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Room to Read - giving children in developing countries in Asia and Africa have access to schools, libraries, books and literacy instruction.
Booktober celebrations in Sydney with Berkelouw events and booksignings with writer ambassadors for Room to Read – watch out for Deb Abela and me 10am-12.30 am Saturday 26th October at B erkelouw’s bookshop Paddington. During ‘Booktober’, it would be great if could ‘like’ and ‘retweet’ Room to Read and spread the word:-
“Like” Room to Read Australia on Facebook / http://www.facebook.com/roomtoreadaustralia
Berkelouw Booktober – Writer Ambassadors’ e vent Schedule
Saturday October 26, 10.30am to 12pm at various Sydney locations. Authors will speak at 11am.
Deborah Abela and Susanne Gervay at Berkelouw Paddington
19 Oxford Street, Paddington (9360 3200)
Pamela Cook at Berkelouw Cronulla
29 Cronulla Street, Cronulla (9544 4790)
Sarah Davis at Berkelouw Leichhardt
70 Norton Street, Leichhardt (9560 3200)
Kate Forsyth and Belinda Murrell at Berkelouw Balgowlah
24/215 Condamine St, Balgowlah (9948 1133)
James Knight at Berkelouw Rose Bay
708 New South Head Rd, Rose Bay (9371 5500)
John Larkin at Berkelouw Dee Why
3/11 Howard Avenue, Dee Why (9982 3568)
Oliver Phommavanh at Berkelouw Mona Vale
12/14 Park Street, Mona Vale (9979 2112)
The Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators SCBWI Australia and new Zealand endorses Room to Read
www.berkelouw.com.au
The post Celebrate ~ Room to Read’s Booktober with Berkelouw Books all across Sydney appeared first on Susanne Gervay's Blog.
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Just finished the last talks, events for BOOK MONTH – it’s always exhilarating.
Had a brilliant day at Brewongle -in the bush past Windsor – communing with nature, writing, kids and brilliant authors – in 1876 school house! with:-
Simon French, Richard Tulloch and Lisa Forrest – and fabulous staff -educators who are committed to the environment, education & kids.
LOVED IT!
Last school was Coogee South in Sydney – thankyou to the great librarian Michael, teachers and the hundreds of kids who love JACK’s Little Red man joke!
Room to Read meeting at Berkelouw’s Bookshop today was great catching up with the Room to read team – and a huge thankyou to Berkelouw for supporting kids reading across the world!!!!!!!
Room to Read is having a great party bringing ROOM TO READ and the writer ambassadors to Berkelouw’s across Sydney with -SCBWI authors Deb Abela, Kate Forsyth, Belinda Murrell, Oliver Phommavanh, …… and more …. and I’m one of the writer ambassadors too.
When? Saturday 28th October!
10.30 am at Berkelouw bookshops – join in the fun for balloons, bookmarks, Zac the Yak free books …. and celebrate with writer ambassadors – your authors – to support kids who ALL deserve to read!
The post Book Tours, SCBWI, Room to Read – the wonderful life of a writer continues! appeared first on Susanne Gervay's Blog.
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The librarians are STARS!!!! (Thankyou Ann and Sabine, Joanne from Wyvern)
The Head of Teaching learning is a STAR!!!! (Thankyou Sean Corcoran)
The Headmaster is a STAR!!!! (Thankyou Dr David Mulford)
The parents who looked after us are STARS!!! (Thankyou Wendy)
My fabulous minder. I’d have got lost without him. (Thankyou Ewan.)
Loved speaking to the boys, the passion for making a better world, engaging conversations and of course catching up with fantastic Australian authors who I call my friends – all of us committed to reaching young people through literature.
Randa Abdel-Fattah, Deborah Abela, Felcie Arena, Michael Gerald Bauer, Charlie the Educator, Andrew Daddo, Kirsty Eager, Nick Earls, Archimede Fusillo. Scot Gardner, Gus Gordon, Neil Grant, Richard Harland, Barry Heard, Simon Higgins, linda Jaivin, Barry jonsberg, Valana Khoza. Will Kostakis, john Larkin, Benjamin Law, Jeni Mawter, Mandy Ord, Michael Parker, Oliver Phommavanh, Mochael Pryor, Richard Tulloch, Arnold Zable and others.
Thrilled as an author ambassador for Room to Read, that this Festival supports Room to read and bringing literacy to the children of the developing world.
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SCBWI stars, stars, stars!!!!!!!
Starting with the Three Wise Writers – Nathan Luff, Deborah Abela, Wendy Blaxland – who came with ‘incense’ and song to the SCBWI Xmas Theatre sports.
It was a fabulous night of good food, good wine, good company of children’s writers and illustrators and publishers at The Hughenden Woollahra – and brilliant performances by Theatre Sports’ stars including:-
Sarah Foster publisher Walker Books
Sarah Davis illustrator
Marjorie Fairall-Crosby and more, more, more!
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Duncan Ball was a fabulous MC with hundreds of kids, 40 schools, the best of Australian kids and young adult authors and illustrators at the annual Bookfeast in Sydney’s West.
The Q & A Session was fun with witty comments by:-
Andy Griffiths author of ‘The Day My Bum Went Psycho’
John Heffernan author of “Charlie Carter” series
Deborah Abela,of Max Remy Super Spy fame
Richard Newsome, journalist and author of ‘the Billionaire’s Curse’
John Flanagan of Ranger’s Apprentice series.
It was a feast of authors and illustrators – Oliver Phommavanh, Moya Simons, Anna Feinberg, Belinda Murrell, William Kostakis, Sadami konchi, Jacqueline Harvey, Gabrielle Lord of Conspiracy 365 success and more, more, more …..
With more than 30 schools Villawood North to Haberfield – and the kids were fantastic.
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St Mark’s Drummoyne was filled with buzzing kids, parents and the wonderful CBCA (NSW) welcoming authors Nathan Luff, Oliver Phommavanh, Ursula Dubosarsky and me.
Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illlustrators (SCBWI) Australia East and New Zealand supports the Children’s Book Council with authors Oliver Phommavanh, Nathan Luff and I - we are both SCBWI and CBCA members.
Mary Anne Cartwright from the CBCA committee was a great host – thankyou for a lovely Author Tea, especially the terrific orange cake. I have a terrible sweet tooth.
Author Toni Brisland is the SCBWI (NSW) liaison member with the CBCA.
It was a National Year of Reading (NYR) event – I am proud to be an ambassador for NYR
www.love2read.org
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Parramatta High School’s hall was filled with students, teachers and kids from other schools, authors – Paul Collins, Meredith Costain, Oliver Phommavanh, Toni Brisland, Wendy Fitzgerald, Lindy Batchelor, Wendy Orr.
Judith Ridge, recognised as one of Australia’s leading authorities on youth literature, wrote the foreward for ‘Trust me Too’ – 58 reasons to celebrate reading by some of Australia’s best loved authors and illustrators.
Wendy Orr read from her moving story ‘The Snake Singer’
Meredith Costain read her wonderful poem ‘Shoefitti’ illustrated by Grant Gittus.
It includes an Obernewtyn novelette by the interntaional best selling fantasy author Isobelle Carmody.
Everyone can dip into this anthology and discover laughs, tears, meaning, fantasy, imagination and more.
A National Year of Reading 2012 event.
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If you’re not away or flying back from Bologna or at festivals and conference, the SCBWI Network is:-
5-7 p.m.
Monday 2nd April
at The Hughenden
14 Queen Street Woollahra (near Paddington, Sydney).
I have been on a conference and festival trail where I have met kids, librarians, teachers, adults, even politicians from Queensland to Picton to the beautiful Dixon Room in Sydney’s heritage Mitchell Library overlooking our Botanical Gardens towards the Opera House.
I’ll be keynote at the Glouceter Festival , touring the USA with my ‘Butterflies’, visiting Taree, Melbourne ….and more ….. and I am looking forward to speaking at the IBBY Congress in London. It’s crazy but the wonderful life of a writer.
Deborah Abela, Serena Geddes, Lesley Vamos, Christopher Cheng … are just back from Bologna Book Fair; and
shared a fabulous time with heaps of brilliant authors and illustrators in Somerset on the Gold Coast like Jacqueline Harvey, Michael Wagner, Oliver Phommovanh, Ursula Dubosarsky, Tristan Bancks, Karen Brooks, Leigh Hobbs, Scott Westerfield, James Roy, Georgia Blain and the brilliant list goes on.
Frane Lessac, Mark Greenwood, Sally Murphy, Norm Jorgenson, A J Betts, Dianne Lawrenson, Samantha Hughes …
….and all those WA writers and illustrators are on the move throughout WA and NT at festivals and reaching remote indogenous communities.
Sarah Davis and Deborah Abela have flown to Alice Springs to join them. Love it.
Aleesah Darlison is back from Hong Hong; Jan Latta just back from China speaking at festivals; Jacqueline Harvey is doing her Alice-Miranda tour in the USA and UK.
Sue Whiting’s at All Saints in Perth which I loved when I spoke there last year
This is the coolest community ever!
If anyone is in Sydney on Monday 2nd April, there’s a great talk by Wendy Blaxland on non fiction writing; catch up with SCBWI Conference information on 29th June-2nd July and networking at The Hughenden.
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Love, Love, Love…. this festival.
The sun is shining, tropical palms wave in the breeze, the Radisson Resort welcoming … and there’re friends, friends, friends.
We head for the pool – author Deborah Abela and picture book author Frances Watts were splashing around. So was author Felice Arena. I swim 20 laps and relax in the jacuzzi.
We had a great welcome from Festival Director Andrea Lewis, Deputy Headmaster Michael Brohier and Festival programmer Karen Mackie and a fabulous dinner.
Caught up with so many cool authors and illustrators:-
Oliver Phommavanh – Thai -riffic!!!!; Con- Nerd and new book coming – huge success
Karen Brooks – fabulous fantasy author
Jacqueline Harvey -author of the run away success Alice Miranda
Michael Wagner -watch out for hilarious Maxx Rumble series
Leigh Hobbs -iconic illustrator and creator of Old Tom, Horrible Harriet and Mr Chicken
….. and hamming it up authors Tristan Bancks and James Roy ….watch this space for more
Watch out for the announcement in the next few weeks.
Check out the SCBWI Australia and new Zealand facebook pagewebsite.
It’s a first come first served basis – so when it opens you need to book quickly as it’s a small intimate conference Australia wide and new Zealand.
Some tid bits:-
Jill Corcoran literary agent from the Herman Agency New Yorkmaximum of 100 delegates.
Major Australian publishers have come on board including Lisa Berryman HarperCollins, Laura Harris Penguin, Zoe Walton Random House, Sarah Foster Walker Books …..
There are wonderful authors and illustrators coming including Sally Murphy, France Lessac, Pamela Rushby, Meredith Costain, Hazel Edwards …. have a great time with the children’s writing community …. more news coming soon.
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The night is balmy. There’s excitement at new books. Talented illustrators and authors gather over dinner at The Hughenden Hotel, Woollahra. It’s the first planning meeting for the Inetrnational SCBWI Conference next year.
Illustrators there included Andrea Edmunds, Jill Carter-Hansen, Lesley Vamos, Sarah Davis, authors Chris Cheng, Susanne Gervay, Margaret Roc, Deborah Abela, Oliver Phommavanh …… and the singing librarian Claire Stuckey from Gosford Library.
Plans include:-
Illustrator’s exhibition
Australian publishers
USA literary agent
the Book Ends – the fabulous band of Meredith Costain, Chris Cheng and Mark Wilson
and much more.
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Heaps of kids and parents piled into Punchbowl Public School’s Library for the CBCA Book Event.
Authors Libby Hathorn, Oliver Phommavanh, Sue Walker and I spoke to enthusiastic kids about our books, hosted by the school librarian Trevor Neville who is an illustrator.
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Heather, Oliver, Chris |
Heather, CC, Bini (photo thanks to Wendy Blaxland) |
A very bookish, busy week that's for sure.
It started on Sunday morning really early (in between breakfast bites and coffee drinking) with a Skype call to Mark, my US agent, chatting about my manuscripts that he has there and tetnus injections.
Monday was with my publisher at Random House plotting out the new non-fiction title we are hoping that I will be creating in conjuction with (I can't say).
Tuesday and Wednesday were spent roughing out some ideas and writing articles about my experiences at tthe Asian Festival of Children's Content in Singapaore for the Book Council to publish.
And then last night was a small gathering of NSW SCBWI folk. We spent a few hours dining and chit chatting (not in that order) about all that we have under way. The cold weather (yes it is cold for Sydney!) and an ash cloud that stopped planes flying kept a few folk from attending. Also caught up with Oliver who gave me a copy of his new title Con-Nerd which I am launching this coming Sunday. Oliver also sent me this photo to blog, because I was talking so much I fogot to get a snap!
Aussie kids at Auburn North was like the United Nations.
Kids whose families come from Turkey, Iraq, Afghanistan, Thailand, China, sixth generation Aussie background and more … welcomed Aussie authors.
Their Principal Mr Harris celebrated books as a way to fulfil kids’ dreams of reaching their dreams.
Their Librarian, teachers, CBC President Carole Keeble welcomed authors, kids and parents.
The MC, talented author Deborah Abela, who co-ordinated this CBCA Book Week event, had the packed library in love with her book ‘ The Remarkable Secret of Aurelie Bonhoffen.’
Oliver had them laughing; Jeni had them laughing even more; Chris has them engrossed in his amazing zoo stories and I was deeply touched that my JACK was on the feature StoryBridge painting that covered the main wall.
Thankyou to bookseller Kay from Shearer’s Bookshop, to the wonderful librarian Catherine Clift, Leanne Hodges and President CBCA Carole Keeble and especially Deborah Abela.
Thankyou to the kids of Auburn North for loving JACK.
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There was so much great news at the Sydney Kids Writers & Illustrators Network at The Hughenden.
There are lots of launches, festivals, conferences, CBC event and new books coming out in Oz or travelling the world. Tristan Bancks Mac Slater Cool Hunter has gone to the USA and the cover looks fantastic. More sequels are coming.
Kate Forsyth’s Wildkin’s Curse and sister Belinda Murrell’s The Ruby Talisman are featuring in lots of festivals – Sydney Writers Festival, Kids and YA Literature festival at the NSW Writers Centre and much more.
Oliver Phommavanh’s ‘Thai Riffic’ is launching at Gleebooks in June. Watch out for it.
Sue Walker’s ‘Arnie Avery’ (Walker Books) which got a 5 star review in Australian Bookseller and Author is being launched at the NSW Writer’s Centre Kids and Young Adult Literature Festival 3rd July. She showed an advance copy – it’s so good.
My Always Jack to be published by HarperCollins is due for release in October. It’s a book dear to my heart about making it OK for kids to talk. Here’s the draft cover.
There’re new books from Aleesah Darlinson, Dawn Hort, Stephen Measday’s ‘Send Simon Savage’ is selling through the roof…. lots of good stuff is happening.
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The Lady Cutler Award dinner was filled with authors, illustrators, publishers, librarians and readers. Lady Cutler’s son presented the award this year to Chris Cheng who spoke to us from Hong Kong.
I gave the citation speech which was innovative over cyberspace.
Bill Condon, Jan Latta, Ursula Dubosarsky, Wendy Blaxland ……. who were celebrating Chris’ achievements and the Children’s Book Council.
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