2025 So Far
Created April 16, 2025 by Elizabeth Sparg
2025 is whizzing by and we already have a number of things to report on and celebrate:
Another Shortlisting
Our illustrator member, Elsabé Ebersöhn, really is on a roll with yet more exciting news about her work. Springboekie, a book she illustrated last year has just been shortlisted for the ALBA BOUWER prize for children's literature from the South African Academy of Science and Art Literary prizes. Springboekie was written by Fanie Viljoen and published by Lapa Publishers, an imprint of Penguin Randomhouse. It is also available in English as Springbookaroo. Congratulations Elsabé!
A Book Birthday
Congratulations is also due to our Regional Advisor, Emily House as her fourth author-illustrated picture book, Ode to the River, is being published later this month. Readers can join the river on a magical journey and uncover fascinating secrets hidden within its waters along the way. The book will be published by Imagnary House. It is enriched with fun facts from a true river expert, aquatic ecologist Dr. Liz Day and available for pre-order HERE. https://imagnaryhouse.com/products/ode-to-the-river
Workshop Wonders
We were very happy to host an online workshop for Young Adult and Middle Grade writers last month. Local author, Jayne Bauling, took attendees though the ins and outs of crafting exciting stories for youth and how to teach without preaching. Jayne was very generous with her time and our members especially enjoyed the opportunity to chat directly to a successful, published author.
In addition to Jayne’s workshop, our members were treated to a wonderful presentation from our illustrator member and SCBWI South Africa founder, Marjorie van Heerden. Marjorie took us through her illustration process for one of her most recent picture books, The Very Patient Gus Davis. The presentation was brimming with helpful advice from Marjorie’s years of experience in the industry and was extremely inspiring for illustrators and writers alike. Thank you, Marjorie