Music, Rock, That's Why I Wrote Thi...

Danni in a scene from Psycho Dad Scene from the video clip ‘Psycho Dad’ where Karen wants to be a mermaid & escape her psycho dad and her Mum and belong somewhere. Pip her friend is there for her. Check out the video clip and the book. Showed the video clip at the ETA Conference this weekend to fantastic teachers from Orange to Auburn. They loved the way music, lyrics, film, Tory’s music life, my relationship with Tory were part of ‘That’s Why I Wrote This Song’. Great Authors at the Conference were – James Roy, Maria Boyd and...

Gosford High School, Writing, Gus Gordon...

Scene from videoclip of Psycho Dad Scene from videoclip of Psycho Dad written by Tory Gervay with lyrics and music that are part of my novel ‘That’s Why I Wrote This Song’ www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ess-R0dHtX8 Talking about music and story to teenagers was fantastic. Where? What was it about? Overlooking stunning Collaroy Beach on the Northern Beaches of Sydney – Home & Away TV material – with creative, funny, smart, funny and interested kids from Gosford High School and enthusiastic teachers, it was a writing-fest. Who was leading it? Great...

Halcyon Days with Ivor Indyk,Rodney Hall...

Dessert at the Hughenden Hotel Ivor Indyk publisher of HEAT magazine and award winning Giramondo imprint brought together brilliant minds and brilliant leaders in publishing. Over two days The Hughenden sparkled with intellect and wit as the ‘halcyon days’ of Australian Literary Publishing was recorded and celebrated. Bob Sessions Publishing Director of Penguin, Richard Walsh Consultant publisher at Allen & Unwin, Brian Johns Chairman of the Copyright Agency Ltd have histories that make me stand in awe. Their roles in Australian publishing are too many to...

Passing on the Lady Cutler Award to Dian...

Dianne 'Daisy Bates' and husband and author Bill Condon The Lady Cutler vase has been sitting on my display cabinet for 12 months. However the year has passed and Tuesday night was the celebration of the new Lady Cutler. It was awarded to my friend Dianne ‘Daisy’ Bates, multi award winning author and someone who has worked tirelessly for youth literature for over 3 decades. Sandy Fussell a new talented upcoming author gave a brilliant speech about Daisy’s contribution to massive applause from an audience filled with wonderful authors and...

Powerful Stories Engaging Youth – ...

Loved speaking to story enthusiasts at the Storytellers event at The Hughenden with: Felicity Marshall's Sage Ark afternoon tea real interest telling stories about writing for young adults Everyone had a great time – even had a visit from the CAKE FAIRY- well that was really ME eating cake -YUM. Some cool comments – ‘Susanne, you inspired me’ – makes me feel the power of story to engage. People enjoeyd the exhibition of illustrators work inthe Reading Room from Sarah Davies’ beautiful painting in ‘Mending Lucille’ to...

Hope for Cambodian Children HFCC –...

HFCC cares for 100 children just outside Battambang Camodia – giving food, shelt, education, medical care and hope for a positive future. Malcolm and Lucy Turnbull donated their offices for a wonderful fund raising event sponsors and supporters donated money to help these kids. Over $45,000 was raised. Sydney hotelier Tim Berry bought the initial land for the orphanage but it has so many people involved from providing books to teaching. An inspirational young teacher David McAuley spoke about his work there and the impact of this centre on the lives of the young...

Hughenden SCBWI PARTY with Oz Authors &a...

Heaps of fun with bons bons and great food at The Hughenden in Sydney. There were lots of authors and illustrator at the party:- Sarah Davis – brilliant illustrator of Mending Lucille – one of the most moving picture books I have seen. Jan Latta – environmentalist photographer whose picture books on endangered species are much loved all over the world – she’s off to Japan to see her publishers there this week. Sue Whiting – she showed us her Firefighters picture book illustrated by the talented Donna Rawlings – in hard cover with a...

Australia's Best Kids' Authors...

I LOVE TO NETWORK – Australia has the most wonderful, talented, funny, passionate kids writers and illustrators in the world. Well, that is MY VIEW. I LOVE them. So much news. He’s a bit of it:- William Kostakis – a young new YA author is bursting with ideas and energy – his first YA novel Lothing Lola is getting heaps of reviews and he’s writing a youth opinion piece for The Age. He’s working on his second YA novel. Jeni Mawter – the funny and wonderful author of the Freewheelers series and the SO GROSS series (that gross a few...

Melbourne Cup at The Hughenden with Rust...

Rusty & Mr Hellier at Melbourne Cup at The Hughenden Sydney Rusty the dog was dressed in his colours ready to woof for the Melbourne Cup. The Hughenden is pet friendly – that means man’s best friend is welcome. There were babies, ladies in hats, Mr Hellier in his formal attire, old people and young – all great fun. Prize for best hat of ‘That’s Why I Wrote This Song’ went to the punter with a hat filled with china cups – they weren’t from Melbourne, but pretty...

Kids Day Out with Duncan Ball, Frances W...

KIDS DAY OUT Jumping castles, face painting, sausage sizzle, kids, kids, kids & US. The authors entertained kids and adults under marquees overlooking Sydney Harbour in Blackburn Gardens thanks to Woollahra Council. The authors: Duncan Ball read from his fantastic funny poems. Frances Watts had littles in love with her KISSES FOR DADDY illustrated by the talented David Legge. I related the LITTLE RED MAN joke from my book I AM JACK and had EVERYONE laughing. FUN...