Exciting travels!

I’m packing my suitcase to visit fabulous places, meet new friends and catch up with some old ones. First stop is London, where I’ll be seeing my glamorous agent Elizabeth Sheinkman and my wonderful UK publisher Lisa Highton. There’ll be time to catch up with my old kindergarten friend Ross Alley. Ross puts on the best dinner parties in London. He has the magical ability to make it seem as if there’s no effort involved serving three courses under candlelight for 12 people or more. Ross is a generous, witty host who’s so sophisticated these days it’s hard to imagine him back in the sandpit where we first met. His mother and mine were good friends, so perhaps friendship is genetic.

After London I’m off to Florence for a week or so to indulge my weakness for galleries and all things Italian. I’ll be taking the laptop in case I’m inclined to work on what’s supposed to be a new book in the mornings when my energy levels are at their peak. Then again mornings are also the best time to visit galleries….!!!
After Florence, it’s up to Lake Como to visit my Italian translator Edi Tassi. It takes roughly four months to translate a book. Having completed work on “Cleo” poor Edi now has to embark on spinning “Cats and Daughters” into Italian. She sounds such a lovely person, I can’t wait to meet her.

Then it’s on to Vienna to give some readings, and Frankfurt Book Fair where New Zealand is guest of honour this year. My soul mate German language publisher, Martina Schmidt, generously invited me to attend what promises to be an incredible event. Frankfurt will be awash with banquets, receptions and dollops of damp-eyed patriotism. My wardrobe isn’t nearly glamorous enough.

Toward the end of October I’m flying to Guam to speak at the 2012 convention of Federation of Asia Pacific Women’s Association (FAWA). It’s an honour to be asked to this special event. My topic will be Women in Education, which is challenging for someone with minimal formal education (apart from the pearls of wisdom received from Ross in the kindergarten sandpit!). 

In the meantime progress with Cleo the movie goes at a pace. South Pacific Pictures are aiming to score an international superstar for the leading role. I wonder if she’ll want come to our place as part of her research? That would be nerve wracking!!!