In this issue:

Welcome

If you are planning a special event for CBCA Book Week, or any other week of the year, please have a look at the profiles of our wonderful speakers to lock in a visitor and presentation. 

Contact us at Speakers Ink or call on 07-3040-8465.

In order for us to support our speakers and clients, 2018 has seen some changes at Speakers Ink - an expansion of our team to specialise in different areas of responsibility.  As such I would like to take this opportunity to introduce your Speakers Ink Team:

Sandie - Owner/Manager
Margie - Newsletter Production and Social Media
Trina - General Administration/Booking Confirmations
Jan - Invoices and Feedback Followups
Lia - Website Updates and Special Projects
Rob - IT Support
James - Website Management

We are here to help you in any way possible.  If you have any suggestions on ways for us to improve, we always welcome your comments - contact us at Speakers Ink.

New Voices to the Speakers Ink Family

Along with the staff changes, we are also happy to advise that we have welcomed some new Speakers Inkers into our family of presenters.  They all have a lot to offer, so please have a closer look at our new speakers below:

	Simon Kindt - Author, Poet, Storyteller/Performer - QLD
	Victoria Carless - Author - QLD
	Karen Davis - Author - NSW
	Michael Panckridge - Author - VIC
	Elly Awesome - Author, Media Personality, YouTube Blogger - QLD
	Ella West - Author - New Zealand
	Kristian Santic - Dancer, Storyteller/Performer, Poet - QLD
	Larry Brandy - Author, Storyteller/Performer - ACT

Voices on the Move 

We have many speakers travelling during 2018 - some speakers are coming to Brisbane while others are visiting other areas: for a complete list check out all the up-to-date details on our Touring Speakers page.  A snapshot of the coming months is included below:

	Liz Anelli	Kakadu Region	2 - 6 April
	Chris Collin	Toowoomba Region Bundaberg Region	23 April - 11 May 14 - 25 May
	Allison Paterson	Central Goldfields/Gannawarra Shires, VIC	26 April - 4 May
	Marco Gliori	Maryborough/Hervey Bay Region Gympie Region	30 April - 4 May 14 - 18 May
	Deborah Abela	Brisbane	14 - 18 May
	Goldie Alexander	Brisbane	21 - 25 May

Congratulations...Long Listed Authors and Illustrators

Speakers Ink is incredibly proud of all our creators, and would like to especially congratulate the speakers below whose work has been included by the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) on their list of Notables for 2018. This is effectively the long list for the Book of the Year and we look forward to the shortlist announcement on 27 March. Tristan Bancks, Steph Bowe, J C Burke, Victoria Carless, Jackie French, Kathryn Apel, Peter Carnavas, Tim Harris, Tamsin Janu, Barry Jonsberg, Natalie Jane Prior, Sophie Mason, Liz Anelli, Carole Wilkinson, Frances Watts, Prue Mason, Anne Spudvilas, Corinne Fenton.

Further congratulations must go to these authors and illustrators who have been acknowledged by the Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA) in their children's literature categories: Isabelle Carmody, Terry Denton, Allison Paterson, Peter Carnavas, Gregg Dreise, Jackie French

The Spotlight is on Samantha Wheeler

Samantha Wheeler has launched her new book 'Turtle Trackers':  Ten-year-old Isaac is flat out. Helping his mum run a caravan park on the Queensland coast means no time for fun. So when he finds a sea turtle nesting on the beach, he’s disappointed that he can’t volunteer as a turtle tracker to watch over her eggs and hatchlings. To make matters worse, famous travel blogger Eddie Eastwood and his mischievous dog come to stay. Isaac must pull out all the stops because a zero-star review from Eddie would spell disaster for his mum and the park. How can Isaac find the time to protect the turtles and make a difference?   "I just needed to let you know how inspired you left my 9 yr old daughter after your visit to PLC this week. She actually slept with your autograph under her pillow! She loves to write stories, and whatever you said made it, (and I quote), "the best day in her life". I shall definitely buy your books so she may continue to be inspired.  Testimonial - Pacific Lutheran College (parent), July, 2015.

What's Happening?

	Registration for Kids' Lit Quiz Australia 2018 is now open. Kids' Lit Quiz is an International literature Quiz for Students aged between 10 and 13 Years. Click on the link to find out how to enter.

	Reminder:  Both the CBCA Book of the Year Awards Short List announcement and Awards announcement are coming to Brisbane in 2018.
	These two flagship events will be open to the public through a ticketing process.  Tickets to both events are limited, so mark these dates in your diary now and stay tuned for details on how to book. Short List announcement - Tuesday 27 March, 10.30am at The Ithaca Room, City Hall, King George Square, Brisbane – bookings open 9am Tuesday 27 February   Awards announcement – Friday 17 August, 11.30am in Auditorium 1, State Library of Queensland – bookings open 9am Tuesday 17 July Booking links will be on the CBCA website and Facebook page.

Dates for your Diary

"No two persons ever read the same book."

–Edmund Wilson

 

Yours in promoting literacy from all at the Speakers Ink team,