Singapore Fling – What makes an editor read on? First Pages

By Candy Gourlay

Notes from the Slushpile suffered the slings and arrows of a trip to Singapore to bring you reportage from the Asian Festival of Children’s Content. This is the second of a series covering the First Page Panel organized by the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. With many thanks to the deathless efforts of the organizers of a superb Festival.

(left to right) Sohini Mitra, Commissiong Editor, Penguin India, Vatsala Kaul-Banerjee, Publishing Director, Hachette India, Alvina Ling, Editorial Director, Little Brown Books, USA,  and Sarah Odedina, Managing Director, Hot Key Books

Singapore Fling – What’s a couple of bestsellers between editors?

By Candy Gourlay

Your intrepid Notes from the Slushpile reporter managed to get herself invited to speak at the Asian Festival of Children’s Content – which was a combination of children’s literary festival, book fair, and a SCBWI Conference. This is the first of hopefully several exhausted ... er ... exhaustive reports. With many thanks to the amazing organizers of an amazing Festival – and to the editors for so generously sharing their stories and allowing us to badger them with questions.

You’ve got to congratulate the organizers of the AFCC. There on one panel, an editor from the house of Twilight and an editor from the house of Harry Potter. Please salivate quietly, everyone.

Dystopian Overdrive: Teri Terry reports on Foyles' Sci-fi night

It was quite a spread - there on stage Philip Reeve of Mortal Engines fame moderating a panel including Moira Young (Blood Red Road), indy star Kim Lakin Smith and Steve Cole (Dr Who and mooing space cows). Oh and co-moderator was Sarah McIntyre (space princesses!!!!). AND in the audience were some pretty hot sci fi authors - including Patrick Ness, Sara O'Connor and Teri herself of course. Check out Teri's report on the Demention blog.