Creepy & Maud shortlisted for national award

WA author Dianne Touchell is celebrating today after her debut novel Creepy & Maud made the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s prestigious shortlist.

Touchell said she was stunned to see her name alongside the likes of Neil Grant, Margo Lanagan, Doug MacLeod, Vikki Wakefield and Suzy Zail.

‘I saw that I was on the notables list and thought that was great but it never occurred to me that I could also then make the shortlist,’ said Touchell.

‘When I did see the shortlist, I actually had to grab one of my colleagues and bring her into my office to read it because I couldn’t believe it,’ she said.

Touchell, who attended a Children’s Book Council of WA book discussion group just two weeks ago, said her book’s strength was the way it divided readers.

‘Everyone in the book discussion group had such strong opinions about everything in the book – from the cat to the dog to the teacher even down to the casserole dish – the book seemed to stay with them a long time.’

‘I even had one lady say Creepy & Maud gave her a book hangover but in a good way!’ said Touchell.

Touchell said it was fabulous for WA authors to be included in any nationally renowned list but she would be very surprised if she won.

‘We’re a hell of a long way from the Eastern States, so it’s great to get recognition of any sort,’ said Touchell.

‘If I won the first thing I’d do is ring my son and my family and then I’d organise a big celebration,’ she said.

The winning books will be announced during Children’s Book Week on Friday 16 August 2013.

Creepy & Maud is available in all good bookstores. The reprint of Creepy & Maud will be released in late May 2013. Ebook versions can be purchased from iTunes, Amazon, Kobo and ebooks.com. Click here for more details.

Dianne Touchell is available for school and library visits.