I may whinge about some aspects of my job – the smell of liquid paper, for example, and the way typing makes your fingers sore when you only use two of them – but one thing I can't complain about is boredom.

The variety in an author's working life is fantastic. One month you're in a room by yourself with only a computer and a notebook for company (and a box of those little band-aids you put on your fingers). The next you're out in the big wide world, talking in theatres and school halls, visiting bookshops, signing books and, if you're lucky, discovering new story ideas and brands of pencils.

That's what I'm doing right through October in Britain and Hong Kong. And I spent several weeks recently doing it in Australia. If you're reading this in Iceland, I'd love to do it there some time.

One of the best bits of the job for me is the questions I'm asked. On my recent school visits I was asked heaps of questions. And afterwards, people from those schools sent me heaps more in letters and emails. I've just added quite a few of them to my Most Asked Questions page, so have a squiz if you're interested.

A couple of things I must mention. If you send in for a free book in October, I'm afraid you won't get it until November. I like to put your name in your book as well as mine and I won't be able to do that while I'm overseas. Please be patient and I promise that you will receive your personally-signed book as soon as I'm back.

Also when I get back I'll be starting work on my new video, The Morris Gleitzman How To Write Real Good Video (working title). I'd love to hear about any problems you're having with your writing so I can make the video as helpful as possible. See last month's G'day for more details.

Until next month, oo-roo and happy reading

10 October 2001