The Walkley Foundation will be hosting a week long conference focussing on narrative called: "What's the story? Powerful narrative and other tales from the future". It will run from August 9 – 12 and they've booked some big international names to join a great line-up of Australian journalists, authors and other media creators. This is an important event, generating discussion and debate on the way our industry is changing. Prices start from $180 per day and there are many intensive training sessions including non-fiction narrative, video and photography. There are also panels and masterclasses on the future of journalism and the power of narrative. Speakers include David Marr, Malcolm Knox, Sophie Cunningham, Mark Dapin, Ben Naparstek, Malcolm Turnbull, David Leser plus many more. Read all about it online, by clicking here: http://www.walkleyconference.com.au/ For inquiries about the program call Clare Fletcher on (02) 9333 021 or email clare.fletcher@alliance.org.au.

Congratulations to our very own Freya Blackwood who has won The Kate Greenwood Medal, the UK's most prestigious children's illustration award. Her prize-winning illustrations are inspired by the memory of a beloved pet dog in Harry & Hopper. The Kate Greenaway Medal was established in 1955, for distinguished illustration in a book for children. It is named after the popular nineteenth century artist known for her fine children's illustrations and designs. The CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal is awarded annually for an outstanding book in terms of illustration for children and young people. To read more http://www.booksellers.co.nz/book-news/trade-news/freya-blackwood-wins-2010-cilip-kate-greenaway-medal or http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/2010awards/

Do you dream of being a published writer? Enter Australia's most prestigious award for an unpublished manuscript. The Australian/Vogel Literary Award is one of Australia's richest and the most prestigious award for an unpublished manuscript by a writer under the age of thirty-five. Offering publication by Allen & Unwin and prize money totalling $20,000, the Vogel Award has launched the careers of some of its most successful writers, including Tim Winton, Kate Grenville, Gillian Mears, Brian Castro, Mandy Sayer and Andrew McGahan. Vogel-winning authors have gone on to win or be shortlisted for other major awards, such as the Miles Franklin Award, the Commonwealth Writers Prize and the Booker Prize.

Entry forms for the 2010 Australian/Vogel Literary Award are now available from the Allen and Unwin website: http://www.allenandunwin.com/default.aspx?page=442 This year is the 30th anniversary of The Australian/Vogel Literary Award and some exciting changes are afoot. After the judges make their final decision, the winner will be contacted by Allen & Unwin and work will begin on the winning manuscript. However, it won't be until May 2011, that the winner's name will be made public simultaneous with publication of their winning book

Sharyn Killens is better known as Sharyn Crystal, a successful Australian singer and entertainer. But her life wasn't always glamorous and her childhood was at times a living hell. The Inconvenient Child is the true account of her extraordinary journey to success and her quest to discover her African-American heritage. Sharyn and Lindsay have been friends for twenty years and met during their time as entertainers. Their close relationship and music background makes for a lively yet emotional author talk, keeping their audience enthralled as they recount Sharyn's extraordinary story and her often difficult journey through life. This story is not all heartbreak - it's a story of triumph, faith, success and joy.

Come along and hear the story of The Inconvenient Child at one of these locations:

Orange City Library, Monday 7 June at 1pm

Forbes Library Wednesday 9 June at 2pm

Cowra Library Thursday 10 June at 10.30am

Please RSVP by calling the Library you wish to attend.

Dogs, cats, forest fauna, rabbits in top hats, graveyard ghosts, imaginary headgear, a bizarre crowning glory and a band of kids determined to get their own back on a horrible teacher parade across the pages of the eight books shortlisted for this year's the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals Kate Greenaway Medal, the UK's oldest and most prestigious award for children's book illustration. In their widely contrasting styles, the illustrations in these eight shortlisted titles encourage children of all ages to consider the world in new ways from the place between magic and reality (Leon and the Place Between); the sad death of a much-loved pet (Harry and Hopper illustrated by Freya Blackwood with text by Margaret Wild); the importance of looking after our environment (The Great Paper Caper); the power of the imagination (Millie's Marvellous Hat and Crazy Hair); life after death (The Graveyard Book); what teamwork can achieve (The Dunderheads), and the sheer playfulness of felines (There Are Cats in This Book). The Chair of this year's CILIP Kate Greenaway judging panel is Margaret Pemberton:"The 2010 shortlist proves that picture books are not just for pre-schoolers. Illustrations can enrich the reading experience of all age-groups, and the eight titles in contention for the 2010 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal are outstanding examples of this".

The 2010 winners will be announced at a ceremony at BAFTA in central London on Thursday 24th June. WooHoo! Congratultations on being shortlisted Freya. For more details go to: http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/greenaway/current_shortlist.php http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/2010awards/greenaway_illustrators.php

Okay don't worry about the budget ( well not too much anyway). This sounds much better instead - check out the first Tuesday Book Club on ABC TV tomorrow night featuring Jennifer Byrne Presents: Blockbusters and Bestsellers 10pm ABC1 ... Jennifer Byrne is joined by the heavy artillery of the publishing world to discuss what it takes to be a bestselling author. She is joined by the man behind the enigmatic Jack Reacher Lee Child, author of Ice Station and The Five Greatest Warriors Matthew Reilly, author of 17 bestselling novels including The Silent Country , Di Morrissey as well as Australia's biggest selling author Bryce Courtenay. It is repeated on Sunday 16th May 6:30pm ABC2. And for more author interviews head to the website: www.abc.net.au/tv/firsttuesday/

Okay ....good question? I've done emails, blogs, a grant application, drafted an award submission and an introduction for an author visit and lots of photo captions. That list needs to change to move the short stories and articles to the top - not the bottom. How are you going? What did you write today? And for a little inspiration: "Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way." E.L. Doctorow

Scribe will be publishing another anthology of short stories, New Australian Stories 2.0, again edited by fiction acquisitions editor, Aviva Tuffield. New Australian Stories 2.0 will be published in February 2011. The anthology will feature established stars of the short-story firmament alongside new and emerging ones. Scribe are collaborating with two partners: Varuna, the Writers' House, will be running the Varuna/NAS national short story competition, with the winners (judged by Peter Bishop, Cate Kennedy and Aviva Tuffield) to be published in New Australian Stories 2.0, and/or to be awarded a week-long residency at Varuna to work with Cate Kennedy, one of Australia's finest writers of short stories. Submissions to the Varuna/NAS competition open on 1 June and close on 30 June. Visit the Varuna website for more details: www.varuna.com.au. And they are teaming up with the Ned Kelly Awards to publish the winner of the S.D. Harvey Short Story Award in New Australian Stories 2.0. This award was established in 2009 in honour of Sandra Harvey, a respected journalist who worked both for the Sydney Morning Herald and the ABC's Four Corners program, and was fearless in her pursuit of the truth. The prize money for the S.D. Harvey Short Story Award will be in excess of $1000. Applications for the S.D. Harvey Award close on 31 May. For more information about entering the award, go to: www.nedkellyawards.com

Come along to a poetry launch and reading from a group of talented poets who have produced their own collection called Cloudland. Poets include group facilitator Deb Westbury, from the Blue Mountains, and Di Brooks based in the Central West. The book will be for sale and you can meet and talk with the poets and enjoy hearing them read their works. The launch takes place from 2-4pm on Sunday 28 March at Orange City Library. Enjoy!!

It is with great sadness we inform you of the passing of Leone Healy, a former Orange City Councillor and author of UP! and most recently A Country Childhood. Her funeral will be held today (Thursday 25 March) at Neville Presbyterian Church, near Blayney, at 2pm. Following the funeral (and graveside) afternoon tea will be held at the Neville Hall. Read more in this item published in The Central Western Daily: ttp://www.centralwesterndaily.com.au/news/local/news/general/death-of-former-councillor/1782660.aspx