Sandy Fussell
Welcome to Creative Kids Tales Sandy Fussell.
This month’s author, Sandy Fussell has a secret. She collects Yowies! In fact, she has hundreds of them. Not real ones, well not that she’s letting on. So far, she is only admitting to little plastic ones.
She loves Sudoko, sushi and chocolate, but most of all she loves writing.
Sandy Fussell was born in 1960 and grew up in a house with few books. Her love affair with reading began when she started school and discovered the school library. Prizes for academic achievement were awarded in the form of books. Sandy studied hard to ensure she was the recipient of many of those awards. Her favourite subjects were mathematics and history which has helped her in writing.
She began writing in 2002 and refers to herself as an ‘accidental writer’. Devastated at the thought of her eldest son losing interest in reading Sandy decided to re-ignite her son’s passion for reading. Unfortunately her mother-son writing project ended with her promptly being told to ‘write your own book’. Sandy did and the rest, they say is history.
Sandy honed her talent by consecutively writing nine manuscripts. It was manuscript number eight that Sandy showed to friends. All of which encouraged her to pursue it. Her ninth manuscript was Samurai Kids which was accepted by Walker Books and published in 2008.
She is most recognised for her Samurai Kids series which was seen her win many accolades. The most significant was the CBCA Notable Book for Young Readers for book three, Shaolin Tiger in 2010. It was also short-listed in the Speech Pathology Awards for the same year.
Her other awards are listed below:
- 2009 Short Listed CBCA Children's Book of the Year, Polar Boy'
- 2009 Honour Book CBCA Junior Judges Project, Polar Boy
- 2009 Short Listed Sakura Medal Chapter Book (Japan), Samurai Kids Book 1 - White Crane
- 2009 Panda Book Award Middle Readers (China), Polar Boy
- 2010 CBCA Notable, Samurai Kids Book 3 – ‘Shaolin Tiger’
- 2010 Shortlist Speech Pathology Book of the Year, Samurai Kids Book 3 – ‘Shaolin Tiger’
- 2011CBCA notable, Samurai Kids Book 5 – ‘Fire Lizard’
- 2011 CBCA Notable, ‘Jaguar Warrior’
- 2011 IBBY Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities, Samurai Kids Book 1 - ‘White Crane’
Book eight and the final in the Samurai Kids series was released in September this year.
Sandy lives south of Sydney in Wollongong with her husband and two sons. She is an author who has successfully balanced her fulltime work in IT with raising a family and becoming a successful author.
Her workshops have assisted thousands of children in the craft of writing and her Samurai Kids website has been archived by the National Library’s Pandora Archive.
Enjoy Creative Kids Tales featured author of the month, Sandy Fussell.
To read more about this talented author visit her website: www.sandyfussell.comSamurai
Kids website: www.samuraikids.com.au
You can also check out Sandy's blog: www.sandyfussell.blogspot.com.au
Writing can be a lonely profession. By necessity, you need to work alone much of the time. But it is wonderful to have a website which eases that by connecting creators with each other and with a wealth of information and resources.
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'CKT is like the friendly and helpful colleague I could have done with when I started out. Back then I didn’t know anyone who was a writer or illustrator of books.'
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'Creative Kids Tales is a great forum for people who spend most of their working time alone. It is interesting and inspiring to see and hear what other authors and illustrators have to say.' - 
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'This site is such a wonderful resource for writers and illustrators at every stage of the journey. I've learned more about some of my favourite people in children's literature here, but also had the joy of discovering whole new worlds of talent.' - 
'Creative Kids Tales is ambitious, specific and professional - the Top Tips section alone is a must-read for every aspiring children's writer.' - 
'Wow! Creative Kids Tales is a fantastic resource for writers, no matter what stage of their writing journey they are at. Congratulations, Georgie, on your attractive, easy-to-navigate website, your generosity to your fellow writers and your constantly evolving ideas. Thanks on behalf of all of us.' - 
'Creative Kids Tales offers new writers the joy of publication on their journey of craft and creativity.'
'Congratulations to Georgie Donaghey for her hard work and enthusiasm in setting up a site that has been sorely needed to promote current Australian children's writing. Not just for the established, but for up and coming, Creative Kids Tales showcases talent and provides information essential for anyone in the industry.' - www.enterprisingwords.com.au
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'The Creative Kids Tales site is great fun and full of information about authors and their books!' - 
'If a website can be described as 'homely' or 'a friendly place for emerging writers to visit' then that's how I would describe Creative Kids Tales. It's probably the only Australian website for children's writers that I visit regularly and actually feel part of. When I need motivation, interesting writers to read about, or just a peek at my own 'baby steps' towards being a published writer, I visit the Creative Kids Tales family.' A big thank you to Georgie and Rod for a great website. - 
'Wow! What a wonderful resource.
'I wish Creative Kids Tales had been around when I was first starting out! What a brilliant way to connect with other authors and find out about the lovely world of kids books.' 'Go Georgie! I think you're amazing.' - 
'Thanks for being such a strong advocate for children’s literature, the power of stories, and reading.
'Creative Kids Tales provides such a valuable service. Writing can be a lonely business at times, and seeking publication can be daunting. So it is especially wonderful for writers to be able to access such a comprehensive site where information, experiences and the ups and downs of writing for kids can be shared.' Well done, Georgie! - 
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'If there's anything emerging authors struggle with (beyond the dreaded writer's block), it's receiving recognition or even acknowledgment of their work – battling for a slice of that incredibly elusive publishing pie. Georgie Donaghey has created a priceless promotional and networking station that allows new authors to not only share their work, but gain the courage and nous to take their work to a whole new level. Creative Kids Tales is a valuable addition to Australia's burgeoning children's book market.' - 
'Emerging from one's chrysalis of anonymity into the prodigious world of creative children's writing and publishing is a daunting prospect. Georgie Donaghey's Creative Kids Tales is a superlative source of inspiration and information for the bourgeoning writer and illustrator. She has created an invaluable platform from which writers, both developing and established, can view, promote and share each other's work, and most importantly aspirations. A fun, friendly, and informative forum that everyone in the kids' lit industry can benefit from.' Keep it up Georgie! - 
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'Creative Kids Tales is an awesome resource you should totally check it out.' - 
What a terrific, enthusiastic, informative and creative resource - of value and interest to so many people.
'Congratulations on a brilliant site, and a superb first year!'.
'Creative Kids Tales has inspired, encouraged and supported not only the published, but also us hopefuls still learning the ways of the publishing world. Thanks for providing not only an amazing site to scroll and learn through, but also providing friendship and a real sense of chasing our dreams.' - 
'What a wonderful website Creative Kids Tales is, supporting and helping Australian authors in their quest through the dark thorny forest of the publishing world. Georgie should be congratulated for all her hard work and fearless leadership!' - 
'Creative Kids Tales will jump-start adults seeking to become writers!' - 
Creative Kids Tales offers a brilliant platform for established and emerging creators to keep in touch and learn from each other. That is a great thing for this most isolated of all professions (apart from On-site Antarctic Penguin Imitators). - 
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'The thing I like about the Creative Kids Tales website is that the authors come across as real people who face the same problems that beginning writers do and that there’s plenty of practical advice.' - 
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'Georgie and the team at Creative Kids Tales have a wonderful passion for children’s stories, and this site is a wonderful place to visit to find and share ideas!
'The details available on this site, for emerging writers (or those emerged) is incredibly helpful. From creating stories- plotting, dialogue and character building- to the support writers can seek for their work, be it mentoring or seeking a publisher, it’s all there. An excellent easy-to-access writers’ site!'
'I’m thrilled to be Creative Kids Tales author of the month.' 'I hope in some small way by me taking part, I might help and inspire young authors and artists to follow their own artistic path.' 'The key I believe is to seek to enjoy what you do. Even though doing your best is a constant challenge I find it is a worthwhile one. So, get drawing and / or writing.' Good luck ! - 
'This is a great website. Nowadays, when getting published is so hard and staying published not much easier, everyone needs all the help they can get. And here's Help with a capital H!' 'Go Georgie! Creative Kids Tales is an inspiration for all writers of children's and YA fiction.' - 
'Creative Kids Tales is a lovely online meeting space brimming with support and ideas for writers.'
'I would have loved to have had access to creativekidstales.com.au when I was starting out! It's an invaluable source of information, inspiration and encouragement for both emerging (and fully-emerged!) writers.' - 
'I stumbled on to Creative Kids Tales by accident. I thought it was kid's tails. I'd been doing some research about goats and how their tails were actually a fifth leg, a very long time ago. Or did I just dream that? In any case, I was bitterly disappointed at first to find not tails, but tales. However, while I was at the site I had a wander around, and soon discovered that it was even better than a goat's site - no kidding! This is a brilliant haven for writers, new and not so new; a place to showcase their work and to learn from others.' Well done, Georgie. You've done a fantastic job. - www.enterprisingwords.com.au
'Creative Kids Tales is a unique and valuable online resource for new and established authors. The site provides a wealth of information and insight into the children's writing world.' 'Thanks for all your support, Georgie, and keep up the good work.' - 
'CKT is a great resource for both established and emerging authors. I like the way you're always coming up with new and exciting initiatives at your site. And I love reading the fascinating journeys and achievements of the writers you profile here.' - 