TIME ISSUE 273 Jacki Ferro – From Memoirs to Children’s Books Kelli Hawkins – Time June – August 2021 CALL FOR MANUSCRIPTS PUBLISHED BY Looking for a Publisher? ISSUE 273 June - August 2021 he Melbourne-based Sid Harta Team appreciates that ISSN 1444-2922 it is a brave step to hand over one’s work to a stranger. T EDITORIAL AND PRODUCTION Our editors bear this in mind with an assessment that is Contents Editor Sandra Makaresz sensitive while critical, encouraging, and realistic. Associate Editor 3 Meet Theodora Le Souquet Callum McDonald Guest Artist Sid Harta Publishers is offering writers the opportunity QWC Chair 2008-2010 Kathleen Jennings Design to receive specialised editorial advice 4 From Memoirs to Children’s Books Aleisha Yu Printing on their manuscripts with a view to By Jacki Ferro CPX Printing & Logistics having their stories published. SUBMISSIONS 6 Time Members can submit Milestones or details of Events or Competitions and Opportunities, or By Mocco Wollert pitch articles for WQ, by emailing us at [email protected] Contact SHP at: QWC reserves the right to edit all submissions Sid Harta Publishers specialises 7 Persistence of Memory with regard to content [email protected] and word length. in new and emerging authors, By Renee Hills Phone: (03) 9560 9920 ADVERTISING and off ers a full range of Mobile: 0408 537 792 Advertising rates, deadlines and dimensions and publishing options. 8 New Management Committee other information on how to advertise in WQ is available at qldwriters.org.au/advertise. For Web: http://sidharta.com.au advertising enquiries please contact editor@ We publish: 10 Grief, Ghosts and Giving Yourself Permission qldwriters.org.au SID HARTA PUBLISHERS: QWC members enjoy a reduced advertising • print editions & print- By Lara Cain Grey rate. Before booking an advertisement potential 23 Stirling Crescent, advertisers should read QWC’s Advertising Terms on-demand via Amazon / and Conditions at qldwriters.org.au/advertise Glen Waverley Vic 3150. 12 Never Give Up: The Story of a Manuscript Lightning Source STAFF By Kathy George • ebooks for all platforms. Chief Executive Officer I’ve now had four books published by Sid Harta. Th e fact that I have kept on Lori-Jay Ellis 14 Behind the Scenes - The Curtain Project Publications Manager Call us to discuss our service. coming back indicates that I have been very happy with the services provided, Sandra Makaresz from the initial manuscript assessment, to editing, book design and distribution. By Aleisha Yu Program Manager I have enjoyed the collaboration, particularly in editing and design, the fi nal Callum McDonald Social Media Officer outcome a fusion of my ideas and suggestions made. Many thanks! 16 Time Charlie Hester — Noel Braun author of Th e Day Was Made for Walking, I Guess I’ll Keep on By Kelli Hawkins Graphic Designer Aleisha Yu Walking, Whistler Street, Friend and Philosopher Project Officers 18 Chasing The Wild Pineapple Craig Cauchi Sophie Bafekr RECENT TITLES… Sandy Curtis – by Lesley Synge Christopher Grace Sebastian Williams 20 Taking the Slow Road MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE By Maree Kimberley Chair Four Kym Hausmann Vice Chair Countries 22 Competitions & Opportunities Lara Cain Grey One Dream Treasurer Mary McWeeney 26 Publisher Update Secretary Kim Douglas 28 Member Milestones ORDINARY MEMBERS AUTOBIOGRAPHY SUNDRAM SIVAMALAI Colin Hester Peter Lang 29 QWC Membership Benefits Carolyn Martinez Jemma Pollari One Dream_Four Countries_cover.indd 1 3/03/2021 10:48:32 AM Prof. Stephen Torre QUEENSLANDWRITERS.ORG.AU/WQ-MAGAZINE 1 Writers Queensland advertisement_2021 April_full page.indd 1 14/04/2021 11:08:01 AM PUBLISHED BY ISSN 1444-2922 ISSUE 273 Meet Theodora Le Souquet QWC Chair 2008–2010 in conversation with Judy Gregory Editorial Sandra Makaresz GUEST ARTIST Editor Kathleen Jennings Theodora Le Souquet is a strategist who was Chair of The world of writing has changed enormously in recent QWC from 2008–2010. She is a member of McKinsey years – making it both easier and harder to get established Cover Illustration Online Executive Panel and a Member of the Australian as a writer. It’s easier because writers can publish their “Time” Institute of Company Directors. She is Head of Business own work now, and engage directly with audiences. But it’s Strategy with Canaria Technologies. more difficult because there are more people publishing, Biography: The issue of time seems to be on our minds at the moment. Time moved slowly so it’s more difficult to be noticed and quality is sometimes an issue. When I was Chair of QWC, the average income Kathleen Jennings is a World last year. Time is moving too quickly this year. We don’t have enough of it. We I first became involved with QWC as a mentor in the for writers was $11,000. Supporting yourself as a writer Fantasy Award-winning (and Hugo don’t make enough of the time that we have. Whatever your views on time, I’m mid-2000s, to help digitise the organisation. I’d only just was difficult then, and it’s still difficult now. Award-nominated) illustrator and sure this issue will have something to inspire you to make time for your writing. moved to Brisbane, and I wanted to get to know the city by working with an arts organisation. QWC needed help and, Ditmar Award-winning writer. I feel one of the biggest challenges facing writers is finding Judy Gregory chats with ex-QWC Chair (2008-2010) and Quills Member even though I don’t have a background in writing, it was a She has illustrated for fantasy ways to get noticed. It’s loud out there, and most things Theodora Le Souquet, who recalls a QWC freshly moved into its current home perfect opportunity for me. authors including Garth Nix, Juliet are personality driven. It’s really difficult to be noticed if at the State Library of Queensland and on the verge of digitisation. Jackie Ferro Marillier, Angela Slatter, Cassandra you don’t have a strong backstory or a strong personality. discusses her long-term collaboration with Aunty Rhonda Collard-Spratt, a At the time, everyone was talking about the death of the Clare and Holly Black, and has Writers who are really personable and who can really proud Yamatji-Noongar Elder, to write Rhonda’s memoir Alice’s Daughter. book and the need to go digital. The biggest task at QWC also been illustrator at large at push their craft are few and far between, but that’s what It’s a wonderful story of the value of friendship and storytelling. Lesley Synge was to digitise Australian Writers Marketplace. Our goal the Brisbane Writers Festival. Her is needed. shines a light on long-time member Sandy Curtis and Maree Kimberley writes a was to preserve it and build it into something everyone debut (illustrated) novel, Flyaway, celebration of time after reaching her goal of publication. could access. We received an Australian Business Arts and her debut poetry collection, I also feel that writers need to focus on how to make Foundation KPMG Advicebank Award for that work, and Travelogues, were published in writing a sustainable career. If your goal is to make writing Now in its 30th year, Queensland Writers Centre continues to support the then went on to win the National Advicebank Award, 2020. your profession, then you need to work on your craft writing community and celebrate the successes. We also support and celebrate which was a first for a Queensland partnership. every day. There’s a lot of hard work involved. There’s also the time taken to write, writers’ progress towards their writing goals and their She is running a Map Making & a lot of planning, to figure out how to generate a revenue involvement in our vibrant writing community. At the recent AGM, a new A highlight of my time as Chair was QWC’s move to the World Building workshop with stream and how to establish yourself as a writer. group of members offered up their time and expertise to our Management State Library of Queensland. The new State Library opened QWC in June. Committee. After four years on the committee, I’m excited to welcome them all in 2006, when QWC was based at the Metro Arts Centre I encourage emerging writers to take advantage of what and know they will find it a hugely rewarding experience. Please take the time in Edward Street. We decided the best way to engage with QWC has to offer. Do the courses. Find a mentor. Get to to read about your new Management Committee; we truly appreciate the time writers was to be located in a place where people were know your community. QWC is a grassroots organisation they give. engaged with writing. We negotiated to set up a writing that offers support to all types of writers. I see it as an hub within the library, with QWC co-located with other organisation with an ability to touch people at every stage writers’ organisations like the Children’s Book Council and of their writing career. Poetry Queensland. The outcome was fantastic. When I stepped down as QWC Chair in 2010, I worked The Queensland Writers Centre, Management Committee and staff present WQ with Sue Abbey to establish black&write. The idea was to in good faith and accept no responsibility for any misinformation or problems support Indigenous writers with Indigenous editors. It was arising from any misinformation. The views expressed by contributors or advertisers (including advertising supplying inserts) are not necessarily those initially located within QWC, and then taken over by the of the Management Committee or staff. State Library. 2 WQ QUEENSLANDWRITERS.ORG.AU/WQ-MAGAZINE 3 From Memoirs to Children’s Books A Collaboration Forged by Healing and Time By Jacki Ferro When I first met Aunty Rhonda Collard-Spratt, I was a Sharing incidents of neglect and abuse by white childhoods in this book.