On Wednesday, 13th of December my beloved book, For God Sake Saddle Me A Donkey, launched in written form at the Millwood Gallery, Thorndon and is available at leading book stores, such as Marsden Books and Unity in Wellington and Wheelers in Auckland or from me, send me an email please. Continue reading Launched as a book at last – FGSSMAD
Category Archives: Family and Friends
For God’s Sake Saddle Me a Donkey
So many of you who heard the series on National Radio wrote saying, “Where can I find the book for FGSSMAD?”
It’s on the way, coming up very soon…
Keep an eye here for updates
Regards,
Dinah
Librarian, Bee Trudgeon’s view of Cassidy Abbot’s Book
This is a lovely review by Porirua librarian Bee Trudgeon:
Dinah Priestley and Cassidy Abbot with The Wicked Plum Tree
The newest published author out of Whitby is a teenager named Cassidy Abbot who is no stranger to Porirua Library. He has engaged in writing and story time initiatives with the library since he was little, and can now find his name on the library’s catalogue alongside his grandmother’s, author/artist/actor/historian Dinah Priestley, thanks to a picture book they have created together. The Wicked Plum Tree is dedicated (in part) to ‘those who love trees’, and tells the story of a naughty one. Although the book is threaded through with fantasy, it is partially based on fact.
Continue reading Librarian, Bee Trudgeon’s view of Cassidy Abbot’s Book
Who was the Sheila I knew
Having a dear and companionable friend is what makes life worth living don’t you think? And that’s what Sheila was. Continue reading Who was the Sheila I knew
FGSSMAD Part 2 – The Overland Route
For God’s Sake Saddle Me A Donkey
Dinah Priestley tells how, in 1962, two New Zealand couples, each with a small child, decide to convert an ex-army truck into a travelling home, and drive it to England.
Listen to 27 Dec 2016 Part 2- The Overland Route
FOR GOD’S SAKE SADDLE ME A DONKEY
Radio New Zealand, National
Wake up with me, Dinah Priestley, travelling from Wellington to London in an accident-prone WW2 truck called Leviathan. Friends said to us “You are mad! Those toddlers of yours will be dead before you reach London.” But we were lucky.! We survived, with help from peasants and prostitutes, missionaries and maharajahs.
For God’s Sake Saddle Me a Donkey: Radio New Zealand, weekdays 6.45 a.m. from 26th December 2016, to 19th January 2017.
Justine Wright, Film Editor Extraordinaire
I’m so proud of my daughter Justine who has edited films such as Touching the Void, Black Sea, Locke The Iron Lady, State of Play, One Day in September. The Eagle, Last King of Scotland and won numerous awards, including Best European Film Editor.
I just love this picture of her…
She is multi talented with excellent artistic and technical skills. This picture includes her generosity, her zany sense of humour but also a touch of don’t mess with me buddy.
#proudmum
Twelve year old Cassidy’s Book
My grandson Cassidy has written this book called The Wicked Plum Tree. It’s a rollicking story about Colonel Frogmorton’s quest to discipline a barren plum tree. Fortunately, a magical young gardener arrives to save the day. I loved it so much I had to illustrate it for him.
You can buy it now for $20.00 from Anchorage Press. Call 044727257 or email me at dinah.priestley@gmail.com
Oscar performs at Thorndon Fair
…Dinah Priestley and her grandson Cassidy Abbott perform at the Thorndon Fair last Sunday. Dancing and singing along with Pavarotti, Cassidy is the very soul of the endearing and talented dog Oscar, who stars in Dinah’s book, Oscar Star of the Opera.
,
Imagine My City’s Rollicking Start
Papawai Park in Mt Cook. Sunday morning early. And thirty eager children and their parents experienced a drama that involved scientists, artists, actors, gecko- and- weta- wranglers, a talking fish and a shy elusive
Moa which the children chased with enthusiasm.
All part of Nature Through the Arts efforts to help children see the connection between science and the arts and imagine the city they would like Wellington (and Mt Cook/ Brooklyn area in particular) to be.
The initiative is backed by the NZ National Commission for UNESCO.
Nikki Wright the collective’s spokesperson said that the project draws on international research around children’s growing alienation from nature, now coined as “Nature Deficit disorder”.
Dinah Priestley 