News From Tassie

On Sunday 26 Nov, nine Tasmanian children’s book creators gathered at Australia’s oldest licensed pub, The Hope & Anchor.

Christina Booth spoke briefly about attending a SCBWI Netherlands meeting at the International Book Store in Den Hague (The Hague) in October. Christina has proposed a special friendship relationship between SCBWI Netherlands and SCBWI Tasmania.

Maria Gill, author of 55 non-fiction books, mainly for children, then spoke about creative ways of marketing books. One example she gave was her successful approach to the Dutch Embassy to sponsor her tour of schools, bookshops and libraries in Tasmania, promoting her latest picture book: Abel Tasman, mapping the southern lands.

She also spoke about how she is involved in a Facebook page for NZ writers and illustrators. This has provided support for writers and illustrators and built relationships in the industry, with opportunities to share industry information. One of the successes of this forum is that schools are now better educated about the need to pay for school visits and book creators are more confident in asking for award rates for presentations.

She also suggested working with other writers and illustrators on themed exhibitions, for example an ANZAC book exhibition that will be appearing at various librarians in Australia and New Zealand.

Click to find Maria's website here.

Anne Morgan, SCBWI Tasmania

NSW SCBWI Chrissy Party

On Sunday 26th November NSW SCBWI members gathered at the beautiful Woollahra library to celebrate the end of another year of book-loving, picture-making and word-wrangling with fun, facts and plenty of good food.

The celebration began with a pre-party get together where new members could meet and mingle. Taking the newbies under her wing our illustrious leader, Susanne Gervay soon had everyone relaxed and attentive with her hilarious insider insights on anything and everything author-related from crafting stories to the importance of social media.

Ramona Davey made sure everyone knew about the ever-popular SCBWI Critique Groups organised by Margaret Roc and as the rest of the members started to arrive old friendships were renewed and new ones begun as Deborah Abela popped open the bubbly and everyone dug in to a delicious Christmas feast.

With hearts and bellies full of wine and cheer we settled into our seats for the main event, a behind the door peek at the publishing world with the ever-generous and much-respected Linsay Knight, Publisher at Walker Books Australia.

Linsay spoke about the collaborative spirit in the children’s book industry, something that many of us there had experienced and a vibe that had already permeated the room.

We were heartened to learn that Walker Books is a creatively-led company, a story-led environment where an editor’s passion for a book can sometimes get it over the line when other signs hint that it might not be the most commercial option. Story is the most important factor.

I’m sure Linsay gained a lot of new fans and set herself up for a flood of submissions when she spoke with such passion about the value she placed on book creators and how Walker Books as a smaller company have ‘more time and energy to put into really looking after our writers and illustrators.’

This feeling was amplified when we learned about the collaborative nature of the UK, USA and Australian arms of the Walker Books empire and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one imagining how thrilling it would be to have a book simultaneously released by the company in all three markets.

Teasing us further and inspiring us to work harder Linsay informed us that the Walker Books team were ‘always on the hunt for the best there is.’

With only 30 books a year coming out on the Walker Books list we all knew the competition would be fierce and to show us just what kinds of books they are looking for Linsay shared with us a selection of her favourites from each of their lists.

Dianne Bate’s anthology of Australian poets, Our Home is Dirt by Sea was the first cab off the rank with Linsay, a huge advocate for Australian poetry saying she was ‘very proud to have a book like this on the Walker list.’

New SCBWI Committee Member, Sue Whiting got a delightful surprise when Linsay announced that her upcoming Middle Grade novel, ‘Missing’ was the hit of the Frankfurt Book Fair, describing it as a ‘Quite extraordinary piece of writing’ that was generating lots of overseas interest.

In case you were wondering the best way to have your YA or Middle Grade manuscript discovered by Linsay is to submit it through Walker Wednesday. Though they do not currently accept Picture Book submissions through this process there may be some hope that a plan will be put in place for Picture Book submissions next year.

If you have a Junior Fiction manuscript now might be time to get it out as they are currently low on Junior Fiction and Linsay also expressed a ‘serious interest’ in books for pre-schoolers.

After all that excitement it was time for more food and another chance to mingle and greet new and old like-minded friends before settling in for a story about two plucky picture book creators whose book came to life in a most spectacular and festive way.

SCBWI interstate member, author Corinne Fenton had come up for the party, bringing pluck and intrigue and little bit of Melbourne along to entertain and inspire us. Together Corinne and illustrator Marjorie Crosby-Fairall delighted us with the tale of how they created the picture book, One Christmas Eve, the inspiration and centrepiece of the Myer Christmas window.

We all sat there, stunned and amazed at the loveliness of what these two creators achieved with only 3-4 months each to work on the writing and illustrations and how beautiful and intricate the window dressings were with their animatronic people and moving set pieces. Surely this must be the pinnacle of what a Christmas book can achieve?

As the party wound down I’m sure I’m not the only one who was not ready to leave. The only consolation was knowing that already more amazing SCBWI events are in the works for 2018.

—Jodie Wells-Slowgrove

Chat with author, Verity Croker

Anne Morgan, Tasmanian SCBWI leader, sat down for a chat with kids' book creator, Verity Croker. Here's what she had to say.

Did you always want to be a writer?

Yes, for as long as I can remember. My writing journey began with my primary school Club magazine. Typed on an old typewriter that punched holes in the thin paper, and sporting a hand-painted cover, our club members took it in turns to proudly create four copies every two months.

Tell us about your published works:

I’ve had four books published:  a YA novel, May Day Mine (Harmony Ink Press, US), two chapter books for 8-12 year olds, Cyclone Christmas and Block City (Sunshine Books, NZ), and a textbook entitled Grammar Worksheet Workout (Knowledge Books and Software, Brisbane). I’ve also had travel articles, newspaper articles, short stories and poetry published.

What inspired you to write May Day Mine?

I was gripped by the Beaconsfield disaster, and like many Australians I held my breath for two weeks until the trapped men were finally rescued. I wondered what it would be like for a family that lived in the town during that time, so that is how it all began.

What are your career highlights?

Highlights include articles being translated into Brazilian Portuguese, an article being included in an exhibition in Melbourne, a manuscript for adults being long-listed for the QWC/Hachette Manuscript Development prize, and May Day Mine being a finalist in the Dante Rossetti awards for YA novels in the US.  A key highlight was receiving a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from UTAS.

Do you have any advice for authors or illustrators who want to break into the US market?

I answered a call for manuscripts from Harmony Ink Press, advertised in the Queensland Writers’ Centre newsletter, so that was a great opportunity. Once my manuscript was accepted, there were a few hoops to jump through such as having to register copyright, and apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) from the Internal Revenue Service. This was necessary to minimise the amount I would be taxed in the US, so I wouldn’t be taxed on my royalties twice. Other than that, be prepared for some of our Aussie expressions to be questioned and explained, and of course American spelling is expected. Interestingly they wanted me to keep the spelling ‘mum’ rather than ‘mom’.

When you’re not writing books for children and young adults, what do you do?

I teach international students at UTAS. In my free time I read, read, read, walk and swim. And read some more.

What is your advice for aspiring CYA authors?

I think you should read widely in the area you are interested in writing in, both age group and genre. I focus on the CBCA winners as well as their long-listed and short-listed books, to help me select what is currently being published. I suggest attending writing seminars, workshops and courses, and if possible go on writing retreats where you can fully immerse yourself in your writing away from the distractions of your everyday commitments. I’ve attended retreats at Daku Resort in Fiji, and Fort Resort in Nagakot in Nepal, both amazing experiences where I produced a lot of work and learnt heaps. You should also become members of your local writing centre, be on Twitter to find out the latest as it comes to hand, and of course be a member of SCBWI!

Just recently, Verity's young adult novel, Jilda's Ark, has been accepted by Harmony Ink Press in the US, due out mid 2019. Go Verity!

Anne Morgan