NewsSusanne with students in class

Awarded:-

  • The Lady Cutler Award for Distinguished Services to Children's Literature
  • University of Technology Sydney, Professional Achievement Award.

24-25th June 2008 – University of Salisbury Maryland USA literary tour to Sydney with reception with authors and illustrators. Guest speaker at the banquet at The Hughenden.

21st June 2008 – Director of the NSW Writers Centre Literature Festival on Literature for Kids and Young Adults.

2nd-3rd June 2008 – Voices on the Coast, A Youth Literature Festival on the Sunshine Coast Queensland.

26th-28th May – St Scholastic's Literature Festival, Glebe– talking to the girls about my books.

25th May 2008 – in celebration of the 60th Anniversary of George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty –Four, there's a reading of the book organised by Larry Buttrose with readings by authors. Susanne is reading at 3.50p.m.

16th and 23rd May 2008 – Writers at Work, University of Sydney, talking about the life of a writer and the process of writing.

15th May 2008 – Speaker at Leading Learning Through literacy & Literature Conference at Penrith.

2nd-5th May 2008 – Speaker on ‘That's Why I Wrote This Song' at the Biaennial CBCA Conference Melbourne.

31st-4th March 2008 – SCBWI stand showcasing books including ‘That';s Why I Wrote This Song' at Bologna Book Fair.

29-30th March – Speaker at the SCBWI Conference at Bologna Book Fair, Italy.

12th and 19th March – North Sydney Boys – Workshops on Journeys.

11th March 2008 – Speaking about That's Why I Wrote This Song at St Ursula's Kingsgrove.

23-24th February 2008 – co-RA head of SCBWI Australia and NZ, Conference at The Hughenden Sydney.

16-17th February 2008 – co-RA head of SCBWI Conference Perth.

11th-15th February 2008 – Western Australian Writer's tour to:-
Great Southern Grammar Albany, Albany Library and media tour including ABC radio Albany.
Eastern Hills School, Perth.

9th January 2008 – Speaker for the Mid North Coast Writers Association, Taree.

Susanne's Writing Events

For the latest in Susanne's writing news log onto her BLOG on her myspace site:

www.myspace.com/thatswhyiwrotethissong

12th December 2007 - The Society of Women Writers luncheon in the Dixon Room at the Mitchell Library Sydney with Susanne Gervay as the guest speaker.

5th December - ASA party, Monkey Baa Theatre's 10th Birthday Celebration at the Seymour Centre 5-6.30pm; Lateral learning's Christmas Party and the last Sydney Wrietrs & Illustrators' Network at The Hughenden for the year.

2nd December - Partners in Crime - 'The Use of Hypnosis by Police Officers by Forensic Psychologist Dr Wendy-Louise Walker - speaking to crime writers and enthusiasts at The Hughenden 4pm. Contact robyn_mcwilliam@bigpond.com.

27th November 2007 - Lady Cutler Award for Distinguished Services to Children's Literature awarded to Susanne Gervay by the CBC.

20th November - Afternoon Tea celebration with Lucas Heights Community School with Susanne as the guest speaker.

19th November - Publishers Book Fair at the Leichhardt Town Hall by the NSW Writers Centre. Susanne was Chair of the Publishers' Panel for small and new publishers.

17th November - the Queen Street Green and Clean Fair in Woollahra Sydney opened at The Hughenden. Authors and illustrators autographed their books including Dianne Bates, Moya Simons. Patricia Bernard, David Mulligan, Wendy Blaxland and others hosted by Susanne Gervay.

Australian actor Jack Thompson and his brother film critic, Peter Thompson made a special appearance at the Fair which was opened by the Mayor of Woollahra.

The Clean Green poster competition was judged by Susanne Gervay and won by Kambala Girls School - gorgeous posters saving the globe.

That's Why I Wrote This Song - events

Central Coast Launch Friday 3rd August 2007 at Erina Library - download the PDF

The Canberra Readers & Writers Festival 21st to 23rd September 2007
In conjunction with Lifeline Spring Book Fair at Exhibition Park in Canberra. Schools day is 21st September.

There will be workshops, panel session literary lunches, book launches and talks.
I will be speaking about 'That's Why I Wrote This Song' with Tory Gervay, my daughter who wrote the music and lyrics, and the film producer Rachel Guerry who translated Psycho Dad into a video clip. I'll be speaking on the public days as well as the School Day.
www.actwriters.org.au

The Australian School Librarian Association (ASLA) Biennial Conference - 2-5th October in Adelaide

I am a guest speaker and will be speaking on 'That's Why I Wrote This Song' on Friday 5th October 2007.

Susanne Gervay is the author of 'That's Why I Wrote This Song'.

Susanne Gervay is an award-winning author who combines writing with her background in educational psychology to create literature that goes to the heart of youth culture today. Her 'I Am Jack' has become a rite-of-passage book on school bullying while 'Butterflies' is defining literature on disability. Her books are endorsed by organisations including Life Education Australia, The Children's Hospital Westmead, National Coalition Against Bullying.

Session title: Rock music & literature: That's Why I Wrote This Song.

Susanne will discuss the innovative integration of creative mediums, integrating music and technology in her new YA novel, 'That's Why I Wrote This Song'. The lyrics and music were written by her teenage daughter, Tory Gervay. Realistic young adult books can be especially powerful and relevant, as they explore the search for identity that is integral to youth. Catcher in the Rye is regarded as defining, giving birth to the YA genre. Influential YA books are often cutting edge, breaking taboos and moving into new areas. In that tradition, youth rock music is integrated into 'That's Why I Wrote This Song', a cutting edge new YA book.

Susanne Gervay wrote the story. Tory, her teenage daughter, wrote the lyrics and music in this journey of four sixteen-seventeen year old girls and their relationships with their fathers - the good, the bad and the ugly - and how that impacts on their relationship with boys, each other and their lives, set against the rock music scene. Tory sings her songs which can be freely downloaded from the web.

Ipswich Online Literature Festival 12th September 2007.

Online Literature Festival with numerous authors chatting with schools across Australia. I will be having a focus group online on Wednesday afternoon. Check the programme online:-

1. Ipswich Festival of Children's Literature
Ipswich District Teacher Librarian Network - Literature Festival - The next festival will be launched on Monday 3rd September 2007.

Book Week Events August 2007

South Steyne lunch on the ferry at Darling Harbour on 20th August.

It's always fun with lots of authors and schools. Teachers and kids can get autographs from the authors and illustrators, as well as buy their books and get them signed. There's a talk and great food and the beautiful harbour.

I will be one of the guest authors and will have lunch with a table of kids and a librarian from one school. But anyone can come up and chat to me there.

Morning Tea on the South Steyne ferry at Darling Harbour on 26th August with authors and illustrators.

This is a fun morning and not with school. It's open to parents and kids and grandparents and anyone who loves books. There will be stories, autographs, illustrating and books to buy, as well as fun on the ferry talking to authors and illustrators. I will be one of the guest authors.

Bookings are made through the CBC office in Sydney.

BOOKFEAST 30th AUGUST 2007at Revesby RSL.
11 am to 2.30 p.m.

Kids, schools and teachers enjoy lunch with an author or illustrators. There are autographs, books to buy, people to meet. Speakers this year are James Valentine, Sue Murray, Felicity Pulman.

I will be one of the guest authors. I spoke last year and it was great fun as kids and teachers made jokes and asked terrific questions.

Bookings are made through Michael Fraser librarian at Fairfield Public School mjo51266@bigpond.com.

JANE AUSTEN AT THE MOVIES 1st September 2007.

This is a celebration of Jane Austen. There will be a panel chaired by Literary and Arts Journalist Andrea Stratton and panellists author and journalist David Dale, playwright Dr Will Christie, respected academic and author Susannah Fullerton and myself .

Speakers include Elizabeth Garvie, British actress who played Elizabeth Bennet in the BBC Pride and Prejudice, Gine and Andrew MacDonald, editors of Jane Austen on Screen and Jon Spence, author of the biography 'Becoming Jane Austen' and consultant on the film 'Becoming Jane'.

1st September, 10am - 4.45pm at Northside Conference Centre, cnr Pole Lane and Oxley Street, St. Leonards (Sydney). Cost $90.00 Bookings - phone Elizabeth Budge 02 9646 1476.

Writing for Children & Young Adults Festival NSW Writers Centre - 30th June 2007.

This festival was a sell-out. As the Director of this celebration of Australian children's and young adult literature, it was exciting to see the commitment to youth literature by the NSW Writers Centre, the authors and illustrators and the community.

Download the program in PDF