SCBWI FACES Philip Kavvadias

 

SCBWI Faces goes behind the scenes to meet the volunteers who keep our society ticking. This month, Elizabeth Dale chats to Philip Kavvadias, Southeast co-organiser.

Philip grew up in Athens, fell in love in Dublin, and made his home in Windsor. He writes constantly: stories, screenplays, sketches, poems. He also has a day job in Sustainability for one of the biggest brands in the world. When he’s not finding excuses to go swimming, Philip cooks lovely meals for his family – swiftly followed by ordering takeaway!

Philip Kavvadias

What do you write?

 I write MG and YA, short stories for adults, poems for friends, screenplays and plays.

 

Do you have a ‘day job’ as well as volunteering and writing?

I'm lucky enough to work in Sustainability for one of the biggest brands in the world.

 

Describe your writing space.

Usually it's an armchair, often a cafe, sometimes my bed. When I go on holidays, in my little Greek village, I enjoy writing at the village square with fresh coffee and something very sweet.

 

Philip enjoys writing in cafes

                                                                                 Letting the creativity flow

How long have you been a SCBWI volunteer?

I've been a volunteer for about a year now.

 

Describe the main tasks of your role as a SCBWI volunteer.

Together with the amazing Claire O'Brien, we are trying to increase collaboration between writers in the Southeast, spark creativity, motivate our members and create opportunities to have fun. Most of my time as a volunteer is spent with Claire, organising events and matching writers to writing groups.

 

Do you do any other volunteering?

I am a Scout Leader, Secretary for the PTA and volunteer in lots of fundraising events at work.

 

Has volunteering influenced your writing in any way?

It has, in a major way. Getting involved with the community has allowed me to meet many different people and experience lots of different situations, and this has helped the dialogue in my books and interaction between characters.

 

What are the advantages of being a volunteer?

It's all about meeting and interacting with people. Volunteering creates hundreds of opportunities to do that and it's a fantastic way to help people.

 

How many hours per week do you spend volunteering?

I'd say around 6-8.

 

Do the boundaries between volunteering get blurred or do you have clearly demarcated writing/volunteering times/space?

Unfortunately, I have no clear demarcation for anything. Job, volunteering, writing and everything else blurs into one big stew!

 

Favourite children’s book?

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer.

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

Photos courtesy of Philip Kavvadias

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The header image is by Irene Silvino, an illustrator based in London and founder of Editartz. She loves to illustrate people (especially focusing on their feelings and emotions), nature and animals!

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Elizabeth Dale runs Chichester SCBWI, a discussion group to support, encourage each other, and share industry news. Elizabeth has had over eighty children’s books published, from picture books up to novels for up to age 12.