Good news for Illustrators!

New Award for Picture Book Illustrators Aims to Encourage and Publish Emerging Talent

Aspiring illustrators now have the chance to kick-start their career and see their own work published with mentoring from a top picture book artist, following the establishment of the inaugural Storylines Gavin Bishop Award for Picture Book Illustration.

This new award, sponsored by Random House New Zealand and the Storylines Children’s Literature Charitable Trust, aims to encourage the publication of new and exciting high-quality picture books from New Zealand illustrators. It also recognises the contribution Gavin Bishop has made to the writing and illustrating of children’s picture books and gives an emerging talent the opportunity to benefit from his expertise.

In addition to a $1,500 monetary prize, the winner of the award will receive mentoring and support from celebrated children’s author and illustrator, Gavin Bishop, and may also receive an offer of publication by Random House New Zealand.

”The award could give a new – but not necessarily young – unpublished illustrator a great start in a career as a picture book artist,” says Gavin Bishop.

”There are many talented artists out there who may not have thought of delving into the medium of the picture book, but we hope that this award will give them the impetus to do so and enable us to uncover some great new talent,“ he says.

“A picture book is not just a short story with pictures. In a good picture book the story and imagery work together, each complementing the other – they should be inseparable.

“In a good picture book the illustrations do not stand alone – they are part of the storytelling process so this provides an added challenge that artists need to consider.”

“We are delighted to be part of this initiative,” adds Dr Libby Limbrick, chairperson of Storylines. “For young readers, the pictures are an integral part of their comprehensive exploration of the story. The quality of illustrations is therefore critical in literature written for them.

“The opportunity to work with someone as talented and experienced as Gavin will not only support the illustrator but contribute to the development of an ethos of quality illustration as at least as important as the words in many books.”

Each entrant will be required to submit a storyboard, a page of rough drawings and two pieces of finished art to fit with text provided by Random House.

‘Besides freshness of ideas, good drawing and confident use of materials and techniques, the judges will be looking for strong characterisation, strong pictorial story-telling, and artwork that is appropriate to the designated age group,’ says Random House New Zealand Deputy Publishing Director, Jenny Hellen.

The winner of the award will go on to work with Gavin Bishop on a picture book which then would be considered for publication by Random House upon its completion. Entries must be received by 31 October 2009, with the presentation of the award made at the Storylines Margaret Mahy Day in March 2010.

For further information on the Storylines Gavin Bishop Award for Picture Book Illustration, including details on how to enter, visit www.storylines.org.nz

Conference Update

We are working away to get the programme in place for the Conference; registration will open in May, but if you have let us know you'd like more information, we'll be sending out the programme to you a little earlier so you can take advantage of an early bird registration. We have had an overwhelming response so far and anticipate the limited places will go fast!
Like the logo? We think it captures the spirit of writing and
illustrating for our Tamariki perfectly!

Member Book Launch

Mallinson Rendel Publishers and The Children's Bookshop
Invite you to the launch of
Quin Majik and the Hairy Roof Rescue
by Fleur Beale, illustrated by Philip Webb

at the Children's Bookshop, shop 26, Kilbirnie Plaza, Kilbirnie, Wellington
Tuesday 17 March, 6pm

RSVP to: The Children's Bookshop
childbkwgtn@xtra.co.nz (o4) 387 3905

Click on the Pic for our next event- An evening with Joy Cowley & Kate De Goldi

Wellington- creative heart and soul!

Well... do Wellington writers and illustrators rock?! We here at the WCBA are very excited by the fact that our city is home to major talent- and some of it even on our committee! Congratulations to members Fleur Beale, Philippa Werry and of course, our beloved patron Jack Lasenby, all shortlisted for the NZ Post Book Awards. And to the other shortlisted Wellingtonians: Joy Cowley (yes we are claiming you!), Gregory O'Brien, Weta Workshop's Daniel Falconer and Paul Tobin, Ali Teo and John O'Reilly, Philip Webb and our much cherished, Kate De Goldi. We think this must be a good place to be- something to think about when considering registering for the conference in April!

The full shortlist:

Picture Book

Duck’s Stuck! Written by Kyle Mewburn, illustrated by Ali Teo and John O’Reilly (Scholastic New Zealand)

Every Second Friday written by Kiri Lightfoot, illustrated by Ben Galbraith
(Hodder Children’s Books)

Piggity-Wiggity Jiggity Jig written by Diana Neild, illustrated by Philip Webb (Scholastic New Zealand)

Roadworks written by Sally Sutton, illustrated by Brian Lovelock (Walker Books)

The Were-Nana written by Melinda Szymanik, illustrated by Sarah Nelisiwe Anderson (Scholastic New Zealand)

Non-fiction

Back & Beyond: New Zealand Painting for the Young & Curious
by Gregory O’Brien (Auckland University Press)

The Crafting of Narnia: The Art, Creatures, and Weapons from Weta Workshop
by Weta Workshop, Paul Tobin and Daniel Falconer (HarperOne)

High-Tech Legs on Everest by Mark Inglis with Sarah Ell
(Random House New Zealand)

Juicy Writing: Inspiration and Techniques for Young Writers by Brigid Lowry (Allen and Unwin)

Piano Rock: A 1950s Childhood by Gavin Bishop (Random House New Zealand)

Junior Fiction

Chicken Feathers by Joy Cowley, illustrated by David Elliot (Puffin)

Enemy at the Gate by Philippa Werry (Scholastic New Zealand)

Five (and a bit) Days in the Life of Ozzie Kingsford written by Val Bird,
illustrated by Rebecca Cundy (Random House New Zealand)

Old Drumble by Jack Lasenby (HarperCollins Publishers)

Payback by Michelle Kelly (Scholastic New Zealand)

Young Adult Fiction

The 10pm Question by Kate de Goldi (Longacre Press)

Chronicles of Stone #1, Scorched Bone by Vincent Ford (Scholastic New Zealand)

Gool by Maurice Gee (Puffin)

Juno of Taris by Fleur Beale (Random House New Zealand)

The Tomorrow Code by Brian Falkner (Walker Books)

All winners will be announced at an awards ceremony held at Auckland Museum on Wednesday 20 May.