Joe Spellman is a professional artist specialising in acrylic, watercolour and commercial illustration.
Born in the North East of England he trained at Sunderland College of Art where he gained a teaching degree in Art and subsequently began work as an interior designer.
Joe emigrated to Australia in the early 70s and began teaching at schools and then art colleges in Sydney.
He now lives in Queensland where he continues to paint from his home studio. The vibrant colours of Joe's landscapes are quite distinctive and he has gained an active following for his original works in Australia and abroad.
Joe has illustrated several children's books. His latest, Hubert and the Magic Glasses will be released in August.
Joe selects Five Books of Influence:
Just William by Richard Crompton
I was very excited to receive my first junior library borrower’s card at the age of eight. Being rather a good little boy at school I was delighted to find a range of books about my opposite number - the ‘Just William’ books by Richard Crompton. I can always visualise the illustrations of William, dressed in a battered, untidy school uniform as he appeared during his wars with goodie-goodie Hubert Lane and Hubert’s equally despicable cronies. By today’s standards, William would probably merit a halo but in those faraway days he rivalled ‘Dennis the Menace’ for his ‘villainous’ activities. He was the smarmy Hubert’s nemesis, always lurking in the upper crust’s privet prepared to deflate this obnoxious Lane’s ego.
Tut tut - such villainy!
Tut tut - such villainy!
Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
1 Comments on Joe Spellman selects Five Books of Influence, last added: 5/3/2012
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By: Sophia Whitfield,
on 5/2/2012
Blog: Sophia Whitfield Children's Book Publisher (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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It has been distressing to hear the stories on 702 today regarding Royal North Shore hospital.
Our experience has been very different to the stories heard on the airways today.
Last year our son spent three months in hospital, six weeks in Manly before being transferred to Royal North Shore hospital for four weeks. So far this year he has had four separate admissions to Royal North Shore hospital. Our son is 20 and has severe cerebral palsy. He had been fed since the age of four through a peg tube in his stomach. In June last year he was admitted through emergency for what turned out to be a twisted bowel. He had emergency surgery. Two further operations followed which led to him twice being ventilated in intensive care. The end result has been that his stomach and bowel has collapsed and despite the efforts of numerous doctors no function has returned. He is now fed intravenously.
During the time he spent in both hospitals my husband and I were with him at all times, day and night. We were relieved for hours at a time by dedicated carers and family members. Our son usually communicates using a device accessed by a head switch. During his grave illness he was unable to use his device and we were there to assist doctors and nursing staff with communication. During our stay we got a good feel for the operational functionality of the hospitals and the care taken by staff.
We and our son were treated with dignity at all times. The compassion of the staff was and continues to be outstanding.
Our son has been allocated a nurse from Royal North Shore to assist with his intravenous feeding. I am in constant contact with her via text messages. A few weeks ago when our son was unwell she was my first port of call. After hearing my son’s symptoms she asked me to bring him straight to emergency which I did. On arrival I sent our friendly nurse another text as our son’s vitals were being checked. She arrived within two minutes and after a low blood pressure reading we were taken straight through to emergency where our son was treated immediately.
This nurse lives around the corner from us and has twice popped into our home to check dressings. We also receive a once a week visit from community nursing, also organized through the hospital. The nurse we have got to know over the last few months has just gone on rotation. This week was her last visit and we will miss her very much. I have no doubt that the new nurse we meet next week will bring her own energy and brightness into our home.
We now see doctors and nurses we recognize in th
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By: Sophia Whitfield,
on 5/1/2012
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By: Sophia Whitfield,
on 4/30/2012
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One of the brilliant advantages of publishing at a small boutique publishing house is the freedom it gives the publisher.
Every book that is published does not need to be signed off by five different departments before the publisher has the stamp of approval. A book is published for numerous reasons, but the following three are fairly essential:
- A good fit with the list
- An original idea
- A polished manuscript
The name on the front of the manuscript does not mean so much to a small publisher. Often I will skip the details about the writer and go straight into reading the manuscript. It’s the work that interests me, not the name.
This allows room to open the door to new young talent. Over the last few years I have had the privilege to publish a number of authors and illustrators for the very first time. Many of them have now been successfully published by major publishers.
This year two new illustrators have joined New Frontier and their first book will be released in September. Both came to us through different channels. One did work experience with us in 2010 during the week Peter Carnavas was on tour in Sydney. She came with us to all the school events seeing first hand an illustrator at work in from of a classroom full of children. She is currently is Year 12 and we are very excited about the release of her upcoming picture book. The second illustrator came to our attention through an author we have known for years. Together, they have created a stunning picture book.
In an industry which is hard to break into, every now and then it’s good to hear a good news story. Like many of our authors and illustrators before them, I am sure both Sophie and Stephen will build substantial careers for themselves.
As it gets closer to the time of publication I will post more details, including a couple of interviews with Sophie and Stephen about the process they have been involved in for the very first time.
By: Sophia Whitfield,
on 4/30/2012
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Kinsella is known for her well-loved Shopaholic series. Her plot driven novels have graced many a bedside table as well as inspiring the successful film Confessions of a Shopaholic.
In between writing Becky Bloomwood’s story in her Shopaholics series Kinsella also pens stand alone book. I’ve Got Your Number is her much anticipated new novel.
During a champagne and cupcake fueled afternoon tea, Poppy Wyatt loses her engagement ring, a four-carat emerald that has been in Magnus’s family for three generations. While desperately searching for her ring she also manages to lose track of her phone. She needs her phone. She has to give the hotel concierge a number so that when the ring is finally found, he can contact her immediately. Within minutes her life has gone into ‘meltdown’.
Spying a discarded phone in a bin she surreptitiously picks it up and begins to use it as her own, giving the number out to the concierge and all her friends. The phone belongs to businessman Sam Roxton. Poppy soon becomes embroiled in his life through his text messages and emails.
Filled with fear Poppy has to face her prospective in laws and fiancé with no ring.
With the wedding looming and plans already in full swing, Sam Roxton is able, unknowingly at first, to provide some welcome distraction.
Kinsella’s book rolls easily along with her trademark wit. Her naive heroine, Poppy Wyatt, is completely lovable.
Kinsella rarely deviates from a format that has worked so well for her. She admits her heroines are sometimes betrayed as ditzy, but reassures her readers that they can also be intelligent.
"You see, I think there's two things. You can be highly intelligent, and also ditzy and klutzy. You can be unable to cook, you can like lipstick. And I think it's more realistic to represent women having all these facets, than to say, OK, you're intelligent, so I've got to write you as all competent, which I think is an unfair ideal.”
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By: Sophia Whitfield,
on 4/26/2012
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For the Easter school holidays my youngest daughter had the option of creating a journal or a cookbook. Naturally she decided on a cookbook.
We cooked a few staples together and recorded them in all their glory in the special cookbook. In need of further inspiration I turned to the trusty app.
I was delighted to discover that Primrose Bakery, in my old stomping ground - Primrose Hill, has a fabulous new app. With step by step instructions, beautiful photographs and video instruction from the owners, it is hard to fail. My daughter and I, not the best chefs in the world, managed to create these Raspberry Coconut Ice Cupcakes.
As I am technically challenged I was not able to work out the ‘unique touch free' option. Wiping down the iPhone after our cooking session was a small price to pay for these totally scrumptious cupcakes. This weekend I will attempt to make the pear and ginger cake.
I hope somewhere during the weekend you find time to put your feet up, eat some cake and read a book!
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By: Sophia Whitfield,
on 4/26/2012
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This week two new book shows have been launched onto our screens.
For the Love of Books had its first outing on Monday night featuring hosts Cheryl Akle, Michael Campbell and Lachlan Jobbins. Cheryl Akle is well known to many viewers as the book reviewer on The Circle. If you missed it, here it is.
In celebration of the National Year of Reading, pre-school channel CBeebies launched CBeebies Story Time, a new series which brings together well-known celebrities to read popular Australian books for young children. The series airs weekdays at 7.15pm and will enthrall young children.
Top TV presenter and musician Natalie Bassingthwaighte; award-winning actor and presenter Shane Jacobson; acclaimed TV and film actress Claudia Carvan; legendary actor Michael Caton; popular TV presenter Yumi Stynes; author and illustrator Graeme Base and chef Luke Nguyen are among the celebrity storytellers in the story time chair.
Australian authors are at the heart of the series, with captivating stories such as Max Meets a Monster by Tracey Hawkins, The Great Expedition by Peter Carnavas and The Legend of the Golden Snail by Graeme Base.
Story Time is based on the hugely successful and much-loved Bedtime Stories strand broadcast daily on CBeebies UK .
This week you can win books! You do have to work for it. Have Australian authors been neglected? The Sun-Herald and Sunday Age would like you to nominate your favourite Australian book and email them in 100 words or less why it is important to you. Emails must be received by May 3 – [email protected]. The winner will receive a set of 30 Australian classics from Text Publishing.
A handfu
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By: Sophia Whitfield,
on 4/25/2012
Blog: Sophia Whitfield Children's Book Publisher (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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It has often been said that parents of children with disabilities isolate themselves from the outside world. As someone who fits into this category I put my hand up and admit to having built a life I feel comfortable with, one that lends itself to isolation. Being a parent of a child with a disability suits me.
I am unable to socialise with the social clicks that come with work, school, book clubs and all the rest. I attend a few events, but am always happy to return home to my safe haven. I am far too busy ferrying one of my three school children to or from various activities, running my eldest son to and from doctor’s appointments or hospital depending on the week and supporting my eldest daughter, who after numerous failed auditions is still determined to follow her dreams.
In his recent book, Family Consequences of Children’s Disabilities, Dennis Hogan writes ‘parents often remark that their social lives disappear’. For a self confessed introvert this does not pose any great threat.
There are choices: to socialise with friends who are in a similar situation which can become overwhelmingly bleak or to socialise with friends who at least from the outside look to have the perfect life. This is also flawed as friends often struggle to understand the ramifications of caring for a child or adult with a profound disability.
My solace has always been books and music. They formed the fabric of my childhood and like trusted old friends keep me company through the good and the not so good times. They don’t talk back to me or reassure me that everything will be fine, when clearly it will not. I can simply lose myself in someone else’s story.
Surprisingly even these friends can pose difficulties. In recent months I have had to refrain from listening to music when alone in the car. I began a nasty habit of crashing into other vehicles when thoughts wandered into harrowing territory. My solution has been to switch off all music, a lifelong passion, and listen to audiobooks instead. It has worked a treat. In recent months, Jim Broadbent became an adored companion as he read The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fryand the latest, I’ve Got Your Numberby Sophie Kinsella, kept me smiling through six and a half hours of driving between soccer fields, drama workshops, hospital trips and gymnastics competitions.
Isolation can causes introverts to spend their lives on the fringes, but maybe this is not always such a bad thing. Some time out and rest from the madness of the world around us to recuperate and restore our
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By: Sophia Whitfield,
on 4/24/2012
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Anzac Day 2012
'Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.'
C.S. Lewis
The army biscuit, also known as an ANZAC wafer or ANZAC tile, is essentially a long shelf-life, hard tack biscuit, eaten as a substitute for bread. Unlike bread, though, the biscuits are very, very hard. Some soldiers preferred to grind them up and eat as porridge.
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By: Sophia Whitfield,
on 4/24/2012
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Just over a week ago I attended the annual Jane Austen Festival in Canberra.
I, unfortunately, was only able to make it for the day and had to drive away in my carriage before the commencement of the ball. There is always next year.
There was a great deal of dancing and a number of workshops. I discussed Jane Austen’s novels in contemporary society referencing a couple of recent novels that based their characters and plot, to some degree, on Austen’s books. The relevance of The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides and Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D James was discussed. The audience was a varied age group, but to my delight did include two Year 11 students who were so much fun and added much to the discussion.
I hope to attend again next year. I might even make it to the ball. After all they will be celebrating the 200thanniversary of the publication of Pride and Prejudice.
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By: Sophia Whitfield,
on 4/22/2012
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JudithMcPherson is the 10-year-old heroine of this intriguing debut novel. Her mother died during her birth and herfather remains grief stricken, isolating Judith from his life. The one thingthey share is their devout fundamentalist Christian faith. Each night they readthe Bible aloud and attend weekly meetings with the faithful. By day they walkthe streets attempting to convert non-believers.
Judith hasno friends, no TV and no worldly books to occupy her. She passes the time,waiting for Armageddon, by building a replica of The Promised Land, her Land ofDecoration.
McCleenreferences The Bible throughout her book:
‘In thebeginning there was an empty room.’
Judithmakes her Land of Decoration, in her empty room, from: ‘table mats, browncorduroy and felt … rivers from crepe paper, cling film and shiny tinfoil andmountains from paper maiche and bark.’
Once shehas finished creating her new land Judith remarks:
‘And Ilooked at the people and I looked at the animals and I looked at the land. AndI saw they were good.’
In the firstchapter McCleen paints a picture of a lonely, poor girl trapped in an isolatedfundamentalist household.
Thingsbegin to turn for Judith when, one Friday, she is threatened by the schoolbully Neil Lewis. She spends the weekend in fear of Monday: ‘But what is worseis that on Monday Neil Lewis will put my head down the toilet and if I die whowill make me again.’ Terrified of the school bully Judith is desperate to avoidgoing back to school.
The beautyof McCleen’s prose reflects the world Judith has created for herself:
‘I knowabout faith. The world in my room is made out of it. Out of faith I stitchedthe clouds. Out of faith I cut the moon and the stars. With faith I gluedeverything together and set it humming. This is because faith is like imagination.It sees something where there is nothing, it takes a leap, and suddenly you’reflying.’
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By: Sophia Whitfield,
on 4/20/2012
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It’s been an eventful week in publishing.
The winners of the much-lauded Pulitzer Prizewere announced, including the prize for fiction, which went to absolutely noone. Apparently our literary elite is no longer quite so elite. For the first time in 35years no one was deemed worthy. It is a little disheartening. This news is notgood for authors or for publishers. Awards seem to be falling by the waysidewith not a ‘distinguished’ book of fiction to be found. Perhaps one of thejurors can give us better insight into this mishap?
Maybe JK Rowling can save us all, onceagain, from the doom that surrounds the industry. Her book, The Casual Vacancy,will be published in September and is already being flogged everywhere underthe tag pre-order now.
Pottermore, JK Rowling’s interactive site,is now better than before. The two-week turnaround it previously took to register as a user is now instantaneous. My children have kept themselves amused checkingout the new site. Occasional cries from the kitchen reveal such great news as‘Yay! I’m in Hufflepuff.' They have promised to report back with their reviewsnext week.
A new Bond book is on its way. You mightremember Jeffrey Deaver was the last author to take the plunge, rewriting Ian Fleming’sscoundrel of a character. William Boyd will write the next Bond book.
The Orange Prize shortlist was announced.Let’s hope they can find a winner!
In the final piece of news for this week a new classics series for children was announced. Vintage Children’s Classics are kicking off their new series with some gems including The
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By: Sophia Whitfield,
on 4/18/2012
Blog: Sophia Whitfield Children's Book Publisher (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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TheNSW Writers’ Centre run brilliant courses for writers throughout the year.Writers can attend workshops, publishing seminars and festivals. Manyopportunities exist for writers to become part of an inspired writing community.
Thisyear The NSW Writers’ Centre has partnered with the National Year of Reading tobring you 366 days of writing.
Ifyou are a reader this could be the perfect opportunity for you.
Allyou need to do is read a novel, aplay, a collection of poems or a short story by an Australian author and submityour review.
366 reviews willbe posted on The NSW Writers’ Centre blog. Some terrific reviews so far.
So, get readingand write your review.
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By: Sophia Whitfield,
on 4/18/2012
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"There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me."
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
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By: Sophia Whitfield,
on 4/16/2012
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Rachel Joyce is anactress, most notably with the Royal Shakespeare Company, but recently hasturned her hand to writing radio plays. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Frystarted out as a radio play before she transformed it into the elegant novel itis today.
Joyce began writingthis book just as her father was diagnosed with cancer. In between caring forher father she created the enigmatic character Harold Fry. She wrote the bookfor her father knowing he would never get to read it.
The book opens with aquote from John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress:
“Who would true valoursee,
Let him come hither;
One here will constantbe,
Come wind, comeweather.
There’s nodiscouragement
Shall make him once relent
His first avowedintent
To be a pilgrim.”
Joyce’s book has beencalled a contemporary The Pilgrim’s Progress, but perhaps it sits better with MrRosenblum’s List or even Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand. Books that beautifullydescribe the idyllic English countryside whilst celebrating the eccentricitiesof their lovable English characters.
Recently retiredHarold and his wife Maureen, live in Devon. Their lives seem uncomplicated, buta shadow hangs over them. There is much that goes unsaid in Harold and Maureen’srelationship; their son David’s disappearance from their lives 20 years ago isa constant source of unspoken pain.
Harold spent hisentire working life at the same brewery and in retirement seems to have nomotivation to do anything. The Fry’s live in a neat home where nothing muchhappens.
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By: Sophia Whitfield,
on 4/12/2012
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Ashleigh McIntyre is aradio producer and freelance journalist based in Sydney. As well as writingabout travel, health and finance, she has worked for the ABC, NorthsideBroadcasting and is currently an assistant producer at Mix106.5. You can findher on Twitter here.
Ashleigh McIntyre selects Five Books of Influence
Watching television isn’tusually how a person finds their favourite book, but it is how I found mine.While watching Marieke Hardy (my favourite writer) speak about her favouritebook of all time on the ABC’s FirstTuesday Book Club, I immediately went out and bought a copy. I spent theentire weekend ploughing through this cult classic, laughing at the ridiculousanti-hero Ignatius J. Reilly – from his green hunting cap to his hot-dogvending capers, from fights with his mother to his desperate attempts to getout of work, my eyeballs were literally glued to the page. John Kennedy Toolebrought this hulking mass of a character to life in a way I could never haveimagined, and in the process made me realise that no matter how little ambitionI have in life, I will always have more than Ignatius J. Reilly.
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By: Sophia Whitfield,
on 4/10/2012
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On the weekend afriend of ours came over to visit with his three-year-old daughter. She adoresbooks and as the afternoon ventured into evening and she became a little bored with chargingaround my house I began reading her stories.
She was happy to sit next to me and be read book after book. After a couple of books had been read I decided tointroduce her to an app I have on my iPad. Her parents don’t have an iPad so theconcept was new to her. We began reading The Three Little Pigs. It was secondnature to her, she immediately knew when to scroll or touch the screen and awayshe went. She knew the story so the expectation was there of what was to come,in many parts of the story she read along with me.
She was enjoying theexperience immensely right up until the wolf appeared. By his third appearance shewas really quite scared and asked me to stop reading and go back to the picturebooks, which we did.
It was not a reactionI had expected. She knew the story - the wolf was a known character to her, buthe is so visual in this app that she was overwhelmed with fear. The wolf iscertainly not a grotesquely scary figure, but as a three dimensional wolf he is obviouslyfar more real to a child than in the traditional storybook version. She didn’t wantto touch the wolf on the screen to hear what he said, she just wanted me to stopreading, turn the iPad off and go back to the good old paper version of thebook.
Have you had a similarexperience with a storybook app?
By: Sophia Whitfield,
on 4/8/2012
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The Boy who Fell to Earth opensdramatically with Lucy describing her son’s body being flung over the bonnet ofa car. The last words she had spoken to her son before the accident: “Why can’t you be normal”.
Lucy, a 30- plussingle mother is struggling to bring up her son. Merlin has Asperger’s syndromeand with this comes idiosyncrasies, which form the basis of Merlin’s character.He has no filter to tell him right from wrong. This leads to him constantlysaying the first thing that comes into his head, often inappropriate andembarrassing to those around him.
Lucy, an overworkedteacher, is desperate to give her son every opportunity, but overbearinglyprotective of his every move. She constantly battles a system that seems unableto help her son. An unfortunate, but common fate for any parent with a childwith special needs.
After her husband, Jeremy, leaves her for a cupcake queen Lucy becomes totally consumed by her belovedson. Finally, at the behest of her mother and sister, Lucy embarks on a missionto find a man to share her life with. Fiercely fond of Merlin, Lucy’s familyare keen for her to find love once more.
Lucy soon discoversthat Merlin’s idiosyncrasies complicate her task. As she brings hopefulcandidates home to meet her son, Merlin inevitably starts talking to thedaughter of the prospective mate about sex. Bob, the dentist, is appalled whenMerlin asks his daughters if he can see their breasts as: “now that he’s hit puberty, it would bevery helpful for him to see them.” None of this bodes well for Lucy.
Archie, the lovableaging rock star, seems to be the only male capable of accepting her son. Aftera string of prospective fathers for Merlin, Archie finally seems a possibility. Unfortunately he is out of work, lazy and living off Lucy’s generosity.
Lette has drawn on herown experience for this book. Her son has Asperger’s. The moments of angst thatsurround Merlin’s closeted life are raw and will resonate with those who havestruggled with the label ‘different’. Lette details a mother’s desperate searchfor a cure or at best some helpf
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By: Sophia Whitfield,
on 4/5/2012
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Easter is almost upon us andhaving spent another week in hospital by my son’s bedside Iam looking forward to being home for four days surrounded by all five of ourchildren. We will be reading, watching films and baking.
My mother baked a Simnel Cake every year. This year willbe my first attempt. I have turned to Jamie Oliver for guidance.
SIMNEL CAKE
This cake is anEaster classic and is usually decorated with 11 marzipan balls to represent theapostles – minus Judas, for obvious reasons.
Serves 11
· 175g (6oz) unsalted butter
· 175g (6oz) soft light brown sugar
· Finely grated zest of 1 lemon and 1orange
· 175g (6oz) plain flour
· 2tsp baking powder
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By: Sophia Whitfield,
on 4/2/2012
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I am a bit late to this, butam finally reading The Hunger Games.I was only half way through the book when I saw the film with two of mychildren. They were delighted by the film and thought it stayed fairly true tothe book. Certainly from what I have read so far this seems to be the case.
As I read the book, which isa page turner, I am captured by the clever concept. Collins has written a bookthat highlights the intrusive nature of the media, reality television and thebanality of voting for others to keep them in the game. Did my childrenunderstand this or were they simply enthralled by the fast pace of the book? Iam not sure? My son will be studying the book in Year 8 next year so I presumethis will be a topic discussed in great detail.
I enjoyed the film and thebook (so far). However a friend recently commented:
Hunger Games .... What sort of sicko makes amovie about teenagers killing each other??
A waste of 2 hours. If you haven't seen it,don't bother!
A waste of 2 hours. If you haven't seen it,don't bother!
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By: Sophia Whitfield,
on 4/2/2012
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Gillian Mears grew upriding horses in northern New South Wales. Together with her sisters she had apassion for horse jumping. She was horse mad and horse book mad. Nothing wasmore important than going to the local chemist to pick up rolls of film to checkout her form on a horse.
Mears’ connection tothe land and affinity with horses permeates every aspect of this book.
Set in northern NewSouth Wales just before the Second World War. Foal’s Bread tells the story of two generations of the Nancarrowfamily, their hopes, their dreams and the devastating loss of both.
The book opens with14-year-old Noah pregnant to her Uncle Nipper. She goes off alone to quietlyhave the baby and then floats it down the river in a wooden butter box. She isrelieved to be rid of the burden, but oblivious to the far reachingconsequences this will have on her life. She remains haunted by her actionsthroughout the novel.
A few days laterRoley, a champion high jumper, watches in adoration as a fearless Noah takesher jumps at the local show. The gentle Roley gives Noah a small gift for luck– the foal’s bread, a piece of gristle found in a foal’s mouth. Together theyembark on a journey full of the passion of youth.
Noah is at home at OneTree amongst the horse, but she has to endure the prejudice of her mother inlaw, Minna. Lainey, Roley and Noah’s eldest daughter, is strong and hasinherited both her parents’ talent with horses. George, their youngest, is bornwith a disability. Roley fights to keep his son at home, refusing to bow topressure to place his son in an institution.
This is Mears firstbook in 16 years. She has been ill, her life unfairly swept aside by theravages of multiple sclerosis. Themes of disability reign heavily throughoutthis book.
Roley is struck downafter three lightening strikes, which cause numb
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By: Sophia Whitfield,
on 3/30/2012
Blog: Sophia Whitfield Children's Book Publisher (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Books; Events, Add a tag
Sydney Writers’Festival have just released their 2012 program. You can view it online or intoday’s Sydney Morning Herald.
Chip Rolley, thefestival director, announced that this year the festival focuses on “… the public and the private.The question of the limits of what is personal is one of the hottest subjectsaround.”
In keeping with thefocus many of the gusts have written about their lives. Kathy Lette’s latestbook, The Boy who Fell to Earth, touches on the challenges of raising a son with Asperger’s Syndrome. It is a fictional novel based on herpersonal experience. Kathy will be talking to Jean Kittson (Event 205) on May20 at 11.30.
Jeanette Wintersonreturns to the Sydney Writers’ Festival (Event 11) to discuss her new memoir, Why be happy, when you could be normal?The title reflects a comment made to Winterson by her adopted mother when sheleft home aged 16 because she was in love with another woman. She will talkabout her book, life, love and death.
The feminist debatecontinues (Event 192) with a lively discussion from well-known femalesincluding Kathy Lette and Tara Moss.
Also for the ladies WendyHarmer’s The Hoopla will be hosting afun filled lunch on Friday May 18 to celebrate leading women writers.
After enjoying Jeffrey Eugenides latest book, The Marriage Plot,I was delighted to see that he will be making an appearance at the festival.Although a fictional novel much of Eugenides latest book is based on his ownexperience of university and his gap year after university. He will be talkingto Caroline Baum in his only solo event at the Sydney Writers’ Festival.
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By: Sophia Whitfield,
on 3/29/2012
Blog: Sophia Whitfield Children's Book Publisher (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Books of Influence, Add a tag
Fleur McDonald grew up in Orrorroo, South Australia. After school shespent a couple of years jillarooing in the outback. Fleur lives with herhusband and two children on a station near Esperance in Western Australia,where she is involved in the daily management of their 8000 acres. She is theauthor of the bestselling novels Red Dust and Blue Skies.
Her latest book Purple Roads will be released on April 1.
Fleur McDonald selects Five Books of Influence
Five books of Influence? Just five? Oh dear, well I'll have a shotat trying to pick five!
Any Famous Five or Secret Seven book
I think this is where my love for a good mystery comes from. Fromthe time I was old enough to read these books by myself, I was never withoutone in my hand. I still have the tattiest old copy my dad bought home fromAdelaide after a business meeting down there; it was Five got to Treasure Island and the first book I ever remember receiving as a gift.
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By: Sophia Whitfield,
on 3/27/2012
Blog: Sophia Whitfield Children's Book Publisher (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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"Time may restore us in his course
Goethe's sage mind and Byron's force;
But where will Europe's latter hour
Again find Wordsworth's healing power?
Others will teach us how to dare,
And against fear our breast to steel;
Others will strengthen us to bear-
But who, ah! who, will make us feel?"
Memorial Verses - Matthew Arnold
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By: Sophia Whitfield,
on 3/26/2012
Blog: Sophia Whitfield Children's Book Publisher (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Books, Writing, Add a tag
How To Attract An Agent
The majority of writers who send theirwork to a literary agency are turned down - I should know, because for nearlytwo years it was my job to break the bad news and, somewhat less frequently,the good. I was a Reader for an Australian literary agency, dealing only withChildren’s and YA manuscripts - the first port of call before writers could gettheir work under the nose of the agent. In that time, only a handful weresigned up. What mistakes did others make? Here are my top tips when you’reapproaching an agent.
- Follow the submission guidelines. Useyour common sense here, too. If it says you should send a brief query in thefirst instance, don’t send this email: “Hi, I’ve just written a book, can Isend it to you?” It’s a big time-waster. Writers complain about how long ittakes for agents to get back to them - do your bit and make the job ofassessing your work as smooth as possible. Polish your introductory email orletter as much as you do your writing. Address the agent by name. “Dear Sir”sent to a one-woman agency is not the best start. Show that you’ve done yourhomework - that there’s a reason you’re approaching this agent, not justbecause they’re next on the list.
- Keep it real / be realistic. Don’tlist the many marketing opportunities your book presents - the spin-offs andgames and t-shirts. Being market-aware is one thing; talking like anegomaniac is another. Your story and your background are what’s important. Thisdoesn’t include how much your children love your story (many successfulchildren’s authors don’t have kids; it’s not a requirement). Unless your 2 yearold is going to buy 10,000 copies of your book, his love of it is not going toconvince me.
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Great to hear about Joe and the books that influenced him. Really interesting as well to see that his interest in art and illustration goes way back to childhood.