If you would like to get in touch, please email me at the following address.

mail@petercarnavas.com

I’d love to hear from teachers, parents, kids, librarians, festivals, publishers, fellow authors, or just about anyone, especially if you’re an awards judge with good news.

For presentations and appearances, please visit the Author Visits page.

 

Hey, Pete – can you illustrate my…

Unfortunately, I cannot answer requests to read stories, illustrate stories, or give advice about children’s book publishing.  If you’re interested in writing or illustrating or getting published, here are some things you can try.

• Join the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).  There are branches all over Australia, and all over the world.  It’s a great way to meet like-minded people and learn more about the process of making books and the children’s book industry.
• Join other societies, such as the Australian Society of Authors, the Children’s Book Council of Australia, or writers’ centres in your state or territory (eg. Queensland Writers Centre).
• Attend festivals, workshops and conferences.  There are many of these around Australia, and a very worthwhile one in Brisbane is the CYA Conference.
• Keep up to date with the children’s book industry through the e-zine Pass it On and Buzzwords.  These feature events, news, opportunities, competitions, reviews and more.
• Grab a copy of the Australian Writer’s Marketplace, a reference guide to all things publishing in Australia.
• You might want to do a course, or get a professional appraisal of your work.  You can find these services in the AWM, though it’s best to talk to people who have tried them before you commit yourself (and your money).
• Read books about writing and illustrating, such as Libby Gleeson’s Making Picture Books.
• Bury yourself in books, find the ones you love, and think about what the creators did to make you feel like that.
• Practice your craft.  If you have any spare time, draw a picture or write something.  This is more important than blogging about your craft.
• See if any other authors’ sites are more helpful than this page.  One of the best to check out is James Foley.  His FAQ page is very comprehensive.