Book launch: Shades of the Sublime & Beautiful

WA poet, John Kinsella, launched his latest collection;
Shades of the Sublime & Beautiful, at the UWA Co-op Bookstore last night.

The evening, which attracted around 70 guests, was hosted by Tony Hughes D'Aeth, Lecturer in English and Cultural Studies at the University of Western Australia. It featured readings from John and other well known Western Australian poets such as Tracy Ryan, Glen Phillips, Dennis Haskell and Frances Macaulay Forde.

Many thanks to Alyson De Souza and the team at UWA Co-op Bookstore for hosting the event.

Haebich invited to attend Australia 2020

Anna Haebich, author of Spinning the Dream is heading off to Canberra this weekend to join Australia's best and brightest at the Australia 2020 Summit.

The summit, which will be convened by PM Kevin Rudd at Parliament House, will help shape the strategies needed to tackle long term challenges confronting the nation.

Book launch: In Ecstasy

Kate McCaffrey (right), Dr Bill Saunders and guests.

Joscelyn Leatt-Hayter and the Westbooks team.

Editor, Janet Blagg, with the author's mother.

Around 100 teachers, librarians, authors and friends joined Kate McCaffrey and special guest Dr Bill Saunders for the launch of Kate’s latest novel for young adults, In Ecstasy.

The launch took place on Friday 4 April and was organised and hosted by Joscelyn Leatt-Hayter and the team at Westbooks in Victoria Park.

Kate McCaffrey is well known for her pioneering novel, Destroying Avalon, which raised awareness of cyber-bullying. Her latest novel tackles the issue of teenage drug use.

CBCA Chrichton Award and Notable books

Congratulations to Ambelin Kwaymullina and Sonia Martinez who made the shortlist for the CBCA Chrichton Award for New Illustrators. Sonia illustrated The World According to Warren by Craig Silvey and Ambelin illustrated and wrote The Crow and the Waterhole.

The Crow and the Waterhole also made it onto the Picture Book of the Year Notable Books list along with Brian Harrison-Lever's Three Kings. Duncan Mackay's Storm Callers was recognized on the Younger Readers Notable Book list.

The Chrichton Award aims to recognise and encourage new talent in the field of Australian children's book illustration. The winner will be announced on Friday 15 August at the beginning of Children's Book Week, 16-22 August.