Roving (Captain) Revealed - Meet Dimity Powell

Well shiver me timbers I’ve just about run out of crew for you to meet. A wise captain never gives the exact location of her treasure but seeing as you’ve now had a good peak into my treasure chest (read; Roving Reporter team) you might as well get to know a bit more about the mad lass helming the wheel.

In our final instalment of Rovers Revealed, may I introduce you to…me, Dimity Powell.

Dimity Powell aka Chef de Brigade of Rovers

Dimity Powell aka Chef de Brigade of Rovers

Gold Coast children’s author, Dimity Powell considered herself a ‘bridesmaid author’ for a very long time, always shortlisted rather than spotlighted. That was until people started asking for her word-webs to include in anthologies, junior novels, school magazines, picture books, and even digital apps, one of which was Shortlisted for the WA Premier’s Books Awards 2016. Her picture book, The Fix It Man will reach bookshelves by March 2017. This makes her happier than a bear eating ice cream. She writes exclusively for kids because it’s crazy good fun and because she believes kids and great stories are life-essentials, like ice cream. Her writing ambitions are modest although she’d consider giving up sugar to hear one of her picture books read on Play School. Meanwhile, she enjoys her role as a devotee to children’s literature by giving writing workshops for children and adults and reviewing as many ‘must-share’ titles as she can online.

Unearth more at Dim’s Write Stuff.

Is this your first SCWBI Conference? If not how many have you attended, where?

This will be my second Conference. The first was two years ago in Sydney. This is what happened - SCBWI Sydney 2014 Conference.

What is the most memorable (SCBWI) Conference experience you’ve had to date, or hope to have?

My inaugural conference was memorable to the nth degree. It was a glorious consolidation of knowledge and literary relationships. I found the whole experience enriching and very satisfying, which sounds a bit unspecific but the thing that stuck was the ‘vibe’ I received from being there. Of course, it would be great to have a manuscript requested but that’s just icing on an otherwise already delicious cake.

As a creator in the Kids Literary Industry, what do you want to be best known for?

My propensity for story sharing, both the stories of others and my own. And that whatever I create is done with integrity and heart. To know my words are tucked away on a bookshelf somewhere and loved by someone is the best ending of all.

Name one thing you cannot live without.

At some point in any day, I will need my hairbrush. I really come undone without it. And did I mention my need for ice cream…?

Stick around for more interesting tip bits and updates from our Reporters as we steer our team into Sydney Harbour in September, ever closer to the SCBWI 2016 Conference.

Till then, Rove you Later!

Dimity

#SCBWISyd

 

 

 

Rovers Revealed # 4

I do love a good reveal. I confess, I’m one of those types who appreciate a bit of explanation at the end of a well-read tale so I can be sure of who’s who and what’s what and why it all ended up that way. Colour me duller than dishwater but for me, that beats being left in the dark with my (out of bounds) imagination.  Here at SCBWI, we never want you to feel in the dark either, so here is another of our Meet and Greet series reveals. Sit back and become better acquainted with two more of our sparkly Roving Reporters, Canetoad, Melanie Hill and Cockroach, Ramona Davey. *

Melanie Hill

Melanie Hill

Melanie Hill

Melanie has loved fairy tales since her birth in 1971. She has always written poetry for pleasure. The need to write fiction was dragged from her unconscious during hostage training prior to deploying to Iraq. Now, she is the matriarch of a wild gang of outlaw kids and is married to a former pirate. Melanie is terrified of crocodiles, mice and swamp monsters, but she enjoys cloud busting, travelling by train, and stories with hopeful (but not happy) endings.

You can follow Melanie on twitter @melanieahill, facebook under Melanie Hill Author, or her bloghttp://melaniehill.weebly.com/


Is this your first SCWBI Conference?

This is my first SCBWI Conference

What is the most memorable (SCBWI) Conference experience you’ve had to date, or hope to have?

I hope to come away with 1-2 new writing friends and ideas on how to improve my work.

As a creator in the Kids Literary Industry, what do you want to be best known for?

I would like to be best known for children's poetry, and action packed stories.

Name one thing you cannot live without.

I cannot live without my family. They inspire me and stop me from spending too much time daydreaming.

Ramona Davey

Ramona Davey

Ramona Davey

Ramona Davey was born in Jersey. She is an experienced primary teacher with a specialty in Art & Design.

Ramona writes picture books, junior fiction and middle grade novels. She has a passion for rhyme, quirky stories and historical fiction.

She also participates in Tania McCartney’s 52 week Illustration Challenge.

In 2012 Ramona wrote, illustrated and self-published a picture book called “The Jersey Twelve Days Of Christmas.” She also created it as an eBook for iPad with sound effects for iTunes.

Writers Groups/Societies:

NSW Writers Centre

SCBWI - NZ & Australia

Ramona is new member co-ordinator for SCBWI Aus/NZ – Sydney region)

You can contact Ramona on the following social media:

Blog: http://ramonadavey.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RamonaofJersey

Instagram: https://instagram.com/jerseyramona/

Is this your first SCWBI Conference? If not how many have you attended, where?

This year will be my third SCBWI Conference and I am really looking forward to it.

What is the most memorable (SCBWI) Conference experience you’ve had to date, or hope to have?

This year's may be the most memorable, as I no longer feel like a nervous newbie. As New Member Co-ordinator for SCBWI Sydney region I can meet and greet new SCBWI members and do my best at making them feel welcome and not alone. 

As a creator in the Kids Literary Industry, what do you want to be best known for?

Writing hard to put down children's books - whether it be through my humorous writing or for extremely interesting and mind blowing historical stories.

Name one thing you cannot live without.

Hand cream. :-)

 *Any assumption that either of these ladies resemble the creatures of their home-states is purely speculative and that of the author’s. No offence to either state, reporter or creature is intended, unless of course you are a Queenslander, like I am…

Better rove you later!

Dimity

#SCBWISyd

 

 

Rovers Revealed - Meet the Team Part 2

The wonderful world of children’s literature is composed of many varied sub-genres and styles. Today we get to know two people who create one of my penultimate favourite expressions of children’s literature, the picture book. So settle back and meet SCBWI Sydney Conference 2016 Roving Reporters, Yvonne Mes and Karen Collum.

Yvonne Mes

Yvonne Mes is a children’s author, illustrator and devourer of books from Brisbane via Amsterdam.

Her picture book Meet Sidney Nolan (Random House Australia) illustrated by Sandra Eterovic is listed on the 2016 Premier's Reading Challenge. Oliver’s Grumbles (Dragon Tales Publishing) illustrated by Giuseppe Poli was released in 2015.

Yvonne coordinates Write Links, is vice-president of Book Links QLD (Inc.) and has two decades experience working with children of all ages, abilities, and cultures.

Her three sons make sure she is never lost for inspiration. Her mission: sneak a quiet cup of coffee. Result: cold coffee and noise.

www.yvonnemes.com

Is this your first SCWBI Conference? If not how many have you attended, where?

This is my second SCBWI conference, the first one also was in Sydney two years ago.

What is the most memorable (SCBWI) Conference experience you’ve had to date, or hope to have?

I don't think that conference could have been any better, apart from all the knowledge I gained and the inspiring people I met, I connected with an editor through a paid session and was offered my first contract a few months later!

As a creator in the Kids Literary Industry, what do you want to be best known for?

Uhm, I would like to say my sparkling wit, but that is not likely to happen, so perhaps a never wavering passion and dedication to sharing stories with children

Name one thing you cannot live without.

Apart from all the obvious (family, health, food) I am going to say ... pretty stationery.

Karen Collum is a Gold Coast-based writer and teacher with a passion for picture books. She is an internationally published author with five picture books to her name. Karen’s latest picture book, SMALL AND BIG, was published last year by Windy Hollow Books and is a 2016 CBCA Notable Book for Early Readers. When Karen is not getting up ridiculously early to write, she teaches, chases after her four kids (and her husband), and tackles the never-ending pile of washing.

Is this your first SCWBI Conference? If not how many have you attended, where?

First SCBWI Conference! I’m a newbie :)

What is the most memorable (SCBWI) Conference experience you’ve had to date, or hope to have?

I hope to meet up with old friends and make lots of new friends. I also hope to have important conversations with people who understand the necessity of agonising over a single word in a picture books for days on end.

As a creator in the Kids Literary Industry, what do you want to be best known for?

I would love to be best known for writing top quality, hope-filled books about things that matter.

Name one thing you cannot live without

I cannot live without creativity. I get very cranky and unsettled if I’m not being creative in some way, shape or form!

www.karencollum.com.au

I understand your agony, Karen! Thank you ladies.

Stay tuned, another riveting meet and greet coming your way soon.

Rove you later!

Dimity

#SCBWISyd