Ralph and I were pretty chuffed to win Illustrated Book of the Year at last night’s ABIA Awards. And, to have Annabel Crabb and Leigh Sales to present was the icing on the cake!

I was so thrilled to be part of this amazing night and also have the honour of presenting the awards to the booksellers! As a lifetime reader, being there to see such talent in all genres made me want to run to the bookshops and buy every short listed book I don’t already have. I just need a bit more time in my life to revel in that. Tony Bourke spoke passionately about protecting our books, Dame Quentin Bryce and Julia Gillard presented important awards of the night and for Ralph and I to be able to give credit to Julie Gibbs, great friend and publisher of my books over 20 years, and to Simon & Schuster who had been so incredibly excited and passionate about the project, made it a truly special night. I was particularly excited when Dan Ruffino of S & S said it would put a spike in sales and given all the royalties of the book are shared between my Foundation and Ralph’s Lions Alzheimer’s foundation it couldn’t be a better outcome! What a night! -MB