The UK edition of my Philosophy in the Garden is out now.

It has a gorgeous new cover designed by Allison Colpoys, part of a matching set with the UK edition of The Art of Reading (both with Scribe UK).

My sixth picture book is also out now: My Dad is a Dragon.

It's a celebration of dads and their shenanigans, part of the award-winning series that began with My Nanna is a Ninja.

I never thought I'd be a children's author, and it has been a thrill to work with Peter Carnavas and the gang at UQP (especially Kristina Schulz), and a continuing joy to meet our readers.

After our earlier Melbourne launch (more on this in a moment), we launched My Dad is a Dragon in Hobart on Sunday 25th, and had a ball. Many thanks to all the kids, parents and carers who came along, and to Fuller's for being such champions of my work.

Also in August, the whole family took a driving trip to Melbourne. Yes: driving.

After a decade on foot, we travelled the length of Tasmania for the first time. We boarded the Spirit of Tasmania to Port Melbourne, then drove to Gippsland, Mont Albert, Healesville, back to the 'burbs, then over Bass Strait once again (well, the ferry captain drove--while our daughter threw up), then to Hobart once again after two events in Launceston.

I visited a bunch of bookshops in Melbourne city and suburbs, and signed copies of My Dad is a Dragon:

I launched My Dad is a Dragon at The Little Bookroom, where each of my picture books has first been sent into the world. Thanks once again to Leesa and the Bookroom gang for their enthusiasm for children's books in general, and my humble books in particular.

I also visited two schools and a library for CBCA Book Week. While in Melbourne, I spoke to the kids at Erasmus Primary about My Nanna is a Ninja, then ran a brief philosophy workshop.

After the ferry back to Tasmania (and having cleaned up our daughter and drank far too much coffee), we stopped in Launceston.

I read My Dad is a Dragon in the morning, then later Ruth and I spoke about our nonfiction books to the National Book Council of Tasmania: The Promise of Things and The Art of Reading. This was reported in The Examiner soon after.

And back in Hobart, I dropped into Brighton Primary, and spoke about writing with about three hundred and fifty students.

Many, many thanks to all the booksellers, teachers, librarians and readers we met--and thanks also to our children for making the most of those many miles.