Thursday, December 2, 2010

The Annual WCBA Children's Literature Quiz Night


It's that time of year again when children's literature fans all over Wellington strong-arm their friends and colleagues into teams, brush up their child-lit knowledge, and come together for a night of wine and snacks, raffles and prizes, hilarity and friendly rivalry, all hosted by the Wellington Children's Book Association.

Here are the details:

Thursday 9 December @ 7pm
The Guest Room, The Southern Cross Bar
35 Abel Smith Street, Wellington

Tickets: $10 each

Bring a team, or come on your own and we'll find some lovely people to put you with.

Advance bookings or registrations of interest are much appreciated. Just email The Wellington Children's Book Association the.wcba@gmail.com

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Captivating your audience - the report from Club Night 3

Another great evening at the Library Bar began with Holly extolling the value of Toastmasters, and how it can help you become a better presenter. (More details here if you are interested: http://www.toastmasters.org.nz/index.cfm/About_Us)

We then talked about what makes a good school visit – or a bad one!

How do you introduce yourself? What happens if the kids misbehave, and the teacher takes no notice?
What is the ideal number and length of sessions? How do you run a workshop? These were just some of the questions covered as we discussed the best way to captivate everyone from New Entrants to bored 14 year olds. We even got tips on how to handle the staffroom situation!

Lastly, we heard from Elizabeth Craker from CORE who talked to us about Booktalks: how it is
developing, and what plans are ahead. (http://www.booktalks.org.nz/)

This was an entertaining and incredibly useful evening for anyone who does school visits, or talks in public about their work. Thanks especially to Fifi, Maureen, Fleur and Ruth for sharing their expertise and a few helpful hints on useful activities. And none of us will ever forget Fifi’s story of the welcoming powhiri that went wrong!

Friday, November 12, 2010

Jack Lasenby Award Winner

The WCBA has great pleasure in announcing the winner of the Jack Lasenby Award for 2010:

Train Ride by Raewyn Murray, Karori

The judges have also awarded two Highly Commended Certificates:
Chickenpox and Aubergine by Sarah Bainbridge, Paekakariki
Darth Vader and the Wimp by Robyn Cooper, Days Bay

Entries were judged anonymously, and discussion between the two judges over their own particular favourites was robust. Judge William Taylor reports:

Naturally, in a competition of this nature, the individual authors of the twenty-six entries demonstrated a wide range of ability. The rules governing entries, notably the necessity for a Wellington setting, meant that quite a few needed to adopt a degree of artifice;  e.g. take out 'Lyall Bay' and insert 'Herne Bay' or 'Sumner' and the entry could well be set in Christchurch or Auckland!  However, this is in no way true of the winning entry - 'Train Ride'.  

'Train Ride', a rollicking short tale, moves at excellent pace with crisp characterisation, good dialogue - and all set in an undeniably greater-Wellington setting. The suburban train ride of the story brought back very many memories to this reader who, in years well gone, made the same trip on countless occasions.  I am relatively certain that the patron of your association, and in whose name the award is given, would enjoy this story! 

We selected two additional stories for commendation;  'Darth Vader and the Wimp', and 'Chickenpox and Aubergine'.  Both stories are good sound efforts that could possibly be slightly improved with a dose of judicious editing and tweaking here and there.  Both have a domestic base and explore relationships within families;  two cousins in the first story, sister/brother in the second.  The elements of conflict in both are neatly explored and exploited.   

Raewyn Murray will be presented with her trophy and cheque at the WCBA Quiz Night on December 9. You can read an extract from her winning story here.


About the judges:

William Taylor, author and ex school principal, has received many accolades for his work, including the Montana New Zealand Esther Glen Award. In 2004 he was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to children's literature and the community. 

Johanna Knox is a Wellington writer, editor and book reviewer, and a long-standing member of the WCBA committee.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Next Club Night - 'Captivating an Audience'

Our next WCBA Club Night, on Tues November 16, is for authors, illustrators and anyone else who presents to school groups - or may be interested in doing so. Hear anecdotes and learn tips from seasoned practitioners!

Here are the details:

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

If you're giving children's books this Christmas ...

Here's an event on Thursday 18 November, at The Children's Bookshop in Kilbirnie, that you won't want to miss.

Local authors will be chatting about their books and available for signings. And - in the spirit of giving - WCBA members can bring non-member friends along, and they will also receive the 10% WCBA discount.


Monday, November 1, 2010

Shouting from the rooftops - member successes

Congratulations to four WCBA members on their recent launches and awards.

Launches

Juliet McIver has launched her first book at the Children's Bookshop - Marmaduke Duck and the Marmalade Jam. The event was a treat. She even cooked up 100 pots of yummy home-made marmalade to give away there.
See photos from the event here.
Hear John McIntyre reviewing Marmaduke Duck on National Radio here.


Victoria Jones is publishing her own children's books and finding an enthusiastic market for them. She launched her second book last month. Visit her website here.

Awards

Pippa Werry is shortlisted in the 2010 Royal Society of New Zealand Manhire Prize for Creative Science Writing. Read her piece and those of other finalists here.


Holly Gooch is one of 42 runners up from 227 entries in the the 2010 Eat Your Words Cafe Poetry Competition. More about the competition here.

If you're a WCBA member, and have recently had a launch or a literary success of some other kind - drop us a line at the.wcba@gmail.com

Friday, October 29, 2010

Club Night Classics

Club Night last Tuesday was another lovely, cosy evening, with a relaxed group of us sharing one or more classic books from our own childhoods.

Here are the picks of this group on this particular night - each linking to a different  relevant site where you can buy the book, read a bit of commentary, or see covers from various editions:



Youngest readers

Phoebe and the Hot Water Bottles
The King, the Mice and the Cheese
The Elephant and the Bad Baby
Little Grey Rabbit's Christmas
The Fierce Little Woman and the Wicked Pirate
Dogger
The Great White Man Eating Shark
Amelia Bedelia
Washday at the Pa
A Child's Christmas in Wales
Petunia
Borka
Waltzing Matilda



Older children and teens
The Tim Books
The Swish of the Curtain
Pippi Goes Abroad
A Little Princess
Five on Treasure Island
Stig of the Dump
The Silver Thimble Storybook
The Faraway Tree
White Boots 
I Capture the Castle
The Blue Castle

We have another fun and informative club night coming up soon.

Stand by for more details!

Friday, October 15, 2010

WCBA Club Night 2: It's A Classic!

 

Children's literature enthusiasts and their friends are warmly invited to our next Club night - all details above.

Our last Club Night was a big success. You can read about it here.

Any queries, feel free to email us at the.wcba@gmail.com


Friday, October 8, 2010

Writing from the Heart - Joy Cowley shares her wisdom


Writing_from_the_Heart_1.jpgThis month sees the launch of an amazing book – one people have been waiting for years for.
 
Here, in warmly written prose, Joy Cowley distils four decades of writing for young people. Topics covered in the chapters – each illustrated by Fraser Williamson – are;  developing a plot, dialogue, writers’ discipline, humour, early reading, novels, picture books, plays, poetry, presentation, and editing.

From Joy:  "This is not a book of instruction but rather a sharing of long experience as a writer, editor and a facilitator of writing workshops." 

Joy has published more than 600 early readers along with numerous novels and short stories. In 2005 she was made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to children’s literature , is one of Storylines'  patrons, and is also a Storylines Trustee.
 
All proceeds from the work will go to assist Storylines in its work to promote children's books and literature, reading, and books and children. 
An event in Wellington celebrates the launch of Writing from the Heart and Navigation, Joy's memoir:

 
When:  
Wednesday 13 October, 6-7pm
Where:  
Café L’affare
27 College Street
Wellington
 
Bookseller: Vic Books
Tickets: $20 or $15 (for Storylines , Society of Authors, and New Zealand Book Council members), includes light refreshments. 
 
Tickets available from the Information Desk at Wellington Central Library, and door sales on the night.


 

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Deadline this Friday - Jack Lasenby short story competition

This is a reminder that entries for the Jack Lasenby competition close this Friday at 5pm.

The competition is for a short story for children, and is open to all writers who live in the area covered by the Wellington phone book.

Download further info and an entry form here.

Alternatively email the.wcba@gmail.com for this.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Fierce September

Congratulations to WCBA stalwart Fleur Beale who recently launched Fierce September -  the much anticipated sequel to Juno of Taris.

The word from those who have devoured it already is that it fully lives up to expectations.

You can read the first chapter at the Random House website. (Scroll to the bottom of the page.)

Sunday, September 26, 2010

New WCBA Club Night a success

Last Tuesday, around 25 WCBA members and friends gathered the Library Bar for a cosy and fun storytelling session.

A couple of comments from the night:

'It was wonderful to greet new members and see long established members at this event. The storytelling by everyone was superb, with each person bringing a different feel and style. Club night looks set to be a wonderful addition to our member events every 3rd Tuesday of the month.' 


'... lots of positive feedback about the lovely room and the conviviality. I'm so pleased - it's nice to have a less formal way to gather that requires less planning and means people mix and mingle more. ...'

Others commented that it was great to chat to members they hadn't met before - and everyone enjoyed the five storytellers.

We loved the offerings from those who were billed. They included veteran storytellers Marie Murdoch and Moira Wairama, plus - making her storytelling debut - Holly Gooch. And it was awesome to have two more people add their names to the blackboard on the night and tell enthralling tales: Carol Jenkins and Jean Lloyd.

Pencil in Tuesday 19 October for the next WCBA Club Night. This time our theme will be: What makes a classic children's book?  Everyone is encouraged to bring their own contenders.

More details soon ...

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Come to the WCBA Club Night



Club Night is a new initiative from the WCBA. It will be held on the third Tuesday of the month for the next 3 months, and if successful, will become an ongoing event.

WCBA Club Nights are in the Reading Room at The Library Bar  - above the Natural Health Centre on Courtney Place.

Each Club Night will have its own theme or focus. For our first session on Tuesday 21 September we have a blackboard storytelling evening which features Moira Wairama, Marie Murdoch and Holly Gooch in our line up.
 
WCBA members and their friends are invited to come along with their own stories, or just relax with a drink and listen.

Club Nights are free for WCBA members and $5 for non-members. (But everyone pays for their own drinks and food.  Serendipitously - Tuesdays are two-for-one dessert night at Library Bar!)

We look forward to seeing you!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Our wonderful visit to the Susan Price Collection

On the wet and windy Sunday just gone, Susan Price welcomed a small, enthusiastic group of WCBA members into her home to see her astonishing collection of over 20,000 20th Century children's books.

Susan has gifted the Collection to the National Library, but continues to house it herself, taking care of it, adding to it, and constantly updating her catalogue.

It was fascinating to hear Susan talk about her passion for history and realistic fiction, and see how her collection reflects this. In particular she has strong feelings about books that describe life during the World Wars, making sure those important memories are not forgotten.

After hearing Susan speak, we had free rein to explore the collection, and Susan was ready and willing to discuss any of the books. She was a mine of information about the history of important 20th Century children's publishers, and a highlight was being able to see different editions and translations of the same book, and talk about what these revealed.

Another charming and illuminating feature of her collection is the way she has gathered postcards, images, articles, and other ephemera, and tucked them in to the covers of books they are relevant to.

Each of us who went probably hoped to get something different from the visit ... an up-close look at a heritage collection of national importance; ideas for books to hunt out for our own children; a look at old favourites from our childhood; or the discovery of forgotten books that are as good or better than the enduring classics we know about ...

I think we all left having had these wishes fulfilled, and more.

Some people who had hoped to come were unable to, and others who went would like to go again, so we hope that we might organise another visit to the Susan Price Collection at some stage in the future!

Monday, August 30, 2010

A girl called Harry

Congratulations to WCBA member (and treasurer!) Pippa Werry on the launch of her latest book, A girl called Harry.
If you're on Facebook, you can see a few photos from the launch at the Wellington Children's Bookshop page there.
This is a good chance to remind all WCBA members that if you have a book published or some other success you'd like to share with members, do drop us a line so we can announce it here on the blog. (And send us your own blogs or websites too, so we can link to them.) Email the WCBA at the.wcba@gmail.com

Monday, August 23, 2010

Calling storytellers, poets and other performers or promoters

Wellington's annual Spring Festival is a two-week festival (18 September - 3 October), which kicks off at the end of Conservation Week. It has plenty for everyone with almost 40 events and activities.

This year organisers have decided to put more of a creative spin on celebrations.

There is a poetry corner, drama corner, a soap box and music corner that will rotate round Midland Park, and Grey Street. The performances in these places should last for 5 -10 mins and will take place at lunch time between 12 noon and 2pm.

All events are free for the public and these perfomances are not paid. It's an opportunity to perform - or promote a book,  event or organisation to the general public. You are also more than welcome to hand out flyers at the venues.

If you are interested, please email katrina@fairytrina.com 

Monday, August 16, 2010

For WCBA Members - visit to the Susan Price Collection

WCBA members are invited to book for a joint visit to the remarkable Susan Price Collection of children's books. This will be a fascinating and convivial event.
The collection is housed in Kelburn, and the visit is planned for Sunday 29 August at 3pm. It's free, but numbers are limited, so book soon to secure your place. Email the.wcba@gmail.com and we will add your name to the list and send out further details closer to the time.

You can find out more about the amazing Susan Price collection here.


Thursday, August 12, 2010

Jack Lasenby Award open for entries - plus workshop with Fleur Beale

 2010 Jack Lasenby Award
Write a short story for children


This biennial competition, run by the Wellington Children's Book Association, is now open for entries.

There is one prize of $500, and entries must be received by 5pm on Friday October 8.

For more information and entry forms, email the Wellington Children's Book Association - the.wcba@gmail.com
 

Writing for Children
One-day workshop with Fleur Beale


Date: Saturday 4 September
Time: 10am-4pm
Cost: $75 (includes morning & afternoon tea)
Numbers limited.

Course participants may, if they wish, send one short story (of under 1200 words) before 20 August, for Fleur to briefly assess. This course could be a great way to kickstart your entry into this year's Jack Lasenby Award!

For more information about this course, email the Wellington Children's Book Association - the.wcba@gmail.com



Monday, August 9, 2010

This Sunday: Storylines Free Family Day in Wellington!


 Children’s book authors, illustrators, performance groups and storytellers bring books alive for children and their caregivers at the Storylines Festival Free Family Day. 

There are craft activities, readings and performances planned for all age groups, with new activities starting every thirty minutes. 

Date: Sunday 15 August
Time: 10am – 3pm.
Venues: indoors at the Wellington Town Hall and Capital E.
Free fun for all the family.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

The FABO Story

What started off as a bit of fun (a bunch of well known NZ children's authors being silly together ...) is turning into something of a phenomenon.

The FABO story is a collaborative novel, with each chapter written by a different author. Every week, a new chapter goes online. Guess which author wrote it - or contribute your own chapter for the following week. There are prizes up for grabs!

This is fun for adults and children alike.

The authors are up to chapter 2 this week - but you can jump in anytime. Everything you need to know is clearly laid out at the FABO site.

Note that amongst the authors there is a strong contingent of WCBA stalwarts!

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Calling children's authors ...

Children's Authors in Libraries Week

The NZSA (New Zealand Society of Authors) Wellington branch has got together with Wellington City Libraries to hold a Children's Authors in Libraries Week during the week of October 4 - 8.
If you would like to be a part of this, please contact Kevin Boon at k.boon@clear.net.nz to receive more information and a short questionnaire.
This initiative is open to all children's authors, not only members of NZSA.

Friday, July 30, 2010

A great night!

The AGM was a lovely evening - and the Heroes and Anti-heroes panel provided a lot of food for thought. Thanks to the panelists, the chair, and everyone who came along. We hope to post some highlights soon.

Meanwhile, you can read the WCBA Convenors' annual report here.

Keep an eye on this blog, as we'll be bringing you updates and notices fairly frequently over the next little while. And if, as a member, you have any literature-related news or successes you'd like to share (or even a website we could link to) please email us. We'd love to hear. Just email the.wcba@gmail.com

Monday, July 5, 2010

Kids Holiday Workshops

Here are 2 art workshops with WCBA committee member Fifi Colston for kids aged 7-12. Book in now!


Sunday, July 4, 2010

More congratulations in order

WCBA Treasurer Phillippa Werry has recently been shortlisted for the 2010 Text Prize for Young Adult and Children’s Writing, run by the highly respected Australian publishing house, Text Publishing.

Here is the Text media release:

30 Jun 2010: Text Prize shortlist announced

After weeks of reading, discussing and reading some more, we have chosen a shortlist of five contenders for the 2010 Text Prize for Young Adult and Children’s Writing. We were really impressed with the high standard of entries this year, and look forward to the continued growth of the prize, now in its third year.

And the shortlisted titles are…
Haunting the Dead, Tiffany Chapple
The Diamond Factory, Julie Harris-Spearritt
Breken Crossing, Jane Higgins
Youth Bytes, Stephen Turner
How to Talk to Girls, Philippa Werry

Congratulations to each of these authors! The winner will be announced at the Australian Booksellers' Association Conference in Brisbane on July 12, and on the Text website later that day. The winning book will be published by Text in mid-2011.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

LIANZA Book Awards Finalists Announced



Congratulations to all the LIANZA finalists - and especially to the members (and friends) of the WCBA who made the shortlist.

Amongst them are the authors of two books that were launched at Spinning Gold last year:
- WCBA member Mandy Hager is shortlisted for her book 'The Crossing'
and
- WCBA committee member and past convenor Fifi Colston, is shortlisted for her novel 'Glory'.

Congratulations to both of them!

The full list of finalists is here.

Friday, May 28, 2010

You're warmly invited ...




Ruth Paul's newest picture book will be launched at the Wellington Children's Bookshop (Kilbirnie),
 this Thursday June 3, at 6pm.


RSVP to The Children's Bookshop, Phone: 04 3873905 or email childbkwgtn@xtra.co.nz

Monday, May 24, 2010

Zero Hour book launch cancelled

The Wellington Children's Bookshop has let us know that Leon Davidson's New Zealand launch of Zero Hour has had to be cancelled due to unforeseen cirumstances.

However, please look out for another book launch announcement coming soon.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

NZ Post Children's Book Awards Winners!

Results are being texted in from our woman in Auckland ....

Congratulations to:

Young adult fiction winner (and WCBA member!) Mandy Hager for The Crossing

Non-fiction winner Janet Hunt for E3 Call Home

Junior fiction winner James Norcliffe for  The Loblolly Boy

Picture book winners Kyle Mewburn and Rachel Driscoll for Old Hu-Hu

and the winners of an additional picture book honour award - Margaret Mahy, David Elliot and Tessa Duder for The Word Witch

Further congratulations to:

Children's Choice winners Craig Smith and Katz Cowley for  The Wonky Donkey

Best First Book winner David Hair for the The Bone Tiki


and

The big prize - overall Best Book winners Kyle Mewburn and Rachel Driscoll for Old Hu-Hu !

Good luck to children's book awards finalists!

The awards are tonight! Good luck to everyone. We'll update as soon as we can!

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

You're invited to the launch of ...


 
Zero Hour 
by Leon Davidson 


The Anzacs sailed for France to fight a war the whole world was talking about. 
Few who came home ever spoke about it again.

Zero Hour is the third book by Leon Davidson, author of the best-selling 
and multi-award-winning Scarecrow Army: the Anzacs at Gallipoli and 
Red Haze: Australians and New Zealanders in Vietnam.



Wednesday May 26th 
@ 6pm onwards
The Children’s Book Shop, Kilbirnie

RSVP to The Children's Bookshop 
t 04 3873905  f 04 387328
e childbkwgtn@xtra.co.nz

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Technology used to connect authors and readers

BookTalks – an initiative using online technology to link authors and readers, will be launched on May 10 to coincide with the New Zealand Post Book Awards.
Organised by research and professional development organisation CORE Education, BookTalks will utilise the internet video telephone system Skype to allow readers, initially in schools across the country, to talk online with their favourite authors and illustrators.
Already nearly 30 prominent authors from around New Zealand have signed up for BookTalks, and internationally renowned author Margaret Mahy has agreed to be the BookTalks Patron.
Using the www.booktalks.org.nz website, schools can go online and select which author they would like to connect with.  CORE Education will then look at availability and match up authors with schools. Authors will receive a fee for their session and a small charge will cover administrative costs.
It’s wonderful to be able to talk live over the internet, and it adds a coolness for the kids to say they talked with an author using Skype,” The Wonky Donkey author Craig Smith says.
Craig skyped a pilot BookTalks session with children at Outram School near Dunedin.
“I’ve skyped heaps, but this is my first performance via Skype.  It was fantastic,” he says.
The Outram children asked Craig why he wrote the story, how long it took him, whether he had other stories and even how to pronounce “hee-haw”. 
Outram School Principal Greg Carroll says BookTalks is a highly valuable programme because it brings people into the classroom who can't actually physically be there.

"It is a good opportunity for the kids to engage with a real person, to be able to see them, someone who can't obviously visit our school but the children can still talk to them, engage with them, have a conversation with them about their book and about the process and about what it means to be a real author. It was great. The kids had a ball; they really enjoyed it," Mr Carroll says.

CORE Education Project Manager Matt Tippen has received support from Booksellers New Zealand and the New Zealand Book Council, and encouragement from many educators.
BookTalks will provide real-time, meaningful conversations about NZ literature – that can only have a positive effect on our next generation’s interest in literacy and literature. And it’s a way of modeling how effective online communications can be in education,” Mr Tippen says.

He envisages that book clubs, writing course organisers and writers’ groups might also be interested in BookTalks. 

“We’re initially targeting educational settings, but we’d love to hear from others who would like the chance to talk to their favourite authors,” he says.

To get the details, visit the BookTalks site www.booktalks.org.nz

Monday, May 3, 2010

Introducing Maria Samuela

 
The WCBA has had a long association with the Storylines team, so it's with pleasure that we introduce and welcome Maria Samuela - Storylines' new Wellington Coordinator. 

Maria is a children’s author who has had stories translated into five Pacific languages, read on National Radio’s Storytime, written for School Journal, and published a collection - The Secret Game Plan and Other Stories. She has a Diploma in Publishing from Whitireia Polytechnic, and is now completing an Advanced Diploma in Creative Writing, writing a children's historical novel.  

Maria also brings to the role a strong background in administration, including several years in a marketing/media environment.

She says, “I’m excited about being part of the Storylines team promoting reading and New Zealand children’s literature through this year’s Family Day celebrations in August. We’ve got an awesome lineup of authors and illustrators, and we’re planning a full-on day of fun and frolics. I’m especially looking forward to meeting some of our young readers.

Storylines Wellington Family Day Festival will be held at the Wellington Town Hall on Sunday 15 August.

Check out Storylines website for more details: www.storylines.org.nz

Applications closing soon!

Children’s Writing Workshop: 
Creative Writing at Victoria University

“The child reader I was……..wants a world she can see, taste, smell, feel, and hear. And above all she wants characters who will make her laugh and cry.” Katherine Paterson

This creative writing workshop, convened by Eirlys Hunter, encourages you to reach that reader. You’ll explore different forms of writing for the pre-adolescent child: picture books, plays, short stories and the novel, and begin to develop your own clear voice.

Applications for the Second Trimester close 5 June.

For information, application forms and course dates, please contact:

International Institute of Modern Letters
Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600,
Wellington, New Zealand
Phone 04-463 6854
Email modernletters@vuw.ac.nz
Website www.victoria.ac.nz/modernletters

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Book Launch- all welcome!


Please join us for the launch of
Mandy Hager's new YA fiction book: 

 Into The Wilderness: Blood of the Lamb

 Book #2 in The Blood of The Lamb series; the sequel to The Crossing- shortlisted for the 2010 New Zealand Post Children's and Young Adult Book Awards.

Thursday 8th April 6pm
At The Children's Bookshop 26 Kilbirnie Plaza, 
Kilbirnie, Wellington
 
Please rsvp to John McIntyre: The Children's Bookshop,  
t 04 3873905  f 04 387328
e childbkwgtn@xtra.co.nz


Sunday, March 14, 2010

Writing For Children Workshop with Joy Cowley




WHEN:
20 and 21 March 2010 (Sat and Sun)

WHERE:
Wellington Girls’ College Library,
Pipitea St, Thorndon

TIME:
9am–3.30pm each day

FEE:
$350

The workshop will cover:
Getting started, the disciplines of writing for children, writing for early reading, the importance of humour, dialogue, plot, character, picture books, junior fiction, YA novels, and presentation of manuscripts

For registrations or enquiries contact:
Paul Maskill
027 329 5501
maskillp@wellington-girls.school.nz


All proceeds to the Wellington Central L.E.C. of the NZ Labour Party.

LIMITED PLACES AVAILABLE


(Note that advertisements here for literary events and classes such as this one should not be taken as endorsement of any party or point of view by the WCBA.)

Congratulations to NZ Post Children's Book Award Finalists

Congrats to all the writers and illustrators who have made the shortlists for the 2010 NZ Post Children's Book Awards (as well as to the publishers, editors, and designers working behind the scenes)!

It's great to see so many Wellingtonians on the list (including some WCBA members), as well as so many who were involved one way or another in the Spinnning Gold Conference, as tutors, attendees, or well-wishers. (Mandy Hager even launched her shortlisted book there.)

All the best everyone - for the next few weeks in the lead up to the awards!

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Patrick Ness Event



Best selling author Parick Ness, the author of The Knife of Never Letting Go and The Ask and The Answer will be speaking in Wellington at 1.30 pm on Thursday March 11th.

This is a combined schools and public event, to be held at Scots College Hall, Monorgan Rd, Strathmore and entry to the public is by gold coin koha, with all proceeds going to Haiti Relief funds.

to book contact: John McIntyre @ The Children's Bookshop, Kilbirnie, Wellington
 


Sunday, February 21, 2010

A Belated Happy New Year!

We're gearing up for another exciting year of children's literature events. Watch this space for more details.

We're also thrilled to announce that the WCBA has now become an incorporated society, with all the important benefits that brings. A huge thank you to our Treasurer, Pippa Werry who made it happen from go to whoa.

Meanwhile, in case you haven't taken a look already, there are some fantastic representatives of the children's literature world at Writers and Readers Week this year. We're very excited about  ...

Neil Gaiman at the Town Hall

Acclaimed Aussie author Margot Lanagan in conversation with our own Eirlys Hunter

Margot Lanagan and Neil Gaiman discussing, 'What makes it children's literature?'

And, specially for young children:

Make a crooked man with Gavin Bishop

An hour of story and conversation with Joy Cowley

and

Discover the art of character crafting with Fifi Colston

There are also some fascinating looking events in the NZ Arts Festival inspired by children's and cross-over literature:
The Arrival - a 'major work of physical and visual theatre' based on Shaun Tan's incredible book of the same name, and
Dirty Beasts and Other Stories - a 'quirky concert' in which 'music is set to stories from Roald Dahl, Du Maurier and Tolkien'.

More soon on other events!

And to finish our first post of the new year, we'd like to send a huge congratulations from all the WCBA to our long-time friend and supporter Ann Mallinson for her QSM - for services to publishing, in particular children's literature.