Darlington Point author Caroline Tuohey is set to launch her third children’s book this week, and she shares her inspirations and love of the Riverina.
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Her third book Boof goes to Beauty School, illustrated by the very talented Kim Feint, is based on dad Glen Evans, who Mrs Tuohey describes as a really “blokey bloke” who once went out wearing nail polish.
Mrs Touhey says the book is a story fathers in particular will enjoy reading to their children.
“Fathers can identify with the fact that sometimes they have to do what they still perceived as girly activities, and then the next day they may be out fixing an engine and teaching the daughter how to be a mechanic. Diversity and inclusion is so important.”
“My main message I hope is that being a parent crosses all jobs and that it is OK to try new things and not be frightened or embarrassed, and just enjoy these activities with their children, whatever they may be.”
She says its really important to note make up is not just for women, and in her teachers notes writes about all the different jobs a man may do that requires makeup.
“One of those could be a stunt man in the movies, and actors in movies and television, they are covered in makeup, and even detectives who may be undercover would need to wear some.”
After finding her illustrator Kim Feint on the internet, Mrs Tuohey was immediately drawn to her “quirky” style.
“I love the fact that it looked a little bit old fashioned, and it was a bit quirky, something that people would smile about and I think her style is really happy.”
Born and raised in Carrathool and currently living in Darlington Point, Mrs Tuohey has drawn many inspirations from the people and stories from the Riverina, and said the support she receives is “second to none.”
“The people here do influence my writing, I also do bush poetry as well and a lot of my poetry is based on incidents in my life or based on experiences of people from Griffith and Carrathool often figure prominently in my writing.”
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“I think the sense of community in the Riverina is a standout, and the support I have received over the years as a writer and a relatively unknown writer, is second to none.”
Mrs Tuohey has had fiction and non-fiction published in anthologies, magazines, newspapers and online, as well as in literary journals such as The School Magazine (Australia) and The Looking Glass (Ireland), The Caterpillar (Ireland) and the Australian Children’s Poetry website.
Her first rhyming picture book is called ‘Climb’, published in July 2013, and was honoured as a finalist in the ‘Children’s Picture Book: Softcover Fiction’ category of the 2014 International Book Awards.
Her second rhyming picture book is called ‘Forest Wonder’ which received First Place in the ‘Children’s Picture Book: Softcover Fiction’ category of the 2016 International Book Awards and received Second Place in ‘Picture Book: Five Years and Younger’ category of the 2016 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards.
Mrs Tuohey will be releasing a fourth picture book due out mid 2019 and has a Christmas theme.
The launch for Boof goes to Beauty School will be held at Griffith City Library on Thursday March 15 at 5.30pm.
