The winds of change occasionally deliver divine surprises: the scent of new beginnings, the hint of new ideas, a promise of something exceptional. Today we meet two more exceptional members of our SCBWI Sydney 2019 Conference Roving Reporters Team.
Find a shady spot to sit back and welcome:
Cherri Ryan is an author who is inspired by the children and families she cared for as a family doctor in Australia for almost twenty years. When she is not writing or reviewing fabulous children’s stories for Kids’ Book Review, Cherri works in medical education, and enjoys helping organisations that help others.
In 2016, one of Cherri’s stories was animated and projected onto Brisbane City Hall as the Christmas Lights Spectacular. Cherri’s debut picture book, Spirit, illustrated by Christina Booth and published by Black Dog Books (an imprint of Walker Books Australia), follows a young girl with creativity, courage and sailing dreams.
Cherri lives in Queensland, Australia, with her family, one cat, two guinea pigs and many visiting birds and possums. Cherri believes in hope, joy, perseverance and the power of stories.
Is this your first SCWBI Conference?
Yes! And I am very much looking forward to it!
What is the most memorable (SCBWI) Conference experience you’ve had to date, or hope to have?
I am looking forward to meeting some friends I’ve known through social media for several years in real life!
What endears you most about the Kids’ Literary Industry and your role in it?
I love the way everyone in this field is so supportive of each other and encouraging. There is never fighting over who gets the piece of pie, there is only ever more pie!
Name one thing you cannot live without.
My family.
Sail away with Cherri on her literary journey at: www.cherriryan.com
Now, enjoy the breeze and meeting:
Yvonne Mes is a children’s author and illustrator from Brisbane. She writes fiction and non-fiction including picture books, junior fiction and short stories and has recently started designing pop-up story boxes. Her stories expand perspectives and invite feelings.
Her picture book Meet Sidney Nolan was published by Penguin Random House in 2015 and her picture book Oliver's Grumbles was re-released with Yellow Brick Books in 2017. Her short story 'A Starry Christmas' was animated and projected onto Brisbane City Hall over Christmas for two weeks. She is currently illustrating her first picture book.You can find more of her short stories in The School Magazine and anthologies.
Yvonne delivers presentations for grown-ups and is happiest when reading and performing stories with children (or grown-ups, or chickens).
Yvonne is on the Book Links Executive Committee, coordinates Write Links for children’s authors and illustrators and is a member of SCBWI, QWC and several other professional bodies.
Is this your first SCWBI Conference? If not how many have you attended, where?
Nope, this is my third in Sydney!
What is the most memorable (SCBWI) Conference experience you’ve had to date, or hope to have?
They were all inspiring in different ways, but I did get my first publishing contract after meeting an editor during my first conference, so that is hard to top!
What endears you most about the Kids’ Literary Industry and your role in it?
The shared passion of the power and beauty of story, whether written or visually.
Name one thing you cannot live without.
A THING right? You wouldn't want to make me choose between my kids! Let me think ... Yes! Hope. And Dreams. and Love. Ohh, now I have gone all metaphysical, that's OK, right? Right? Is that alright? Hmm, perhaps I can't live without validation... Is that a THING? Help!
We call that ‘mango madness’ in Queensland, Yvonne. But who doesn’t love mangoes!
Unearth more of Yvonne’s words and art at: www.yvonnemes.com
For more sweet insights into our team be sure to visit our garden again next week. Till then,
Rove ya later!
Dimity (Head Gardener)
#SCBWISyd
Images courtesy of Tania McCartney