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20 March 2020
An update from Booked Out
Profiles:
You may have noticed that the Booked Out office is a little emptier than usual.
These are extraordinary times, so Booked Out is taking extraordinary measures to ensure we can continue connecting Australia’s best authors and illustrators with their wonderful readers.
As we ease into social distancing, from next week our small team will be working significantly reduced hours. Our office will remain open with a skeleton staff, but this means we may not be able to get back to you as promptly as we ordinarily would.
Right now, our priority is to reschedule bookings that can’t go ahead in the next few weeks, organise online sessions, and confirm your Book Week bookings. Remember, at Booked Out we are advocating #postponedontcancel, and we’re confident that your booking can be rescheduled to later in the year.
We thank you for your understanding, and hope that you and those you love remain safe and well.
From Monday, 23rd to Friday, 27th March Booked Out will be open 9:30am to 3pm.
19 March 2020
COVID-19: Your bookings are safe with us.
Profiles:
Your bookings are safe with us.
As the impact of the Coronavirus outbreak is felt throughout the community, Booked Out would like to reassure you that your bookings can still go ahead in 2020.
In a nutshell: plan to reschedule, or consider a virtual session instead.
All schools and speakers are strongly encouraged to reschedule visits to later in the year, when we have more information and certainty surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak.
We are here to help, and are also happy to work with schools and speakers who would like to deliver an online session via Skype or Zoom or whichever format they prefer.
Booked Out are proceeding with Book Week and Term 3 enquiries as usual, in the hope that the Coronavirus emergency will have settled, and by then events can go ahead without risk to the community.
Rest assured that we are keeping a very close eye on each government update, and if needed, will revise our plan early in Term 2 based on the latest advice.
Booked Out are still here, and will be accessible from 9 – 5, Monday to Friday. Please don’t hesitate to contact us about your bookings.
Booked Out have made the difficult decision to postpone our two upcoming VCE Twilight Seminars with Maxine Beneba Clarke and Cate Kennedy, due to the current COVID-19 advice on social distancing.
As an alternative, Maxine and Cate will instead be delivering remote online Q&A sessions for 60 minutes. This will be on the original date and times as first scheduled at The Library at The Dock.
The in-person talks will be rescheduled to sometime in Term 2.
While this has not been an easy choice, the safety and health of students, staff and the general public must take first priority at this stage.
If you have booked tickets, please keep an eye on your email, as we will send through specific details to all who have booked either through TryBooking or directly through Booked Out.
Take care and look after each other during these tricky times.
We are celebrating International Women’s Day in style with some of our favourite feminist authors!
As a team of women, led by the incredible Lauris Pandolfini, IWD is very close to our hearts.
The 2020 theme of #EachForEqual is especially important. We believe in a fairer society for all, and intersectional feminism is at the core what we do in our professional and personal lives.
If your feminism excludes gender, sexuality, race, disability, class and education from the conversation, IWD is the time to reassess.
We encourage everyone reading this to pick up a book by a feminist author this Sunday, and continue working toward a more inclusive and progressive society overall!
Books pictured: Say Hello by Carly Findlay, Not Just Lucky by Jamila Rizvi, Eggshell Skull by Bri Lee and Fight Like a Girl by Clementine Ford
26 February 2020
CBCA 2020 Notables
Profiles:
Are we bursting with pride this morning? Why, I do think we are…
A massive congratulations is in order for the many Booked Out authors who are on the 2020 CBCA Book of the Year Notables list. You’re all winners in our eyes!
To read the full list of notables, visit cbca.org.au/notables-2020.
Booked Out authors include…
- Neil Grant: The Honeyman and the Hunter
- Robert Newton: Promise Me Happy
- Felice Arena: A Great Escape
- Tristan Bancks: Detention
- Jackie French: Pirate Boy of Sydney Town
- Jane Godwin: As Happy As Here
- Ingrid Laguna: Songbird
- Julia Lawrinson: Maddie in the Middle
- Nova Weetman: Sick Bay
- Sue deGennaro: We’re Stuck!
- Jane Godwin (again!): Ivanhoe Swift Left Home at Six
- Craig Smith: Windcatcher: Migration of the Short-tailed Shearwater
- Anna Walker: Lottie and Walter
- Anna Walker and Jane Godwin (for the 3rd time!): Tilly
Well done all.
24 February 2020
We are back. Please call!
Profiles:
Booked Out are back up and running!
ICYMI, Booked Out have been without phone and internet for the past 10 days, due to the NBN severing our lines. This has affected us and 50 other businesses in our area.
We are delighted to say we are finally back online, and working hard to get back up to speed.
If you have tried to call Booked Out during the past 10 days and have not heard back from us, please CALL US NOW on 03 9824 0177.
If you have emailed a booking coordinator and not received a reply, we will get back to you ASAP. We thank you for your understanding and patience.
20 February 2020
SOLD OUT: Maxine Beneba Clarke VCE Twilight Seminar
Profiles:
Maxine Beneba Clarke’s VCE Twilight Seminar on Thursday 19 March is now sold out!
Maxine’s presentation will focus on her book Foreign Soil, which she’s specially tailored to the VCE Literature curriculum.
If you would like to join our waiting list for this event, please contact us on 03 9824 0177 or bookings@bookedout.com.au. There may a possibility for a second event, depending on waiting list numbers so please be in touch if you are interested.
Tickets to Ceridwen Dovey’s seminar on the 5th of March, and Cate Kennedy’s seminar on the 26th of March are still available – but get in quickly so you don’t miss out!
Book tickets for Ceridwen Dovey’s seminar on Only the Animals here.
Book tickets for Cate Kennedy’s seminar on Like a House on Fire here.
19 February 2020
Serious Technical Issues at Booked Out
Profiles:
We are sorry to report that Booked Out has been seriously affected by NBN technicians, who have cut through our internet and phone lines.
Without internet or phones, we are soldiering on while our technicians are hard at work to get us back online.
We apologise for delays, but unfortunately we will be slow to reply to emails and calls at the present moment.
If you have an urgent message, please email your relevant booking coordinator, or email bookings@bookedout.com.au.
We thank you for your understanding at this tricky time.
19 February 2020
Professional Development Event: Learning to Love Literacy
Profiles:
Booked Out are proud to present a new professional development event for teachers and school librarians.
Join experienced teachers turned YA authors MARK SMITH, ARCHIE FUSILLO and GABRIELLE WILLIAMS for three unique workshops designed to empower teachers to engage students in reading and writing.
This is a certified event which constitutes 2 hours of professional development for English and literacy teachers.
Learn to love literacy with Booked Out on Thursday 12 March at the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre.
Contact Booked Out to book your ticket: bookings@bookedout.com.au // 9824 0177.
Huge congratulations to the 2020-2021 Australian Children’s Laureate, Ursula Dubosarsky!
Ursula has authored over 60 books, and her theme for the two year term will be Read For Your Life.
In her address, Ursula prioitises getting children to their local library and to visit regularly. “Libraries are much more than research and information centres, they are palaces of fiction… there’s great symbolic value in a school having a dedicated space for reading – it tells children that it’s important.”
To read more: https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2020/02/11/145577/dubosarsky-announced-as-australian-childrens-laureate-for-2020-21/
Congratulations again Ursula!
