Author: katemccaffrey

I am an Australian author of YA and Adult fiction. My first novel Destroying Avalon (2006) published by Fremantle Arts Centre Press is about cyber bullying.My second novel In Ecstasy (2008) is about friendship and drugs. My third novel Beautiful Monster (2010)focuses on body image . Crashing Down (2014) was my fourth novel and is about teen pregnancy. Saving Jazz (2016), is a novel that looks the world of social media and what happens when your mistakes go viral. In 2019 I released a non-fiction book The (mostly) English Teachers' Survival Guide To Marking which outlines a coded marking and feed-forward system, designed to save teachers about 50% of their marking time. My first adult book Double Lives is being released in 2022. I live in Western Australia, with my husband, two daughters, a cat and two Maltese Shih Tzus.

Art, Super Mums, Uncategorized, Year 12 Perspectives

Year 12 Perspectives Exhibition

Posted on March 29, 2007 by katemccaffrey

This may seem like a small divergence from my usual topics- which tend to largely focus on writing and me. But continue reading- you won’t be disappointed, it still is about me!!

I went to the Year 12 Perspectives Art Exhibition at the Art Gallery of WA. It’s an anuual exhibition of the top artwork from the newly graduated year 12s . WOW. I tell you what we are nuturing some amazing creativity here in WA (cultural mecca of Oz). These kids- mostly around seventeen years old demonstrate fabulous skills, but mostly perceptions about the world that bely their age! I was floored by the depth of thought, the political ideas, the awareness of their world around them. Those critics who bang on about the self-absorption of teenagers need to check out this artwork- it’s quite humbling!

Anywho, back to me. There was this one piece of work that appealed to me above all others. It was a painting of a woman, with arms like Shiva (plenty of them) each engaged in another activity. Like juggling, ironing etc- all you working parents get the idea! There was the baby in the high chair and through the window was a dog (think Mambo-style) peeing on the laundry on the line, as a bird pooped on it too. Chaos ruled supreme! The painting was called, I think, Super Mum and I wished I remembered the artisit’s name. FANTASTIC! It’s a piece of work I’d love for myself. I stood in front of it thinking “that’s me!!”

Anyway ‘well done you art students’- thanks for the enjoyable exhibition! Back to my ironing and juggling and rollerblading and….

Books, cyber bullying, cyber bullying resources, writing

Cyber bullying is 24/7- “We’re Watching You”

Posted on March 25, 2007March 25, 2007 by katemccaffrey

All Saints’ Festival Over For Another Year!

Posted on March 25, 2007 by katemccaffrey

WOW! That was exhausting! A lot more exhausting than I ever imagined. For those of you who have never attended this Gala event it is a Children’s Literature Festival run every year on the grounds of All Saints’ College in Bull Creek WA. What an amazing experience! As a presenter, the festival organiser (Kris Williams) ensures your every need is met. The whole operation is seamless and professional, for each session a student is assigned to take you (the presenter) to and from your venue. These venues range from theatres in the school (and there are a few), to gigantic air-conditioned marquees. The student introduces you to your audience and concludes the session for you, along with offering you water and coffee (like I said your every need is met) and food. The school puts on amazing food- including a wonderful coffee shop erected for the occasion- great coffee, thanks guys!

Between sessions we get to kick back and talk to other authors, illustrators and people in the industry. A great sharing experience, I learnt a lot of ways to present a ‘meet the author’ session in the future (courtesy of Julia Lawrinson and JC Burke) and heard some amazing stories of other author’s roads to publication (thanks Barry Heard).

The most rewarding aspect of the whole experience is meeting the readers of your book face-to-face and getting feedback from them. In one of my sessions a group of kids, who had read Destroying Avalon as a class sat in the front rows and bombarded me with questions. Hello students from Tranby (Baldivis WA). You guys were fantastic- I loved the opinions and the ideas that you had. I especially loved the fact that all of the feedback about Marshall was so positive. I love that Marshall is finally being accepted.

Would I do it again?

It’s a long way- I get on the freeway at Joondalup, drive through peak hour traffic to exit at the Leach Highway. It’s mentally draining- standing in front of a crowd of people, who may or may not have read your book, ranging from 80 – 300 and talking constantly for 45 minutes. It requires a lot of organisation (I still have 2 children who attend school and extra-curricular activities and a partner who sometimes would like to spend time with me). But it’s so rewarding.

So YES! I would and I think the school -All Saints and Kris (in particular- along with Adam and there were other key people whose names I’ve forgotten- sorry) deserve a pat on the back for creating such a festival and providing West Australian students with a terrific opportunity to meet with living authors!

And for those of you who attended I hope you found it as rewarding as I did!

Well done!

Books, censorship, cyber bullying, writing

Teaching Young Adult Readers to Swear

Posted on March 20, 2007March 20, 2007 by katemccaffrey

My mum always said if we don’t put boundaries on our language, it’s difficult to put boundaries on anything. I guess, in a way, she meant that language is our first attempt at self-censoring. If we are able to speak in a polite and respectful way- even when we are faced with abuse (think road rage) it in turn manages to control the rest of our behaviour. This sounds like a sermon. It’s not. It’s about the power of language and its place in YA lit.

Language is able to bring down empires and destroy lives. All you have to do is cast your mind back to Hitler’s Germany. He created a frenzy in people through rhetoric alone. Slurs and insults are difficult to shrug off- even for the more self-assured and confident of us. “Ignore it” we say, which of course is what we should all do- but it’s difficult. Negativity seems to outlast positive comments. Marshall writes, “Sticks and stones may break your bones but names will never hurt you- bullshit- they do hurt.”

In Destroying Avalon language is critical. Words are powerful, as Avalon and her friends realise. The internet and mobile phone allow the quick transmission of these words, where their damaging effects then take hold. Interestingly enough Avalon comes from a home where “obscene language is a capital offence, along with murder,” and it is the result of her use of that f-word that brings the novel to its climax.

Not being as computer savvy as her has meant she has managed to hide the cyberbullying from them, but her breakdown, in front of her father, is what alerts her parents to the constant harassment she has been experiencing. Comments about this book often focus on the ‘colourful language’ (I’m thinking red and yellow and pink and blue) and it was something I knew would create strong reactions. I’m not advocating swearing, but I think we have to be real. If we want teenagers to read this book, empathise with the characters and make decisions about how they want to live their lives we have to talk to them. Not down to them.

Young adults are discerning readers. Let’s give them a bit of credit. They know that reading swearing doesn’t give them permission to swear. They know about audience and moderation, like we do. If I face a room of students I carefully chose the language that’s appropriate (not the language I might use on a Friday evening at the pub!!) And I think Destroying Avalon uses language to clearly demonstrate the power of words. That in itself is cause for lively discussion!

Books, censorship, cyber bullying, literary appearances, teacher librarians, writing

All Saints’ Literature Festival 2007 is coming!!

Posted on March 19, 2007 by katemccaffrey

Yep, it’s not far away! We kick off this Wednesday 21st March at All Saints’ College for three fun filled days of author talks and book signing. Truthfully, like any other engagement I’ve been a part of, I don’t really know what to expect! I’m trying to organise how these “Meet the Author” sessions will go. But if you could see inside my head (quell horreur!!) you would see the disorganised chaos!!

I’m in the process of negotiating an inter-state trip to Melbourne mid-year to discuss Destroying Avalon and cyber bullying. Watch this space for further details!

And just for the record, I love teacher librarians! With the recent furore over Destroying Avalon– its language and sexual connotations- the teacher librarians of WA have proven how open and accepting they are! So to all of you who defend Destroying Avalon and believe it has a position on the shelf of your library I thank you.

Thank you all!

Books, censorship, cyber bullying, teacher librarians

Destroying Avalon and the f-word

Posted on March 16, 2007October 13, 2008 by katemccaffrey

I’ve checked the final text of Destroying Avalon. The notorious ‘f-word’ appears 5 times.

5 TIMES!!!!!

Do you get that? In a novel of 56 393 words, 5 of them are that bad word! Reason enough to ban it? I guess so, for some schools that’s obviously five times too many. I get it. But what about what those other 56 388 words are doing? What about the impact those words deliver?

The messages in Destroying Avalon (I think- and so does my editor and publisher- and my Mum) are important. It’s about cyber bullying- something so terrible and soul destroying we need to deal with it. It’s a book for kids who are alone, who feel they can’t take it anymore, who need to reach out. And maybe Destroying Avalon will encourage them to take that first step.

It’s a book for kids who maybe engaging in that behaviour without realising the ramifications of their actions. Maybe reading Destroying Avalon will remind them of the fundamental human kindness they so eaily shed when they hide behind the anonymity of the web.

It’s for parents who are giving their kids 15 inch LCD monitors, high speed broadband access and a passoport into the cyber world- without knowing where their kids are actually going.

It’s a book that is meant to send a timely reminder to us all. We live in a fantastic, technologically advanced world that provides us so much more than ever before. But let’s not blind ourselves to the dark side because it’s an inconvenient truth (thanks Al Gore!)

So it’s official Destroying Avalon has the f-word (in the most crucial pages of the novel) appearing five times. Do you think that should be reason enough to ban it???

awards, Books, censorship, cyber bullying, teacher librarians, writing

Destroying Avalon Embroiled in Controversy

Posted on March 15, 2007 by katemccaffrey

Today a friend forwarded me some of the discussion librarians are having about Destroying Avalon and its WAYRBA nomination. Well, pardon me if lil ole Avalon aint caused a bit of a ruckus!! Apparently it has been withdrawn from the shelves at a Catholic SHS for its language and ‘sexual connotation’. I didn’t think there was any sexual connotation! But there you go- there were issues with sexuality- but that wouldn’t cause a book to be banned. Would it?

In this discussion a librarian (who I think must have heard me speak at something lately) defended the 11 appearances of the notorious ‘F-word’, I think there were only 7 (but I’ll check that and report back) and also made mention of how I’d reduced it from 144! So there- tis true! I was a very foul- mouthed author before the good people at FACP made me moderate my language!! But let’s discuss language and censorship at another time!!!

Thankfully it’s being embraced by the masses (pardon the pun) with that lovely old “it’s the best book I’ve ever read” being bandied around! I love it, I do!! So thank you kind readers and defenders of Avalon! If we could look past some naughty four letter words to the great messages beneath!!!

Books, literary appearances, writing

Publicity and kudos

Posted on March 14, 2007 by katemccaffrey

Back to the mentioned literary appearances- they all went well. Particularly the WAYRBA guest speaker spot where I was allowed to bang on, uninterrupted for twenty minutes- or a lot more. The audience was fantastic- politely smiling (or secretly thinking I was demented!!) But upshot- the President of WAYRBA asked if I would be a guest speaker at their Presentation Ceremony in September. Hmmm, I said, let me consult my diary!! Yeah right! Of course, I said, abso- fantastica-lutely!!!!

The CBC Night of Stars was great. Met a lot of other FACP writers- who all are working on some pretty interesting stuff. Upshot of that night- there is a talented bunch of people in the old WA (as evidenced in the Music industry too). I can proudly proclaim to be a West Australian writer- for after all ,aren’t we the Cultural Centre of Australia now?????

Books, Getting published, writing

Forget Ego- You’re a Published Writer!

Posted on March 13, 2007 by katemccaffrey

The signed contract! It is a thing of beauty, and something you imagined, longed for, knew one day would happen, and unbelievably here you are now with it in your hands. Of course, as a first time novelist you accept whatever the conditions- as long as they meet acceptable standards- which you can access from the ASA website.

The road to publication begins. You meet your new bestfriend (editor) and enter a new phase of work . We’ll look at all that later. For now we’re jumping ahead to after the launch, your baby’s in the book shops, and now it’s being read by people you don’t even know!

Did you ever think about that? Maybe you considered friends, colleagues, acquaintances reading your book, people who might murmur encouragingly, or avoid eye-contact altogether. But what about strangers? And that other breed of person you’ll just begin to familiarise yourself with. The critic.

Some writers say “I pay no attention at all to reviews- whether they’re good or bad.” How? I ask you that? How is anyone able to pay no attention. For then we can’t accept all the good things. All the wonderful reviews about how well crafted your story is, the tremendous impact it has, how it MUST be COMPULSORY reading. We’d have to ignore the comments from highly intelligent people, who are, like you, on the cutting edge of Australian literature- who really know where the pulse is. Disregard their opinion? I think not!

Sure, we can happily ignore the nasty ramblings of the failed writer-turned critic, who can only criticise what the book isn’t instead of what it is. Who are so far jammed up their own ivory tower they wouldn’t know what current reading trends are. Who attack even the writer- with such nastiness one has to ask- do I know you? Have I offended you in some way? Maybe I slept with your partner once?

But here’s another interesting thing- a friend of mine once pointed out that I could quote word for word the more negative comments and only summarise the positive ones! So there- the bad reviews stick with you a lot longer and hit a lot harder than the positive ones (cause yeah- that’s what you thought too!!) How do you handle it then? Take pleasure in the fact it’s your title that graces the bookshelves. You have achieved a nigh-on difficult task. To become an author. And remember you can’t please all the people all the time. And those you can’t please are obviously morons anyway!

And don’t forget the mail you receive from readers. Those readers who take the time to thank you for the story. THAT is the best review any writer can have!

Getting published, writing

So you want to be a published writer?

Posted on March 10, 2007 by katemccaffrey

As mentioned previously the road to publication (as we know) is tricky- but possible. Don’t you just stare, mouth agape at the report in the literary pages telling of the fourteen year old who has signed a three book deal with an advance of a million dollars?? A million dollars!!! What the…?

Let’s get real-these are the stats (and I know YOU’RE the one who’ll defy them!):

-getting published is harder than making the Olympic team

– an advance is between $500 and $5000 for a first book deal

AND

-the average first time novelist will sell between 3000 and 5000 copies of their novel.

Now is the time to ask yourself this:

Why do I want to be a published writer? If it’s to make millions- I say go for it, but be prepared that the road is looooong before you get the kind of acknowledge you may crave- if you’re really unlucky you could be like Van Gogh or Bon Scott- rich after death. At least your relatives will be happy!

If it’s to see your work in print, to admire it upon the shelves of a bookstore, to receive emails from readers telling you its the best book they’ve ever read- then you won’t be disappointed in the slightest. For me, that has made the whole process worthwhile (of course I wouldn’t sneeze at the big bucks either!!!)

If it’s because you HAVE to write, you can’t go a day without acknowledging someone’s personality trait, or a story they’ve told you or how well you could describe that setting then what are you doing wasting your time reading this? You should be writing damnit! We write because we have to. We want to see our work in print because the nature of writer is that of storyteller. We want others to read our stories. It’s a form of pass it forward. We love to share the stories that touch us. And as writers we think all the stories we create are worth sharing and very touching!!

Publication is validation. It means that the time we spend tapping it out on the keyboard isn’t wasted. That the neglect of our children and laundry, and general state of cleanliness is for a worthwhile cause. We are not poor deluded souls with inflated ideas of grandeur (most of us!) because when we are given a contract to sign it means someone else is acknowledging what we thought all along. Our stories are worth hearing!

Which leads into the next post- critics and reviews!! (and poor old ego!)