Once Upon a Harbour is a book about a place …and a place that that has turned into a book! The place is Otago Harbour where I live but it could be anywhere we wander and wonder…jot down ideas and especially draw.
It began with a fat rat scuttling under a nearby boatshed and me wondering what sort of dastardly adventures he might get up to with his mates…
Perhaps a turf fight with the local blackback gulls…
Then there was the little cottage down the road I’d heard was brought in on a boat…
And so continued a whole collection of harbour drawings like chapters around the shoreline.
They weren’t really stories, just notions and I wondered if they might suit poems. Luckily I met just the poet to write to write them – Fiona Farrell.
We chose six of the best starting ideas and Fiona worked her magic, transforming them with delightful stories full of wit and humour…
The rats of course…
A sea monster called Craig
Mr and Mrs Drizzle who lived in the clouds
The little house… going back out to sea
Gnarled pines partying on the hillsides
And a little piggie outwitting a wolf
Once Upon A Harbour – a book about a place I love
Publication will be marked by two free public events at the Dunedin Public Library with the assistance of UNESCO Dunedin City of Literature.
Book launch
David Elliot and Fiona Farrell will give an illustrated talk for adults
Thursday 1st October I 5.30pm I Fourth Floor I City Library
Workshop for 7-11 year-olds
Once Upon My Favourite Place: Writing & Illustration Workshop
David and Fiona will help participants write and illustrate a poem about a special place they know and love. All materials supplied.
BOOKINGS REQUIRED: Via the events page on the Dunedin Public Libraries website.
FREE: Saturday 3 October I 2-3.30pm I Fourth Floor I City Library
Once Upon a Harbour is available from The Flying Whale in-store & online