Read Alert

Author Rachel Cohn has a free event on at the Melbourne Writers Festival!

Rachel Cohn in conversation
Rachel Cohn (USA) lives in Manhattan and writes funny, funky, hip YA fiction. Her three-book series Gingerbread, Shrimp, and Cupcake are on numerous ‘best of’ lists, and her collaborations with David Levithan - Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist and Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List - have further progressed her rise to fame. (Indeed the film version of Nick and Norah has just been released in the USA.) Rachel’s most recent book is You Know Where to Find Me. This session has been kindly supported by the Consulate of the United States of America.
Tuesday 26 August
1.45 – 2.30pm
BMW Edge, Federation Square
FREE!  Just make your way to the venue on the day.

There’s more info about the book here.

Brigid Lowry’s Juicy Writing workshops for teachers on Friday 29 August is now fully booked.

The youth session on Saturday 30 August at 1pm still has places available. It’s a chance to spend a couple of creative hours with one of writings leading teachers and authors.

You can reserve a place by phoning Byron on 8664 7555 or email learning@slv.vic.gov.au

Can’t make it to Melbourne? More about Juicy Writing here.

It’s official: Melbourne has been granted City of Literature status by UNESCO. The announcement recognises the quality and importance of literature to Melbourne. The centrepiece of the succesful bid is the Centre for Books and Ideas, to be housed at the State Library of Victoria and due to open in 2009.

Youth literature is a vital component of Victoria’s literary culture; think of Sonya Hartnett’s Astrid Lingren Award, for one example. The Centre for Youth Literature is thrilled at the news.

But perhaps the announcement also recognises something else. The dedication of teacher librarians, teachers and public librarians in their support of readers. The hard work of people who promote reading give the life blood to writers and to the, ahem, literature industry. The Centre for Youth Literature relies on such support. So on the day that the announcement is made, we say: take a bow, librarians and teachers. It’s your city of literature, too.

Older Readers
HARTNETT, Sonya    THE GHOST’S CHILD      Viking (Penguin Group Australia)

Younger Readers
WILKINSON, Carole      DRAGON MOON      Black Dog Books

For the other results, visit the CBCA website.

Nicely timed with the Writers Festival…

(via Kirsty Murray)

Writing workshop for teenagers!

Tune up your writing in this inspirational two-hour workshop for teenage writers. Juicy Writing is Brigid Lowry’s new guide to writing. It’s a treasure-trove of practical advice on creative writing, especially for teenagers.

Saturday 30 August, 1-3pm
Conference Centre, State Library of Victoria
Level 2A, La Trobe Street, Melbourne.

$7 per person.

Book at 03 8664 7555 or bookings@slv.vic.gov.au

(recommended for years 7-10)

Keep an eye out for the current edition of The Big Issue. To mark Book Week, the magazine’s books editor Jo Case asked the Centre for Youth Literature to guest edit the books section. So for this fortnight you can find reviews of three great new books (one teenage, one middle readers and one picture book) and a short op-ed by Mike Shuttleworth. There’s also a cracking interview with Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton.

The Big Issue is sold by street vendors who keep half the $5 cover price. You can buy it in the following cities and towns: Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Canberra, Ballarat, Geelong, and Bendigo. Or visit the Big Issue website. As they say, it’s a hand up, not hand out.

The Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Young Adult Fiction shortlist has been released. In the frame are:

Justin D’Ath for Pool; Alyssa Brugman for Solo and Brigid Lowry for Tomorrow All Will Be Beautiful.

You can read the judges reports here.

And coincidentally, Brigid Lowry will be in Melbourne for writing workshops for the Centre for Youth Literature, including a free workshop for young people aged 12+. The workshop is on Saturday 30 August, 1pm - 3pm at the State Library of Victoria. There are limited places, so be quick! Bookings for the workshop can made via learning@slv.vic.gov.au

And finally, if you are interested in attending the Premier’s Literary Awards dinner, here’s all you need to know.

Time: Mon 1 September, 7pm
Venue: Zinc, at Federation Square
Master of ceremonies: Jennifer Byrne
Keynote speaker: Alice Pung
Cost: $130 full/$125 concession/$120 State Library of Victoria Foundation members
Bookings: 03 8664 7016 or bookings@slv.vic.gov.au by Mon 25 Aug