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 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 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

Perfect your Portfolio with Donna Rawlins

If you were one of the very fortunate SCBWI members to be at this event, you’ll have spent an illuminating afternoon with one of the kids’ book world’s wisest and loveliest, art director and illustrator, Donna Rawlins. Donna had so much wonderful advice that it was hard to get it all down, but I’m going to try and condense it here.

Firstly, Donna wanted all illustrators to know that they are storytellers and that every illustration has to earn its place on the page. Art director and illustrator, Wayne Harris tells fellow artists, ‘You are providing the adjectives the writer has had to leave out.’

She added that you need to read and read. To be a good picture book illustrator, you need to be bibliophiles and your portfolio needs to reflect that.

Work to the Child Within You

Donna began by asking us our real ages ….many of us were about 8, some were teenagers. Others were 2 years old. Donna believes this is the age where something happened to us to make us aware of ourselves and made us aware that we were separate to other people. It is important because the greatest critic of your work is that child in you. They are your first real editor and if you take on a story that is not right for your age, it will feel like a chore. If you work to your age group, it will feel like a guilty pleasure.

The class was asked to bring along a drawing of their favourite nursery rhyme, (which were amazing!) to allow them to go back into their childhood and experience the picture as a kid and have that kid critique it.

Process of Choosing an Illustrator at Walker Books

Several illustrators are put forward to the team for a text. The aim is to choose the perfect combination of art and text for the best version of that book. It is always done with the author’s approval.

Once an illustrator has been chosen and the contract signed, Walker will ask for character sketches, roughs or storyboard.  

Donna pointed out that if a publisher approaches you, they love your work, trust you and firmly believe that you are the right person to do the job but to be open to direction. Art directors will always give notes (with love in their hearts), to entice your best work from you. Donna’s job is to know you and your work better than you from her experience as both an illustrator and art director.

Some Cold Hard Facts about Folio Submissions

All publishers receive many, many folio submissions and keep most of them on file, however, perhaps fewer than 10% will be considered to be of a standard appropriate for their list. Most successful submissions clearly demonstrate the artist’s connection with and love for books.

A Few things to Consider including in your Folio

• At least 14 pictures of your best work.
• Add a nursery rhyme (with text)
• Show a sense of narrative – include a series of 2-3 sequential drawings. Show pacing and consistency of character across different illustrations.
• Show some degree of emotional depth in characters eg scared, shocked, angry.
• Use an existing, published story and complete a storyboard for it.
• Include a rough followed by the finished drawing so they can see how you approach your work.
• Include B/W drawings – this may double you chance of getting work…there’s a lot of call for B/W junior chapter books.
• Media/Techniques – Show as much of a range of your versatility as possible. Choose a drawing and then do it in a different range of styles – charcoal, pencil, paint, acrylic, pastel, collage etc.
• Experiment with a book cover for a novel you love.

What’s the Best way to Submit?

• As a PDF that you email or collection of JPEGS on a disk with a selection of printouts of your best.
• Include a cover letter and add anything of interest about you that may show your range as an artist… eg you’ve travelled extensively, you’re a marine biologist or you used to work as an anatomical illustrator. Let them know about your brain.
• Never send originals.

And Just a Reminder…

• Publishing professionals change, so resubmit if staff has changed.
• Keep track of who you send your work to, what you’ve included and when. Find out who publishes what and make sure you address it to the right person.

Thank you so much to Donna for her advice, her knowledge and her warmth and generosity.  

Life Drawing at the Arthouse Hotel

Loosen up and scribble! Freshen up those figure drawing skills, we decided. On Monday 20th April we got out our charcoals, our 6B’s, and pastels for plenty of rapid-fire poses with one of the Arthouse Hotel’s professional female models. Peering around, it didn’t matter that both Marjorie Crosby-Fairall and I felt a tad rusty. The 40-odd other patrons represented all ages and abilities, each avidly sketching at tables and lounge chairs. Our model led us through 2-minute, then 5, 10, and finally 15 minute poses. In this casual atmosphere some patrons wandered in late, or surrendered the muse and left early. However, we were loving all our right-brain cells firing! Occasionally we managed to catch the essence in a few strokes. Or we’d get a tricky foreshortened foot to look convincing. At least, before we dusted charcoal off our fingers we’d dusted away some of the cobwebs around our figure drawing skills. The Arthouse is a 5 minute stroll from Town Hall station, so we’ll turn up again. Early arrival is good. We got the best seats plus the chance to chat over Monday night’s cheap pizza.

by Jenny Hale

The next SCBWI meet up for Life Drawing is July 27th 2015. Meet under the Mona Lisa mural!

Meet other SCBWI members in the Hotel foyer under the Mona Lisa mural!