With the theme of Other Worlds, Other Stories, the recent Tasmanian Writers and Readers Festival hosted an impressive line-up of local CYA talent.
Much kudos to Soncha Iacono, who, at the suggestion of SCBWI TAS, organised a visually beautiful and well-patronised Book Nook for children aged 0-12. This provided reading and book sales opportunities for local children’s writers and illustrators. Readings included The Moonlight Bird and the Grolken by Anne Morgan, illustrated by Lois Bury, When I was a Boy in Sudan by Sarafino Enadio, Terry Whitebeach and Gay McKinnon, When I was a Girl in Sudan by Paskalina Eiyo, Sarafino Enadio, Terry Whitebeach and Gay McKinnon, Underneath a Cow by Carol Ann Martin, The Bunyip’s Song by Soncha Iacono, Hairy Mollet by Tania Walker, Animal Eco-warriors by Nic Gill, Katie and the Red Rubber Ball by Jenny Fitzgibbon, The Moonbow by Fiona Levings and Daniel the Devil by Steve and Marion Isham and Verity Croker read from her book, Cyclone Christmas.
Other festival highlights included Christina Booth illustration workshop for little kids, ‘Let’s Draw Too Many Sheep’ and Nicole Gill and Bradley Trevor Grieve’s hilarious presentation, The World Is Great and I am Small.
Another highlight was the touching launch by Arnold Zable of Trouble Tomorrow by Terry Whitebeach and Sarafino, published by Allen & Unwin.
Launch speeches celebrated Sarafino Enadio’s life journey from boy refugee to UNHCR Peace Educator and his subsequent life as an educator in Tasmania. They also commended Terry Whitebeach’s remarkable writing and research skills and outstanding dedication to her craft, despite severe health challenges that would have daunted any other writer.
The Festival also included the launch by Christina Booth of Free Diving by Lorrae Coffin, illustrated by Tasmanian Bronwyn Houston and published by Magabala Books.
