It’s not everyday that you make front page news! So I was VERY excited to ‘sea’ that my new picture book The Great Barrier Thief made its way onto the front page of the local paper this week. Who would have thought a little girl from regional Queensland would grow up to be on the front page of a city paper holding her dreams in her hands! Thank you Quest newspapers for supporting a local author/artist/scientist who is drawing attention to the impacts of climate change on the Great Barrier Reef. It’s times like this that I look back on my journey and I could sum it up by saying  it went “From frogs and failures to front page news!“.

…My love of nature started from a very early age when I fell in love with frogs (photo of me aged 5 in Bundaberg) and going to the beach. Due to my parents jobs we moved around a lot as kids so I was fortunate to go to many different primary schools in Queensland and ended up in the ‘big city’ of Brisbane so I could one day go to University. High school was difficult for me as I didn’t follow my heART and therefore failed at a number of subjects, and was advised that I should repeat Year 12 if I wanted to get into university (:0). But I did get into university and after many many years of study and research (at Griffith University and The University of Queensland) I received my PhD in marine science (photo of me & hubby graduating together) and ventured into the world of work. And three years ago I started my own creative and visual communications business, “Picture your ideas“. I wouldn’t change my journey as it has led me to where I am today as a marine scientist, artist, children’s author/illustrator and business owner. So, from frogs and failures came my front page news!

Apologies for my lack of Blogs over the last few months and the length of this one, but with the recent release of my first children’s picture book I have been a bit busy with my book launch, the marketing and promotion of my book and author visits, all whilst carrying out the other parts of my creative business. I have been overwhelmed by the GREAT response my book has received from children (and adults) in Australia and overseas and I’m proud to say that my book is already found in 6 countries around the world, in schools, kindy’s and libraries throughout Australia and even on the Great Barrier Reef itself (on beautiful Lady Elliot Island)!!

My book launch was a BIG celebration and I was so excited to ‘sea’ everyone who turned up to support my dream and for all the interest and invitations to visit your schools next year. I’m sooooo looking forward to my Dr Suzie Starfish school, kindy and library visits in 2019 to help draw attention to the impacts of climate change to protect the reef. I have created some special reef science-art storytelling to bring the wonders of the Reef into classrooms and show children how they can help to protect the reef now, for their future. Visit details by Dr Suzie Starfish are on my website at https://drsuepillans.com/books/the-great-barrier-reef/

Remember you CAN turn something you love into something you live! You can also dive into my creative journey and ocean storytelling @drsuziestarfish on Facebook and @suepillans on Twitter and Instagram. Best fishes, Sue  ><((((º>.¸.·´¯`·.¸><((((º>  .·´¯`·.¸><((((º>.¸