The
aim of the retreats is to create an opportunity for writers and
illustrators to hone their skills, learn new techniques and boost their
confidence about writing and illustrating children’s books.
Venues:
Gauteng: 17–19 October Lama Lama, (www.lamalama.co.za) north of Pretoria
Western Cape: 26–28 October Fynbos Estate, (www.fynbosestate.co.za) near Malmesbury
Cost:
R 3000 per person (includes accommodation and all meals)
If you pay in full by the 7 October, the fee is R2700
Deadlines
Book before or on 30 September (first-come-first-served basis) we will confirm your booking within a week
Payment
7 October: Pay half of the fee as a deposit (non-refundable).
Pay the balance of the fee + week before the retreat:
10 October for Gauteng retreat
17 October for Cape retreat.
How to book:
Gauteng:
Enquiries: Contact Jenny at SCBWI.SA.Gauteng@mweb.co.za and put Retreat Enquiries in the subject line
To
Book: Contact Jenny at SCBWI.SA.Gauteng@mweb.co.za before 30 September
and put Retreat Booking in the subject line. Since we have to limit
numbers, we will be making bookings on a first-come-first-served basis.
Western Cape
Enquiries: email scbwi.za@gmail.com and put Retreat Enquiries in the subject line
To
Book: e-mail scbwi.za@gmail.com before 30 September and put Retreat
Booking in the subject line. Since we have to limit numbers, we will be
making bookings on a first-come-first-served basis.
Illustrations on this blog are by Doug Cushman
9/27/12
Description:
Illustrators
The Fundamentals of Characterisation: The art of developing and realizing fully articulated characters led by international writer and illustrator Doug Cushman.
See programme (below) for full details.
Writers
The Fundamentals of Characterisation: The art of developing and realizing fully articulated characters led by international writer and illustrator Doug Cushman.
See programme (below) for full details.
The Fundamentals of Characterisation: The art of developing and realizing fully articulated characters led by international writer and illustrator Doug Cushman.
See programme (below) for full details.
Writers
The Fundamentals of Characterisation: The art of developing and realizing fully articulated characters led by international writer and illustrator Doug Cushman.
See programme (below) for full details.
Our International Guest: Doug Cushman
Some of His Achievements
A place on the New York Times Children’s Best Sellers list;
National Cartoonist’s Society Reuben Award for Book; Illustration;
2004 Christopher Award for Book Illustrations
2007 Maryland Blue Crab Award; California Young Reader’s Medal
He is a fan of mystery novels and enjoys cooking, travelling, eating and absorbing French culture and good wine—even designing a label for a Burgundy wine maker-- in his new home in Paris, France.
In the many well-received picture books Doug Cushman has written and illustrated, his emphasis on character is evident in both text and artwork. As he once commented: "A good character will almost write a book by himself with a little nudge or two from the author." Of course pictures, too, play an important role. The inspirations of many stories have been born with a scribbled character in a sketch book or on a café napkin. From there on it's a process of moving characters and plot around, adding, subtracting, throwing out, rewriting. "It's a very physical process," Cushman has said. "My first dummies are almost collages with scraps of paper taped all over the pages. Words and pictures must work together in unison, one not be more important than the other. In the end, of course, it's always story, story, story."
See more of Doug Cushman's artwork at http://www.doug-cushman.com
Retreat Programmes
17–19 OCTOBER 2012
SCBWI SA WRITER & ILLUSTRATOR RETREAT (Gauteng)
THE FUNDAMENTALS OF CHARACTERIZATION
The presentations by Doug Cushman will be of great value to illustrators and writers of children’s books. There will be ample opportunity for writers and illustrators to apply his ideas in the breakaway sessions.
PROGRAMME
WEDNESDAY 17 OCTOBER: Travel to Lama Lama Game Reserve and Conference Centre. See www.lamalama.co.za for directions.
13h00: Finger lunch
14:30–16h00: Presentation by Doug Cushman
Doug Cushman will be revealing his thoughts about how to tackle and analyse a manuscript and how to recognise and extract the visual information from the text needed to create the characters. He will be looking at aspects like physical appearance; clothes and accessories; props (toys or blankets carried with all the time or even food); accompanied animals/creatures/characters (not necessarily in the text)
16:00: Tea
16:30–17h00: Questions and discussion on practical assignment (Character creation)
19:00: Dinner
After Dinner – Informal Creativity Group Discussion
THURSDAY 18 OCTOBER
08:00: Breakfast
09:00 – 11h00: The Secret of Characterisation
Doug Cushman will be sharing his thoughts on how to find and recognise the characters’ rhythm. He will look at the characters’ actions, speech, and behaviour – What does a particular character do? How does the character behave? What does the character say? How can the character be visualised through body language, mannerism, facial expression and interaction with others? Where is the character’s world? What are the character’s relationships with other characters in the story?
11:00: Tea
11:30–13h00: Practical Sessions for Illustrators and Writers
13:00: Lunch
14:00–15h30: Presentation by Doug Cushman (The basics of characterisation – how to build on these)
15:30: Tea
16:00 – 17:30: Practical sessions for illustrators and writers (Character development in a story)
19:00: Dinner
After Dinner – Informal Creativity Group Discussion
FRIDAY 19 OCTOBER
08:00: Breakfast
09h00 -11h00: Revealing all – Characterisation
Doug Cushman will talk about how to analyse types of characters and look at danger areas like predictable, underdeveloped flat shallow stereotype characters. He will show examples of some his own work and some of the work of illustrators and writers who have influenced him.
11h00: Tea
11h30 – 13h00: Feedback, questions and discussion
13h00: Lunch
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What to bring
Illustrators
Tracing Paper Pad – A3 size 90gsm
A sketch pad – A3 size 190gsm
A few graphite HB drawing pencils
Fineliner pen
Pencil sharpener, eraser, putty eraser
Scissors, NT cutter & steel ruler
If you have a journal bring that along - If not, A4 or A5 Artist ring-bound sketch book that you can use as a journal
A notepad and pens to make notes.
Any art material you usually work in (watercolour paints/pastels/inks) and at least two sheets of a good quality art paper
A board to lean on (hardboard or thick card board – at least A3 size) & bull clips.
A jar for water & art paint brushes & a roll of toilet paper
A hand mirror (to test facial expression)
Stapler, needle and thick thread to create dummy books
Modelling clay or Plasticine
(see http://www.amtcomposites.co.za/products/tooling-materials/modelling-clays - Gauteng 011 392 4232)
OR
(http://www.artistwarehouseonlinesa.co.za/Sculpture+and+Modelling - Customer Service:
011 6083180)
Laptop or camera or ipad
Writers
If you have a journal, bring that along
A notepad/examination pad (to make notes)
A number of pencils & pens (variety of colours)
Eraser, sharpener, scissors, glue stick, stapler etc.
A hand mirror (to look at your facial expression)
A folder with resources – newspaper or magazine cuttings of interesting events/news, Pictures of interesting characters or your own notes about interesting persons or animals)
Laptop or camera or ipad
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
26–28 OCTOBER 2012
SCBWI SA WRITER & ILLUSTRATOR RETREAT (Western Cape)
THE FUNDAMENTALS OF CHARACTERIZATION
PROGRAMME
FRIDAY 26 OCTOBER: Travel to Fynbos Estate in Malmesbury (See www.fynbosestate.co.za for directions.)
10:30: Tea
11:00–12:30 – Presentation by Doug Cushman
Doug Cushman will be revealing his thoughts about how to tackle and analyse a manuscript and how to recognise and extract the visual information from the text needed to create the characters. Looking at areas like physical appearance; clothes and accessories; props (toys or blankets carried with all the time or even food); accompanied animals/creatures/characters (not necessarily in the text)
12:30–1300: Question/discussion
13:00–14:00: Lunch
14:00–16:00 Practical workshops running concurrently (the writer groups will be in one venue and the illustrators will be in a separate venue with tables): (Illustrators: Visual characterisation / Wriiters: Verbal characterisation)
The practical workshops will consist of a mix of exercises and discussions on how to do a character breakdown and drawing (starting from rough character sketches)
Writers will do practical writing exercises and discuss how to develop a character. This will include building the profile of the character using description and dialogue.
16h00–16h30: Tea break (just tea/coffee)
16:30–17:30: Practical workshops continue
19:00: Dinner
After Dinner – Informal Creativity Group Discussion
SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER
08:00: Breakfast
09:00 –11:00: The Secret of Characterisation
Doug Cushman will be sharing his thoughts on how to find and recognise the characters’ rhythm. He will look at the characters’ actions, speech, and behaviour – What does the character do? How does the character behave? What does the character say? How does the character use voice, gesture and expressions? How can the character be visualised through body language, mannerism, facial expression and interaction with others? Where is the character’s world? What are the character’s relationships to other characters in the story?
11:00: Tea
11:30–13h00: Practical sessions for illustrators and writers
13:00: Lunch
14:00-15h30: Presentation by Doug Cushman (The Basics of Characterisation – how to build on
these)
15:30: Tea
16:00–17:30: Practical sessions for illustrators and writers (Character development in a story)
19:00: Dinner
After Dinner – Informal Creativity Group Discussion
SUNDAY 19 OCTOBER
08:00: Breakfast
09:00–11:00: Revealing all – Characterisation
Doug Cushman will talk about how to analyse types of characters and look at danger areas like predictable, underdeveloped flat shallow stereotype characters. He will show examples of some his own work and some of the work of illustrators and writers who have influenced him.
11:00: Tea
11:30–13:00: Feedback, questions and discussion
13:00: Lunch
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What to bring
Illustrators
Tracing Paper Pad – A3 size 90gsm
A sketch pad – A3 size 190gsm
A few HB graphite drawing pencils
Fineliner pen
Pencil sharpener, eraser, putty eraser
Scissors, NT cutter & steel ruler
If you have a journal bring that along - If not, A4 or A5 Artist ring-bound sketch book that you can use as a journal
A notepad and pens to make notes.
Any art material you usually work in (watercolour paints/pastels/inks) and at least two sheets of a good quality art paper
A board to lean on (hardboard or thick card board – at least A3 size) & bull clips.
A jar for water & art paint brushes & a roll of toilet paper
A hand mirror (to test facial expression)
Stapler, needle and thick thread to create dummy books
Modelling clay or Plasticine
(http://www.amtcomposites.co.za/products/tooling-materials/modelling-clays Western Cape 021 511 2669)
OR
(http://www.artistwarehouseonlinesa.co.za/Sculpture+and+Modelling - Customer Service:
011 6083180)
If you have - Laptop or camera or ipad
Writers
If you have a journal, bring that along
A notepad/examination pad (to make notes)
A number of pencils & pens (variety of colours)
Eraser, sharpener, scissors, glue stick, stapler etc.
A hand mirror (to look at your facial expression)
A folder with resources – newspaper or magazine cuttings of interesting events/news, Pictures of interesting characters or your own notes about interesting persons or animals)
Laptop or camera or ipad
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE SECOND OF THESE RETREATS WILL BE HELD EARLY IN 2013
One or two full days near to Cape Town (no sleep over)
Illustrators
The nuts and bolts of illustrating picture books
Breathing life into your illustrations
• Close attention to how to draw children, animals, and other creatures
• Analysis of form, light and shadows
• Simplifying gesture
• Aspects of composition, including lines of movement. In short: How to breathe life into your illustrations
Facilitated by Marjorie van Heerden in the Cape and Joan Rankin in Gauteng
Writers
The nuts and bolts of writing for children
Breathing life into your stories
Clear storyline, consistent and convincing dialogue; words to help readers visualise the age and personality of particular characters; use of punctuation and stylistic features for the desired effect.
There will also be some attention to points of grammar.
Facilitated by Elaine Ridge in the Cape and Jenny Hatton in Gauteng.
One or two full days near to Cape Town (no sleep over)
OTHER RETREATS TO BE HELD IN 2013
• The creative process for illustrators – how picture books evolve from conception to published book / The creative process for writers– from first ideas to published book
• Critiquing your own work – illustrators and writers learn how to evaluate their own work
• Using advanced digital techniques
• Developing your own style - Materials and Techniques in Children's Book Illustration - working in colour , backgrounds / writing style and content - plots, writing descriptions, dialogue.
Illustrators
The nuts and bolts of illustrating picture books
Breathing life into your illustrations
• Close attention to how to draw children, animals, and other creatures
• Analysis of form, light and shadows
• Simplifying gesture
• Aspects of composition, including lines of movement. In short: How to breathe life into your illustrations
Facilitated by Marjorie van Heerden in the Cape and Joan Rankin in Gauteng
Writers
The nuts and bolts of writing for children
Breathing life into your stories
Clear storyline, consistent and convincing dialogue; words to help readers visualise the age and personality of particular characters; use of punctuation and stylistic features for the desired effect.
There will also be some attention to points of grammar.
Facilitated by Elaine Ridge in the Cape and Jenny Hatton in Gauteng.
One or two full days near to Cape Town (no sleep over)
OTHER RETREATS TO BE HELD IN 2013
• The creative process for illustrators – how picture books evolve from conception to published book / The creative process for writers– from first ideas to published book
• Critiquing your own work – illustrators and writers learn how to evaluate their own work
• Using advanced digital techniques
• Developing your own style - Materials and Techniques in Children's Book Illustration - working in colour , backgrounds / writing style and content - plots, writing descriptions, dialogue.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Local Presenters facilitating Practicle sessions at Characteristi Retreat
Elaine Ridge
Writer and editor
Co-Regional Advisor of SCBWI SA
I obtained a doctorate from Stellenbosch University for a dissertation entitled Cognitive Linguistic Mediation: Reflecting on a Primary School Programme. The dissertation focuses on some of the processes involved in effective and engaged reading.
After extensive school teaching experience in South Africa and the UK, my main career was as a tenured staff member in the Division of English, Faculty of Education, Stellenbosch University from 1983 to 2003. In 1998 I became Head of the Division. My special field was reading with a special emphasis on children’s and youth literature.
1980 to date Additional appointment as Part time Lecturer in Translation at Stellenbosch University. I have been entirely responsible for the design and teaching of the English Editing part of the postgraduate programme (Diploma and MA). This includes a focus on children’s literature. I also taught the translation course from Afrikaans to English for three years.
I have done a number of national workshops on editing and two on translation of children’s literature.
May 1998 Visiting Professor: University of Linköping, Sweden. My lectures included one on children’s literature in South Africa.
2002-2007 I ran a special programme for Gabonese pre-service teachers at Stellenbosch. Among other things, the students adapted or created stories for their learners in the traditional genres of Gabon, under my guidance.
I have written and edited educational books and have translated or edited trade books, from picture books to books for teenagers. Examples of translations are: Catch ‘em (Vang-hom by Winkler & Marais), Johnny Later (Jan Môre by Engela van Rooyen) and Diakiri and the man in the Karoo (Bietjie-kier by Marietjie de Jong). I was also a language consultant and editor for the Story Mouse series and for Ndaba’s The Contract. In addition, I have written and edited school English textbooks. The most recent is E Ridge et al., 1995, Useful English 8. Of my academic articles on children’s literature in South Africa the most recent is “Local, metropolitan and multicultural: South African children’s literature and a move to alternative identities” (in Christiane Bimberg and Thomas Kullmann [eds], 2006, Children’s books and child readers: Constructions of childhood in English juvenile fiction, Aachen: Shaker Verlag, 144-165)
Marjorie van Heerden
Writer
and Illustrator – picture books
Jenny Hatton
Writer, editor
Assitant Regional Advisor for SCBWI SA
I worked in the formal education sector for sixteen years before leaving to freelance in 2000.
I was a teacher for ten years including one year as Head of Department, Media Advisor with the Transvaal Education Department for two years, First Education Specialist and then Deputy Chief Education Specialist with the Gauteng Department of Education for four years. Since leaving the Department in 2000, I’ve freelanced.
I began writing while working for the Education Department. I learnt a lot more about writing when I co-operated with a group of consultants developing material for the Gauteng Institute of Curriculum Development. Then I started writing, editing, compiling and project managing for a range of publishers. I’ve mainly written textbooks for schools in the Languages and Life Orientation Learning Areas. This work has now led to editing a number of non-fiction books for children. More recently, I’ve begun to read and edit fiction for children and young adults. For a list of some of the books that I’ve worked on, see http://www.jenny-hatton.blogspot.com
Besides the work in education, I’ve written several children’s stories and am working on a young adult book. I’ve written a set of picture books done in co-operation with Joan Rankin - a REAL privilege!
With regard to particular skills:
• I know the school sector and curriculum backwards and understand what is needed in terms of resource material, both non-fiction and fiction.
• I’m good at organising and this helps me to project manage. Thus I can manage teams of writers and compile sets of books.
• I know South African fiction for children and young adults.
• I work well with authors.
But then, more important than everything is that I really enjoy my work. And of course, one of the greatest privileges I have is being able to dictate where and when I work. This also allows me to decide when I can walk with my dog.
I’m particularly keen to promote South African writing for children and young adults. I can’t remember exactly when I developed this interest. Possibly it was when I worked in school libraries or maybe when I was teaching English and looking for South African books for learners. Then years ago I was part of the Johannesburg Children’s Book Group and met other like-minded people. Perhaps they inspired this interest? I remember being astonished by Marjorie van Heerden’s book collection. And then there were book fundis like Penny Hochfeld and Audrey Hitchcock who introduced many books to me. For a number of years I chaired the media teachers’ annual conference of the Teachers’ Association and invited authors such as Di Hofmeyr to talk and, of course, I had to read her books. I began searching bookshops for other South African children’s books and bought whatever I could find. I became irritated by the lack of exposure that South African authors received in bookshops. In fact, I’m still irritated. I’d like to see South African books in two places in bookstores: namely in a special South African section as well as with the other Children’s and Teenage Fiction. I think our national literature deserves this publicity.
Today I’m lucky enough to be paid to read and edit children’s and young adult fiction. Through this I’ve been privileged to work with writers such as Edith Bulbring and David Donald.
I think that South African literature for young adults has really developed over the years. Authors such as Jenny Robson are writing increasingly challenging books. I love Kagiso Malope’s work as well as that of Michael Williams and Zakes Mda and many, many others.
I’m still keen to promote the work of South African writing. For this reason as well as others, I started a branch of the South African chapter of SCBWI in Gauteng at the beginning of 2007. Through this I’ve been learning more about writing and illustrating children’s books. And so a whole new world has opened for me. Thank you, SCBWI!
New titles
Swimming in the Sun by Jenny Hatton, illustrated by Joan Rankin
Book homepage
EAN: 9781431402182
Find this book with BOOK Finder!
Moving House by Jenny Hatton, illustrated by Joan Rankin
Book homepage
EAN: 9781431402175
Find this book with BOOK Finder!
Finding Aunt Joan by Jenny Hatton, illustrated by Joan Rankin
Book homepage
EAN: 9781770098039
Find this book with BOOK Finder!
These books won the 2012 SCBWI Crystal Kite Award - SA chapter
Joan Rankin
Writer and illustrator
Joan Rankin was born on 24 June. Her Zodiac sign is thus Cancer, a water sign. This is important to her as feelings predominate in her life.
When Joan was three years old, her grandmother told her mother that she was going to be a famous artist. This prediction was based on a drawing which Joan had done and interpreted for her grandmother. Joan doesn’t think much of the drawing but recognises the importance of the prediction which was repeated throughout her childhood and influenced the direction of her life.
Joan began creating books when she was still a child. Most of all, she loved drawing animals. She explains that “they are non-racist and don’t get offended when drawn doing silly things”. She wrote and illustrated many four-page books to amuse her family. At the age of eighteen, she even presented her future husband with a book. It was an illustrated story about his dog. Joan married her husband when she was 21 and they had three daughters. They’ve lived in the same house throughout their marriage.Joan wrote and illustrated continuously. She did twelve books before getting published.
Joan has illustrated over thirty books for children. She received the South African HAUM Daan Retief Prize for children’s book illustration in 1986 and the Katrina Harris Award for Children’s Book Illustration in 1991. She has illustrated numerous books for local and International publishes amoungst her books on the McElderry list, including A Frog in the Bog by Karma Wilson and Off to First Grade by Louise Borden.
Joan as illustrator and Wendy Hartmann as writer won the 2011 MER Prize for best illustrated children’s book: Just Sisi/Net Sisi
She illustrated a set of picture books done in co-operation with Jenny Hatton. These books won the 2012 SCBWI Crystal Kite Award - SA chapter
Writer and editorCo-Regional Advisor of SCBWI SA
I obtained a doctorate from Stellenbosch University for a dissertation entitled Cognitive Linguistic Mediation: Reflecting on a Primary School Programme. The dissertation focuses on some of the processes involved in effective and engaged reading.
After extensive school teaching experience in South Africa and the UK, my main career was as a tenured staff member in the Division of English, Faculty of Education, Stellenbosch University from 1983 to 2003. In 1998 I became Head of the Division. My special field was reading with a special emphasis on children’s and youth literature.
1980 to date Additional appointment as Part time Lecturer in Translation at Stellenbosch University. I have been entirely responsible for the design and teaching of the English Editing part of the postgraduate programme (Diploma and MA). This includes a focus on children’s literature. I also taught the translation course from Afrikaans to English for three years.
I have done a number of national workshops on editing and two on translation of children’s literature.
May 1998 Visiting Professor: University of Linköping, Sweden. My lectures included one on children’s literature in South Africa.
2002-2007 I ran a special programme for Gabonese pre-service teachers at Stellenbosch. Among other things, the students adapted or created stories for their learners in the traditional genres of Gabon, under my guidance.
I have written and edited educational books and have translated or edited trade books, from picture books to books for teenagers. Examples of translations are: Catch ‘em (Vang-hom by Winkler & Marais), Johnny Later (Jan Môre by Engela van Rooyen) and Diakiri and the man in the Karoo (Bietjie-kier by Marietjie de Jong). I was also a language consultant and editor for the Story Mouse series and for Ndaba’s The Contract. In addition, I have written and edited school English textbooks. The most recent is E Ridge et al., 1995, Useful English 8. Of my academic articles on children’s literature in South Africa the most recent is “Local, metropolitan and multicultural: South African children’s literature and a move to alternative identities” (in Christiane Bimberg and Thomas Kullmann [eds], 2006, Children’s books and child readers: Constructions of childhood in English juvenile fiction, Aachen: Shaker Verlag, 144-165)
Marjorie van Heerden
Writer
and Illustrator – picture books
Co-Regional
Advisor of SCBWI SA
Marjorie van Heerden grew up on a farm in the Hex River Valley in
South Africa. From an early age she loved drawing animals and fairies and
people and dinosaurs and children and dragons and monsters and today they
appear in all shapes and sizes in the more than 120 books that feature her
work. Since the publication of her first children’s picture book in 1983
Marjorie has been published as illustrator or illustrator/author in 35
languages in Africa, England, Europe, Canada and the USA. Recently she has also
illustrated an Afrikaans translation of Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice’s
Adventures in Wonderland.
Although she and her husband have travelled far and wide and
even stayed for long periods in USA and Europe, they always returned to South
Africa and now live in Gordon’s Bay, a coastal village near Cape Town. Her
studio is in the loft with windows overlooking False Bay and she can look at an
ocean full of monsters and thingies while she writes and illustrates her books.
They have two children, a daughter and son, and three
granddaughters.
Amongst
the awards she has won for her work, Marjorie received the Media 24 M.E.R
Award for best South African illustrated children’s book twice… in 2008
and in 2012. She also was awardes the W.B Mkhize Award in 2011.
She
learnt about the SCBWI during her four-year stay in Greece and was co-founder
of the Greek chapter. After returning to South Africa in 2003 she started the
South African chapter and is now the co-regional advisor with Elaine Ridge of
SCBWI SA.”
Contact
details
Marjorie
van Heerden
Writer
& Illustrator of Children’s Books
153
Beach Road, Gordon’s Bay 7140, South Africa; Tel: 021 856 0432
Email:
marjorie@grafikon.co.za
Jenny Hatton
Writer, editorAssitant Regional Advisor for SCBWI SA
I worked in the formal education sector for sixteen years before leaving to freelance in 2000.
I was a teacher for ten years including one year as Head of Department, Media Advisor with the Transvaal Education Department for two years, First Education Specialist and then Deputy Chief Education Specialist with the Gauteng Department of Education for four years. Since leaving the Department in 2000, I’ve freelanced.
I began writing while working for the Education Department. I learnt a lot more about writing when I co-operated with a group of consultants developing material for the Gauteng Institute of Curriculum Development. Then I started writing, editing, compiling and project managing for a range of publishers. I’ve mainly written textbooks for schools in the Languages and Life Orientation Learning Areas. This work has now led to editing a number of non-fiction books for children. More recently, I’ve begun to read and edit fiction for children and young adults. For a list of some of the books that I’ve worked on, see http://www.jenny-hatton.blogspot.com
Besides the work in education, I’ve written several children’s stories and am working on a young adult book. I’ve written a set of picture books done in co-operation with Joan Rankin - a REAL privilege!
With regard to particular skills:
• I know the school sector and curriculum backwards and understand what is needed in terms of resource material, both non-fiction and fiction.
• I’m good at organising and this helps me to project manage. Thus I can manage teams of writers and compile sets of books.
• I know South African fiction for children and young adults.
• I work well with authors.
But then, more important than everything is that I really enjoy my work. And of course, one of the greatest privileges I have is being able to dictate where and when I work. This also allows me to decide when I can walk with my dog.
I’m particularly keen to promote South African writing for children and young adults. I can’t remember exactly when I developed this interest. Possibly it was when I worked in school libraries or maybe when I was teaching English and looking for South African books for learners. Then years ago I was part of the Johannesburg Children’s Book Group and met other like-minded people. Perhaps they inspired this interest? I remember being astonished by Marjorie van Heerden’s book collection. And then there were book fundis like Penny Hochfeld and Audrey Hitchcock who introduced many books to me. For a number of years I chaired the media teachers’ annual conference of the Teachers’ Association and invited authors such as Di Hofmeyr to talk and, of course, I had to read her books. I began searching bookshops for other South African children’s books and bought whatever I could find. I became irritated by the lack of exposure that South African authors received in bookshops. In fact, I’m still irritated. I’d like to see South African books in two places in bookstores: namely in a special South African section as well as with the other Children’s and Teenage Fiction. I think our national literature deserves this publicity.
Today I’m lucky enough to be paid to read and edit children’s and young adult fiction. Through this I’ve been privileged to work with writers such as Edith Bulbring and David Donald.
I think that South African literature for young adults has really developed over the years. Authors such as Jenny Robson are writing increasingly challenging books. I love Kagiso Malope’s work as well as that of Michael Williams and Zakes Mda and many, many others.
I’m still keen to promote the work of South African writing. For this reason as well as others, I started a branch of the South African chapter of SCBWI in Gauteng at the beginning of 2007. Through this I’ve been learning more about writing and illustrating children’s books. And so a whole new world has opened for me. Thank you, SCBWI!
New titles
Swimming in the Sun by Jenny Hatton, illustrated by Joan Rankin
Book homepage
EAN: 9781431402182
Find this book with BOOK Finder!
Moving House by Jenny Hatton, illustrated by Joan Rankin
Book homepage
EAN: 9781431402175
Find this book with BOOK Finder!
Finding Aunt Joan by Jenny Hatton, illustrated by Joan Rankin
Book homepage
EAN: 9781770098039
Find this book with BOOK Finder!
These books won the 2012 SCBWI Crystal Kite Award - SA chapter
Writer and illustrator Joan Rankin was born on 24 June. Her Zodiac sign is thus Cancer, a water sign. This is important to her as feelings predominate in her life.
When Joan was three years old, her grandmother told her mother that she was going to be a famous artist. This prediction was based on a drawing which Joan had done and interpreted for her grandmother. Joan doesn’t think much of the drawing but recognises the importance of the prediction which was repeated throughout her childhood and influenced the direction of her life.
Joan began creating books when she was still a child. Most of all, she loved drawing animals. She explains that “they are non-racist and don’t get offended when drawn doing silly things”. She wrote and illustrated many four-page books to amuse her family. At the age of eighteen, she even presented her future husband with a book. It was an illustrated story about his dog. Joan married her husband when she was 21 and they had three daughters. They’ve lived in the same house throughout their marriage.Joan wrote and illustrated continuously. She did twelve books before getting published.
Joan has illustrated over thirty books for children. She received the South African HAUM Daan Retief Prize for children’s book illustration in 1986 and the Katrina Harris Award for Children’s Book Illustration in 1991. She has illustrated numerous books for local and International publishes amoungst her books on the McElderry list, including A Frog in the Bog by Karma Wilson and Off to First Grade by Louise Borden.
Joan as illustrator and Wendy Hartmann as writer won the 2011 MER Prize for best illustrated children’s book: Just Sisi/Net Sisi
She illustrated a set of picture books done in co-operation with Jenny Hatton. These books won the 2012 SCBWI Crystal Kite Award - SA chapter
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