SCBWI SA Cape Town: July 2007

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Upcoming events for SCBWI SA in Cape Town for the second half of 2007

BOOK DAY AT MARJORIE'S HOME

Date: 18th August 2007, Saturday
Time: 11:00—15:00
Where: Marjorie van Heerden's House at 153 Beach rd, Gordon's Bay.
Cost: Includes snack lunch and tea/coffee. Non-SCBWI-Members R50.00; SCBWI-Members R30.00
RSVP: To book please E-mail bookings@scbwi.za.org before 8th August NB! - put Aug Book Day in the subject line of your e-mail.
Inquirers: Marjorie van Heerden - 021 856 0432

Description:

Come and spend a day with Marjorie at her home to talk about children’s Books. We will talk about the CT Book Fair and everyone will have a chance to tell their experiences at the Fair –Paddy will talk about her recent visit to the Bologna Book Fair (the International Children’s Book Fair in Italy).
Helen King, one of the Commisioning editor of Macmillan Education, from England, is currently in South Africa and we will invite her to come to meet writers and illustrators and tell about their publishing company. Bring your work in progress, portfolio, recent books with you to show.
And if there is time, Marjorie will also talk about blogging & show on her computer how to start your own blog.

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WHAT BOOKS ARE SOUTH AFRICAN CHILDREN READING

Date: 29th October 2007
Time: 11:00—17:00
Where: Bellville Public Library, Bellville (Cape Town)
Cost: Includes lunch and tea/coffee. Non SCBWI Members R80.00; SCBWI Members R40.00
RSVP: To book please e-mail bookings@scbwi.za.org before 12th October. NB! - put What Children Read in the e-mails subject line
Inquirers: Marjorie van Heerden - 021 856 0432
Description: A talk by One of the most well known Cape Town Children’s Book Librarians, Lona Gericke. She will talk about what books children are reading. What type of books librarians are always looking for. So come to find out what books should be written, where the gaps are - what books could be winners if we write & illustrate them!. We will also invite Librarians to come to meet the children's book writers and illustrators that will be attending. So bring some of your books along to promote yourself. More about Lona Gericke will soon be posted here - watch this spot

Lona Gericke- Short CV:

Lona Gericke has been involved with Children’s books and libraries for over 38 years. Her career began in May 1969 when she was a Regional Librarian working for the Transvaal Provincial Library Service until 1974. From 1974-1978 she worked as a book selector for the OFS Provincial library service. In 1979 she moved to the USA where she worked in Corpus Christi, Texas for 8 years, first as Branch Head and finally as Coordinator of Children’s services. She returned to South Africa in 1988 due to personal reasons, and accepted the position as Children’s Librarian at Bellville Library in June 1988, where she has remained ever since.
She has a passion for IBBY- the International Board on Books for Young People, and serves on the Exective of IBBYSA , currently as Vice-President responsible for Awards. As President of IBBYSA she represented South Africa at theInternational Conference in Cartagena, Colombia, and in New Delhi, India.
She has twice had the honour of being elected as a member of the H.C.Andersen Jury to judge writing and illustration; and also judges books for awards in South Africa,and writes reviews for the IBBYSA Newsletter.
She writes articles for the Cape Librarian, and was published in the book Towards more understanding: the making and sharing of Children’s literature in South Africa.
She has conducted workshops for CCPL on Children’s services; and regularly presents talks on Children’s literature.
She runs a Born to read programme for babies every Wednesday morning in Bellville library, for the past 9 years.

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We will be having our usual End-of-the-Year-Christmas-Book Party - Details will be circulated later.

Become a member

Membership in the SCBWI is open to anyone with an active interest in children’s literature or media. We welcome aspiring and published writers and illustrators, librarians, educators, artists, students, dramatists, musicians, filmmakers, and others. A passion for children’s literature is our #1 criterion. Dues are US$75 for the first year and US$60 each renewing year. Full Membership Open to those whose books, articles, poems, stories, illustrations, photographs, films, television or electronic media for children have been commercially published or produced. Professional editors, agents, and publishers are also included in this category. Associate Membership Open to unpublished writers and illustrators of children’s literature or media, and those with a general enthusiasm for the field. Writers or illustrators who have been published in markets other than children's literature (but not in children's literature) would be considered Associate Members.

About SCBWI (International)

The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, formed in 1971 by a group of Los Angeles based writers for children, is the only international organization to offer a variety of services to people who write, illustrate, or share a vital interest in children’s literature. The SCBWI acts as a network for the exchange of knowledge between writers, illustrators, editors, publishers, agents, librarians, educators, booksellers and others involved with literature for young people. There are currently more than 19,000 members worldwide, in over 70 regions, making it the largest children's writing organization in the world

Aims of SCBWI

To create opportunities for writers & illustrators of children’s books to learn and become well-informed about the industry we work in, locally and internationally.
To provide opportunities for writers & illustrators to communicate regularly with peers, to compare notes and not only to work in creative isolation. To share with and to learn from each other. In a sense, to create a community of children’s book writers and illustrators.
To stress and strategise with members around the importance of managing the workload in order to set aside time and energy specifically to pursue creative stimulation and to develop creativity and personal development.
To provide opportunities for members to compare notes about career planning and management (also to balance a contribution to educational work with freely creative work (trade books) without losing the creative spark).
To provide opportunities for members to make contact and to interact with established and successful children’s book writers and illustrators, local and foreign.