OUT NOW !

NEWS My new picture book “Snowy’s Christmas” published by Random House in Australia and New Zealand at the start of October. I had great fun illustrating the story which was written by my very talented sister-in-law Sally Murphy. Check out the virtual book launch HERE. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - December 17 
I just received an email from a Year 2 Class in West Australia. They read Snowy’s Christmas and all wrote messages to Sally or myself. It is these types of reviews that give me the greatest joy - kids tell it like it is. “Dear David.... I like your illustrations because Snowy got to pull Santa's sleigh on christmas night. From Georgia. Dear Sally... I really liked the story. Why did you write about kangaroos. Have you written any other books. What stores do they sell at and the one I heard was Snowy's christmas. From Erin. Dear David... I like the story because Snowy got to pull santa's sleigh. From Michael Dear David.... I liked snowy and I was surprised when he was flying and like him because he can bounce high. From Tayla. Dear Sally... I really like your book. It's funny because my name is Ash and one of the roos out of the books name is Ash, too. Tell David that I love his illustrations. From Ash Dear David.... I love your illustrations in the book. I have never seen such a picture. The pictures go with the words. I have never read a book that is so fun and I love Snowy. From Georgie Dear David.... I like the part about when the reindeers got off the sleigh the the kangaroos got on the sleigh then they flew away. From Casey Dear Sally.... I like the Snowy. My favourite part was when they had a race. Do you have a kangaroo? Love Elise Dear Sally.... The story was SENSATIONAL. I wish I could of had an idea like you. Do you think I could have a copy. From Ellie Dear David.... I love your illustrations because of the part when you put Joeys in but you should of put Ruddolf in it. From Ben Dear Sally..... I like your writing. I wish it went longer with lots of good words. From Ben Dear David.... I liked your illustrations. My best part was when they had a race, What is your favourite colour. Mine is blue. From Trent Dear Sally..... I think your story is the Best Story I've ever heard. I would love to see you, From Tianna Dear David..... I like the pictures and I like the painting. It is very good and did you have a booma once? From Aislinn Dear David....... I like page 13-14 because of the possum holding the light bulb. From Aussie.” How good is that? Thanks kids, I am really glad you liked the book - you have made an illustrator very happy. In reply to some of your questions; Rudolph is in the book, he’s the one having a rest in the billabong. He’s just turned his nose off because he’s tired. I have written lots of stories but they haven’t been published yet. I have done lots of other illustrations for all sorts of things. You may have seen my pictures but not realised it was me :) My favourite colour is blue as well. I’m glad you like the possums holding the Christmas bauble. Putting the little Australian bush heralds in the background of the story was one of my favourite parts of doing Snowy. That’s really cool that there is an Ash out there in the world as well as in the book. I don’t have my own kangaroo (except for plush Snowy) but I do have lots of kangaroos who live nearby. I looked at them a lot when I was drawing Snowy and his friends to make sure it looked right. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - November Well, November has been very busy for Snowy and I. After the book launch, we have been hopping from book shops to libraries to schools. I have signed many books and read Snowy’s Christmas to lots of kids, big and small; everybody loved giving the cuddly fellow a pat. Snowy and I still have a number of dates reading about his adventures in the lead up to Christmas. Thank you to everyone for making Snowy’s Christmas such a fantastic experience for me, and a special thank you to Belle Alderman from the Lu Rees archive for launching Snowy for me. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Snowy and I headed out to Dalton’s Books in Canberra for a book signing and reading. It all went very well. The book was a great hit and the shop sold all its copies of Snowy’s Christmas within an hour and a half. I also ate too many lamingtons. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - October Snowy and I were recently interviewed by ABC Local Radio Canberra (AM666). You can listen to the interview HERE. This was Snowy’s first outing. Everybody loved him wanted to give him a pat. BLOG Tour The Snowy’s Christmas Tour is on. Sally and I will be talking about Snowy and the process of writing and illustrating a children’s book at a variety of BLOG’s hosted by some of Australia’s best children’s book writers and commentators. Here are the dates and locations of the tour - check it out; Week One: 4 October Deescribe Writing Blog Week Two: 11 October Write and Read With Dale Week three: 18 October Alphabet Soup Blog Week Four: 25 October Let’s Have Words Week Five: 1 November Sally Murphy’s Writing for Children Blog Week Six: 8 November Aussiereviews Blog Week Seven: 15 November Samantha Hughes’ Blog Week Eight: 22 November Robyn Opie’s Writing Children’s Books Blog Week Nine: 29 November Stories are Light Week Ten: 6 December The Aussie Christmas Blog Week Eleven: 13 December Tales I Tell http://www.randomhouse.com.auhttp://www.sallymurphy.nethttp://www.sallymurphy.nethttp://aussiechristmas.wordpress.com/http://www.daltons.com.au/Daltons/http://blogs.abc.net.au/canberra/2009/10/illustrator-david-murphy-and-snowys-christmas.html?program=canberra_drivehttp://deescribewriting.wordpress.com/http://orangedale.livejournal.com/http://soupblog.wordpress.com/http://letshavewords.blogspot.com/2009/10/snowys-christmas.htmlhttp://www.sallymurphy.blogspot.com/http://www.sallymurphy.blogspot.com/http://aussiereviews.blogspot.com/http://samantha-hughes.blogspot.com/http://www.robynopie.blogspot.com/http://www.robynopie.blogspot.com/http://www.blogger.com/Stories%20are%20Lighthttp://aussiechristmas.wordpress.com/http://belka37.blogspot.com/shapeimage_1_link_0shapeimage_1_link_1shapeimage_1_link_2shapeimage_1_link_3shapeimage_1_link_4shapeimage_1_link_5shapeimage_1_link_6shapeimage_1_link_7shapeimage_1_link_8shapeimage_1_link_9shapeimage_1_link_10shapeimage_1_link_11shapeimage_1_link_12shapeimage_1_link_13shapeimage_1_link_14shapeimage_1_link_15shapeimage_1_link_16shapeimage_1_link_17shapeimage_1_link_18