Happy 2015

[Nell Jones]

Hi everyone,

This month I have received some lovely messages of support for my work. The comment below comes from Lyn in Maldon Victoria. It's always great to get such lovely feedback.

 I just finished yr book .....  I loved it I couldn't put it down .... Your mum and family what a life journey !!!! I'm so impressed by your ability to give voice to a family and to a time of immense hardship ..... Thank you ..... Please write another you're very talented ...... It gave me a real empathy for what it was like to live through that war ......... Have you won any literary prizes ?? ...... What amazing parents you have and how amazing are you to be able to go through this journey with your mum and to tell her story .... Congratulations x

This month we had the Newcastle Writers Festival and I was invited to an editing workshop with Marion Halligan, who launched her book Goodbye Sweetheart at the festival. Marion was a wonderful inspiration and I felt very privileged to attend with 13 others from Newcastle University. Marion was a terrific editor and we all learnt something new.I highly recommend her work, she also writes for the Canberra Times. I also attended several launches and was enthralled to attend a talk by Blanche d'Alpuget and Robyn Cadwallander on writing historical fiction.But the most enjoyable was the Big Read, highlighting 7 Australian Poets who all read their work.This was really something.

I was also extremely lucky to meet with Dr Lyndall Ryan, Ann Curthoys and John Docker for lunch to discuss my project and novel, A Token for Perry. All are eminent historians and were happy to help me with further information on indigenous massacres in Western Victoria- which is part of my story.

This month I am off to Victoria to interview the grand daughter of James Dawson a monumental figure in the fight for rights and humane treatment of the the Djargurd Wurrung, the indigenous people of Western Victoria  He recorded and published a book on Aboriginal Languages in that district. He is the inspiration for one of the characters in my new novel, A Token for Perry. I am touring around other parts of Victoria with my father Malcolm, to research, write and paint in the Western District. 

Well happy reading and hopefully the winter months will find you curled up in front of the heater with a great book.

Regards Nell