Golden Baobab Prize

It is a pleasure to announce the ongoing Golden Baobab Prize, a literary award that annually invites entries of unpublished African-inspired stories written for an audience of ages 8-11 years or 12-15 years. The mission of the Golden Baobab Prize is to identify the African literary giants of the next generation and produce classic stories that will be appreciated for years to come.

This year the prize will award $1,000 to the best story in the junior category as well as the senior category and $800 to the most promising young writer (18 years and below). Beyond that, the Golden Baobab Prize offers to connect outstanding stories with African and international publishers. The Prize is open to African citizens of all ages. Deadline for submission is June 20, 2011.

The Golden Baobab is here to change the face of African literature as we know it! We are counting on your support in achieving this vision.

For more information see: www.goldenbaobab.org

Crystal Kite Award Winner in the Africa Region

The SCBWI is pleased to announce the winners of the inaugural 2011 Crystal Kite Member Choice Awards.
The Crystal Kite Awards are given by the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators to recognize great books from the 70 SCBWI regions around the world. Along with the SCBWI Golden Kite Awards, the Crystal Kite Awards are chosen by other children’s book writers and illustrators, making them the only peer-given awards in publishing for young readers.

Congratulations to Maja Sereda and William Gumede

Their book Kite's Flight is the winner for the African region and was published by Jacana Media Publishers http://www.jacana.co.za/about-jacana

Please click on links below for more information about Maja (an SCBWI member)

http://www.scbwi.org/MemberProfile.aspx?u=2938994339415732

Maja’s blog: http://catching-rabbits.blogspot.com/2010/07/kites-flight.html

Please click on link below for more information about the other SCBWI Golden Kite Awards winners!

http://www.scbwi.org/Pages.aspx/Current-News?2011-SCBWI-Crystal-Kite-Awards-Announced-

About the Crystal Kite Awards
The SCBWI launched the Crystal Kite Awards to recognize great books from the 70 SCBWI regions around the world. Each regional chapter was assigned to one of 15 divisions and the membership in each division voted for their favourite book published by an SCBWI member that year.
SCBWI President Stephen Mooser explains that, “In a time when marketing budgets are being scaled back by publishers these awards were established to create a way for more of our members to receive national recognition for their books.”
The Crystal Kite Awards are a regional spin-off of the annual SCBWI Golden Kite Award given in 4 categories for excellence in children’s literature. Both awards are unique as they are chosen by other writers and illustrators, making them the only peer-given awards in publishing for young readers.
Lin Oliver, SCBWI Executive Director added, “We are so pleased to be able to offer an award that helps to promote regional diversity in the field of children’s books,” She continued, “It is our goal to help each of our published members find ways to promote and market their work through a variety of programs, resources and awards.”

The South African Chapter of SCBWI, Cape Town
(Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators)
would like to announce
A week-long SCBWI (SA) Spring event 2011
Friday 21 October – Thursday 27 October

For more info go to http://springevent2011-scbwi-sa.blogspot.com/

The event will have three separate components, each with a separate attendance fee:

• A one-day children’s book conference
• A luncheon with specialist speakers
• Four days of review sessions for individual writers and illustrators

Note: The event will be open to anyone with an interest in children’s books, e.g. writers, illustrators, parents, teachers, booksellers, librarians, publishers and policy-makers.
However, SCBWI members will be given preference.

Please email scbwi.za@gmail.com to express your interest in attending.
Please put Spring Event 2011 in the subject line and indicate which of the three components you interested in.
Please state if you re a SCBWI member


FRIDAY 21 OCTOBER - ONE-DAY CHILDREN’S BOOK CONFERENCE

• The primary focus of the conference will be on the opportunities and challenges facing children’s book writers and illustrators in educational publications in South Africa.
• A secondary focus will be on possible opportunities opening up in international markets (maybe including the rapidly expanding markets in the East?) for South African children’s Publishers, book writers and illustrators – both in English and in translation.


SATURDAY 22 OCTOBER – SCBWI (SA) SPRING LUNCHEON

• An gala luncheon to celebrate SCBWI’s 40th birthday which will feature Steve Mooser (SCBWI President and a visiting international children’s book writer and Literary Agent, Erzsi Deak

Note: At the luncheon venue local publishers will be given the opportunity to display and promote their latest children’s book publications.


MONDAY 24 TO THURSDAY 27 OCTOBER – REVIEW SESSIONS

• Four days of review sessions in which the literary Agent, children’s book editors and established writers and illustrators will provide thirty-minute one-on-one critiques of the work of local writers & illustrators. (SCBWI Members will be given preference)

Note: SCBWI Members who do not have a review session will have the opportunity to display their work in an exhibition space.