I put in a portfolio of work to the last SCBWI conference in Sydney. I also included some printed postcards of my work and business cards for Publishers to take away with them.
A month or so later I was thrilled to receive an email from New Frontier Publishing asking if I would be interested in illustrating a children's book for them.
I worked on All I Want for Christmas is Rain, written by Cori Brooke in 2015. It is due for release November 2016.
Megan Forward
www.meganforward.com
This week we reveal our token male Rover! Every crew benefits from having a solid male presence…we have Giuseppe!
Some of you may know him as a shy retiring owlet or better remember him as a scowling orange grumble. Meeting Giuseppe Poli, the artist behind these beguiling picture book characters is as entertaining as being in one of his stories. See why below.
Our second featured Rover hardly needs any introduction; she is one of Australia’s best-loved and most endearing authors of children’s and young adult fiction and I just love her stories to bits. Meet, Nette Hilton. Keep an eye out for both of them at this year’s SCBWI Sydney 2016 Conference.
Giuseppe Poli lives in Brisbane and is one ecstatic newcomer to the Children’s literature world.
Giuseppe has illustrated three pictures books, Hootie the Cutie (New Frontier, 2014), Fearless with Dad (New Frontier, 2015), Oliver’s Grumbles (DragonTales, 2015) and is currently finishing his fourth. In 2016 Fearless with Dad was published in Korea.
Giuseppe is a sought after presenter at schools, sharing his passion for imagination, his belief in the creative process and of the potential in us all.
As a creative, Giuseppe has found his home in Children’s Literature - he is feverishly pursuing his Author Illustrator career and can’t wait to publish his own stories to continue to delight people for many more years to come.
Is this your first SCWBI Conference?
Yes, this is my first one and I'm so excited!
What is the most memorable (SCBWI) Conference experience you’ve had to date, or hope to have?
I'm coming to learn, share and grow. I need to improve my ability to tell/show stories and I need to be a part of a team that brings great stories to life. I'm hoping I can make progress on both of those. I'm also hoping to be able to share some cool insights to help others on their journey.
I can't wait to meet fellow creatives and publishing professionals. After this conference, I would love to be able to call many of these amazing peeps, my friends.
As a creator in the Kids Literary Industry, what do you want to be best known for?
When kids and parents see my name on a book, they know it's going to be a great ride.
Name one thing you cannot live without.
My family is number one. After them, I just can't live without creating, especially creating things that brighten someone's day or simply makes their life just a little bit more special.
Nette Hilton is a reporter with a roving eye. She lives on NSW far north coast and is the proud author of lottsa kids and YA books, some of them pretty good. Currently she continues to write and fill her time with writerly things like festivals, and school visits and learning as much as she can about writing and story making. Her latest conquest is to master illustrating her own work and, so far, has had one work accepted – and rejected (but the good news is that it wasn’t let down by illos).
Is this your first SCWBI Conference? If not how many have you attended, where?
This is my second SCWBI conference and I attended in Sydney at Hughenden – four years ago? I think – 2012 (know I wore blue denim boots).
What is the most memorable (SCBWI) Conference experience you’ve had to date, or hope to have?
An impromptu meet up with Karen Tayleur about the little bear book that Peter Taylor and I had put together. This resulted in a long, long story about my ‘Fox and Hen – a love story’ manuscript being adopted for a week’s residency at Pinerolo to work on illustrations and then presented to Five Mile and then . . . rejected.
As a creator in the Kids Literary Industry, what do you want to be best known for?
The opportunity to say ‘good lookin’ ‘ is very strong but . . . no – I’d like to be best known for being a successfully published author who is still trying to win – and a willing and helpful mentor to up-and-coming writers.
Name one thing you cannot live without.
My family – they’re a story without end . . .
Thanks Giuseppe and Nette!
Keep your eyes peeled, there are a few more members lurking in the wings, dying to be met.
Rove you later!
#SCBWISyd
The wonderful world of children’s literature is composed of many varied sub-genres and styles. Today we get to know two people who create one of my penultimate favourite expressions of children’s literature, the picture book. So settle back and meet SCBWI Sydney Conference 2016 Roving Reporters, Yvonne Mes and Karen Collum.
Yvonne Mes is a children’s author, illustrator and devourer of books from Brisbane via Amsterdam.
Her picture book Meet Sidney Nolan (Random House Australia) illustrated by Sandra Eterovic is listed on the 2016 Premier's Reading Challenge. Oliver’s Grumbles (Dragon Tales Publishing) illustrated by Giuseppe Poli was released in 2015.
Yvonne coordinates Write Links, is vice-president of Book Links QLD (Inc.) and has two decades experience working with children of all ages, abilities, and cultures.
Her three sons make sure she is never lost for inspiration. Her mission: sneak a quiet cup of coffee. Result: cold coffee and noise.
Is this your first SCWBI Conference? If not how many have you attended, where?
This is my second SCBWI conference, the first one also was in Sydney two years ago.
What is the most memorable (SCBWI) Conference experience you’ve had to date, or hope to have?
I don't think that conference could have been any better, apart from all the knowledge I gained and the inspiring people I met, I connected with an editor through a paid session and was offered my first contract a few months later!
As a creator in the Kids Literary Industry, what do you want to be best known for?
Uhm, I would like to say my sparkling wit, but that is not likely to happen, so perhaps a never wavering passion and dedication to sharing stories with children
Name one thing you cannot live without.
Apart from all the obvious (family, health, food) I am going to say ... pretty stationery.
Karen Collum is a Gold Coast-based writer and teacher with a passion for picture books. She is an internationally published author with five picture books to her name. Karen’s latest picture book, SMALL AND BIG, was published last year by Windy Hollow Books and is a 2016 CBCA Notable Book for Early Readers. When Karen is not getting up ridiculously early to write, she teaches, chases after her four kids (and her husband), and tackles the never-ending pile of washing.
Is this your first SCWBI Conference? If not how many have you attended, where?
First SCBWI Conference! I’m a newbie :)
What is the most memorable (SCBWI) Conference experience you’ve had to date, or hope to have?
I hope to meet up with old friends and make lots of new friends. I also hope to have important conversations with people who understand the necessity of agonising over a single word in a picture books for days on end.
As a creator in the Kids Literary Industry, what do you want to be best known for?
I would love to be best known for writing top quality, hope-filled books about things that matter.
Name one thing you cannot live without
I cannot live without creativity. I get very cranky and unsettled if I’m not being creative in some way, shape or form!
I understand your agony, Karen! Thank you ladies.
Stay tuned, another riveting meet and greet coming your way soon.
Rove you later!
#SCBWISyd
