Once upon a time...

Once upon a time...

in a sparkly green pond

there lived a small frog

who dreamed of becoming a children's author

and...

being magically transported to the CYA Conference

where many children's authors and illustrators

gathered together each year.

One day the frog ventured forth,

hopping from one lily pad to another

until she met a kind Queen.

The Queen of children's literature,

 called Sheryl Gwyther,

spoke about the frog's endeavours to be published

and her first book

'Pond Magic'.

and about the frog's abilities to wave placards

 and speak out for the rights of all frogs

 to write Australian children's books.

The frog smiled and held up her book for all to see.

She was speechless.

But then she remembered her notes...

and thanked Sheryl, her editors at Penguin Australia, her husband, children and parents, her friends and all the writers and illustrators present, especially those from the KWD Secret Society (who know who they are).

Overcome with wonder

the crowd listened

 as the frog read from her book.

And then she told the magical story

of the vineyard called 'The Arrogant Frog'

and the French 'Sparkling' Lily Pad Pink

from the Languedoc region of France.

Not only was the sparkling French (Ooh, la la!)

explained the frog, drawing the raffle,

but the main character of her book Pond Magic

 is called Lily Padd

AND

the French exchange student who comes to stay with Lily

is from the Languedoc region of France.

Co-inky-dink!

The frog presented the winner of the French 'Sparkling'.

Merci beaucoup!

and the winner of the

mini manicure

at the Pampered Princess

salon for little girls (Pond Magic's sponsor).

and then the Queen and the frog celebrated together

the frog's transformation

from aspiring tadpole writer

to the Princess Children's Author.

And the frog lived happily ever after.

(The photos above with white borders are courtesy of Lynn Priestley)