Rovers Revealed # 5

Greetings fellow Conference goers and landlubbers! We hope by now the ink on your paper is dry and your submissions, illustrations, and pitches are reaching a point of pirate-gold-glamour and shine! For those not pitching their wares or attending this year’s SCBWI Sydney Conference, here is the next in our series of Meet and Greet posts where you get the chance to learn more about some of the members who’ll be roving the conference rooms for tantalising titbits of information to relay back to you.

This week we feature a woman who can juggle more balls than an Ashton Brothers Circus clown, Susan Whelan and the quietly creative, Leigh Roswen. Welcome aboard, ladies!

 Susan Whelan

Susan Whelan

 Susan Whelan is the author of the picture books Don’t Think About Purple Elephants and The Great Sock Secret and Managing Editor of popular children’s literature website Kids’ Book Review.

Susan has a keen interest in the topics of diversity in fiction for children and teens, and the promotion of STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) topics through stories.

Susan has a passion for writing stories that start conversations. She is a supporter of the Lake Macquarie Paint the Lake REaD program, a Books in Homes role model, and an advocate for children’s literacy.

Is this your first SCWBI Conference?

This is my very first SCBWI Conference.

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

I’m really looking forward to meeting in real life many of the authors and illustrators that I chat with regularly online.

As a creator in the Kids Literary Industry, what do you want to be best known for?

Susan's debut picture book

Personally, I’d love to be known as someone who is friendly and encouraging. Professionally, I’d like to be someone who creates stories that start conversations.

Name one thing you cannot live without.

A good book!

Leigh Roswen

Leigh Roswen

Leigh Roswen is quite old… but new to the world of writing. She is an ex-medical scientist, qualified librarian and accounts clerk. Leigh is mother to two unruly young adults and a needy dog. She enjoys writing short fiction for both adults and children. She’s had some success in short story competitions and has been published in the South Coast Writers anthology. Her blog leighroswen.com has book reviews and posts on creativity and backyard nature - featuring her own photographs. She is currently writing a middle-grade historical fantasy.

Is this your first SCWBI Conference?

This is the first SCWBI conference for me.

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

I hope to get to know other writers and learn from their experience.

As a creator in the Kids Literary Industry, what do you want to be best known for?

I like to be known as published author (one day) that created memorable characters and warm friendships in her writing.

Name one thing you cannot live without.

My mid-morning cuppa tea and bed socks. (that’s two, and I still haven’t mentioned my family or my computer - but I should).

Hang onto your pencils; we have a few more crew-members to meet yet, so stick around for the next exciting instalment.

Until then, Rove you later!

Dimity

#SCBWISyd

Rovers Revealed # 4

I do love a good reveal. I confess, I’m one of those types who appreciate a bit of explanation at the end of a well-read tale so I can be sure of who’s who and what’s what and why it all ended up that way. Colour me duller than dishwater but for me, that beats being left in the dark with my (out of bounds) imagination.  Here at SCBWI, we never want you to feel in the dark either, so here is another of our Meet and Greet series reveals. Sit back and become better acquainted with two more of our sparkly Roving Reporters, Canetoad, Melanie Hill and Cockroach, Ramona Davey. *

Melanie Hill

Melanie Hill

Melanie has loved fairy tales since her birth in 1971. She has always written poetry for pleasure. The need to write fiction was dragged from her unconscious during hostage training prior to deploying to Iraq. Now, she is the matriarch of a wild gang of outlaw kids and is married to a former pirate. Melanie is terrified of crocodiles, mice and swamp monsters, but she enjoys cloud busting, travelling by train, and stories with hopeful (but not happy) endings.

You can follow Melanie on twitter @melanieahill, facebook under Melanie Hill Author, or her bloghttp://melaniehill.weebly.com/

Is this your first SCWBI Conference?

This is my first SCBWI Conference

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

I hope to come away with 1-2 new writing friends and ideas on how to improve my work.

As a creator in the Kids Literary Industry, what do you want to be best known for?

I would like to be best known for children's poetry, and action packed stories.

Name one thing you cannot live without.

I cannot live without my family. They inspire me and stop me from spending too much time daydreaming.

Ramona Davey

Ramona Davey

Ramona Davey was born in Jersey. She is an experienced primary teacher with a specialty in Art & Design.

Ramona writes picture books, junior fiction and middle grade novels. She has a passion for rhyme, quirky stories and historical fiction.

She also participates in Tania McCartney’s 52 week Illustration Challenge.

In 2012 Ramona wrote, illustrated and self-published a picture book called “The Jersey Twelve Days Of Christmas.” She also created it as an eBook for iPad with sound effects for iTunes.

Writers Groups/Societies:

NSW Writers Centre

SCBWI - NZ & Australia

Ramona is new member co-ordinator for SCBWI Aus/NZ – Sydney region)

You can contact Ramona on the following social media:

Blog: http://ramonadavey.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RamonaofJersey

Instagram: https://instagram.com/jerseyramona/

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

This year will be my third SCBWI Conference and I am really looking forward to it.

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

This year's may be the most memorable, as I no longer feel like a nervous newbie. As New Member Co-ordinator for SCBWI Sydney region I can meet and greet new SCBWI members and do my best at making them feel welcome and not alone. 

As a creator in the Kids Literary Industry, what do you want to be best known for?

Writing hard to put down children's books - whether it be through my humorous writing or for extremely interesting and mind blowing historical stories.

Name one thing you cannot live without.

Hand cream. :-)

 *Any assumption that either of these ladies resemble the creatures of their home-states is purely speculative and that of the author’s. No offence to either state, reporter or creature is intended, unless of course you are a Queenslander, like I am…

Better rove you later!

Dimity

#SCBWISyd

Behind the Scenes - Meet Aura Parker

The SCBWI Sydney Conference 2016 aims to enrich and unite creators and industry professionals in meaningful and productive ways. One such vehicle for eliciting exciting opportunities is the ever-popular Illustrator Showcase. This event aims to display the talent of SCBWI illustrators in situ so that a veritable army of publishers, designers, and editors are exposed to it often resulting in contracts for work.

This year, one of our own SCBWI success stories, Aura Parker was solicited to provide the 2016 Conference Showcase logo banner. Here is her delectable design.

If you are attending the Conference this year, keep a look out for her. If not, why not brew a cup of tea and get to know her better, now.

Aura Parker is a Sydney based author, illustrator and designer who makes prints, textiles and children’s picture books. Her work is joyful, imaginative, and brimming with details to explore. Aura also designs and exhibits screen prints and handcrafted textiles at Studio Bonnie. She has a background in graphic design and a passion for children's literature. Aura’s books Twig and My Magnificent Jelly Bean Tree will be out in 2016.

Are you attending the Sydney Conference in September? Is this your first SCWBI Conference? If not how many have you attended, where? 

Yes, this will be my second Sydney SCBWI conference.  

What is the most memorable conference experience you’ve had to date, or hope to have?

 At a SCBWI Conference, you'll find all the book nerds who never grew up hanging out together in one place - and what a lovely bunch they are! The thing I enjoyed most was the conversations. I met writers and illustrators who have since become friends, which is great because most of my work is solitary and it's inspiring to be connected to other creative people and hear what they are up to. 

You were chosen as the illustrator for this year’s Illustrators’ Showcase. Please describe the theme. What are you hoping to convey? 

The theme is 'tea and talent’. I was trying to portray a sense of fun at an under-the-sea tea party. I imagined these little characters as children being playful and creative.

Why do you think it’s important to include Portfolio Showcases in Conferences like this one? 

The Showcase is an excellent way to have your work seen by publishers and art directors and especially useful for new people trying to break into the industry.

As a creator in the Kids Literary Industry, what do you want to be best known for? 

As an author/illustrator of picture books that kids will come back to, spend time with and pore over the details.

Name one thing you cannot live without.

Coffee

Aura, from one book nerd who is still struggling to grow up to another, I couldn’t have written it better! Thank you. View Aura’s beautiful tea and talent inspired illustrations, here.

Don’t forget to visit again as we introduce you to even more of our terrific Roving Reporters team.

Till then, Rove ya later!

Dimity

#SCBWISyd