I feel as if I’ve been in the papers every day for two and half months although of course I haven’t, although it has been often. Very embarrassing. First there was the publicity for Possum Magic’s 21st birthday, and then there was yet more publicity for the launch of Where Is The Green Sheep? It was fun and I loved it, especially hanging out with Julie Vivas and Judy Horacek, the funky illustrators of these two gorgeous books, but I’m 58 so I was really, really tired by the time it all finished.

On Friday afternoon June 4th, when the glamour-girl part of my life was finally over, I got into comfy old clothes, slipped my happy feet into slogger-clogs and went into the back garden to clip the lavender bushes. I was calmer than calm, pruning away in a quiet garden, lost in my own thoughts, totally at rest, totally at peace.

Then the phone went and I nearly cut myself on the secateurs, especially when the voice at the other end said he was the Minister for Education in the Federal Government! He called me! Amazing. We had a good conversation. I believe I persuaded him that literacy is more important than politics, and that we should all be striving together for a more literate world. I was astounded to have received the call, I must admit, but glad to have both major political parties in this country on my side, and working in the same direction.

I’m very politically active but I would never be a politician. I’m too much of an individual. Besides, I detest meetings and I can’t remember people’s names so how could I ever go into politics? I couldn’t. But I do use our democracy aggressively and feel that more of us should do the same, and get active. How will politicians know what we think if we don’t take up our pens and let them know? They are there to serve us, after all. I write to politicians often: I praise, I lash, I teach, I encourage and I challenge them. I tell ‘em!

If I hadn’t written to Mark Latham, Leader of the Australian Labor Party, back in February 2001, urging him to read to his son Oliver, who was then three months old, would we in Australia have heard so loudly and clearly the message about the importance of reading to children in their first five years of life? I don’t think so. I’ve been thrilled to see the message working its way into cartoons, advertisements and even comedy skits in this country. It’s out there, and I’m excited by that, and relieved. I want the very best for children everywhere. Being read aloud to is the quite the best and happiest way for them to begin their lives.

Since I last wrote I’ve had happy times in the USA, at IRA in Reno and at Penn State for a super children’s literature conference; and in various places in Australia such as Orange in NSW, and Strathalbyn in my own state, and the Collingwood Children’s Farm in Melbourne, and a Possum Magic celebration at Fairfield Library in Sydney.

But the best of all was Canberra, where on May 31st Mark Latham launched Where Is The Green Sheep? Jenny Darling, my literary agent, said it was the best launch she’d ever been to and she’s been to more than most of us. Malcolm was there and beaming away, and he usually dislikes that sort of thing. The speeches were fabulous. Mark was brilliant and kind and moving. (’I love Mem Fox. She’s a great Australian, etc., etc.’! Very nice. I blushed.) No one went on too long. The Helen Maxwell Art Gallery was packed with the press and politicians and friends, and of course, of course, Judy Horacek sold her tiny painting of the original Green Sheep. It was the kind of event you lie in bed and re-live for weeks afterwards, if not years.

Penguin, our publisher, took us out to a fabulous lunch after all the politicians had gone back to work. Paul Jennings happened to be in Canberra too, so he joined us, which was icing on the cake. For those outside Australia, Paul Jennings is the hottest selling writer in Australia for the 6-12 age group and the dearest man you could imagine.

To top it all off Where Is the Green Sheep? has been on the best seller lists for the last three weeks, and this week Possum Magic was there too, in spite of its age. Please don’t think I take it for granted when I have TWO books in the best seller lists at the same time. I don’t. I scream and shriek and leap around the kitchen like lunatic. It makes me very happy.

Chloe is fine. We see a lot of her. She makes us howl with laughter over stories about her lessons and the way she teaches. She’s a clone of both Malcolm and me in the classroom: crazy-mad and madly enthusiastic.

Tomorrow I leave yet again for the USA: Ohio libraries; the Alabama Reading Association conference in Birmingham, Alabama; and the American Libraries Association Convention in Orlando, Florida. Busy times, but summer after all in the northern hemisphere, so I’m not about to complain!

Hope all is well in your world.

Much love

Mem Fox xxx