It’s warming up both inside and outside of our garden shed. Have you got your tickets yet to next year’s SCBWI Sydney Conference? Can’t make it? Don’t get your nettles in a knot - our team of Roving Reporters will do everything they can to ensure you don’t miss a moment. This week we meet two more of our industrious crew. Please make room among the plant pots for:
Karen Collum is a teacher, storyteller and writer who lives on the Gold Coast with her husband and four kids. She is the author of CBCA long-listed picture book, Small and Big and has been published in a variety of writing and parenting magazines. Karen has been writing for over a decade and recently wrote 32 scripts for the US children’s television show, “Kids Time Praise”. In between juggling work, kids and the never-ending pile of washing, Karen is working on a Middle Grade novel.
Is this your first SCWBI Conference? If not how many have you attended, where?
This is my second SCBWI Conference – my first one was in Sydney in 2016.
What is the most memorable (SCBWI) Conference experience you’ve had to date, or hope to have?
Most memorable moment: At the last Sydney Conference the keyboard player was suddenly unable to attend and I found myself volunteering to play for the dinner/dance at the last minute! It was fun, slightly overwhelming but a bundle of laughs to join the extremely talented group of musicians for the evening. I even got to sing lead vocals in Nutbush City Limits! It was such a hoot.
What endears you most about the Kids’ Literary Industry and your role in it?
The Kids’ Literary Industry is such a vibrant, friendly, authentic bunch of people to hang out with. Right from the very beginning of my career everyone has been so supportive and encouraging. I feel like I’m with my tribe when I’m with the SCBWI crew.
Name one thing you cannot live without.
I can’t live without my family. They drive me crazy, ask three million questions a day and wear me out, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Visit Karen at www.karencollum.com.au
Don’t leave yet, here’s Rachel:
Rachel Noble is the author of Finn’s Feather (Enchanted Lion, US/May 2018), inspired by her late son Hamish.
Rachel attracted attention after she won a National writing competition, the My Child Short Story Competition in 2012 for a piece called Honoring Hamish. She was long-listed for the Hunter Writers Centre Grief writing competition and her piece is published in the 2013 Anthology. Rachel was short-listed for the 2016 CYA Picture Book Competition for her manuscript, My Granny Loves to Dance. Rachel is represented by Essie White at Storm Literary Agency.
Rachel recently returned from the US, promoting her picture book Finn’s Feather at Ci6, ALA Annual Conference and at bookstores in New Orleans, Mississippi and Alabama.
Rachel is an ex-ABC/BBC Radio Producer/Presenter. She lives in Queensland, Australia with her family.
Is this your first SCWBI Conference? If not how many have you attended, where?
This is my second SCBWI Conference. I had such a wonderful time at the last conference, I knew it would be the first of many!
What is the most memorable (SCBWI) Conference experience you’ve had to date, or hope to have?
There was so many fantastic moments at the last conference but my most vivid memory is being completely inspired and captivated by Susanne Gervay’s warmth, humour and generosity.
What endears you most about the Kids’ Literary Industry and your role in it?
I’m convinced it would be tough to find an industry as supportive as this one. Everyone I’ve met is so genuine, kind and humble.
Name one thing you cannot live without.
I can’t live without words. I cannot live without the ability to weave them in a way, that helps me (and hopefully others) process life’s big emotions.
Absorb more of Rachel’s radiance, here: www.rachelnobleauthor.com
Stick around, we have one more gardener to reveal. Till then,
Rove ya’ later!
Dimity (Head Gardener)
#SCBWISyd
Images courtesy of Tania McCartney
