Welcome to my webpage!
I was born in Melbourne, Australia, and was a child right up to the age I became an adult….although that is still up for debate. So it’s no surprise that I was drawn to writing and illustrating for children. Of course a child in an adult’s body has to eat, so in between my writing/illustrating frolics, I was designing brochures, flyers, logos etc for various organisations, companies and other institutions that were willing to feed the starving artist. My diversity has seen me involved in many different projects, including book layout and cover design, photoshop and web design. When well-fed, I continue to build my folio with illustrations and fine art.
Having Russian Cossack blood in my veins, my nomadic heart craved global roaming. I lived in Singapore for two years before landing on the sunny shores of California where I built my sandcastle and co-founded the Orange County writers group, the Sand Scribes.
I was also a small events coordinator for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators in L. A. Every year I return to L.A. to lead one of their most popular annual events a writer/illustrator field trip called Down the Rabbit Hole. Donning my top hat and crazy rabbit ears, with my creative, mad as a hatter, conspirator, Dawne, we infuse the muse with inspiration.
Down The Rabbit Hole SCBWI-LA - Svett as the white rabbit!
I have also been involved in many other events in L.A. for children’s writers in collaboration with Writers Ink. Together with Dawne Knobbe,(my partner in creative crime and cheesy concepts), we created the infamous CritiqueMania – a weekend retreat aimed at the more seasoned writers – both aspiring and published. We were able to convince many an editor and agent from leading US publishers to participant in this retreat. We begged, we pleaded, we offered the finest Pinots that California produced! These weekends were full of hard work, inspiration, hard work, glasses of fermented grape juice, some more hard work and lots of laughs.
Critique Mania facilitators from left: Stephanie Gordon & Judy Enderle -Writers Ink, author Mark Williams, Svett, author Dawne Knobbe and editor Gretchen Hirsch
Since my return to Australia, I have established Moondog Manuscripts and Design, a freelance Editing and Critiquing Service and Book Trailer Design specifically directed at children’s writers. I come from years of working within the kid lit industry and have much experience to share and inspire others with!
My Art and Illustrations have appeared in magazines, books and even on canvas bags and t-shirts. In 2009, my colour and learn book See Into The Sea, that I illustrated and co-wrote with author Molly Peckels, won an award at the Green Book Festival, Los Angeles….woohoo – I was so excited! The tide pools are something I am passionate about and have been involved in school visits and appeared on KLCS-TV Homework Hotline in L.A., promoting awareness about them. My children’s poetry is also being published this year in the U.K.
When I’m not running off with my inner child and creating children’s stories and illustrations I can be found at the beach with my dogs Reggie (a Schnauzer) and Bella (a Basenji) searching for beach glass and eating an ice-cream. And if I am not here I am in my kitchen cooking all sorts of culinary delights, with Reggie and Bella turning into 4 legged vacuum cleaners if I drop any food. Writing, cooking, painting, flying off with my imagination…there are just not enough hours in my day.
Some of Svett's imaginary friends.