program - on-line

on-line festival weekend

The on-line program provides access for those who can’t make days 1 & 2 in-personl.

On day 3 of the festival, you will receive a recording of Development day part 1 of the in-person program, filled with expert presenters, panels, TEDx talks and the inside scoop from the publishers. A recording offers flexibility in soaking in the festival information at your own pace.

Day 4 of the festival is the Developmental day part 2 live via ZOOM, filled with workshops and developmental presentations from expert creators to help you level-up your writing and illustration skills.

Wait – there is more! During the month of September, you can pitch your manuscript or illustration to publishers, editors and agents in the Pitch Pro Sessions.

festival details

Dates
Pitch pro sessions
1-19th September

On-line weekend

Festival days 3 & 4
18-19th October 2025

Location
Digital media and ZOOM

download program

on-line weekend Program - coming soon

Pitch Pro Sessions - coming soon

While all publishers, speakers and workshop coaches have confirmed their appearance, no responsibility can be accepted for changes which are beyond the festival’s control.

creative speakers

Featured

davina bell

Author/Editor

Davina Bell is an award-winning writer for young people of many ages and a children’s book editor and publisher. Some of her most well-known picture books include All the Ways To Be Smart, All of the Factors of Why I Love Tractors, Under the Love Umbrella, The Underwater Fancy-dress Parade, and What To Say When You Don't Know What To Say. Davina has also worked as an editor and publisher at Penguin Books, Affirm Press and Allen & Unwin.

Perfecting Picture-Book Rhythm and Rhyme

Find your picture-book rhythm and lift your rhyme game with award-winning author and editor, Davina Bell.

mark smith

Author

Mark Smith is the author of five novels: The Road To Winter, Wilder Country, Land Of Fences, If Not Us and Three Boys Gone. He is also an award-winning writer of short fiction, and the co-curator of Minds Went Walking, Paul Kelly’s Songs Reimagined and Into Your Arms, Nick Cave’s Songs Reimagined.

Getting Your Books in Schools

The Road to Winter is a young adult class text in secondary schools across Australia. Mark will present how to align your book to core curriculum, getting your book in schools and school workshop planning and techniques.

pete cromer

Artist/Illustrator/Author

Pete Cromer is a contemporary Australian artist based in the Colac Otway region of Victoria. Inspired by the optimistic personalities in people and wildlife, Pete’s work is renowned for his signature bursts of glowing colour and beautiful textures, all reflected in his bold collages, wildlife books, paintings and sculptures.

Make Art that Sells

Building a career as a full-time artist requires diversified income streams. Pete Cromer will share his experience working across different mediums and markets to help you with your artistic career.

renée treml

Author/Illustrator

Renée Treml is the author and illustrator of several best-selling picture books for very young readers, including Once I Heard a Little Wombat, Goodnight, Joeys, and Ten Little Owls. She is also the creator of the engaging and funny graphic novels featuring Sherlock Bones and the Super Adventures of Ollie and Bea series. Renee’s most recent graphic novel, The Thylacine and the Time Machine, draws upon her background in biology and environmental science, and her passionate love of natural history.

The Ins and Outs of Working with an International Agency

Renée will share her experiences working with international literary agents for the past 10 years. She’ll help you understand the benefits and challenges involved, which may help you when considering if it’s the right path for you.

stef gemmill

Author

Stef Gemmill used to write music reviews about big kids in bands but swapped the mosh pit for toys and tantrums to write books for curious smaller kids. Stef is the Program Director and founder of the Sketch and Scribe Festival and also an advocate for children’s literacy and helping her kid lit tribe to get published. She lives on the Surf Coast with her family and sleepy cat, Luna, the star of her international award winning book, A Home for Luna.

Scrapbook Crafternoon

Progressing your writing or illustration craft means trying new things and getting out of your comfort zone. Join Stef to kickstart a new story seed or character illustration by getting crafty. Learn how to deep dive into character and plot while creating a keepsake scrapbook to help you progress a new project.

pitch publishers - more announcements coming!

PB - picture book, CB - chapter book (earlyreader, junior fiction), MG - middle grade, YA - young adult, GN - graphic novel, Illus - illustrators or author/illustrator

Featured

michelle madden

Penguin Random House

Penguin Random House (PRH) is the world’s largest trade book publisher. PRH strive to make the perfect book for every reader producing some of the world's most iconic children's books and characters.

Michelle Madden is the children’s list commissioning editor.

Pitch Pro Sessions

Illus

kate pickard

UWAP

UWA Publishing (UWAP) shares stories, research and education with the world to encourage thought, inspire action and create and connect with engaged communities.

Kate Pickard is interested in stories with a unique viewpoint and a riveting storyline. Kate is also interested in works from marginalised voices.

Pitch Pro Sessions

CB/GN/MG/YA

naomi perry

Jacky Winter (agency)

Jacky Winter is an Australian artist agency with offices in the UK and USA. The agency offers a healthy, creative ecosystem where artists can thrive and clients can access a network of the world’s strongest talent,.

Naomi Perry is a literary agent interested in children’s graphic novels texts and illustrations - from junior fiction, middle grade to YA and will consider widely in these categories. She loves mysteries and adventure for younger age groups. Also thillers and romance for GN YA. Naomi is also open to adult graphic novels; both narrative non-fiction or contemporary fiction (not sci-fi or fantasy).

Pitch Pro Sessions

GN/Illus

dani vee

Larrikin House (Publisher & Coach)

Dani Vee works in acquisitions working directly with the publisher to assess submissions. Dani is also a published author of both picture books and junior fiction and host of the literary podcast, Words and Nerds.

Larrikin House publish quirky, original, funny kid-focused books that push boundaries. The publisher believes in the importance of engaging readers at an early age through fun books such as My Epic Dad, Mr Impoppable and Robo Teacher.

Join Dani sharing publishing insights on various panels, in a Pitch Pro Session or in an intimate Coach Camp workshop for a lucky few.

Coach Camp

Dani is a commissioning editor and author and will coach you on either 2 x picture books or a chapter book (junior fiction/early reader) or graphic novel extract.

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/JF/MG/GN/Illus

rowena beresford

Riveted Press

Riveted Press is an independent publishing house 'Where unforgettable stories are forged' and that epitomises what the publisher is looking for. Rowena acquired, edited and published CBCA award-winning title Aster’s Good, Right Things by Kate Gordon, and has had multiple titles longlisted and/or shortlisted in a variety of established literary awards.

Rowena is interested in science fiction, mystery, action/adventure, fantasy, myths/fables, historical fiction, clever humour (not toilet humour), dystopian, contemporary fiction.

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/CB/MG/YA/Illus

rochelle stephens

Wombat Books

Wombat are passionate about great books with the motto of Stories You Will Want to Share. Wombat Books has national and international distribution of all new titles and is focussing on including audiobooks with each new novel release.

Rochelle Stephens is the editor and publisher at Wombat Books and has repetitively chosen manuscripts from pitch events.

Pitch Pro Sessions

CB/MG

pooja desai

Hardie Grant

Hardie Grant Children’s Pubishing has modern families and children at the core of everything they do. They have built their success on stories of kindness, diversity, resilience and courage to reflect the world we live in, and the world we want to build.

Pooja is the Art Director at Hardie Grant Children's Publishing where she also publishes books into a ground-breaking list, Bright Light

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/Illus

sarah mckenzie

Sarah McKenzie Literary Management (SMLM)

SMLM represents a growing list of Australian authors and illustrators. As well as proudly representing a range of best-selling authors, SMLM love to identify and champion new and emerging writers of adult fiction, nonfiction and children’s books.

As a boutique, author-focused agency, SMLM works closely with authors to provide personalised and friendly support and guidance at every stage of the publishing process.

Sarah McKenzie is a literary agent interested in stories with unique ideas & empowering themes. SLML is actively pursuing diverse and marginalised voices and First Nations authors.

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB, CB, MG, GN

ek books

EK Books

EK Books publish children’s books aimed primarily at kids aged 4 to 8 as well as fiction for young readers, and their motto is “Books with heart on issues that matter.”

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/Illus

coral huckstep

Affirm Press

Affirm Press is a Melbourne-based publisher dedicated to publishing great Australian stories, big ideas, and the most engaging local and international authors.

Coral Huckstep is the children’s editor at Affirm Press and loves funny books, eccentric characters and whimsy.

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/CB/MG/YA

bethany loveridge

Perentie Press

Perentie Press is an independent publisher of graphic novels for 5-17 year old readers. The publisher is seeking exciting mysteries, contemporary stories, humour and school-yard tales, as well as intergenerational, multicultural stories with heart. Not a good fit for toilet-humour, erotica, graphic horror or graphic violence.

Pitch Pro Sessions

GN/Illus

anna solding

MidnightSun Publishing

MidnightSun Publishing is a small press based in Adelaide dedicated to finding new and unknown voices.

The publisher is seeking stories that are unusual, especially about characters with diverse backgrounds. Also middle-grade adventure stories, YA addressing complex questions and picture books that cover historical non-fiction as well as books that are environmentally aware (and books that are plain fun).

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/CB/MG/YA/Illus

cristina pase

Windy Hollow Books

Windy Hollow Books is an independent publisher of children's books based in Melbourne. They publish high quality, literary picture books for children so that they have wonderful reading experiences.

Cristina is the children's publisher where her role involves everything from commissioning to editing and sales and marketing.

Pitch Pro Sessions

palmina vilone

Ford St Publishing

Ford St seek to maintain excellence as a publisher of high quality books for children and young adults. Their books explore themes of contemporary relevance, including childhood grief, ageing, interfaith issues, war, bullying and whaling. Ford Street have published award-winning books such as My Dog Socks, Country Town , Our Mob and I Need a Parrot.

Palmina is a senior editor at Ford St Publishing.

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/CB/MG/YA/Illus

wild eyed press

Wild Eyed Press

The dynamic team at Wild Eyed Press aim to promote Australia's wildlife through the publication and distribution of children’s books, greeting cards and more. We encourage public awareness and concern for Australian fauna and the sustainability of their fragile habitats.

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/Illus