Photos of SCBWI Conference Sydney 2012

US literary agent, Jill Corcoran's keynote speech

Lunch time at the NSW Writers' Centre

Pamela Rushby, Claire Sax and Sheryl Gwyther

Historical Fiction Panel

Illustrators' breakfast

Evening sing-along at the Hughenden

Chilling in the lounge

Ukelele chorus

Illustrators' Showcase SCBWI Australia and New Zealand Conference

The Hughenden Hotel

Excitement bubbles over as anticipation meets reality. I am at Sydney airport, waiting for a taxi together with four other delegates from all over our vast continent. We already know each other. In Australia living 1,000's of kilometres apart is no obstacle with online networking, Facebook and Yahoo groups. We've shared a lot in the past: successes and rejections; family problems and ill health, and now we're here to celebrate with the community that is The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (downunder).

A maxi taxi drops us off at the Hughenden Hotel in Woollahra, a grand old lady of history and literature. There's a photo of our arrival, all excited and eager, on the official SCBWI Conference blog.

Within 15 minutes of my arrival I'm sitting in a small office with visiting US literary agent, Jill Corcoran. Her critique of my portfolio is honest and helpful. She's genuinely interested and engaged. I like her straight away. But there is no time to stop for a cuppa and chat; the Illustrators' Showcase is awaiting my portfolio and I am whisked away to a large room with rows of tables covered in white cloth. Some 46 portfolios are entered in the showcase and mine is the last to arrive. Quickly I place it in its spot - number 4 (a good pozzy) and arrange my business cards and postcards beside it.

There it is 4th from the right in the front row.

And here are Frané Lessac and Sarah Davis, our legendary SCBWI Illustrator ARA's and award-winning illustrators, awaiting the onslaught of publishers to the showcase. Note the little red pencils; the publisher who left the highest number of written feedback slips would win a bottle of Moet. The good news is for this inaugural Illustrators' Showcase 37 publishers (yes, that many) spent more than an hour perusing the portfolios and walked away with handfuls of postcards. And it wasn't just the Moet that had them entranced!

I received some lovely feedback from publishers that has given me the confidence to keep chipping away. I am on a path with heart; my passion lies with writing and illustrating for children and the bonus is the beautiful people you meet along the way.

Here's the first page of my portfolio with Dummy Book.

And the final part to day one of the conference was a cocktail party with lots of mixing and mingling.

Once upon a time...

Once upon a time...

in a sparkly green pond

there lived a small frog

who dreamed of becoming a children's author

and...

being magically transported to the CYA Conference

where many children's authors and illustrators

gathered together each year.

One day the frog ventured forth,

hopping from one lily pad to another

until she met a kind Queen.

The Queen of children's literature,

 called Sheryl Gwyther,

spoke about the frog's endeavours to be published

and her first book

'Pond Magic'.

and about the frog's abilities to wave placards

 and speak out for the rights of all frogs

 to write Australian children's books.

The frog smiled and held up her book for all to see.

She was speechless.

But then she remembered her notes...

and thanked Sheryl, her editors at Penguin Australia, her husband, children and parents, her friends and all the writers and illustrators present, especially those from the KWD Secret Society (who know who they are).

Overcome with wonder

the crowd listened

 as the frog read from her book.

And then she told the magical story

of the vineyard called 'The Arrogant Frog'

and the French 'Sparkling' Lily Pad Pink

from the Languedoc region of France.

Not only was the sparkling French (Ooh, la la!)

explained the frog, drawing the raffle,

but the main character of her book Pond Magic

 is called Lily Padd

AND

the French exchange student who comes to stay with Lily

is from the Languedoc region of France.

Co-inky-dink!

The frog presented the winner of the French 'Sparkling'.

Merci beaucoup!

and the winner of the

mini manicure

at the Pampered Princess

salon for little girls (Pond Magic's sponsor).

and then the Queen and the frog celebrated together

the frog's transformation

from aspiring tadpole writer

to the Princess Children's Author.

And the frog lived happily ever after.

(The photos above with white borders are courtesy of Lynn Priestley)

Chee Chee and Mia at the CYA

I was in the car at 7am; overnight bag, sleeping bag, pillow, foam mattress, writing materials and sundry all carefully stowed in the back. I was on my way to the CYA!

The highlight of the year in writing and illustrating for children is the Children’s and Young Adults’ Writers and Illustrators Conference held in conjunction with the Brisbane Writers Festival. It was at my first CYA conference three years ago that I fell in love with the industry and its people. Children’s writers and illustrators are a passionate, inclusive group who welcome and support new and emerging writers. Now in its fourth year the conference is a sell out success and draws award-winning speakers and workshop convenors from across Australia and internationally. Every year I am rewarded with rich learning and networking experiences and along the way I have made some treasured friends.

At 8.25am I slipped into a seat in the auditorium, looking forward to Jackie French’s key note speech. Our MC for the morning, Anita Bell, began by announcing the winners of the CYA writing and illustrating competition. I had entered in two categories, but did not expect a prize. When my name was called as the winner of 3rd prize in the Illustrated Picture Book and Graphic Novel category, tears began to sting my eyes. Somehow I fumbled my way to the front and accepted my award. Paul Collins of Ford Street Publishing had chosen my illustrated picture book ‘Chee Chee and Mia’ as the 3rd prize winner. WOO HOO!! That meant so much.

‘Chee Chee and Mia’ tells the story of a little girl’s love for her chicken Chee Chee (she can’t say chicken). Mia loves to hug Chee Chee, take her on the swing and push her around in the doll’s pram. But while Chee Chee tolerates all this attention, she is not all that pleased. The illustrations were worked in watercolour and coloured pencil.

My first workshop for the day was Jackie French’s master class. Her advice was hard hitting and to the point and her pearls of wisdom included:
“A good idea for a book is not enough; you need thousands of good ideas.”
“Quite good is never going to be good enough.”
“Be intellectually honest about your writing.”
“It takes longer for genius to be published than the very good.”

Together we brainstormed a story outline for ‘The Last Zoo’, set in Antarctica. Jackie had us smelling the ice and hearing the muttering of monkeys. She emphasised that each word must be specific and value laden and each character needs to be individual with their own characteristics and quirks.

Jackie believes ideas are more important than the quality of writing – you can always re-write. And writers need to be self-centred enough to spend time on themselves and their writing. This was good advice for me as self doubt and guilt are my two very good friends. But while I may doubt my writing, I seriously do enjoy re-writing.

A 15 minute pitch with Leonie Tyle of Woolshed Press (Random House) was the most rewarding experience of the day for me. I have taken on board her advice regarding my manuscript and in those few moments learned a great deal about some subtle aspects of ‘telling’ that still sneak their way into my writing.

In Meredith Costain’s ‘Constructing a Picture Book’ class she stressed that a good picture book must:
Resonate emotionally with the reader.
Have heart.
Tell an important story the reader can find meaning in.
Beg to be read over and over again.

This is very true of the favourite picture books I have in my collection. In groups of four we then brainstormed ideas for a story and amidst great laughter my group presented our version of ‘Grandma’s False Teeth’ to the audience.

Peter Carnavas’ master class ‘Illustrate a Picture Book’ took us inside the world of the professional illustrator. Peter led us sequentially step by step through the stages of illustration and story development, workshopping with us all the way:
Narrative structure and developing characters.
Finding the balance between words and pictures.
Developing a storyboard.

The session was valuable for the insight to Peter’s methods, for the hands on experience and the sharing of ideas with other illustrators in the room.

Among other things I learned a picture book is structured in three ‘Acts’ – a problem, a journey to solve the problem and a solution. Within Act 2 there is often a ‘blue page’ when all appears lost and the problem seems insurmountable. This week I have been re-working my picture book structures and have included where possible a ‘blue page’. Thanks Peter.

The CYA has been and gone. It was without a doubt the best one yet. Tina Clarke and Ally Howard have once again managed to seamlessly present the conference of the year. Their hard work and commitment is greatly appreciated and I thank them. I also thank the many friends who congratulated me on my award and who have supported me with their kind words. The life of a writer/illustrator is not a lonely one.