It’s my great pleasure and delight to announce that Weather Child is on the short list for the Sir Julius Vogel Award. This is the same category that Chasing the Bard won last year, so it is a wonderful thing to have my New Zealand story get this attention.

All attending members of Au Contraire in August 2010 can vote. Both I and Jack (Tee Morris) will be at the convention. Thank you for those that listened and those that nominated my story.

I do like to keep track of numbers. Not necessarily to stroke my own ego (though being a writer it is a fragile thing) but also for my agent and my publishers. It’s pretty much the only way to work out what the audience will be for any of my projects.

I want Weather Child in print. It needs a good stiff edit, but I am proud of this story which is a love song to my country and my family.

So here’s the facts from February 2009 to February 2010 Weather Child has been downloaded 226,237 which is about 9,836 listeners.

The top 10 countries listening to Weather Child is interesting, because it is quite different to Chasing the Bard. They are United States, Vietnam, Canada, United Kingdom, Tonga, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Austria and Norway

Just wanted to drop by and let you know that I have extended the Weather Child competition until the 15th of August.  A couple of people have pointed out that they would like to have a chance to listen to all of the episodes before dropping a review. And being a far minded person (at least most of the time) that makes sense to me!

So once again here are the rules; review Weather Child on itunes, podiobooks or podcast pickle – or indeed blog about it (multiple entries are indeed allowed) then email me pip at pjballantine dot com to let me know. This is so I have that all important contact address.

I will draw three entries. The first prize is a hamper of kiwi goodies, including a signed copy of Chasing the Bard and Digital Magic. And there will be two runner up prizes of a signed copy of either of those two novels.

The final episode will drop on the final day of July. This has been a blast, so hang onto something (perhaps a handkerchief) and prepare for the end of Weather Child.

Big publishers in New York said Americans wouldn’t want to hear stories set in New Zealand, so now.. here it is. 

Weather Child is the first podcast novel that is set solely in New Zealand. Much like Peter Jackson and Flight of the Conchords I want to prove that New Zealand stories and artists are as good as any others in the world.

Join Philippa Ballantine, multi-award nominated author and podcast for this never before published novel on the 6th of February 2009. Enter the a world with a similar history to ours, but one in which New Zealand is the centre of magicians. Where pain and crisis can open portals to allow mysterious beings in- beings that bring magic with them. Enter world of the Weather Child.