Anchored

Anchored by Debra Tidball, illustrated by Arielle Li (EK Books) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9781922539496

Reviewed by Kylie Buckley

Tug is sad as she watches Ship leave the dock and head out into the vast ocean. She tries to keep herself busy working but feels less brave and more alone when Ship is miles away. Tug wonders if Ship misses her as much as she misses Ship. She is excited when Ship eventually returns and listens intently to what Ship has been doing and where they have been. Tug is surprised to hear that even though they were oceans away, she was in Ship’s heart and helped them to feel brave and less alone.

Anchored is a picture book with bold illustrations, anthropomorphic characters, and a gentle narrative. Its themes include emotional connections, separation anxiety, love, and resilience. Anchored is an empowering story recommended for an early childhood audience. It is sure to bring comfort to any child who spends extended periods apart from a loved one.

Anchored by Debra Tidball

SCBWI Success Story – Debra Tidball by EK Publishers

We are so excited to share another good news story!

Many congratulations to author Debra Tidball on the publication of picture book Anchored.

Debra took up the opportunity to submit a manuscript directly to Publisher Anouska Jones from EK Books following the SCBWI QLD

Dancing with the Cars

Debra Tidball is thrilled that The School Magazine has published her play, Dancing with the Cars in the October 2021 issue of Touchdown. It has been illustrated by the amazingly talented Tohby Riddle.

Dancing with the Cars

Congratulations to Debra Tidball whose play, 'Dancing with the Cars', was published in October's The School Magazine (Touchdown), with Tohby Riddle as illustrator.

The Wonderful Scared Book

Can you tell readers about your new picture book?                                                                 The Scared book is a quirky interactive picture book. The book itself is scared of monsters. It asks readers to help it by blowing away the butterflies that are tickling its insides and flicking the monsters away etc. It will be released on the 29 August!

Why did you choose Hachette as your publisher?  I’m embarrassed to say that it was purely circumstantial! I had recently come up with the idea and written the manuscript when I found myself at Hachette for an open day that was organized by the Emerging Writers Festival, in October 2015. The children’s publisher (Lothian is the children’s imprint), Suzanne O’Sullivan was one of the presenters, and over bubblies at the end of the day I plucked up the courage to ask her if I could pitch a book idea. She graciously accepted. My pitch was very simple and she loved the idea, gave me a card and told me to email it to her. I did, and within a week she had gotten back to me with “Such a terrific concept! I really enjoyed it. Are you open to revising the text a bit, to strengthen it further? It was all a bit surreal! You can read more about this experience on my blog here http://www.debratidball.com/blog/a-new-book-on-the-way And the publisher here: https://www.hachette.com.au/kids

How long did it take from submission of your manuscript to receipt of advance copies? 

Short answer: just under two years. Long answer:  it has been a bit convoluted. The book I initially submitted to Suzanne in October 2015 is not quite the one that it is now! I kept running into Suzanne at various events at the beginning of 2016 and she kept updating me on the progress of my book through the system of approvals – acquisition meetings etc. Just as Hachette was about to make me an offer, I threw a spanner in the works by telling Suzanne at the CBCA conference in May that I had another manuscript in a similar vein, and would she like to see it. She did. I sent it. She felt it was ‘More commercial’ than its cousin so we would publish this new one, and so the process started again (albeit relatively truncated)!

Which editor did you work with at Hachette?                                                   I worked with Suzanne O’Sullivan who is insightful and immensely respectful with making suggestions. As the book is an unusual concept, there was the initial refining of the idea to make it work. I love that Suzanne took her time to mull over ideas in the beginning phase although at times the wait felt interminable! As the deadlines got closer, so too did the email responses, and Suzanne was always ready to hear from me and address any issues.

As the book was sent off to the printers, Hachette called a meeting with the team and both myself and the illustrator. It was a delight to hear the enthusiasm of the publishing house about the book and meet the wonderful illustrator. It was a pleasure to work with the team at Hachette.

Who is the book’s illustrator?                   

Kim Siew is an illustrator and mural artist who works under the name of Akisiew (a-kiss-u). She has a gorgeous website and Etsy shop: http://akisiew.com. This is her second book and first trade published book. She brought an edgy freshness and added another layer of quirk and heart to my already quirky manuscript – I love her concept for the illustrations. Pure brilliance!

Have you written other books for children?                                                    When I see Grandma was published by Wombat Books in 2014. It is on the Premier’s Reading challenge and was shortlisted for the Speech Pathologist Book of the Year.  I also have several other manuscripts that do the rounds of slush piles around the country!

Do you belong to a writing group? And/or a mentor?                                       I started attending a writers group less than two years ago at the NSW Writer’s Centre. I don’t know what I’d do without them now! The help give me courage and inspire me in many ways, including to attend events like the one that led to my book deal!

Di Bates has been an encouraging mentor – over the past year or so I have been her facebook admin in return for manuscript assessments! What a generous deal on her part!

What are you working on at the moment? Do you only write picture book texts?                                                                                                                  I am busy organizing launch things for Scared – blogs etc as well as sending off other picture book manuscripts – keeping an eye on the various publishers as they open or close their books!

I also love flash fiction and have a poem/flash fiction accepted by the School Magazine, which I’m excited about. And I have a few longer stories that Di Bates has helped me with, sitting in my bottom drawer! I also have an early reader idea that has been haunting me for a number of years –when promo for Scared is out of the way,I think I’ll get back to that.

What else do you do in the children’s book world?                                           I am a committee member of my local CBCA sub branch; I blog for Just Write for Kids (the first Friday of each month I feature an author whose career is taking off); I am a Creative Kids Tales member and a member of the Greenleaf Talent team and do school visits where I have been delighted to the response as I’ve ‘road tested’ The Scared Book.

The Scared Book

The Scared Book written by Debra Tidball, illustrated by Kim Siew (Lothian/Hachette)

HB RRP $24.99    ISBN 9780734417497

Reviewed by Liz Ledden

The Scared Book is a fun, interactive picture book for pre-schoolers. The book itself is scared to continue telling the story after introducing a cast of monsters. It needs the reader’s help to scare them away!

Each spread offers a chance to get physically involved with the story, from rubbing goosebumps to fanning bad smells. Suspense is built via the persistent monsters popping up again and again, vibrantly brought to life by Kim Siew, a talented artist and muralist also known as Akisiew. Fortunately, the monsters are far too cute to be truly scary, so be assured even the youngest of readers won’t be freaked out by the monster factor! Tidball’s text is used to clever effect regarding pacing, for example suggesting a moment to calm down while tracing a spiral. The ending empowers the reader, and will no doubt create demand for repeat reads.

This is an energetic story designed to immerse kids in the world of stories, and perhaps inspire them to create their own. The eye-catching, tactile cover and fun use of fonts to convey emotion top off the reading experience.

When I See Grandma

When I See Grandma by Debra Tidball, illustrated by Leigh Hedstrom (Wombat Books)

HB RRP $19.95

ISBN 978-1-921632-59-4

Reviewed by Peta Biggin

Visiting Grandma can sometimes be sad but with a little imagination and thought, a little girl and her brother brighten Grandma’s dreams. 

When I See Grandma is a beautiful book.  The story follows a young girl as she visits her grandma, who is unresponsive in a nursing home.  By bringing in the special parts of her own life, the young girl tries to bring some happiness to Grandma’s dreams.

                  I love singing in the school choir.

                  The songs are happy and bright.

                  Grandma loves singing too…

                  When I see Grandma I sing her a song,

                  For her dreams to dance on.

Apart from the beautiful relationship depicted between the girl and her grandmother, what I especially loved about the book is that there is no shying away from reality.  At no point does the grandmother magically awaken; in fact the story ends, rather sadly, with her death.

                  I don’t like it when Daddy goes away for work.
                  I miss him a lot, but I think about how much he loves

                  me until I see him again.

                  I give him a big kiss before he leaves.

                  Grandma loves kisses too…

                  When I see Grandma again, I kiss her goodbye.

Although poignant, it is also a celebration of memories, family relationships and the simple things in life – music, laughter, having your hair brushed.

Leigh Hedstrom’s illustrations are the perfect accompaniment - fun with lovely little details and warm colours. They are also a little understated which suits the gentleness of the story. 

When I See Grandma is a heart-warming, touching and sentimental book.  Overall, I loved it and would recommend it as a must have for any child’s book collection. 

Debra Tidball is a social worker, parent and author.  When I See Grandma is her first book and was drawn from her own experience of having a parent with dementia.  She lives in suburban Sydney with her husband, sons and furkids.  She can be found online at:

http://www.debratidball.com/

Leigh Hedstrom is a freelance illustrator with over 10 years’ experience illustrating for educational and children’s media.  She has illustrated for school readers and children’s magazines.  When I See Grandma is her first picture book.  She can be found online at:  http://leighhedstrom.carbonmade.com/