Winners of CYA Conference 2015

Winners-announcementI celebrated the ultimate event in my Writer’s year …

The Australian CYA Conference at Southbank TAFE, Brisbane celebrated its 10th birthday anniversary. A one-day action-packed  creative  retreat for writers. Refreshing. Exhausting. Exhilarating.

I shared this amazing day with my writing buddies and colleagues, participating in writing courses, scribbling down blueprints for my next writing projects, revitalizing my creative brain to the MAX.

becket_10years_fireworks-2_med_hr-5Who WON first place in the CYA Conference Writing Competitions?

DRUM ROLL ...
Picture Book Preschool …Diane Jackson Hill.

Picture Book Primary School … Kerri Day

Picture Book Non Fiction …Jenny Baber

Younger Chapter Books … 1st Ramona Davey 2nd Jade Harmer 3rd Jacqui Halpin (from Write Links)

Older Chapter Books … Kelly McDonald

Young Adult … Catherine Mojsiewicz

Graphic Novel or Illustrated Picture Book or Middle Grade Novel … Heidi Smith

Illustrations … 2nd Katrina Dreiling (from Write Links)

Published Author … Deborah Kelly

 Pitching  to Publishers & Agents…

Writer friends  from my writer’s group Write Links pitched their stories to editors and publishers, receiving positive feedback and encouragement … and some maybe a contract.

Yvonne Mes & Alison Stegert from Write Links

Good luck Yvonne Mes and Alison Stegert from Write Links.

What WINNING ideas did the Presenters teach me?

Kaz Delaney taught me how to write a story in 3 Acts using the Hero’s Journey, keeping up the pace, ensuring the middle isn’t ‘sagging’.

Paul Collins shared his proactive marketing strategies in getting books out to a wide market.

Meredith Costain shared her secrets in creating hooks that keep readers turning pages.

Morris Gleiztman shared tips on how the writer can emotionally connect the reader  to likeable characters … who have problems which need solving.

Success Panel Winners …

Congrats to Georgie Donoghey, Helene Maggison and Jennifer Loakes, who divulged their truly inspirational and surprising journeys on how they became published.

My BIG Surprise …

Tina Marie Clark invited present and past Success Story winners to the front to receive their 10th Anniversary Gold badge… That’s ME on the bottom left!!

Ben Long, Jennfer Loakes, Helene Magisson, Georgie Donaghey, Peter Allert, Karen Tyrrell, Tina Clark, Dee White, Kaz Delaney.

Angela Sunde, Aleesah Darlison, Ben Long, Jennifer Loakes, Helene Magisson, Georgie Donaghey, Dimity Powell, Peter Allert, Karen Tyrrell, Tina Clark, Dee White, Kaz Delaney.

Last year I shared my own Success Story at CYA Conference on publishing Bailey Beats the Blah and STOP the Bully. Both resilience books winning endorsements from Kids Helpline and a mental health achievement award.

Recently, I launched picture book, Harry Helps Grandpa Remember, winner of a RADF grant. My books are available at Dymocks, Angus & Robertson, Mary Ryans, Riverbend and MORE.

Who were the REAL Winners of CYA?

We who attended, who were willing to embrace the wealth of experience, knowledge and inspiration from TOP publishers, agents, illustrators, editors and authors.

CYA Conference delegates shared a unique opportunity, one which could shape our writing lives and craft us into the writers we could be.

Only if we believed!

cya

CYA Conference 2015

What was your favourite experience at CYA?

How were you INSPIRED?

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9 comments to Winners of CYA Conference 2015

  • What a brilliant summary of the CYA Conference, Karen. And thank you for the mention. 🙂

  • Hi Jacqui,
    Thrilled you enjoyed reading the CYA Conference round up. I was so beside myself, when your name was announced. So HAPPY for you. Hope it leads to BIGGER things… Karen 🙂

  • You summed up a great day perfectly. Thanks Karen!

  • Thanks Alison, Thrilled you enjoyed my summary.
    Really enjoyed spending part of the day with you. Wishing you all the best with the outcome of your story pitch… Cheers, Karen 🙂

  • Alison Quigley

    Thanks for the pithy blog Karen. Sounds like you had a blast. Would you like to write a paragraph for our Enews bulletin? Let’s chat further on my FB page.

    Warm regards

    Alison Quigley
    SCLA secretary
    Buderim 4556

  • Hi Alison, Thanks so much for commenting here and inviting me to write a paragraph for your ENews Bulletin. I’d LOVE too. Look forward to hearing more … Cheers,
    Karen 🙂

  • Great post about the CYA conference Karen. It’s such a great learning experience and I always come away inspired by so many helpful hints and new ideas. I love listening to the authors passionately talking about their experiences and how/why they write, catching up with writer friends and meeting new people who all love reading, writing and illustrating. I was just looking at your list of books on the side of your blog and thought one looked familiar. We have “Stop the Bully” out from the library at the moment and are reading it to our girls. We’re all enjoying it a lot.

  • Hi Rachel,
    Thanks so much for coming over to read my CYA Conference Blog. I feel the same about CYA as you. Its my shock therapy to push my writing to the next level.
    I’m blown away that you’re reading STOP the Bully right now with your girls. I’d be thrilled if you friended me on Facebook or liked my Karen Tyrrell author page … Cheers, Karen 🙂

  • […] I celebrated the ultimate event in my Writer’s year … The Australian CYA Conference at Southbank TAFE, Brisbane celebrated its 10th birthday anniversary. A one-day action-packed creative holiday for writers.  […]

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