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, 2nd 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.
.JPG) |
| Stephen Axelsen shares his 'inside story' Photo courtesy of Dimity Powell |
.JPG) |
| Candice Lemon-Scott shares her 'inside story' Photo courtesy of Dimity Powell |
.JPG) |
| 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.
.JPG) |
| 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 |
