Last week I attended a masterclass with illustrator Alison Lester. So inspiring I totally forgot to take photos to share the experience (sorry) but have a look at her website and the wonderful 25+ books Alison has been involved in either writing or illustrating.
I came home with two beautiful books signed by Alison to my grandies: Kissed by the Moon was recommended for my 19 month old by Alison and Imagine with a sparkly cover things to do while we read, for my 5 year old.
Kissed by the Moon #AlisonLester © 2014
Imagine by Alison Lester #AlisonLester © 2014
When I read each of these for the first time, I got shivers of sheer enjoyment from the beautiful illustrations and simple but so evocative wording – hard to do.
I confess, I was not aware of Alison before the class but I’m now a HUGE fan and intend to build a library of as many of her books as possible for my grandchildren.
I consider no other gift as valuable as the love of books and like my children, my grandchildren already have an excellent collection of (especially but not exclusively) Australian writers.
Now they have two more treasures.
Our very active and totally encouraging local Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators: SCWBI WEST volunteers, organised the Masterclass to be held on the same day as Duelling Illustrators.
No less than 6 illustrators took part, with three writers offering their unpublished manuscripts as the stimulus for furious flaying of arms around large sheets of paper.
An exciting and great fun, FREE event with standing room only. If you missed this one, don’t miss the next event which happens once a year at the State Library in the Perth Cultural Centre – one of my all time favorite places to be.
SCWBI West members stayed back “Behind Closed Doors – a view from the Publisher’s desk” with Cate Sutherland from Fremantle Press and Jane Godwin from Penguin Books.
Many lucky members left the next morning for a writers retreat held over last weekend on Rottnest Island, just 14 Km off the coast of Perth.
Can’t wait to read the wonderful books which result, as they do every year.
If you’re a West Australian writer or illustrator – or talented enough to do both, I highly recommend you join in the fun and nurturing at SCWBI West.
#SCWBIWest #AlisonLester #FrancesMacaulayForde #DuellingIllustrators
Leave a Reply