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We’ve seen some wildly adventurous and hilarious new release picture books available for Father’s Day, now it’s time to celebrate with some more tender, but just as lively, titles that will melt your heart with their precious innocence and charm.   Daddy, You’re Awesome, Laine Mitchell (author), Renée Treml (illus.), Scholastic Australia, 2015. It’s the […]

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The buzz is mega with some of Australia and New Zealand’s most loved authors and illustrators as delegates – Sarah Davis, Libby Hathon, Stephen Axelson, Corinne Fenton, Claire Saxby, Mark Greenwood, Dianne Wolfer, Sally Murphy, James Foley, Meredith Costain ….. and more ….

and then there’s Frane Lessac fighting off crocodiles to get from fremantle WA to Sydney!!!!!

Look out for the brilliant creators of  Looking for Alibrandi and Jellico Road;  Diary of a Wombat;Star Girl and Boy Versus Beast

Guess who they are?

Melina Marchetta

Bruce Whatley

Louise Park

And there’s more – Australia’s best publishers and editors from most publishing houses

And there’s more – US Senior editor from Roaring Brook (Pan MacMillan) USA

And there’s more – some of the best of Australia and New Zealand’s illustrators in the Illustrator Showcase

And there’s more – launches, illustrator’s duel, Christmas Press limited edition prizes; and there more …. and then the SCBWI BAND – dinner party sing along with the fabulous Meredith Costain, James Foley on the guitar with Scott Chambers and Chris Cheng

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The post Gorge yourself on authors, illustrators, kids’ books industry ~ SCBWI Conference at The Hughenden appeared first on Susanne Gervay's Blog.

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COME & JOIN  SCBWI AUTHORS & ILLUSTRATORS

SATURDAY 2nd NOVEMBER 2013

The Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators SCBWI  in conjunction with specialist bookshops launch across the world

INSIDE STORY

Where acclaimed children’s authors and illustrators give insights into the inside story and support books & bookshops.

A FUN, FREE, FANTASTIC EVENT CELEBRATING BOOKS!

Authors & illustrators include Katherine Battersby & her famous BRAVE SQUISH RABBIT; Yvette Poshoglian & her adorable ELLA and OLIVIA; Tony Flowers & his cool dinosaurs of SAURUS STREET; Meredith Costain’s gorgeous MY FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL; Sherryl Clark & her moving RUNAWAYS, Sarah Davis’ TOUCAN – very, very, very brightly coloured – and so many more outstanding authors & illustrators… from Sarah Davis, Alexa Moses, Marjorie Crosby-Fairall, Kate Forsyth …. a festival of authors & illustrators!

When:  Saturday 2^nd November 2013

10 am -  at BLACK CAT BOOKS, Brisbane

179 Latrobe Paddington Qld 4064 Phone : (07) 3367 8777 : [email protected]

 at LITTLE BOOK ROOM, Melbourne

759 Nicholson St Carlton North Vic (03)9387 9837; [email protected]

2 pm – THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHOP, Sydney

6 Hannah St, Beecroft, ph(02)9481 881; [email protected]

The post SCBWI’s INSIDE STORY – authors, illustrators, bookshops & readers CELEBRATE on 2 Nov, 2013 appeared first on Susanne Gervay's Blog.

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It was exciting seeing the young intern who started working at the NSW Writers Centre emerge as the new Director of the Emerging Writers Festival in Melbourne.

Sam worked with me on the Kids and Young Adult Literature Festival – he was great.

The EWF is doing amazing things from the festival to the wellness retreat for writers – love to go there.

I joined authors Paul Collins and Meredith Costain and George Ivanoff.

Congratulations Sam Twyford-Moore!

This was a welcome party amidst the hectic schedule of talks and interviews for ‘Gracie and Josh’ partnering with Variety the children’s charity

 

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Ah, Christmas! I love this time of year — presents, tree decorating, food (especially Christmas Pudding), parties, family, friends and BOOKS!

One of my favourite things about Christmas is getting to just lie around and catch up on some reading. I thought that Christmas reading plans would make an interesting topic for a blog post. So I emailed three other authors and asked them to share their Christmas reading plans with us.

First up we have Meredith Costain. She lives in inner-city Melbourne with a menagerie of pets. Her books range from picture books through to novels and narrative non-fiction, and include A Year in Girl Hell, novelisations of the TV series Dance Academy, Bed Tails, Dog Squad and CBCA Honour Book Doodledum Dancing (illustrated by Pamela Allen). What’s she planning on reading this Christmas?

I’m looking forward to reading The Convent, by Maureen McCarthy. I went to the launch of the book, held in the Nuns’ Salon at the Abbotsford Convent, where the book is set. These days the gothic buildings and beautiful grounds are home to lots of creative ventures – writers, artists, cafes, craft markets, a classical music radio station – so it’s hard to imagine the misery many of the inhabitants (unmarried mothers banished to gruelling work in the convent’s commercial laundries) endured. Maureen is a wonderful storyteller, and has drawn extensively on her own family background for this book.

Having watched the movie Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy on the weekend (twice – it’s incredibly complex!) I’m also planning to read John Le Carré’s novel the movie was based on. I want to find out more background information on the characters and the workings of the ‘Circus’. I’ve written a couple of non-fiction books for kids about spies so this is of particular interest to me.

There’s also lots of fabulous YA fiction I’m hoping to catch up on – including books by Isobelle Carmody, John Green and Maggie Stiefvater. Roll on summer!

Next up we have YA author Lili Wilkinson. A popular speaker on the school circuit, Lili’s books include Scatterheart, Pink, Angelfish and A Pocketful of Eyes. Her latest book, Love-shy, is a rom-com about a high school journalist and a love-shy boy. Take it away, Lili…

Some of my favourite ever memories are curling up on the couch on Christmas Day after lunch with a pile of new books. This year, I’m planning to read Julia Lawrinson’s Losing It, because I’ve loved Julia’s previous books and this one promises to be no exception! I’m also looking forward to Kate Forsyth’s Bitter Greens, because everyone on Twitter is raving about it. I’m super excited about getting into Brian K Vaughn’s new graphic novel series, Saga, and am hoping I’ll find a copy of that under the tree on the 25th. And finally, I was planning to dive into Maureen McCarthy’s The Convent, but I just couldn’t wait, and have devoured the whole thing over the last few days!

Last, but by no means least, we have Dimity Powell. Dimity has just had her first book published — P.S. Who Stole Santa’s Mail?. Being a Christmas themed story, it’s the perfect book for Christmas-time reading. And a great stocking filler. But what is Dimity planning on reading?

What’s on my Christmas reading list? Perhaps a shorter answer would be what’s not on my Christmas reading list? Reading this holiday will include a whole swag of new and previously loved picture books (we always have a stack of them to read each day, usually after breakfast), including Alison Reynolds’s recent release, A Year With Marmalade, because my Miss 7 is infatuated with all things feline. I’d really like to get through the 8 or so books weighing my bedside table down too including; Hazel Edwards’ House Working – a guide to supposedly enable me to learn how to share the load of ‘everything’ with my family better. Ironically, I’m too busy ‘not sharing’ to have time to read it…

I love a good love laugh so; Michael Gerard Bauer’s Eric Vale Epic Fail will be high on the list, along with Benjamin Law’s The Family Law, which I’ve been saving. I dichotomously look forward to a potentially good read, but like to hoard it for a while; a bit like eating roast spuds last, because they’re my favourites. And just for balance; I intend to finish Never Say Die by Chris O’Brien and Alison Goodman’s saucy little thriller, A New Kind of Death. I’m also looking for a copy of Jean-Dominique Bauby’s The Diving Bell and the Butterfly; a book club read that I can’t wait to start. That should keep me going for a while, at least till next year.

Now, what about me? Well, to be perfectly honest, I’m not sure how much spare reading time I’m going to have this Christmas as I’m trying to finish off my new novel, Gamers’ Rebellion (the third book in the Gamers series). But if I do end up getting some time… I’ve been saving Eona by Alison Goodman. I read Eon a little while ago and LOVED it (I will get around to posting about it soon… promise). So I am very much looking forward to reading the sequel. I’ve also got a couple of Doctor Who books I want to read — Doctor Who: The Wheel of Ice by Stephen Baxter and The Diary of a Doctor Who Addict by Paul Magrs.

I hope you all have some great Christmas reading ahead.

Catch ya later,  George

PS. Follow me on Twitter

 

Check out my DVD blog, Viewing Clutter.

Latest Post: Blu-ray Review  — Arrietty: Special Edition

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Parramatta High School’s hall was filled with students, teachers and kids from other schools, authors – Paul Collins, Meredith Costain, Oliver Phommavanh, Toni Brisland, Wendy Fitzgerald, Lindy Batchelor, Wendy Orr.

Judith Ridge, recognised as one of Australia’s leading authorities on youth literature, wrote the foreward for ‘Trust me Too’ – 58 reasons to celebrate reading by some of Australia’s best loved authors and illustrators.

Wendy Orr read from her moving story ‘The Snake Singer’

Meredith Costain read her wonderful poem ‘Shoefitti’ illustrated by Grant Gittus.

It includes an Obernewtyn novelette by the interntaional best selling fantasy author Isobelle Carmody.

Everyone can dip into this anthology and discover laughs, tears, meaning, fantasy, imagination and more.

A National Year of Reading 2012 event.

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My friends piled into Readings Bookstore for the launch of ALIEN SHORES  - authors Jen McVeity, Hazel Edwards, Meredith Costain, Paul Collins, Rose Inserra, illustrator Marjory Gardner. Love them.

Julian Burnside QC gave a moving speech to launch ‘Alien Shores’ edited by Sharon Rundle and Meenakshi Bharat.  I felt overwhelmed by Julian’s description of a refugee who converted to Christianity and would have been stoned brutally if forced back to Iran.

Arnold Zable read a segment from his story in ‘Alien Shores’.

Sharon Rundle and I spoke on ABC Radio National with the insightful Michael Cathcart about ‘Alien Shores’.

Michael Cathcart also talked about my personal story in ‘Ships in the Field’ illustrated by Anna Pigantaro and how that related to ‘Alien Shores’.

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Watch out for the announcement in the next few weeks.

Check out the SCBWI Australia and new Zealand facebook pagewebsite.

It’s a first come first served basis – so when it opens you need to book quickly as it’s a small intimate conference Australia wide and new Zealand.

Some tid bits:-

Jill Corcoran literary agent from the Herman Agency New Yorkmaximum of 100 delegates.

Major Australian publishers have come on board including Lisa Berryman HarperCollins, Laura Harris Penguin, Zoe Walton Random House, Sarah Foster Walker Books …..

There are wonderful authors and illustrators coming including Sally Murphy, France Lessac, Pamela Rushby, Meredith Costain, Hazel Edwards …. have a great time with the children’s writing community …. more news coming soon.

 

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It’s going to be a fabulous day with authors, from award winning to best sellers author – everything from books for boys to No to bullying to fantasy to reading for the future.

Keeping Books Alive day is supporting Young Australian Art & Writers as well with awards at the dinner.

There’re books signings, prizes, meet and greet with authors, storytelling and dinner with some of Australia’s loved authors – Gabrielle Wang, Dianne Bates, Michael Salmon, Phil Kettle, Meredith Costain, Paul Collins, Michael Panckridge …. and it’s intimate and fabulous.

It’s subsidized for the day at $110 which includes dinner, talks, cocktails and canapes in the beautiful RACV Melbourne. Near the railway station.

I’m in Melbourne to receive the Australian Family Therapists Award for ‘Always Jack’ and will be speaking on a panel at 10.45 at the Keeping Books ALIVE Conference.

Presented by the Australian Children’s Literary Board.

Booking: Rob Leonard [email protected]

ph: 03 5282 8950

Say hello to me if you can make it.

Love to see you there. 

Susanne

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The night is balmy. There’s excitement at new books. Talented illustrators and authors gather over dinner at The Hughenden Hotel, Woollahra. It’s the first planning meeting for the Inetrnational SCBWI Conference next year.

Illustrators there included Andrea Edmunds, Jill Carter-Hansen, Lesley Vamos, Sarah Davis, authors Chris Cheng, Susanne Gervay, Margaret Roc, Deborah Abela, Oliver Phommavanh …… and the singing librarian Claire Stuckey from Gosford Library.

Plans include:-

Illustrator’s exhibition

Australian publishers

USA literary agent

the Book Ends – the fabulous band of Meredith Costain, Chris Cheng and Mark Wilson

and much more. 

 

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The ghost adventure is dark, eerie in the Woodland 1880s mansion at Ipswich Festival.

Leigh Hobbs creator of the famous and fractious ‘OLD TOM’ was being ‘scary’ with fabulous author Meredith Costain hamming it up as his doppler behind him.

General Macarthur stayed at Woodlands and his red leather chair and desk dominates an upstairs room. So of course the guys all sat in the General’s chair. Then the girls go into the act.

Highlights:-

Hanging out at the pool table with all the writers & illustrators – author Sue Whiting and illustrator Anne Spudvilas were hilarious at our game of chance and dice – I rolled a full 5 dice!!!!!!

400 hundred kids packed into the performance of  ‘I Am Jack’ held spellbound -Lowood, Silkstone, Bethany, Bundamba, Toogoolawah, Brassall, Kentville, Lockrose schools were FABULOUS!

Morning walk with illustrator and author mark Wilson, illustrators Anne Spudvilas and Leigh Hobbs through the mist and field.

LOVE the authors and illustrators there – Deborah Abela, Brian Faulkiner, Sally Rippin, Gabrielle Wang, Gus Gordon, Lucia Mascuillo, Mark Wilson, Tristan Bancks, Sheryl Gwyther, Angela Sunde and ……

Thankyou to Festival Director Jenny Stubbs.

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And now for the desks of Meredith Costain. She is another creator who likes to spread out. One desk just isn't enough! Of course Meredith isn't in this snap of her Creating Space ... but her companions are.

My study isn’t the tidiest of places but it has everything in it I need to write.


I work at two old second-hand desks that have been joined together so I can spread my stuff out comfortably across them. There are shelves full of notebooks and folders that contain ideas, drafts and research material (I write both fiction and non-fiction) and several bookcases full of – books! Some of the props I use for school visits (such as the dogs and cat from Bed Tails) live on top of my filing cabinet and others wait quietly in cupboards, ready to spring into action.

I also have another old leather-topped table I’ve had since I was a student, which is great for storing ‘overflow’. My (real!) cat Harriet often sleeps and dreams on top of this and my dogs Jack and Molly in a basket underneath. Dogs just like to be with you, whatever you’re doing.

and I couldn't not add this photo that Meredith sent. Companions are very very important.


Meredith's latest titles are:
My Life in the Wild: Cheetah
My Life in the Wild: Penguin

Dance Academy: Tara – Learning to Fly

Recent books:
Bed Tails,
Rosie and Ned and the Creepy Cave,
A Year in Girl Hell

And don't forget ot see Meredith's website.

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The Australia Council for the Arts got it right by supporting this  innovative collection of stories and illustrations that are scary, fun, moving, questioning

- and donated by some of Australia’s most loved creators to help kids. All proceeds from the sales go to Australian kids to help them when they need mentoring and support.

SHORT & SCARY                                  

edited by Karen Tayleur

published by Black Dog Books

isbn 9781 7420 31330

Here are some beginnings:-

JARED LOVES Karyn.   The wind howled through the trees, as Jared carved a heart around the words……. George Ivanoff

Since time began the Shivers, lurking. Hide behind the human back  …. Sally Odgers

ON A DAY of wild storm, a strange bird …. Gabrielle Wang

YOU’D BETTER take a look/ ‘Cos you don’t know who they took  …… Meredith Costain illustrated by Marc McBride

THE THREE friends had been arguing the whole way home.  …. Aleesah Darlison

Here’s my story -LUNAR ROSE – ( I love that title).

‘I don’t want a birthday party this year ….. ThIRTEEN is the big one’.

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When talented author Meredith Costain, said that she and Paul Collins publisher for the dynamic new publishing company Ford Street were coming to Sydney and wanted to catch up with some of the creative community at The Hughenden - it took only a couple of emails and everyone showed up.

Ford Street Publishing is dynamic, innovative and has some of Australia’s best authors - Alyssa Brugman, James Roy, David Miller, Dianne Bates and of course Paul who is a best selling fantasy author.

www.fordstreetpublishing.com

I’m off to the LA SCBWI Conference in a few days and have to say good bye for August to my Oz mates, but I’ll be home soon.

Blond bombshells authors Meredith Costain, Felicity Pulman, Jeni Mawter, Vashti Farrer

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