Congratulations to Hazel Edwards on the publication of
Cover illustrated by Tess McCabe
a YA non-fiction for ages 12 to adult published by Amba Press
May 2024
Author-preneurship is about the business of creativity. This will also be relevant to many young people who may be creating in new visual and digital fields and for whom their 'brand' will matter. This non-fiction includes case studies and strategies.
Some treasured guidance to make your passion financially sustainable!
Anne Morgan was the founding co-coordinator of SCBWI Tasmania, a role she fulfilled for nearly ten years. It’s hard to explain just how important Anne has been to the children’s literature scene in Tasmania but, let’s try.
Firstly (most obviously) without Anne’s tireless enthusiasm there would be no SCBWI Tasmania. Our little group would still be part of Victoria (hi Victoria!).
Without local organisation we could not have established a partnership with the Tasmanian Writers Centre that would go on to provide opportunities for our members to speak, perform and share their work at writer’s festivals across the state. We would not have a promising new partnership with Libraries Tasmania that will provide members with the chance to promote their books and access library facilities for book launches. We would not have had access to local professional development opportunities such as the 2015 SCBWI day at Book an Adventure, our 2018 Professional Weekend or the 2020 Pitchfest. Without Anne’s indefatigable lobbying skills, the Wilderness Society would have abandoned their Environment Awards for Children’s Literature. Without her, the Tasmanian Literary Awards would not have a category for Books for Young Readers and Children.
We can list boxes that Anne has ticked until the cows come home but there’s more to it than that. Let’s think about the intangibles. The sense of community that Anne has built, the feeling of being supported, of having somewhere to turn, someone to ask. The pride in not just being authors but being Tasmanian authors, down here in our beautiful forgotten corner. The chance to have a laugh and a chat, a cup of tea, to meet other creators, to listen, to learn and to be a part of something. Something that values the work we do; something that pushes us to want to make it better.
Tasmania is an isolated place. It is a small place. We do not have access to publishing networks like those on the mainland and many of us do not have the spare cash to travel. Anne’s work has brought opportunities to Tasmanian creators and in doing so she has fostered an entire community. Her generosity of spirit, energy and time is breathtaking because every event she organised, letter she wrote or grant she applied for was time she donated from her own creative practise. Anne volunteered for this gig.
Now, after nearly a decade at the helm of SCBWI Tasmania Anne is stepping back from the coordinator role to find her space again. She’s going to write her own stories. She has built a thriving group of creatives, over 35 members now in Tasmania, including a committee of four daunted but dedicated people with huge shoes to fill. It’ll probably take at least four people to do it. We’ll give it our best shot.
Thanks Anne, we owe you x
Written by Christina Booth and Fiona Levings.
Under Anne’s leadership, a lot has happened! Just the last year alone has been a blast! Here’s what’s been going on.
Frances Mackay presenting her informative and highly successful Webinar to 45 attendees.
Left: Amanda O’Shea (Northern TAS Coordinator) with orphan baby wombat Wilma – or was it Fred?
Right: Yoga class, led by Reena Balding, left to right, Angela Kingston, Amanda O’Shea, Julie Hunt, Nicole Gill and Jedda Robbard.
SCBWI Creators’ brochures and posters distributed to all libraries in the State network for Tasmania Reads Week. Marketing products designed by Frances Mackay
Stephanie gave a riveting talk on her children’s books at the State Library of Tasmania. This was followed by a pub dinner across the road at the New Sydney.
Left to right: David Webby, Stephanie Owen Reeder, Christina Booth, Jacinta Lou, Jacquie Brown, Anne Morgan, John Warren.
SCBWI Tasmanian creators prepared a drop-dead gorgeous contribution to Taswriters’ successful bid to have Hobart declared a UNESCO City of Literature. Our submission was designed and coordinated by Frances Mackay.
Left to right, Anne Morgan, Jacinta Lou, Fiona Levings.
SCBWI TAS presented a strand of the Storygig at Hadleys Hotel, Hobart. Thanks to a $3,500 grant we secured from the WD Booth Charitable Trust, we were able to pay our presenters ASA rates. Our program included a networking session, in which we launched our new creators’ brochure. This was a real blast, thanks to the creative rocket science skills of Fiona Levings and the filmic pyrotechnics of Frances Mackay.
Relaxing at the Customs House after the Storygig. Left: clockwise, Tony Flowers, Ceri Flowers, Jacinta Lou, Fiona Levings, Leigh Hobbs, Anne Morgan, Leigh Swinbourne, Reena Balding and Cathy Limb.
Far left: Leigh Hobbs, Horrible Harriet and Reena.
Left: ¾ of the (then) SCBWI TAS committee – Fiona, Jacinta and Anne. Right: Jacinta after blast off.
Left: Fiona preparing to launch. Right: Fiona & Leigh Hobbs.
