Rottnest Retreat, June 11-14 2017

Please note: All activities are OPTIONAL. A map of all retreat venues is included on the final page.

Mainland program: Saturday 10 June

Venue: State Library of WA Today we are joined by our publisher guests: Linsay Knight (Walker), Lisa Riley (Penguin Random House) and Cate Sutherland (Fremantle Press). Critiques (10.05am – 12.30pm) Venue: First Edition café, ground floor. Eighteen one-on-one paid manuscript or portfolio critiques, provided by our publisher guests. Those members who booked critiques will have heard from Teena about their session already. Book Launch: ‘Nanna’s Button Tin’ (11:30 am – 12:30pm) Venue: The Story Place, mezzanine floor Come and help celebrate the launch of Dianne Wolfer’s new picture book Nanna’s Button Tin. A gentle story about a young girl and her Nanna searching for a very special button. To be launched by award-winning author/illustrator Frané Lessac. A fun free event suitable for young children and their families, featuring a book reading and button craft, followed by book sales and signings. Supported by The State Library of WA, Walker Books and the Discovery Store (WA Museum & State Library). Publisher Panel (1.30pm – 3.00pm) Venue: Great Southern Room, 4th floor Each guest will each speak about what their publishing house is looking for and how to submit. Includes Q&A. First Page, First Look (3.30pm – 5:00pm) Venue: Great Southern Room, 4th floor The publisher guests will comment on the first pages of unpublished manuscripts and unpublished illustration samples submitted anonymously by SCBWI members.

Sunday 11 June

Ferry times

• 07.15, dep. B-Shed Fremantle • 07.30, dep Hillarys • 08.30, dep. Barrack St Perth • 09.45, dep. B-Shed Fremantle • 10.00, dep. Northport Fremantle • 10.00, dep Hillarys • 14.30, dep Northport Fremantle • 15.00, dep. B-Shed Fremantle

For more details on Fremantle/Perth ferries, visit: http://www.rottnestexpress.com.au/Time-Table/

For more details on Hillarys ferries: http://www.rottnestfastferries.com.au/packages/timetable/

For those wishing to travel with other retreaters, there are likely to be people travelling across on the mid-morning ferries ex-Fremantle.

Please make your own bookings when you are ready and we will see you either on the ferry, or on the island!

Bikes

Bikes can be hired at time of booking or on the island, or you can bring your own.

Parking

For parking at the ferry terminals, please note:

B Shed Terminal: closest long-term parking is found at the ‘Zone 3 dedicated all-day parking areas’ near C & D sheds @$10.00 per day. NB: not undercover or secure. More info at http://www.fremantleports.com.au/Visiting/Parking/Pages/Parking-at-Victoria-Quay.aspx

Northport Terminal: ample secure parking @$12 per day.

Hillarys: ample free parking in marina carpark.

Check-in & cottages

Each cottage has an allocated keyholder. Cottage check-in is generally available from 2pm. Retreaters tend to gather in Dome Café for coffee and shenanigans while waiting for rooms to become available.

Download the cottage list here: http://australiawest.scbwi.org/rottnest-2017/cottages-list/ (members-only access – you’ll need to be logged in to the SCBWI website to access this)

Are you a keyholder? Please go to the Visitor Centre when you arrive on the island. You will be asked to give them a mobile number and credit card (for security purposes). The Visitor Centre will then text you when your cottage keys are ready to be collected.

Please note that bed-linen/bath towels are provided.

This year, Cottage 212 is Quokka Central. Outside this cottage you’ll find a whiteboard with notices about what’s happening each day, and any last minute info.

The barbecue will be held at BBQ Central: Cottage 203

Cottage welcome packs

This year each cottage receives a welcome pack containing a copy of the program and a venue map. There will also be a nametag, a treasure hunt activity and a calico tote bag for each person in the cottage.

Please fill out your nametag and wear at each event during the Retreat. The Treasure Hunt activity is not about finding objects; it’s about finding information about each other! The first person to fill out the entire Treasure Hunt correctly wins a prize. The calico tote bags will be blank, but there will be coloured Sharpies at each event – so ask others to write, draw and sign all over your bag. Hopefully by the end of the Retreat, you’ll have a one-of-a-kind souvenir of Rotto 2017.

2.30 – 4.00 Sketch & Scribble Crawl

Venue: Meet in front of the Salt Store

This is a super-casual creative stroll, led by Kelly Canby. Chat with other members while you stroll to points of interest and sketch – in words or pictures – what you find there. For writers and illustrators.

1.00 – 3.25 One-on-One Critiques

Venue: Dome Café

Individual session times have been advised to participants.

6.00 Rottnest Pitch Awards & BBQ Dinner

Venue: Cottage 203

The pitches will be followed by a BBQ dinner.

This year, you won’t need to bring a plate or cutlery – we are providing biodegradable plates and cutlery for everyone.

However, you’ll still need to bring your own:

- nibbles (if you want them) - mains (if this is meat, please cook it at your own cottage BEFORE the

dinner and bring it with you. We want to avoid the situation where 1 or 2 people do all the barbecuing and miss out on socialising)

- drinks - drinking glasses from your cottage

Each cottage is also required to bring a salad and something sweet for afters. Nothing too huge – just big enough to serve 4 people. Get in touch with your cottage-mates to work out what your cottage will bring. We'll share all these salads and sweets around. We’ll begin the evening with welcomes, general information about activities over the next few days, and answer any questions you might have.

Then it’s time to get fast and furious for our annual Rottnest Pitch Award!

Bring along an idea and participate in this fun *optional* activity.

You have thirty seconds to 'pitch' a children's book idea to your fellow SCBWIies and put yourself in the running for the 2017 Rottnest Pitch Award. Here's how it works: we all pitch an idea. The idea must not have been discussed with a publisher or agent at the time of pitching. Then the first person to send SCBWI (australiawest@scbwi.org) proof of a countersigned contract for the idea they pitched wins the 2017 trophy. (Note: 'Countersigned' means that both you and your publisher must have signed the contract.)

Your pitch must be no longer than 30 seconds. Keep it short, sweet, and snappy.

We suggest using the following format as a guide:

My name is [A]. I’m pitching a [genre/form] for [readership/age group]. It’s about …

We’ll also announce any winners of previous Rottnest Pitch Awards and present winners with their highly coveted trophy. The 2014 and 2015 Pitch Awards have already been won, but the 2016 Award is still up for grabs - so if you pitched an idea at Rotto 2016 and it’s since been picked up by a publisher, be the first to send us (australiawest@scbwi.org) proof of a countersigned contract and the trophy is yours. (Note: ‘Countersigned’ means that both you and your publisher must have signed the contract.)

Monday 12 June

10.00 – 12:25 One-on-One Critique Sessions

Venue: Dome Café

Individual session times have been advised to participants.

10.00 – 12:00 Peer Group WIP Rounds

Groups, leaders and venues:

– Picture Book text: James (212), Elaine (221)

– Illustration: Wendy (201), Frané (205)

– Young Adult: AJ (209)

– Middle Grade/Junior Fiction: Catherine (206), Sally (204), Teena (210)

WIP Rounds are small critique groups led by experienced SCBWI writer/illustrators. Share extracts from a work in progress and receive 10-min speed critique/suggestions from the group. If you signed up for one of these WIP Round groups, you should hear from your group leader by email prior to the retreat, with more instructions specific to your group. To check which group you signed up for, log in to the SCBWI website and download the WIP Round group list from this page: http://australiawest.scbwi.org/rottnest-2017/wip-rounds-group-list/ (members-only access – you’ll need to be logged in to the SCBWI website to access this)

2.00 – 4.00 Tips, tricks, techniques and trade secrets

Venue: Rottnest Island Country Club

Presenters: WA’s own Meg McKinlay, Wendy Binks, Frané Lessac, Sally Murphy, Dianne Wolfer and James Foley.

Hear from six experienced SCBWI WA members as they share their super-helpful amazing tips.

Writing tips, illustrating tips, tips on technique, tips on marketing and career management … pick up these tips and more at this dynamic, practical session.

6.00 Dinner & Book Celebration

Venue: Aristos Café

Set Menu with choices to be made on the spot; dietary restrictions accommodated (if you advised this on registration).

Dinner is included in registration cost. Drinks are at own expense.

We’ll also celebrate the launch of The Seven Day Dragon, the latest middle-grade novel from Teena Raffa-Mulligan.

Tuesday 13 June

10:00 – 12:00 Publisher Workshop 1: 'Behind the Scenes at the Bird'

Venue: Rottnest Island Country Club

Presenter: Lisa Riley, Penguin Random House

This two-hour workshop will look at some recently published works from debut creators: a picture book, junior fiction and a middle reader fantasy series and look at the behind-the-scenes decisions to develop and publish these works. Includes: top tips (and personal penchants) on picture books and middle readers; how a pitch fits into the process from the publisher's point of view, with a hands-on practical session for perfecting your pitch (prize for the best or most improved WIP pitch); publishing wish-lists, as well as insights on the challenges around publishing different formats in today’s market.

If you’d like to prepare for this session, Lisa will be covering the following texts:

• Picture book: A Patch from Scratch by Megan Forward • Junior fiction: Juliet Nearly a Vet by Rebecca Johnson • Middle reader/fantasy: Tarin of the Mammoths by Jo Sandhu

12:00 – 1.00 LUNCH BREAK

Bring your own, or grab some at the main settlement.

1.00 – 3.00 Publisher 2 workshop: 'A Treasure Trove of Genres'

Venue: Rottnest Island Country Club

Presenter: Linsay Knight, Walker Books Australia

Anthologising and illustrating short stories and poems: what to choose and why. Digging deep in non-fiction: storytelling with facts and figures. Behind the scenes of fiction series: how many, how often? Picture book pitfalls: a guide for the unwary.

3.30 – 4.30 Winter Sun Soaking and Illustration Appreciation

Venue: Hotel Rottnest aka The Quokka Arms aka The Pub

Gather for a sneaky pre-sundowner drink to hopefully soak up some winter sunshine and enjoy some company. Illustrators: Bring your portfolios for some peer appreciation.

5.30-7.00 Readings By (Almost) Candlelight

Venue: The Chapel

Intrepid members who signed up on registration will read from their work, and everyone is invited to come along and listen.

Readings are limited to three minutes each and all reading slots are now full. To listen, just come along with the beverage of your choice.

No organised group dinner tonight but a merry band of SCBWIies will be heading to the pub following the readings. If you’re looking for company, that’s the place to be!

Wednesday 14 June

8.45 Cottage Check-out

Casual gathering in Dome for coffee/breakfast/chat before heading to Aristos. ***NB: please do not bring Dome takeaway coffees or food into Aristos.***

Venue for this morning’s program: Aristos Café

9.30-10.30 Morning Shenanigans

Join your fellow Retreaters for coffee and our ubiquitous photo slideshow.

This is also your last chance to get your fellow SCBWIes to scribble and sketch on your calico bag!

PLUS, the magnificent, magnanimous megastar known as Meg McKinlay will lead us in a hilarious kid-lit themed quiz.

10.30 Farewell Words

Informal DYO Lunch. Feel free to stay on, get some work and/or chatting done, and catch the later ferry.

Ferry times

• 08.25 to B-Shed via Northport, Fremantle • 08.45 to Hillarys • 10.55 to Northport, Fremantle • 14.10 to B-Shed, Fremantle • 16.25 to B Shed, Freo/Northport, Freo/Barrack St, Perth • 16.30 to Hillarys

For more details on Fremantle/Perth ferries, visit: http://www.rottnestexpress.com.au/Time-Table/

For more details on Hillarys ferries: http://www.rottnestfastferries.com.au/packages/timetable/