Over a thousand students, including visiting classes from five other schools such as Bunbury Cathedral Grammar, Cornerstone and Cape Naturaliste College, attended workshops, readings and discussions given by published authors and illustrators such as Dianne Wolfer, Meg McKinlay and Chris Owen during the two day Between the Lines Literature Festival at the College last week.
Facilitated in partnership with Dymocks, the festival is now in its third year, and provides students with opportunities to meet, ask questions and learn from a wide range of local authors and illustrators in Children and Young Adult fiction.
On Thursday, Year 9 students spent time with Meg McKinlay, author of Set in Stone, who shared the story behind her book and opened up discussions on the issues of gender, power and culture at its heart. Meg also spoke to Year 7 students about her book Drawn Onward, the process of collaborating with illustrator Andrew Frazer, and the principles of optimism and resilience that underpin this deceptively simple book.
Graphic novellist Campbell Whyte also gave Year 7 students a crash course in comic making, from character design and backgrounds through to composition and storytelling. Year 11 students enjoyed a writing workshop with former English teacher at the College and published author Nicole Sinclair, who shared a number of writing exercises that helped her develop greater confidence in her creative voice by using her own life as a starting point.
On Friday author Jacqueline Harvey discussed her new book Kenzy and Max with Years 3-6, including the world of code-cracking and secret (or not so secret) spy agencies. Janine Beacham and Chris Owen then engaged students with a little dressing up, exploring very different themes in the dark side of Victorian England and superheroes, while Tamara Moss shared how she came up with the fantastical world in Lintang and the Pirate Queen.
History hunter Mark Greenwood delighted students in Years 4 and 7 with his History Mysteries, where he delves into some of Australia’s most baffling mysteries, while Dianne Wolfer shared her button collection and story inspiration for Nanna’s Button Tin to Pre Primary students.
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