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The Northern branch of the Children’s Book Council is so joyous with lots of authors, librarians, readers at the Christmas.

The brilliant illustrator Kim Gamble created a Tashi artwork while Anna Feinberg read out their newest Tashi to be published next year.

Sarah Davis’  ’Sounds Spooky’ is zooming ahead with major sales. Karen Robertson has won the top position for her apps – Treasure Kai. Oliver Phommavanh has two new books coming out with Penguin in 2012. Wendy Blaxland’s Cooking series with MacMillan is cooking up a storm – sorry for my pathetic joke.

Jan Latta is back from yet another adventure crossing the globe taking wildlife photos for her Real life series of books – she’s off to China in February of course.

Jill Bruce was interviewed by Laurine Croasdale about her role as NSW judge of the CBC awards.

Jenny hale, Kate Forsyth, Lindy Batchelor, Jill Bruce, Serena Geddes, Aleesah Darlinson  … and lots of other authors and illustrators there.

So many success stories.

Wendy Fitzgerald is the new President of the CBCA Northern Branch Sydney

Celebrations at The NSW Writers Centre for the BIG birthdays of award winning and best selling illustrator Sarah Davis and her husband mathematician Dave were filled with music lead by Sarah’s muso brother and a band of wild and woolly musicians.

Dave sang a wonderful love song to Sarah …… delicious. Every woman’s dream.  

The love, memories, friendship washed over and into us as Australian children’s authors and illustrators celebrated 15 years of The Children’s Writers and Illustrators’ Network at The Hughenden Woollahra Sydney.

The Literature Live! team of illustrator Nina Rycroft and authors Aleesah Darlinson, Jeni Mawter, Laurine Croasdale and I, flew into Dubbo’s Connections Studio and we beamed out to hundreds of kids and teachers across NSW.

Dugald Saunders, ABC radio personality was a funny, warm and skilled compere of the show and we all had FUN!!!!!!

Stars of the show were:-

‘Ballroom Bonanza’ and ‘Boom-Bah’ award winning picture books by Nina Rycroft

Jeni Mawter’s hilarious ‘babies’ who were part of her picture book ‘Snuggle

Alessah Darlinson’s love of animals and her new picture book ‘Warambi’ abotu the minature bat.

Laurine Croadsale Penguin Chomps ‘iHarry’

and of course my JACK books – especially Nanna’s big, bargain, glow in the dark purple underpants!!!!

The Children’s and Young Adult Literature Festival at the NSW Writers Centre is different to other festivals in that the writing community, sharing, friendship, support of the creativity of authors and creators is at the heart of the festival.

The NSW Writers Centre located in the heritage Gary Owen House in the Parklands of Callan Park grounds give a feel of a fair as writers gather, share conversation and food, applaud the launch of a book, craft and the life of publishing children’s and young adult literature.

As the Chair of the Board of the NSW Writers Centre I opened the festival and was embraced by the warmth of the audience, personal interaction, welcome of novice to well published authors, publishers who generously donated their time, screen writers, playwrights, digital writers ….

There was a wealth of talent and commitment to youth creativity in a home of writers.

Loved it – thankyou to all the participants and especially to:-

Authors:-

Lisa Forrest, Sue Whiting, Dianne Bates, Kate Forsyth, Belinda Murrell, Moya Simons, Jacqueline Harvey, Sophie Masson, Aleesah Darlinson, Jeni Mawter, Michael Parker, Karen Robertson, Duncan Ball William Kostakis

Publishers/Agents/Reviewers:-

Lisa Berryman HarperCollins, Zoe Walton Random House, Brian Cook Literary Agent; Angie Schiavonne Symdey Morning herald Literary reviewer; Palmer-Higgs Publishing; Joel Blacklock Boomerang Books.

Screen writers:-

Gina Roncoli, Simon Hopkinson, Kym Goldsworthy, Samantha Strauss

Theatre:-

Monkey Baa Theatre for Young People and Director Eva Di Cesare.

This Festival supports PEN and PEN’s Empty Chair. This chair was empty, recognising a writer who is persecuted for their work.

At the Festival, the empty chair was for LIU XIA and SUPPORTERS oF Nobel Prize winner LIU XIAOBO 2010.  Since the Nobel Committee announced its decision in October 2010, Liu’s wife, Liu Xia, a photographer and poet, has been held under de facto house arrest by Chinese authorities.

Lisa Forrest the multi talented inspirational children’s author, media personality, actor, Olympian and Commonwealth gold medallist and a Mum, was a fantastic keynote to a full house.

Some highlights:-

Monkey Baa Theatre’s Eva diCesare, author Duncan Ball and HarperCollins publisher Lisa Berryman were in conversation about the new play Emily Eyefinger to be performed at Seymour Centre Sydney

Jeni Mawter’s launch of The Snugglebump Jump with heaps of cup cakes and a hilarious demonstration of Michael Parker author giving birth to a baby boy – well, baby doll.

Bestselling authors – Aleesah Darlinson, Belinda Murrell, Kate Forsyth, Moya Simons, Jacqueline Harvey, Sophie Masson, William Kostakis, Karen Robertson and more.

Kids’ TV with fabulous script writers; social media and insights into independent publishing as well as mainstream.

Marnie and the ‘girls’ from her book club arrived at The Hughenden for lunch.

They travelled across Sydney from their usual haunt at Beecroft Bookshop.

Paul MacDonald the owner and event coordinator for Beecroft Books runs fabulous events – everyone from multi award winning author Jacke French to Shan Tan to new authors like Aleesah Darlinson and illustrators Sarah Davis. He did a wonderful window display of ‘Always Jack’ – thankyou Paul.

Marnie and the Club came to the East this time. We spoke about ‘Always Jack’ and seeing life as warm, funny, loving and safe to talk about cancer.

I love their talk about books, life and their friendship across ages.  

The fabulous team of Aleesah Darlinson, Jeni Mawter, Laurine Croasdale, Serena Geddes, Nina Rycroft, Sue Walker and me, were joined by illustrator and Play School Star Nina Matthews to do our first professional e-video conferencing with terrific schools from around NSW from the country to the city  with the technical expertise of NSW Education educators – Michelle Lindsay and Bonnie Tratt.                 

                       Huge thankyou to Michelle & Bonnie.

Literature Live takes authors and illustrators through video conferencing to schools across Australia.

It’s been a huge learning curve, but fantastic.

Nina Rycroft designed the Literature Live logo, our t-shirts and all the design work. So apart from being a fantastic illustrator, Nina is a great designer.

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday to you

Loathing Lola is terrific

And so -oh are you!

Note the signed 21st bear – Illustrator Penny Azar signed with her own illustrated bear. 

Special news – Sue Walker has already received a 5 star review  of her ‘Arnie Avery’ published by Walker Books. I’m launching it at the Kids and Young Adult Literature Festival, NSW Writers Centre on 3rd July.  I read the manuscript at its early stage, so it’s especially wonderful.

Network  doubled up with the LITERATURE ALIVE team of Nina Rycroft, Aleesah Darlinson, Laurine Croasdale, Jeni Mawter,Sue Walker and me.

We’re going LIVE on July 22nd with our Literature Festival speaking to schools around the country via the TV screen.

Talented illustrator Nina Rycroft created the Literature Live Logo.

 There was so much great news at the Sydney Kids Writers & Illustrators Network at The Hughenden.

There are lots of launches, festivals, conferences, CBC event and new books coming out in Oz or travelling the world. Tristan Bancks  Mac Slater Cool Hunter has gone to the USA and the cover looks fantastic. More sequels are coming.

Kate Forsyth’s Wildkin’s Curse and sister Belinda Murrell’s The Ruby Talisman are featuring in lots of festivals – Sydney Writers Festival, Kids and YA Literature festival at the NSW Writers Centre and much more.

Oliver Phommavanh’s ‘Thai Riffic’ is launching at Gleebooks in June. Watch out for it.

Sue Walker’s ‘Arnie Avery’ (Walker Books) which got a 5 star review in Australian Bookseller and Author is being launched at the NSW Writer’s Centre Kids and Young Adult Literature Festival 3rd July. She showed an advance copy – it’s so good. 

My Always Jack to be published by HarperCollins is due for release in October. It’s a book dear to my heart about making it OK for kids to talk.  Here’s the draft cover.

There’re new books from Aleesah Darlinson, Dawn Hort, Stephen Measday’s ‘Send Simon Savage’ is selling through the roof…. lots of good stuff is happening.