‘Once Upon A Christmas’ dedicated to:-
SANTA CLAUS!
Launched in the heritage courtyard of Balmain Library with community, kids, parents, fabulous librarians on a balmy Sydney night.
Compiled and edited by Beattie Alvarez who did a brilliant job – it contains the funny, joyous, quirky stories, poems, snippets, illustrations of some the best known authors and illustrators about Christmas:-
Ursula Dubosarsky, Libby Hathorn, Duncan Ball, Kate Forsyth, Sally Rippin, Michael Pryor, Kim Gamble, Adele Geras, Pamela Freeman, Stephen Axelson ……my small anecdote ‘Grandma’s Christmas’ remembers my children’s Grandma and Grandpa … I can’t wait to give it to my family at Christmas.
Melina Marchetta joined in with her daughter
‘Once Upon A Christmas’ is the brainchild of the multi-award winning author Sophie Masson and Christmas Press and the Christmas Press team – Beattie Alvarez, gifted illustrator David Allen and Fiona McDonald.
Fabulous authors Jesse Blackadder and M
elina Marchetta came along to cheer on the launch.
Room to Read Writer Ambassadors were there spreading the word about literacy for the kids of Asia and Africa.
Who sets up a new publishing house in this crazy publishing climate? Sophie Masson 
of course. With its first title last year, it’s already selling out.
Called Christmas Press
A small press with big ideas..
Born in the early months of 2013, Christmas Press specialises in beautiful picture books for children, featuring traditional tales–folk tales, fairy tales, legends, myths–retold by well-known authors and stunningly illustrated in classic styles that reflect the cultures the stories come from. We also publish special anthologies, full of wonderful stories, poems, memoirs and illustrations, with the first of these, Once Upon A Christmas, just released now for Christmas!
The post Who’s Coming down the Chimney? Santa Claus! appeared first on Susanne Gervay's Blog.
Duncan Ball was a fabulous MC with hundreds of kids, 40 schools, the best of Australian kids and young adult authors and illustrators at the annual Bookfeast in Sydney’s West.
The Q & A Session was fun with witty comments by:-
Andy Griffiths author of ‘The Day My Bum Went Psycho’
John Heffernan author of “Charlie Carter” series
Deborah Abela,of Max Remy Super Spy fame
Richard Newsome, journalist and author of ‘the Billionaire’s Curse’
John Flanagan of Ranger’s Apprentice series.
It was a feast of authors and illustrators – Oliver Phommavanh, Moya Simons, Anna Feinberg, Belinda Murrell, William Kostakis, Sadami konchi, Jacqueline Harvey, Gabrielle Lord of Conspiracy 365 success and more, more, more …..
With more than 30 schools Villawood North to Haberfield – and the kids were fantastic. 
Sydney’s awash with books, film and festival – such a fabulous city.
As the Director of the Kids & Young Adult Literature Festival at NSW Writers Centre, I’m proud to announce:-
The PITCH sessions – double opportunity – to pitch your work to publishers.
Publishers – Zoe Walton Random House, Lisa Berryman HarperCollins, Sue Whiting Walker Books ….
Film script writers – from Nickelodeum, ABC ….
Best selling Kids’ authors – Kate Forsyth~ fantasy, Duncan Ball ~humour, Moya Simons ~ real life
Social Media & beyond – William Kostakis ~blogger/author, Literature Live!~interactive TV to the world
Theatre – adaptation of books with Monkey Baa Theatre for Young People
Lisa Forrest - actor, author, emcee, TV and radio presenter, interviewer, mother, Olympian launching festival
The Kids & YA Literature Festival is intimate, real, connecting audience and speakers with inside information on publishing, craft, opportunities ~ getting into the creative life.
Limited numbers
Friendly social networking venue
Onsite free parking in the parklands of Callan Park Rozelle (near Balmain)
Supporting Room to Read – bringing literacy to the kids of the developing world
Jenny Hale,William Kostakis,Kate Forsyth,Susanne Gervay
Bookfeast was abuzz with balloons, kids, teachers and the cream of Australian children’s authors and illustrators.
Haberfield school librarian, Michael Fraser’s annual event is unique in uniting the community of Australian children’s authors and illustrators with their audiences in a celebration of literature and reading.
Keynote speakers were:-
Richard Harland award winning and best selling fantasy author
Sue Murray Australia’s leading youth playwright
Sarah Davis - awarded best new young illustrator by the CBCA for ‘Mending Lucille’
Duncan Ball, Australia’s much loved and multi award winning author of Selby the Talking Dog and Emily Eyefinger.
It was a FEAST of talent including
Gus Gordon illustrator - look out for brilliant picture book WENDY
William Kostakis author - YA novel ‘Loathing Lola’
Moya Simons author - series ‘Walk Right In Detective Agency’
Emma Quay illustrator - adorable picture book ‘Bear and Chook’
Sue Whiting author - kids favourite the Firefighters illustrated by Donna Rawlings
Kate Forsyth world wide fantasy author - brilliant series Chain of Charms
Deb Abela author delights with - Max Remy Super Spy
Jenny Hale and her debut fantasy series JATTA which is already a best seller
Chris Cheng editor of a new Poetry anthology that is receiving acclaim
and many more - Felicity Pulman, Vashti Farrer,David Mulligan,Libby Hathorn,Alan Baille,Patricia Bernard,Vicky Morrison ….
It’s truly a FEAST
Sue Whiting and Sarah Davis' picture book 'Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy'
Kate Forsyth,Vicky Morrison, Deborah Abela
A quick 4 minute sketch while at Starbucks. I like the heaviness and darkness of the line so I left the sketch as is. For a larger image click here.
While in a business meeting offsite I noticed the decorating style of the room I was in and fell in love with the wall lighting fixtures and thought they would be perfect in one of the new rooms in our home so I quickly did a sketch on the hotel's signature paper they supplied for the meeting. Don't you just love it? And I have the perfect spot for it.
Ok, so your thinking I should have been paying more attention in the meeting? I was! I actually have created some of my best illustrations while watching a movie or listening to a program or music. It's part of my multi-tasking personality. And, the CEO was watching me sketch and seemed to like the sketch too when I showed it to him.
