Mary Read at Mary Ryan's!

'Mary Read - Sailor, Soldier, Pirate' is now available at Mary Ryan's bookshop in Park Rd, Milton, for $25.

My book reading for 'Mary Read - Sailor, Soldier, Pirate' is at Toowong Library on Tuesday the 19th at 10.30am.

As the day is looming, I popped into Toowong Library today, to see what the promotion for my book reading was like.
I found they had a great display right next to the door, so I think it could be a good turn out.
I've printed lots of business cards, and 'how to buy on-line' forms and 'further reading' lists, and am now practising my talk, getting my speech cards lined up, and trying to be cool about it.
I only hope I don't sell all my books before the next reading, at Indooroopilly Library, Sunday 24th at 1pm.

I wrote a poem on an opera-singing busker in Queen St Mall. She stopped quite a crowd last Saturday, and out-sang the noise of jack-hammers and drills from the building site. I think she is truly incredible, and this poem is a tribute to her.

 

She Sang in Queen Street Mall

She sang again today

and her song filled Queen Street Mall

and flew soaring over jack-hammers

and held us all in thrall

A big brown Amazon

whose sound is liquid power

she stopped us in our tracks

and held us spell-bound for an hour

She sang to us of loss and pain

and we recalled lost dreaming

she sang to us in language strange

and we understood her meaning

And we filled her hat with gold

complimenting her clear call

for this hard city needs a soul

and she sings in Queen Street Mall

Cherie Pugh

A move into Brisbane has made it much easier to access the libraries here,
and I have set up two talks on 'Mary Read - Sailor, Soldier, Pirate'. 


One is at my local library, Toowong, 10.30-11.30 Tuesday the 19th of May.
The other is at Indooripilly, 1-2pm on Sunday the 24th of May.

I will talk about the history of the pirates of the Caribbean, their surprisingly strict code of behaviour, the women pirates, and Mary Read in particular.
After answering any questions, I will sell signed copies of my book.

All welcome.

Fairytales published!

I have just spent the last week getting the fairytales I wrote for my daughter uploaded to Amazon, so they an be ordered as books. They are now 8"x10" paperbacks with my watercolour and ink illustrations. This is a series I call, Modern Fairytales, as despite the dragons, fairies, witches and giants, the messages are empowering and the plots unpredictable.

 'The Princess and the Dragon'
When a terrible Dragon threatens a peaceful village,
no one reacts the way they are supposed to.
A joy to read, this beautifully written tale has all the magic
and drama of the old-fashioned bedside story, but when it comes to plot, get
ready for surprises.
A metaphor for the challenges faced by the children of the 21st century, 'The Princess and the Dragon' has important lessons in Dragon-fighting for adults and children alike.
Cherie Pugh wrote 'The Princess and the Dragon' for her own feisty princess, and based the colourful illustrations on traditional European woodblock prints.


 'The Musical King'
A fairtytale for modern children.
Everyone complains that the King loves only music, but when he
falls for a strange lady, he risks his whole Kingdom.
How far will he go to make everything right again?
With watercolour and ink illustrations inspired by medieval art.





'The Princess and the Giant'
A giant turns the life of a beautiful princess upside down.
But sometimes change can be a good thing.
A modern fairytale that spurns tradition, providing guidance for 21st century
children.
Beautifully hand-illustrated with ink and watercolours by the author.

'Mary Read' - Library Talks

I had a great time doing the library talks on 'Mary Read'.
It was lucky I had the practice of such a small, cosy group at Caboolture, because almost 30 people came to the Redcliffe talk! I was nervous, but there were a few familiar faces in the crowd, and it all went very well.
I sold most of my books, enough to order another 20 through Amazon. I have been encouraged to approach the alternative Avid Reader bookshop in Brisbane, to see if they will sell 'Mary Read', and I am now awaiting their answer.
Thanks to everyone who came, and to Tina Cavanough from the Moreton Bay Libraries for doing such a great job of organising this event.

Library Talks - The True Story of the Pirates of the Caribbean

I am in the middle of giving a series of lectures in local libraries, on the Caribbean pirates. This is to promote my novel 'Mary Read - Sailor, Soldier, Pirate'.
The first talk was at Caboolture Library, and though only six people turned up, three bought books, and all were very encouraging and interested. David Adams also bought Russell and I coffee, and entertained us for over an hour with an interesting discussion on history - did you know 3,000 women fought in the trenches of Flanders in World War 1? Me neither. A really great morning.
My next talk is at Redcliffe library tomorrow at 10.30am, with 20 people booked in, so I'm glad I've already had the practice with a smaller group.
Then: Monday 10th February at Burpengary Library at 10.30am,
         Saturday 22nd February at Albany Creek Library at 10am.