Antarctic Writer on Ice: Diary of an Enduring Adventure [Paperback]

Hazel Edwards (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2002

This is a diary with a difference. When well-known Author Hazel Edwards was offered the chance to travel to Casey Base, on the Australian Antarctic Division resupply ship Polar Bird in the summer of 2001, she thought that physical endurance would be her greatest challenge. When what should have been a three week roundtrip between Hobart and Casey base, became an endurance exercise, with the Polar Bird trapped in the ice for weeks, she realised that her creativity was also going to be tested to the limit.

This e-diary was compiled by Hazel using only the limited email resources available following the collapse of her laptop computer. Via satellite from a beset ship, she kept up correspondence with family and friends, fulfilled publishing commitments to newspapers and magazines as well as conducting polar radio interviews. Surrounded by 'wildlife experts' she researched fact, faction and fiction. To relieve the inactivity and close confinement of an ice beset ship, she created 'The Lachieberg' a personalised iceberg story which expeditioners could email to their children, started belly dancing classes and even conducted a virtual book launch.

This candid diary of Hazel Edward’s adventure combines the writing styles of narrative text, email and published newspaper and magazine articles, a unique look at electronic creativity on ice and the work style of a professional author.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Melbourne-based author of over 140 published works for adults and children, including the classic There’s a Hippopotamus on our Roof Eating Cake, Hazel Edwards uses participant–observer research as an excuse for doing unusual things. It also assists her to include realistic scenarios in her fictional works and provides fodder for the numerous articles she writes for newspapers and magazines as well as her non-fiction titles. She runs workshops on travel writing and researching and writing family histories, to assist other writers to craft their work.

A mentor, Hazel has been involved with gifted students and is a Tournament of Minds problem writer and judge. An international conference speaker, Hazel accepts unusual writer-in-residencies, and Antarctica proved hard to surpass.

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Common Ground Publishing Pty Ltd (March 1, 2002)
• ISBN-10: 186335090X
• ISBN-13: 978-1863350907
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,705,337 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Meet the Author

Hazel Edwards (www.hazeledwards.com) has always been keen on books and ideas. An aqua-readaholic, she used to read in the bath. Now she listens to audio books in the car or while walking with her Ipod.

Hazel is a 2012 National Year of Reading Ambassador and recipient of the peer awarded 2009 Australian Society of Authors Medal.


Melbourne based, she tries out ideas on the 12 year old in her family and writes a story every birthday for her grandsons.

Best known for 'There's a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake', which was recently translated into Chinese, Hazel writes across media, for adults & children. Pocket Bonfire Productions have a short hippo film for the 30th anniversary, soon to premiere.Her web site www.hazeledwards.com has details of her Antarctic expedition publications. Hazel runs Non Boring Writing workshops for genealogists. Her 200 books have been translated into many languages. Appointed 2009 Nanjing-Aust cultural exchange author, she has e-mentored dual language stories.
Latest picture books include 'Flight of the Bumblebee with classical music CD, 'Plato the Platypus Plumber(part-time) ' and the new 'Hooray! There's a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Having a Birthday Party.(2011 CBC Notable Book ) 'Difficult Personalities', co-written with Dr Helen Mc Grath (Penguin) has been reprinted and an USA edition is available plus Polish translation. Her controversial co-written YA novel about transitioning gender 'f2m;the boy within' has attracted international attention as a first due to Ryan Kennedy her ftm co-author.Recently included in 2011 The White Ravens top 250 chidlren's and YA books of the year. 4 part easy to read 'Duckstar' a satire about the performing arts, is co-written with director Christine Anketell and recently translated into Spanish and German.

Junior histories include the Aussie Heroes series, wartime surgeon ''Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop and eye doctor Fred Hollows.
E-book mystery literacy series 'Project Spy Kid' and 'The Frequent Flyer Twins' available for download

www.hazeledwards.com includes FAQs, notes, bios, bibliography and events.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Antarctic Writer on Ice Review, August 17, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Antarctic Writer on Ice: Diary of an Enduring Adventure (Paperback)

Non-Fiction Book Review: Antarctic Writer on Ice, by Hazel Edwards

A unique diary account of one writer's Antarctic adventure.

Only boffins and brains get to go to Antarctica. Don't they? You could certainly be forgiven for thinking this if you haven't read Antarctic Writer on Ice, an innovative account of Australian author Hazel Edward's 2001 trip to Antarctica.

Chosen, following a rigorous selection process, for the sole annual humanities berth sponsored by the Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition (ANARE), Edwards travelled on the scientific resupply ship Polar Bird. The voyage, which should have taken about 3 weeks, was to be both longer and more trying than Edwards expected.

Using an interesting assortment of mediums, Edwards shares her experiences and insights. The diary includes recounts, emails, scientific reports, photographs and more, which give more than a simple chronological report of the trip. Antartic Writer on Ice is a unique insight into the Antarctic experience. As well as sharing her own emotions - from the self doubt of wondering whether she can cope, to the wonder of seeing it all for the first time - Edwards is also able to share some of the highs and lows of fellow travellers.

This is an excellent read for anyone with an interest in writing, travel, or simply life experience, and essential reading for anyone fortunate enough to be preparing for a stint in Antarctica. It would also make an excellent classroom resource, showing the different styles and formats of writing for different media and audiences.

Antarctic Writer on Ice: Diary of an Enduring Adventure, by Hazel Edwards
Common Ground Publishers, 2002
Paperback ISBN: 1 86335 090 X
eBook ISBN: 1 86335 091 8

5.0 out of 5 stars Adventurous Antarctica, January 3, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Antarctic Writer on Ice: Diary of an Enduring Adventure (Paperback)

I really enjoyed this book which gave an unusual look at Antarctica. We are studying Antarctica at school and this showed me about some of the unusual jobs on an Antarctic Base.