Garbage Guts Has Been Released On The World!

Well, I can't believe it!

I've been waiting for this day for almost 9 months (it's like I was pregnant with a book baby), and now the day has finally arrived. 'Garbage Guts', which was illustrated by the incredibly talented Heidi Cooper-Smith, was released out in to the world today.

It's been a long journey. It all started with a project my preschoolers and I undertook called 'Take 3 for the Sea'. We went out into our community collecting rubbish so it wouldn't go into our waterways, the idea being we would use our rubbish to create an artwork which highlighted the importance of 'putting our rubbish in the bin' and 'recycling'. When we researched 'rubbish in the ocean', we were shocked to find images of the North Pacific Garbage Patch. That thing is enormous. And the effects our rubbish has on sea-life and our environment? It was absolutely mind-blowing (and not in a good way). It made me want to spread the word, but in a way that wouldn't be preachy or 'in your face'. Thus Garbage Guts was born.

I was so pleased when Larrikin House saw the value of my little story and wanted to publish it. There's no greater feeling for an author. And when I saw Heidi Cooper-Smith's phenomenal illustrations, I could've cried. She has done an amazing job of bringing the story of my trash monster to life.

Sure, the Covid-19 crisis has put a bit of a dampener on things (for example, I had to post-pone my in-store launch at Harry Hartog Green Hills to... well, who knows when?), but nothing can dull the sparkle of having Garbage Guts out there in the world.

I hope you all love this story as much as I do.

Much love to you all. Stay safe. Keep reading!

Emily