George Ivanoff
Australian Author
What a fantastic way to kick off the new school term!
On our very first day back, we had the incredible opportunity to welcome renowned Australian author George Ivanoff to Cowwarr Primary School. Students were inspired, engaged, and thrilled to meet a 'real-life' published author right here in our school!
We were very lucky to have this opportunity and thank the Susan O'Malley from the CBCA Children's Book Council of Australia for organising this special event. The Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) is a national, not-for-profit, volunteer-run organisation that promotes literature for young Australians. It was established in 1945 to engage the community with Australian stories and authors. The CBCA is known for its annual Book of the Year Awards, recognising outstanding Australian books for children and young adults.
Key Takeaways from Our Author Visit with George Ivanoff
Every story begins with an idea – and ideas are everywhere! Often, the best place to start is with something you're genuinely interested in.
Keep a notebook handy - to jot down thoughts, brainstorm new concepts, and sketch out possibilities.
Planning matters – outlining your story (even in simple dot points) helps you shape the structure and know where your story is going, including how it might end.
Writing is rewriting – George Ivanoff’s 'Monster Island' went through 10 drafts! Each draft had a purpose, whether it was refining the storyline or improving vocabulary.
Don’t be afraid to cut things out – revising often means letting go of parts that no longer serve the story. But nothing is ever truly wasted – every idea plays a role in the creative process.
Drawings are powerful tools – visualising characters or settings (like Mr. Ivanoff did with his monsters) can help bring a story to life.
- And remember – drawing should be fun!
We had the honour of getting a sneak peek into George's new book, not yet released...
You Choose: Mega Prehistoric Peril