While the cat's away, the mice will play

It's been a crazy, busy, fun week. I'm a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators and the Gold Coast rep of the Queensland team. Last Sunday, with our Assistant Regional Advisor, Sheryl Gwyther, burrowed away within the leafy Adelaide suburb of Norwood for four weeks during her May Gibbs Children's Literature Trust CTR Fellowship, twenty-five SCBWI members gathered in the lush Gold Coast hinterland (my place) for an afternoon of sweet tea, home-made cakes, and enthusiastic conversation.

Our special guest and SCBWI Regional Advisor, Susanne Gervay AM, regaled us with her up-to-the-minute industry news and insider tips – priceless!

SCBWI members' books

Susanne was in Gold Coast city for the children's theatre show, I Am Jack – based on her book of the same name – at the Arts Centre Gold Coast.

Following sold-out shows all week, a devoted number of SCBWI members and teacher-librarians attended Susanne's inspiring pre-show talk on Thursday evening.

Families fill the theatre

Whoops, illustrator Lucia Masciullo and I are caught in the act of munching on popcorn during the I Am Jack theatre show.

photo: Dimity Powell

The set

Susanne Gervay is swarmed by mini fans after the show.

And now Lucia and I think we can fly...

Photo: Susanne Gervay

Gympie Literary Awards Judging

After a crazy busy weekend of Snap Magic Launches and the beginning of the blog tour, I'm now off to the Gympie Region Literary Awards Evening, followed by a workshop with the award entrants the next day.

To read another writer's unpublished work is indeed a privilege, and to judge this work is a responsibility not to be taken lightly. The six categories of 2014's Gympie Region Literary Awards – (Adult and Children's) Short Story, Poetry and Picture Book, each with their own skill sets, literary elements and nuances, required a broad range of experience and knowledge as a judge.

Following guidelines, meeting a deadline and sending off a manuscript to an unknown reader can be a daunting experience. But it is the first step forwards as a writer - putting your work out there.

I was particularly impressed with the Children's Short Story category. The strength and depth of the themes covered belied the age of the writers. 

I'm very much looking forward to meeting the writers at the awards night and workshop.

Inside Story Success!

Everything you might hope for when organising a big event was realised at the inaugural celebration of SCBWI's Inside Story in Brisbane on Saturday, 2^nd November. 

An initiative of The Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Inside Story - where children's author and illustrators share the 'inside story' of their books - took place on the one weekend in 12 cities internationally.

Convenor and MC for the day, Angela Sunde (me) at Black Cat Books

Held within the tumbling, tropical gardens of Black Cat Books in leafy Paddington, Brisbane, the springtime sunshine dappled us with welcoming warmth, surpassed only by the charm and grace of our host, owner of Black Cat Books, Stephanie Hogan and her staff.

Audience arriving

BlackCat Books is a ‘home away from home’ for many Queensland children’s authors, who often pop in to pick up a latest release, launch their own books or support a fellow author. It’s here that you find writers and readers sitting at tables in the café and chatting over a second or third cuppa.

 

Dimity Powell, Katherine Battersby and (myself) Angela Sunde with the Inside Story Books Table
Photo courtesy of Dimity Powell

Following repeated radio coverage of the event (including a live interview), writers, readers, parents and children collected together to celebrate. A comfortable crowd of about 50 gathered on the terraces, enthusiastic to hear the ‘behind the scenes’ secrets of our 14 featured SCBWI author/illustrators’ most recently published books.

Authors Dimity Powell, Michelle Worthington, Samantha Wheeler and (myself)
Photo courtesy of Dimity Powell

As convenor and MC of the Brisbane Inside Story event I welcomed everyone on behalf of The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (including a note of welcome from Queensland ARA, Sheryl Gwyther, who is presently in the USA).

A full house

Setting a quick pace with my own 'inside story', I then introduced each of the other author/illustrators with a short recount of their awards and achievements followed by a personal anecdote. The professionalism and creativity of each author/illustrator’s three minute talk made for an entertaining session, which zipped past.

A SCBWI welcome
Photo courtesy of Chris Bongers

There were ‘inside stories’ of silly snakes, koalas in danger, surprise endings, missing letterboxes, tumbling chairs, hospital merry-go-rounds and scary chickens. It was a feast for the imagination.

 

Stephen Axelsen shares his 'inside story'
Photo courtesy of Dimity Powell

Candice Lemon-Scott shares her 'inside story'
Photo courtesy of Dimity Powell

Pamela Rushby shares her 'inside story'
Photo courtesy of Dimity Powell

Keeping efficient time management in mind, a program was available on each table, together with a colour flyer (with information on each of the 14 participating SCBWI author/illustrators) placed on each seat. Many attendees took notes during the talks and children eagerly asked and answered questions.

The Raffle Prizes Table
Photo courtesy of Dimity Powell

By now everyone had received a ticket for the Queensland Inside Story draw. The winner was a Brisbane woman interested in illustrating, who had come along having just heard about the event that morning on the radio. Her name now goes in to the international draw for the Grand Prize.

 

Happy Inside Story cake

L-R Back Row - Judy Paulson, Dimity Powell, Angela Sunde, Stephen Axelsen, Pamela Rushby, Chris Bongers, Peter Taylor, Christina Bollenbach, Samantha Wheeler.
L-R Front Row - Michelle Worthington, Candice Lemon-Scott, Julie Nickerson, Katherine Battersby, Jennifer Poulter.
Photo courtesy of Dimity Powell

After a ceremonious cake cutting, more prizes and a loud rendition of ‘Happy Inside Story’, there was little more to do than lick the cream off our fingers, sign autographs and have photos taken by The Sunday Mail’s photographer for the next day’s issue. What a wonderful morning!

 

The Sunday Mail 3/11/2013

Sincere thanks go to SCBWI QLD support team member, Pamela Rushby, for all her help and advice, and to Stephanie Hogan and the staff of Black Cat Books for their continued support of children’s books and the authors and illustrators who create them.

The Brisbane Inside Story Team
Pamela Rushby and (myself) Angela Sunde

Radio Interview Tips

Being an author is about more than just writing. I've spent the last few weeks liaising, planning, organising, delegating, photoshopping, creating, booking, nagging and promoting the Inside Story event this Saturday at Black Cat Books - a Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators world wide celebration, showcasing fourteen Queensland and northern NSW author/illustrators as they share the inside story behind their books.

As organiser and MC for the day I was also interviewed on 612 ABC radio by the lovely Kelly Higgins Devine. Whilst not the first time I have been on radio, it is always a rush. My dear sister, who is experienced as a former radio presenter, has given me a tip which I always remember:

"Smile broadly when you speak and it will lift your voice and engage the listeners." 

So I did. I grinned like crazy. The feedback from a friend of a friend was, "She sounded very enthusiastic."

Of course, my intention was to promote the Inside Story event, but radio is about engaging listeners and so the presenter will lull you into a conversation which inevitably leads you away from your task - to promote! With only minutes to get your information across, it can be tricky to negotiate questions like 'Where do you get your ideas from?' whilst trying to make sure the listeners know there will be PRIZES and what time they should get to Black Cat Books.

So here's another tip from my sister:

"Break your message into three points and focus on these."

I had scribbled on a small piece of paper:

1. What is it? 14 authors share the Inside Story behind their books at a simultaneous event taking place in twelve cities worldwide.
2. Why come along? Meet real life authors/illustrators, win prizes and eat cake.
3. Where/when is it? Black Cat Books, 179 Latrobe Street, Paddington, Brisbane; 10am, 2nd Nov

A friend on Facebook said I sounded "calm and professional."

Well, now you know that was a con! Professional maybe, but calm.... the smiling helped.

Inside Story - You're Invited!

The Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators 

in conjunction with specialist bookshops 

launch across the world...

Where children’s authors and illustrators give insights into

the stories behind the creation of their books.

Meet & be entertained 

by Queensland and northern NSW's’s loved and acclaimed

children’s authors & illustrators

at

Black Cat Books

179 Latrobe St

Paddington

Brisbane

on

Saturday 2nd November 2013

at

10am

MC author Angela Sunde will host:

Pamela Rushby, Stephen Axelsen, Katherine Battersby, Julie Nickerson, Samantha Wheeler, Dimity Powell, Christina Bollenbach, Judy Paulson, Michelle Worthington, Candice Lemon-Scott, Christine Bongers, Jennifer Poulter, Peter Taylor 

and so much more… 

Balloons, book signings, cake, prizes 

and the chance to chat with authors & illustrators...

It's a mini festival! 

An inaugural international SCBWI event, 

Inside Story will be launched simultaneously around the world, 

including The Children’s Bookshop Beecroft in Sydney,

 and The LittleBookroom in Melbourne. 

Join in the fun of this FREE event at a city near you!

Brisbane - RSVP: (07) 3367 8777
EMAIL: info@blackcatbooks.com.au