That Boy, Jack launch

Oh, what a feeling!

After months of planning, my children's, historical novel is officially launched. That Boy, Jack (Walker Books) has taken over 10 years to get published. Now it's out there. Happy reading, everyone. 

It was a happy day!

Such a stunning cover. Thanks Walker Books!

Wonderful music by The Celtic Daughters opened the event.

Ex-student and now family friend, James Quigley, was the perfect MC.

Award-winning author, friend and fellow-Cornish descendent, Rosanne Hawke, launched the book with grace, warmth and humour.

With the book at last!

Jack took a liking to the Cornish pasties!

Friend, Wendy Johnson, reading out winning ticket of the door prize.

Members of the Adelaide Cornish Choir singing traditional songs.

Book buying!

The crowd in the great Function Centre at Immanuel College, Novar Gardens, SA.

A great day.

Happily signing away.

Members of The Celtic Daughters plus Isabel, who also played her debut performance.

Mike Lucas of Shakespeare's Bookshop, Pt Noarlunga.

Daughter, Cass and grandson, Liam.

Baby grandson, Saxon.

Daughter, Nat, and baby Saxon.

Sister, Jo and cousin, Sue. (Left to Right)

My husband, Jon, son-in-law, Nick and friend, Peter. (from Left to Right)

It's Festival time!

The two words Kernewek Lowender, mean Cornish happiness and is the name for the biennial Cornish Festival which occurs in the old copper mining towns of Moonta, Kadina and Wallaroo on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula.

It’s a time for Maypole and Furry dancing, singing, wrestling and historic walks, for parades, pasties, poetry and more, all to celebrate the Cornish culture that came to Australia through the early immigrant miners and their families who arrived in sailing ships from Cornwall from 1840's onwards.

I was thrilled to have a special Cornish launch of my historical, children’s novel That boy, Jack, (Walker Books) which is set in the heart of the copper mining region, during this week's festival. And to know that my ancestors were miners who made a new life in South Australia. 

It was made especially memorable because my friend and writing colleague, Rosanne Hawke, herself of Cornish ancestry  and acknowledged as a Bard of Cornwall, launched the book. 

She will also launch it at a city event on Monday, June 10^th, 2013.