Network News - North east - more changes in the networks
Cathy dances out into the sunset |
There’s more change in the Networks, as the vintage queen Cathy Brumby steps down from her role as joint Network Organiser for the North East and hands over the reins to Claire O’Brien. (By Marie Basting)
Thanks
so much for your contribution to the networks, Cathy. We’ll miss your unique
style and sophistication. Good luck with whatever the future brings.
Claire
will be working alongside Marie-Claire Imam-Gutierrez to manage and develop the
North East network which covers Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, Durham, North
Yorkshire, and West Yorkshire. Here they are together already looking quite the
team.
You
can find out more about Claire and her thoughts about the network below!
Claire answers these questions for Gill James.
Why is SCBWI important to you?
When I first joined in 2011 during my first
maternity leave, it was a commitment to myself that I was serious about writing
and illustrating for children, I was putting my money where my mouth was. I perused The Book, the Bulletin, website and
Facebook group devouring the useful information. It became more than that when
I went to my first event organised by Maureen Lynas in York and I felt like I'd
found my tribe. Now
the highlight of my month is attending the SCBWI crit group at Seven Stories
with some great writers, illustrators and now friends, honing our craft,
learning from each other and talking about the industry and our progress in it.
Tell us something about how you got interested in writing and illustrating for children.
I first got interested in writing and
illustrating picture books for children while working as a Fundraising
Assistant for Seven Stories
back in the early 2000s. I met some
amazing authors, illustrators and publishers and couldn't be anything but
inspired. So I had some story ideas and
sketches bubbling away but it wasn't until that first maternity leave ten years
later that I decided to pursue it seriously.
I laughingly thought I'd be published before the baby arrived but
joining SCBWI soon helped me discover that I am in it for the long haul!
Why do you think the networks are important for scbwi members?
The Networks are a kind of hidden bonus to
being a member of SCBWI beyond the International presence. They bring the SCBWI
experience to you if you make the effort to go to crit meetings and
events. This is especially important to
Networks far from London where most SCBWI BI events take place. I've found that getting involved with your
Network it helps grow it and makes it richer.
Current Activities in the North East
Marie-Claire and Cathy organised a lovely event recently with Skylark Literary Agency, and we are planning more events to come,
starting with a Character-Building workshop in York in the New Year. We have two vibrant Crit groups, one in York
that meets bi-monthly and has groups for writing and illustrating. The other crit group is held on the first
Monday of the Month in Seven Stories' cafe and is a mixture of YA, MG and PB
writers and illustrators. Up to the end
of November you can also see the SCBWI BI Annual Illustration Showcase on display in Seven Stories' cafe. Currently online you can see some North East
SCBWIs such as myself, Jenny Shippen and Katherine Lynas taking part in the Inktober
2016 challenge, where you draw one ink
drawing a day.
Do you have any new plans?
I am going to continue to attend the Seven
Stories crit group and get to the York one when I can. I look forward to working with Marie-Claire
on the upcoming events and I'd like to organise an illustration event too so
watch this space.
How can members contact you?
Members can find me in the SCBWI BI and SCBWI
BI NE Facebook groups, or contact me on northeastscbwi@britishscbwi.org.
I blog about picture book writing and
illustrating at http://claireobrienart.blogspot.co.uk/
If you are a Scrivener user, I have a picture book template that you can download for free.
If you like to see work in progress and
sketches follow me on instagram
Other interviews with me
The Networks offer SCBWI British Isles members a
chance to get involved at a local level. Geared to the needs of members, they
offer critique groups, workshops, socials, support, networking opportunities and
much more. Visit http://britishisles.scbwi.org/local-networks/ for the latest Networks news.
We currently have
vacancies for Network Organisers in the South West, Central North and Central
West. Contact Networks Coordinator, Marie Basting: networks@britishscbwi.org to find out more.
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