A short post from Budapest

to thank you all for your lovely and supportive comments, emails, etc.

Budapest is a beautiful city. The Buda side is hilly, which fabulous views of Pest.
The food is surprisingly good, and we keep discovering charming streets and squares.

Day after tomorrow it's back to Israel...

New from the US - Dancing in the Dark has finally found a US home

As this was confirmed while I was travelling, I was waiting till I returned to Melbourne to let you know. But since my wonderful US agent WERONIKA JANCZUK has already announced it on her blog and some of you already know, there seems no point in waiting. Hence...

I'm thrilled to share the news that Dancing in the Dark will be published by Flux in Jan/Feb 2013. I know it seems ages away, but the upside is that Flux is a fabulous company that specialises in YA and has a terrific list.

Special THANKS TO MEGAN BURKE. Were it not for her blog, and her interview of the youngest literary agent I have ever heard of, I would not have known that the passionate, dedicated and super-energetic Weronika even existed. 

Apologies to my fellow bloggers for having been largely absent from the blogosphere of late. I (perhaps unwisely) came to Europe with neither an iPhone (which I don't possess) nor a laptop - so must rent time on the hotel computer if I want to so much as check my email. And since there's so much to see and do, I haven't had time to read your blogs or even respond to comments on mine.But I'm thinking of you...

Re requests for photos - another apology. I've snapped a few on my mobile phone but am embarrassed to admit that I haven't yet learned how to download them, so that too will have to wait...

And one final apology - I haven't managed to heighlight the names of Megan Burke and Weronika Janzcuk and provide links to their blogs because I'm currently using a German keyboard and it's significantly different from what I'm used to.

Prague, Vienna, and some exciting news...

Spent 3 days in Prague and one in the nearby medieval city of Kutna Hora. Walking through the old city of Prague is like walking through history, its architecture very much unchanged.

The Jewish Museum, housed in a number of restored/renovated synagogues, is really excellent, but I had mixed feelings about the huge role it plays in the city's tourism. On the one hand, the museum does a fantastic job of educating people about the Jewish community in Prague and the surrounding areas - the history of persecution and anti-semitism, culminating in the Holocaust. On the other, it's unsettling to see such horror and cruelty turned into entertainment for tourists.

Unlike Prague, which seems kind of static and frozen in time, Vienna is vibrant and dynamic. What a marvellous city - an eclectic mix of old and new that works really well.

If you like cake, Vienna is the place to be. With such an amazing selection of the most exquisite cakes and patries, it's so difficult to choose just one.

Today, we lashed out and had lunch in the revolving restaurant in the Danube Tower. What fabulous views!

And last but not least, the exciting news my title promised...
No, actually I think it merits a post of its own.

Tomorrow

I'll be up at 4.00 am. to be at the airport by 5.00. Flying to Prague, where we'll spend 4 days and nights. Then on to Vienna and Budapest - 10 days in all...

A Trip Down Memory Lane

but this time, not through books. I've spent the last few days in sunny Tel Aviv, walked for hours, saw the house I lived in for 10 years, as well as the kindergarten and school my kids attended. Had a wonderful afternoon in the redeveloped port, now a place to meet with friends while gazing out at the Mediteranean. Spent a day in Jerusalem - had forgotten how beautiful that city can be with its manginificent views.

Israel's a foody country and the food is fabulous - the quality of the fruit and vegetables is fantastic and the cheeses to die for. Even the simple 5% cheese with its melt-in-the-mouth texture makes you salivate.

Being here, back in the country I lived in for 17 years, seeing the people who were so much a part of my  life, evokes so many mixed emotions - nostalgia maybe chief among them. As the saying goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Today, kids all over the country will go to school in fancy dress to celebrate Purim which is on Sunday. Though it's only 7.30 in the morning, I've already seen some little relatives in costume - a 2-year-old nephew is a lion, and a 6-year-old niece is Minnie Mouse.

Apologies

for my recent absence. I've been busy getting organized for a trip, beginning at 6.00 am tomorrow morning. I'll be away from Melbourne for 5 weeks, during which time I'll be spending 2 nights in Seoul en route to Israel, 2 or 3 weeks in Israel and the remaining 10 or 12 days or so in Europe - not sure where exactly, except that Prague is definitely on the agenda.

The last time I travelled overseas was over 4 years ago, so this one's a biggy. I'll probably have Internet access some, but not all, of the time, so will check in occasionally, when I can.

In the meantime, Happy Reading! Happy Writing! Happy Blogging!

World Book Day

Did you know that today was world book day? I'd never heard of this until today. It's a celebration of much-loved children's books. Click here to see and hear some favourite stories.