Meet the Stowaway! A new Rover Revealed

Look what we found lurking beneath the decks, another recruit for our burly crew of Roving Reporters. Please, bang your tankards together for, Kel Butler.

Kel is a newcomer to the writing game, having only discovered her passion for children’s literature and storytelling after becoming a parent, although it has always been a big part of her life in other ways. Prior to kids Kel had a long history in the film and television industry. Through reading to her children every day, Kel came to appreciate the nuances and dual storytelling of picture books and undertook the Writing Picture Books Course at the Australian Writer’s Centre.

Since then Kel has embraced the beauty in all forms of children’s books and dedicated herself to learning about the craft, expanding her knowledge and experience as a writer. She hopes to one day be a published author and is currently working on a couple of picture books, a young reader series and an adult fiction novel that came out of nowhere.

Kel’s passion for writing can only be surpassed by her passion for global literacy and education. Last year Kel came across the book “Creating Room to Read” by Room to Read founder John Wood and the soul connection was instant. From that moment Kel dedicated herself to the plight of global literacy and education. She is a volunteer for Room to Read working on the Writer Ambassador Program and helping to co-ordinate the World Change

Is this your first SCWBI Conference?

This is my first SCWBI Conference and I am very excited to be involved.

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

So far it was this year’s CBCA Conference but I am new to all this and have only just started attending.

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

Writing great books that people can’t get enough of.

Name one thing you cannot live without.

There are two that hold equal weight for me. My people; my family, friends and communities. And stories. I can’t live a day without discovering a story, they are life’s other necessary nourishment.

Ahh, yes – stories – as essential to life as clear skies and calm seas. Now with a full complement of crew, I gaze toward the horizon, ready to bring this ship to shore and the SCBWI Sydney Conference 2016! Hope to see you there.

Rove you Later!

Dimity

#SCBWISyd

Roving (Captain) Revealed - Meet Dimity Powell

Well shiver me timbers I’ve just about run out of crew for you to meet. A wise captain never gives the exact location of her treasure but seeing as you’ve now had a good peak into my treasure chest (read; Roving Reporter team) you might as well get to know a bit more about the mad lass helming the wheel.

In our final instalment of Rovers Revealed, may I introduce you to…me, Dimity Powell.

Dimity Powell aka Chef de Brigade of Rovers

Gold Coast children’s author, Dimity Powell considered herself a ‘bridesmaid author’ for a very long time, always shortlisted rather than spotlighted. That was until people started asking for her word-webs to include in anthologies, junior novels, school magazines, picture books, and even digital apps, one of which was Shortlisted for the WA Premier’s Books Awards 2016. Her picture book, The Fix It Man will reach bookshelves by March 2017. This makes her happier than a bear eating ice cream. She writes exclusively for kids because it’s crazy good fun and because she believes kids and great stories are life-essentials, like ice cream. Her writing ambitions are modest although she’d consider giving up sugar to hear one of her picture books read on Play School. Meanwhile, she enjoys her role as a devotee to children’s literature by giving writing workshops for children and adults and reviewing as many ‘must-share’ titles as she can online.

Unearth more at Dim’s Write Stuff.

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

This will be my second Conference. The first was two years ago in Sydney. This is what happened - SCBWI Sydney 2014 Conference.

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

My inaugural conference was memorable to the nth degree. It was a glorious consolidation of knowledge and literary relationships. I found the whole experience enriching and very satisfying, which sounds a bit unspecific but the thing that stuck was the ‘vibe’ I received from being there. Of course, it would be great to have a manuscript requested but that’s just icing on an otherwise already delicious cake.

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

My propensity for story sharing, both the stories of others and my own. And that whatever I create is done with integrity and heart. To know my words are tucked away on a bookshelf somewhere and loved by someone is the best ending of all.

Name one thing you cannot live without.

At some point in any day, I will need my hairbrush. I really come undone without it. And did I mention my need for ice cream…?

Stick around for more interesting tip bits and updates from our Reporters as we steer our team into Sydney Harbour in September, ever closer to the SCBWI 2016 Conference.

Till then, Rove you Later!

Dimity

#SCBWISyd

Meet the Team # 6

Well me lads and lassies, we have just about worked our way through our marvellous motley crew. In my view, they are all best, but someone had to go last. These two personify talent and drive. So as our good ship glides ever closer to Sydney shores, settle back and meet the last two of our Roving Reporter Conference Blogging team, Rachel Noble and Sheryl Gwyther.

Rachel Noble

Rachel Noble

Rachel is a picture book writer, committed to writing stories that delight, comfort and give children wonderful dreams. Fortunately for her, she has four wonderful children to try them out on (the best focus group ever).  Rachel has her first picture book under contract with New York based press, Enchanted Lion. FINN’S FEATHER (inspired by her late son Hamish), is about a boy who finds a feather and believes his brother (in Heaven) has sent it. The feather becomes a symbol of his love and grief. Soon, he starts to play with feather and it becomes an object of joy and ultimately, hope. This book is slated for US Fall, 2017.  She’s excited about her trip to New York straight after the SCBWI conference. 

Rachel is an ex- ABC radio producer and journalist and has loved telling stories her whole life (some true, some not-so-true).  Her ambition is to keep writing children’s stories that make a difference and to continue to her honour her son through her work.  She lives on the Sunshine Coast and is proud to be a part of the new Sunshine Coast sub-branch in Queensland, headed by Aleesah Darlison. 

You can read more about Rachel, here.

 Is this your first SCBWI Conference?

Yes and I’m terribly excited about it. Writing can be such a lonely business, so meeting with others who don’t glaze over when you start talking about writing is thrilling!

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

I expect to have a wonderful time connecting with names and faces I’ve only ‘spoken' to online. I will be child-free, so I am looking forward to kicking up my heels (in a responsible manner!) at the Opening Dinner.

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

I write from the heart. As my own distinct voice begins to develop, I realise I want to write books that matter (in a non-diadactic way).

Name one thing you cannot live without.

One thing? Surely you mean three things!  Apart from the obvious (family, friends etc.), I can not live without my notebook, MacBook and my memories. Without these things, I am nothing. 

Sheryl Gwyther

Sheryl Gwyther writes children’s novels, school plays, short stories and chapter books, and flash-fiction for adults. Many of her short stories and plays appear in The School Magazine.

Sheryl Gwyther

Sheryl’s awards include two ASA Mentorships and two May Gibbs Children’s Literature Trust Fellowships. A SCBWI International Work of Outstanding Promise Grant for her mid-grade historical adventure, Sweet Adversity made Sheryl the first non-American to win this award.

As SCBWI ARA for Queensland and a former director on the Board of the Australian Society of Authors, Sheryl is a passionate advocate for children’s literature.

See how passionate she is, here.

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

This is my 4th SCBWI Conference. The first, in 2010 was amazing and I was hooked. Meeting, for the first time writers and illustrators, many of whom have become my dear friends; and actually talking to publishers is something one never had the chance to do back then. Another highlight was meeting Susanne Gervay and her wonderful, Hughenden Hotel. What a splendid home and backdrop it was for us over the past conferences – we will miss her beauty and history.

But onwards and upwards! This year at the Menzies Hotel will be brilliant. We could meet in an outback shearing shed and it would be just as fabulous! Why? Because we are part of the SCBWI Tribe. And when the Tribe gets together, the world of children’s books zings!

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

My most memorable experience at a SCBWI Conference? Pitching my JF novel, Fangus Fearheart (aka Fearbottom) at the 2014 Conference. I was a bit nervous standing up in front of 250 people, including a fabulous line-up of publishers and agents (like Lisa Berryman!) But it was an amazing experience, and very good pitching practice. Excellent feedback too!  So gird your loins and your lions of courage, folk. I hope you get the chance to do it too!

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

I'd love to be best known for fabulous short stories for kids (love this genre to bits!), and the real love of my life, capturing history and fascinating characters in my two work-in-progress novels. I promise you will love these feisty girls!

What’s the one thing I can’t live without, Dimity? Writing, of course. Storytelling! Creating things, whether in words or art. And music! How could one live without music? Especially Antonio Lucio Vivaldi! Such genius. Of course, I couldn’t live without my family. And my close friends from the world of children’s books. And exploring the world. And… oh, sorry, Dimity … you said ONE thing, didn’t you? There I go, breaking rules again.

Ah Sheryl, some rules are made to be broken!

Sheryl forgot to mentioned she is also this captain's best mate, as inright-hand-man, following her enthusiastic leadership of our Roving Reporters team in 2014. Looking forward to working together again!

Meanwhile, keep your eyes peeled for one final Meet and Greet instalment next week.

Till then, Rove you later!

Dimity

#SCBWISyd