Google Book Search

It's been a year of not much writing and lots of business stuff: getting Chemical Leak! reprinted, talking to people about a production of Silly Old Buggers for 2008, launching Sea Secrets, as well as fitting in a bit of actual living! But at last, the end of the whole publishing and printing process of the new edition has arrived. The book is published, it's been delivered to the school booksellers and to the Wilderness Society's bookshops and I now have copies available for sale on line.
It's also been uploaded onto Google Book Search - another big learning experience - but should be well worth it.
My Williamstown is also now on Google Book Search, which means it's available for anyone doing historical research to browse a few pages, check that it is of interest to them and then link to my website to buy a copy.
So now, finally, I have time to think about doing some more writing. Not that much will get done before the whole Xmas and New Year thing takes over but at least I'll be free to start with a clean slate in 2008.
STOP PRESS: I 've just checked Google Book Search and the books are still being processed. They should be fully available in the next couple of days.
Back to: http://www.gillianmwadds.com.au/

"My Williamstown" - A Social History

Haydee - 1983

"My Williamstown" is a book written by my mother,

Haydee J. Witt,

which was first published in 1986.

I had shown it to a publisher who said:

"We may be interested in accepting this book. We'll let you know within about 12 months."

"No way!" I said. "My mother is 92 years of age and doesn't have that sort of time to spare!"

So my sisters and I decided to pool some money and we printed 500 copies.

We had a BIG LAUNCH at the Williamstown Little Theatre where my mother signed books, drank champagne and had a ball.
She died about three months later, about a month short of her 93rd birthday.

By the anniversary of her 100th birthday - 1993 - all the books had been sold

so we printed another 500.

A SPECIAL, ONCE ONLY, OFFER !!!

I now have about 15 of those books left

and am putting them up for sale for $10 plus $3 postage.

Let me tell you about it:

Haydee J. Witt was born in the regional Victorian town of Rochester in 1893. In 1900, her family moved to Williamstown where she grew up, married a childhood sweetheart, and brought up her family of five children. Her book is sub-titled:Reminiscences of growing up: 1900-1914. There are 31 illustrations – old photographs of schools, Haydee’s family, Williamstown swimming beach, the ferries, and many, many more.

Williamstown Baths – c.1914

The book is soft cover, has 56 pages and the chapters cover various subjects:

Schools, Children’s Games, Sunday Schools and Churches, Pastimes, Shopping,

Housework, ‘At Home’ days, etc.

For the student of social history or those who are merely interested in old Williamstown,

it’s a steal at $10 plus $3 postage.

Email me at gwadds@gillianmwadds.com.auand we’ll organise payment and delivery.

Back to: http://www.gillianmwadds.com.au/

It's a Family Affair

More and more of our family are becoming involved in

Treechange Productions.

Geoff Senior - my very clever husband - is illustrator of the new edition of Chemical Leak! He is also an 'ideas man' and solves many problems along the way.
Eldest son Conrad works in IT and is Webdesigner/Webmaster and general adviser on all things webbish and bloggish.
Second son Philip works in theatre and events managment - currently Production Manager for 'Strange Fruit' among other things. He is (unpaid) Production Manger for the development of "Silly Old Buggers" and advises on many things to do with budgets, funding, presentation, etc.
Third son Marcus has been a member of many bands since he was sixteen and has provided music for a previous production of mine ("Who Cares?" at Williamstown and Waverley). Currently he is very busy with a new job and caring for wife Suzanne and 2 year old Marley. They are expecting a new edition (sorry, I get confused with books and printing) addition, due in April next year. So he only has time to be a very supportive fan of our latest endeavours.
Next in line is Simon who also works in IT and provides IT advice on occasions. He is also a busy man with wife, Chris and 3 year old Jack. Another new edition (addition) in this family is due in February next year.
Then there's Monique (Mon) who has been the model for Miss Kouros and is studying Writing and Editing. She sometimes comes to our place for a 'writing retreat' and it's great to have someone to share writing talk with.

There are also two big grandsons, Stefan and Alex. Stefan is working in IT and Alex is just about to start Year 12. They both have been consultants for me during the writing of both Chemcial Leak! and Sea Secrets and their feed-back has been very valuable - and particularly necessary for a grandmother writing for young people!
I haven't mentioned the in-laws and various grand-dogs that exist in the family. I'll save them for a later post.

Author Reprint - "Chemical Leak!"

Everything has been done in preparation for the printing of the new edition of Chemical Leak! and the first order from Treechange Productions has been sent to the printer for 300 copies.
These should be available by the end of November. Copies can be ordered from my website: http://www.gillianmwadds.com.au/ through the very secure and very reliable Paypal set up.
Here's the new cover - WITH the Wilderness Society logo on it because Chemical Leak! was short-listed for their Environment Award for Children's Literature.

And here's the illustration of Miss Kouros by my new illustrator: Geoff Senior (otherwise known as "my husband"). This is a very family affair because the model for Miss Kouros is daughter, Monique - and the hair is really hers!

Back to: www.gillianmwadds.com.au

Things are happening! "Silly Old Buggers"

Silly Old Buggers is getting closer!
We have a Director, we have a Production Manager and we have a quote (quite a reasonable one, I think) from a Musical Arranger. SOMEHOW we'll find the money to pay him and then all we need is: a Musical Director, a band, a cast, a set and some props. Oh, and some money for publicity, tickets, etc. etc.
If you don't know what I'm talking about, visit http://www.gillianmwadds.com.au/ and read all about this wonderful "celebration of growing old". We hope to have it in a theatre and playing to rapturous audiences some time in 2008.