SCBWI Conference

Last weekend was the third SCBWI conference held at the Hughenden Hotel in Woollahra in Sydney.


View from our balcony, entrance via the bathroom! We looked over the road to Centennial Park where we walked early Saturday morning and Corinne Fenton convinced me to put my name in the hat for a pitch. The pitch was to three publishers in front of the entire delegation. Gulp!

These swans seem stuck in a circle...

It's Spring!




In a (some may say) crazy session, authors and illustrators had the chance to put their card in a container for possible selection to do a pitch. Sounds painless? Those whose names were drawn stood in front of the entire delegation and facing three publishers. They had five minutes to 'sell' their project to the publishers and get an instant response from the three publishers. Nerve wracking! Chris Bell was first person drawn to do a pitch. She did a great job, even adopting a Scottish accent to introduce her main character. I was third card picked.

Okay, so I didn't take as many photos as I could have on the first day. Here we are at Sunday and Susanne Gervay is launching Sue Whiting's 'Get a Grip, Cooper Jones', a novel first titled 'Feral Feet'. Susanne was NOT a fan of this first title.

Sue talked about the jokebook that generated the idea for 'Get a Grip, Cooper Jones', a book of jokes about men...none very flattering to men.


Tracey Hawkins won the competition at Sue's launch. All she had to do was tell a joke. And she did.

Sue signing books.


Leonie Tyle launching Nette Hilton's 'The Innocents', a YA novel sure to unsettle readers with its portrayal of innocence and evil.

Nette Hilton


Susanne talking about the Hope Card, for all school children affected by the Black Saturday fires in Victoria in 2009.

Original artwork from around the world.

Mexico.


Frane Lessac's pic, WA.

Marjory Gardner' pic Vic

Diane Wolfer talking about Bologna.

Corinne and Bologna images.

Delegates

Co-RA Chris Cheng

Leader of the pack, world SCBWI co-founder Lin Oliver.