In this issue:
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Welcome to Term 4!
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.
Phil Kettle is available in the Brisbane area in February 2020 (see below for details).
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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 Phil Kettle
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Phil Kettle is the award winning author of the hugely successful Toocool, Boyz Rule and Girlz Rock series, and has written over 180 books for children. Phil was born in Mildura, in northern Victoria and grew up on a farm a few kilometres away in a small town called Cardross. This town was so tiny there was only one shop, one garage, one school and a town hall. Our post office address was PO Box 1 and our telephone number was 12.
The good news is that Phil will be in the Brisbane area in the week beginning Monday 24 February and is available for bookings on any day that week excepting Thursday 27 February.
"What an absolute ripper of a time we had with Phil...he was fantastic with the kids and all the teachers loved his presentation. He had the children enthralled, there were no behaviour problems as soon as the children got a bit loud, boisterous or over enthusiastic he calmed them down and got them back on track. His teaching background helps a lot in this respect and he had a good rapport with them and got them involved too. Phil is a great person to get along with, the staff here enjoyed his company too."
- Lynne Alsop (Gympie Library)
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Summer Holiday fun - Creative Opportunities
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Brian Falkner is an award-winning international author and writing coach. He is a highly sought-after speaker in schools around Australia, the US and New Zealand. His infectious enthusiasm, humour and energy make every appearance a popular and memorable one. He is the author of more than seventeen novels for children and young adults, published in fifteen countries in seven languages. His most recent YA novel is Cassie Clark: Outlaw.
Brian's ever popular writing workshops "Write like an Author" are again being offered in the summer holidays, January 2020. To discover details and register, click here.
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Samantha Wheeler is the author of Smooch & Rose, Wombat Warriors, Mister Cassowary, and Turtle Trackers which have been shortlisted for the Queensland Literary Awards, the Readings Book Prize, The Wilderness Society Environmental Award and the Royal Zoological Society, Whitley Commendation.
Her most recent story, Everything I’ve Never Said, was inspired by her youngest daughter, who has Rett Syndrome and can’t talk. Samantha hopes her books will inspire everyone to speak up and make a difference.
Samantha will be joining Brian Falkner for the "Write like an Author" workshops offered over the 2020 summer holidays, in January. More information and registration here.
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Lucia Masciullo an award winning illustrator specialising in children’s books. Born and bred in Italy, she moved to Australia in 2007 and since then she has illustrated more than twenty books, among which Come Down, Cat! (CBCA Honour Book and shortlisted for the Prime Minister Award), Family Forest (CBCA Award shortlisted) and the Olive of Groves trilogy (Indie Book Award shortlisted). Her last picture book is My Real Friend, by David Hunt, 2019.
Lucia will be running the "Draw like an Artist" workshop in January 2020, an ideal summertime activity for budding creatives. All details and to register, click here.
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Dates for your Diary
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Mon 20 - Wed 22 Jan 2020
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Write Like an Author (with Brian Falkner and Samantha Wheeler) and Draw like an Artist (with Lucia Masciullo) workshops.
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Wed 18 - Fri 20 March 2020
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Somerset Storyfest - held on the Gold Coast, "a festival of storytelling for the whole family."
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Sat 15 - Sun 23 August 2020
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National Science Week - we have speakers ready and willing to show children the joys of science. Check out our website.
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Sat 22 - Sun 28 August 2020
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CBCA Book Week - Curious Creatures, Wild Minds.
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"Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, he thought, means a little bit more"
- Dr Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Yours in promoting literacy from all at the Speakers Ink team,
Sandie, Margie, Jan, Lia, Rob and James
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