Lisa Forrest, launches Ships in the Fie...

Ships in the Field is dedicated to my wonderful aunts who made the journey from war and communism to a new country and new life. Illustrator Anna Pignataro dedicated it to her immigrant family who were expelled from Egypt and found home in a new country and established a new life. It was such a pleasure to have the wonderful Lisa Forrest launch ‘Ships in the Field’ – Lisa will be the Olympics commentator on Foxtell in August. So I’ll be watching her report. It was such a beautiful celebration at The Hughenden with - Jennie Orchard from Room to Read...

‘Ships in the Field’ sails t...

How exciting to be welcomed with a huge window display at The Children’s Bookshop Beecroft  of ‘Ships in the Field’, a National Year of Reading event. Anna Pignataro the brilliant illustrator of ‘Ships in the Field’ loved speaking to authors, illustrators, teachers, librarians, kids and friends.  Anna shared her Italian-Egyptian background and how her parents were forced out of Egypt, while I shared my Hungarian refugee background – in ‘Ships in The Field’ – a story of finding home. Fabulous authors like Wendy...

The Launch of The National Year of Readi...

Author Ambassadors Libby Gleeson, Deborah Abela, Libby Hathorn, Peter Fitzsimmons,  Premier of NSW Barry O’Farrell, writers, librarians from the city and country, CBCA, Room to Read, Pinerolo Home of Children’s Literature Illustrations …. and so many from the world of books were there at the beautiful Mitchell Library looking out to our Botanical Gardens and Harbour to launch The National Year of Reading – www.love2read.org Richard Glover ABC radio presenter and author was warm and funny as he revealed that he was the nerd kid reading and living...

Michael Cathcart ABC National Radio Cele...

http://www.sgervay.com/blog/2012/michael-cathcart-abc-national-radio-celebrates-national-year-of-reading-and-room-to-read/ Love ABC – Radio National  RN Love Michael Cathcart from Book and Arts Daily and his warm interview Love being an Ambassador for the National Year of Reading www.love2read.org Love being an Ambassador for Room to Read bringing literacy to the children of the developing world.  www.roomtoread.org Love my first picture book – Ships in the Field – that celebrates my parents’ journey to find home Love Anna Pignataro’s...

The evocative illustrations of Anna Pign...

‘Gloriously illustrated with the delicate watercolours of Anna Pignataro’s brush, this beautifully written story has a lightness of touch but is a deeply moving honouring of family and difficult times past. The main character is a young girl who lives with her mum and dad and small brown bear. She adores her parents, who we learn, emigrated from another country and have had to trade in their old professions for jobs sewing clothes and working in car factories: stories which resonate in Susanne’s and Anna’s family histories. Small reminders of the old country...

John Wood Founder of Room to Read in Syd...

Supporters, writers and friends piled into The Hughenden to celebrate the contributions of Australian volunteers to Room to Read – www.roomtoread.org – bringing literacy and education to the children of the developing world. To date Room to Read has reached 6 million children in countries from Nepal to Uganda. John Wood founder of Room to Read established it 11 years ago, He is  in Sydney for the great GALA Wine event which raised $1 million for Room to Read. Jennie Orchard who founded the Australian branch of Room to Read and the author ambassador programme...

SCBWI Australia & New Zealand Confe...

Watch out for the announcement in the next few weeks. Check out the SCBWI Australia and new Zealand facebook pagewebsite. It’s a first come first served basis – so when it opens you need to book quickly as it’s a small intimate conference Australia wide and new Zealand. Some tid bits:- Jill Corcoran literary agent from the Herman Agency New Yorkmaximum of 100 delegates. Major Australian publishers have come on board including Lisa Berryman HarperCollins, Laura Harris Penguin, Zoe Walton Random House, Sarah Foster Walker Books ….. There are...

Frane Lessac & Mark Greenwood drop ...

LOVE seeing Frane and Mark the dynamic duo from Fremantle WA. They’re in Sydney meeting their publishers and doing the final touches to their hilarious new picture book based on a true story:- There is not a stir or a whisper when Louis de Rougemont steps onto the stage to recount his astonishing experiences. It’s the most amazing story a man ever lived to tell – a breathtaking tale of catastrophe and miraculous events. - But critics say he is an impostor with a gift for ripping yarns. -Are Louis’ tales true? Or is he the greatest liar on earth? The true...

Let’s Make 2012 Fantastic -Nationa...

Looking forward to a year where we can be part of a world community promoting literacy in developing counties like Room to Read – www.roomtoread.org or in Australia like Books in Homes www.biha.org.au It’s the National Year of Reading which is launched February 14 in libraries across Australia. Call your library and find out how you can celebrate. I’ll be at the State Library in Macquarie Street Sydney as an Ambassador for the National Year of Reading. The Cancer Council’s Relay for Life is a community celebration of those living with cancer and...

RAAF Hornet fly past for Oz Day Celebrat...

The sun was shining, boats in the harbour, yellow sands. New Australian citizens proudly received their citizenship from Mayor Rob Westbury. Lee J Collier Marshall lead 1000′s of people singing ‘Advance Australia Fair’ while three hornet jet plans did a fly past. I loved giving the Australia Day Address celebrating inclusion of all Australians. I shared my family’s journey as refugees from Hungary finding home here. My first picture book ‘Ships in the Field’ just released celebrates this journey. There were bands, Port Stephens FM 100.9...