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

Meet the Roving Reporters: Karen Collum and Rachel Noble

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

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

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)

www.dimitypowell.com

#SCBWISyd

Images courtesy of Tania McCartney