ASA "Stylefile," Meeting Spot for Illustrators & Publishers

Very good news, I was selected for Stylefile(Sadami Konchi) run by Australian Society of Authors.  Soooo happyʚ(ˆ◡ˆ)ɞ!! The final step is to put my own information on the site. The Stylefile is the great online showcase of Australian picture book illustrators selected by ASA. Publishers acknowledge the Stylefile as the reliable meeting spot to find useful artists. In short, often publishers pick up illustrators from the Stylefile. Can you hear illusrtators' shouting, "Buy me! Buy me!"? Browse it, you'll find so many famous illustrators there. Wow...now, I'm one of them!!

ASA regularly accepts candidates for Stylefile. Wimp Sadami hasn't tried it, as I've heard it's quite a narrow gate. But with other people's cheers and help, I submitted the illustrations this February (=submission date, condition etc)and got through it at once. Wow~~~! Kind ASA staff celebrated, "Have champagne!" Yes!!
Well, you may wonder what ASA is.
ASA is the guardian angel for Australian writers and children picture book illustrators, literally, for both professionals and wannabes.
For example, ASA sets "rate & conditions" for members (=illustrators' minimum wages!). Illustrators use that rate to negotiate clients and publishers. As well as labour conditions, ASA handles members' legal issues such as copyrights, payments, contracts etc, etc. So, an ASA lawyer advocates members and ASA does lobbying on behalf of us.

Not only advocacy and handling legal issues, ASA has a mentorship program for talented writers and illustrators with projects seeking publishing opportunities. Mentors are famous writers and established illustrators. They back up emerging talents to get projects published. Yes, you can make your dream come true. Sounds nice? More info, check here, FQ&A. Go for it a next year.Regarding copyrights, ASA is a mother body for CAL, Copyrights Agency Ltd . I have a CAL membership, too. Do you know who collects copyrights money from uni reading packages and hands it over to copyrights holders? It is CAL that also checks payments and examines illegal cases. So, publishers and authors join CAL to protect copyrights. It is critically important for a copyright holder to register work at CAL after publishing work.

CAL and ASA often run workshops on hot topics in publishing industry such as e-books & copyrights, Internet impact on publishing etc, etc. Seminars update our knowledge. Otherwise, legal changings and rapid digitization would leave us behind.At the same time, ASA workshops are good networking places for publishers and us. The best networking place is... ASA Christmas party!! We really look forward to it and get together. Illustrators and writers at a poverty line hug each other there, saying,
"Are you still on the earth?"
"Oh, yes!" Hugs. Hahaha, gulp?!Join ASA, if you are interested in becoming a professional or already being a professional writer and an illustrator in Australia.
Thank you, Friends, for your great support!!
Have a wonderful week and happy painting!

ASA "Stylefile," Meeting Spot for Illustrators & Publishers