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Book Links StoryArts Brisbane Program 2024
Saturday 19 October 2024
8.30 – Registration
9.00 – 9.10 – The Edge Auditorium Welcome. Announcement of the winner of the Book Links Mentorship – Robyn Sheahan-Bright
9.15 – 10.25 – The Edge Auditorium – Publishing with Passion: a panel session with publishers – Robyn Sheahan-Bright
This session will offer an insight into the publishing process – what publishers are looking for in assessing or commissioning a manuscript, and the key professional aspects of publishing. It will cover some of the ways in which publishers promote their works in the general trade market – via social media, for example; and also in schools – how they link books with the Australian Curriculum via teachers’ notes or other materials. What are the trends? What are their recent releases? What has changed in publishing in recent times? What is their ‘top tip’ to being published? This session will also allow audience members to quiz panellists about these and other topics relevant to being published.
Speakers: Cathy Vallance (UQP), Meg Whelan (Affirm Press), Marisa Pintado (Hardie Grant), James Layton (Larrikin House). Annabel Barker (Agent)
10.30 – 11.00 – The Edge Auditorium – Morning Tea and display of illustration portfolios at The Edge
11.00 – 3.40 – The Edge Bay Windows – Manuscript and Portfolio Feedback: Cathy Vallance (UQP), Meg Whelan (Affirm Press), Marisa Pintado (Hardie Grant), James Layton (Larrikin House), Annabel Barker Agent
11.00 – 12.00 – The Edge Auditorium – Writing and Illustrating with Passion: a panel session with book creators – Chair: Robyn Sheahan Bright
This session will trace four writers’ and illustrators’ creative journeys. How did they get started? What are the main ways in which they have been assisted in their careers? What are the challenges or pitfalls? What drives their passion for writing or illustration, eg. a quest for the perfect picture book, an interest in non-fiction, digital media, or some other aspect of their craft? How would they describe their writing/illustrating process? What is their ‘top tip’ to prospective writers or illustrators? And as advice to teachers and librarians, what is one good idea with which to engage young writers and readers?
Speakers: Amie Kaufman, Briony Stewart, Peter Carnavas, Katrin Dreiling
12.05 – 1.05 – The Edge Auditorium – Amie Kaufman
When Amie Kaufman talks about her book The World Between Blinks at festivals, the bookshop sells out. Join us as Amie demonstrates her presentation, then sits down with Rebecca Sheraton to answer her questions — and yours! — about the writing of the book, the creation of the presentation, her research process, and much more.
12.05 – 1.05 – Meeting Room 1B – Briony Stewart
How does a 30-year-old pop-song become a picture book? How does a funeral inspire a baby book? Why would anyone illustrate a picture book with a medium they hate? Briony Stewart believes strongly in the narrative power of picture books. In this talk she explores the deep personal connections, unusual processes and stories behind the stories of some of her latest picture book creations including Gymnastica Fantastica and her new book Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about the Tooth Fairy (And Some Things You Didn’t).
1.10 – 2.20 Lunch at The Edge Auditorium – Portfolios on display with Yvonne Mes (Publishers view portfolios 2:00 – 2:20)
2.25 – 3.45 – in The Edge Auditorium – Amie Kaufman and Peter Carnavas – Chair: Mia Macrossan
2.25 – 3.45 – in Meeting Room 1B – Ask the Artist: Illustrators in Conversation – with each other! – Chair: Lara Cain Gray
In this session, we invite accomplished picture book artists Briony Stewart and Katrin Dreiling to ask each other their creative FAQs. What’s your favourite medium for picture book illustration? Do you prefer to write and illustrate a book, or illustrate someone else’s words? How do you digitise your hand drawn artwork? More than a conventional Q & A, this is two professionals in dialogue about the real nitty gritty of publishing from the illustrator’s perspective.
Speakers: Briony Stewart and Katrin Dreiling
4.00 – 5.15 – The Edge Auditorium – ‘First Page’ Pitches – Mia Macrossan reads. The ‘first page’ pitches will be read aloud by a narrator to a panel of publishers and agents who will provide comment. The audience watch on. This is a blind reading and audience will not know the identity of the author. Authors will need to submit their manuscripts in advance. The session will also provide other attendees with a chance to learn what attracts the attention of agents and publishers when seeking new books for children’s lists.
Panel: Cathy Vallance (UQP), Meg Whelan (Affirm Press), Marisa Pintado (Hardie Grant), James Layton (Larrikin House), Annabel Barker Agent
6.30 – BSAB Networking Event at The Plough Inn – MC Yvonne Mes
Activities to get you networking together over food and drinks. An opportunity to actively mingle with industry professionals and creatives.
Sunday 20 October 2024
The Edge Window Bays
8:00 – Registration at The Edge
8.30 – 9.30 – The Edge Window Bays – Pitch party (15 X 3 min pitches) with Cathy Valance (UQP), Meg Whelan (Affirm Press), Marisa Pintado (Hardie Grant), Kristy Bushnell (Editor), Annabel Barker (Agent)
Free addon for those who book a workshop.
9.45 – 12:45 – SLQ Meeting Room 1B – Crafting Distinctive Characters – Amie Kaufman
In this workshop, participants will learn about why voice matters and the many purposes it serves, pick up tips and tricks for building distinctive character voices, discuss how to add depth to their characters through their voice, as well as covering point of view, ensemble casts, unreliable narrators, and more. Come ready to write — there will be exercises, as well as plenty of time for writing and publishing Q&A!
1:30 – 3:15 – SLQ Meeting Room 1B – Writing stories with heart – Peter Carnavas
In this workshop, Peter will demonstrate how to craft a story that stays with readers, how to write with feeling, without straying into the sentimental. The session will focus on big-picture ideas, character motivation, voice, and the small details of choosing just the right words that leave an impact.
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9.45 – 3.15 – Heritage Room Level 4 State Library – Picture Book Intensive – Briony Stewart
Author and Illustrator Briony Stewart pulls back the curtain on the creation some of her latest award-winning picture books and shares some of her tips and processes in this hands-on, full-day workshop. Focusing on tricky areas such as rhyming and cadence, composition, and colour, this workshop will have you scrawling, scribbling and playing with ink in fun, and thoughtful, new ways.
9.45 – 3.15 The Edge Window Bays Manuscript and Portfolio Feedback: Cathy Valance (UQP), Meg Whelan (Affirm Press), Marisa Pintado (Hardie Grant), Annabel Barker (Agent), Kristy Bushnell (Editor).
11:00 – 11:20 – Morning Tea supplied at venue
12:45 – 1:30 – Lunch supplied at venue
This program is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
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