This is my new book! It will be released in January 2010. I'm very excited to have a novel published by Puffin, a publisher of outstanding books for children.

To find out more about A HORSE CALLED DARLING visit Penguin's website:

http://www.penguin.com.au/lookinside/spotlight.cfm?SBN=9780143304692

AUSSIE CHOMP

Watch out for my new book - an AUSSIE CHOMP titled A HORSE CALLED DARLING. I am very excited to have a book coming out with Puffin / Penguin. All pony lovers out there look out for this wonderful story. I'll keep you posted ; -)

On another note WHEELS has been published in South Africa and continues to sell to secondary colleges around Australia. If you are a secondary student studying WHEELS I hope you enjoy it!

I am now back working on a couple of young adult fiction novels I have had in the pipelines for a while, now. I'll be looking at finishing teen drama manuscript THE MIND THIEF and action mystery manuscript JACK STRANGE in the new year.

I do sincerely hope my next major work to be published, after the AUSSIE CHOMP, will be my doctoral thesis. Five years in I am finally at the writing up stage and look forward to sharing my important research on community services for aged people in 2010!

New readers - Oxford University Press

These are my latest stories, recently published by Oxford University Press. They can be ordered from their website :

http://www.oup.com.au/titles/primary/literacy/oxford_literacy/fiction

These stories have been written for younger readers and are based on traditional stories (China and Tongan stories respectively).

Check out Oxford Universtiy Press' website for other traditional stories written by a number of wonderful Australian writers.

THE BUSHFIRE BRUMBY

The Bushfire Brumby

My new book for primary readers has just been released. You can see details about the fabulous AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE series at Blake Education website (www.blake.com.au) . My book THE BUSHFIRE BRUMBY features the same characters as THE COPPERHEAD. Rachel and Tim return for another adventure at their older brother Roger's farm. There is a brumby, a storm and a bushfire.

THE COPPERHEAD is awesome

This review for THE COPPERHEAD was handed to me yesterday. Thank Ellena I'm so pleased you like my book! Watch out for THE BUSHFIRE BRUMBY, also featuring Rachel, coming out early in 2008.

"I think that THE COPPERHEAD story is an awesome book for children. It's about a girl named Rachel who always gets into trouble when she is actually trying to help out. When her brother is in danger can Rachel help him?"

Ellena, aged 10 years

WHEELS shortlisted for SAKURA AWARD, JAPAN

My novel for teenagers, WHEELS, has been shortlisted for the SUKURA AWARDS in Japan. This award has been created by librarians of international schools in Japan and will be decided next year. To look at the short list of middle school novels check out the link below. I was honoured to be selected and you'll find WHEELS is in excellent company.


> http://www.issh.ac.jp/download/Sakura%20Medal%202008%20-%20MS%20Books.

On another note my new book with AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE is ready to be printed soon. I received the proofs this week and was delighted with Tom Kurema's depiction once again of characters Rachel and Tim. The brumby he created was also lovely. It is an exciting story that reflects last years summer of drought, bushfire and storms and tries to capture the hardship experienced by farmers as well the animals, domestic and native, who share farm life.

You can find out more about the wonderful AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE series at Blake Educations website.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Delwyne

Aussie Reviews - The Copperhead

Children's Book Review: The Copperhead, by Delwyne Stephens

Reviewed by Sally Murphy http://www.aussiereviews.com/

Part of the Aussie School Books series.


"Rachel was scared, too. She was so scared she could hear her heartbeat thundering in her ears. She knew what type of snake it was from the colour. It was a copperhead. Copperheads were deadly."

Rachel is always getting into trouble for not thinking before she acts. When she and her brother Tim go searching for blue-tongue lizards, she is determined not to get into any more trouble. But when Tim grabs hold of a snake's tail, thinking it’s a lizard, Rachel knows she must stop and think before doing what needs to be done.

The Copperhead is an easy to read chapter book for primary school aged readers. Set on a country Australian farm, and featuring one of Australia’s most dangerous animals, it will appeal to Australian kids. Part of the Aussie School kids series, The Copperhead is 48 pages long and has plenty of illustrative support for readers new to the novel format.

Good stuff.

The Copperhead, by Delwyne Stephens, Aussie School Books, 2007