Here at Booked Out we love hearing about how school visits go after we do the organising bit, and last week we were thrilled to receive some great feedback (and pictures!) from Cath Crowley’s visit to the year 9 students of Presentation College to talk about her book, Graffiti Moon.

Here are two fabulous student comments:

I really enjoyed the Cath Crowley experience! I learnt a lot of new and creative ways to write and how to avoid writers’ block. She answered a lot of my questions about her novel ‘Graffiti Moon’ and showed me the inner workings of her mind. It was a really good experience and it will help me to write in the future.

Today we got to meet author Cath Crowley. She took us through writing exercises, giving us great ideas for short stories. She also gave us the opportunity to ask her questions and get our ‘Graffiti Moon’ books signed. I learnt some great writing tips and it was a fantastic experience.

Thanks to Fiona Hall for sending us these comments and pictures!

Graffiti Moon is a great read, and has been studied in many schools since it’s release in 201o. Set over 24 hours in the lives of four teenagers on the verge: of adulthood, of HSC, of finding out just who they are, and who they want to be.
In 2011 Cath took home the NSW’s Premier’s Literary Awards:Ethel Turner Prize for Young People’s Literature and the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, YA fiction for this book.

All of us here at Booked Out were thrilled by the announcement of Leigh Hobbs as the new Australian Children’s Laureate for 2016-2017. Leigh’s work has delighted readers for over 20 years, with his characters Old Tom, Horrible Harriet and Mr. Chicken well loved by children and adults alike. Congratulations Leigh!

We would also like to congratulate outgoing Australian Children’s Laureate, Jackie French for her wonderful work in 2015. Jackie, along with Australian Children’s Literature Alliance founding board member Ann James, and Victorian sub-committee member Ann Haddon have each received the Member of the Order of Australia for their dedicated work in children’s literature.

Leigh’s next official appearance as Children’s Laureate will be a special Meet the Laureate event with ABC Splash and the Centre for Youth Literature. You can watch the live stream of this event over the internet at 2pm (AEST) on Thursday 25th February.

The Team at Booked Out would like to welcome our newest speaker, Scott Darlow!

Scott is a musician, storyteller and World Vision Artist who works with Indigenous youth through the Young Mob Program. Read more about Scott’s work with World Vision here.

Enjoy below Scott’s version of Goanna’s iconic hit Solid Rock, featuring the original writer, Goanna frontman Shane Howard AM.

Shane Howard AM is one of Australia’s most important and influential writers and singers, whose work, as described by Port Fairy Folk Folk Festival Director, Jamie McKew “…bridges the land between poet and song-writer; between prophet and singer; even between white fellas and indigenous artists”.

Yup, it’s happened. Holidays are over and it’s time for us to shake out the towel and head home from the beach.

We are already looking forward to a fantastic 2016, with many new speakers and booked in for students and teachers across the country.

2016 sees lots of exciting new releases too! We are especially excited to get our hands on Leanne Hall’s new book, Iris and the Tiger. This is Leanne’s first book for younger readers and will be released in late January.

The Booked Out team – Lauris, Simon, Emma, Esther, Hannah and Nat – are all back on deck, and have already started working on the next year of author visits.

You can reach the Booked Out crew on 03 9824 0177 to talk to any of us about planning speakers for the year ahead.

So, let’s get to it!

Keep an eye out in February 2016 for the most exciting release for the new year!

Squishy Taylor is a new series for all young readers featuring the brave and relatable Squishy (real name Sita, aged 11). Along with being a solver of problems and mysterious mysteries with a daredevil flair for anything ninja-esque, Squishy has a big heart with a soft spot for anyone needing help.

Perfect for ages 6 and up, Squishy Taylor is a compelling series with storylines which include appropriate and age relevant decision-making. Squishy is also from a mixed race background, and is part of a blended family. The first book deals with her new step-sisters who go from 95% annoying (and 5% really, really annoying) to something much more positive – bonus-sisters!

This new series comes from the awesome talent Ailsa Wild (who wants to run away from the circus to become a writer), with illustrations by superstar Ben Wood.

Stay tuned for the release of the first two titles in Feburary 2016 – Squishy Taylor and the Bonus Sisters and Squishy Taylor and a Question of Trust.

For more information about Squisy and her world, visit Hardie Grant Egmont

This morning we were delighted to wake up with the fantastic news which comes with the announcement of The Prime Minister’s Literary Awards!

A big hearty Booked Out congratulations to Claire Zorn who won the Young Adult Fiction prize for The Protected, and to David Metzenthen and Michael Camilleri who won the Children’s Fiction prize for their picture book, One Minute’s Silence.

The awards were announced last night by PM Malcolm Turnbull and Minister for the Arts Mitch Fifield in Sydney.

The Prime Minister’s Literary Awards recognise the contribution of Australia’s authors to the richness of Australian cultural life in the following categories: fiction, non‐fiction, young adult fiction, children’s fiction, poetry and Australian history.

To read more, including the Judges’ comments on all prize winners, please visit http://arts.gov.au/node/13242

Exciting news for Amie Kaufman this week! She and her co-writer Jay Kristoff have just signed a deal to have their book Illuminae adapted to the big screen by Brad Pitt’s production company, Plan B Entertainment.

Plan B Entertainment are responsible for World War Z and Twelve Years a Slave.

Illuminae is the first book in the The Illuminae Files trilogy, which was released on October 20th, and immediately shot to number 3 on the The New York Times’ Young Adult Hardcover Bestseller list.

To read more, visit the Sydney Morning Herald

To read more about Illuminae, visit http://www.randomhouse.com/teens/illuminae/index.php

We are delighted to congratulate Corinne Fenton on the exciting unveiling of her book Little Dog and The Christmas Wish in the Myer Christmas Animated Windows. This delightful book, tells the story of Little Dog who has found himself lost and alone in the big city on Christmas Eve.

There are six windows, each depicting elements of the story in iconic Melbourne locations with incredible detail. Myer states that original blueprints were sourced for locations such as Flinders Street Station, the Block Arcade facade and the W Class Tram and over 800 hours of research were undertaken to ensure historical references and sites were accurate. There are 132 characters in the windows, each with their own custom made outfits reflecting the styles of the 1950’s.

The windows officially opened on the 10th of November and will be on show from 7.30am  – 1am daily until the 6th of January.

To read more, visit the Myer website

Maggie Hamilton appeared on Four Corners last Monday night to contribute to a conversation about Australian teenagers, and how one in four of them say they worry about the future constantly.

When anxiety and depression rates in young people is so high, Four Corners asked, why are our teenagers so stressed?

Essential viewing for teachers, parents and any one who works with teens. Maggie Hamilton is also available to be booked via Booked Out

Click on this link to view the program.

Last night saw the opening of Elise Hurst’s latest exhibition, A Secret World. Many fans gathered to see her collection of 24 exquisite oil paintings in No Vacancy Gallery, QV.

A Secret World is an exhibition of oil paintings from Elise Hurst’s latest picture book – Adelaide’s Secret World – set in a beautiful world of flying ships and melancholy bears.

A Secret World runs from the 11th – 22nd November, No Vacancy QV, 34-40 Jane Bell Lane, Melbourne 3000

For further details visit no-vacancy.com.au