How to use this Page

The USA tour was so fabulous – from New York to Maryland to Washington State

- sharing I Am Jack and my JACK books and Butterflies which have been just published by Kane Miller Books in the USA.

Meet fabulous people – special thanks to Professors Ernest Bond and Patricia Dean at Salisbury University.

Caught up with fabulous writers and illustrators like Frane Lessac and Bruce Coville and many more.

Special thanks to Tabatha Roach representing Kane Miller Books and her great team especially Lisa and Jen.

THANKYOU!

The IBBY CONGRESS London was about making friends across the world from Slovenia to Canada; USA to South Korea, from Mongolia to New Zealand; from India to the world…. to Australia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some of the wonderful friends I made are in these photos – and there were other wonderful people too – Dr Veronika Rot Gabrovec Slovenia; Ingrid Kallstrom Stockholm; Merle Harris Edmonton Canada; Swapna Dutta Bangalore India …and …….many friends.

When Tricia Evy, the beautiful French, West Indies jazz singer sang me her song from her new album – soon to be released – it was moving.

She sang without accompaniment in the city of romance, about hearts broken and romance renewed. 

Tricia will be in Sydney to tour from 25th September as part of the Manly Jazz Festival and Jazz la Vienne.

It was a lovely ending to a mad cap day with Frane Lessac and Mark Greenwood in Les Puces – the Paris Flea Market.

We walked out feet off and came away with treasures, Frane wasn’t allowed to buy the crocodile head, but she came away with an old silver urn, Mark bargained for some ancient stone axe heads and I found a beautiful old painting for The Hughenden.

We were all inspired by the weird and wonderful things there – so expect some interesting artwork and stories.

Love being part of the Australian contingent.

Shaun Tan inspired a packed auditorium at Imperial College London.

Shan Tan is such a deep thinker but with lots of humour and self deprecation too. He accepts the frailties of life, observes, is in the malstrom of lifes he illustrates the human condition – its quirkiness, challenges, and that endless curiosity that drives us all.

Robin Morrow presenting on Bob Graham’s work which was great.

Loved Frane Lessac’s session with her colourful, celebratory picture books embracing all cultures.

Loved Mark Greenwood’s earthy, real work with indigenous communities in the West which he translates into significant historical picture books many illustrated by Frane Lessac.

In my own session on Ships in the Field,I explored how my personal story that translates to the universal story of an immigrant world seeking family, love and home.

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS were but British academics Marjorie Couglan Editor of Paper Tigers respected e-journal and

Janet Evans Lecturer in Education Liverpool Hope University

both presented Australian Picture books including Arim Greder’s ‘Island; John Marsden’s and Matt Ottely’s ‘Home and Away’.

It  was a special day.

I was touched when Merle Harris from Canada, was excited to meet me because she has been teaching I AM JACK for many years and it’s part of her school curriculum. Their one lonely copy can now be supplemented with I Am Jack being published in the USA (Kane Miller ) at last.  So deeply felt.

Shared with the Director of Library Services, Friends Seminary a Quaker School ‘Ships in the Field’. She’s taking it back to New York for her school.

Brilliant panel with Bart Moeyaert, award winning  Belgium author translated into many languages and iconic Aidan Chambers Hans Christian Andersen Medal award winner and winner of the Carnegie Medal for ‘Postcards from No Man’s Land’.

They are champions of translating literature into English.  Aidan gave some funny examples of mistranslation.

Actually I worry about how my ‘Butterflies’ truly reads in Bahasa (Indonesian) as the book looks cut down and censored. I’d never know.

Finally, so excited about meeting the Slovenian contingent, especially Veronika  Rot  Gabrovec, lectuere University of Ljublijana Slovenia. Veronika teaches Australian literature and knows my Slovenian publisher of ‘I Am Jack’ – just translated.Exciting to connect to the world through literature.

Great to share it with the Australian contingent, Robin Morrow and Jenni Woodroffe from IBBY Australia, and Frane Lessac illustrator exaordinaire.

Talk about an afternoon of stars!!!!!

Anthony Browne,  Hans Christian Anderson Medal recipient, UK Children’s Laureate 2009-11

Michael Morpurgo OBE writer of WAR HORSE, children’s laureate 2003-2005

Michael Rosen, Eleanor Farjeo Award for services to children’s literature, UK Children’s Laureate 2007-2009 – spaeaking at another session

ulia Donaldson MBE, creator of the famous GRUFFALO, UK Children’s Laureate 2011 – 2013

They were brilliant, engrossing, inspiring and displayed the best in children’s writers as well as advocates for literacy and social justice.

Hilarious moment when delegates were asked to come up and perform with Julia Donaldson – Marjorie Couglan editor of Paper Tigers was a hilarious chicken!

Australian Children’s laureate Alison Lester’s words were read out at the IBBY Congress – very proud of that as I sat with her great friend and award winning picture book illustrator Frane Lessac.

THANKYOU to CAL for their support of my speaking at the IBBY Congress London.

The flight is sooooooo…. long from Australia. Managed to tip boiling tea on myself and  a blistered leg.

tihad Ailines  gave it a try – and 10 rows of travellers had no entertainment system. No movies – so  it was tough going, although had a diversion with boiling tea!

Good news is that I arrived and LOVE London.

Already did some tourist things from Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace.

Rode on a British red bus and a taxi cab and of course the underground.

Had a great meeting with The Rights People – Alex Webb and Rachel Richardson who are taking my  ‘Butterflies’ to the Frankfurt Book Fair.

IBBY Congress starts today and I catch up with Frane Lessac!

International Books for Young People – IBBY – we’re on our way to London.

www.ibbycongress2012.org

Crossing Boundaries: Translations and Migrations, to be held at Imperial College, London, from 23rd to 26th August 2012.

It’s going to be fantastic and I get to see friends from all over the world.

Shaun Tan, Mark  Greenwood, Frane Lessac – the fantastic Aussie contingent of authors/illustrators from the West are coming.

Can’t wait to speak about ‘Ships in the Field’  on a panel with Marjorie Coughlan editor of Paper Tigers

Picture Books about Migration

Zeynep Bassa (Author and Illustrator, Turkey)
Picture Books on the Theme of Migration in Germany
Questions of migration, discrimination, social marginalisation and integration appear as newly emerging topics in children’s books. Based partially on the author’s personal experiences as a migrant mother of two children in Germany and from work with migrant children, this paper reviews some of the children’s books published in Germany on the subjects of tolerance and acceptance of different identities.

Marjorie Coughlan 
(Editor, Paper Tigers, U.K.)
Escaping Conflict, Seeking Peace: picture books that relate refugee stories, and their importance
Attention is drawn to picture books in English from around the world about children and young people who have been forced from their homes because of conflict. These are stories that need to be told, whether they are biographical or fictionalised accounts, for understanding of the past, healing in the present, and hope for the future.

Susanne Gervay (Author, Society of Children’s Writers and Illustrato

The wonderful Dianne Wolfer has headed SCBWI Western Australia and Northern territory for 6 amazing years.

She has lead growth of memberships, run conferences, enthused our West and promoted the community of children’s writers & illustrators.

Frane Lessac SCBWI Illustrator Coordinator has partnered her in this  - so many WA authors and illustrators have become published, award winning authors and illustrators and have travelled throughout the West on speaking tours, conferences and festivals.

Dianne is still very much a part of the SCBWI committee . However she’s now doing her Phd and writing more books. 

Frane Lessac, award winning picture book writer and illustrator is the new leader – the RA SCBWI Australia West – taking back her old role.

James Foley Crystal Kite winner for ‘The Last Viking’ is taking Frane’s place as Illustrator Coordinator.

Award winning novellist and picture book writer Meg McInlay is the ARA – assistant regional advisor.

What a team!!!!!!

THANKYOU DIANNE WOLFER FOR YOUR YEARS OF DEDICATION & SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY.

THANKYOU FRANE LESSAC FOR TAKING ON THE LEADERSHIP AGAIN.

Love you all.

I’m flying back from the USA Convention where I launched ‘I AM JACK’ in the USA, to celebrate and network a the fabulous, fantastic, favourite – SCBWI Australia & New Zealand Conference in Sydney.

It’s going to be amazing with:-

- the best illustrator showcase ever with the best and brightest

- the best publishers and top agents

- amazing authors and illustrators

- NSW Writers Centre Kids and YA Literature Festival

-pitching and partying

and Meredith Costain author extraordinaire at the baby grand on Saturday night- bring allow your best singing

It’s a conferences of STARS – delegates and speakers !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Partner of National year of Reading – NSW Writers Centre and SCBWI with ambassadors of National year of Reading 2012 – Hazel Edwards, Deborah Abela, Frane Lessac, libby Gleeson, Christopher Cheng and Susanne Gervay.

The SCBWI Conference has the best committee with lots of brilliant authors and illustrators contributing – some of the team at the committee meeting at The Hughenden in Sydney include:-

Wendy Blaxland – doing media;

Mark Thomason and Nathan Luff – stars organising the critiques which are really hard to do.

Margaret Roc – organising the masterclasses thank goodness.

Toni Brisland – delegate bags – a lot coming in with thanks.

The Illustrator committee – stars led by Frane Lessac, Sarah Davis, Lesley Vamos, Serena Geddes, Andrea Edmunds with a hand from Marjorie Crosby-Fairall

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.

Maurice Saxby AM is one of the significant people in the development of children’s literature in Australia.

The inaugural lecture where Maurice will be speaking will be important.

It’s a National Year of Reading 2012 event.

Date: Thursday 1st May

State Library Sydney NSW

Bookings are open:-

Ph: 02 9818 3858

or email

[email protected]

We’ve finally on facebook and news about the children’s writers and illustrators sharing information and friendship is easily available now.  Come and have a look.

SCBWI has conferences, meetings, networks, lots of comraderie across Australia and New Zealand.

SCBWI Australia and New Zealand supports :-

National Year of Reading where SCBWI leaders Frane Lessac, Hazel Edwards, Deb Abela, Christopher Cheng and I are ambassadors  www.love2read.org

Room to Read bringing education to the children of the developing world www.roomtoread.org

SCBWI is lead by:-

Frane Lessac Illustrator Coordinator

Corrine Fenton in Victoria and Tasmania

Dianne Wolfer in WA

Sheryl Gywther, Prue Mason. Tina Marie Clark, Pamela Rusby in Queensland

Frances Plumpton in New Zealand

Amanda Graham in SA

Susanne Gervay in NSW, ACT and Australia

Christopher in Australia and on the international board

www.scbwiaustralia.org

Looking forward to a year where we can be part of a world community promoting literacy in developing counties like Room to Read – www.roomtoread.org or in Australia like Books in Homes www.biha.org.au

It’s the National Year of Reading which is launched February 14 in libraries across Australia. Call your library and find out how you can celebrate.

I’ll be at the State Library in Macquarie Street Sydney as an Ambassador for the National Year of Reading.

The Cancer Council’s Relay for Life is a community celebration of those living with cancer and working towards its eradication. Join in – walk the circuit, barbecue those sausages, enjoy the bands and festivities in your local area.

Writers can pursue their inspirations – participate in your Writers Centre, Children’s Book Council,  SCBWI – see the meetings across Australia.

I’ll be running the SCBWI events at The Hughenden Hotel in Sydney and am Festival Director of the Kids and young Adult Literature Festival 30th June at the NSW Writers Centre – come along.

Support the brilliant Monkey Baa Theatre which adapts the best in Australian children’s literature – www.monkeybaa.com.au

The Alannah & Madeline Foundation working against school bullying – love them.

So many fantastic things to do, enjoy and celebrate.

Let’s make 2012 count.

Add a Comment

1 Comments | Previous | Top | Next

By: Sally Murphy, on 9/12/2011
Blog: Scribblings (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  getting published, frane lessac, publication process, heartlines, mundaring, Add a tag

Add/View Comments | Previous | Top | Next

By: Susanne Gervay, on 7/6/2011
Blog: Susanne Gervay's Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  Kate Forsyth Belinda Murrell Deborah Abela Vashti Farrer Moya Simons Nina Rycroft Sarah Davis Mark T, The Sydney Children's Writers & Illustrators Network at The Hughenden Woollahra, News, Frane Lessac, Sydney Writers Network, Add a tag

Add/View Comments | Previous | Top | Next

By: Susanne Gervay, on 6/30/2011
Blog: Susanne Gervay's Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  News, Frane Lessac, Dianne Wolfer, Fremantle Press, Meg McKinlay Going for Broke, SCBWI WA, Rottnest Retreat SCBWI WA, Louise Schofield author, Mundaring HeARTlines Festival, The Cancer Council NSW, The Zoo Room and Secrets in the Tingle Forest by Louise Scholfield, WAYBRA, Add a tag

SCBWI WA - Dianne Wolfer,Frane lessac,Louise Schofield, Meg McKinley

Remembering Louise Schofield

West Australian SCBWI member Louise Schofield has died after a long battle with cancer. A former senior journalist with The Australian, Louise was the author of ten books including The Zoo Room and Secrets in the Tingle Forest, which won the Western Australian Young Readers Book Award and was shortlisted for a Wilderness Society Award for Children’s Literature.

Louise has given generously to SCBWI and was a talented and dedicated member of the West Australian writing community.

In the early years of SCBWI WA, Louise worked tirelessly behind the scenes to help make the 2008 WA Conference a huge success. She helped plan the first Rottnest Retreat and, as much as her declining health allowed, contributed to the smooth running of subsequent SCBWI events and generously helped new members.

Louise wrote an article about the WA Books Moove Me cow, which was published around the world via the international SCBWI Bulletin.

She was also the founder of the Mundaring HeARTlines Festival – a month-long celebration of children’s literature and book illustration.

Fremantle Press Children’s Publisher Cate Sutherland said,
“Louise was an inspiring author who will be remembered for her commitment to the arts. Her generosity in promoting the work of her peers – the authors and children’s book writers of Western Australia – will not be forgotten.”

Thankyou Fremantle Press WA for these words about my friend, colleague and fellow travellor on the journey of cancer.

 

 

 

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/inspiring-childrens-writer-louise-schofield-dies-of-cancer/story-e6frg6nf-1226085176977<

Add a Comment

More from this Blog | Email This | Add a Tag

19. International Children’s Illustrator Mike Spoor Touring Oz

Add/View Comments | Previous | Top | Next

By: Susanne Gervay, on 4/8/2011
Blog: Susanne Gervay's Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  Frane Lessac, Writers Festivals, Donna Rawlings, Shan Tan, Nina Rycroft, Sarah Davis illustrator, The Hughenden Woollahra, All Saints Litfest Perth, Mike Spoor's Dinasaur Cove series, Add a tag

Mike Spoor makes characters come alive! 

His Dinasaur Cove series published by Oxford Uni Press is especially huge in the UK.

Mike’s gorgeous illustration of Watch Duck is in the Hughenden Reading Room, together with the works of award winning illustrators including Sarah Davis, Nina Rycroft, Frane Lessac, Donna Rawings and the academy award winning illustrator Shan Tan.

I was so happy to meet Mike and asked him to illustrate a new DUCK for me. Even though he had heaps of talks at All Saints Festival he made the time to create my DUCK. Thankyou Mike. 

Here’s what Mike did:-

  Check the illustration carefully and find DUCK – Mike did this for the illustrator page at ALL SAINTS Literature Festival.

Soooooo……………. excited about My DUCK!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

Add a Comment

More from this Blog | Email This | Add a Tag

20. Guest Post: Susanne Gervay on “Peace Story Connecting Youth Across the World”

0 Comments | Previous | Top | Next

By: Aline Pereira, on 12/10/2010
Blog: PaperTigers (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  International, Eventful World, I Am Jack, Susanne Gervay, Korea, Eric Rohmann, International Youth Library, nami island, KBBY, nambook, Sharon Rundle, Meenakshi Bharat, Pam Muñoz Ryan, Guest Posts, guest post, Frane Lessac, The Cave, Super Jack, Always Jack, Fear Factor: Terror Incognito, Global Voices, Siobhán Parkinson, Kiribati, Nambook-010, Nami Island Book Festival, Peace Story, Franz Hohler, Fred Minn, Gendrutis Morkunas, Gustav Heinemann Peace Award, Hello Dear Enemy, Jae-Hong Kim, Kang Woo-hyon, Kim Jae-hong, Kim Jin-kyung, Reinhard Michl, Valerie Coghlan, Xan Lopez Dominguez, Add a tag

Australian author Susanne Gervay (visit her website and blog) has had a very busy year this year and social justice has been high on her agenda. She is one of the contributors to Fear Factor: Terror Incognito, an anthology of short stories featuring ten Australian and ten Indian writers, edited by Meenakshi Bharat and Sharon Rundle (Macmillan Australia/ Picador India, 2010). She has been writing about her travels to India and Kiribati, a “Pacific atoll nation drowning under climate change”. She has just launched Always Jack, the third book about Jack, following on from her wonderful I Am Jack and Super Jack. Most recently, Susanne was in South Korea for the Nambook-010 Fesival, the 5th Nami Island International Children’s Book Festival. She was there because she was taking part in Peace Story, a very special project. We are very grateful to Susanne for telling us all about it here. For those of us who couldn’t be there in person, Susanne’s description and photographs are definitely the next best thing!

In these troubled times with North Korea’s military attack on South Korea, the international publication of Peace Story is poignant and important. Twenty-two children’s authors and twenty-two illustrators from twenty-two countries engaged in an international cooperative to create a unique anthology, Peace Story, for young people. Respected academic author on Irish children’s literature Valerie Coghlan and Irish Laureate for children’s literature Siobhán Parkinson were the co-editors of Peace Story.

‘Peace Story’ was part of the Nami Island International Children’s Book Festival, South Korea which was first held in 2005 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Hans Christian Andersen. It is a six-week bi-annual festival of children’s books, the environment and peace, featuring outstanding exhibitions of children’s books and illustrations from all over the world. Much loved Korean illustrator Kang Woo-hyon, President of the Nambook-010 International Committee headed the ‘Peace Story’ project with the support of the Nami Island Minn family who published and translated some of the stories, and hosted the authors and illustrators on Nami Island. It was supported by National YMCA Korea, UNICEF and UNESCO Korea, the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism, and Nami Island the official sponsor of the IBBY Hans Christian Anderson Awards.

My Australian story ‘To East Timor with Love Australia’, illustrated by the award-winning Frané Lessac, opens the anthology Peace Story. Frané Lessac’s vibrant colours of bright pink bougainvillea and yel

0 Comments on Guest Post: Susanne Gervay on “Peace Story Connecting Youth Across the World” as of 1/1/1900

Add a Comment

More from this Blog | Email This | Add a Tag

21. PEACE STORY Nami Island

Add/View Comments | Previous | Top | Next

By: Susanne Gervay, on 11/7/2010
Blog: Susanne Gervay's Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  Conferences, Frane Lessac, Korean illustrator Tang Woo Hyon, Peace Story Nami Iskand, Add a tag

Frane and I held our breath as we walked down the road on Nami Island and saw our work. Our story – To East Timor With Love from Australia.It marked the beginning of a parade of 22 stories and art from the IBBY-Nami Island book Peace Story.

There are stories from Germany, Sudan, Austria… and of course Korea. The Korean one is beautiful about the Korean Demilitarised Zone that has peace for a short time to help an injured deer. The illustrations are emotional.

Frane and I are so proud to represent Australia here. We’re meeting consuls, artists, representatives from other countries – it feels like the United Nations and we’re Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd. I’m Kevin due to my short pants and corny woolly jacket.  Check me out.

Add a Comment

More from this Blog | Email This | Add a Tag

22. Nami Island A Home to Youth Literature & Peace

Add/View Comments | Previous | Top | Next

By: Susanne Gervay, on 11/6/2010
Blog: Susanne Gervay's Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  Conferences, Frane Lessac, Nami Island Korea, Kang Woo Hyon Korean illustrator, La gallina Churra, Xan Lopez Dominguez Spanish illusttrator writer, Add a tag

It’s a hour drive out of Seoul. The ferry is marked by flags from all over the world as Frane Lessac and I enter Naminara Republic – an island dedicated to young people, books, nature & sustainibility.

Korea has a 1000 year history of a love of the arts and literature. Nami Island is now part of that.

Nami Island Hotel is filled with the works of artists who have stayed at Nami Island. Each room is the work of another artist.

One of Korea’s most famous children’s illustrators KANG WOO HYON welcomes us to his amazing studio filled with a treasury of artworks from artists all over the world.

A studio of sculpture, paintings,ceremics, wood carvings - whatever you can imagine. There is Korean wine, delicacies and Mr Kang’s invitation to an evening of creativity.

The wonderful Spanish children’s illustrator Xan Lopez Dominguez and his artist wife were also there. Xan’s famous CHURRAM a very naughty hen, is one of Apain’s most loved characters.

Mr Kang amazed us with his beautiful artwork on a fan – he gave it to me. Then we all painted, enjoyed wine and food,  late into the night. What an experience.

Add a Comment

More from this Blog | Email This | Add a Tag

23. Taking SCBWI to Demilitarized Zone DMZ North and South Korea

Add/View Comments | Previous | Top | Next

By: Susanne Gervay, on 11/5/2010
Blog: Susanne Gervay's Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  Nami Island, Frane Lessac, SCBWI Australia and New Zealand, DMZ, Conferences, Add a tag

We’ve been ordered – no torn jeans (Frane has a hole in hers), no cameras (I didn’t hear), no pointing(a guard shouted at a pointing idiot), no kidding – Frane and I are heading for DMZ – the demilitarised Zone between North and South Korea.

Mission: Stand in North Korea and don’t get shot.

The wonderful hosts of Nami Island have organised this tour to the DMZ. We’re with Beaky and Hopper- who are holding the SCWBI, Aussie and South Korean flag. (Hint they are furry Aussie icons).

 

Frane of course asked a guard in dark sunglasses with a gun if she could have a photo with him – NO!!!!!!!  Good News – Frane wasn’t killed.

We stood on North Korean land in the one building that crosses both countries. It was very strained and Frane and I had to sign that we were OK if we were shot. We signed. Weren’t shot.

The story of the young woman who defected brought Frane and I to tears. She can’t contact her family – swam across the river, paid so much to eb guided to China, where the man sold her into the sex trade. She escaped after 2 years and South Korea is home now.

Add a Comment

More from this Blog | Email This | Add a Tag

24. How are Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt like Frane Lessac & Susanne Gervay?Both love JUMP!!!!!!

Add/View Comments | Previous | Top | Next

By: Susanne Gervay, on 11/3/2010
Blog: Susanne Gervay's Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  Conferences, Frane Lessac, JUMP theater in Seoul, Nambooks Children', s Book Festival Korea, Add a tag

Angelina & Brad  jumped into JUMP -& so did Frane and I – we have just seen the best show ever.

Where? SEOUL. JUMP is- martial arts gone made, clever, hilarious, wild arcrobatics and spunky performers . You’ve got to see it.

Angelina and Brad Loved it. So did Frane & I.

PS We also loved the pre-JUMP Korean banquet too, except my legs were made for chairs, not creaking on the floor!!!

PPS Thankyou to the warm, welcoming, talented Nambook team – Fred, Angie and Mo0n  and the Director of Nambooks Festival Mr Kang – super stars!

Add a Comment

More from this Blog | Email This | Add a Tag

25. Seoul, G20 World Summit on Globalisa-tion,Palaces,Festivals,Nambook Festival-Love Korea.

Add/View Comments | Previous | Top |

By: Susanne Gervay, on 11/3/2010
Blog: Susanne Gervay's Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  Susanne Gervay, Frane Lessac, Nambook Children's Book Festival, Seoul, Conferences, Add a tag

Seoul is a feast of everything – from live squid,  medieval palaces, exotic gardens, the delicacy of Korean crafts and sensibilities, the city flooded with internationals for the G20 summit, tiny little shops in winding streets, surpises everywhere – the lantern festival with animal floats, burn autumn leaves ….. visit Korea and love it.

The flies in the ointment?

Frane capturing the hand doctors on tour of the of the palace interrogating them about hand operations.

The hot tub on the roof of the hotel not bubbling – we’re ready to jump in - it’s freezing at night.

Missing out on the all day all naked bath house – we’re thinking.

Hu

Highlights: Korea loves books – the palaces have ancient libraries; there’s a major library dedicated to youth; books are an essential part of life here – and we’re being hosted by the fantastic NamBook team – thankyou Angie and Moon

 

Add a Comment

More from this Blog | Email This | Add a Tag

View Next 10 Posts