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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.

Warm, welcoming, celebratory – a community sharing story and friendship.

Following the Kids and Young Adult Literature Festival at the NSW Writers Centre, writers, publishers, those involved in Australian creativity poured around The Hughenden bar – so much noise that they drowned out the pianist on the baby grand. But who cared? It was fabulous.

Good food, great wines, good company – it was a Chaucerian  feast of storytellers.

It was a great time to thank John Dale Professor of Writing at UTS for his dedicated services to the NSW Writers Centre as the Deputy Chair of the Board.

So many people were there – special welcome to Leah  Greengarten NSW Director of Australian Poetry

www.australianpoetry.org

This Festival supports PEN and PEN’s Empty Chair. This chair was empty, recognising a writer who is persecuted for their work.

At the Festival, the empty chair was for LIU XIA and SUPPORTERS oF Nobel Prize winner LIU XIAOBO 2010.  Since the Nobel Committee announced its decision in October 2010, Liu’s wife, Liu Xia, a photographer and poet, has been held under de facto house arrest by Chinese authorities.

Lisa Forrest the multi talented inspirational children’s author, media personality, actor, Olympian and Commonwealth gold medallist and a Mum, was a fantastic keynote to a full house.

Some highlights:-

Monkey Baa Theatre’s Eva diCesare, author Duncan Ball and HarperCollins publisher Lisa Berryman were in conversation about the new play Emily Eyefinger to be performed at Seymour Centre Sydney

Jeni Mawter’s launch of The Snugglebump Jump with heaps of cup cakes and a hilarious demonstration of Michael Parker author giving birth to a baby boy – well, baby doll.

Bestselling authors – Aleesah Darlinson, Belinda Murrell, Kate Forsyth, Moya Simons, Jacqueline Harvey, Sophie Masson, William Kostakis, Karen Robertson and more.

Kids’ TV with fabulous script writers; social media and insights into independent publishing as well as mainstream.

Sydney’s awash with books, film and festival – such a fabulous city.

• Sydney Writers Festival 16-22th May ~ www.swf.org.au
• Sydney Film Festival – 8-13th June ~ www.sff.org.au
• Kids & Young Adult Literature Festival NSW Writers Centre – 25th June ***** ~ www.nswwriterscentre.org.au

As the Director of the Kids & Young Adult Literature Festival at NSW Writers Centre, I’m proud to announce:-

The PITCH sessions – double opportunity – to pitch your work to publishers.

Publishers – Zoe Walton Random House, Lisa Berryman HarperCollins, Sue Whiting Walker Books ….

Film script writers – from Nickelodeum, ABC ….

Best selling Kids’ authors – Kate Forsyth~ fantasy,  Duncan Ball ~humour, Moya Simons ~ real life 

Social Media & beyond – William Kostakis ~blogger/author, Literature Live!~interactive TV to the world

Theatre – adaptation of books with Monkey Baa Theatre for Young People

Lisa Forrest - actor, author, emcee, TV and radio presenter, interviewer, mother, Olympian launching festival

The Kids & YA Literature Festival is intimate, real, connecting audience and speakers with inside information on publishing, craft, opportunities ~ getting into the creative life.

Limited numbers

Friendly social networking venue

Onsite free parking in the parklands of Callan Park Rozelle (near Balmain)

Supporting Room to Read – bringing literacy to the kids of the developing world

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday to you

Loathing Lola is terrific

And so -oh are you!

Note the signed 21st bear – Illustrator Penny Azar signed with her own illustrated bear. 

Special news – Sue Walker has already received a 5 star review  of her ‘Arnie Avery’ published by Walker Books. I’m launching it at the Kids and Young Adult Literature Festival, NSW Writers Centre on 3rd July.  I read the manuscript at its early stage, so it’s especially wonderful.

Network  doubled up with the LITERATURE ALIVE team of Nina Rycroft, Aleesah Darlinson, Laurine Croasdale, Jeni Mawter,Sue Walker and me.

We’re going LIVE on July 22nd with our Literature Festival speaking to schools around the country via the TV screen.

Talented illustrator Nina Rycroft created the Literature Live Logo.

The terrace is famous for a good heart-workout - climbing all those steps. Relief as we reach the terrace and it’s lovely with views over North Sydney, outdoor roof top gardens, delicious food and great company:- Publishers, authors, illustrators, publicists,marketing ….. thankyou to Allen & Unwin and of course the APA and Libby O’Donnell who’s a wonderful organiser of the Children’s Publishing Division.

News from lots of friends and colleagues who were there:-

Sue Whiting is Publishing Manager of Walker Books

Cristina Cappelluto is now Head of Children’s Publishing, HarperCollins Australia.

Margaret Hamilton’s children’s gallery of original illustrations is nearly there - wait for next year!!!  Max, her terrific husband has been building their rustic retreat in the Blue Mountaains.

- so many people were there and it was great to catch up with Linsay Knight, Zoe Walton, Zae Morton from Random House, Cate Sutherland from Fremantle Press WA, Anna McFarlane former publisher Pan MacMillan and now production film manager for Garth Nix, Claire Craig Publisher for Pan MacMillan …. and authors William Kostakis, Kate Forsyth … and illustrators Sarah Davis …  everyone donated a book for under privileged kids for the Christmas appeal.

I shared the news of the SCBWI HOPE CARDS and showed some of the beautiful illustrations - works including Graeme Base’s koalas in the bush fires.

All in all, another great APA Publisher Christmas Party.

Jenny Hale,William Kostakis,Kate Forsyth,Susanne Gervay

Bookfeast was abuzz with balloons, kids, teachers and the cream of Australian children’s authors and illustrators.

Haberfield school librarian, Michael Fraser’s annual event is unique in uniting the community of Australian children’s authors and illustrators with their audiences in a celebration of literature and reading.

 Keynote speakers were:-

Richard Harland award winning and best selling fantasy author

Sue Murray Australia’s leading youth playwright

Sarah Davis - awarded best new young illustrator by the CBCA for ‘Mending Lucille’

Duncan Ball, Australia’s much loved and multi award winning author of Selby the Talking Dog and Emily Eyefinger.

 It was a FEAST of talent including

Gus Gordon illustrator - look out for brilliant picture book WENDY

William Kostakis author - YA novel ‘Loathing Lola’

Moya Simons author - series ‘Walk Right In Detective Agency’

Emma Quay illustrator - adorable picture book ‘Bear and Chook’

Sue Whiting author - kids favourite the Firefighters illustrated by Donna Rawlings

Kate Forsyth world wide fantasy author - brilliant series Chain of Charms

Deb Abela author delights with - Max Remy Super Spy

Jenny Hale and her debut fantasy series JATTA which is already a best seller

Chris Cheng editor of a new Poetry anthology that is receiving acclaim

and many more - Felicity Pulman, Vashti Farrer,David Mulligan,Libby Hathorn,Alan Baille,Patricia Bernard,Vicky Morrison ….

It’s truly a FEAST

Sue Whiting and Sarah Davis' picture book 'Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy'

Kate Forsyth,Vicky Morrison, Deborah Abela