New JF for Meredith Costain

Congratulations to author Meredith Costain on the publication of the

Ella Diaries Super Special #1: Winter Wonders

with illustrator Danielle McDonald

a paper back junior fiction for ages 6-11 published by Scholastic Australia

1 September 2023

Ella and Zoe are having fun making snow angels with their new friends and learning how to snowboard. But what could be making those weird howling sounds at night? And who left those strange tracks in the snow!

• An extended length special edition with sparkly foil on the cover and full-colour illustrations.

Looks amazing and a great addition to a wonderful series!

Behind the Scenes: Meet THE BEATNICKERS! Meredith Costain

Literary legend and master of the keyboard, Meredith is no stranger to SCBWI conferences. If you’ve never got down and dirty (aka hot and sweaty) on the dance floor with her rocking tunes, you’re in for a treat. Wax lyrical for …

Meredith Costain

Briefly state your conference role and conference responsibilities

I have a bit of a mixed bag this year! I’ll be part of the Creating Passionate Poets panel (lots of excellent alliteration right there!) for the PD Day on the Tuesday, and also doing some manuscript assessments for Ford Street.

But most importantly I’ll be flexing my fingers, cranking up the keyboard and – in the words of the immortal Blues Brothers – ‘getting the band back together’ for the Beatnickers’ third outing at the SCWBI Dinner Dance on the Monday night. Should be a hoot! (If not a nanny )

How long have you been part of the SCBWI Band and what made you sign up for it: the money, the notoriety, the free scotch finger biscuits?

The SCBWI band seems to have morphed out of a few late-night (well-oiled) jam sessions around the grand piano in the foyer of the Hughenden Hotel in 2010. By the next conference I’d managed to co-opt a few more SCBWI members to put together a ‘lounge band’ with Scott Chambers and Chris Cheng on guitar, various vocalists (led by the inimitable James Foley) and even a ukulele.

2014 saw us ‘plug in’ for surround sound, with Mark Greenwood on drums, Scott and James in full flight, and a host of guests. Karen Collum stepped up brilliantly to play keyboards at the last conference when I was a late scratching (with even more stellar guests up on stage) – and this year I’m back, ready to (rock and) roll. Bring your dancing shoes!

What made me sign up for it? Ummm … the free wine? (Were there scotch finger biscuits?!?) (There’s free wine?! Where’s my ukulele… Ed.)

Describe your most notable achievement or proudest moment in Kids’ Lit to date

Being awarded the Graham Davey Citation for my contribution to Australian children’s literature at the YABBA awards in November meant a lot to me. The next week one of the Ella Diaries (brilliantly illustrated by Danielle McDonald) won Honour Book in the junior fiction section at the KOALA awards in Sydney. And then a couple of weeks after that I headed off to India with Leigh Hobbs to take part in children’s book festivals, school visits and creators’ content conferences as part of Australia Fest. So a great month!

What is the most memorable (SCBWI) Conference experience you’ve had to date, or hope to have?

Staying up till very late (were there birds chirping?) in a little room in the Hughie, drinking wine and chatting to US poet Ellen Hopkins and people who have since become close and dear (and I suspect lifelong!) friends. This is one of the biggest take-aways an event like the SCBWI conference can offer, and why I keep coming back.

Name one thing you can’t live without

Only one? Good friends that get your jokes and have your back. (Plus the usual: books, music, wine, chocolate et cetera, et cetera, et cetera . . .) ( and nut-filled M & Ms?! Ed.)

Provide at least one Fun Fact from a SCBWI Conference you’ve attended or played at (anywhere in the world)

100+ sweaty people in a room doing the Nutbush! And not letting the band have a break because they wanted to keep dancing. Now that’s commitment.

Visit Meredith and her astounding library of written work at www.meredithcostain.com

With only a couple more weeks to go until the next Sydney 2019 SCBWI Conference, you should have packed your dancing shoes, manuscripts, coloured pencils and notebooks and booked your tickets by now. There’s still however plenty of time to settle back and meet a couple more of the amazing faces behind the names of the people behind the scenes of this incredible event. Till then,

Rove ya’ later!

Dimity (Head Gardener)

www.dimitypowell.com

#SCBWISyd

Behind the Scenes: Meet The BEATNICKERS!

Unable to extract themselves from an era of spiritual exploration and creative revolution, a handful of scribes and illustrators clung to the notion of the Beat Generation and morphed into The Beatnickers Band. For years, The Beatnickers have been gracing SCBWI AusNZ Conferences, enticing would be shakers and groovers onto the dance floors. And like a hippie left out in the sun too long, it’s a culture that seems to be assuming a life of its own. Join us now as we delve below the curdled mantle of The Beatnickers and their key members, starting with, James Foley.

James Foley makes picture books and comics for kids. He’s the author/illustrator of the S.Tinker Inc graphic novel series for middle primary: Brobot (2016) and Dungzilla (2017) starring Sally Tinker, the world’s foremost inventor under the age of twelve, and Joe Tinker, her stinky baby brother. The third in the series, Gastronauts, will be published in late 2018. James’ earlier books My Dead Bunny (2015) In The Lion (2012), The Last Viking (2011) and The Last Viking Returns (2014) have all scored several honours, including children’s choice awards, shortlistings in the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year awards, and selection to the International Youth Library’s White Raven list. James is an an ambassador for Books In Homes and Room To Read. He is a massive Marvel movie nerd. He comes from a long line of queuing enthusiasts.

Welcome, James! Briefly state your conference role and conference responsibilities

My role will be Chief Lyric Warbler in a band called the Beatnickers. The band members are all SCBWI scribblers and scribes (plus the odd scoundrel).

How long have you been part of the SCBWI Band and what made you sign up for it: the money, the notoriety, the free scotch finger biscuits?

I was unaware there were free scotch finger biscuits. This will be my third time singing with the band - have there been free scotch finger biscuits in the past? Meredith and Scott, did you know about this?? Did you eat my share of the biscuits?!?

Describe your most notable achievement or proudest moment in Kids’ Lit to date

The best thing is that I still get to do it. It’s not a stable job, it’s not a given - but it’s been 9 years since I started my first book, 7 years since my first book was published, and 5 and a half years since I started doing it full time.

What is the most memorable (SCBWI) Conference experience you’ve had to date, or hope to have?

The best part about SCBWI conferences is the chance to catch up with everyone from across Oz and have a party.

Name one thing you can’t live without

Scotch finger biscuits.

Provide at least one Fun Fact from a SCBWI Conference you’ve attended or played at (anywhere in the world)

I went to the 2012 NY winter conference, and Mo Willems was a keynote. He is quite good at throwing frisbees. I know this because he threw signed copies of his books into the audience. 75% sure they were softcovers.

Get to know James better by visiting his website: www.jamesfoley.com.au

If you’re keen to meet more Beatnickers scoundrels, er members, stick around, we’ve managed to lure them in with a mere half a packet of scotch finger biscuits! Till then,

Rove ya later!

Dimity (Head Gardener)

www.dimitypowell.com

#SCBWISyd