I love writing for clients, agencies and publications, but I also love doing my own thing. Here's a selection of side projects I'm proud of...
Leonard the Lyrebird - A Blue Mountains children’s book
Leonard the Lyrebird is an award-winning children's book set in Blue Mountains, Australia, written by Jodie McLeod (me!) – a Blue Mountains local and longtime creative writer, journalist and editor – and illustrated by the very talented Katoomba artist Eloise Short.
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NEWS FLASH! Leonard the Lyrebird has won Best Children's Book in the Royal Zoological Society's 2019 Whitley Awards! Congratulations, Leonard! Get your hands on a signed copy of the book here. ### |
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After a successful crowdfunding campaign Leonard was published in September 2018 and is now available in numerous bookstores, art galleries, museums and boutiques in the Blue Mountains, NSW and Australia. You can also buy it online here.
This is the story of how Leonard the Lyrebird turned from a little idea into a real-life book...
As a mother of two living in the Blue Mountains, I have long seen a need for a children's book set in this beautiful place, focusing on the animals and landscape. After searching for such a book online and discovering nothing like it existed (but for 1970s out-of-print Golden Book on the legend of the Three Sisters) – I decided to write one.
I wanted to work with a local illustrator and I knew if I went through a traditional publisher I probably wouldn't be able to do that (they like to use their own illustrators). I'm also not a previously published author or a celebrity, which you almost have to be to get a children's book publishing deal these days. Hence I decided to self-publish, and to get it off the ground I ran a successful crowdfunding campaign through Pozible.
Leonard the Lyrebird is illustrated by the amazing Eloise Short – a Blue Mountains textile designer, illustrator and artist. Her painted illustrations for the book are so intricate and textured they make you want to run your fingertips over all the details, which in my experience is something children can't resist in picture books.
Leonard has been designed by the lovely Melissa Mylchreest, a former Blue Mountains resident, from King St Press.
The story itself is a mix of prose and verse, with a little bit of tension towards the end in the form of a bunyip.
Here's a synopsis...
Leonard the lyrebird is friends with everyone, and boy can he sing! But will Leonard’s singing talents impress the one friend he really wants?
Set in the beautiful bush of the Blue Mountains, Australia, this story is about friendship, bravery and being yourself.
I'm so excited about this book and I just know that children and families with any kind of connection to the Blue Mountains - and simply just to the Australian bush and its animals - are going to love it. And they do!
Read what people are saying about Leonard the Lyrebird here and leave your own review too!
You can purchase a signed copy of the book on the BOOKS page of this website and through my Etsy store. Or see stockists here.
Thanks for supporting Leonard the Lyrebird!
This is the story of how Leonard the Lyrebird turned from a little idea into a real-life book...
As a mother of two living in the Blue Mountains, I have long seen a need for a children's book set in this beautiful place, focusing on the animals and landscape. After searching for such a book online and discovering nothing like it existed (but for 1970s out-of-print Golden Book on the legend of the Three Sisters) – I decided to write one.
I wanted to work with a local illustrator and I knew if I went through a traditional publisher I probably wouldn't be able to do that (they like to use their own illustrators). I'm also not a previously published author or a celebrity, which you almost have to be to get a children's book publishing deal these days. Hence I decided to self-publish, and to get it off the ground I ran a successful crowdfunding campaign through Pozible.
Leonard the Lyrebird is illustrated by the amazing Eloise Short – a Blue Mountains textile designer, illustrator and artist. Her painted illustrations for the book are so intricate and textured they make you want to run your fingertips over all the details, which in my experience is something children can't resist in picture books.
Leonard has been designed by the lovely Melissa Mylchreest, a former Blue Mountains resident, from King St Press.
The story itself is a mix of prose and verse, with a little bit of tension towards the end in the form of a bunyip.
Here's a synopsis...
Leonard the lyrebird is friends with everyone, and boy can he sing! But will Leonard’s singing talents impress the one friend he really wants?
Set in the beautiful bush of the Blue Mountains, Australia, this story is about friendship, bravery and being yourself.
I'm so excited about this book and I just know that children and families with any kind of connection to the Blue Mountains - and simply just to the Australian bush and its animals - are going to love it. And they do!
Read what people are saying about Leonard the Lyrebird here and leave your own review too!
You can purchase a signed copy of the book on the BOOKS page of this website and through my Etsy store. Or see stockists here.
Thanks for supporting Leonard the Lyrebird!
Leonard the Lyrebird: A Musical Story
Leonard the Lyrebird: A Musical Story is an original composition by acclaimed composer Ian Munro based on the children’s book Leonard the Lyrebird – written by Jodie McLeod (me!) and illustrated by Eloise Short.
When Blue Mountains-based concert pianist and music director Grace Kim had an idea to create a classical music work based on a Blue Mountains children's story, she consulted her trusted research assistant: Google. Unfortunately it uncovered zero children's books with a local focus, but it did reveal one in the works... Leonard the Lyrebird.
Grace contacted me while we were in the middle of crowdfunding Leonard to tell me about her idea and asked if she could read the story. Being a classical pianist myself and realising both her talent and that of the proposed composer – Ian Munro – I jumped at the chance. Thankfully, after that first read, Grace knew it was the story she'd been looking for.
Fast-forward one year, and Leonard the Lyrebird: A Musical Story had its world-premiere performance at Scenic World in the Blue Mountains in 2019. Featuring Grace on piano, Opera Australia Orchestra principal cellist Teije Hylkema and associate principal clarinet Philip Green – and with Ian narrating – the performance played to packed audiences against the backdrop of the Three Sisters in Katoomba – precisely where the story of Leonard the Lyrebird is set.
When anyone asks me to describe the music, all I can say is: it's a truly enchanting musical experience for families – an imaginative blend of storytelling, illustration and instrumentation. What a thrill it was to hear my story adapted into the most delicate and powerful music I could ever have imagined. I am so grateful to Ian for his time, talent and care in making the piece as emotive as it could possibly be.
So ... what's next for this project?
While a date has not been set for a tour, plans are in the works. In the meantime the score is available from Australian Music Centre, and a media kit with imagery and illustrations to facilitate performances will be available from this website very soon. Send your enquiries here.
I hope you enjoy the video! If you saw the show and would like to offer feedback or a review, please contact me.
~ Jodie
When Blue Mountains-based concert pianist and music director Grace Kim had an idea to create a classical music work based on a Blue Mountains children's story, she consulted her trusted research assistant: Google. Unfortunately it uncovered zero children's books with a local focus, but it did reveal one in the works... Leonard the Lyrebird.
Grace contacted me while we were in the middle of crowdfunding Leonard to tell me about her idea and asked if she could read the story. Being a classical pianist myself and realising both her talent and that of the proposed composer – Ian Munro – I jumped at the chance. Thankfully, after that first read, Grace knew it was the story she'd been looking for.
Fast-forward one year, and Leonard the Lyrebird: A Musical Story had its world-premiere performance at Scenic World in the Blue Mountains in 2019. Featuring Grace on piano, Opera Australia Orchestra principal cellist Teije Hylkema and associate principal clarinet Philip Green – and with Ian narrating – the performance played to packed audiences against the backdrop of the Three Sisters in Katoomba – precisely where the story of Leonard the Lyrebird is set.
When anyone asks me to describe the music, all I can say is: it's a truly enchanting musical experience for families – an imaginative blend of storytelling, illustration and instrumentation. What a thrill it was to hear my story adapted into the most delicate and powerful music I could ever have imagined. I am so grateful to Ian for his time, talent and care in making the piece as emotive as it could possibly be.
So ... what's next for this project?
While a date has not been set for a tour, plans are in the works. In the meantime the score is available from Australian Music Centre, and a media kit with imagery and illustrations to facilitate performances will be available from this website very soon. Send your enquiries here.
I hope you enjoy the video! If you saw the show and would like to offer feedback or a review, please contact me.
~ Jodie
Deadline Party
The Deadline Party is an idea I came up with to stop me procrastinating on doing something I really wanted to do, but always found excuses not to do it. In 2012 I spoke at Ignite Sydney about it, and the video is one of the most watched talks on the Ignite Sydney YouTube channel. Follow @DeadlineParty on Twitter and Facebook.
Work in the Nude Day
Oops! There goes my skirt...
When working as Editor of micro business community Flying Solo, I was involved in creating a national 'day' hosted by Flying Solo to celebrate the unique freedoms of people who work alone from home. 'Work in your Pyjamas' day was one option, but 'Work in the Nude Day' had way more appeal.
Held each year on the first Friday of December since 2012, Work in the Nude Day gives home-office workers a chance to celebrate their unique freedoms, and highlights the lifestyle advantages of becoming your own boss. A big part of the day is the 'selfie' competition run by Flying Solo, which invites those who work alone from home to submit a tasteful pic of themselves working in the raw for their chance to win a prize.
Each year the event has resulted in loads of publicity for Flying Solo, with editorial featuring in Time Magazine, Huffington Post and News.com.au as well as a segment on The Project in 2014; and offers an opportunity for many solo business owners to gain 'exposure' for their own businesses.
And yes, as the event manager, copywriter and publicity person I too have submitted my nude selfie each year, occasionally in the form of a video... one of which has had over a million views! Gee, with a title like 'Work in the Nude Day', I wonder why?
I even got my kit off for The Project...
When working as Editor of micro business community Flying Solo, I was involved in creating a national 'day' hosted by Flying Solo to celebrate the unique freedoms of people who work alone from home. 'Work in your Pyjamas' day was one option, but 'Work in the Nude Day' had way more appeal.
Held each year on the first Friday of December since 2012, Work in the Nude Day gives home-office workers a chance to celebrate their unique freedoms, and highlights the lifestyle advantages of becoming your own boss. A big part of the day is the 'selfie' competition run by Flying Solo, which invites those who work alone from home to submit a tasteful pic of themselves working in the raw for their chance to win a prize.
Each year the event has resulted in loads of publicity for Flying Solo, with editorial featuring in Time Magazine, Huffington Post and News.com.au as well as a segment on The Project in 2014; and offers an opportunity for many solo business owners to gain 'exposure' for their own businesses.
And yes, as the event manager, copywriter and publicity person I too have submitted my nude selfie each year, occasionally in the form of a video... one of which has had over a million views! Gee, with a title like 'Work in the Nude Day', I wonder why?
I even got my kit off for The Project...
True Blue Mountains
Where the locals love to eat, explore and experience...
Living in the beautiful Blue Mountains near Sydney I tend to host a lot of visitors. I find I'm always tailoring itineraries for people, recommending my favourite cafes, restaurants, walks and lookouts, so I thought I'd make it easier for everyone and put all my suggested places to eat, explore and experience on one handy website: True Blue Mountains.
As a food and travel writer/reviewer, I'm loving writing about where I live with editorial abandon, and am slowly learning the ropes of food and landscape photography...
Follow True Blue Mountains on Twitter and Facebook.
Living in the beautiful Blue Mountains near Sydney I tend to host a lot of visitors. I find I'm always tailoring itineraries for people, recommending my favourite cafes, restaurants, walks and lookouts, so I thought I'd make it easier for everyone and put all my suggested places to eat, explore and experience on one handy website: True Blue Mountains.
As a food and travel writer/reviewer, I'm loving writing about where I live with editorial abandon, and am slowly learning the ropes of food and landscape photography...
Follow True Blue Mountains on Twitter and Facebook.
