There is a hotel right next to the venue - Quality Hotel Taylors Lakes
7 Melton Hwy, Taylors Lakes, Melbourne Victoria 3038

Mention "Once Upon Con" when booking over the phone for a discount (while available)

P:  03 9217 9500  www.taylorslakeshotel.com.au

For Once Upon Con, bring a notepad, pen and your wonderful self!

If you would like to participate in the "mystery book swap", bring along a copy of your book wrapped in plain kraft, white or newspaper.

If you are participating in the "Book Shop", bring your books and promotional material (as per email instructions).

If you are participating in the "Illustrator Matchmaking", bring your portfolio and promotional material (as per email instructions).

For the optional workshops, each session has different requirements. Please bring along the items listed in your email.

For the SLVR Children's Book Awards Gala, please just bring your wonderful self and your dancing shoes!

As much as we adore children and dedicate our work to creating books that inspire and educate them - all events; Once Upon Con, the Workshops and the SLVR Children's Book Awards Gala, are strictly 18+ events.

This ensures all attendees can fully engage with the professional development, networking and celebration without distraction.

We hope you enjoy a well-deserved day (and night!) just for you.

We knew you'd get fomo on this! But unfortunately, no.

All optional workshops, 1:1, assessments and other add-ons are exclusively for Once Upon Con ticket holders only.

We know they sound incredible, but they’ve been designed as an extension of the main conference experience and are all about building deeper connections within the community over the weekend.

Plus… it’s way more fun when you already know everyone from Friday anyway!

We are absolutely thrilled to welcome the legendary Scott Stuart as our special keynote speaker to kick off the morning.

Following Scott’s keynote, we’ll be joined by an incredible lineup of authors, illustrators and industry professionals who will share their knowledge and experience throughout the day, including the absolutely brilliant, hilarious and best-selling authors; Adrian Becks and Adam Wallace.

The full speaker lineup and schedule will be released shortly.

Because self-published authors deserve to be celebrated too 🪩✨

You backed yourself.

You took the risk.

You brought your story to life without waiting for permission from a traditional publisher.

You wrote the book, sourced the illustrator, figured out the formatting, the printing, the marketing, the launch, the sales, the social media (and approximately 47 minor emotional breakdowns along the way 😌)

That deserves recognition.

The SLVR Children’s Book Awards exist to celebrate the creators doing the work and sharing stories that matter.

Yes!

If you've used an assisted publishing service or a vanity publisher, your book might be eligible for the Wildcard Category.

Winners receive:

* A premium engraved trophy

* A luxe framed certificate with raised gold foiling

* Premium embossed award winner stickers for your books

* Promotion across Little Ivory Haus socials and email marketing channels (12k+ followers and 10k+ email subscribers)

Finalists receive:

* Premium embossed award finalist stickers for your books

* Promotion across our socials, website and email channels

The visibility, credibility and celebration that comes with being recognised amongst this community is pretty special too 💃🏼

We love that you asked, and the answer is a gentle but firm no! Your ticket includes a three-course dinner, beer, wine and cider all night and world-class entertainment - and we think that's pretty spectacular value at $249 (with two award entries) or $225 (for those not entering, partners and support crew).

If you don't drink, we promise the food, the people and the vibe will more than make up for it.

Absolutely!

You can purchase as many entries as you like, they are $90 each.

If you're attending the SLVR Children's Book Awards Gala, then you automatically get 2 category entries (+ Book of The Year) and you can purchase additional entries for $90 each.

Absolutely! We won't let distance stop us from celebrating our wonderful community!

Your book might be eligible for the Wildcard Category.

No, but we would love to have you there!

The whole purpose of the event is to get together and celebrate - the awards are just a bit of fun!

Absolutely! Previous finalists and winners are welcome (and encouraged!) to enter again.

Honestly, it would feel wildly unfair to tell incredible creators they can’t come back just because their books did well last year.

Every year brings new books, new competition, new judges and new magic. So yes… it’s absolutely fair game.

Tickets are not refundable, but if you can no longer attend, you're welcome to pass your ticket onto someone else.

Please contact us ASAP to update the booking details.

For Once Upon Con and the Workshops, think smart casual, or whatever it is that makes you feel confident and comfortable.

For the SLVR Children's Book Awards Gala, think cocktail or semi-formal - whatever makes you feel fabulous!

We don't believe in telling people what to wear - so please wear what makes you comfortable!

We would love to hear from you to see if we are a good fit.

Please register your interest HERE and we'll get back to you ASAP.