The author in public

Rccently a friend of mine, a screenwriter writing his first novel, asked me what I enjoyed about writing books. I told him that I love the writing itself, and I love it when someone tells me that my book has affected them in some way, and that I could really do without all the stuff in the middle (the editing, the packaging, the marketing and promotion etc).

Last week, however, which I spent in the company of eight other writers and illustrators touring the schools of the Taranaki, I realised anew that you don't reach that point of meeting a beaming, tongue-tied fan without going through all those other parts of the process too. And that, really, promoting children's books in this way is an absolute joy.

Much of that pleasure came from talking to the kids themselves. We all spoke to three schools a day for three days, with audiences ranging from 16 kids who made up the entire school, to 60 odd students who were just some of the classes in a bigger school. It was exhausting, but I couldn't fail to be energised by the enthusiasm, talent and brilliant questions that those children brought to the discussions, though some were barely five years old and some already teenagers.

The other element in that fun-filled five days, however, was the other adults: the fabulous librarians who organised and chauffeured and chaperoned; the teachers and school library staff who pass on their love of books and reading to their pupils, and the other writers and illustrators on the tour. I felt honoured to be in their company, and in this wider appreciation of the world of children's books.

Check out the books, websites and personal appearances of those I was lucky enough to share a bus with: Gabrielle Lord, Michelle Osment, Nikki Slade-Robinson, Ben Galbraith, Katz Cowley, Trudy Nicholson, Tim Tipene, and Craig Smith. All different, all talented, all excellent. The only downside of being on this tour was that I had to speak myself and didn't get chance to hear what they were all up to. Next time I'll be in their audience, and I'll look forward to reading their books along with all those Taranaki kids they inspired.