Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Upcoming Events for Dec 2008, Jan, 2009 and March 2009

Please circulate this to anyone you think might be interested
(non-SCBWI members are very welcome to attend our events)


See news relating to Children's Books at:

www.scbwi-za-news.blogspot.com/



NOTE: NEW!!! >> Our chapter is launching a new SCBWI (SA) Showcase on the Internet. Through this electronic Showcase we aim to promote South African children’s book writers, illustrators, editors and publishers locally and internationally. If you want to find out more about the Showcase and how to secure your own presence on it, go to our website at www.scbwi.za.org.




Upcoming SCBWI (SA) events for Cape Town



Contents:


  • December 9: End-of-Year Season's Greetings Book Party
  • January 28: What’s Happening in the SA Educational Book World?
  • March 11: SCBWI (SA) 2009 Publisher's Show-and-Tell Day
  • April: How to draw children: an in-depth look at children of different ages and how their bodies change – An illustrators’ workshop with Marjorie van Heerden. Details will be circulated in February.


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December 2008 (Cape Town)



We will end 2008 in a high note with our annual... SCBWI (SA) End-of-Year Season's Greetings Book Party


  • Region: Cape Town, South Africa
  • Date: Tuesday - 9 December 2008
  • Time: 11h30 – 15h00
  • Venue: 153 Beach Rd, Gordon's Bay.
  • Cost: Free & gratis (SCBWI will pay for the coffee and tea!)
  • RSVP: Please e-mail Marjorie at marjorie@grafikon.co.za before 30 November and put SCBWI SA Party in subject line.

Description: Writers, illustrators, or anyone interested in children's books are invited. Come dressed as your favourite children’s book character. Make and bring a fantasy Christmas hat for your character to wear. There will be prizes for best hat and best book character! (As in previous years, after the party the hats will go to the Tygerberg Hospital oncology ward for the children who have to stay in hospital over Christmas.)

Also, bring along a small inexpensive wrapped gift, AND a plate of decadent stuff to eat. We will exchange gifts, talk Children's Books, eat, drink coffee and tea and be merry.

A space will be available where you can display recently published books or work in progress. (Publishers are also welcome to come and show us their latest books!)



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January 2009 (Cape Town)



What's Happining in the SA Educational Book World?


  • Presenters: A panel consisting of an educational publisher and a number of selectors of educational books (readers, text books and school library books) for the SA education departments.
  • Region: Cape Town, South Africa
  • Date: 28 January 2009
  • Time: 10h00 – 15h00
  • Venue: Bellville Public Library, Bellville, Cape Town (Tel: +27 21 918-2300)
  • Cost: SCBWI members R50 and non-SCBWI members R80 (includes tea/coffee & lunch)
  • RSVP: To reserve a place, please e-mail SCBWI.ZA@gmail.com before 15 January 2009 and (NB!) please put Educational Books Event in the subject line.
  • Enquiries: By e-mail to SCBWI.ZA@gmail.com and (NB!) in the subject line put

Enquiries-Educa­­tional Books Event.

  • Specific requirements: Please specify if you prefer a vegetarian lunch.

Note: More information and the CV’s of the presenters will be circulated and also posted on www.scbwi-za-capetown.blogspot.com/ early in January 2009.



Description of Event: Dr Nicol Faasen (Publishing Manager at Nasou Via Afrika’s Language Centre) will moderate a discussion and chair a Q&A session with a panel of educational book selectors, covering areas like (TBC):

What is happening in the educational book world?

What are the selection criteria?

Is there a typical (annual?) cycle for the various steps in publishing and distributing educational books?

What types of books are being looked at and what are the numbers?

Who are the target readers/consumers and are their clear groups, possibly along cultural lines?

How does the budget for educational books work?

Who are the main players (and decision makers) in the chain of creation, development, production, selection and distribution of educational (school-) books?

Who is responsible for getting the books to the selectors and can writers and illustrators play a role here?

What kind of books have been selected in the past and what books will be needed in the future?

What can writers and illustrators do to ensure they are producing materials that have a better chance of being considered for selection?



**********************



March 2009 (Cape Town)



Annual SCBWI (SA) Publishers Show & Tell Day


  • Region: Cape Town, South Africa
  • Date: 11 March 2009
  • Time: 09h00 - 17h30
  • Venue: Bellville Public Library, Bellville, Cape Town (Tel: +27 21 918-2300)
  • Cost: SCBWI members R70 and non-SCBWI members R100 (this includes tea/coffee & lunch).
  • RSVP: Since we have a limited number of slots available, kindly RSVP as soon as possible by e-mail to scbwi.za@gmail.com and (NB!) put Publishers Day 2009 in your e-mail’s subject line. Your e-mail must reach us by no later than 15 February 2009. We repeat, slots are limited and they will be allocated on a strict first-come-first-served basis.
  • Enquiries: By e-mail to scbwi.za@gmail.com and (NB!) please put Enquiries - Publishers Day 2009 in your e-mail’s subject line.
  • Specific requirements: Please specify if you prefer a vegetarian lunch.


Note: More information will be circulated and also posted on www.scbwi-za-capetown.blogspot.com/ early in February 2009.



Description of Event: This will be a day for writers and illustrators to pitch their work to the publishers. It provides an opportu­nity for publishers to see what work our writers and illustrators have done during the past year and also for them to meet new writers and illustrators. We will send out specifications for your Personal Details Form after we have received your bookings.

The list of participating publishers will be distributed early in February 2009.

Writers and Illustrators who are unable to attend: You can send a number of copies (the exact number to be made known as soon as the attending publishers have all confirmed – early February) of a set of three A4 pages consisting of your Personal Details Form (to be supplied) and two pages with examples of your work. We will then distribute these amongst the publishers participating at the event (the cost: R70).

Kindly send an e-mail (subject line: Publishers Day 2009 – Work for Distribution) to scbwi.za@gmail.com stating that you cannot attend the event but that you would like your work to be distributed physically to each of the attending publishers. This should reach us by no later than 28th February 2009. Upon receipt of your e-mailed booking we will send you a return e-mail with a blank Personal Details Form, payment details and the address to which you can mail or courier an envelope containing all the sets of copies of your forms and examples of your work to be distributed.



Notes for Writers and Illustrators:

  • The representatives from the publishers will be available for meetings from 09h00 to 17h30 on the day.
  • Each illustrator or writer will be scheduled into 15-minute slots to see one publisher at a time. As soon as the publishers have confirmed their attendance (end January) we will be able to let you know how many publishers you will be able to see during the day.
  • You must bring along a number of copies (the exact number to be made known as soon as the attending publishers have all confirmed – early January) of a set of three A4 pages consisting of your Personal Details Form (to be supplied) and two pages with examples of your work. You will hand one set to each publisher you meet with and a set will be given to each publisher you were unable to see due to the limited number of slots.
  • As soon as the list of participating publishers is circulated, you must send us a list of your preferences as to which specific publishers you would like to meet. Number your list of publishers from 1 to 10 in order of preference. We will then draw up a schedule on a first-come-first-served basis, filling up each publisher’s slots. We will e-mail you the completed schedule (grid) one week before the event.



Tips for Writers and Illustrators about pitching your work:

  • Make sure that the two pages with examples of your work have your name on and use a paper clip to keep the 3 pages together (DO NOT STAPLE & DON’T USE FANCY FOLDERS – this makes it difficult for the publishers to file you material). You can use both sides of the three sheets of paper – this way you will have 6 sides – but not more than three A4 sheets in total.
  • Make sure you use paper of a good quality. Images or type should not shine through.
  • Prepare yourself to do your whole pitch in less than 15 minutes. So make a list of information that you need/want to communicate to the publishers – do not waste precious time being chatty.
  • When showing and discussing your presentation, allow the publisher to give your work quality time and attention, rather than having to rush through a mass of work that cannot be appreciated in your allocated 15 minutes.
  • If you are pitching your work on a laptop computer make sure that you are comfortable doing it this way. Prepare a special, easily accessible folder with ONLY the work you want to show… It leaves a bad impression if you start searching for your files – and you lose valuable time.
  • Writers - Prepare a synopsis of your story(ies) with an extract of your manuscript to leave with the publishers. Rather try and get their permission to mail your complete manuscript to them or somebody else at their company. Remember, the person you see will be receiving a lot of material on that day. By mailing your manuscript(s) later (on paper or CD – ask them what they prefer) you will separate your work from the pile. When mailing your manuscript remember to inform the publisher in your covering letter whether you are sending your manuscript to any other publishers.
  • Illustrators - Prepare your portfolio of original illustrations (the one you will show to all the publishers and then take home with you) in such a way that it can be handled easily: preferably in an A3 or A4 folder that can be paged through. Rather select only a few of your best works than lots of examples with poor quality work amongst them. If your portfolio consists mostly of reproductions of your work (i.e. in published form) bring at least two original illustrations along as well. If you want to show copies of work that is currently at a publisher, make sure that those copies are of very high quality. Do not take too many examples of illustrations (10 is a good number).
  • IMPORTANT: This is an opportunity for you to introduce yourself and to present your work to the publishers. You must not expect any feedback, comments or analysis of your work at this session – it will be the publishers’ sole decision whether they would like to make any further contact with any of the writers and illustrators they had seen at the day’s sessions.



Show & Tell Day Schedule for each Publisher

  • 09h00 – 09h30 - Registration

  • 09h30 – 09h45 – Slot 1
  • 09h45 – 10h00 – Slot 2
  • 10h00 – 10h15 - Slot 3

  • 10h15 – 10h30 - BODY BREAK

  • 10h30 – 10h45 – Slot 4
  • 10h45 – 11h00 – Slot 5
  • 11h00 – 11h15 – Slot 6

  • 11h15 – 11h45 - COFFEE/TEA BREAK

  • 11h45 – 12h00 – Slot 7
  • 12h00 – 12h15 – Slot 8
  • 12h15 – 12h30 – Slot 9
  • 12h30 – 12h45 – Slot 10
  • 12h45 – 13h00 – Slot 11

  • 13h00 – 14h00 – LUNCH BREAK

  • 14h00 – 14h15 – Slot 12
  • 14h15 – 14h30 – Slot 13
  • 14h30 – 14h45 – Slot 14
  • 14h45 – 15h00 – Slot 15

  • 15h00 – 15h15 - COFFEE/TEA BREAK

  • 15h15 - 15h30 – Slot 16
  • 15h30 – 15h45 – Slot 17
  • 15h45 – 16h00 – Slot 18
  • 16h15 – 16h30 – Slot 19

  • 16h30 – 16h45 – BODY BREAK

  • 16h45 – 17h00 – Slot 20
  • 17h00 – 17h15 – Slot 21
  • 17h15 – 17h30 – Contingency slot


END

Friday, August 22, 2008

Notes on traslating and illustrating Nina and Little Duck

A few notes about translating Nina and little Duck [2008 MER award - winning book], the translator Dr Johann van Heerden gave the members of IBBY South Africa at their annual general meeting in Cape Town. To read the notes go to the SCBWI SA News Blog

At the same meeting Marjorie van Heerden gave a 10 minute talk -
The Mind of an Illustrator: illustrating Nina and Little Duck
(if you want to read what she said - click on the title)

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR CAPE TOWN Aug to Dec

SCBWI South Africa’s August 2008 Event, Cape Town.

A Book Day & Critique session at Marjorie’s Home
Region: Cape Town, South Africa
Date: 23 August 2008
Time: 11h00 – 15h00
Venue: 153 Beach Rd, Gordon's Bay.
Cost: R30.00 per person (includes a snack lunch and coffee and tea)
RSVP: to Marjorie before 20 August. Please put Book Day in subject line
Description: SCBWI SA will have a Get-together… Publishers, writers and illustrators are invited to spend a day with Marjorie at her home to talk, and talk, and talk about children’s books. We will talk about the CT Book Fair, writers and illustrators will have a chance to show their illustrations or read an extract from their work in a critique session. Marjorie will talk about how to promote yourself and how to generate work in the lean months. She will also show how to start a blog.

SCBWI South Africa’s September 2008 Event, Cape Town.

SCBWI South Africa’s 2008 Exhibition, Cape Town.
Date: 01-20 Sept 2008
Where: Bellville Public Library, Bellville (Cape Town)
Inquirers: Samantha van Riet
Description: SCBWI SA will be staging an exhibition of original South African children’s book illustrations. After the initial showing, the library service is interested in having a travelling exhibition to be shown at other public libraries across South Africa. TBC
More information will be posted here on www.scbwi-za-capetown.blogspot.com/ soon.

SCBWI South Africa’s December 2008 Event, Cape Town.

We will end 2008 with our usual SCBWI SA end-of-year Season’s Greetings Book Party.
Date, time, venue and costs: TBC
Description: Writers, illustrators, or anyone interested in children’s books are invited; come dressed as your favourite book character; Make and bring a fantasy Christmas hat, a small inexpensive wrapped gift, AND A plate of decadent stuff to eat. There will be prizes for the best hat and best book character! As in previous years the hats will go to the Tygerberg Hospital oncology ward for the children who have to stay in the hospital over Christmas.
We will exchange gifts, talk Children’s Books, eat, drink coffee and tea and be merry.
A space will be available where books published or work in progress can be displayed. (Publishers welcome to show their books too!)


NOTE:

Publishers Day will be held in February 2009 – not in September – see below
When we started with our preparations for the Publishers Day we found that September is a very busy time for most publishers and as result quite a few will not be able attend. We have therefore decided to shift the publishers Day to our usual February slot. We will circulate the date early next year. We apologise for any inconvenience.

SCBWI South Africa’s February 2009 Event, Cape Town.

Publisher's Show-and-Tell Day
Region: Cape Town, South Africa
Date: Date TBC
Time: 09:00—17:00
Where: Bellville Public Library, Bellville (Cape Town)
RSVP: Details will be circulated in January 2009
Description: This will be a day for writers and illustrates to pitch their work to the publishers. It provides an opportunity for publishers to see what work our writers and illustrators have done during the past year and also for them to meet new writers and illustrators.
More information will be circulated and posted here on www.scbwi-za-capetown.blogspot.com/ early in January

Unfortunately SCBWI SA had to cancel the event we planned for October…
Rosemary Canter, Literary Agent UK will not be able to come to South Africa anymore. Her illness that prevented her to join us at the SCBWI SA retreat in May was more serious that she first realised and therefore she will not be able to travel for some time. She sends her sincere apologise.


See Children’s Book related news at www.scbwi-za-news.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

2008 M-Net/Via Afrika Literary Award Winners!













  • The M.E.R Prize for best youth novel – The Goblet Club
  • The M.E.R Prize for best illustrated children’s book – Nina and Little Duck
The Goblet Club - The M.E.R Prize for best youth novel was awarded to S.A. Partridge for The Goblet Club published by Human & Rousseau (SA) in 2007.

Nina and Little Duck - The M.E.R Prize for best illustrated children’s book was awarded to Wendy Hartmann (author) and Marjorie van Heerden (illustrator) for Nina and Little Duck published by Human & Rousseau (SA) in 2007 (also available in Afrikaans as Nina en Eendjie).

More about the awards winners on the SCBWI news blog - http://www.scbwi-za-news.blogspot.com/

Sunday, June 8, 2008

The Cape Town Book Fair

SCBWI SA will be having a stand at the Book Fair again this year. Our aim is to facilitate means for SCBWI SA members to display their work at the fair and help them make contact with the representatives from the international and local publishers coming to the Fair.
The SCBWI SA stand - B 8
On Saturday afternoon, 7th June. SCBWI SA will have a critique session at Marjorie’s home. 14h00 to 17h00. To help people prepare for the Fair. For more information E-mail - SCBWI.za@gmail.com

SCBWI SA will also have a Get-together after the book fair for feedback on the fair and generally talk about books –Dates TBC

Cape Town Book Fair, South Africa. June 2008. (See below the SCBWI SA participation)

The Publishers Association of South Africa, PASA, and the organisers of the Frankfurt (European) Book Fair will be organising the Third International Book Fair in Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA (dates - Sat - Tue 17th June 2008). The fair's primary objective is to provide an intellectual forum for all sectors of the book industry within South Africa and those interested in Africa to showcase their materials and discuss amongst peers the challenges of the industry in a globally benchmarked environment.

The venue:
CTICC, Convention Square
1 Lower Long Street
Cape
Town 8001
www.cticc.co.za

Prices:
Adults per person 1 day: R40
Pensioners - R15 per day
Children and students for free! (All kids need to be accompanied by an adult)

Opening Hours: Sat - Mon 14th - 16th 10am - 6pm; Tue 17th 10am - 5pm.

For more information on the Cape Town Book Fair - E-mail info@capetownbookfair.co.za or visit their Web site: www.capetownbookfair.com
Or telephone +37 (0)21 418 5493; Fax: +27 (0) 21 4185949
Address: Cape Town Book Fair, Unit 212, 1. Floor, Victoria Foundry, Prestwich Street, Greenpoint, 8001, Cape Town
Postal Address: Cape Town Book Fair, P.O. Box 51498, Waterfront, 8002, Cape Town, South Africa


ALL South African WRITERS & ILLUSTRATORS TAKE NOTE !!!

You are a trade visitor, if you want to

  • are engaged professionally in the creation, development, production, distribution, translation or promotion of print and electronic media as well as art
  • Work in education
  • Are a journalist
  • You want to gain visibility, make new business contacts; find out online who else is attending the Cape Town Book Fair.

But only if you register!!!!

To register – You have to go to http://www.capetownbookfair.com And register online.

When registering as a trade visitor, your contact details will be displayed in the Trade Visitor Catalogue. Exhibitors and trade visitors will be able to search the catalogue even before the fair starts and thus will be able to make an appointment with you in time.

Next steps: After having submitted your registration you will get a confirmation by e-mail. Your application will then be processed and you will be duly notified if your registration is successful. You will also receive a registration number which will allow you to collect your trade visitor badge at the trade visitor registration counter at the fair. Please note that the entrance fee for a day ticket is 40 ZAR - four day ticket is are also available.


IF YOU ARE A SCBWI SA MEMBER

You can display your books and artwork at the SCBWI stand.

Notes for SCBWI Menbers

E-mail Astrid to astridcastle@gmail.com to book to display your work

The limit is

  • 15 books per person
  • 2 poster size Bristol board with your artwork (See instructions below) which will be desplayed in the artwork V shaped stand (like the ones one sees in poster shops – that one can "page" through.)
  • There will also be a work in process section where you can display full manuscripts, picture book dummies or a example of your writing

The books you display do not have to only be recent books – choose your best work to display your craft well

Make sure that every book has your name and contact details in them

We will be circulating suggestions how to display your Artwork so that it could be handled easily and be safe and so that all size and thicknesses of the artwork sheets are similar

All material must have reached us by the latest Tuesday evening 10th June - if you live in the Cape area your stuff can be posted or delivered to Astrid Castle, M202 Melrose Village, Melrose ave, Muizenburg 7945, Cape; Telephone: 021 788 1666; cell: 084 687 8747; OR you can bring your stuff directly to the book fair to the SCBWI stall on Friday morning. We will be there -setting up & decorating the stand.

If you will be at the Book Fair, 16-19 June, it is very important to register as a Trade Visitor – this you can do by going online www.capetownbookfair.com and follow instructions - you only pay the normal entrance fee (R40 a day). To register is very important because… only if you have registered can you go round to the publishers and show your work to them

If you will be attending the fair and are able to help us at the stand please contact Astrid – we need two people at the stand all the time – we will be working out a schedule.

We will take care that your work will be safe, each evening at the close of the fair a screen will be fitted to the entrance of the stand, but SCBWI cannot be responsible for any lost or damage of your work.

At the end of the fair you must come and collect your stuff – What is not collected will be taken to Marjorie’s home and you must make arrangement for it to be fetched.

During the fair SCBWI will be available for any advise on approaching publishers – come and see us at the stand

Please feel free to call me with any questions but PLEEEASE call in office hours – I'm working hard and long hours and if I do get to rest in the evenings I hate it to be woken up by a late telephone call - Tel no 021 856 0432

Here are instructions how to prepare your work to exhibit at the SCBWI SA stand at the Cape Town Book Fair. Our stand - B 8

The boards are going to lie in a V-shaped holder (as for posters) in our stall and visitors will be allowed to page through them.

Please follow the instructions precisely!

  • You will need two sheets of Triplex board, 620 grams (1020 X 770mm) obtainable at The Deckle Edge @ R28.00, plus Acetate 175 microns (762mm width) available at Deckle Edge @ R21.85 a metre.
  • Cut four mounting boards 50 x 70 cm. (this is crucial as all the work to be exhibited must be on the same sized mounts). If it is a different size we will NOT put it on display. Two boards are for backing the other two for the windows.
  • Maximum of two boards with illustrations allowed per person
  • You can have more than one illustration per board. It can be published or unpublished work, but it must be intended for children. You can position your illustrations to lie either landscape or portrait.
  • You must cut window mounts, but remember to leave some breathing space (at least 2cm) between the illustrations and 3cm around the edges – more is better. To protect your work, cover each illustration with acetate before positioning them in the window. The acetate must be between your illustration and the front board
  • Make sure you attach your illustrations securely so that they do not come loose and slide down.
  • Attach a board to the back of the board on which you have mounted your illustration. This will make it better able to stand up to handling and also keep your work safe. The back will also be neat. Remember the work will be paged through like a book.
  • The illustrations must be displayed one side only. These mounted illustrations will then be ready to be displayed at an exhibition that will be held in September. That is (a) if you wish them to be submitted for the exhibition and (b) if they are selected by the panel of judges who are organising the September exhibition, as space will be limited.
  • Put an information sheet (A4) on the back of each of your boards. This should include your photograph, contact details and any other (brief) information about yourself that you think is relevant. Also please have a list of the illustrations that are on the front, title of the book/s, and the author/s and publisher/s. Please print an extra two A4 information sheets and deliver this in an A4 envelope. These will be used for the exhibition if your work is selected.
  • Deliver it to us at the Convention Centre on Friday 13th June CTICC, Convention Square, 1 Lower Long Street, Cape Town 8001 or deliver it on or before Thursday evening 12th June to Astrid Castle, M202 Melrose Village, Melrose ave, Muizenburg 7945, Cape; Telephone: 021 788 1666; cell: 084 687 8747.
  • Please do not use old board - MAKE SURE YOUR BOARD LOOKS NEAT AND CLEAN!

That's about it! We look forward to seeing your work.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

AN OPPORTUNITY YOU MUST NOT MISS

See full programme and costs at - http://sa-writers-illustrators.blogspot.com/

SCBWI SA

Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Retreat

Goudini Spa

May 5-9, 2008

All children’s book writers, illustrators, publishers, librarians, teachers

(not only members of the SCBWI)…


THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY YOU MUST NOT MISS.

READ ON!

We are lucky to have enticed the chief editor from a children’s magazine and two established international children’s book agents to participate in our retreat: Christine Clark from the Highlights Magazine, USA, and Rosemary Canter from United Agents, London, UK, and Susanne Koppe from Auserlesen Ausgezeichnet Agency, Hamburg, Germany, and an editor from Macmillan (Trade Books), London, UK. (Name TBC)

Christine Clark: “I'm delighted that my first trip to South Africa will be centred on making and encouraging new friends who share my passion for creating high-quality literature for children. I hope I can spark in many of you a greater awareness of and appreciation for children's magazines--one of my great loves--and I look forward to learning from all of you, as well.”

Rosemary Canter: “I am thrilled to be invited, intrigued to find out more about South African publishing, and, like all agents, hungry to find talented writers and illustrators. So I’m looking forward very much to meeting all the participants.”

Susanne Koppe: “...that's all very, very exciting and I feel so honoured you wish to invite me. I really hope I can meet your expectations and make my participation worthwhile. Years ago I translated a South African exile-author, Norman Silver, and since then I wanted to travel to the country.”

Saturday, February 16, 2008

SCBWI South Africa MARCH 2008 EVENT

MARCH

A MUST FOR ILLUSTRATORS

Layout and Book Design

Presenters: A panel of book design experts and established illustrators
Date: March 6th , 2008
Time: 10:00 —15:00
Venue: Bellville Public Library (Cape Town)
Cost: Non SCBWI Members R80 & SCBWI Members R50.00 (Includes tea/coffee & lunch.)
RSVP: To book please e-mail SCBWI.ZA@gmail.com before 25th Feb.2008. NB! - Put Layout and Book Design in the e-mails subject line
Inquirers: E-mail SCBWI.ZA@gmail.com NB! - Put Layout and Book Design in the e-mails subject line
Specific requirements: Please specify if you are vegetarian

Panel: Michelle Cooper [publisher/editor, Tafelberg publisher]; Teresa Williams (TBC) [book designer]; Sally Swart [book designer]; Beverley Dodd [senior designer at Struik Publishers] and Marjorie van Heerden (moderator)

Description: An interactive discussion about designing a book cover and page layouts. Important part of successfully illustrating a book is being aware of the relationship of illustration, text and format of the book. The look of your book is the most important advertising element in selling your book. That is why your book layout design must have a professional appearance, with a cover design that will draw the attention of your target market. In this discussion we will look at the following:

  • The relationship between text, illustration and format of the book
  • Designing a Book cover and page layouts:
  • Designing your book cover and interior pages
  • Checking proofs to avoid mistakes

Managing a publishing project – communication between editor, proof-reader and/or printer, writer, illustrator, book designer.

  • Who is responsible for what?
  • Important aspects kept in mind while designing a book cover & page layout:
  • How a book cover design can propel your book sales
  • How to think like a book layout designer
  • How book development dictates design
  • How to choose the size & format of your book, layout, and type
  • How to prepare your content for page layouts
  • Understanding the various parts of a book
  • Understanding the idea-to-layout process
  • Book cover pitfalls
  • The book producing process