Secrets of Sheryl Gwyther

My last post was about Angela Sunde and her new book Pond Magic, Matilda was so wrapped with this story she read it in just 3 days and has reviewed it already on Paper Dolls. For today's post I'll be digging into the writerly advice from Sheryl Gwyther at the CYA Writers Conference.

Sheryl spoke to us about her journey as an author and spoke about her books. Her latest, Charlie and the Red Hot Chilli Pepper promises to be a fun read for kids. But, it was when she spoke of her children's novel Secrets of Eromanga that I sat upright. A novel about a twelve year old girl on a dinosaur dig in outback Queensland? OMG, my eldest is twelve and guess what she loves more than anything else in the world??? DINOSAURS. Yep, Emily has since pre-school had paleontologist on her future CV. And, until her pre-teen years, she always had a room decorated with dinosaurs and fossils. I had to get a copy of this novel!

After Sheryl's talk I quickly asked her where I could get a copy and lucky for me, she had a couple on her. Sheryl even wrote an inscription for Emily and posed for a picture with her book. I can't even begin to tell you how much Emily treasures that book! She'll be reviewing it on Paper Dolls soon.

"For Emily, Aussie dinosaurs Rule!!

Best wishes Sheryl Gwyther 2010"

Sheryl's advice to writers included:

• STUDY the format of the genre you wish to write for. What works, what doesn't?
• Get first hand EXPERIENCE where possible. Sheryl volunteered on an actual dinosaur dig in Queensland.
• READ as many books as you can. I know, it eats into writing time, but reading improves your writing.
• Write DAILY. Anything. (Here's a previous post I did on Ways to Make Yourself Write)
• Get used to the idea that your manuscript needs many REWRITES.
• Acquire writerly friends (check - I have you guys!).
• Take notice of SUBMISSION GUIDELINES. Don't waste time sending your manuscript to the wrong people.
• Never give up. (I never will - which is why I'd make a brilliant stalker).

You can visit Sheryl's website and blog at:

http://members.optusnet.com.au/sgwyther/index.htm

http://sherylgwyther.wordpress.com/

http://sherylgwyther4kids.wordpress.com/

When our dog had puppies, just days after Emily's 4th birthday, she decided the first born was present and named her Fossil (after we suggested Diplodocus was a bit hard to call out at the park). There are days when I'm ready to make this mutt a real fossil.

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Angela Sunde - Oui, oui!

I'm continuing my theme of introducing you to the amazing authors I met at the CYA Writers Conference and today I'll introduce you to a kids writer with savoir-fair!

In-between workshops I was snacking on my morning tea in the foyer of one of the buildings of QUT when a book launch was announced. Angela Sunde appeared in a cute beret and French-style jacket to announce her new book, Pond Magic.

My attention was had (okay, it might also have had something to do with the raffle for the bottle of French champagne, but I promise I was interested at a literary level). French is hot right now. Images of the Eiffel tower adorn many living room wall, t-shirt or cushion. My youngest (Matilda) is 9 and LOVES the idea of France and writing stories, so I thought this would be a perfect gift for her. As an extra bonus, I approached  Angela to have the book signed.

Angela was so sweet when I told her about Tilly's French phase that she included a special inscription:

'Hi Matilda! Bonjour... Vive le burp! Angela Sunde'

Finding trends is a great way of attracting attention to your work from your targeted market (like young girls). This is a way of suggesting a connection between the reader and product (Matilda feels like the story was written just for her). 

Another way Angela triggers this familiarity is with the use of reworking a well-known fairytale (in this case: The Frog Prince). Readers see these familiarities and subconsciously read them as coincidences connecting their own lives (E.g. Ooh, I love everything French and so does one of the characters, plus, I remember reading this fairytale and, I like pink stripes - Fate wants me to buy this book!).

Angela also spoke to us during a seminar of new authors. Some of her advice to budding writers (like myself) was:

• Don't be impatient, it may take years but you have to keep putting your work out there.
• Give your character a problem (I've blogged before about how to find conflict for your story).
• Find your market (publishers and agents for your genre).
• Attend festivals and join writers centres (there were some good links that I'll collate with the others I've gathered and post all together soon).

You can find and follow Angela at her own blog:

http://angelasunde.blogspot.com/

Or, visit her website:

http://www.angelasunde.com/

Angela Sunde at the Pond Magic book launch

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Gabrielle Wang's Magic

Do you get Author crushes? Not for the smouldering photo on the back of the cover, but for authors that write with a style and creativity that you wish you could mirror? I get them all the time (and you usually find out because I rave about my loved authors here). I have a new crush.

Gabrielle Wang was the last speaker at the CYA Conference for writers I attended on the weekend, and, if any of the audience was starting to feel weary by the time she arrived, they quickly livened up. Gabrielle has an enticing manner, she draws you into her world with promises of familiarity, mystery and fantasy.

The conference participants warmed to Gabrielle's stories of childhood as a girl with a Chinese family blending into an Australian community and the stories she would imagine and the pictures she would draw. One of the suggestions Gabrielle makes is to write what you know.  I have earlier posts that scoff at that idea, but have evolved enough to now understand the essence of it is true. You write the emotions you know, the fantasies you've dreamed and the adventures you've experienced (even if they've been second-hand or imagined).

I fell i n love with all of Gabrielle's books and artwork immediately and have already ordered five of her books, including a picture book:

A novel for young chapter readers:

And three novels including one I know I will be stealing from my daughters so I can read too!

Gabrielle had invaluable advice to offer us during that workshop, and we tried a few creative exercises including free writing and a kind of meditation writing with Gabrielle gently guiding us to our own ideas. I got so much out of this experience that I will always be grateful for her time and enthusiasm.

Now I've discovered Gabrielle also has an author website to be envious of! I want one too!

http://www.gabriellewang.com/

If you'd like to hunt down Gabrielle Wang's books, I found Amazon a bit lacking but Fishpond will ship anywhere:

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A Day for the Dads

Today's a day for that special man:

I'm in Brisbane today because I attended a writers conference yesterday, so I get to spend time with my Dad.

 

Which is great, but means I've left my Hubby alone this Father's Day with the kids. I don't think he'll be too disappointed once he opens his pressie, I'll give you a hint - it looks like this:

So, to my Hubby, my Dad and all the Dads celebrating this day:

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Writing Animal Characters

One of my latest reads has been Dog On It, a mystery series by Spencer Quinn, featuring the detective duo, Chet and Bernie. The narrative is told in first person by the point of view of Chet. Chet is Bernie's dog.

Telling the story from the pet's point of view has been done before, but has the potential to be too cheesy. Chet wouldn't mind, he likes cheese. But, this book does not become corny, thankfully Quinn resists any urge to have animals carry on conversations with each other.

I write dogs. In Dog Show Detective my mystery-solving duo are 12yr old Kitty Walker and her Miniature Schnauzer, Spade. I love dogs, watch dogs and feel I know dogs pretty darn well. I try to capture the character of my dog's size, breed and individual personality. Too often, I read stories where the dog is just 'there', loitering on the pages and yapping occasionally (or worse, saying 'woof'!). Quinn has captured the essence of the dog perfectly utilising Chet's strengths (good sense of smell, strongly loyal, and, can take a bite when necessary) and his weaknesses (memory gets a bit foggy and events get blurred, plus, he has no will power when it comes to food - or urinating on interesting objects).

Quinn captures the dialogue of a dog perfectly: "I hopped out and trotted around, lifting my leg on some of those spiky bushes and a round rock with a flat rock sitting on top of it - couldn't ignore something like that."

The mystery is interesting enough to carry the story (this one is about a missing girl) and I loved it enough that I'm currently reading Thereby Hangs a Tail (the next mystery in the series).

Tonight I fly to Brisbane, I'm a nervous flyer, so I've packed lots to do on my short 1hr40min flight. I've got my Kindle (my Chet and Bernie mystery waiting on it), a book on Mystery Writing, audiobooks on my iPod and various snacks. It will be worth it. Tomorrow I'll be attending the CYA Conference at the Brisbane Writers Festival - I'll try to take lots of pics and notes to share with you all!

stay calm, stay calm, stay calm...

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Book Giveaway for Writers

WooHoo! We have a winner!

Thanks to Random.Org I have generated the lucky number:

and checking my list of entries.... the winner is:

Lisa Gibson!

Lisa will be receiving a new copy of:

 and 

Thanks to everyone who entered, I'll host another draw when the followers reach 300!

Now, I'm off to pack for my upcoming Brisbane Writers Festival.

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Learning Writing from Classics

Don't forget to enter my awesome book give-away. You can win your pick of books just by entering your details and retweeting or blogging about the competition. To go to the entry form, click the button:

Last week was Book Week at my girls' school. There were many fantastic costumes and some representing current release books. But, most kids seem to dress up from stories that have been around for some time. Dorothy, Tinkerbell and Pocahontas made an appearance. My youngest went as Alice and my eldest pleased me greatly by going as Miss Marple (she's just discovered Agatha Christie mysteries and loves them). 

Writers of contemporary children's fiction can learn a lot about what entices a reader from the classic narratives. Sure kids like stories they can relate to with contemporary problems (are these really any different from problems of old?), but books like The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland and Agatha Christie's mysteries, obviously posses a formula worth researching.

For my current WIP, The Warracknabeal Kids, I'm being inspired and educated about young boys' fiction by Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer and To Kill a Mockingbird. Have you read any classic fiction to inspire your current work?

"Oh dear, where's my magnifying glass?"

"I think you dropped it down the rabbit hole old lady."

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