What could be more Australian at Christmas, than some Christmas bush and happy summer bees…
Christmas Bush with Bees by Yvonne Low
Christmas 2023!
Christmas Bush with Bees by Yvonne Low
Merry Christmas everyone!
Joyeux Noël, Frohe Weihnachten, Feliz Navidad!
And may you have a blessed, safe and happy New Year.
Poetica Christi Press 2023 Anthology 'Journeys'
So good to finally see in print my two poems in PCP’s latest poetry anthology ‘Journeys’. My poem ‘Blue Mountains autumn gardens’ was chosen by judge Paul Turley as one of the top 25 poems submitted to the competition!
Eucalypt: a tanka journal
Fantastic to be published again in Eucalypt: a tanka journal (Issue 35, Nov 2023). I wrote this poem to somehow immortalise a beautiful old tree at our home which we’ve now lost. A copper beech, majestic sentinel at one corner of the house. The coppered leaves which trembled in autumn winds and nourished the earth below at leaf-drop in winter…
Poetica Christi Press Anthology
Wonderful news that both my poems entered into the 2023 Poetica Christi Press Poetry Competition ‘Journeys’ will be published in their upcoming Journeys anthology. I was particularly thrilled to learn that my poem Blue Mountains autumn gardens was chosen by judge Paul Turley as one of the top 25 poems submitted. Looking forward to seeing the poems in print, along with all the other poets’ work. Congratulations to the Winner and Runner-up of the competition!
Eucalypt: a tanka journal
Wonderful to be published again in the latest Eucalypt: a tanka journal (Issue 34, May 2023). My tanka was inspired by the beautiful flowers of the Jacaranda tree in my garden, host at that time of year - the last days of summer - to clusters of throbbing hidden cicadas.
Exciting News!
I’m so thrilled to share that I’ve signed a contract with MidnightSun Publishing to publish one of my picture book manuscripts! My story is a fun read-aloud rollicking romp filled with zany animal antics. Here’s a little something to give a bit of the flavour.
Merry Christmas!
Joyeux Noël, Fröhliche Weihnachten, Feliz Navidad, Buon Natale! I had great fun decorating and icing my Gingerbread Christmas tree, assisted by three friendly mice. May your Christmas be blessed, and filled with chocolate and gingerbread treats.
'Magpie' Poem and Illustration
So excited to finally see my poem and my illustration ‘Magpie’ printed in The School Magazine (published in Countdown, Issue no.10, November 2022). I decided to create this completely digitally, and to include the poem within the body of the bird, whilst using the title text to help create the blades of grass. It was fun designing it this way! My poem was inspired by watching a family of magpies strutting around on the lawn, looking for a tasty snack. They seemed to be successful every time they ‘pounced’! Watch out those wriggling worms and squirming grubs!
Transformation Anthology
Thrilled to be published for the first time with Poetica Christi Press, in their latest poetry Anthology, ‘Transformation’(Nov 2022). The collection is filled with beautiful evocative observations on change, journeys, challenges, fresh insights… My two poems ‘Clouds at sunset’ and ‘How to live beyond time?’ are featured. The latter poem was inspired by musings on living during the pandemic - how time seemed to blur and both contract and expand, especially when confined during lockdowns and extended rain-filled days…
Another published poem!
So pleased to be published again with Eucalypt: a tanka journal (Issue 33, Nov 2022). This time, a tanka inspired by the last leaves of autumn this year, and one single leaf in particular - its tenuous hold on an otherwise skeletal tree.
Another poem published
I’m thrilled to be published again in Eucalypt: a tanka journal, in the May 2022 Issue 32. Inside, are gems of poetry, filled with gorgeous imagery from the lives of writers around the world. Fascinating to see how the different seasons inspire poets in both hemispheres. We share the world through our words, unified in one poetry collection.
Peace in Ukraine
Hoping and praying for peace and healing in Ukraine.
Jacaranda cascades
It’s amazing and wonderful that the jacaranda in my garden is still flowering (since November last year) ! I think it’s a record. There are pockets of gorgeous blooms poised up high on the tree canopy, despite everything that the weather can throw at them. We’ve had oppressively hot, burning days followed by aggressive winds and then more recently, days of pelting rain… They’re blooming on, regardless. A joy to behold and a beautiful lift for the (literally) dampened spirits. I wanted to capture their delicate, yet tenacious beauty, before they’re all gone. So, here’s my watercolour and poem.
autumn’s wind and rain
pulls at summer’s remnant bounty
but those mauve cascades of tapering fragility
cling with stubborn abandon
on my jacaranda tree
- Yvonne Low (February 2022)
CBCA Night of the Notables 2022
A wonderful event coming up with the announcement of the 2022 CBCA Notable Books. A celebration of Aussie creativity and the skill and imagination of authors and illustrators. Let’s support Aussie books! Here’s a fun film to enjoy as a lead up to the Night of the Notables on 22/2/22. https://youtu.be/H1P0sK0PsOo
Here I am with my two tutu bears - celebrating along with other Aussie writers and illustrators, as we countdown the days until the CBCA Night of the Notables 2022, on the special date of 22/2/22.
Published poetry in Eucalypt: A Tanka Journal
I was thrilled to be published recently in the beautiful Eucalypt: A Tanka Journal, Issue 31, 2021. My debut poem for this poetry journal was inspired by feelings of isolation, and empathy for those unseen. This edition holds a wonderful collection of evocative tanka poetry from poets all around the world, including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, USA, Switzerland, Canada, UK, South Africa, India, Mexico, Taiwan and Bhutan! Very interesting, though not unexpected, to see the number of pandemic-inspired poems. In this edition you’ll find poems which are profound, thought-provoking, fun, contemplative, sad, beautiful… Just like life.
Aussie Christmas Greetings!
Wishing all a very safe and Happy Christmas and blessed New Year!
Here’s my little Ringtail Possum bringing some Aussie Christmas flavour and cheer, along with our gorgeous Australian flora - Christmas bush, Christmas bells, Flannel Flowers, Holly-leaf grevillea and of course, some cheerful Aussie wattle.
CBCA NSW Kids' Corner e-zine - September 2021
I had fun creating the front cover for the latest CBCA NSW Kids’ Corner September 2021 edition. A kangaroo and joey enjoying books! As always, this Kids’ Corner is filled with enticing articles for readers young and old, including interviews with authors and illustrators of award-winning non-fiction books, poetry with Libby Hathorn and Chris Cheng’s beautiful new picture book with Stephen Michael King Bear and Rat.
Front Cover illustrated and designed by me, for CBCA NSW Kids’ Corner September 2021.
ASA/Copyright Agency 2021 Award Mentorship Program for Writers and Illustrators
I am thrilled to have been awarded one of these prestigious Award Mentorships through the ASA and with generous funding from Copyright Agency Cultural Fund. I’ve now made a start working with my wonderful Mentor, Erica Wagner, developing my own special project which is a picture book utilising graphic novel techniques. Part of the award is participation in the ASA Pathways to Publishing program, which has also commenced and is already proving very educational and useful. My fellow winners are listed here, along with the Assessor Comments for my category, Children’s, YA and Picture Book Illustration.
SCBWI Australian Picture Book Illustrator Awards Winners
It was very exciting to learn the winners of this wonderful Award, announced on 1st April 2021. Congratulations to all the Award Winners. It was fantastic for me to take part in this opportunity and to be one of the finalists in the Emerging Category!
