Meet the Roving Reporters: Sarah Wallace & Maria Parenti-Baldey

Days lengthen and colours intensify. Not long till summer now… And not long until you get to meet the fantastic SCBWI 2019 Sydney Conference team. But why wait? Today, meet two more of our colourful Roving Reporter team. Wave your blossom pom poms about for:

Sarah Wallace

Sarah Wallace is a writer and reviewer with a passion for education and children’s literature. She is a children’s book reviewer for Kids’ Book Review and has been regularly publishing reviews for the last couple of years on everything from picture books to middle grade novels to non-fiction reference books. Sarah loves writing in all its forms and has been busy penning her own stories in recent times, some of which she hopes to eventually publish.

Sarah is actively involved in the children’s literature community, regularly attending and volunteering her time at SCBWI, CBCA and ACT Writers Centre events. In 2017, she was a judge in the Children’s Book Council of Australia ACT Branch Make Your Own Story Book Competition. She had the pleasure of reading some of the picture books created by talented primary school students and seeing their delight at accepting their prizes at the awards ceremony.

Sarah has spent most of her career in government education policy and advocates for the role of literature in education. She was worked for the Australian Government Department of Education and Training for 18 years and for the last 10 years has specialised in early childhood education policy. She holds a BA (English) and Postgraduate Certificate in Education.

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

Yes this is my first SCWBI conference, although I have attended numerous smaller local SCBWI events around the ACT region.

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

I’m looking forward to sharing my passion with like minded people, discovering new and exciting talents in children’s literature and hearing and learning from a range of experienced speakers.

What endears you most about the Kids’ Literary Industry and your role in it?

The Kids’ Literary Industry is filled with the most supportive and genuine people, who all have a passion for what they do. I love being a part of it as I truly believe in the power of children’s books to shape futures and change lives.

Name one thing you cannot live without.

Books, of course. Silly question really.

You can join Sarah’s journey at: www.sarahjwallace.com

It’s time to star-jump for:

Maria Parenti-Baldey

Maria is a primary teacher, public speaker and journalist. She has worked in public relations (PR) and communications. She is passionate about connecting children to authors and illustrator through books – particularly in rural areas. Her blog includes authors, illustrators and storytellers workshop tips.

Her recent achievements include:

• 2018 BookLinks News – monthly newsletter

• Australian Children’s Poetry – ‘The Anzac Many’

• Poets Up Late, performed ‘One Way on the Bus’, ‘The Airport’ and a children’s poem ‘Christmas Bellyaches’ being published in Share Your Story, ‘It’s Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas’ 2018 anthology.

• StoryLinks reviewer – part of Brisbane BookLinks Qld & WriteLinks

• Making authors and illustrators ‘real’ for children through performance and rich book experiences of picture books.

• Longlisted Greenleaf Press 2017 Picture Book competition with Cecilia Cicada

• Published ekphrastic poem, ‘We Are Travellers’ — Dr June Perkins' Ripple Poetry.

• Published over 100 stories in Townsville Bulletin and The Sun Newspaper during Journalism degree.

• Writerly Wisdom blog posts about book creators.

• Reviews Children’s Books on blog.

Is this your first SCWBI Conference?

Yes! It will be my first SCBWI conference.

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

My most memorable experience was when I encountered my first author, Libby Gleeson at the Narelle Oliver lecture, June 2017.

What endears you most about the Kids’ Literary Industry and your role in it?

After attending several conferences and workshops, I’ve come to believe children will strengthen their connection to books when they realise the names on book covers are real people. This is what I’d like to perpetuate.

Name one thing you cannot live without.

One thing I can’t live without is having a quiet space curled up with a cuppa and a book. (No argument there!)

For more images and ideas from Maria, pop by: www.mariaparentibaldey.com

Bring your sunhat and visit our garden again next week to meet more of our team. Till then,

Rove ya’ later!

Dimity (Head Gardener)

www.dimitypowell.com

#SCBWISyd

Images courtesy Tania McCartney

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Meet the Roving Reporters: Cherri Ryan and Yvonne Mes

The winds of change occasionally deliver divine surprises: the scent of new beginnings, the hint of new ideas, a promise of something exceptional. Today we meet two more exceptional members of our SCBWI Sydney 2019 Conference Roving Reporters Team.

Find a shady spot to sit back and welcome:

Cherri Ryan

Cherri Ryan is an author who is inspired by the children and families she cared for as a family doctor in Australia for almost twenty years. When she is not writing or reviewing fabulous children’s stories for Kids’ Book Review, Cherri works in medical education, and enjoys helping organisations that help others.

In 2016, one of Cherri’s stories was animated and projected onto Brisbane City Hall as the Christmas Lights Spectacular. Cherri’s debut picture book, Spirit, illustrated by Christina Booth and published by Black Dog Books (an imprint of Walker Books Australia), follows a young girl with creativity, courage and sailing dreams.

Cherri lives in Queensland, Australia, with her family, one cat, two guinea pigs and many visiting birds and possums. Cherri believes in hope, joy, perseverance and the power of stories.

Is this your first SCWBI Conference?

Yes! And I am very much looking forward to it!

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

I am looking forward to meeting some friends I’ve known through social media for several years in real life!

What endears you most about the Kids’ Literary Industry and your role in it?

I love the way everyone in this field is so supportive of each other and encouraging. There is never fighting over who gets the piece of pie, there is only ever more pie!

Name one thing you cannot live without.

My family.

Sail away with Cherri on her literary journey at: www.cherriryan.com

Now, enjoy the breeze and meeting:

Yvonne Mes

Yvonne Mes is a children’s author and illustrator from Brisbane. She writes fiction and non-fiction including picture books, junior fiction and short stories and has recently started designing pop-up story boxes. Her stories expand perspectives and invite feelings.

Her picture book Meet Sidney Nolan was published by Penguin Random House in 2015 and her picture book Oliver's Grumbles was re-released with Yellow Brick Books in 2017. Her short story 'A Starry Christmas' was animated and projected onto Brisbane City Hall over Christmas for two weeks. She is currently illustrating her first picture book.You can find more of her short stories in The School Magazine and anthologies.

Yvonne delivers presentations for grown-ups and is happiest when reading and performing stories with children (or grown-ups, or chickens).

Yvonne is on the Book Links Executive Committee, coordinates Write Links for children’s authors and illustrators and is a member of SCBWI, QWC and several other professional bodies.

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

Nope, this is my third in Sydney!

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

They were all inspiring in different ways, but I did get my first publishing contract after meeting an editor during my first conference, so that is hard to top!

What endears you most about the Kids’ Literary Industry and your role in it?

The shared passion of the power and beauty of story, whether written or visually.

Name one thing you cannot live without.

A THING right? You wouldn't want to make me choose between my kids! Let me think ... Yes! Hope. And Dreams. and Love. Ohh, now I have gone all metaphysical, that's OK, right? Right? Is that alright? Hmm, perhaps I can't live without validation... Is that a THING? Help!

We call that ‘mango madness’ in Queensland, Yvonne. But who doesn’t love mangoes!

Unearth more of Yvonne’s words and art at: www.yvonnemes.com

For more sweet insights into our team be sure to visit our garden again next week. Till then,

Rove ya later!

Dimity (Head Gardener)

#SCBWISyd

www.dimitypowell.com

Images courtesy of Tania McCartney

Meet the Roving Reporters: Giuseppe Poli and Katrin Dreiling

It’s a beautiful time to be in the garden in SE Queensland. Meet two of our ‘homegrown’ - well we like to think of them that way - Queensland based gardeners today, aka our Roving Reporters. Both Giuseppe and Katrin have roved for us before and will be reporting in the style they know best - with fabulous illustrations! Raise your garden trowels for the inspiring:

Giuseppe Poli

My name is Giuseppe Poli. I’m a Brisbane based Children’s Picture Book Author Illustrator, and after four years in the children’s literature scene, I am currently illustrating my tenth picture book. In 2018 my Author Illustrator debut, Young MacDonald, was published by Yellow Brick Books and my wife, Katie Poli, and I also released our debut as a children’s picture book team, Marvellous Mummy, published by New Frontier Publishing in Australia and the UK. My eighth book, Invisible Jerry, written by Adam Wallace and published by EK Books is due out November 2018 in Australia and will be released into the UK and the US.

I have two goals - to be a prolific Children’s Picture Book Author Illustrator creating incredibly beautiful, wondrous and emotive Children’s Picture Books and to share what I learn about the creative process with others.

I look forward to sharing this marvellous journey with you.

Invisible Jerry comes out Nov 2018.

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

No. This will be my second. My first was Sydney 2016 - which was AWESOME!

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

I'd have to say being a Roving Report :-) and meeting some amazing people.

What endears you most about the Kids’ Literary Industry and your role in it?

I am a big believer in learning, growing and playing. It's just magical that we can create wonderful experiences for children and also challenge ourselves to become better. Our art form is as limitless as the stars above though in that great expanse, whilst our journeys may feel lonesome, the kid lit community is always there to support you, wrapping you up like a warm, loving hug from grandma. I love creating and I love sharing and helping others grow. I feel completely at home in this industry.

Name one thing you cannot live without.

Apart from my wife and family, the one thing I can't live without is creating. I get frustrated if it's been a while since I've made something.

Discover what Giuseppe is busy making at: www.giuseppepoli.com

Keep banging those gardening forks together for the irrepressible:

Katrin Dreiling

Katrin is Germany born and raised but moved to Australia with her husband and three children. Now she lives in a wooden house on stilts next to a creek filled with snakes, strange sounding birds and poisonous toads and keeps hoping to spot a Koala one day.

She is self-taught and creates quirky illustrations that feature different media, texture and techniques that children are familiar with and speak to them. Katrin’s first picture book has been awarded “Notable Book 2018” by the Children’s Book Council of Australia, short-listed for the 2018 Speech Pathology Australia Award and she also delivered illustrations for a highly successful video animation production on YouTube.

Katrin also teaches art to children and bribes them with lollies to clean up afterwards. Additionally she conducts workshops for both adults and children. In her free time Katrin enjoys walking her big Golden Retriever Loki who loves to eat and watch Marvel movies just as much as her.

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

It’s my second - I attended the SCBWI conference in Sydney 2 years ago.

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

I loved the community and am pretty sure it will be amazing again 😊

What endears you most about the Kids’ Literary Industry and your role in it?

Its creativity and caring.

Name one thing you cannot live without.

My morning coffee I think?

Soak up more of Katrin’s awesome artwork at: www.katrindreiling.com

Keep your brollies handy because we have a barrow-load more fun and fascinating reporters for you to meet. Till then,

Rove ya later!

Dimity - Head Gardener

www.dimitypowell.com

#SCBWISyd

Artwork courtesy of Tania McCartney