SCBWI Australia East Create and Critique-a-Palooza Sept 13-14
The Palooza is back! A two day online event where SCBWI members have the chance to have their projects assessed by publishers and agents, and hear from some of Australia’s most talented kids’ book creators and publishing professionals as they discuss the wonderful world of children’s books.
It will be fun, fascinating and a great excuse to hang out online with SCBWI friends.
Day One—September 13—A day of online manuscript and portfolio assessments
In conjunction with our creative Professional Development day on September 14, we are offering 15-minute online manuscript and portfolio assessments on September 13, where you can receive feedback on your work from publishing professionals.
For those who purchase a Day Two Professional Development day ticket, you will have first chance at securing an assessment with tickets opening July 5th at 8am.
Tickets will open for members who would like just an assessment or to buy a second assessment one week after on July 12th.
Day Two—September 14—Professional Development Day
2pm to 5pm
SCBWI Members: $15
CLICK HERE for Day Two Tickets
Presenters:
Michelle Madden, Commissioning Editor for Penguin Random House Young Readers
Adam Cece, Author
Alexandra Adsett, Literary Agent, Alex Adsett Literary
Peter Cheong, Author and Illustrator
These presentations will be recorded and the link will be available for two weeks
When you purchase a ticket for the September 14 Professional Development Day you will automatically be sent an email with the code to the Critique ticket portal which will give you the opportunity to book a critique ticket from July 5th.
Day One Tickets—Manuscript and Portfolio Critiques
Critiques are 15 min with a publishing professional online via Zoom plus a written report.
SCBWI Members only
$105 per critique and places are initially limited to one per person.
CLICK HERE for Critique Tickets
Tickets will go on sale from July 5th at 8am for those who buy a Create and Critique-a-Palooza PD day ticket or from July 12th for those who’d like the assessment only or would like to buy a second assessment.
At time of booking you will be able to choose your preference from the available time slots and assessors. Critiques are non-refundable and non-transferable, so please choose carefully.
Critique Assessors
Luna Soo—Senior Editor, Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing
Luna Soo is a senior editor at Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing. She works with talented authors and illustrators to create books that inspire and amaze kids of all ages, and is proud to have edited several award-winning novels. Luna’s keen to help diversify Australia’s publishing industry so that all readers can see themselves on the page. She is particularly drawn to stories with a strong, gripping voice and a unique perspective on the world.
Luna will critique Picture Books, Chapter Books/Middle Grade, and Upper Middle Grade/Young Adult.
Her wish list includes: Stories written by diverse, own-voices authors. Contemporary middle grade and YA.
She prefers not to see: High fantasy and hard science fiction.
Nicola Nelson—Senior Editor (Children's), HarperCollins
Nicola Nelson graduated RMIT's Master of Writing and Publishing in 2020, with her thesis exploring inclusivity and class barriers in Australian middle grade fiction. She is currently a Senior Editor on the Children's team at HarperCollins and is based in Sydney. She has a passion for stories great and small, particularly those that aren't as often heard.
Nicola will critique Picture Books, Chapter Books/Middle Grade, Portfolios
Her wish list includes: Any genre, but a particular interest in LGBTQIA+ stories
She prefers not to see: Historical fiction, but it's not a hard 'no'!
Laura Harris—Managing Director of Laura Harris Publishing
Laura Harris has edited and shaped many books over her 35 years in publishing. She began her publishing career at the prestigious, School Magazine, then worked for HarperCollins and then Penguin Random House for 25 years. She has worked with Mem Fox, Aaron Blabey, Gus Gordon, Pamela Allen, Graeme Base, Morris Gleitzman, Felice Arena, Melina Marchetta and Sonya Hartnett, to name but a few. In 2000 she was appointed to the Board of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation where she served until January 2024. In 2023, Laura celebrated 35 years in the book publishing and was a recipient of the George Robertson Award for distinguished long service to the Australian Publishing industry. In 2024 she was appointed to the Board of WestWords. She launched Laura Harris Publishing in 2024. And while often asked, Laura has checked with her doctor, who assures her she doesn’t have a novel in her.
Laura will critique: Picture Books, Chapter Books/Middle Grade, Upper Middle Grade/Young Adult
Her wish list includes: Funny and smart Young reader books. Books for 6 to 10-year-olds in particular.
She is happy to see how people deal with all sorts of subject matter. It is all in the telling.
Niki Foreman—Senior Editor, Penguin Kids at PRH Australia
Niki Foreman (she/her) is an accomplished editor, an author of children’s books and a staunch advocate for inclusive language and respectful and authentic representation. With decades of experience in the global book-publishing industry, Niki started her publishing career at DK and Penguin Books in London before moving to Sydney as a freelance editor and writer, working with many Australian, UK and US publishers – including Penguin, DK, Walker Books and Harper Collins – across children’s and adult’s genres, both fiction and non-fiction. Currently, Niki is Senior Editor for Penguin Kids at PRH Australia, a published author and a staunch advocate for real and practical inclusion. Niki also offers courses for authors on writing inclusively through the ASA.
Niki will critique: Picture Books, Chapter Books/Middle Grade, Non-Fiction
She is happy to critique any genre.
Michelle Madden—Commissioning Editor for Penguin Random House Young Readers
Michelle Madden is a Commissioning Editor for Penguin Random House Young Readers. She works across all genres and ages, from books for early childhood through to non-fiction and novels for young adults. She has worked with some of Australia’s finest authors and illustrators, including Terry Denton, Sam Cotton, Felice Arena, Sofie Laguna, Mem Fox and Alison Lester, as well as with sporting and media stars such as Cathy Freeman and Zoe Foster Blake, and brands like Taronga and The Penguin Foundation.
Michelle will critique: Picture Books, Chapter Books/Middle Grade, Non-Fiction, Portfolios
Her wish list includes: Picture books that speak directly to children, illustrated books for young readers that create excitement about stories, entertaining left-of-centre middle fiction and fun visual non-fiction.
She prefers not to see: No poetry, plays or education publishing like graded readers, please
Sarah McKenzie—Literary Agent and Director of Sarah McKenzie Literary Management
As a Director of Sarah McKenzie Literary Management, I represent new, emerging and established authors of literary and commercial fiction, narrative nonfiction, middle grade, junior fiction and picture books. I have represented and championed books that have won or been nominated for awards including the Australian Book Industry Awards, Ned Kelly Awards, Indie Book Awards, NSW Premiers’ Literary Awards, CWA Dagger Award, Miles Franklin Award, CBCA Awards Readings Prize and more. My clients include best-selling children's author Scott Stuart, internationally-award-winning crime writer Shelley Burr and some of the country's most exciting emerging authors.
Sarah will critique: Picture Books, Chapter Books/Middle Grade, Upper Middle Grade/Young Adult, Non-Fiction
She is actively pursuing diverse and marginalised voices, and projects from First Nations creators and she is open to most subject matter.
Dani Vee—Publisher at Larrikin House
Dani Vee is a publisher at Larrikin House. She is an author of picture books, junior fiction and middle grade including the new releases My Pet Croc and My SUPERCHARGED ADHD Brain. Dani hosts the Words and Nerds podcast, which has more than one million downloads.
Dani will critique: Picture Books, Chapter Books/Middle Grade, Upper Middle Grade/Young Adult
Her wish list includes: Picture books, middle grade and YA books that challenge stereotypes, push boundaries, and have an important issue behind the fun.
She would prefer not to see: Women in stereotypical roles.
Cristina Pase—Children's Publisher, Windy Hollow Books
Cristina has been in the publishing industry for over 30 years. She has worked as a teacher, a bookseller, a sales rep and a sales and marketing manager. For the past 20 years she has been the Children's Publisher at Windy Hollow Books. Cristina is passionate about beautiful narrative driven picture books.
Christina will critique: Picture Books
Her wish list includes: Just good picture book narratives
She would prefer not to see: No toilet humour, halloween/christmas etc books.
Tash Besliev—Publishing Director, Children's, Simon & Schuster Australia and Affirm Press
Tash Besliev spent her first decade in publishing working almost every role available. She’s now the publishing director of children’s books across Simon & Schuster Australia and Affirm Press, having spent over a decade as a business leader motivating and mobilising creative and operational teams to work harmoniously and make books that sell. She has worked on bestselling books across several categories driving the publishing, marketing and sales strategy of books including the Billie B Brown junior fiction series and the Life Lessons for Little Ones picture book range. She’s worked with entertainment brands including Disney, ABC Kids and The Wiggles and classic children’s book estates including Enid Blyton, Tintin, Thomas the Tank Engine and Miffy. She believes strongly that books are a right not a privilege, and that all children deserve access to quality books.
Tash will critique: Picture Books, Chapter Books/Middle Grade, Portfolios
She is happy to see any genre.
Savannah Hollis—Junior Editor, Hardie Grant
Savannah Hollis is an editor living in Naarm. She has edited everything from literary fiction to picture books, and has been lucky enough to work with award-winning authors from around Australia. Her career has regularly seen her working with emerging writers, LGBTQIA+ creators, and occasionally on global brands like Star Wars. Savannah has a passion for weird and wonderful books that respect young readers.
Savannah will critique: Picture Books, Chapter Books/Middle Grade, Upper Middle Grade/Young Adult
Her wish list includes: YA fiction, Graphic novels, sci-fi and fantasy in all age ranges, and smart/funny picture books
She would prefer not to see: Fart books
Lisa Fuller—Literary Agent, Alex Adsett Literary
Lisa Fuller is a Wuilli Wuilli woman, also descended from Wakka Wakka and Gooreng Gooreng peoples, she has lived on Ngunnawal and Ngambri lands (Canberra) since 2006. She is a literary agent, writer and a lecturer at the University of Canberra. Lisa is passionate about children's literature, speculative fiction and culturally safe publishing. Her middle grade fantasy, Washpool, came out in March 2025.
Lisa will critique: Picture Books, Chapter Books/Middle Grade, Upper Middle Grade/Young Adult
Her wish list includes: Speculative fiction, well genre of any kind really but particularly horror on the spooky spectrum or fantasy
She would prefer not to see: Anything that has the death of a child or graphic body horror
Rowena Beresford— Managing Editor, Riveted Press
Rowena Beresford is the Managing Editor of Riveted Press, where she works closely with new and emerging authors. Our tagline is 'Where unforgettable stories are forged', and that epitomises the potential we are looking for. Riveted Press is proud to be the publisher of unforgettable books by Australian authors and illustrators—many of which have featured in awards. Events like this are the only way to pitch to Riveted Press, so this is an excellent opportunity to show us your work.
Rowena will critique: Picture Books, Chapter Books/Middle Grade, Upper Middle Grade/Young Adult, Non-Fiction, and Portfolios
Her wish list includes: Any genre excluding horror
She would prefer: No toilet humour, graphic violence, horror, sexual content
Rochelle Stephens—Editor and Publisher, Wombat Books
Rochelle Stephens is the editor and publisher at Wombat Books and has repetitively chosen manuscripts from CYA conference for publication. She is passionate about great books with the motto of Stories you will want to share. The focus is on any books for children through to YA and new adult. We are looking for early readers, junior fiction, middle fiction, young adult and the conservative end of new adult/adult. Rochelle is excited to work with authors and develop them on their journey and often encourages repeat submissions. Rochelle is also an author in both educational writing and her Riz Chester series, with The Fingerprint Code having been shortlisted in 2024 Speech Pathology awards. She has completed her Masters in Editing and Publishing with a thesis exploring middle fiction and what children want to read.
Rochelle will critique: Picture Books, Chapter Books/Middle Grade, Upper Middle Grade, Not-Fiction, Portfolios
Her wish list includes: A range of stories for children through to new adult. She would love to see some crime/mystery, fantasy, any genre for children and new and unique picture books.
She would prefer: No Toilet Humour, limited violence sex etc.
Anna Solding—Publishing Director, MidnightSun Publishing
MidnightSun's Publishing Director Anna Solding is passionate about finding new Australian voices and nurturing emerging writers for all ages. Anna has a Masters and a PhD in Creative Writing and has been running MidnightSun for 12 years, publishing around 7-10 books per year, including many award-winning and well-reviewed titles. She is especially interested in books that are well written, with complex characters and unusual story lines. She loves being swept away, surprised or moved by manuscripts and is looking forward to reading your work.
Anna will critique: Picture Books, Chapter Books, Upper Middle Grade/Young Adult, Portfolios
Her wish list includes: Exciting adventures for younger readers and complex stories for older readers.
She would prefer not to see: Rhyming Picture Books. Anything could work for us but it has to be very well written, especially if it's a rhyming picture book (we prefer when they don't rhyme).
Submission Guidelines for Manuscript or Portfolio Critiques
Following your booking CLICK HERE to submit your manuscript or picture book text or thumbnails or portfolio images. Please take note of the August 9, 2025 deadline and the format for submissions. Unfortunately, submissions that are late or that do not conform to the specifications cannot be accepted.
Your Manuscript critique submission should include the following:
•An overview of your project to a maximum of 1 page including your name, email and website (if applicable)
AND IN THE SAME DOCUMENT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
• An outline of your project idea with synopsis and short writing samples for comment and discussion to a maximum of 10 pages, double spaced in 12pt Times New Roman or similar
OR
• An extract of your draft manuscript to a maximum of 10 pages, double spaced in 12pt Times New Roman or similar
OR
• A full picture book draft text to a maximum of 10 pages, double spaced in 12pt Times Roman or similar (one picture book only)
OR
If a writer-illustrator an illustrated picture book dummy with text. (One picture book only)
OR
A portfolio of up to 10 pages in pdf form
Most assessors prefer word document format for manuscripts so they can make inline notes, however, pdfs are also acceptable. Picture books in thumbnail or dummy form can be supplied as pdfs. Please label your file including Surname, Title (abbreviate if necessary), Genre (PB, C, YA) and indicate if it is Non-Fiction NF: ex. Surname_Title_PB_NF