New England Writers' Centre
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  • Home
    • About
    • Become a Member!
    • Blog
    • Useful links!
    • Our Board
    • Our Wonderful Sponsors
    • Contact
      • Become a Member!
  • Program
  • Historical Novel Prize
    • About the judges
  • Thunderbolt Prize 2020
    • Thunderbolt Prize 2020 Judges Reports
    • Thunderbolt Prize 2020_Winning submissions
  • Illustration Prize 2020 Winners
  • Varuna Fellowship 2020
  • Resources
  • By The Book video series
  • 2021 Summer Micro Grants

Program and Presenters

We are so excited about this year's line up of YOL tutors. The nitty gritty details are still being sorted, so watch this space! In the meantime, here are the tutors we have lined up!
Who: Matt Blackwood
When: May

In this session, Matt will introduce the fabulous concept of 'Sticky Stories', a workshop that combines creative writing, analytical skills, the foundations for future writing groups and an alternative form of self-publishing, using Post It notes. Lots of fun! Matt Blackwood has presented StickyStories workshops for Signal: the City of Melbourne’s creative arts studio, the Williamstown Writers’ Festival, across Central Queensland for the Queensland Writers’ Centre and for Access2Arts in Adelaide. Matt will be visiting Armidale as a guest of the Writers' Centre and also giving several longer workshops in person. More about him at http://mattblackwood.com/about/

Who: Stephen Whiteside
When: June

Melbourne poet Stephen Whiteside recently won the 'Golden Gumleaf' also known as the national Australian Bush Laureate Awards, for his lively, funny collection of poetry for children, The Billy That Died With Its Boots On, and Other Australian Verse(Walker Books). This fun session will introduce kids and teachers to the delights of writing and reading poetry and there'll be plenty of time for Q and A. http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au/

Who: Fiona McDonald
When: July

This session is about creating great illustrations for fantasy and fairy tale.
Fiona McDonald is an illustrator, author and dollmaker. She has had more than 10 books published internationally, including a graphic novel for children, Ghost Doll and Jasper. She has illustrated two picture books, Two Selkie Stories from Scotland, retold by Kate Forsyth, and Two Fearsome Fairy Tales from France, retold by Adele Geras. Her 2014 title, Two Selkie Stories from Scotland, was listed as one of Good Reading Magazine's top books for 2014.

Who: Ian Irvine
When: August, Booked In

In this session, Ian will talk about how he goes about creating the intricate worlds of his books, and how to make fantasy seem real.
I
an Irvine is a best-selling author and marine scientist who has written 29 novels for adults and children, in the fantasy and eco-thriller genres. His twelve books for children include the Runcible Jones series, the Grim and Grimmer series and the Sorcerer's Tower series. 


Who: Ann James
When: August, Booked In

In this session, Ann will talk about how she illustrates and how she goes about creating the wonderful visual atmosphere of her books.
Ann James is a distinguished creator who has illustrated more than 60 books, some of which she also wrote. She has won many awards for her work, with her most recent title, I'm A Dirty Dinosaur(written by Janeen Brian) being an Honour Book in the 2014 Children's Book Council of Australia Awards,

Ann will be featured visiting illustrator at Booked In and will also be giving several workshops in person in Armidale schools.


Who: Sophie Masson
When: September

This session is about how to make history come to life. How do you write about characters from far off times and from faraway lands? Sophie Masson, author of more than 60 books for children, young adults and adults, won a NSW Premier's Literary Award with her historical novel for children, Ned Kelly's Secret, and her other popular historical novels for young people include My Father's War, The Phar Lap Mystery, 1914, and many others. Her website is www.sophiemasson.org

  • Home
    • About
    • Become a Member!
    • Blog
    • Useful links!
    • Our Board
    • Our Wonderful Sponsors
    • Contact
      • Become a Member!
  • Program
  • Historical Novel Prize
    • About the judges
  • Thunderbolt Prize 2020
    • Thunderbolt Prize 2020 Judges Reports
    • Thunderbolt Prize 2020_Winning submissions
  • Illustration Prize 2020 Winners
  • Varuna Fellowship 2020
  • Resources
  • By The Book video series
  • 2021 Summer Micro Grants