I AM JACK goes to SLOVENIA, the UNESCO World Book Capital of the year

Slovenia is a beautiful Alpine country with borders to Italy, the Adriatic Sea, Croatia, Hungary and Austria. The capital is the quiant, historic Ljublijana. There are only 2 million people in Slovenia and while the official language is Slovene, it is also  Hungarian. I wish my parents had spoken Hungarian at home as I was growing up. I’ve lost that language because it was seen as wrong to speak anything other than English then.

I met wonderful authors and illustrators from Slovenia last year on their cultural tour of Australia. They held their opening at The Hughenden in Sydney, with Australian authors and illustrators. The Slovenian Consulate came from Canberra for it and the Mayor of Woollahra Andrew Petrie gave an opening speech. They took a number of books back with them including I AM JACK.  I love the thought that it is currently being translated into Slovenian and will be published with illustrations by Cathy Wilcox.

Ljubljana is the UNESCO World Book Capital Role and I’ve been invited to speak there next year as part of this celebration of books.

Oliver Phommavanh Pre Launches Thai-Riffic with Booksellers, Authors & Fans!

Oliver is a stand up comedian, teacher, die-hard Nintendo fan, comes from Western Sydney and Thai-riffic is his first book

- it’s funny and quirky. Watch out for this catchy book and follow up  books.

If you like Paul Jennings, you’ll like Thai-riffic!

Shearer’s Bookshops, Bloomin’ Books, authors Jenny Hale, Deborah Abela, Chris Cheng, Wendy Blaxland and lots of other authors, Penguin Books, Evi the illustrator and designer of Oliver’s book, writing colleagues were all there to celebrate Oliver’s first book.

OLIVER IS A WINNER !!!!!!!!!

Penguin launches Melina Marchetta’s – ‘the piper’s son’

Filled to overflowing in an inner city Sydney pub Melina Marchetta launched her brilliant new young adult novel, ‘the piper’s son’ on Monday 8th March 2010.

”Thomas Mackee wants oblivion. Wants to forget parents who leave and friends he used to care about and a string of one-night stands, and favourite uncles being blown to smithereems on their way to work on the other side of the world.’ Discover the rebel without a cause, who discovers a cause in Melina’s new novel.

Melina starts a month tour of Australia for ‘the piper’s son’.  She’s taking one weekend of and I caught her in Sydney. She is launching ‘Fear Factor Terror Incognito’ edited by Meenakshi Bharat Professor of Literature Uni of Delhi and Sharon Rundle, lecturer at UTS 2-4 p.m. on 21st March at The Hughenden, Sydney.

Celebrating at Sydney Children’s Writers & Illustrators Network

There is so much good news at Network. There are lots of new books being published – can’t wait for Sue Walker’s new book ‘ Arnie Avery’  by Walker Books.

Laurine Craosdale is having her new book ”i Harry’ published in the hugely successful AUSSIE CHOMPS series. Penny Azar is writing fantasy. Deborah Abela is on her final draft of her new fantasy book and of course everyone is in love with her book ‘The Remarkable Secret of Aurelie Bonhoffen’, Dawn Hort is off to Canberra soon for her May Gibbs Fellowship and working on her new series. I finished my edit for ALWAYS JACK, coming out in October for Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Sadami Konchi’s new blog is getting lots of attention – look it up when you have a chance.
http://sadamisgraffiti.blogspot.com/

Beverley George’s book ‘the Preposterous Frog’ illustrated by a young South African Girl Tumi K Steyn is beautiful and a testament to creativity across the oceans. Beverley is a leading light in the development of Tanka and Haiku poetry in Australia. She’s been invited to Japan to speak about it which is a huge honour.

Other News: – Hazel Edwards’ collaboration with a transgender author Ryan Kennedy, on their book F2M published by Ford St Publishers, is causing huge interest – it’s about transition from female to male from a teen perspective.

Catholics School Girls, Often I Find That I Am Naked – It’s Darlinghurst Theatre’s New Season

Darlinghust Theatre is innovative, supports independent theatre, and it’s entertaining. No Duds at Darlo for theri 2010 season.  Huge thankswas given  by directors nd producer to Glenn Terry Director of Darlo Theatre

Catholic School Girls by Casey Kurtti – it’s the 60’s, a Catholic Girls School, the Nuns, the Girls, the the Pill, the Cane, laughs – just go and see it. Actors Helen O’Connor and Lucinda Armour gave a hilarious rendition of the play to come.

Often I Find That I Am Naked by Fiona Sprott – dating, single, speed dates, looking for Mr Right – it’s hilarious,  sad, high energy, lots of music  – and yes, a good ending. The Director Shane Anthony just came back with the play from hugely successful performances in Adelaide.

And there’s more, more, more – a psychotic Macbeth where terror is real, Bedroom Farce where relationships are real, Kiss of the Spider Women where imprisonment and the escape of fantasy are real, Winter’s Discontent with the very real William Zappa – this he’s a brilliant actor.

There’s quite a few musicals in an intimate theatre that make the audiences part of it – watch for the aging rockers in dysFUNckshOnal by Mike Packer -  and the classic The Importance of Being Ernest by Oscar Wilde.

Darlo Theatre reaches out into the community with Critical Stages ther National touring arm with Luke Cowling – as the Director – Luke is a fantastic director, producer and stage manager. How do I know? He was the stage manager for Monkey Baa Theatre’s production of ‘I AM JACK’ – which went from Sydney to the Outback.

You’ll love the Darlo Theatre and the tickets are affordable.

Emotional Launch of Child Abuse, Survival, Cults, Disassociation, Love & Hope – Dr Cathy Kezelman’s book ‘Innocence Revisited: a tale in parts’

‘Dr Cathy Kezelman has turned trauma to hope in her personal account of child abuse in her book’, said Senior Crown Prosecutor Mark Tedeschi QC. Tedeschi’s moving speech revealed that he has met child abusers in his court and they are capable of

everything Cathy experienced.  Cathy ‘conquered the demons to find her family and herself.  

GleeBooks was filled to capacity as Cathy spoke about  her life – the abuse, the silence, the final crash when all the memories came back in frightening memories – and the twelve turbulent hard years she and her family travelled to find Cathy and heal. Cathy’s 4 children moved the audience to tears as they expressed their love of their mother, and their father who stood beside them during these years of self discovery.  They felt that their mother had given them the gift of truth and the strength to strive for survival and find freedom. It was beautiful. They especially expressed their gratitude and love to artist Sue Meyer-Szeckely who had supported Cathy and the family throughout the years.

I was privileged to read the manuscript and endorse this special book.

Professor Freda Briggs AO Emeritus Professor of Child Development says – ‘I hope Cathy’s story will encourage oothers to create a safer and more caring world for children.

I AM JACK GOING ACROSS THE WORLD

I Am Jack the trailerI AM JACK on youtube I  never imagined that ‘I AM JACK’ would become such a loved book.

So far it’s in Australia & New Zealand, USA, Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia and is now going to India and even the  beautiful country of Slovenia.

Endorsed by organisations that are changing the world, including Room to Read bringing literacy to the children of the developing world; and  the Alannah & Madeline Foundation keeping children safe from violence, I AM JACK has many friends.

I’m having breakfast with Maree Stanley, Manager, Prevention of Bullying, for  Alannah & Madeline Foundation this morning. She’s in Sydney for National Buddy Week Buddy Picnic . Bullying is about isolating a kid. Alannah & Madeline Foundation work towards making sure kids have a buddy and aren’t alone.

Launch of Fear Factor:Terror Incognito Coming Soon

UTS FEAR FACTOR Panel – 15th March 6 p.m. until 7.30 pm at UTS Gallery

with Chair Dr Devleena Ghosh, Editor of Asian Studies Review and FEAR FACTOR  editors and authors – Sharon Rundle, Thomas Keneally, Meenakshi Bharat, Dr Andrew Kwong, Rosie Scott,  Susanne Gervay, Sujata Sanskranti, Jeremy Fisher and others from India and Australia.

 Medical Conference launch on Central Coast – 19th March 8 p.m.

with Professor Sturmburg and authors speaking and reading from their work.

Picador Launch at The Hughenden – 21st March 2-4 p.m.

Launched by international award winning author Melina Marchetta 

Fear Factor: Terror Incognito opens discourse on terrorism as it effects us all, as way towards understanding and working towards peace. Melina Marchetta is a strong advocate of social justice. 

Room to Read: John Woods Launches Leaving Microsoft to Change the World in Sydney

Hundreds of people crowded into Berkelouw Bookshop in Sydney to hear John Woods founder of Room to Read launch his book ‘Leaving Microsoft to Change the World’.

Room to Read’s goal is to bring literacy to 15 million kids by 2020. it has already reached 3 million young people.

Today Room to Read is opening a library every 4 hours and one school every 34 hours in developing countries.

John Woods moved the audience with his wisdoms that drive Room to Read:-

Where people are too poor to have educaton , until they have education, they will always be poor.

Room to Read works together with communities  

Room to Read is a CITIZEN MOVEMENT

Hope through ACTION.

Jennie Orchard the Australian Chapter head, has pioneered Room to Read in Australia leading an increasingly growing band of volunteers committed to raising funds to change the lives of young people in developing nations including India, Nepal, Cambodia, Africa.

Libby Hathorn and I are author ambassadors for Room to Read and were there to support the launch with best selling children’s author Deborah Abela.

What a fantastic event.

               For information on Room to Read – log onto their website www.roomtoreadorg

Publisher Kira Lynn, Kane Miller Books USA,SCBWI Sydney Conference Sept 2010,SCBWI at The Bologna Book Fair … and more

SCBWI Meeting at The Hughenden, this Wednesday was packed with authors and illustrators sharing great publishing news from:-

Nina Rycroft’s picture books being sold in the UK and USA,  Mark Thomason’s short listing for the WAYBRA Awards, Wendy Blaxland’s second series of 6 beautiful hardback books How are they Made? Macmillan Young Library with another series coming selling in Australia and the USA to Serena Geddes’ illustrations for  new picture books for New Frontier Publishers, with new books coming from Sue Whiting, Deborah Abela, Jeni Mawter, Chris Cheng  … and much more.

Last year there were nearly 150 published books by SCBWI Australia and New Zealand members.

There’s so much SCBWI Australia & New Zealand news

-the new Silver Kite Awards for regions outside the USA

- the Bologna Book Fair where Australia & New Zealand is represented at the SCBWI Conference by Sarah Foster Publisher Walker Books Australia, Frane Lessac Illustrator coordinator and Frances Plumpton NZ literary agent. 

- Dianne Wolfer (WA) and Corinne King (Victoria), authors  are doing a brilliant job organising the programme of countries presenting at the SCBWI stand at the Bologna Book Fair.

- the Speakers Directory for illustrators and authors on SCBWI Australia & NZ

- and the MAJOR NEWS that the SCBWI Biennial International Conference is at The Hughenden 17-19th September with Kira Lynn USA Publisher for Kane Books being flown in from the USA , Lin Oliver President of SCBWI International, film maker and children’s author and Australian publishers at an event that will promote the community of children’s writers & illustrators.

Look at the SCBWI website for more information: www.scbwiaustralia.org