Scar Town won the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year, Younger Readers, on Friday at a ceremony in Walsh Bay, Sydney. The event was attended by authors, illustrators, publishers, educators and shadow judges – kids who voted in the CBCA’s new student-voted awards categories. Scar Town was also lucky enough to win the Younger Readers’ Shadow Judging Award. It was the proudest day of my writing life, to know that peers and young readers have responded well to the book.
I had just two minutes to thank some of the people who have helped me on my writing journey so far. There are many more who deserve thanks (so, thank you). My acceptance speech for the award is below. I hope you have a chance to read the book.
Happy Book Week to all!
ABC News Breakfast Interview
ABC Radio PM CBCA Awards announcement
Sydney Morning Herald ‘Thriller Novel Wins Children’s Book of the Year’
Scar Town Video – Inspiration, Chapter Reading and Book Trailer
Full List of CBCA Winners
CBCA Award Acceptance Speech
There’s a myth that being an author is a solitary pursuit but I’d like to acknowledge just some of the people who have contributed to this book and my writing life.
My wife, Amber Melody, my greatest advocate and supporter since we were in high school together. Also the most innately creative and kind person I know. And to our sons Hux and Luca who have been such an inspiration to me as a writer.
My publisher Zoe Walton who has heard me going on about this book for so many years. Almost the entire time we’ve been working together. I apologise and thank you for believing that I would one day finish it.
Claire DeMedici, editor of Scar Town, who asks all the right questions and has such an exceptional way of getting the best out of an author. I love that edit process.
The publicity and marketing team at Penguin – Dot, Bec, Jess, Rosie – and Ange and her team in sales. Such a cohesive and generous team.
Thanks to my literary agents over the past seventeen years: Jeanne Ryckmans, Sophie Hamley, Jo Butler and Tara Wynne. And to my speaking agents Booked Out and Speakers Ink who connect my books with readers. And all the librarians, teacher-librarians, other educators and booksellers who put my books in kids’ hands. Martha Itzcovitz, in particular, who kept asking me when I was going to finish the drowned town book.
I have such great respect for the CBCA volunteers and for the judges, to read so many books and to somehow make the seemingly impossible choice on a shortlist and Honour books and winners. And we all know that there are many fine books published each year that might not be on the list but it doesn’t diminish the power they have over young readers.
I’m immensely thankful to my Uber writing group and my NanoWriMo gang who encouraged me to finish this book. And the rest of the author and illustrator community. The best part about being a writer, after the bit where we are left alone to make things up, is the part where we get to connect with the best people in any industry in Australia
Most of all, thanks to the readers and the shadow judges and I hope this means that many more readers will discover the book.
And the inspiring thing for emerging writers here is that it only took me seventeen years of publishing books to win this award. So, if you start now, you could win one before you’re 30!
BUY SCAR TOWN VIA YOUR LOCAL BOOKSELLER OR ONLINE VIA PENGUIN HERE.
EBOOK (WITH FREE CHAPTERS)
AUDIOBOOK (WITH FREE SAMPLE)
