General Store
Hazel Edwards OAM is an award-winning author. She has written novels for younger readers, middle-grade readers, young adults and adults, as well as non-fiction. And, of course, picture books, including the bestselling There’s a Hippopotamus on our Roof Eating Cake (1980), illustrated by Deborah Niland, which was adapted for film and as a stage musical
ISBN: 0340219173
Author: Hazel Edwards
Publisher: Ligature and UnTapped
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Kindle
Visit your local bookshop or these online retailers have copies available now – just click through on the direct link and you can purchase online:
The Age’s Jane Sullivan reviews UnTapped Project
‘General Store’ is part of UnTapped Project, partly because an early Finnish translation of Australian children’s lit.
My First Published Book!
‘General Store’ (1977) was my first YA novel published by Hodder and Stoughton.
It wasn’t autobiographical apart from the 1960s setting of an Australian country store.
‘General Store” was also my first translation, into Finnish.
“Since the hippo books turned 40 this year , in interviews I’ve been asked a few times about my first published book: YA novel ‘General Store’ (Hodder and Stoughton) 1977 and now out- of- print. I don’t usually re-read earlier publications, but since my Scottish cousin Margaret took the trouble to locate an e-bay copy to share with her family, I re-read it. Surprisingly it hasn’t dated since the friendship between two very different girls and country life in a struggling general store was authentic with footy teams, fires and family growing up. I’d forgotten so much of the 1960s country detail, and couldn’t write that historic setting now without more research.It’s ‘historic’ ‘rather than ‘dated’ because no technology like mobiles needed updating. ‘Tech’ was not important then.I was 27 when my first book was published. And now I’d probably change the title as many think it is an army rank *
Kendal, Mim and Temporary Fred’ was my second published YA novel with Hodder and Stoughton. Also in Finnish.
‘Untapped’ Australian Literary Heritage Project is including ‘General Store’ for their 2021 digitalisation project
Buzz Words ezine featured ‘General Store’ in ‘My First Book’ section in their June 21 , 2021 issue.
After my memoir ‘Not Just a Piece of Cake; Being an Author‘ was released, I was invited to speak to students where I had lived as a teenager.
Old school friends took me to the current general store. We had changed and so had it. Important for authors record the essence of a place , in fiction.
Resources:
Diversity_In_New_Formats_.pdf (6.36 MB) Explains why digitalisation of favourite out-of-print books is culturally relevant.
Other Books by Hazel
OAM Association Talk:
May 11th “Not Just a Piece of Cake: Being an Author” Will be on You Tube soon.
Student Resources:
Crafting an assignment on Hazel Edwards? Get tips for school projects, and her uniquely answered questions.