Graeme Base shares his gift of words and...

Graeme Base created this sensitive illustration of our koala – parent and child – caught in the bush fires. Despite the ravages of the fires Graeme brings hope with the small new leaves growing from the burnt trees and the bonding of parent and child. Graeme’s  poem is HOPE:- From the Shadows A world of ashes leached of life. The colours swept away. A paradise lies lost beneath a shroud Of ashen grey. And yet in time the veil will fall. The stream once more will flow, And from the shadows ‘tween the trees New life will surely grow.  With...

Teresa Culkin-Lawrence Illustrates for t...

SCBWI AUSTRALIA supports ROOM TO READ The Hope Card celebrating family by Teresa Culkin-Lawrence Teresa Culkin-Lawrence lives in country Victoria and watched the devastation of the fires so close to her olive farm and home. Her illustration of family life with its humour and hope is part of that journey towards re -establishment of life after disaster. As I put this HOPE CARD project together I am moved by the generosity and care of the children’s writing...

The Hope Card to Kids of the Victorian B...

The Hope Card from The Netherlands by illustrator Lee Delehanty SCBWI children’s authors and illustrators from Australia and around the world send their love and hope for the future to the children of the Victorian bush fires. This is the beautiful work from the Netherlands  for The Hope Card. I am collating illustrations  into a special book to be given to the Victorian schools of the bush fires 2009 with some original works. The Children's illustrators and authors of the...

The NSW Writers Centre, Publishers &...

The passionfruit soufle is back at The Hughenden. Fluffy, mouth watering, delicious. Maire Sheehan the Chair of the board of the NSW Writers Centre, Lisa Berryman Publisher for HarperCollins who always supports the festival and … the Director of the festival – (that’s me) …dug into the souffle last night while discussing the fine points of the festival on 4th and 5th July at the NSW Writers Centre. It’s going to be a brilliant festival with Melina Marchetta launching it. More details soon. Maire Sheehan Chair of the NSW Writers Centre and...

Not A Muse Poetry Anthology published by...

NOT A MUSE – Edited by Kate Rogers and Viki Holmes A bold, richly panoramic anthology of poetry from all over the world, exploring the inner lives of women in a post-feminist era. “Creator, lover, freedom fighter, explorer, home maker, myth maker… As this stimulating selection of poems proves, there is no such thing as an average woman—a notion upon which we might all care to muse.”                   — Stephen McCarty, Literary Editor, South China Morning Post Published by Hong Kong Publisher Haven and launched on International...

The Children's Bookshop Beecroft...

Susanne Gervay with kids at The Children’s Bookshop Beecroft hosted by Paul MacDonald Fabulous day at The Children’s Bookshop Beecroft -lots of enthusiastic kids, the bookshop full, the staff fantastic and Paul Macdonald the owner welcoming. Lots of great original illustrations with Australia’s famous illustrators on the walls – Leigh Hobbs, Marc McBride, Kim...

MonkeyBaa Theatre's 2009 Tour of I ...

Show comment We think that this show was absolutely AMAZING! The way that Tim played 11 characters was truly OUTSTANDING! As Tim was changing between characters we believed that he was the Nanna, or he was Jack’s mum. This play sends a wonderful message about bullying and how to overcome it. Somerset College – Celebration of Literature 2009 For details:   MONKEYBAA Theatre Phone: 02 9351 7938 Email: admin@monkeybaa.com.au; www.monkeybaa.com.au 2009 Tour Dates August 11-13 Orange Civic Theatre August 18-21 The Arts Centre Melbourne August 24-26 QUT Garden...

The 3rd Contemporary Fiction Festival at...

The sun was shining, the sky blue as people thronged into the NSW Writers Centre for the Contemporary Fiction festival. Festival Director John Dale, award winning crime writer welcomed the festival goers. The Crime writers Tom Gilling, Lenny Bartulin and Michael Robotham had everyone wrapped in their stories of murders and mystery. Lenny didn’t research much for his books and mostly used his imagination, while Michael used his experiences as a crime reporter to inspire his stories. Tom Gilling did both and all three were fantastic. Great day. Congratulations to the...

Newington Literature Festival Sydney...

What have these authors in common? Simon Higgins, the master of the samurai sword? Jeni Mawter and John Heffernan and a SPELLING BEE? John Marsden and his TOMORROW series? ……. and heaps and heaps of authors including William Kostakis, David and Christine Harris, Gabrielle Lord, Melaina Faranda, Scot Gardner, Barry Jonsberg ….. scientists, illustrators …. performers and audiences from Newington and lots of State schools? It’s the 3 day brilliant, fun packed, emotionally and intellectually exciting ….. Newington Literature...

Loved the Gold Coast and Somerset...

Snapshots of Gold Coast – went with Bill and Tory to speak to wonderful kids, swim at the beaches, celebrate literature at Somerset. Breakfasting at at the Radisson for Somerset Festival Kids who saw MonkeyBaa’s I AM JACK at Somerset Authors at Somerset Festival Somerset...