MARCH 2007 - no.1 - The Newsletter of SCBWI SA

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The Electronic Newsletter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, South Africa
MARCH 2007 – No.1

IN THIS ISSUE

• Report Back – Publisher’s Day
• Events planned for 2007
• Report Back – Illustrator’s Workshop
• Mentorship Programme
• Article – First Words in Print
• Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market
• ATKV-Kinderboektoekennings
• Competitions
• Interesting Books

REPORT BACK ON PUBLISHERS’ DAY
By Petro Bosman

ON the 12th of March there was a big buzz going on at the Bellville Library. The reason: The SCBWI Publisher’s Day, where writers and illustraters flocked together to meet 13 publishers from all over the country.
The Bellville Library was so kind to offer their venue for free. For the library the Publisher’s Day was also a “first”, according to Martha de Wet of the library. And what a great day it was!
Publishers sat at tables in one room and writers and illustraters had 15 minutes to pitch their work to the publishers of their choice. For some writers and illustraters it was their first eye-to-eye experience with the publishers, and all the people thought it was a great privilege to meet the publishers personally. It was also a chance to meet other writers and illustraters, and we enjoyed the interaction with people also driven by the love of children’s literature. One of the illustraters I met, came all the way from Witbank to meet the publishers at this special day.
A delicious lunch of lasagne and salad was served by the caterers at the library.
A special thanks to Marjorie van Heerden, co-regional advisor of the South African branch of the SCBWI, for all her hard work before the event.

VISITING THE BOOK FAIR
Please note: Writers or illustrators who wish to show their books/work to publishers need to register
as a trade visitor. Go to www.capetownbookfair.com/
click on Trade Visitors for information and registration. IF YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO SHOW YOUR WORK

REPORT BACK ON ILLUSTRATOR’S WORKSHOP
The joy of illustration
Jenny Hatton - Assistant Advisor
The Gauteng branch of SCBWI South Africa had its first meeting on 3 March 2007. This very special occasion was hosted by Joan Rankin at her beautiful old house overlooking the leafy northern suburbs of Johannesburg.
The presentation was attended by a total of 22 people, three of whom are SCBWI members. Illustrators, writers, teachers and lovers of children’s books came from Middleburg, Witbank, Pretoria and Johannesburg.
The morning began with a brief welcome and introductions. Joan then told her story and mind mapped some of the important events in her life that lead to illustrating children’s books. After tea she showed slides of illustrations from a wide range of international and local books. Then she passed around a fascinating array of children’s books. Finally, Joan spoke about visiting schools and demonstrated how a story could be shown on the Overhead Projector.
Joan’s experience comes from illustrating over forty children's books as well as writing some of them. In 1991 she won South Africa's most prestigious award for children's book illustrations, the Katrine Harries Award, for her illustrations in The Dancing Elephant; Ask for Patricia and The Twelve Days of Christmas.
A key message that Joan delivered was the importance of learning from one another. The Gauteng branch intends to do just that. It plans a number of initiatives to meet, share ideas, support one another and promote the publication of more South African children’s books.

SCBWI SA is launching a Mentorship Program
From 30 March 2007, South African Writers and illustrators will be able to apply for the SCBWI SA Mentorship Program. The winners will be chosen by panel of 4 judges and will be announced during the Cape Town Book Fair (June).
This is an opportunity for a writer/illustrator to work with an established writer/illustrator who will help them develop their writing or illustrating.
The winners of the competition will not necessarily be the “best” submission, but the one the judges feel would benefit the most from a mentorship program. The winners will team up with the mentors according to geographical area. One writer and one illustrator in Cape Town and one writer and one illustrator in Gauteng.
For 6 months the winners will work with an established writer or Illustrator, seeing them for a session every month. The mentor will spend an average of an hour or two a month for the six months working with one of the winners. During this time, the mentor will review manuscripts or illustrations and work on writing or illustrating exercises. They may also make arrangements to go with the winner to visit local events of interest to writers or illustrators, or participate in whatever the mentor thinks is the best use of the time.
The application form and competition information will be available soon on www.scbwi.za.org/ .
or go to www.scbwi.za.org/mentor to download guidelines and application form in PDF files

First Words in Print
by Petro Bosman
A majority of young children in South Africa still have little or no exposure to books and some people in certain areas still think a library cannot be fun.
This is part of an evaluation report done by the First Words in Print (FWIP) project. It investigated the effectiveness of the children’s book distribution in four areas in South Africa, as well as the recipient’s responses to the books.
First Words in Print is a project of the Book development Foundation located at the Centre for the Book in Cape Town. The project aims to encourage a culture of reading within the communities where it is implemented, contribute towards the literacy development of very young children and distribute sets of picture and story books in all South African official languages to targeted children.
During the second phase of the project books were distributed to neighbourhoods adjacent to the pilot areas of Rammulotsi in the Free State, Ottery in the Western Cape, Mount Ayliff in the Eastern Cape and Maphotla in Mpumalanga as well as to areas in KwaZulu-Natal and the Northern Cape for the first time. The children received their books between 2004 and 2005, and early in 2006.
Ms Lerato Trok, project co-ordinator of FWIP and a lead researcher, said during the project they found many children that didn’t have books before. “In some cases, the Bible was the only book in the house for the whole family,” she said. “The FWIP was most effective at reaching children who attended pre-school. It is important to note that a quarter of the books went to children who were not in any organised form of care.
“Low literacy rates among school going children in the research areas was also more widespread than the researchers could establish during the short research visits. It confirms a survey of the department of education which found that over 60% of all South African childrens in grade 3 were illiterate.
It underlines the importance of projects which encourage young children to read for enjoyment in the own homes before they start school.”
On a positive note, one mother reported she was so inspired by the children’s positive reaction to the FWIP books that she had dedicated a room in the house to reading and story telling. Several other rural mothers reported that thet shared their books with neighbours and that this brought the children together to read and tell stories. “And yes, the children were indeed very excited about the books. Some even hid the books so that no one can harm it,” Trok said.
The research also showed that young children were attracted by colourful illustrations, humor and familiar circumstances in the stories.
“We are not saving the world, that’s true,” said Trok, “but these projects are the first steps in a long term commitment to encourage children to read. Libraries perhaps can also do more to be places of enjoyment for their young readers.”

Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market and News

Call for submissions of articles for a special issue
The Lion and the Unicorn (April 2008)
Children’s Literature in South Africa
South Africa is a multilingual and multicultural society in which its people are increasingly taking pride in the development of their own languages and cultural inheritance. Children’s literature, and those involved with it, play an important role in creating positive changes in society. By sharing problems, challenges, solutions and successes with each other over a number of years now, a healthy discourse between role players working in the field is starting to develop, which holds the promise of many co-operative possibilities which could potentially yield a wealth of literary dividends. These endeavours are also supported by government policy.
Submissions are being solicited for a special issue on Children’s Literature in South Africa, to be published in The Lion and the Unicorn in April 2008.
Possible topics include issues related to: the production (oral storytellers, writers, illustrators, translators, publishers), marketing and distribution (publishers, agents, book suppliers), mediation (teachers/facilitators, parents, librarians, the media - newspapers, radio, television) and reception (by toddlers, children and teenagers as listeners to, or readers of, stories, poetry, stage productions and film).
All topics regarding South African children’s literature are welcome. Deadline: 30 July 2007
Please send enquiries to: Betsie.VanDerWesthuizen@nwu.ac.za
Tel: 018 2991491 Fax: 018 2991562

WRITING COURSES AVAILABLE

WORKSHOP ON WRITING-FOR-CHILDREN
Reviva Schermbrucker - nbrucker@iafrica.com
A week-long workshop on writing texts for picture books and books for older children. Dates and time: 9am to 1pm from Mon 30 April to Fri 4 May. Venue: Claremont

WRITERS' WORKSHOPS
Marianne Brandt kidztalk@netactive.co.za
Or Tel: (021) 9496616

Dianne Stewart - dirod@iafrica.com (teaches writing in the Durban area)
Dorian Haarhof - dorianh@pixie.co.za (based in Somerset West, prepared to travel)
ATKV-Skryfskool - http://www.puk.ac.za/fakulteite/lettere/atkv/index.html

The following Universities and Technikons also offer Creative Writing Courses:
University of Cape Town - Department of English, Department of Extra Mural Studies
Stellenbosch University offers creative writing through the English and Afrikaans departments.
Cape Technikon
Rhodes University
University of Witwatersrand, the Writing Centre and the Centre for Continuing Education
UNISA
University of Port Elizabeth
University of Natal
Noordwes-Universiteit (North-West University) - http://www.puk.ac.za/fakulteite/lettere/skt/skryf.html

WORKSHOPS
A Weekend Workshop for Scriptwriters will take place in Johannesburg from April 20 - 21; the next Beginners Course for Scriptwriters in Cape Town starts on May 8. Read more: www.writingstudio.co.za/page5.html

INTERESTING WEBSITES

CHILDREN’S AUTHORS ON DVD
Interviews with writers and illustrators. - www.childrensauthors.tv
Info on copyright & how it works

INFO ON COPYRIGHT
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright
www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html
www.copyright.org.au/

Websites about public domain
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain
www.unc.edu/~unclng/public-d.htm

this one has all info about USA public domain
http://www.vastle.com/indx.cfm?q=Public%20Domain%20Books

info on books in public domain
http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/archives.html

lots of links to public domain books
For even more info - Go to Google and write "children's books in public domain" in search block.

ATKV-Kinderboekprys:
Wat die ATKV-Kinderboektoekennings uniek maak, is dat die beoordelaars die jong lesers self is. Vanjaar het meer as 2 000 kinders en meer as 15 biblioteke, skole en takke landswyd deelgeneem aan die beoordelingsproses van kinderboeke wat in 2005 verskyn het. Die beoordelingsproses het deur die loop van 2006 plaasgevind. Die kategoriewenners kry elkeen R3 000 en ʼn splinternuwe Veertjie. Die wenners is:
Kategorie 3 tot 6 jaar:
Annelize Bester se boek Droombos se nuwe prinsessie het kleutertjies se aandag vasgevang. Hulle was mal oor die kabouters en feetjies en diere in die boek en dit was duidelik dat hierdie boek hulle gunsteling was. Hierdie boek is uitgegee deur Fantasi.
Kategorie 3 tot 6 jaar (illustrasies):
Johan Strauss was verantwoordelik vir die pragtige illustrasies in Droombos se nuwe prinsessie. Sy
illustrasies, die kleure en veral ook die detail het die kinders se verbeelding aangegryp en hulle kon net nie genoeg van die boek kry nie. Fantasi is die uitgewer van hierdie boek.
Kategorie Graad 1 tot 3:
Elmarie Botes is die skrywer van Jabulani die olifant en ook die wenner van die Veertjie. Hierdie boek, wat handel oor ʼn Afrika-olifant, het jong kinders so geboei dat hulle dit bo al die ander verkies het. Jabulani die olifant is uitgegee deur Lapa.
Kategorie Graad 1 tot 3 (illustrasies):
Anna-Carien Goosen se baie kleurvolle en lewensgetroue illustrasies van Jabulani, in Jabulani die olifant, het die jong kinders beïndruk. Die jong lesertjies het daarvan gehou om die boek weer en weer deur te blaai en net na die prentjies te kyk. Anna-Carien kry die Veertjie vir haar illustrasies van hierdie boek wat deur Lapa uitgegee is.
Kategorie Graad 4 tot 5:
Carina Diedericks-Hugo kry die Veertjie vir haar baie kreatiewe verhaal oor ʼn kat wat ʼn geheime agent is en ʼn kind by Die Magtige Internasionale Anti-Aapskeloerders-Unie
(M.I.A.A.U.) betrek om boewe en bullebakke vas te trek. Die boek is boeiend en opwindend. Operasie M.I.A.A.U. is uitgegee deur Human en Rousseau.
Kategorie Graad 6 tot 7:
Carina Diedericks-Hugo skryf weer oor Thomas en sy vriende. Hierdie keer is almal in rep en roer oor die nuwe meisie in Thomas-hulle se klas: die aantreklike sepiester Fleur Vermaak. In Thomas@nagmerrie.net is daar geheime, nagmerries, raaisels en ʼn groep vriende wat alles op die ou end uitpluis. Lapa het hierdie boek uitgegee.
Kategorie Graad 8 tot 10:
Nerine Ahlers en Alet Steenkamp se boek Selfone, skelms en sjokolade het tienermeisies en dalk ook seuns se aandag van bladsy een af geboei met al die tipiese tienerdinge wat daarin gebeur: avonture, nuwe haarstyle, kleredrag, liefde ensovoorts. Dis ʼn goeie lekkerleesboek wat vir jare lank nog vermaak sal bied. Hierdie boek is uitgegee deur Lapa.

RESOURCES FOR WRITERS: WRITING TIPS
Writing tips will plant a seed that will allow your story to grow to its best dramatic or comedic potential. These tips are derived from screenplays that have made it to the big screen. These stories have reached the world and its secret ingredients will add new meaning to your writing and change the ordinary into the extraordinary, and allow your collaborators to fall in love with your narrative.
# 1 Allow your character to make unusual friends and develop unique friendships. In Charlotte's Web a spider saves the life of a pig, who allows the young girl to come-of-age. In Eragon the friendship between a young farm boy and a dragon sets the young character on a path of transfiguration. It is also a coming of age story set in the Fantasy/Adventure genre. Also see Over The Hedge , Monster House Read more about genre
# 4 Think about a dramatic episode out of your childhood and explore its dramatic or comedic potential. Stories about families give you an opportunity to write about what you know, about something you have experienced/ witnessed, and something you are familiar with. It is also something audiences from all cultures can relate to. See Running With Scissors, Chumscrubbers, Hoot, How to Eat Fried Worms, Little Miss Sunshine, Nanny Mc Phee, Over The Hedge, Happy Feet, Thumbsucker, Wah-Wah
# 22 Let music set your mood and get you into the write mode. Are you one of those writers who simply plonks yourself down start writing without getting into the write mode? Use music to stimulate the senses. Find appropriate music that sets the scene. Also. Use different music for projects. If you are writing about a specific culture, listen to music from that culture during the writing process. This also helps if your writing area if in a noisy zone, write with earphones on and cut yourself off from the outside world during the times when you are writing.

WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE SCBWI SA NEWSLETTERS A SOURCE OF INFORMATION.
PLEASE publishers/Authors/Illustrators, send any information you would to have include in
the next newsletter. Is there a writing competition? Have you written an article on children’s books?
or related subject? Would you like it circulated through our newsletter? Please let us know.
Send to: news@scbwi.za.org with ‘NEWS’ in the subject line.
Competitions Competitions Competitions Competitions

MACMILLAN WRITER'S PRIZE FOR AFRICA
Also incorporating
THE MACMILLAN CHILDREN'S ILLUSTRATOR AWARD
Macmillan has announced the start of the fourth, the only literary prize awarded to writers of unpublished
African children's literature. The competition is open to entrants from all countries in Africa.
Previous prize winners have had their entries published and promoted by Macmillan throughout Africa; winning and short listed entries have come from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Zambia to date, and there have been a number of strong contenders from other African countries
Following the successful launch of the Macmillan Children's Illustrator Award in 2005, Macmillan is pleased to be running this competition a second time, in recognition of the importance of pictures in African children's books.
Macmillan Education is sponsoring both prizes with the following awards. Macmillan will also offer publication for the winning stories:
Junior Award
For an original, unpublished story in English of not more than 10,000 words written for children in the 8-12 age range
Prize value US$5,000
Senior Award
For an original, unpublished story in English between 14,000 and 20,000 words, written for young people between the ages of 13 and 17 years. Prize value US$5,000
New Children's Writer Award
For and original story in either the junior or senior category by a previously unpublished writer
Prize Value US$3,000
Children's Illustrator Award
For an illustration based on one of the texts detailed in the competitor's pack.
Prize value US$1,000
The closing date for all entries is 30 June 2007.
Manuscripts for the Writer's Prize will be evaluated by an independent panel of four judges who are prominent writers: Meshack Asare, Jamila Gavin, Jack Mapanje and Helen Oyeyemi.
The shortlist will be announced in November 2007 and the prize winners will be announced in January 2008. There will be a special awards ceremony later in the year to celebrate the publication of the winning stories.
The winning entry for the Illustrator's Award will be displayed as part of the Writer's Award ceremony. Macmillan will enter into separate discussions with the winning illustrator regarding further assignments in children's book illustration for Africa.
Competitors' packs with full information and entry forms can be obtained FREE from local Macmillan offices or by emailing writersprize@macmillan.co.uk
For further information,
please contact:
Nicki Price
Macmillan Education
Between Towns Road
Oxford
OX4 3PP
n.price@macmillan.com
www.write4africa.com
Or
Nombuso Mkhize
Macmillan South Africa
PO Box 32484
Braamfontein
2017
mkhizen@macmillan.co.za
(Tel) 011 731 3330
(Fax) 011 731 3552

SCRIPTWRITING COMPETITION
Write a script for a 12 minute short film in any genre. The subject is "Being Alive in South Africa". The script should be property formatted , printed and sent with the Submission Agreement Form to Daniel Dercksen, 203 Son Vida, Somerset Road, Green Point. The closing date is April 10, 2007 at 12 noon. The competition is open to any South African citizen. Scripts TO be submitted in English. The winner will receive a seat at the six-weeks BEGINNER'S COURSE FOR SCREENWRITERS starting at the SABC in CAPE TOWN on May 8, as well as a seat at the ADVANCED WORKSHOP FOR SCREENWRITERS that starts on completion of the beginner's course, and A YEAR CONTRACT WITH THE WRITE AGENCY. The prize includes a seat at both workshops AND Agency's contract, and excludes transport to and from the SABC in Sea Point, accommodation, or meals. PLEASE NOTE: No scripts will be accepted via email. .Read more about format; Read more about genre; Read more Submission Requirements

'n SKRYFKOMPETISIE MET 'N VERSKIL
STORIEWERF VONKELFIKSIE-SKRYFKOMPETISIE
Neem deel aan Storiewerf, die webtuiste vir kinder- en jeugboeke, se jaarlikse skryfkompetisie. Vanjaar is die tema Kreatiewe Kreature met illustrasies van Josh en Ian Marley as skryfprikkels. Skrywers moet hierdie illustrasies as vonk gebruik om 'n eie storie mee te skryf.
Die kompetisie het vyf afdelings: 7-9 jaar, 10-13 jaar, 14-18 jaar, volwassenes, asook 'n afdeling waar 'n ouer/volwassene en kind/ers saam 'n storie mag skryf.
Meer as R8 000 se pryse kan gewen word. Pryse sluit in 'n naweek vir vier by 'n ATKV-vakansieoord, versamelaarsboeke, Storiemanreekse, Afrikaanse speltoetsers, boeke en boekbewyse. Die algehele prys is die bywoning van 'n skryfkursus van die ATKV-Skryfskool (Herfsskool 2008). Kompetisieborge is die ATKV, ATKV-Skryfskool, LAPA-Uitgewers, Storieman, CTexT (NWU), Storiewerf en Kalahari.net.
Die sluitingsdatum vir inskrywings is 15 Mei 2007.
Volledige besonderhede op Storiewerf
http://www.storiewerf.co.za/jongklomp/vonkelfiksie.htm

MASKEW MILLER LONGMAN LITARATURE AWARD COMPETITION
Maskew Miller Longman recently launched its second Literature Award competition, which focuses on the genre of drama. We are inviting entries for original and unpublished drama manuscripts aimed at 15 - 18 year olds.
The Literature Awards Competition is a fantastic opportunity for all aspiring South African writers to have their work recognised by some of South Africa's top literary & drama figures.
Total prize money is over R150 000 and winners stand a chance of having their plays produced and staged by Artscape New Writing Programme and the Siyasanga Cape Town Theatre Company. To assist writers with their entries we have invited Prof. Roy Sargent to host half-day drama workshops in all provinces.
For more information on the workshops and criterion of the Literature Awards Competition please contact Teenage Pitsha on 021 532 6000 or e-mail teenage@mml.co.za .
An official entry form must accompany each entry.
The closing date for the competition is 31 July 2007.

Visit the website

THE CENTRE FOR THE BOOK
The Centre’s 25 Best South African Books for the 2007 Cape Town International Book Fair
We are asking you, as part of the Centre for the Book community to participate in this fun book promotion activity. What are the recent South African books that you have loved? Books that you feel capture something of what South Africa is like now?
You don’t have to send us a full list of 25 books - send us the names of your favourite or six, or even one or two!
You can choose from any genre including children’s books, poetry, fiction, non-fiction -- guidebooks, cookery books, biographies, memoirs, and so on.
We will display the chosen books at the Book Fair and a lucky participant will win all 25 books. Join in the fun!
For more information see www.centreforthebook.org.za
If you know of anyone who wants to be on our mailing list
please send them this information
The news letter is free.
It has information about upcoming events, news, competitions and market information.

Anyone can be added to the SCBWI mailing list
by sending an e-mail to: list-subscribe@scbwi.za.org
To request more information send an e-mail to: list-help@scbwi.za.org
If you want to be removed from the mailing list
send an e-mail to: list-unsubscribe@scbwi.za.org
Note: If you are on the SCBWI SA mailing list you are NOT automatically a member of the SCBWI.
To become a member you have to go to www.SCBWI.org and follow the HOW TO JOIN instructions

INTERESTING BOOKS TO READ
Developing Story Ideas – Michael Rabiger (avail. library)
Focal Press ISBN 0-240-80398-1
Researching for Writers – Marion Field (avail. library)
How to gather matrial for articles, novels and non-fiction books.
How to Books ISBN 1-85703-236-5
The Drawing Book – Sarah Simblet (avail.library)
An innovative, practical approach to drawing the world around you - Dorling Kindersley Limited ISBN 1-4053-0630-0

Piet Grobler
Piet has illustrated well over 50 books for children, which have been published in South Africa, Holland, Germany, Italy, France, Denmark, Korea and Mexico. He has won several national awards (Tienie Hollaway medal and the Vivian Wilkes Award) and international awards (e.g. silver medal in the Noma Concours (Japan) (twice), Plaque (bronze medal) at the BIB (Biennale for Illustration, Bratislava), and Octogone de Chene (France)). He has also featured twice on the IBBY honour list as well as on the White Ravens honour list.
At his workshop in May, Piet will use illustrations from his published books to explain his methods, techniques and the process of conceiving and creating each of them.

JURY DUTY FOR THE NOMA CONCOURS
by Elaine Ridge
In this article Piet Grobler shares his experience of being on the jury for the Noma Concours (which is part of the work of the Asia/Pacific Centre of UNESCO is open to picture book illustrators working in Asia (except Japan), the Pacific, the Arab States, Africa and South America – the developing countries. He also gives some pointers to those who would like to enter this competition.
There were about 527 entries. After a preliminary screening process, the six jury members scrutinised the work of the remaining 130 illustrators. Each of the members of the jury was given 17 stones (from a Japanese board game called ‘Go’). They then had to go through the work of all 130 (which was put in individual stacks on tables) and then vote for 17 of the book illustrations by putting a stone in the bucket near the relevant stack. It was an enormous challenge to go through all of the work in the time allowed, even though the one-hour initially set for this was extended to two hours. There were a number of rounds until the field was narrowed to the 33 who received prizes: 1 Grand Prix (gold medal), 2 silver medals, and medals for the 10 runners up and the 20 honourable mentions. An Indian won the gold medal for his illustration of ‘How the firefly got its light’ and an Iranian and a Malaysian won the silver medals. There were no South African among the winners. The sheer quality of their work meant that more than half of the prize winners (17) were from Iran.
Piet believes that the Iranian who won a silver medal should have won the first prize because ‘illustrations should be very suitable for bookmaking – in other words they should go together very comfortably with text’. Although the Indian’s work was ‘brilliant, the pictures were almost like fine art pieces - large and wonderful, in the case of the Iranian’s pictures I could just see where the text should go. I think the pictures would integrate very well with text’.
What advice does he offer to those of you who would like to enter and perhaps even win the $3 500 prize money that the gold medalist wins? Bearing in mind the system of stacking the illustrations, he advises prospective entrants to have only large, strong, bold illustrations. Remember that first impressions are very important. If the top one does not grab the attention of an adjudicator, it is very likely that the others won’t even be looked at – the pressure of time is just too great.
He also urges those wanting to enter to make their work as large as possible and experiment with textures. Techniques like collage made a strong impression on the Japanese jury members. They were also impressed by something ethnic or something reflecting folk art or the visual expression from a certain culture or particular country. The 5 to 10 illustrations may be for a book that has already been published, but not in Europe or North America.
Indian illustrator wins 15th Noma Concours
International jury meeting of the 15th Noma Concours for Picture Book Illustrations was held on 7 December 2006 in Tokyo and the work by Mr. Pradyumna Kumar of India was selected as the Grand Prize winner. The two Second Prizes went to Iranian and Malaysian illustrators. 522 works from 47 countries competed for this year’s concours, and 33 works including one Grand Prize, 2 Second Prizes, 10 Runners-up and 20 Encouragement Prizes were selected. This is the first time that an Indian work has won the Grand Prize in the Noma Concours
Grand Prize "How the Firefly Got Its Light" by Pradyumna Kumar (India)

The Noma Concours
for Picture Book Illustration has been organised biennially since 1978 by Asia/Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU). This Concours is designed to discover up-and-coming, adult illustrators, graphic designers and artists in Asia (except Japan), the Pacific, Africa, Arab States, Latin America and the Caribbean, to provide an occasion at which they can present their works widely and to offer incentives for their creative activities. For more information: http://www.accu.or.jp/noma/english/e_index.html

REMEMBER LIBRARY WEEK
(17-24 MARCH)
At Bellville Library for instance, there will be lots of things going on – like a “library fugitive”, who will be in the library on the 24th of March, and the first person who can identify him/her, will win a pile of books.

AUTHORS – ILLUSTRATORS
HAVE YOU BEEN PUBLISHED THIS YEAR?
We would love to hear about it.
Let us know the title, publisher, date of publication
and if you are the author or illustrator. Send to: news@scbwi.za.org with ‘NEWS’ in the subject line.

Committee members SCBWI South Africa
CAPE TOWN
Marjorie van Heerden – Co-Regional Advisor
Paddy Bouma – Co-Regional Advisor
Dr Elaine Ridge
Petro Bosman
Zukisani Pakamisa
Samantha van Riet
Wendy Hartmann
GAUTENG
Jenny Hatton – Assistant Regional Advisor

The Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators
http://www.scbwi.org/
Contact Information: SCBWI Executive Office
Stephen Mooser, President.
Lin Oliver, Executive Director
8271 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Phone: (323)782-1010, Fax: (323)782-1892
email: scbwi@scbwi.org