As another busy year draws to a close, we reflect on the success of our 2019 program of events and start planning ahead for 2020. Now is an appropriate time to remind you that everyone on the WA Branch Committee is an unpaid volunteer and we are always looking for enthusiastic newcomers with time on their hands and a passion for children’s books to join our ranks. In 2020 we are specifically seeking a Secretary, a Make Your Own Story Book Coordinator and a Merchandise Coordinator so if you are interested in any of these positions please get in touch with me or a committee member.
We rely heavily on your financial support and know that you will understand how important it is that you renew your WA Branch membership in a timely fashion. Our membership fees have remained the same for the past five years while expenses have steadily risen so the time has come for a modest increase to the membership fee. This will be reflected in your membership renewal reminder which will be emailed on the first Monday in January 2020. Please help us by checking your inbox around that date and renewing promptly. Remember that members are eligible for a substantial discount at events such as A Night With Our Stars and the CBCA Book Week Dinner as well as discount on official CBCA Book Week merchandise.
Save the date Friday 13 March 2020 for our 17th A Night With Our Stars which is sure to be another sell-out event and we already have a spectacular line up of presenters ready to shine.
Thanks to the passion and enthusiasm of Jan Pocock and Beth Herbert, two of our southwest members, we are pleased to introduce a NEW event modelled on ANWOS and aimed specifically at those in the Bunbury/Busselton and surrounding areas. Our inaugural Afternoon Tea With Our Stars (ATWOS) will be held in Bunbury on Sunday 22 March 2020 so please mark that date in your diaries. Bookings for both events will open in late January.
Thanks to all who responded to the recent CBCA National survey proposing a change of name from Notables to Longlist. The response from CBCA WA Branch was overwhelmingly against the change with 78% of those who responded strongly in favour of Notables and against the proposed change to Longlist. 22% of respondents voted in favour of changing to Longlist. We await the final decision from the Board and will keep you posted.
My personal thanks to everyone on the committee for their hard work on behalf of the WA Branch this year and in particular thanks to Vice President, Denise Robins for her support.
As you would have seen from these newsletters there is no shortage of wonderful titles produced by WA authors and illustrators this year so I recommend that you put their books on your Christmas shopping list and purchase them from our wonderfully generous supporting bookstores who will offer you 10% discount to make your dollars stretch even further.
Best wishes for the festive season and happy reading!
Jan Nicholls CBCA WA Branch President
New contact details for Jan Nicholls
Jan's new email address is jannicholls55@gmail.com
Please update your contact lists by removing janbooks@bigfoot.com.au and use this email for all future correspondence.
Membership
At this time of the year there are often staff changes as people retire or move to pastures new. Please ensure that you keep us informed of your current email contact details and advise us of any changes we need to make in terms of the contact person for school and institutional memberships.
Contact Sharon Coppin at cyrilina@iinet.net.au
New Membership Fees from 1 Jan 2020. Note: Invoices will be sent out on 6 January 2020 for payment by 28 February.
Personal
$55
Institutional
$75
Concessional – includes SCBWI members, concession card holders, supporting bookstores
$40
Positions Vacant
Secretary
Make Your Own Story Book Coordinator
Merchandise Coordinator
If you are interested in any of these roles and would like a brief job description please contact the relevant person for details.
Secretary Liz Allen E: eallen@westnet.com.au
Merchandise Manager Trish Montgomery E: trishmont@iinet.net.au
Make Your Own Story Book Coordinator Denise Robins E: drobins@iinet.net.au
2020 A Night With Our Stars
CBCA Book Week 2020
Theme:Curious Creatures, Wild Minds
Dates: 22 - 28 August 2020
Stay tuned for the official merchandise image release!
CBCA Book of the Year Awards
From the desk of Margot Hillel:
Awards entries are going well. The Judges have their work cut out for them as the number of entries tends to peak towards the entry closing date of November 30. Photos and biographies for the 2020/21 Book of the Year Judges are now on the CBCA National website.
A selection of the official photos from the 2019 Book of the Year Awards event at Deakin Edge, Melbourne is on the National website.
A round-up of photos from CBCA Book Week 2019 has also been displayed here.
2020 Afternoon Tea With Our Stars
CBCA Awards Foundation
Silent Auction
Make Your Own Story Book Competition
Encourage your children, grandchildren, students and library visitors to get their thinking caps on for the 2020 MYOSB competition.
The closing date is Friday 5th June 2020.
Guidelines remain the same as 2019 and can be read from the 2019 entry flyer.
Congratulations to the winners in the 2019 Recipe Story competition:
Year 1-3 Individual Winner Zaim Ryroth
Year 4-6 Individual Winner Hillevi Kristoffersen Jewellon
Year 4-6 School Winner West Balcatta Primary School – presented to Tabitha Betti
School winners receive a book voucher to the value of $150 and individual winners receive a $50 voucher to be spent at CBCA WA Branch supporting bookstore, Beaufort Street Books.
The judges were impressed with Zaim’s super power Rainbow Smoothie for a friend who was “not feeling too good". Hillevi’s drawings of the ingredients for Corn Pikelets were “a colourful delight". Tabitha’s Clean Green Smoothie, loaded with healthy ingredients such as kale, coconut water, basil and avocado, won West Balcatta Primary first prize in the competition for a second successive year! Thanks to entrants, parents and teachers for taking part this year and to Healthway Go for 2&5 for supporting Book Week 2019.
Mary Gimondo and Nola Allen
Congratulations
Congratulations to Dianne Wolfer whose book The Dog with Seven Names won Book of the Year in the 8-10 years category of the Speech Pathology Australia Awards. Please click here for more information.
Book Discussion Group
Those attending the October Book Discussion Group meeting were treated to a captivating presentation by A.J. Betts which focused on her speculative fiction books Hive and Rogue. It was fascinating to hear A.J. speak about the original idea that inspired Hive and to outline the huge amount of research needed to ensure the underwater world of Hive and the above ground world of Rogue were scientifically possible and believable. Not only did A.J. read widely but she cycled and trekked around Tasmania and camped in the uninhabited Maria Island National Park to bring her fictional settings to life. Those of you who have read the two books will know what Jan Nicholls meant when she said, 'Everyone went away buzzing!' afterwards.
Gail Spiers Photos by Jo Morrell
November 27 Stone Girl
by Eleni Hale
UWA University Club
Members' Room
7.00pm - 8.00pm
Eleni Hale won the 2019 Readings Young Adult Prize. Please see this link for more information.
January 22 Invisible Boys
by Holden Sheppard
UWA Club Cafe
6.00pm - 7.00pm
UWA University Club
Members' Room
7.00pm - 8.00pm
February 26 This is How We Change the Ending
by Vikki Wakefield
CBCA Awards Foundation
Christobel Mattingley Appeal
For more information, or to download a donation form, please click here.
Paper Bird Fellowship Evening
On September 26 in the Paper Bird Gallery, authors Renae Hayward and Meg Caddy discussed perseverance in the art of writing. It was an evening of sharing vulnerabilities, finding humour and offering support along the journey to publication. Paper Bird Children's Books and Arts
The CBCA WA Branch applauds Paper Bird CBA on the establishment and ongoing development of this important Fellowship and congratulates Rebecca Newman and Sharon Giltrow who were announced as new fellows for Term 4.
Fremantle Press Booktoberfest
October 24 was a chilly night in Freo for the Fremantle Press Booktoberfest; however, with a sausage sizzle, a glass of wine and a list of talented authors releasing their latest work, the cold didn't stop an enthusiastic crowd of people filling the Fremantle Arts Centre.
Effervescent and witty MCs, Meg McKinlay and James Foley, introduced each author who then read a passage from their new release. The evening culminated with the introduction of Holden Sheppard as the winner of the 2018 City of Fremantle Hungerford award. Congratulations to the following authors:
Wombat, Mudlark and Other Stories - Helen Milroy Antarctica - Moira Court Maddie in the Middle - Julia Lawrinson The Lost Stone of SkyCity - HM Waugh Word of Dog - Megan Anderson Nora Heysen: A Portrait - Anne-Louise Willoughby True West - David Whish-Wilson Out of Time - Steve Hawke Invisible Boys - Holden Sheppard
Beck Borona Photo supplied by Fremantle Press
SCBWI Quiz Night
On Friday October 25, a large crowd gathered at Tompkins on Swan for the inaugural SCBWI quiz night. Funds raised will be donated to Room to Read and used for a SCBWI mentoring program for emerging writers and illustrators.
Booksellers, book buyers, teachers, librarians, readers and a whole bunch of children’s authors and illustrators surrounded white clothed tables laden with treats. Children's lit and general knowledge questions pursed all lips. I was actually an asset to my table. There's a first time for everything! It was a knowledgeable fun-filled event raising money to help connect readers with books.
Jo Morrell
The inaugural SCBWI West Quiz was a hit with all! Everyone was a winner, with plenty of brain teasers, games, illustrator duels and surprise celebrity guest authors & illustrators via video links. Thank you to all the organisers, our generous sponsors, and everyone that came along to make the night a huge success!
Cindy Lane
Photos provided by Cindy Lane and Jo Morrell.
2019 Celebrate Reading Conference
As soon as I walk through those magical doors at The Literature Centre I expect to be entertained and enlightened. Thanks to the superb organisation of Lesley Reece and her team, the tireless efforts of volunteer workers throughout the two days and a stellar contingent of authors and illustrators, the 8th Celebrate Reading conference was beyond my expectations. To give you a taste of the wonderful atmosphere, here are some ‘Conference Quotes’ from the inspirational presenters:
Shaun Tan
My stories start with landscape rather than character.
Good literature for children is good literature for adults.
My parents are here distracting me with their beaming looks.
There’s a real difference between fiction and making shit up.
The empty space is where the good stuff happens.
Lisa Shanahan
Truth in fiction is always collaborative between the author and the reader.
Bob Graham’s books taught me that small moments of unseen kindness count and that if you have a neat and tidy house, as a parent you’re doing something wrong.
Dianne Wolfer
Animal characters help children to make sense of history because any child can be that animal.
The book van coming to my suburb changed my life.
Stephen Michael King
I grew up in a house full of books. Mum saw reading as a way to unlock doors for me.
You’ll find me in all my books.
Glenda Millard
Stephen draws characters from the inside out. Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll showed me how the imagination can make perfect sense of nonsense. The Little Prince taught me that the most beautiful things in the world are felt.
Picture books are for everyone.
Leila Rudge
I knew from the age of six that I wanted to be an illustrator.
My son was my little rhinoceros when I was illustrating Once Upon a Small Rhinoceros.
Ronojoy Ghosh
Iron Maiden inspired me to draw.
Felice Arena
I read books to navigate reality.
I start with dialogue when I write. I feel like I’m looking over Specky’s shoulder.
I bought my first book at a Book Fair and it was The Bunyip at Berkeley’s Creek.
At the end of the afternoon the presenters for the 2020 conference, which will have a YA focus, were announced. Check the TLC website for details as bookings are now open
Gail Spiers
An incredibly inspiring two days of leading authors and illustrators, sharing heart felt stories to an enthralled audience of 200 attendees from across Australia. World renowned presenters, both local and interstate, shared sessions of pure magic, some with music and song, some with such strong emotions that we all needed a moment to “gather” ourselves afterwards. All of them proving just how passionate everyone in attendance felt about the ability of children’s literature to shape and change young lives.
Two Scholarships to this 'Sold Out' Conference are usually offered by the Literature Centre to support early career Primary School teachers. However, due to the sheer number of outstanding applications from across Australia, 7 were awarded! Congratulations to all the winners!
The Literature Centre, despite the many challenges of weather, was again able to deliver a superb 2 days of outstanding sessions, insightful conversations, beautiful exhibitions, well-stocked bookshops and illustrations for sale. And as always, sublime catering!
Cindy Lane
Environment Award
for Children's Literature 2019
Congratulations to the winners and a special cheer for our WA star Michael Speechley who won the Picture Fiction category. The announcement was made at the Hobart Writers Festival on September 15. Please see the article on the EACL's website.
2019 Prime Minister's Literary Awards
The Prime Minister's Literary Awards were announced on October 23 at a ceremony at Parliament House. Congratulations to all the winners. Find out more about the awards here.
Special congratulations to Emily Rodda and Michael Gerard Bauer who won the Children's Literature category and the Young Adult literature category respectively.
Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award 2020
The 2020 nominees for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award were announced at the Frankfurt Book Fair on October 17. We especially congratulate WA publisher Magabala Books and The Literature Centre on their nominations.
The full list of nominees can be foundhere.
Perform! Education
Recent Book Launches From WA Authors and Illustrators
Super Sidekicks #2 Ocean's Revenge
by Gavin Aung Than
Published by Penguin Books
Beaufort Street Books hosted the launch of Super Sidekicks: Ocean's Revenge after school on Thursday 12 September where author Gavin Aung Than gave a masterclass in illustration showing how he sketches his favourite characters using basic shapes such as circles and rectangles. He explained that he likes to focus on the sidekicks and helpers rather than the super heroes in his books. After a quick demonstration he then enlisted the help of the keen young volunteers to create some new drawings based on them and their own features. Kids and adults were equally enthralled! Gavin will be one of the stars presenting at A Night With Our Stars on Friday 13 March 2020 so save the date in your diary.
Jan Nicholls
Lemonade Jone and the Great School Fete
by Davina Bell and Karen Blair
Published by Allen & Unwin
Kids, teachers and parents gathered on Saturday, September 14 at Kyilla Community Farmers' Market, under a blue tent and a stormy sky. It was the perfect setting for the launch of Lemonade Jones and the Great School Fete, written by Davina Bell and illustrated by Karen Blair. We ‘pony punk-funked’ and ate unicorn poo whilst Davina read a passage from this second book in the series and Karen sketched. One lucky winner with a golden ticket in their book took home an original drawing of Lemonade Jones.
Jo Morrell
Who's Afraid of the Quite Nice Wolf?
by Kitty Black and Laura Wood
Published by New Frontier Publishing
On Saturday 14 September, the courtyard behind Paper Bird in Fremantle was packed with guests filling up on fruit and cupcakes for the launch of Who's Afraid of the Quite Nice Wolf? Children were treated to games and a colouring-in competition before Kitty Black welcomed everyone and told us how this sweet story came to life. The children eagerly crowded in front on the mat to hear the story read aloud. Kitty engaged her audience with questions throughout the story, and received lots of excited responses, including much roaring and growling. Afterwards, Kitty met some new fans and signed copies of their books. A lovely launch for a lovely book.
Beck Borona
Invisible Boys
by Holden Sheppard
Published by Fremantle Press
2018 City of Fremantle Hungerford winner Holden Sheppard is currently on book tour for his debut novel Invisible Boys. I joined the friendly crowd at Bassendean Library on October 17 to see him interviewed by the insightful Gabriella Filippi. Invisible Boys covers the important and fraught territory of growing up gay in a country town. The book is written from the perspectives of three very different boys, coming to terms (or not) with their sexuality. The story is deeply affecting and the prose is sharply observed, a kind of grungy, honest poetry, very Tim Wintonesque, that captures coming-of-age, coming-of-identity, and the WA town landscape perfectly. "This is the story of my heart, it’s the story I needed to write", said Sheppard on the way readers have been responding so positively to Invisible Boys, "It’s touching to hear from people, from all walks of life, who connect with this story."
Elizabeth Lewis Bottom right image supplied by Holden Sheppard
Twelve Days of Kindness
by Cori Brooke and Fiona Burrows
Published by New Frontier Publishing
Gorgeous spring weather and a colourful, bustling market made the perfect backdrop for the launch of Twelve Days of Kindness. Fiona's delightful illustrations beautifully showcase Cori's tale of friendship, acceptance, and kindness.
In conjunction with Rabble Books and Games, Fiona set up a cleverly decorated stall at the Kyilla Markets in North Perth on Saturday, October 26. There was a crafty area for children to add their artwork to the 'kindness table', and to complete kindness-themed activities. Rabble Books (represented on the day by the lovely Nat) also set up a display of Fiona's books along with other kindness-themed children's books.
Twelve Days of Kindness is Fiona's third picture book to be published in 2019! This multi-talented illustrator gave a moving speech detailing her incredible year. She also donated a signed copy of her book to Kyilla Primary School in thanks for the use of their market place to officially launch this beautiful book.
Susan Wray
Ollie and Augustus
by Gabriel Evans
Published by Walker Books Australia
Author and Illustrator Gabriel Evans unveiled his first solo picture book Ollie and Augustus on Sunday 27 October at Paper Bird Books and Arts and will host another launch in Bridgetown on Thursday 14 November.
A whimsical homage to dogs, this delightful tale emphasises the importance of being happy in your own company and recognises that it’s OK to be different.
Jan Nicholls
Little Book Bites
If you have a picture of a child, pet or any other interesting-bookish moment you'd like to share with our community to feature in our electronic newsletter, we'd love to see it! Please email it to beckborona@gmail.com.
Trouble in the Surf
Book Launch
by Briony Stewart and
Stephanie Owen-Reeder
Published by National Library of Australia Sunday 10 November
2.00pm
West Australian Maritime Museum
Victoria Quay
Fremantle
CBCA WA Branch Committee Members President - Jan Nicholls, Vice President - Denise Robins,
Liz Allen, Nola Allen, Beck Borona, Sharon Coppin, Jodie Davidson, Mary Gimondo, Julie Griffin, Felicia Harris, Sheena Matthews, Chloe Mauger, Trish Montgomery, Aniek Ragan, Gail Spiers, Jane Stanton, Sue Stopher, Nareeda Tillman, Sally Woffenden
National Board Director: Angela Briant Newsletter Editor: Beck Borona Website Manager: Aniek Ragan WA Book of the Year Judges: Sandi Parsons, Jan Pocock
