Let me start by saying that I'm totally biased about this book ... "The Renovator's Survival Guide" by Amanda Falconer. That's because when I first met Amanda when the book was an idea in her head. That was when she came to the Sydney Writers' Centre to do her first course.
Since then, Amanda immersed herself in the writing and publishing process. She crafted her book, did stacks of research, revised and edited it - and the results speak for themselves. All this while holding down a busy full-time job.
She scored a book deal with Penguin and next month (February 2009), the book is being officially released. It's already been tipped as a "DON'T MISS" by The Sydney Morning Herald's Domain section. And I agree with them.
If you are undergoing a renovation - or know someone who is - this is a fabulous book that is PACKED with tips and stories that will help you get the best out of your renovation. Even though I am not renovating, I was glued to every page. Amanda has a no-nonsense style and a unique sense of humour.
It's a sense of humour I've gotten to know over the past couple of years since she first walked through the doors of the Sydney Writers' Centre. Since then, I've seen the actual renovation that she survived herself (it looks great - but I'm sure if walls could talk ...), met her gorgeous dogs from Doggie Rescue and managed to allow her to convince me to adopt my own little doggie last year (who is ever grateful to Aunty Amanda!).
Apart from being super thrilled at Amanda's success, this is a great example of why I love working at the Sydney Writers' Centre. It's not just about helping people get the skills they need to achieve their dreams, it's also about helping them see those dreams come to fruition. I have no doubt that Amanda's determination would have seen her succeed anyway, but I do get a little thrill from playing a teeny part in it (and thanks Amanda for your generous acknowledgement in your book).
That's what is special about the Sydney Writers' Centre. It's not just a Centre - it's a community, it's a hub for ideas and exciting projects, and, in many cases, it's where you start when you want your own dreams to come true.
