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5.00 am early start – dragging myself out of bed – even chicken was squawking.

5.30 am – destination our capital city – hop in the BOOTIE-MOBILE – also known as my car.

Sun shining, car purring, radio on as I drive out of Sydney into the countryside with yellow fields of sunflowers and baa-ing sheep, eventually along Lake George to spring lined streets of Canberra -  It’s glorious being a writer on the road.

First stop ACT State Library to a packed  group of enthusiastic kids writing about – Werewolves, Wizards & Writers.

Next stop, Poppy’s Cafe at the National War Memorial listening to bagpipes while discussing everything with SCBWI Coordinator for ACT/Camberra – author Tracey Hawkings.

Then it’s the SCBWI Event at the ACT Writers Centre with the dynamic SCBWI ACT crowd – including authors Tania McCartney, Irma Gold (brilliant short story writer), best selling author Gina Newton, historical author Pauline Deeves, script writer Lina Silva and other committed authors and illustrators. It was great fun , great nibbles, great enthusiasm for creating story.

Saturday was brilliant – the ACT Writers Centre at Gorman House is old world with a lilac lined courtyard and Saturday markets and music – and I had the pleasure of running a short story course with some extraordinary writers.

Caught up with Suzanne Kiraly at Tilley’s Cafe where we talked writing and about the Literature festival Suzanne is organising 28 Feb next year – it’ll be brilliant.

Drove home through fields and sunshine.

Can’t wait to visit Canberra again.

The post Love being a Writer in Canberra! appeared first on Susanne Gervay's Blog.

Love, love, love the amazing, exhilerating community of children’s book writers and illustrators and publishing industry. You have to go to the SCBWI Conference Los Angeles once.

It’s truly about friends across the globe – with our Internationals led by author Kathleen Ahrens in Hong Kong and the Assistant international author Angela Cerrito in Germany …..

get to meet some of your idols like Judy Bloom, NY Times best selling author Ellen Hopkins, amazing illustrator Mo Willems, huge series author Bruce Coville  and so many more … and many agents and publishers.

The best part – the Saturday night PARTY – and yes, everyone sang like the SCBWI Conference in Sydney at The Hughenden.

The post Writers and Illustrators Across the World ~SCBWI LA appeared first on Susanne Gervay's Blog.

What a buzz – writers, illustrators, publishers – pitches, publishing panels, brilliant masterclasses, launches, the magnificent illustrator duet with Stephen Axelson and Bruce Whately …

Melina Marchetta’s outstanding keynote about the adaptation of On Jellico Road into a Hollywood feature film – watch out for it …

and wonderful food by Vincent at The Hughenden  …

the dinner dance party with the fabulous Beatnickers of Meredith Costain, James Foley, Scot Chambers and on drums Mark Greenwood – thankyou Wolfie for being a ring in – and the wild singing and hilarity

…. and more and more and more … best ever SCBWI Australia and new Zealand Conference at The Hughenden!!!!!

The post Exhilerating, Amazing Friendships Across the Kids’ Publishing Industry at Sydney SCBWI appeared first on Susanne Gervay's Blog.

Kids’s authors and illustrators, publishers and editors rock and rolled at the Society of Children’s Writers & Illustrators’ Conference at The Hughenden in Sydney – with the BEATNICKERS – the SCBWI band of James Foley, Mark Greenwood, Meredith Costain, Scott Chambers and the fabulous ring in on guitar and drums and … Wolfgang!

Best ever -amazing, wild, hilarious, brilliant night of the craziest dancing and partying!

Go kids’ authors and illustrators!!!!!!!

The post SCBWI Australia New Zealand ROCK and ROLL!!!!! appeared first on Susanne Gervay's Blog.

SCBWI conference has started – with

Connie Hsu Senior Commissioning Editor Roaring Brooks USA flying in from New York;

Frances Plumpton literary agent from New Zealand flying in too,

a pile of authors and illustrators from WA and Victoria ….

it’s happening … Margaret Roc and Betty Sargent spent hours stuffing delegate bags yesterday with me ….

The Hughenden was on overload with the marquis rising from the carpark… the banner is up and we’re ready to rock and roll with the children’s book writers & illustrators of Australia and New Zealand!

Our Conference charity is Room to read www.roomtoread.org

Welcome! #SCBWIausNZ14

The post SCBWI’s coming from all over Oz, NZ and US – writers and Illustrators! appeared first on Susanne Gervay's Blog.

Is this the way to start the New Year?

My VIP list:-

-  get organised for the LAS VEGAS trip where I AM JACK is being performed!

(LOVE Monkey Baa Theatre  www.monkeybaa.com.au)

- finalise the author tour on the West Coast USA.

- seriously organised the SCBWI International Conference 13-16th July at The Hughenden!

- work out the SCBWI website www.australiaeastnz.scbwi.org

-  edit my BEING JACK – where Jack goes from victim to victor to someone who stands beside his mate & family – I LOVE Jack because he’s like all the boys we know – the funny, real, good bits.

And it’s late ….. I’m pooped … and going to join this puppy.

The post From Las Vegas to Pooped! appeared first on Susanne Gervay's Blog.

How do you feeling about our crazy life?

Ask the PUG!!!!!!

Can any more events, parties, book fairs, get togethers …. be squished into the 4 weeks before December’s Christmas!!!!!!

It’s on … we’re heading for the turkey and an almighty crash!

Diary of November 2013:-

-  Celebrations of Hazel Edwards receiving an Order of Australia – YEAH!

- MC for SCBWI’s INSIDE STORY with our loved authors & illustrators at The Children’s Book Beecroft telling the inside story of creating their books including Deborah Abela, Tony Flowers, Yvette Poshoglian, Jan Latta, Christopher Cheng and more.

- Lunch with assistant editor of School Magazine - LOVE Sue Murray - a talented playwright as well as editor

-  Sharon Rundle editor and friend and I went off to the launch of  ’A Country Too Far’  at Glee Books- caught up with professor Elizabeth Webby and Tom Keneally, Rosie Scott and others.

-  brilliant theatre at the opening at The Ensemble of ‘Rapture Blister Burn’

- catching up with my favourite actor Tim McGarry to talk about the I AM JACK USA tour for 2014

- Society of Women Writers’ at the State Library – lunch and collect a prize for ‘Ships in the Field’ – lovely

- Christmas celebrations at the CBCA lunch Northern Branch – catching up with children’s laureate Alison Lester and fabulous illustrator Sarah Davis

-Unleased Writers Festival in Sydney – loved speaking about the journey of writing with the audience

- post Unleashed Festival shared the book industry over dinner with publisher Paul Collins and author James Roy

- I’m the prize on e-bay for the UNLEASHED FESTIVAL!  Talented author Mo Johnson won me – well a mini mentorship!

- Caught up with Sue Meyer at the Francis Keevil Gallery to se Sue’s beautiful art

- lunching with the fabulous authors Meredith Costain & Louise Park for Christmas cheer

- dinner with my wonderful publisher Lisa Berryman from HarperCollins to share news and my new book JACK 4 – yet untitled!

- coffee with Jesse Blackadder – love her last book STAY the last dog in Antartica -at The Hughenden  who’s down in Sydney for a minute meeting her publishers

- my darling friend Kim’s 40th birthday

- the Australian Publisher Association party – sooo good and caught up with the HarperCollins team there.

- speaking at my old school Daceyville’s Creative Writing Festival – aaahhhhh – memories

- Books in Homes committee meeting selecting books for indigenous & disadvantaged kids – great charity

- launching Margaret Roc’s ‘Jellybean Goes to School’ at the Lindfield Learning Hub – lots of jellybeans and love Margaret

- the SCBWI BOOK FAIR at The Hughenden with some of our best ever authors like Sopgie Masson. kate Forsyth, Belinda Murrell, Deborah Abela and the lsit goes on.

- at the BOOK FAIR supporting ROOM TO READ www.roomtoread.org – loved seeing Jennie Orchard, Wendy Rapee, Cathy and Margaret and the Room to Read team.

- MC for Susan Wyndham’s talk on her book she edited and contributed to   ’My Mother. my Father’ (Allen & Unwin) with authors Margaret Rice and Gerard Windsor – such great wrietrs  at The Hughenden. Buy the book for Christmas.

Phew – that’s November!

The post Writers Go Crazy in November as XMAS starts %@# appeared first on Susanne Gervay's Blog.

Across the world on the 1st weekend in November, SCBWI kids’ authors & illustrators and specialist bookshops are giving the INSIDE STORY of our books.

When?  2nd November

Time: 2 p.m. at  Black Cat Bookshop Paddington(Sydney);

3 p.m. The Little Book Room Melbourne;

10 am Black Cat Bookshop Paddington (Brisbane).

The celebrity authors & illustrators are performing, signing, enjoying fun, food and company.

There’s champagne at the Children’s Bookshop Beecroft too.

Come along and see Sarah Davis, Serena Geddes, Pamel Rushby, Krista Bell, Hazel Edwards ….. heaps of authors & illustrators.

I’ll be the MC in Sydney

Angela Sunde is the MC  in Brisbane

Corinne Fenton is the MC in Melbourne.

Love to see you there.

The post INSIDE STORY: Authors & Illustrators, bookshops across the World appeared first on Susanne Gervay's Blog.

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 26^th 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

•  “Follow” Room to Read Australia on Twitter / (http://Twitter.com/RoomtoRead_Oz)

 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.

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!

See you there.

The post Book Tours, SCBWI, Room to Read – the wonderful life of a writer continues! appeared first on Susanne Gervay's Blog.

Innovative, extraordinary, fabulous, exciting – what am I talking about?

READING, READING, READING!!!!!!

The National Year of Reading 2012 has taken author ambassadors all over this beautiful country

- from the outback to the capital cities.

It has brought my much loved writing organisations together as they celebrate the power of reading to open the way to personal fulfillment, community, literacy and fun and love.

Partners include:-

SCBWI – www.scbwi.org

Room to Read – www.roomtoread.org

Monkey Baa Theatre – www.monkeybaa.com.au

Books in Homes – www.biha.org

and more

As one of the ambassadors, I have had the privilege of

-speaking to 1000s of kids, teachers, librarians, parents, grandparents

- bringing the message of NO to School bullying through ‘I Am Jack’ from the ocean to the desert

- sharing my refugee background through the joy of  finding home in ‘Ships in the Field’

Having so many adventures and I’m going to shed a tear on 12th November when I go to Canberra to farewell this extrordinary year of reading.

THANKYOU to the wonderful librarians of Australia for a remarkable year.

ww.love2read.org

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