Yvonne Low is a published writer and illustrator, and award-winning fine artist. She writes picture books, poetry and junior fiction. Her work is published for both adults and children (Eucalypt: a tanka journal, Poetica Christi Press, The School Magazine, Little Pink Dog Books, Christmas Press, ABC Commercial). She was awarded an ASA/Copyright Agency Mentorship and was a finalist in the 2021 SCBWI Australian Picture Book Illustrator Awards.
Yvonne’s book Windy Washing Day marks her debut in 2025 as a picture book author.
WHAT CYA CONFERENCE DID FOR ME
I’ve been submitting to CYA’s wonderful author and illustrator competitions for a number of years (on and off since 2012!) and received Highly Commended for my PB illustration entry in the CYA 2017 Conference Competition. I was also able to attend the fantastic CYA 2022 Conference online. I learnt so much attending the Conference, listening to published illustrators/writers and industry professionals; some highlights included tips on school presentations, and how to query/pitch and write synopses, plus getting valuable feedback from multiple manuscript assessments.
In CYA 2020 Conference Competition, I was thrilled to win 3rd prize in the Aspiring – Picture Book Primary School category, and that gave me the confidence to send my manuscript, Windy Washing Day to a number of trade publishers, with no takers at the time. Imagine my surprise, when MidnightSun approached me some years later to see if the manuscript was still available – of course, I said ‘Yes!!’ Windy Washing Day is being released on 1 September 2025 (with the book launch to be at Book Face bookstore, St Ives, Sydney on Saturday 6 September).
