Who Wants to be a Kids Writer and Illustrator? Sydney SCBWI Conference – brilliant!!!

The SCBWI Australia and New Zealand has to be the BEST ever conference with brilliant and generous publishers from HarperCollins, Walker Books, Five Mile Press, RandomHouse …. and heaps more …

and US fabulous literary agent Jill Corcoran from the Herman Agency

award winning writers and illustrators from around Australia and New Zealand

and more, more, more.

So many highlights:-

- the perfect sunny winter day at the NSW Writers Centre with brilliant panels and the best of Australian publishers shared industry news – including Tegan Morrison from ABC Books, Lisa Berryman HarperCollins, Sue Whiting Walker Books, Sarah Foster Walker Books, Zoe Walton Random House, Jeanmarie Morison Random House, Karen tayleur Five Mile Press … and more

- award winning deeply passionate writers for young people shared insights including Sally Murphy, Frane Lessac, Meg McInlay, Belinda Murrell, Hazel Edwards and more, more, more

The illustrators showcase with 37 publishers coming to find their new illustrators lead by frane Lessac and Sarah Davis with the creative designs of Lesley Vamos and the illustrator committee of Andrea Edmunds, Marjorie Crosby-Fairall, Serena Geddes

Manuscript critiques, industry talks, authors offered contracts … the business of the children’s book industry and craft and news and partying too …

James Foley award winning WA illustrator as lead singer, with award winning author Meredith Costain on the baby grand, the guitars with writer Scott Chambers and Crystal Kite International Award Coordinator Chris Cheng – and SCBWI sang and danced and cheered – what a night.

A partner of the National year of Reading 2012, NSW Writers Centre, CAL – with huge thanks.

SCBWI, Los Angeles, Tulsa Oklahoma with ‘Butterflies’ (Kane Miller) – I’m coming!

Love the community of SCBWI. I’m flying into LA and get to spend a few days with Steve Mooser President and co founder of SCBWI and Sally Crock who’s the IT genius always there for SCBWI. 

Can’t wait to have dinner with Lin Oliver, the Executive Director of SCBWI.

SCBWI connects writers and illustrators across the world.

www.scbwi.org

I’m in the USA to speak at the Kane Miller Sales Conference in Tulsa Oklahoma about my young adult novel ‘Butterflies’. How amazing is that – I never thought I’d get to Tulsa. The song bursts into my mind:-

24 hours from Tulsa by Gene Pitney

I plan to sing it all the way to LA, then Fort Worth Dallas, zooming into Tulsa.

‘Butterflies’ received a starred review from the School Library Journal.

“This hopeful, heartfelt novel will give teens an understanding of what it means to have a reason to be self-conscious. Librarians won’t be able to keep it on the shelf.”

- School Library Journal (Starred Review)

Kudos to Gervay for painting the reader a picture of a self-reliant teen girl who does not depend on a boy to make herself feel valuable. Highly recommended for libraries- school, public and personal- who want to add to their girl power collections.

- Swon Libraries

USA – Here I come!!!!

Butterflies by Susanne Gervay published Kane Miller USA

Butterflies goes to Tulsa Oklahoma

Guess where I’m going?

Tulsa USA Oklahoma – oil, Tornado Alley, home of the Creek tribes.

Tallasi ‘old town’ – is named from the Creek Indian language.

Why am I going there?

To the mega sales conference for Kane Miller my USA publisher  to talk to 600 sales representatives  about ‘Butterflies’.

I’m really proud it was included in the Banks Street College Best YA Books of 2012.

If you’re out and about in Tulsa – come along and say hello – I’ll be there 21-23rd June.

Bank Street New York – Best Books of 2012~ ‘Butterflies’ and ‘Orchards’

‘Butterflies’ is along side my friend and talented author Holly Thompson’s ‘Orchards’ in Bank Street Best Books of 2012 USA.

THE CHILDREN’S BOOK COMMITTEE at the Bank Street College of Education strives to guide librarians, educators, parents, grandparents and other interested adults to the best books for children published each year.

‘In choosing books for the annual list, reviewers consider literary quality and excellence of presentation as well as the potential emotional impact of the books on young readers.’

Look up BANK STREET  to see a very special organisation – www.bankstreet.edu

Holly is the head of SCBWI Japan and I am co-head of SCBWI Australia & New Zealand

Butterflies is endorsed by The Children’s Hospital (Westmead) Sydney.

Butterflies in the USA – Starred Review School Library Journal

“* This hopeful, heartfelt novel will give teens an understanding of what it means to have a reason to be self-conscious. Librarians won’t be able to keep it on the shelf.” - School Library Journal (Starred Review)

‘Heart wrenching and beautiful are the two words that immediately came to mind as I read “Butterflies’ …

Gervay paints a picture of Katherine as she grows and changes allowing the reader to believe in her as a real person. Unlike other teen angst books, Katherine does not dwell in her angst, but moves beyond it and chooses to leave the misery and find joy in her daily life.

Gervay allows Katherine to win at the end- not because she suddenly becomes amazingly beautiful, but because she always was beautiful and knew that within herself.

…. Kudos to Gervay for painting the reader a picture of a self-reliant teen girl who does not depend on a boy to make herself feel valuable. Highly recommended for libraries- school, public and personal- who want to add to their girl power collections.” -

SWON Libraries Royal Reviews;  http://www.swonlibraries.org/royal-reviews?a=dr&id=6255

Butterflies in the USA with thanks to Kane Miller

Natalie Van Houten I sold several copies to our local Children’s Home for a book club for teenage girls. Amazing book. We are priviliged to carry this title!’

The Kane Miller sales team are so special – they talk and love their books, including my ‘Butterflies’.

Butterflies which was an emotional roller coaster to write but an amazing experience.

Butterflies KANE MILLER 2011

It was so much fun having lunch in LA with my wonderful USA publisher Kira Lynn and the Marketing Manager Lynn Kelley of Kane Miller Book Publishers. THANKYOU KANE MILLER!  www.kanemiller.com

Butterflies by Susanne Gervay published Kane Miller USA

 Every survivor has a story. Often the story is of interest, and even more often instructive. “Butterflies” is the story of a burn survivor, and is both
interesting and instructive. It explores the complex areas of the emotional impact of a burn on the individual and family while giving insight into the world of hospitals, patients and doctors. It traces the development of the personality from insecurity and relative isolation to a healthier level of self esteem that enables the individual to form balanced relationships with family and friends. It shows how the inner person can triumph over a preoccupation with surface scars and know that basic values of commitment, caring and trust are more important than the texture of the skin.

 “Butterflies” has relevance outside the narrow circle of burn survivors and their families. It shows the ebb and flow of emotions that affect us all, particularly in the transition between childhood and adulthood, and how parenting and family life make these bearable. 

Those of us who are involved in the world of burns know how survivors need help from time to time, but slowly develop a depth of character and an inner strength which is rarely seen in others. Like tempering steel, the process of passing through the fire helps make a person of exceptional quality.

 “Butterflies” captures these subtleties for the reader, and gives a stunning insight into a difficult topic.

 Dr Hugh Martin OAM, President of the Australian and New  Zealand Burn Association & Head of the Burn Unit, The  Children’s Hospital Westmead, Sydney.

Kim Phuc -the little girl running from napalm Vietname 1972