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2001-2 Keynote and Main Tent Sessions
Keynote: Hawaii - Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Conference, Feb 2001
- 'Your lively and witty presentation style packed lots of valuable information into
a small space. Thanks for sharing your wit and wisdom!' (Bruce Hale, convenor.)
- 'McVeity is an approachable and knowledgeable speaker with a uniquely
refreshing style.' (Sharon Martini, SeeSpotBooks.com)
- 'Jen is a role model for women and writers everywhere. She is a strong woman
who forces her audience to critically analyse their passion. What most comes across is an energetic, substantive author.'
(Dee Buckingham)
- 'You know, you are a great speaker, dynamic, informative, self-effacing humor,
wonderful at keeping the audience involved. I'd come to hear you anytime.'
Keynote: Queensland Association of Gifted and Talented Children Conference, March 2001.
- 'Your great wit, humour and intellect shone out like a beacon helping us to find new energy and enthusiasm…' (Judith Hewton, President, Queensland Association
of Gifted and Talented Children)
- '..a very exciting part of the program. Can we have more achievers like Jen please?'
- 'You are one of those great rarities, a gifted person with not only the potential,
but the will to break through and achieve your potential. I feel I can begin to do something I've wanted to try for a long time.' (Mark Whybird)
The Great Debate: Boroondara Writers Festival, Hawthorn Town Hall, May 2001
- 'You know, meeting you was one of the joys for me. I like nothing better than feisty sessions, and yours was the best!'
(Glyn Parry)
Main Stage: (1,500 people) Fun 4 Kids Literature Festival Warrnambool, July 2001
- 'Your contribution to the Fun 4 Kids Literature Festival was outstanding. Your
enthusiasm and willing to work with us helped to ensure the Festival was a tremendous experience for kids, parents and other adults.' (Marg Sinnott, Fun 4 Kids Coordinator)
Victorian Writer's Centre, July 2001
- 'Jen shares both her passion for writing and an up-to-the-minute knowledge of the publishing industry with sparkling enthusiasm.' (Chris McKenzie, Director)
Australian Primary Principals Association:
National Conference, September 2001
- 'You are a motivating person and the message makes our path a simple one –
believe passionately and go down that road to make things good for our kids.'
(Brain Rolfe, Principal, Auckland, New Zealand)
- 'Very enjoyable. You have a great sense of life and vitality.' (Anne Nolan, Principal, Thornlie, WA)
- 'The most important thing I learnt was how to allow children to develop a
passion and to help them do this. Informative, entertaining and catered for different people's learning styles.'
(Kim Egan, Capalaba State School, QLD)
- 'Inspiring. Especially your last words re children in our schools now who will
need to learn how to cope with, live with, and lead change.' (Graham Dixon, Miami State School, QLD)
Keynote: Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Conference, Australia, June 2002
- 'Knowledgeable, entertaining, remarkable personality.'
(Dorothy Sellers)
- 'Such a good speaker. Shared so much of herself.' (Helen Putland)
- 'So succinct, witty, entertaining and spot on!' (Teresa Culkin-Lawrence)
- 'I loved Jen's talk (especially her mini-movie of trapezing) Loved the comparison
between Enid Blyton's book and Shadow Seeker.' (Linda Rawson)
- 'A positive lady with the right approach to life, living and writing.' (Joan Collins)
- 'How does one woman do so much? There is a wonder woman.' (Elizabeth Catthorpe)
- 'Insightful, quotable, unforgettable as usual, but Jen always brings courage and light.' (Jill Dempsey)
Keynote: Arizonia SCBWI conference, August 2002
- 'Excellent, excellent presentation by Jen McVeity. What a joy. Gracious,
knowledgeable, gutsy, confident lady. I think she stays so thin as a result of all the HUGS she gets from satisfied and adoring SCBWI members and her readers.'
(Lynn Murray)
- 'Excellent! Love your presentation style! Lots of energy!' (Cindy)
- 'Presented effortlessly and with a real sense of enjoyment.' (Diane Staley)
- 'Wow! I am so glad I came. Jen peeled away lots of garbage (or wrappings) and
made it not only understandable, but useable. Ordinarily, when a workshop is this long – I reach a point of super-saturation. When I get home I am numb, confused, and frustrated. NOT today!' (Cornelia Kazel. Functions and Program Chair
, Society of South Western Authors)
- 'Your presentation was professional, humorous, hard-hitting, informative and
extremely educational. It was gratifying to see that everyone, from novices to well-published authors came away feeling enthusiastic, inspired and able to face
their writing with confidence. Your graciousness in sharing valuable insights into the craft and the heart of writing was a gift that will influence and elevate the
writings of everyone who attended.' (Dawn Dixon, conference convenor, SCBWI Arizona)
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Organiser and presenter: 2002 Picture Book Writers and Illustrators Retreat, Tye Estate
- 'Thank you so much for inspiring me with your fantastic attitude, energy, knowledge & charisma.' (Rosie McKague)
- 'The most important thing was having another boot up the bum about contracts
and overseas marketing….Great – the value cannot be stated. Take it as the WOW factor!' (Janeen Brien)
- 'A fantastic way to network & gain information in a beautiful surrounding such as
Tye. Creative mind games were great!' (Gabrielle Wang)
Keynote: Philippines - Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Conference, November 2002
- 'Wonderful. Jen McVeity is a vibrant, engaging speaker who inspires her listeners
. (Loved her quotes!) She sets a primary example of what a determined children's book writer can accomplish - and selflessly shares the "tricks of the
trade" she's learned along the way.' (Reni Roxas Singer, publisher.)
- 'Very, very informative. Jen is a great speaker.' (Frances Alcaraz, illustrator.)
- 'Fun, light, humorous, but also very informative and encouraging. I'm inspired
by Jen's courage and insights - I feel frightened but also excited by the idea that art and business can go hand-in-hand.' (Cyan Abad-Jugo, author)
- 'GREAT AND EXACTLY WHAT WE NEEDED. Honestly, I expected to come to one of
those usual writers' sessions. A DELIGHTFUL SURPRISE that I got a lot from this. Hits the nail on its head. And presented in a fun, engaging way. Very helpful and
informative, delightful information chunks. Well thought out and planned.' (Karina A. Bocasco, Publishing manager, Anvil Publishing Inc.)
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2001-2 Seminars (A selection)
Queensland Gifted Association: Teachers as Editors Workshop
- 'You have an amazing ability to educate, stimulate and entertain simultaneously.'
(Leisa Trickett)
- 'The best, most practical workshop on how to help children with their writing.'
(Pam Foote)
- 'Fabulous. Stimulating. Useful. Practical. This would work with all students.'
(Fran Hodges)
- 'Jen delivers her message with passion and inspires children and adults alike. I would love to take her into my classroom.'
(June O'dell, Assistant Principal)
Bayside Young Active Minds (Gifted Association)
- 'Excellent, great fun and very informative. It's amazing just how simple editing
kid's work is when you know how.' (Shellie Kavanagh)
- 'Reminding me, as a teacher, of the sort of things I should be doing (because we
sometimes forget.) Very engaging and useful – great ideas and strategies and easy to apply in the classroom.' (Anne Moorhouse)
Victorian Writer's Centre
- 'Jen shares both her passion for writing and an up-to-the-minute knowledge of
the publishing industry with sparkling enthusiasm.' (Chris McKenzie, Director)
- 'You could not be higher in anyone's books than you are in mine right now. How
can I ever thank you? What I learnt about selling a manuscript from you has made a whole world of difference.' (Lynne Kelly)
2002 Highlighting Writing Seminars for Parents and Teachers
- 'Excellent – very clear, helpful and geared to what teachers need in the classroom.'
(Jad Ryan, Elwood PS)
- 'Great preparation and presentation…and really helpful suggestions. Thank you!' (Virginia Hand, Loreto Mandeville Hall)
- 'Excellent strategies for immediate implementation in the classroom.'
(Miriam Sztrajt, Elwood PS)
2002: Don't Write Ten Books – Sell One Book Ten Times.
- 'The information was valuable, but more so your confident presence and attitude
is inspiring. Thanks for stepping up to the next level and for your generosity in sharing your success and tips with us.' (Claire Bridge)
- 'The things I gained were:
- The re-affirmation that persistence pays dividends;
- Being pro-active and always think laterally;
- Personal contact is preferable;
- The little tips such as overseas stamps, getting names, and…
- Jen's very enjoyable and lively presentation.' (Andrew Warden)
- 'Dear Jen. Outstanding thoughts about Tuesday night! I left INSPIRED and feeling
as though I was cooking amongst a whole lot of prawn crackers in oil. I guess I felt as though the world is out there and waiting for my novels.' (Toni Palmer)
2002 Wagga Wagga: Seven Steps to Writing Success (Teacher PD)
- 'A great reminder of how much fun writing is – an easy rapport with the facilitator
meant we were free to talk and ask questions. We got modern ideas of a contemporary writer who is in touch with what children like to read! Jen had a
refreshing way of reminding us it is all about creativity.' (Heather Collins)
- 'Great fun – interesting, informative, stimulating.' (Ed Fitzgerald)
- 'A relaxing day where the time flew. A good springboard for ideas to use in the
classroom. Teacher friendly. The openness of the presenter and her willingness to share her work (ie to see the drafts and actual works in progress) was great.' (Julie Firman)
- 'It is great to be able to take away a series of sheets which are 'student friendly
.' The tips for each section were wonderful. I kept wishing all day that my whole faculty could have been here.' (Jill Corby)
- 'Very interesting to listen to a 'professional' – this type of inservice should be mandatory for all teachers.'
(John Urbanavicious)
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2002 University of Adelaide: PhD Creative Writing students
- 'Jen gave a stimulating and informative personalised view of the industry, giving
generously from her own publishing history and offering both the wisdom gained from experience and the cautionary tales such experience is built upon. The
seminar was lively, engaging and valuable for the emerging and more developed writers present.
Students and staff commented on how enriched they were by the experience,
that it was "an eye opener" and how much they enjoyed Jen's enthusiasm and approachable personality.' (Dr Eva Sallis)
2002 Adelaide: Seven Steps to Writing Success
- 'Great! I felt motivated and confident to go back into the classroom…Your ideas
sound like they would be successful even with the most negative students. Most important for me were the practical hints that I can use tomorrow morning.' (Angela Maher)
- 'Very useful! At the end of a hard day I stayed fully tuned because I could see
the practical point of every step. Great visual representation of structuring a story!' (David Warren)
- 'Great – it's given me heaps of ideas for getting started. Breaking up writing into
chunks was most important.' (Sandra Daldry)
- 'The actual hints to use in the classroom where invaluable. A fabulous session full of inspiration ideas.'
(Sandy Boucant)
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