28 days to go and homework is being set

Hi Spinning Golders,

There are 28 days to go and some people are getting homework.

If you are in Mining The Gold -Writers Intensive Classes, you should have received an email from Fleur Beale with your homework instructions.

If you are in Finish It Intensive Class...you should be nearly ready to send your homework into Erylis. (a synopsis and two pages of writing by September 1st.)

If you have no idea and missed the emails and you are in a Writers Intensive class please contact us at spinning.gold09@gmail.com

If you are in an Illustration Intensive Class.....rub your hands...no homework yet...but be prepared to work hard in your class when you get to the conference....you can relax on your super cool mystery trip....

Thankyou to all the Illustrators who have taken up our offer to have some of your work for sale at the conference. Remember to include some packaging so people can take the art home with them at the end of the conference.

Don't forget Business Cards....They are handy for sticking up next to art work with prices/sold on them, giving to agents and publishers, writing notes on to hand to people....display....tickets for raffles...etc etc..

Start saving some ready money. to bring...It will help....after all the cocktail party is at The Children's Bookshop...we have two book launches....There will be some marvelous art work for sale by some amazing Illustrators and if you are wanting to Pitch...the cost is $10 (pay us at Registration to confirm.)

Don't forget to check back for updates on this blog and on the Individual Writers and Illustrators pages.

We are looking forward to seeing you all in 28 Days...some earlier as they arrive for events around Spinning Gold.

Kind regards

The Spinning Gold Team

Fantastic Voyages in Wellington ...

Thornspell author and Spinning Gold panelist Helen Lowe is coming to Wellington in advance of the conference to join forces with local author Tim Jones for what promises to be a fascinating discussion on speculative fiction.

Helen says, 'Given the rise of speculative writing for younger readers in NZ ... this might be of interest to some who are attending Spinning Gold, although the focus is on speculative fiction rather than children's/YA writing.'

Here are the full details:

Fantastic Voyages: Writing Speculative Fiction—

An Evening with Tim Jones & Helen Lowe, chaired by Lynn Freeman

7.30-9pm, Thursday 17 September

Upper Chamber, Wellington Arts Centre/Toi Poneke

61 Abel Smith Street

Free admission

Supported by Unity Books

Tim Jones (Transported; Anarya's Secret) and Helen Lowe (Thornspell) are both successful speculative fiction authors with national profiles. At this event, Tim and Helen will share their love of writing science fiction and fantasy, the challenges and rewards of being a New Zealand speculative fiction writer, how they've gone about getting published, and how they see the future of these genres. Lynn Freeman, host of Radio New Zealand's "Arts on Sunday" programme, will keep the discussion flowing and the questions coming. Both Helen and Tim will be available to sign books after the event.

For more information, contact 027 359 0293 or timjones at actrix.co.nz

The conference just keeps getting better and better....

News

During the Conference weekend we have two book launches.

Mandy Hager and Random House will be launching Mandy’s new book, ‘The Crossing’ on Friday night after Martin Baynton’s Keynote speech.

On Saturday night Fifi Colston and Scholastic will be launching ‘Glory’ at The Children’s Bookshop.

Showcase

We are leaving Saturday night after dinner free for everyone to have a catch up... and browse The Showcase. This is a dedicated room which will be full of things to look at, collect, buy and order copies of.

If you are among the group who are interested in Swops Table...it will take place then. Swops Table info on the writers page....Illustrators, you too can join in on this one...go to the writers page to see what is involved.

Pitching

If you were among the 46 people who indicated that you would like to pitch, this notice is for you.

Do you have something to pitch?
If you have changed your mind about pitching, and we hear some people have, can you let us know, so we can manage numbers.

If you still want to pitch, Please look at the list of publishers who are taking pitches.

Go to their websites and check out whether your story is right for them.

Contact us with your first and second choice publisher. Subject line: Pitching

This will help us to allocate numbers times etc...
Payment of $10 will still be on registration if you are taking up this offer....answers to these questions please by September 13th (the weekend before the conference.)

Email address for this is spinning.gold09@gmail.com

Finally we would like to say a huge Thank you to all of you who have responded to requests, answered questions or sent through information.

Your help is most definitely appreciated, and you are doing your part already to make Your conference the best it can be.

Kind regards,
The Spinning Gold Team