Behind the Scenes: Meet the Faculty Sue Whiting

You’ve met our Chief of Landscaping Services aka, Conference Director, aka Susanne Gervay. Now throw your petals in the air for Sue Whiting (who doesn’t really have the body of a dog).

Sue Whiting is an author and editor who lives and works in a small coastal village south of Sydney. Sue has written numerous books in a variety of genres: fiction and nonfiction, picture books through to YA, including the best-selling The Firefighters, and the award-winning A Swim in the Sea. Her latest books are Missing, a mystery novel for readers 10+ and Beware the Deep, Dark Forest, a picture book illustrated by Annie White. Sue loves sharing her passion for story and storytelling, reading and writing with people of all ages. Join her on her adventures in story at www.suewhiting.com.

Briefly state your conference role and conference responsibilities

General duties (aka dogsbody) / bookshop list coordinator / coordinator for the Celebrating Books event at The Children’s Bookshop, Beecroft, on Feb 24

Describe your most notable achievement or proudest moment in Kids’ Lit to date

Writing Missing. This was a very difficult book to write and I am proud that I stuck it out, persevered and managed to get Mackenzie’s sad story out of my head and onto paper. I am also very proud of the way this book has been received – especially by young readers. That has been indeed heartwarming.

What is the most memorable (SCBWI) Conference experience you’ve had to date, or hope to have?

Dancing to the SCBWI band at the Hughenden in 2014. So much fun! It proved what a great supportive, fun-loving community SCBWI is.

Name one thing you can’t live without

Once I would have said my dishwasher. Not long ago I would have said my laptop. Now, I think I could live without both of these. I even think I could live without my phone – though it would be a struggle. So apart from champagne, chocolate and pumpkin, I think the things I most cherish are not things at all, rather they are people – my family and close friends.

Provide at least one Fun Fact from a SCBWI Conference you’ve attended or organised (any where in the world)

This is a personal one. SCBWI Sydney 2019 will be the first SCBWI conference I have attended where I won’t be doing manuscript assessments! What will I do with all that time? Hey, I might even be able to listen to some of the awesome speakers on the program! For those who have made an appointment for an assessment, take it from one who has been on the other side of the table many times – don’t be too nervous or worried, most publishers don’t bite, just use the experience as a craft development exercise that will get you a step (or three) closer to publication. Enjoy!

It will be fantastic to see Sue conferencing with us this year, not to mention on the dance floor. Look out!

Stick around for more behind the scene meetings and memories.

Till then, Happy Christmas from the RR team.

Rove ya’ later!

Dimity (Head Gardner)

#SCBWISyd

Behind the Scenes: Meet the Faculty

Before any landscaping team launches into a new project, they need a sound and detailed brief from someone with a clear vision of how they wish their garden to grow. Coordinating a SCBWI conference is no different. It requires foresight, planning, creative vision and above all, an united team effort.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll endeavour to introduce you to a few of the movers and shakers behind next year’s 2019 Sydney Conference, the faulty as it were; the directors of our creative direction. This week, Susanne Gervay, SCBWI Australia’s Regional Adviser, reveals some of her conference fun facts. Wave your gladioli in the air for Susanne!

Susanne, briefly state your conference role and conference responsibilities

Conference Director – the glue between the many moving parts of the conference team with the incredible Marjorie, Sue, Jodie, Margaret, Sarah – and the enthusiasm of the coordinators of the chapters Victoria, Qld, SA, ACT, Tas, NSW and NZ, as well as the Roving Reporters and of course the fabulous delegates of the children’s book industry.

Describe your most notable achievement or proudest moment in Kids’ Lit to date

The nomination for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award representing Australia and receiving an OAM for children’s literature. Both mean the world to me, as my parents were refugees who came with only courage to Australia, to rebuild their broken lives. Their belief in Australia was validated through the recognition of my work in Kid’s Lit. They would be so proud. I am proud too.

What is the most memorable (SCBWI) Conference experience you’ve had to date, or hope to have?

It has to be meeting the incredible FONZ at the LA Conference. Henry Winkler wasn’t in his leather gear, which was a disappointment. His hair was a little grey and his motor bike missing in action, but he was charming and definitely hadn’t lost any of the FONZ charisma. We did talk about the Hank Zipster series, but really I was waiting for him to comb his hair. Ahhh.

Name one thing you can’t live without

My family. They fill my life with all the emotions and drive my writing.

Provide at least one Fun Fact from a SCBWI Conference you’ve attended or organised (anywhere in the world)

It has to be the insanely enthusiastic dancing, singing, shouting at the SCBWI dance party in Sydney. The SCBWI band with SCBWI authors and illustrators centre stage – led by James Foley, Meredith Costain, Scott Chambers, when Dale Newman, Vair Buchanan and Karen Collum - all jumped in. Dale played a mean guitar. So much talent! Heaps of fun.

I think that moment will remain for us all who were there!

Visit again for more fun facts and behind the scenes revelations soon. Till then,

Rove ya’ later!

Dimity (Head Gardener)

www.dimitypowell.com

#SCBWISyd

Floral images courtesy Tania McCartney

Meet the Roving Reporters: Dimity Powell

Nothing fills me with more pleasure than digging around in the garden, the sun warm on my back, dirt under my nails, nourishing tomorrow’s miracles. It’s as satisfying as digging around for the perfect idea, fertilising it with words then watching that idea grow into something beyond spectacular. That is why I’m so very happy to be heading this team of gardeners, the Roving Reporters, for the 2019 SCBWI Sydney Conference.

You’ve no doubt met one or two, if not, get to know them now, here.

No great team of word landscapers would be complete without their Head Gardener so today I share a little be more about, me. Come smell the roses…

Dimity Powell

To Read, Write and Inspire sum up Dimity’s main passions in life, along with sailing on the beam, eating ice cream and writing in her diary – although doing all three at once makes her nauseous. She’s a Kids’ Lit nut, living, breathing and reading it for huge chunks of her day. She weaves words into short story webs for anthologies, digital narratives, junior novels and most gratifyingly, into picture books. When she’s not wrangling words, she’s reviewing, managing an esteemed team of reviewers for Kids' Book Review or sharing her love of story in front of crowds of very small people. It says so on her website, so it must be true. Dimity lives just around the corner from Bat Man on the Gold Coast and she adores applying the adage, ‘from little things, big things grow’ anywhere and everywhere, especially in her garden.

Is this your first SCWBI Conference? If not how many have you attended, where?

This will be my third, all in Sydney.

What is the most memorable (SCBWI) Conference experience you’ve had to date, or hope to have?

Being together in the same room with Nicky Johnston and my publisher, Anouska Jones for the first time at the 2016 Conference was an absolute heart-swell. We had just signed a contract for At The End of Holyrood Lane and Nicky was sharing her first roughs with us. It was a supremely emotional watershed moment for me. Connections like this at SCBWI events are simply the best.

What endears you most about the Kids’ Literary Industry and your role in it?

The feeling that we are trusted conjurers of magic, forever fine-tuning our craft and always eager to enlighten never ever ceases to thrill me. My roles in this Industry are many: reviewer, writer, presenter, mentor, editor, student. I love them all and the absolute feeling of camaraderie from all sectors of the industry. It really is a crazy job but one I find I’m much less without.

Name one thing you cannot live without.

Sleep. Although I challenge myself to do so each and every day.

Please feel free to breeze on into www.dimitypowell.com anytime for a chat or at tea or two.

Remember, this garden is ever evolving. Visit again when we showcase some interesting behind the scenes fun facts of conferences past and present. Till then,

Rove ya’ later!

Dimity (Head Gardener)

#SCBWISyd

Images courtesy of Tania McCartney