Spring rains refresh cold limbs. Buds swell with new life. Days lengthen with promise. It is time… to unleash the gardeners!
Visit the fertile fields of our Conference Blog over the next few months as we introduce our magnificent 2019 Roving Reporter team. Each are seasoned presenters, reviewers, bloggers, authors and illustrators, all super keen to bring you the very best of the Sydney Conference 2019.
If you can’t make it to the Conference next year or are worried you’ll miss the finer details on the day, never fear - we’ve got you covered. And so without further ado, slap your gardening gloves together for:
Shaye Wardrop is a picture book writer, blogger and book reviewer. Science fiction and fantasy obsessed, she has a passion for stories with faraway lands, magnificent beasts, incredible journeys and brave little feet. Shaye is a member of the ACT SCBWI committee and a senior editor of Kids’ Book Review. You can find out more about Shaye at www.shayewardrop.com
Is this your first SCWBI Conference? If not how many have you attended, where?
Yes, this is my very first SCBWI conference!
What is the most memorable (SCBWI) Conference experience you’ve had to date, or hope to have?
I’m looking forward to catching up with SCBWI friends from across Australia and having awesome and amazing knowledge soak into my brain.
What endears you most about the Kids’ Literary Industry and your role in it?
Honestly, I love the community. I feel so lucky to have such a vibrant and supportive writing community to lean on and celebrate with as we travel on our writer journeys. I also love the challenge. Writing books for kids is hard (as I'm sure you know very well!), but I’m addicted to the challenge.
Name one thing you cannot live without.
Not trying to be corny, I promise, but it IS books! I don’t know what I would do without story worlds to fall into and explore. And I guess I should say my family, too, right? They’re pretty cool.
Keep your applause going for:
With a background in Media, Coral has always had a passion for telling stories and inspiring children with a love for literature. Coral has several children’s books published by Scholastic Books, National Library of Australia and Penguin-Random House.
Typically, her writing has a splash of rhythm, a dash of rhyme and is stirred with fun. However, Coral has also written non-fiction based titles including Meet...Don Bradman, Sorry Day and Grandma’s Treasured Shoes, which is set for release early 2019.
Her title, Sorry Day was launched at the National Sorry Day events in Canberra on 26 May 2018, and was shortlisted in the Speech Pathology Awards.
Born in Sydney, Coral grew up in Bangladesh. She has also lived in Melbourne, Geelong, Queensland, Japan, Indonesia but now Coral resides on the Mornington Peninsula with her husband and four children.
Coral has served on the Kids' Book Review team, the Caleb Awards Judging Panel, and currently works with the KidLitVic team. Coral loves story-telling and running writing workshops in schools and libraries across Australia and internationally. And as well as children’s books, Coral loves dark chocolate, good coffee, the theatre and of course the beach.
A writer of both fiction and non-fiction children's picture books, Coral Vass has always had a passion for telling stories and inspiring children with a love for literature. Coral has several books published with Scholastic Australia, National Library of Australia and Penguin Random House. Her latest release, Sorry Day, was launched at the National Sorry Day events in Canberra on 26 May 2018. Discover more about Coral at: www.coralvass.com Coral will be cultivating most of our social media channels with regular live updates as the conference unfolds. Follow on: #SCBWISyd
Is this your first SCWBI Conference? If not how many have you attended, where?
I have attended one SCWBI Conference back in 2014.....and loved it!! I can't wait to come back!
What is the most memorable (SCBWI) Conference experience you’ve had to date, or hope to have?
My Most Memorable Conference was 2014, where I met some very talented industry creators, who have now become dear dear friends.
What endears you most about the Kids’ Literary Industry and your role in it?
I love that I am able to play my part in contributing to the Australian children's literature landscape, I am given opportunities to inspire children will a love for reading, I am constantly learning more, and I am able to champion others to pursue their literary goals.
Name one thing you cannot live without.
The Bible...and a coffee!
Stick around the garden shed to meet more of our terrific team. Till then,
Rove ya later!
Dimity - Head Gardener
#SCBWISyd