Candice Lemon-Scott's launch for her two new junior novels

Congrats to Candice Lemon-Scott for two new additions to her popular Jake in Space series:

Mercury Rising

and

Saving Saturn

both published by New Frontier Publishing, for age 7+

Detail of the launch for Saving Saturn are above.

In Mercury Rising Jake and his friends, ready for adventure, zoom to Mercury to watch the planets align. But are they ready for their most dangerous mission yet - to thwart the plans of some familiar villains and save the planets?

Saving Saturn:  Jake and his friends can't wait to get to their mystery destination. They arrive to find a megaship filled with treasure. But Jake soon realises the people of Saturn are under threat. Can he rescue them in time?

Congrats again Candice - hope the launch goes brilliantly!

Claire Saxby's 'Emu' shortlisted for Environment Award

Congrats to Claire Saxby for the shortlisting of her delightful picture book Emu in the

Environment Awards for Children's Literature

Illustrated by Graham Byrne

Published by Walker Books

For age 7+, published in hardback

The prestigious Environment Awards are administered by the Wilderness Society, and are Australia's only environmental-themed literature awards. There are three categories - fiction, picture fiction and non fiction.

Good luck Claire!

SCBWI Gold Coast May 2013

'It's been a crazy, busy, fun week. I'm a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators and the Gold Coast rep of the Queensland team. Last Sunday, with our Assistant Regional Advisor, Sheryl Gwyther, burrowed away within the leafy Adelaide suburb of Norwood for four weeks during her May Gibbs Children's Literature Trust CTR Fellowship, twenty-five SCBWI members gathered in the lush Gold Coast hinterland (my place) for an afternoon of sweet tea, home-made cakes, and enthusiastic conversation.

Our special guest and SCBWI Regional Advisor, Susanne Gervay AM, regaled us with her up-to-the-minute industry news and insider tips – priceless!

Susanne was in Gold Coast city for the children's theatre show, I Am Jack – based on her book of the same name – at the Arts Centre Gold Coast. Following sold-out shows all week, a devoted number of SCBWI members and teacher-librarians attended Susanne's inspiring pre-show talk on Thursday evening.'

Here's also a link to the SCBWI QLD FB page.

Angela Sunde