25th August Reading Hour, Teacher Librarians – Embrace National Year of Reading

Loved talking to the teacher-librarians at Maroubra Junction Public School in the eastern Suburbs of Sydney.

 The Reading Hour is on the 25th August – mums and dads, teachers and kids, grocers and butchers, life savers and dog trainers …. EVERYONE … are going to pick up a book and read for the National Year of Reading 2012.

Pick up a book and read – in a group, under a tree, with friends …. it’s cool and colossal.

www.love2read.org

Kate Colley shared her favourite new books – you can always count on Bloomin’ Books.

I shared ‘Ships in the Field’ and the complex issues within Anna Pigantaro’s painting:-

- the dog of war and the dog of hope

- the fighter planes becoming birds of hope

- refugees who are transparent and become so small as they board the ships

- and …..

-with some of my favourite people – teacher-librarians.

Coffs Conference Celebrates National Year of Reading

Love being an ambassador for the National Year of Reading.

Just came back from two days in Coffs Harbour when I was invited as an Ambassador to speak to 100′s of kids, parents, teachers and fantastic teacher-librarians from the Lismore Diocese.

Spoke about Room to read www.roomtoread.org – partner with National Year of Reading – bringing literacy to the children of the developing world.

It was a celerbation of reading and loved sharing my Ships in the Field, JACK books, ‘Butterflies’, ‘That’s Why I Wrote This Song’ and special bonus is that Coffs is beautiful!

Thankyou to Mary Walsh Deputy Principal at Mary Help of Christians School Sawtell and Karen Bale teacher-librarian and all the librarians.

Had a great time.

www.love2read.org

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, Rosanne Hawke, …..

National Year of Reading celebrated there with ambassadors Felice Arena, Deborah Abela and me.

National year of reading 2012, Ambassadors at Somerset Festival are Susanne Gervay, Deborah Abela, Felice Arena

Somerset Celebration of Literature Festival on the Gold Coast

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 phommavanh author at somerset celebration of literature gold coast

Oliver Phommavanh – Thai -riffic!!!!; Con- Nerd and new book coming – huge success

Karen Brooks – fabulous fantasy author

Jacqueline Harvey -author of the run away success Alice Miranda

Michael Wagner -watch out for hilarious Maxx Rumble series

Leigh Hobbs -iconic illustrator and creator of Old Tom, Horrible Harriet and Mr Chicken

….. and hamming it up authors Tristan Bancks and James Roy ….watch this space for more

National year of reading 2012, Ambassadors at Somerset Festival are Susanne Gervay, Deborah Abela, Felice Arena

Gabrielle Wang, Dianne Bates, Michael Panckridge, Phil Kettle, Meredith Costain, Paul Collins & more -feast with books ~ Keeping Books Alive 26th Nov

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 intimate and fabulous.

It’s subsidized for the day at $110 which includes dinner, talks, cocktails and canapes in the beautiful RACV Melbourne. Near the railway station.

I’m in Melbourne to receive the Australian Family Therapists Award for ‘Always Jack’ and will be speaking on a panel at 10.45 at the Keeping Books ALIVE Conference.

Presented by the Australian Children’s Literary Board.

Booking: Rob Leonard rob@ozkids.com.au

ph: 03 5282 8950

Say hello to me if you can make it.

Love to see you there. 

Susanne

Society of Women Writers’ Weekend with Mark Tredinnick, Libby Hathorn, Maria Hill

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 multi award winning poet of collections including ‘Fire Diary’, ‘The Blue Plateau’, ‘The Lyrebird’ – he has the voice of a Shakespearean actor and when combined with his evocative poetry, it held us all captive.

Libby Hathorn international and national award winning author inspired many to write.

All the speakers were inspiring – Catherine Hammond, Sally Swain, Jan Cornall. Special thanks to talented author Lindsay Lewis, Peg McColl, Maria Hill and of course Bridget McKern for organising a fabulous weekend.

I loved speaking about the inspiration for my writing from ‘I Am Jack’ to ‘Butterflies’ to ‘That’s Why I Wrote This Song’.