Meet the Roving Reporters: Cherri Ryan and Yvonne Mes

The winds of change occasionally deliver divine surprises: the scent of new beginnings, the hint of new ideas, a promise of something exceptional. Today we meet two more exceptional members of our SCBWI Sydney 2019 Conference Roving Reporters Team.

Find a shady spot to sit back and welcome:

Cherri Ryan

Cherri Ryan is an author who is inspired by the children and families she cared for as a family doctor in Australia for almost twenty years. When she is not writing or reviewing fabulous children’s stories for Kids’ Book Review, Cherri works in medical education, and enjoys helping organisations that help others.

In 2016, one of Cherri’s stories was animated and projected onto Brisbane City Hall as the Christmas Lights Spectacular. Cherri’s debut picture book, Spirit, illustrated by Christina Booth and published by Black Dog Books (an imprint of Walker Books Australia), follows a young girl with creativity, courage and sailing dreams.

Cherri lives in Queensland, Australia, with her family, one cat, two guinea pigs and many visiting birds and possums. Cherri believes in hope, joy, perseverance and the power of stories.

Is this your first SCWBI Conference?

Yes! And I am very much looking forward to it!

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

I am looking forward to meeting some friends I’ve known through social media for several years in real life!

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

I love the way everyone in this field is so supportive of each other and encouraging. There is never fighting over who gets the piece of pie, there is only ever more pie!

Name one thing you cannot live without.

My family.

Sail away with Cherri on her literary journey at: www.cherriryan.com

Now, enjoy the breeze and meeting:

Yvonne Mes

Yvonne Mes is a children’s author and illustrator from Brisbane. She writes fiction and non-fiction including picture books, junior fiction and short stories and has recently started designing pop-up story boxes. Her stories expand perspectives and invite feelings.

Her picture book Meet Sidney Nolan was published by Penguin Random House in 2015 and her picture book Oliver's Grumbles was re-released with Yellow Brick Books in 2017. Her short story 'A Starry Christmas' was animated and projected onto Brisbane City Hall over Christmas for two weeks. She is currently illustrating her first picture book.You can find more of her short stories in The School Magazine and anthologies.

Yvonne delivers presentations for grown-ups and is happiest when reading and performing stories with children (or grown-ups, or chickens).

Yvonne is on the Book Links Executive Committee, coordinates Write Links for children’s authors and illustrators and is a member of SCBWI, QWC and several other professional bodies.

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

Nope, this is my third in Sydney!

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

They were all inspiring in different ways, but I did get my first publishing contract after meeting an editor during my first conference, so that is hard to top!

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

The shared passion of the power and beauty of story, whether written or visually.

Name one thing you cannot live without.

A THING right? You wouldn't want to make me choose between my kids! Let me think ... Yes! Hope. And Dreams. and Love. Ohh, now I have gone all metaphysical, that's OK, right? Right? Is that alright? Hmm, perhaps I can't live without validation... Is that a THING? Help!

We call that ‘mango madness’ in Queensland, Yvonne. But who doesn’t love mangoes!

Unearth more of Yvonne’s words and art at: www.yvonnemes.com

For more sweet insights into our team be sure to visit our garden again next week. Till then,

Rove ya later!

Dimity (Head Gardener)

#SCBWISyd

www.dimitypowell.com

Images courtesy of Tania McCartney

Meet the Roving Reporters: Ramona Davy and Leanne Barrett

Around Australia Jacaranda blooms the colour of our Roving Reporter badge carpet our parks and driveways. They herald spring in the most vivid luxuriant way. Today I’d like to herald two more of our colourful reporters. Each is a burgeoning artist, avid reader, wordsmith and lover of the colour lavender. Please shake your blossoms about for:

Ramona Davey

SCBWI New Member Co-ordinator

Ramona lives in Sydney and teaches Visual Arts to children from Kindergarten to Year 6 at a local primary school.

She illustrates in her spare time and writes picture books, junior fiction and middle grade novels for children. She has a particular passion for funny stories and historical fiction.

Here is a recent competition entry:

A Fund Day Out - Painted paper collage

Is this your first SCBWI Conference?

This will be my 3rd SCBWI Conference in Sydney.

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

Every SCBWI Conference has been memorable for different reasons. Whether it is the night before networking drinks, mingling with new members at lunchtime or getting to know the editors, without SCBWI I would not have made all the friends I have made within this fabulous writing community.

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

Trying to be a published author/illustrator takes lots of hard work, persistence and resilience. The best thing about the Kids’ Literary Industry is the support, especially on days you want to give up. And then a new idea pops in your head and you want to be part of it all over again.

Name one thing you cannot live without.

One thing I cannot live without is my twin cats Storm and Merlin (sorry, I know that’s two but if I chose only one of them the other would know.)

Step into Ramona’s beautiful world here at: www.ramonadavey.com

Now have a peak behind the blossom shower at:

Leanne Barrett

Leanne is new to the illustrator and writer side of children’s literature.

As a child who suffered from regular nightmares, she would study her books and their illustrations to transport her mind to another world, a place of comfort and beauty. At university she developed a passion for picture books and once again it was their illustrations that especially resonated with her.

During her years as a parent and teacher librarian Leanne loved to promote reading, especially free voluntary reading. Her next step into the book world was volunteering for The Children’s Book Council of Australia ACT Branch. It was during this time that Leanne began to meet and support local writers and illustrators. She found that these creative people reawakened her dreams of creating images and stories.

In 2017 Leanne decided to make her dream of becoming an artist and writer a full-time commitment. Her first step was joining the 52-Week Illustration Challenge. She immersed herself in learning about her craft by attending conferences, workshops both face-to-face and online, joining illustrators and writers groups IRL and on SM. She also returned to reviewing books for Kids’ Book Review after a 5 year break.

Now most days of the week you can find Leanne in her study/studio creating illustrations and sometimes writing. But her first love is illustrating. Most of Leanne’s illustrations are created using ink and watercolours but she would love to branch out and explore lino and block printing. One of Leanne’s favourite things to illustrate is silhouettes of chickens doing adventure activities. When not creating Leanne can be seen walking her nine year old Australian Terrier, Jay or browsing the picture book section of her favourite bookshop.

Is this your first SCBWI Conference?

Yes it is. I am looking forward to learning more and being inspired by the presenters and attendees.

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

I am hoping, as a newbie in this journey, that a new ‘ahh ha!’ moment will happen. That the words from at least one presenter or even another attendee will resonate with my creative soul and that it will ignite a thought that will make my imagination fly. Plus meeting my creative friends IRL.

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

What endears me to this industry are the stories that transport and touch the heart. These stories come from the books that are created but also from the creators themselves. It is also love the community spirit of this industry. People in the Kids’ Lit World unite in creating joy and understanding in our world. I hope I can contribute to this story by touching hearts and inspiring people to read.

Name one thing you cannot live without.

The first things that pop into my head are family, friends, music and chocolate. But as an illustrator I cannot live without my sketchbook and pigment liners 0.2 – 0.8. These items move with me around the house or are popped into my handbag when I’m away from home. You never know what sights, smells, tastes or sounds can inspire an idea that has to recorded in that moment when my muse whispers into my mind.

Visit Leanne and her adorable chookies at: www.leannebarrett.com

If Jacarandas aren’t your thing, never fear, there are plenty of other blooms to enthrall and delight you in our verdant garden. Be sure to pop back soon to meet more of our team. Till then,

Rove ya later!

Dimity aka Head Gardner

www.dimitypowell.com

#SCBWISyd

Images courtesy of Tania McCartney

Meet the Roving Reporters: Giuseppe Poli and Katrin Dreiling

It’s a beautiful time to be in the garden in SE Queensland. Meet two of our ‘homegrown’ - well we like to think of them that way - Queensland based gardeners today, aka our Roving Reporters. Both Giuseppe and Katrin have roved for us before and will be reporting in the style they know best - with fabulous illustrations! Raise your garden trowels for the inspiring:

Giuseppe Poli

My name is Giuseppe Poli. I’m a Brisbane based Children’s Picture Book Author Illustrator, and after four years in the children’s literature scene, I am currently illustrating my tenth picture book. In 2018 my Author Illustrator debut, Young MacDonald, was published by Yellow Brick Books and my wife, Katie Poli, and I also released our debut as a children’s picture book team, Marvellous Mummy, published by New Frontier Publishing in Australia and the UK. My eighth book, Invisible Jerry, written by Adam Wallace and published by EK Books is due out November 2018 in Australia and will be released into the UK and the US.

I have two goals - to be a prolific Children’s Picture Book Author Illustrator creating incredibly beautiful, wondrous and emotive Children’s Picture Books and to share what I learn about the creative process with others.

I look forward to sharing this marvellous journey with you.

Invisible Jerry comes out Nov 2018.

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

No. This will be my second. My first was Sydney 2016 - which was AWESOME!

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

I'd have to say being a Roving Report :-) and meeting some amazing people.

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

I am a big believer in learning, growing and playing. It's just magical that we can create wonderful experiences for children and also challenge ourselves to become better. Our art form is as limitless as the stars above though in that great expanse, whilst our journeys may feel lonesome, the kid lit community is always there to support you, wrapping you up like a warm, loving hug from grandma. I love creating and I love sharing and helping others grow. I feel completely at home in this industry.

Name one thing you cannot live without.

Apart from my wife and family, the one thing I can't live without is creating. I get frustrated if it's been a while since I've made something.

Discover what Giuseppe is busy making at: www.giuseppepoli.com

Keep banging those gardening forks together for the irrepressible:

Katrin Dreiling

Katrin is Germany born and raised but moved to Australia with her husband and three children. Now she lives in a wooden house on stilts next to a creek filled with snakes, strange sounding birds and poisonous toads and keeps hoping to spot a Koala one day.

She is self-taught and creates quirky illustrations that feature different media, texture and techniques that children are familiar with and speak to them. Katrin’s first picture book has been awarded “Notable Book 2018” by the Children’s Book Council of Australia, short-listed for the 2018 Speech Pathology Australia Award and she also delivered illustrations for a highly successful video animation production on YouTube.

Katrin also teaches art to children and bribes them with lollies to clean up afterwards. Additionally she conducts workshops for both adults and children. In her free time Katrin enjoys walking her big Golden Retriever Loki who loves to eat and watch Marvel movies just as much as her.

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

It’s my second - I attended the SCBWI conference in Sydney 2 years ago.

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

I loved the community and am pretty sure it will be amazing again 😊

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

Its creativity and caring.

Name one thing you cannot live without.

My morning coffee I think?

Soak up more of Katrin’s awesome artwork at: www.katrindreiling.com

Keep your brollies handy because we have a barrow-load more fun and fascinating reporters for you to meet. Till then,

Rove ya later!

Dimity - Head Gardener

www.dimitypowell.com

#SCBWISyd

Artwork courtesy of Tania McCartney