Brilliant Somerset Young People...

Thankyou to Darcy and Will who hosted me – great year 11 students who are fans of ‘The Cave’. Loved having lunch with Angela Sunde, Dimity Powell, Renee Taperell and Queensland writers. The cocktail party was such a gorgeous event, with the Somerset students dressed as nerds in love with books. The poem that incoporated all the authors created by Somerset leaders was terrific. The cocktail party was hilarious. Lots of authors joined in the fun – Scott Westerfield, Leigh Hobbs, Michael Wagner,Feline Arena, Ursula Dubosarsky, Wendy Orr, Deborah Abela,...

Somerset Celebration of Literature Festi...

Love, Love, Love…. this festival. The sun is shining, tropical palms wave in the breeze, the Radisson Resort welcoming … and there’re friends, friends, friends. We head for the pool – author Deborah Abela and picture book author Frances Watts  were splashing around.  So was author Felice Arena. I swim 20 laps and relax in the jacuzzi. We had a great welcome from Festival Director Andrea Lewis, Deputy Headmaster Michael Brohier and Festival programmer Karen Mackie and a fabulous dinner. Caught up with so many cool authors and illustrators:- oliver...

Gabrielle Wang, Dianne Bates, Michael Pa...

It’s going to be a fabulous day with authors, from award winning to best sellers author – everything from books for boys to No to bullying to fantasy to reading for the future. Keeping Books Alive day is supporting Young Australian Art & Writers as well with awards at the dinner. There’re books signings, prizes, meet and greet with authors, storytelling and dinner with some of Australia’s loved authors – Gabrielle Wang, Dianne Bates, Michael Salmon, Phil Kettle, Meredith Costain, Paul Collins, Michael Panckridge …. and it’s...

Society of Women Writers’ Weekend ...

A retreat in the country, some of Australia’s most renowned authors with women writers – it’s all wonderful with a dash of spirituality at the Brahma Kumaris Inner Space Centre a retreat overflowing with roses, bush walks, lakes, birds. President of Society of Women Writers Bridget Mckern welcomed us. She led the Shibashi in the gardens where we moved and stretched into this special sense of peace. Love it! Highlights:- Dr Maria Hill, historian and author of ‘Diggers and Greeks’ who totally engaged us in creative history. Dr Mark Tredinnick...

Frane Lessac & Susanne Gervay go wh...

Screaming in each other’s arms – the brave duo of Frane and Susanne are zipping to Nami Island from the mainland skyrocketing from great heights to the island of...

Wandering in living art on Nami Island...

Nami Island is a surprise:- Hans Christian Anderson Gallery with a magnificent exhibition of international picture books on Peace Ostriches, rabbits, fluffy eared squirrels (not possums) Ceramic making, arts and crafts Halls of children’s painting from around the world Autumn trees that warm the soul Books everywhere – even in the toilets Surprising artworks Architecture, wishing wells, tables, arts and more made from recycled...

PEACE STORY Nami Island...

Frane and I held our breath as we walked down the road on Nami Island and saw our work. Our story – To East Timor With Love from Australia.It marked the beginning of a parade of 22 stories and art from the IBBY-Nami Island book Peace Story. There are stories from Germany, Sudan, Austria… and of course Korea. The Korean one is beautiful about the Korean Demilitarised Zone that has peace for a short time to help an injured deer. The illustrations are emotional. Frane and I are so proud to represent Australia here. We’re meeting consuls, artists,...

Nami Island A Home to Youth Literature &...

It’s a hour drive out of Seoul. The ferry is marked by flags from all over the world as Frane Lessac and I enter Naminara Republic – an island dedicated to young people, books, nature & sustainibility. Korea has a 1000 year history of a love of the arts and literature. Nami Island is now part of that. Nami Island Hotel is filled with the works of artists who have stayed at Nami Island. Each room is the work of another artist. One of Korea’s most famous children’s illustrators KANG WOO HYON welcomes us to his amazing studio filled with a...

Taking SCBWI to Demilitarized Zone DMZ N...

We’ve been ordered – no torn jeans (Frane has a hole in hers), no cameras (I didn’t hear), no pointing(a guard shouted at a pointing idiot), no kidding – Frane and I are heading for DMZ – the demilitarised Zone between North and South Korea. Mission: Stand in North Korea and don’t get shot. The wonderful hosts of Nami Island have organised this tour to the DMZ. We’re with Beaky and Hopper- who are holding the SCWBI, Aussie and South Korean flag. (Hint they are furry Aussie icons).   Frane of course asked a guard in dark...

PEACE STORY by NAMIbooks-a book for Yout...

Peace Story is a collection of illustrated stories commissioned for NAMBOOK-2010,the Nami Island Children’s Book Festival Korea. Each new story was made by artists and writers from across the furthest reaches of the globe.       ‘Despite hardships and against the odds artists who think,  speak, draw and dedicate themselves to children agreed to dream too. So we gather under the banner of one purpose: together to create a small world of peace and hope.’ Naminara Republic, Nami Island Korea, ‘Given in the Spirit of Peace and Hope’. The...