George Ivanoff has a License to Write & Gives us a Grand Finale: Reflective Entry - 11am, Saturday, 9 December 2017
While the eighth series of "An Author for All Seasons" has commenced,
we wish to take this opportunity to reflect on our last few authors
to grace our library and enrich our collection
with their stories of fiction, biography, non fiction,
we wish to take this opportunity to reflect on our last few authors
to grace our library and enrich our collection
with their stories of fiction, biography, non fiction,
science and more.........
Remembering our Grand Finale:
An Author for All Seasons: Series Seven.
Held: Saturday, 9 December 2017
Reflection by: Paul Karp
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| https://kapow2016.wordpress.com/ |
Featured Author: George Ivanoff
Supported by:
Emerging Writer
Jessi Hooper
Class of 2017:
Mentone Girls Secondary College
Class of 2017:
Mentone Girls Secondary College
Introduced by:
Member for Sandringham
The program began with an introduction by Murray
who expressed his
appreciation to our local authors, and spoke about the importance of
writers to our culture, having recently attended a local launch by
former Mentone Grammar Principal, Neville Clark, on a book about
Australia's generals who oversaw the Charge of The Light Brigade in The
Middle East 100 years ago. The daughter of one of the generals was Elyne
Mitchell, author of 'The Silver Brumby'.
Murray acknowledged George's
contribution to the public's appreciation of
through his four book series of fiction stories.
Murray finished
with a favourable review of
George Ivanoff's recently published
'You Choose AFL Footy Fever' book.
Jessi Hooper, recent Mentone Girls Secondary College graduate,
read an ode to her King Charles Spaniel fur baby Zac
who helped her survive the ordeal of Year 12.
She followed with a short story about
the magic her ballet shoes had given her
over her years of dance lessons.
George Ivanoff, celebrated author of more than 100 books, spoke about Licensed Writing, where permission is granted for the use of a third party's intellectual property for a basis of a written work under certain strict conditions. Examples of licensed books are those based on film franchises such as Star Wars, and TV shows such as Doctor Who. Licensed books need to sell better than other books due to the additional fees involved. George mentioned that licenced writing is disparaged by some in the literary community as 'hack' writing, but it has given him a living.
The process took almost two years. A presenter at a Science Fiction convention took George's
contact details and six months later he was asked to pitch story ideas.
A year later a publisher announced a short story competition for
amateur writers only. George entered anyway. He didn't win, but the editor liked his story and commissioned it for an anthology subject to strict rules:
- the content didn't impact on the established history of the Doctor Who TV show
- monsters and villains previously used could not be used
- story ideas were to be approved, within the theme 'defining patterns'.
- the story length was 2000 words - self-contained, but alluding to being part of something larger.
George read an excerpt of his anthologised story with great expression met with a rousing response by all in attendance.
In 2010 George's
next foray into licensed writing was educational writing for Pearson
Education who secured a license for the 'Behind The News' magazine. His
writing needed to suit a specific age range, with a strict word limit
and chapter/sub-chapter divisions.
This was followed by the Royal Flying Doctor Service series of books. Getting accurate technical advice and
correct terminology was difficult when his queries were handled by
anyone available at the time from the organisation. This resulted in
wrong advice about appendicitis being treated in outback Western
Australia when it actually required patient portage to Perth. A related
storm scene had to be rewritten and relocated.
The current four-book went into reprint.
George mentioned to those commissioning him that
he had story ideas for a further two
Royal Flying Doctor Service books.
The current four-book went into reprint.
George mentioned to those commissioning him that
he had story ideas for a further two
Royal Flying Doctor Service books.
 |
| Veronica Hahn, Revered Chairperson for the Mordialloc and District Historical Society, displays two popular products of George's licensed writing; You Choose: Footy Fever & Meet the Flying Doctors Picture Book. |
This led to a commission to a 'Meet The
Flying Doctor Service’ historical picture book. Dealing with a Royal
Flying Doctor Service history archivist ensured that any background
information he was given was correct. George
read an excerpt from this book where ten year old Dylan with a liver
disease is greeted on the plane by pilot Felicity prior to treatment.
Other titles in the 'Meet...' series include Dame Nellie Melba and Don
Bradman.
George
gained a licensed X Files writing commission through his Licensed
Writing Association membership. A publisher had accepted anthology
submissions
but two writers had pulled out.
George
pitched two stories and from 250 submissions one was selected.
Story
restrictions were that monsters and minor characters previously used in
the X Files TV series could not be used again. A two year delay in
publication resulted from the Fox Media's decision to resurrect the TV
series. George
enjoyed claiming a tax deduction on the X Files DVD boxed set for his
research. Reviewing 1990s episodes he noticed more humour than he
remembered from his first viewing, and how much mobile phones had
changed from bricks with antennas!
The excerpt of the X Files story George read was so gruesome
that a member of the audience pleaded for him to stop!
George's
AFL 'YOU CHOOSE' book began with a 'Sports Spectacular' book
commission. He had never followed AFL but became a convert after
watching games on DVD. A friend took him to a game and he blogged about
how much he enjoyed. A publisher who had just obtained the You Choose
AFL licencing read his blog and invited George
to submit an outline. AFL deadlines missed meant that a scene with
exploding footballs, and a hospital death scenes had to be written out
in haste.
George
read an excerpt set at Footy Camp where Ninjas plant a bomb by
goalposts. The coach calls the special ops team who arrive by
helicopter. Players such as Daisy Pearce and Joe Daniher come to the
rescue to save the camp and the future of the game.
George
participated in a ‘ Dead World’ anthology based on a 1990 zombie
apocalypse comic book via his full story submission titled 'Another
Man's Skin'.
Submission rules required the distinction between normal
zombies, called geeks, and intelligent zombies led by their king. A
gruesome excerpt reading of this story ensued.
Q&A From the Audience
George fielded questions:
Q) Do you have an agent?
George) They're harder to get than a publisher.
Some authors swear by them
Some authors swear by them
- they're essential for overseas publishing.
They take a 15% commission.
No. They didn't take me on when I started out,
and so my writing path unfolded in such a way that
I could sustain my career without one.
I could sustain my career without one.
Q) How is licensed writing paid?
George) Short story = payment upfront.
Zombie story = royalty share
Royal Flying Doctor Service = lower royalty
5% instead of 10%
but the advance was higher.
5% instead of 10%
but the advance was higher.
Generally, licensed writing payment is non-negotiable,
determined by the publisher.
determined by the publisher.
Compere Julia Reichstein left the room
briefly and transformed herself
into her New Yorker accented gal with dubious singing talent
to toast the year's participating authors in song
to the approximate tune of 'White Christmas',
with changed words, and the refrain;
'I'm dreamin' of a local writer, to inspire me with prose...'
into her New Yorker accented gal with dubious singing talent
to toast the year's participating authors in song
to the approximate tune of 'White Christmas',
with changed words, and the refrain;
'I'm dreamin' of a local writer, to inspire me with prose...'
 |
| Tuff-Tawkin' Tony |
 |
| Percussion Pawl |
She was ably accompanied by Tuff Talkin' Tony
on his Cool Hand Uke,
AKA Mentone Public Library President
Tony Brooker,
and Yours Truly
(Percussion Pawl)
on pineapple maracas and voice!
Each attending author received a
certificate of appreciation
and complimentary Jolly Cup full of assorted
edible and inedible substances.
and complimentary Jolly Cup full of assorted
edible and inedible substances.
Formalities concluded with an excellent supper spread,
highlighted with a cake beautifully iced by Jessi Hooper,
and of course, liquid refreshments from Tony's
marvellous, non-alcoholic, Jingle-All-the-Way Christmas Fruit Punch,
fresh from the North Pole's "Jolly Juice" fountain!
We wish to thank all our local councillors who continue
to be so supportive of our annual literary program
to be so supportive of our annual literary program
 |
| Partaking in the enthusiasm of George ivanoff and our festivities on the day; Cr Geoff Gledhill and Cr Rosemary West of City of Kingston Council's Central Ward |
We also take this opportunity to thank our talented local authors
who formed our 2017 line-up of
"An Author for All Seasons: Series Seven"...
who formed our 2017 line-up of
"An Author for All Seasons: Series Seven"...
MAY
 | |
| Joy Meekings |
"I’m dreaming of a local writer,
To inspire me with prose.
A radio writer speaking
In May it was Joy Meekings
But she ain’t here today
No show!
No show…"
JUNE
 | |
| Suzy J Brown |
So I keep on dreaming of a local writer,
To inspire me with prose.
Suzy J
Suzy J
Suzy J Brown
Calmer suits you so riiiight!
And may you always find the freedom to write.
JULY
 | |
| James Maclean |
I’m dreaming of a local writer,
To inspire me with prose.
An All-Australian novel in the making,
James Maclean you will not be forsaken
But you’re gone,
You flew away
You’re gone…
AUGUST
 | |
| Elsie & Graeme Johnstone |
So I keep on dreaming of a local writer,
To inspire me with prose.
Elsie Gra’
Elsie Gra
Elsie and Graeme Johnstone
Continue to wriiite.
Don’t play your lawn bowls again tonight!
SEPTEMBER:
Springtime Storytelling Special:
How We Dreamed Then,
How We Dream Now
OCTOBER:
Springtime Storytelling Special:
How We Dreamed Then,
How We Dream Now
 | ||
|
I keep on dreaming of a local writer,
To inspire me with prose.
Then I learned about Australian dreamin’
And my heart started leapin’!
Thanks to Danae,
Danae,
Andrea Harwood!
OCTOBER:
Kingston Seniors Festival
Back-to-Back Literary Showcase
Back-to-Back Literary Showcase
 | ||||||||
| Leanda Michelle |
| https://www.leandamichelle.com.au/ |
I keep on dreaming of a local writer,
To inspire me with prose.
Then along came Leanda,
With her oils and meditative meander,
And the muse,
The muse in me,
Awoke!
 |
| Bayside Poetry Group |
I’m dreaming of a local writer,
To inspire me with prose.
Then not just one,
But an entire
Bayside Poetry Group
Gave us a whole stew
Of a frackin’ poetic brew!
NOVEMBER
 |
| Roza & Margarita Riaikkenen http://riaikkenen.com/biography/ |
I’m dreaming of a local writer,
To inspire me with prose.
Then we learned the laws of life,
Roza and Margarita,
Your souls so briiight!
I give you two
Yes two
certificates tonight!
DECEMBER
 |
| George Ivanoff http://georgeivanoff.com.au/ |
I’m dreaming of a local writer,
To inspire me with prose.
Murray, Jessi and George gave us reason,
To celebrate
An Author for All Seasons.
With their talent
Shining so bright!
So bright
And revealing everybody’s literary liiiight!
We conclude by wishing Jessi Hooper the best of luck in her further education and career pursuits post secondary school. It has been a privilege to have had Jessi present annually at Mentone Public Library since 2013 when she was all but thirteen.
We have seen Jessi and her writing mature all the way to her acquiring her Victorian Certificate of Education.
We look forward to seeing Jessi make her mark as a writer in the near future,
and hope one day she returns to the fold with her very first publication to showcase.
And finally,
we thank YOU, the community,
who continue to support
Mentone Public Library's
We have seen Jessi and her writing mature all the way to her acquiring her Victorian Certificate of Education.
We look forward to seeing Jessi make her mark as a writer in the near future,
and hope one day she returns to the fold with her very first publication to showcase.
And finally,
we thank YOU, the community,
who continue to support
Mentone Public Library's
"An Author for All Seasons",
and in so doing,
unearth, shine a light on and foster
our local, home-grown
literary talent.
and in so doing,
unearth, shine a light on and foster
our local, home-grown
literary talent.
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