I congratulate the northern beaches‑based Working Title Writers Group, which has completed the national children's fiction competition "Write a Book in a Day" challenge, which raises money for the Kids' Cancer Project.

The challenge pits teams of writers against the clock to write, illustrate and typeset a full children's chapter book within a 12‑hour period. Writers are given a theme, three characters, a setting and an issue, and are challenged to weave them into a kids' storybook before the day is over. The finished books are then added to the Children's Hospital at Westmead library. Over the years the group has raised over $15,000 to fund childhood cancer research. Last year the team won the open category's national Best Book prize and it is hoping to clinch the prize again with its story entitled Queen Ruby's Lottery, a Narnia‑like tale set in Manly featuring a ferry pulled by camels and a gorilla queen. The team plans to publish the book later this year. I wish the Working Title Writers Group the best of luck with these endeavours. You guys rock.

19 October 2023, 16:09.