What a day – driving across Sydney to speak to teenage boys at Patrician Brothers Blacktown, ending with an evening with South African writer and poet Antjie Krog at the Australian Human Rights Centre, Law Faculty, University of NSW.
Highlights:
The boys were from so many countries from Tonga, India to Sudan sharing – insights about the immigrant journey. The boys were thoughtful, intelligent and insightful.
Antjie shares insights about racism and apartheid and its devastating effects on the psyche of South Africa today. Very moving.
Antjie is staying at The Hughenden and loving Paddington-Woollahra, enjoyed walking around Centennial Parklands and walked right into the city.
The Children’s and Young Adult Literature Festival at the NSW Writers Centre is different to other festivals in that the writing community, sharing, friendship, support of the creativity of authors and creators is at the heart of the festival.
The NSW Writers Centre located in the heritage Gary Owen House in the Parklands of Callan Park grounds give a feel of a fair as writers gather, share conversation and food, applaud the launch of a book, craft and the life of publishing children’s and young adult literature.
As the Chair of the Board of the NSW Writers Centre I opened the festival and was embraced by the warmth of the audience, personal interaction, welcome of novice to well published authors, publishers who generously donated their time, screen writers, playwrights, digital writers ….
There was a wealth of talent and commitment to youth creativity in a home of writers.
Loved it – thankyou to all the participants and especially to:-
Authors:-
Lisa Forrest, Sue Whiting, Dianne Bates, Kate Forsyth, Belinda Murrell, Moya Simons, Jacqueline Harvey, Sophie Masson, Aleesah Darlinson, Jeni Mawter, Michael Parker, Karen Robertson, Duncan Ball William Kostakis
Publishers/Agents/Reviewers:-
Lisa Berryman HarperCollins, Zoe Walton Random House, Brian Cook Literary Agent; Angie Schiavonne Symdey Morning herald Literary reviewer; Palmer-Higgs Publishing; Joel Blacklock Boomerang Books.
Screen writers:-
Gina Roncoli, Simon Hopkinson, Kym Goldsworthy, Samantha Strauss
Theatre:-
Monkey Baa Theatre for Young People and Director Eva Di Cesare.
