SCBWI VICTORIA November 2015 Meeting Details

We are looking forward to catching up with you for our final gathering of the year on
21 November.

Our three wonderful speakers on the day will be:
Suzanne Gervay: SCBWI Craft and the Business of Being an Author  
Meredith Costain: Doggerel and Catterel – Turning a Life-Long Love of Words (and Animals) into a Full-Time Job
Tony Palmer from Penguin Publishing: Inside a Publishing house. What goes on Behind the Scenes?

Meredith Costain: Doggerel and Catterel. Turning a life-long love of words (& animals) into a full-time job

Meredith Costain's writing ranges from picture books through to poetry, novels and narrative non-fiction. Her books include CBCA Honour Book Doodledum Dancing, Musical Harriet (adapted for TV), A Year in Girl Hell, and novelisations of the TV shows Dance Academy and Heartbreak High. She has been commissioning editor for several literacy series and has edited and written for children’s magazines. Her latest series is the quirky Ella Diaries, (illustrations by Danielle McDonald). Visit her at www.meredithcostain.com

 

 

Suzanne Gervay: SCBWI, Craft and the Business of Being an Author

Suzanne Gervay has received the International Literacy Association Life Time Award for her body of work on social justice and the Order of Australia for children’s literature. Suzanne is published in Australia and internationally.

Her books cross all ages from picture books to young adult novels. Her rite-of-passage anti school-bullying I Am Jack series has been adapted into an acclaimed play, currently touring US theatre. Susanne will talk about SCBWI, craft and the business of being an author. www.sgervay.com

Tony Palmer: Inside a publishing house. What goes on behind the scenes?

Since graduating from Monash University in 1985 with an honours degree in Graphic Communication, Tony Palmer has worked as a book designer for various publishers. He has also been a part-time design teacher at Victoria University, RMIT University and Monash University where he is currently undertaking a PhD in Art and Design.

As a long-time enthusiast of Australian history, Tony wrote his first novel for teenagers, Break of Day, published in 2007. Following this he wrote The Valley of Blood and Gold and Simon Field’s Thoughts on Love and War. His latest book The Soldier’s Gift, was published by Penguin Random House in 2014.

 

 

SHOW AND TELL

As usual, we will have a brief Show and Tell segment, so if you have a recent publication to show us or news of a recent success to share (such as an award or grant) we’d love to hear from you.

MEETING DETAILS

Date: Saturday 21 November 2015
Place: DiMattina's Restaurant (upstairs room), 306 Lygon St, Carlton
Time: 2pm—5pm (all are welcome to stay on afterwards to chat and drink downstairs)
Cost: $25 members, $30 non-members (includes afternoon tea)

Payment: To reserve your place, your payment must be received by Wednesday 18 November. You can pay in one of the following ways:
 
1. Direct Deposit to:
    National Australia Bank
    Account Name: Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
    BSB: 082 187
    Account Number: 82 863 8450

Please be sure your name appears with the deposit amount on your payment statement. Please also send a follow-up email to me, advising when payment was made.

 OR

2.  Cheque made out to SCBWI and posted to:
     Caz Goodwin,
     37 Auburn Road,
     Hawthorn East,
     VIC 3123.

SCBWI VICTORIA COMMITTEE MEMBERS
 
Caz Goodwin: Assistant Regional Adviser, Victoria
Chris Bell: Assistant Coordinatorand CBCA Liaison
Serena Geddes: Illustrator Coordinator
Betty Sargeant: Technology and Social Media
Jo Burnell: Membership Coordinator

 

SCBWI Success Story Dinalie Dabarera

I got my first children's book illustration contract from taking part in the SCBWI portfolio showcase and the book The Cat with the Coloured Tail (written by Gillian Mears) was published by Walker Books in September 2015. Very exciting.

I actually participated for the first time in the 2012 showcase when I was just out of uni and not earning enough to justify actually attending the conference itself. Although I got a little bit of interest in the immediate aftermath, things were very quiet until an email popped into my inbox two years later from Nicola Robinson from Walker offering me a potential book contract! So definitely a great success for me. And it's a lovely thing that the showcase is accessible to newcomers. If anyone asks me for advice on getting published I tell them this story.

When I put together my portfolio, I definitely wasn't confident about all the work that was in it. I included my best pieces, but I ran out at about 5 or 6, so there was definitely a bit of filler. I think this is generally considered to be bad practice. But the conference only comes around every two years, so being straight out of uni and feeling the need to achieve everything immediately, I decided to just get on it. I made sure to only include two styles, which did restrict the work I could put it in. I know people are divided on this one, but at the time and after, I've found that focusing on a style creates clarity in what people want and expect from me.

The Cat with the Coloured Tail tells the story of Mr Hooper and his magical cat as they travel around the countryside in their moon-cream van bringing joy and ice-cream to those who need it most. It was written by the lovely Gillian Mears. Although she's published many adult fiction books and won many prestigious awards in the past, this will be both of our first children's book.

Please follow me on Instagram @dinbop or visit my website at dinalie.com to keep up to date with its happenings!