How to use this Page

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.

SCBWI’s International Conference 13-16th July has the hip band – watch out for drummer award winning picture book author Mark Greenwood on the drums.

Mark’s past life was a drummer with the top bands in the world!

James Foley award winning illustrator who’s on vocals.

Scott Chambers scientist and writer on guitar.

Meredith Costain fabulous author, vocalist on the key boards.

The post SCBWI Big Band kids’ authors, illustrators- gearing up for SCBWI Conference at The Hughenden appeared first on Susanne Gervay's Blog.

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.

Greg Riley, the psychic who won THE ONE and who always stays at The Hughenden was on a mission to discover The Hughenden stories.

He found Dr Harrison Quaife who brought the first x-ray to the colony  and was a founding father of the British Medical Association and Astronomical Association in Australia.

The Morning Show on Channel 7 was filming Greg and the Australian Paranormal Phenomenon Investigator team as they investigated.

Fred (as the cheeky media personality Todd McKenny called him – Todd’s always a joker) – was much loved, like his father Barzillai Quaife – Australia’s first philosopher.

Fred and Barzillai both lived on Queen Street Woollahra in Sydney and influenced what Australia would become.

Barzillai Quaife wrote:-

‘Men may be foreigners but they are

men. They may be uncivilised but they

are yet men. They may be savages

but they still are men. One nation may

not oppress another. The natural rights

of man are universally the same ….” Barzillai Quaife 1872

Check out Channel 7 youtube to see it live:-  http://yhoo.it/IUpZT7 

The Hughenden supports Room to Read www.roomtoread.org; Books in Homes Australia www.biha.org; Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators SCBWI,The national Year of Reading 2012

Dmitry Kuznichenko layers his art with European culture and Australian sensibility in his evocative work. He joined the SCBWI Christmas party to connect with children’s book writers and illustrators.

It was great to see co RA SCBWI author Christopher Cheng with authors Wendy Blaxland, Jan Latta, Jenny Blackford and Frances Plumpton literary agent and head of New Zealand chapter of SCBWI.

I gave a preview to everyone of my first picture book ‘Ships in The Field’ illustrated by Anna Pignataro, to be released Feb 2012.

Courtney Severini, jazz singer and pianist entertained everyone and it was a wonderful celebratation of the end of the year.

I love Melissa Egan’s work which captures the spirit of the childhood in amazing magical lyrical sophisticated ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and Spanish influenced works.

There’s this feeling of the uniqueness of childhood and narrative with the sophistication of adult foibles in stunning works by this acclaimed award winning artist.

I’ve known Melissa for many years as she stays at The Hughenden Woollahra and we’ve been known to party late into the night. She’s vivacious and fabulous and I may take up her offer of staying with her in Queensland when I’m there to launch my first picture book Ships in the Field at the Somerset Celebration of Literature next year.

Melissa’s exhibition was opened by artist Christabel Blackman.

Melissa exhibiton was inspired from her Spanish sojorn with the Blackmans.  Her artwork is encouraged by Charles Blackman who was there.

Charles Balckman was born 1928, and is one of the best known Australian artists still living today, especially for the famous Schoolgirl and Alice in Wonderland series of the 1950s. He was a member of the Antipodeans, a group of Melbourne painters that also included Arthur Boyd, David Boyd, John Brack. Robert Dickerson, John Perceval and Clifton Pugh.

Varuna is nestled in the Blue Mountains not far from Sydney – a mountain retreat for writers throughout Australia and the world.

My fellowship there early in my career was special – a beautiful old home with fellow authors, good food, a crackling fire.

There’s a wealth of fellowships, events, manuscript assessment opportunities, private writing retreats and friendship at Varuna -

The Alumni Evening at The Hughenden, hosted by the Director of Varuna, Liz Bastian, was warm and welcoming where writers shared writing and personal news and extended the Varuna spirit into community.

It was a beautiful night with jazz singer Courtney Severini on the baby grand.

There was a special treat with an impromptu performance of jazzaVienne – with the delicious voices of Charito, Suzanna Wellink and Tricia Evy  - what a night.

LOVE VARUNA – www.varuna.com.au

LOVE jazzaVienne – www.jazzaviennesydney.com.au

What has Literature Live! and dinosaurs in common?

It’s the Australian Museum where Nina Rycroft talented Literature Live! illustrator was investigating dinosaurs for her new project – a picture book written by Jackie French which she is illustrating for HarperCollins.

It’s Laurine Croasdale, Jeni Mawter and me – getting high tech. We’re connecting to schools across NSW about our books, writing and reaching kids everywhere.

Aleesah Darlinson out 5th Literature Live! member is launching her book Totally Twins – the 3rd in the series, so couldn’t be there this time.  It’s a terrific series published by New Frontier!

Thankyou to the terrific Karen Player from the Australian Museum who has welcomed Literature Live! and connecting schools through digital excursions.

We’ll be broadcasting from the Australian Museum in October, through Connections NSW Education Department studios in Dubbo which is great fun.

Meanwhile the fabulous Frane Lessac and Mark Greenwood are in Sydney for a writer/illustrator tour – they’re brilliant illustrator-writer team and my great friends.  We’re on a similar writing tour and cross paths from Fairfiled Public School to Wahroonga Public School, the Bush School to Penrith School.

We had a delicious lunch at t

Wandering through the Reading Room exhibiting children’s illustrations  by wonderful artists such as Cathy Wilcox, Sarah Davis, Shaun Tan, Donna Rawlings, Nina Rycroft, the Children’s Book Council gathered in the warm candle-lit sun lounge of The Hughenden.

Everyone was waiting for Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir, Governor of NSW and patron of the Children’s Book Council.

Carol Keeble Pesident of the CBCA (NSW), Maurice Saxby a father of Australian children’s literature and Margaret Hamilton  former President of the Children’s Book Council, the CBCA Foundation and a leading literary figure in Australia welcomed the Governor.

It was a wonderful evening of fine food, the company of authors and the children’s literary community.

Some of the authors included J.C. Burke, Christopher Cheng, Sue Whiting, Mary Small, Jill Bruce, Margaret Roc joining the President of the CBCA NSW and supporters to discuss books, listen to an address by Jill Bruce the new judge of the CBCA Awards and Wendy Smith the outgoing judge.

Fabulous night with everyone lingering on to share good company, food and celebrate children’s books.

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

 I am in awe of the talents of the illustrators at LitFest:-

Alison Lester’s beautiful illustrations are reknowned. My favourite is always – ‘Are We There Yet?’

Frane Lessac – my wild child buddy’s naive artwork brightens my day with vibant colours, symbolism and the pleasure of  delving into the illustrations – there is so much there to uncover.

Mike Spoor - I have been looking for Mike Spoor for a decade. He lives in the UK where he is a successful illustrator. Exciting news is that he is on tour in Australia now and one of his stops is speaking at All Saints Litfest Perth.  He’s also the illustrator of 2 of the talented Mark Carthew’s picture books.

Why have I been looking for Mike Spoor?

Well, his absolutely endearing illustration of  WATCH DUCK written by Joan Dalgleish has been on exhibition for 10 years at The Hughenden The Reading Room, in Woollahra Sydney.

I feel like the duck. I look like the duck. I love the duck.

Mike has promised to illustrate me another duck. I am soooo….. excited.

LOVED catching up with author friends from everywhere. Some favourite moments:-

Deborah Abela and Tony Park joking around – adventure African ex-soldier author meets one of my favourite authors Deb Abela

Tristan Bancks was hilarious on the Books for Boys panel except - yuk to his ‘scab’ story!

Maggie Hamilton really makes a difference empowering boys (and girls) – love beautiful Maggie – and when will she give me Reiki again? Maggie has magic healing hands.

Andrew Daddo’s story of writing his 1st book had everyone in stitches.

Dinner at the Hughenden with fabulous award winning Lucy Christopher for his first book – international best seller ‘Stolen’.

Libby Hathorn - so funny dining at the Hughenden when the next table whispers – ‘Is that Libby Hathorn? We named a class at Australia Street Public School Newtown after her!’ The Mum was thrilled to see Libby.  She’s a brilliant author.

So good to catch up with Tim Pegler from Melbourne – cutting edge YA novellist.

Special to chat to Isabelle Carmody  who has flown in from Prague for the festival. She says she’ll be back in Australia in a couple of years.

Newington Literature festival is raising funds for Room to Read – bringing literature to the kids of the developing world.

As an author ambassador for Room to Read, I think Newington is fantastic.

Thankyou to Sean Corcoran Head of English for supporting Room to Read a Newington College charity and to Newington College for embracing Room to Read!

The buzz of the festival is brilliant – kids, teachers and dynamic authors.

A huge banner welcomes everyone to Newington College in inner city Sydney.

Chris the Newington College bus driver arrives at The Hughenden Woollahra to collect the authors.

Hard to get their attention as everyone is catching up on news – best selling adventure writer Simon Higgins is running late with his samurai sword - he’s a master at it.  International fantasy author  Isabelle Carmody is jet lagged as she flies in from Prague.  Barry Jonsberg is just having a good time – must be the Darwin lay back atmospher. He’s just flown in from Darwin of course.

The bus rocks into Newington and other authors join us – Duncan Ball, William Kostakis, Sue Murray, Max Barry ….. and many more.. welcomed by Festival Coordinator Sue Richer.

Congratulations Chris Cheng for being elected onto the SCBWI Board.

On the board are wonderful US publishers like Bonnie Bader and Arthur Levine and  authors like Ellen Hopkins New York best selling YA writer and Linda Sue Park a Newbery Award winner.

Linda Sue just emailed me that her new book is being published in Australia by UQP -  A Long Walk to Water.

It is the first of Linda Sue’s books to be published in Australia. It is based on the life of a Sudanese refugee and a friend of linda Sue

Chris and I are co RAs (head) of SCBWI Australia & New Zealand and the board election is an acknowledgement of the significane of our region in children’s writing.

!

Talented Serena Geddes dropped into The Hughenden for a cup of tea. She also gave a delightful illustration of Aleesah Darlison and her ‘Totally Twins’ series published by new Frontier – to be hung in the Exhibition in the Reading Room of The Hughenden.

Totally Twins is a humorous series about identical twins, Persephone (she’s the sensible one) and Portia (she’s the messy one) Pinchgut.