering Ideas
Jun 26: Booktalk
I am in Tuscany gathering ideas for my new novel, The Wish Bird. While learning the language, I’m visiting the many medieval towns, gazing in awe at the glorious countryside, taking in the sun
Jun 25:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Mrs. Wang, > One of the poems in Little Paradise inspired me to write one of my own. I would like to send it to you because it was your book that inspired me. It is called Australia. > Clouds that float a thousand feet > Without a breath, > Lake that stretches a […]
I am off overseas tomorrow for a month, and am travelling light. Well … trying to. I do have a BIG suitcase, half of which is filled with my daughter’s clothes. She’s living in New York and part of my trip will be visiting her. Of course, a big suitcase means that I can fill […]
Jun 05:
Fan Mail Letters
Hi Gabrielle, I am just half way through your novel Little Paradise and I am in love! Your writing is so beautiful and it brings tears to my eyes at times, I love Mirabel- She is so sweet and beautiful and JJ is such a wonderful young man!! I think Little Paradise is probably the […]
rainbow latte
Jun 03: Just Thoughts
While at Mr Tulks in the State Library of Victoria yesterday, a rainbow alighted on my coffee. It tasted of magic and dreams and faraway places. And then it was gone.
This is a weekly series of guest posts on How Writers Work. Ian Irvine gives us an insight into his writing process.
endings and beginnings
May 27: Booktalk
I’ve had my head down working on my novel for most of this month. Life has been fairly boring – writing, editing, slashing, resubmitting. But for my main character, Poppy, there is high drama and action and lots of emotion. She is coming home.
This is a weekly series of guest posts on How Writers Work. Lorraine Marwood, Australian poet and childrens author and winner of the Prime Minister’s Literary Award, gives us an insight into her writing process.
May 15:
Fan Mail Letters
Hi Gabrielle I loved your book The Garden of Empress Cassia.I read it in two days!.Do you recamend any other great books you have wrote if you can that will be great. India
May 15:
Fan Mail Letters
Hi Gabrielle, I love reading your books. They are really good. I unfortunately haven’t read all of them yet (i am slowly getting there) but my favourite so far is The Garden of Empress Cassia, which i read with school in grade 6 (i am currently in year 9)and i can’t wait to start reading […]
This is a weekly series of guest posts on How Writers Work. Australian childrens author Corinne Fenton gives us an insight into her writing process.
May 15:
Fan Mail Letters
Hi! My name is Danah! Gorgeia might have sent you an email because she is in my class. Our whole class enjoyed your book very much! We all commented on how well you described Mimi and how well you wrote your very first book. Also, even though you feel like a ‘banana’ why are you […]
May 10:
Fan Mail Letters
Hi Ms Wang, For school this term we are reading “Garden of Empress Cassia”. I read it in TWO DAYS it was SOOOOOOOOOOO good. It was one of the best books I have read. I was wondering if you are Australian or if you live in a different country. I hope you can get back […]
This is a weekly series of guest posts on How Writers Work. Australian childrens and YA author Carole Wilkinson talks about her writing.
I love Chinese paint brushes. Each one is handmade and a work of art. I have just soaked these brand new goats’ hair brushes my husband brought back from Beijing, in readiness for a Chinese painting workshop which I will be conducting in a school very soon.
Interview 2 – The Animals: Elaine Oustons latest fantasy book, The Mystery of Nida Valley, a tale of magic, time-travel, and adventure, for readers aged 10+
I am very excited that Poppy At Summerhill is out today. This is the second book in the OAG series and takes place on a wealthy homestead.
This is a weekly series of guest posts on How Writers Work. This week I’m talking about how I write and my creative space.
Apr 26:
Fan Mail Letters
Hey Gabrielle! I stumbled upon your page while looking at another Aussie author’s page (Michelle Cooper). I read your About and just want to say thank you for believing in yourself and not giving up when those 6 publishers rejected your first novel. I first read The Garden of Empress Cassia when I was in […]
Apr 26:
Fan Mail Letters
Hello Gabrielle, My name is Janna and I am 11 in Year 6. I have read 5 of your books and still reading more. My favourite so far was ‘A Ghost In My Suitcase’. I know this isn’t the best question but I would like to know how old you are and when you started […]
Sun and Moon Dance
Apr 25: Just Thoughts
It has always been a wonder to me how the Sun and Moon are almost exactly the same size when viewed from Earth. What are the chances?
This is a weekly series of guest posts on How Writers Work. Australian children’s and YA author Sue Lawson talks about her writing process.
autumn musings
Apr 22: Booktalk
Autumn Dancing I was walking through Bourke Street Mall and happened upon a wonderful busking group playing Spanish Flamenco. Quite a large crowd had gathered and everyone was tapping their feet and swaying to the rhythm. But then a lady in her 60’s
Apr 22:
Fan Mail Letters
Hey! I have just finished reading your awesome book Little Paradise!This book is such an inspiration! I think that Little Paradise is a must read for every teenage girl. It reminded me to never give up on hope, love and dreams. Is there any books like Little Paradise that you wrote? Because I would love […]
Apr 17:
Author Interviews
This is a weekly series of guest posts on How Writers Work. Australian YA author Lili Wilkinson talks about her writing process.
A bit of little news
Apr 17: Booktalk
I was delighted to learn that The Race for the Chinese Zodiac has been named a ‘Notable Book’ in the Childrens Book Council of Australia list for 2011. See the full list here.
This is a weekly series of guest posts on How Writers Work. Australian childrens and YA author Cath Crowley talks about her writing process.
This post is a continuation of last week’s on ‘ghost writing and fengshui’ so if you haven’t done so already, read last week’s first.
This is a weekly series of guest posts on How Writers Work. Australian childrens and YA author Michael Gerard Bauer talks about his writing process.
I am writing a short story – a ghostly short story for an anthology for Penguin. Its working title is ‘The Thing At the Window’. Yesterday was the perfect morning to begin work. Everyone had left the house
Mar 27:
Author Interviews
This is a weekly series of guest posts on How Writers Work. Australian childrens author Claire Saxby talks about her writing process. How did you get your first book published? The first writing class I did was Short Story. Easiest way to start I figured. Hah! Of course, to […]
The Only Constant
Mar 26: Booktalk
I’m imagining myself in Italy, in a sunny classroom learning Italian. And in London visiting museums. And in New York seeing my daughter. And in all these places – London, San Giovanni Valderno and New York, I hope to gather ideas for a new novel.
Mar 21:
Fan Mail Letters
Hi Gabrielle, It is am absoloute pleasure to be able to contact you because you are amazing at writing great books!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! At All Hallows Middle school you are “Author of the Month”. From Danielle
This is a weekly series of guest posts on How Writers Work. Australian children’s and YA author Michael Wagner talks about his writing process.
Take a look at Simmone Howell’s blog, ‘Anatomy of a Novel’ where I talk about the behind the scenes stuff of Little Paradise.
Mar 18:
Fan Mail Letters
I your awesome you are super duper cool! i love your books there so cool. i read one of your books when i was 4 but i do not remember mum told me i did and i have the book in my shelvers well in mums specal shelves. Now i will talk to you about […]
Mar 18:
Fan Mail Letters
You are awsom I am am your biggest fan your books are great .I am so looking forward to reading more of your books – Ella
Mar 18:
Fan Mail Letters
Ive read your kids night in its sooooooooo cooool i love it.
Mar 18:
Fan Mail Letters
Ithink your books are great! I have read your book Meet Poppy. It was really exciting. From Evie
Ramblings of the Imagination
Mar 18: Booktalk
There are two worlds authors inhabit – the one inside their heads, and the one that is all around them. I spend so much time inside my imagination I wonder if will take me over one day. Which reminds me of Jean-Dominique Bauby’s tragic memoir, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.
Mar 18:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Gabrielle Wang, I love all your books sooooo much!!!! please write more because I really enjoy your books just like my friend Jenny. Whenever our class goes to the librabry we run to the books you wrote to see if there is any new books coming out.I’ve read Little Paradise recently and that is […]
In the Hotseat
Mar 16: Booktalk
Now I know why they call it the HOTSEAT. SuperClubsPLUS is a fantastic SAFE social learning network for children aged 6-14. When I was shown around the site, it made me want to be a kid all over again it looked like so much fun.
Mar 13:
Author Interviews
Inspired by Simmone Howells Anatomy of a Novel, this is a weekly series of guest posts on How Writers Work. Australian author Hazel Edwards talks about her writing process.
Author Crushes
Mar 12: Booktalk
‘From things that have happened and from things as they exist and from all things that you know and all those you cannot know, you make something through your invention that is not a representation
Mar 09:
Fan Mail Letters
hello Mrs. Wang. my name is skye symons and i have been a treasured reader of your novels for about three years. i find them inspirational and those based on a true story like Little Paradise is, i feel like i am actually apart of the story and that is whst i like to feel […]
Inspired by Simmone Howells Anatomy of a Novel, this is a weekly series of guest posts on How Writers Work. Children’s and YA author Julia Lawrinson talks about her writing process.
A Small Happiness
Mar 04: Booktalk
Happiness is finding a fairy den in the heart of Melbourne. While taking my dog for a walk and collecting new perches for my cockatiel, I came across this beautiful track in Wattle Park.
Feb 27:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Gabrielle Wang, WOW. I just finished your book
I started reading it late last night, and finished it at about midday! Your book Little Paradise is amazing, and I smiled right along with Mirabel, and my heart ached as she cried
I felt everything she did. Such a compelling read. I recommend that all who […]
Feb 27:
Fan Mail Letters
Hey my name is Lloyd. My class has to read your book called The Pearl of Tiger Bay. I like the book. At the beginning of the book it was scary because when Bea went missing and there was a footprint that was her’s and there was a nother one that wasn’t her’s that was […]
Inspired by Simmone Howell’s Anatomy of a Novel, this is the first in a series of guest blogs on How Writers Work. YA author Michael Pryor talks about his writing process.
I am reminded once again of the importance of liking your teacher in order for the brain to be open to learning. I’ve been studying Italian on and off for years but have taken it more seriously these past few months. In June I’m off to an Italian school in San Giovanni, Italy. Yay!
When I was a child, some of my favourite books were the ones that were filled with black and white illustrations. There were two reasons why I loved them.
Our Australian Girl Launch
Feb 13: Booktalk
Yesterday was the official launch of the OAG series held at Readings Hawthorn in Melbourne.
Yullarah Covers New Book By Tammy Mills Shepparton’s Yullarah Lowe is the cover girl of a new series of Australian books that celebrate different cultural heritages. The 12-year-old appears
Alphabet Soup interviewed me about the making of the Poppy series. See the interview here
Dancing Frog in the Sky
Jan 29: Booktalk
I love this new discovery – a dancing frog in the sky. And I love stories that remind us of how small and insignificant we are. Called Hanny’s Voorwerp, this is the first time it has been photographed. It is a gaseous blob that is giving birth to new stars.
Meet Poppy Book 1
Jan 26: Booktalk
OUR AUSTRALIAN GIRL Series It is always an exciting time when a book is about to be launched. MEET POPPY is the first in a series of four novels about an 11 year old Aboriginal girl. Poppy (Kalinya) and her brother Gus (Moyhu) live on Bird Creek Mission near Echuca in the colony of Victoria. The […]
Jan 18:
Fan Mail Letters
Hello Gabrielle, How are you? I hope you are good. I have a few questions to ask you. Is that ok? 1. Out of all the books you have writtin which one did you enjoy writting the best? 2. Have you ever drawn the pictures for a picture story book, but haven’t written it? 3. […]
Authors around Australia have united to donate books and services to the Authors for Queensland Floods Online Auction. There are some great donations here – signed copies of books, (fiction and non fiction, children’s and adults), writing workshops, manuscript assessments, and
THE TEN MISTAKES
Jan 04: Booktalk
As writers we settle into a kind of writing comfort zone. So it’s good to be reminded of the common mistakes that we can make. Below is a link to great article by Pat Holt on the ten most common writing mistakes. After reading it I scrutinised a few chapters to see if I could […]
A nice start to the new year
Jan 02: Booktalk
Review of Little Paradise by The Book Gryffin ‘Often, while reading a book, a single word will circulate in my mind. This word usually sums up my overall feeling about the novel itself. The word that continually whispered in my subconscious whilst reading Gabrielle Wangs- Little Paradise, was effortless.Much has been written about World War […]
My 2010 Book List
Dec 27: Booktalk
Here is a list of the books that I’ve read this year. Many I listened to on audio book while cooking dinner or eating or driving in the car. Books that have asterisks beside them were my favouites for 2010.
I will be away a lot next year which is a good thing and a bad thing. I love being away but it means that I have less writing time. So what are my plans for 2011?
Raymond Briggs – The Snowman
Dec 24: Booktalk
I just received in the mail a stack of shiny new books. These are pre release copies of my latest book Meet Poppy which will come out in February. When you are an author, the publisher sends you copies of your book before they go into the shops. It is always exciting
Our children are now young adults so without little ones in the house Christmas time for me is always a little sad. I miss not decorating the Christmas tree with them. I miss the magic of Christmas eve
Dec 16:
Fan Mail Letters
hi gabrielle im only 10 but i have read one of your books and i love the ghost in my suitcase book i read it at school and i fell in love with it so what are you doing in the future because if you making another book i will apserlutley be the fist one […]