Dr Danielle Camer is a multi-award-winning professional writer and author from Wollongong, Australia, who has previous careers in medical research and university teaching. She has presented at leading national and international conferences, been published in international journals, and received several awards for outstanding teaching and academic performance. Danielle specialises in marketing and advertising for global pharmaceutical brands. Her first picture book, “Sophie Won't Sleep”, has received international recognition for excellence in literature, including winning 10 book awards since its publication in 2021, and has featured on a billboard in Times Square NYC. When she isn't writing, Danielle enjoys spending time with her family, visiting her local beach, and travelling.
WHAT CYA CONFERENCE DID FOR ME
I have been attending the CYA conference since 2020. I have entered the writing competitions annually and I have found the feedback from the judges extremely valuable in helping me to refine my manuscripts for publication.
In 2021, I had my manuscript assessed by Brenda Gurr from Red Paper Kite Publishing. I really valued her constructive feedback and clicked with her on a professional level too. I continued a working relationship with Brenda by enlisting her as the editor of my debut picture book, “Sophie Won’t Sleep”. In the same year, I attended a session on self-publishing at the CYA conference and made the decision that this would be the year I take the plunge and self-publish “Sophie Won’t Sleep”.
“Sophie Won’t Sleep” has achieved huge success worldwide. It has been awarded 10 prestigious international awards, including a Gold Medal in the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards 2023, and Distinguished Favorite in the Picture Book (All Ages) category for both the Independent Press Award 2024 and NYC Big Book Award 2023. Recently, “Sophie Won’t Sleep” has featured in Story Monsters Ink magazine, Independent Press Award magazine, and on a billboard in Times Square, New York City.
Since releasing “Sophie Won’t Sleep” on 1 December 2021, I have also received publishing contracts from Starfish Bay Publishing for two new picture books. My second picture book, “Squirrel Takes the Cake”, will be released on 5 August 2024, followed by my third picture book in 2025/2026.
Thank you so much to the whole CYA team for their ongoing support of authors and illustrators.
