In this issue:
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Welcome to Term 4!
    
We are very excited to learn that the recipient of the 2019 Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Nan Chauncy Award for outstanding contribution to Australian children’s literature is Speakers Ink alumni, James Moloney. A multi award-winning author and passionate advocate for children’s literature, James has encouraged generations of young people, especially boys, to read for pleasure. His commitment to the children's literature industry in Australia is further demonstrated through his participation on the Australia Council for the Arts and in his advocacy for Public Lending Right and Educational Lending Right. Congratulations James.
If you would like one of our wonderful speakers to visit your school or library for Book Week, or any other special event, please be sure to contact our office via a website enquiry, email or phone call (all contact details are on our website).
Rate Increase for 2020
During 2019 the Australian Society of Authors (ASA) has once again conducted a review of speaker rates of pay. The ASA is the governing body from which we base our standard fee structure.
Upon conducting a review of the new rates, Speakers Ink is pleased to advise that there will only be minimal increases in 2020. Moving forward, the ASA has advised that all rates will be subject to an annual CPI Increase. This means that on 1 January each year new fees will apply. Any booking secured prior to the end of 2019 will be costed at current rates.
Beat the Rate Increase and Win Books for your Library!
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As an incentive to beat the rate increase, Speakers Ink is offering you the opportunity to win a "Mystery Bundle" of books for your Library. Any 2020 booking secured during Term 4 of 2019 will not only be costed at current rates, but will also put you in the running to win the "Mystery Bundle".
Contact Speakers Ink today - winner will be announced at the start of the 2020 school year.
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Voices on the Move
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Taryn Bashford will be in Adelaide on the 5th December for the 25 year anniversary event of the volunteer-run Friend's of Libraries Book Feasts and would be available for school visits around that date. The Book Feasts events run nationally and are endorsed by the Australian Library and Information Association.
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Brian Falkner will be in the Toowoomba area again the week commencing Monday, 21st October. He is currently booked on Wednesday, 23rd October but is open to bookings on the other days.
Of course, we have a number of inspiring speakers visiting to Brisbane and elsewhere over the coming months - check out all the up-to-date details on our Touring Speakers page.
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 The Spotlight is on the Prime Ministers Literary Awards
"You don't read a great novel, you encounter it, and we are all the better for it."
The Prime Ministers' Literary Awards for 2019 have been announced in the following categories:
- Fiction
- Non-fiction
- Australian history
- Poetry
- Children's literature
- Young adult literature
Congratulations to all the authors, illustrators, poets and publishers on the list, but particularly to our own Karen Foxlee for her brilliant and much acclaimed novel, Lenny's Book of Everything. To find out what the judges thought, click here. Congratulations Karen.
 
The Perfect Pitch with Pamela Rushby
How to pitch your book to publishers – effectively!
This hands-on workshop is aimed at writers who want to pitch their book/script idea effectively to a publisher, editor or agent. Two pitches will be developed in the workshop: a short ‘elevator’ pitch (for unexpected opportunities!) and a longer pitch to be delivered at more formal one-on-one appointments.
A Queensland Writers Centre event
Level 2, State Library of Queensland, Saturday 2 November 2019 10.30am – 1.30pm
See Queensland Writers Centre website for bookings
Pamela Rushby has written over 200 fiction and non-fiction books for both educational and trade publishers. Her middle-grade novel, Princess Parsley (Scholastic), was accepted for publication after it was pitched to a panel of publishers/editors in front of a large audience at a writers’ conference. (Pam is still recovering from this experience.)
Congratulations - Mark Carthew
Speakers Ink would like to congratulate Mark Carthew for being selected as one of six recipients of a 2020 May Gibbs Children's Literary Trust Fellowship. Mark is looking forward to some exciting writing projects during his 2020 residency in the city of Adelaide.
In addition to the residency, Mark will be a touring author to the Brisbane area during Term 3 of 2020. Check out the dates he will be available on the touring speakers page on our website.
Dates for your Diary
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16 October |
Winner, StoryLinks short story competition announced
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19 October |
Story Arts, Brisbane - program available here
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2 November |
The Perfect Pitch - workshop with Pamela Rushby
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6 December
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Somerset National Poetry and Novella Competitions entries close
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"Wisely and slow, they stumble that run fast" - William Shakespeare
Yours in promoting literacy from all at the Speakers Ink team,
Sandie, Margie, Jan, Lia, Rob and James
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