Sketa

Sketa a.k.a Selina Kucks is an author, illustrator, entertainer and entrepreneur.

As an Australian, children’s book author ~ illustrator, Sketa is best-known for her Y.A. Books; The Parchment Series was published between 2009 and 2012. The unusually captivating tale of Ethan Hobbs and his illusive, yet annoying ‘Mentor’ Stick have graced the bookshelves of many readers, libraries and schools across the globe.

Sketa’s illustrated Possum Tales series of seven children’s books - the first three publications being: Possum Tales…in the lettuce patch; Possum Tales…an odd day; and Possum Tales… the unusual object – are all published in hardback and are soon to be available in digital copy.

As an entertainer, Selina Kucks is internationally known for her cultural reporting and entertaining work in South Korea - notably for her work with MBC’s long-running morning show: Achim Mandulki – Making the Morning with Son Sok Ki; KBS’ Pam Gwa Umak Sai – Between Night and Music; and her panel-work with HBS Im Baek Chon World Show between the 1993 and 1995.

In 1988, Selina Kucks accepted an entertaining contract to perform at the Seoul Olympic Games; the Para-Olympics and the World Tour & Trade Festival held in South Korea. This was the contract that ultimately began her professional, performance career. Selina then moved to the United Kingdom, where she took up work at the Australian Embassy – Queensland House, while taking dance classes at London Royal Ballet. All spare time was dedicated to her recording contract with Peppermint Sounds & 1992 Records.

In 1993, Selina Kucks returned to Korea for extended linguistic studies and also participated in the Daejon World Expo where she won the Grand Prize for Traditional Music – for singing Korean traditional opera. This award and publicity led to her cultural reporting career with MBC Broadcasting and a three year ‘Pansori’ (Korean Traditional Opera) research position at The Corporation Korea Traditional Arts Institute, under the guiding hands of Song Chang Soon – Human Cultural Asset No. 5. Alongside this position, she accepted a contract with the Korean National Commission for UNESCO as Chief Editor, getting time off for broadcasting work.

Over the next few years, Selina Kucks fine-tuned her capabilities as a freelance-cultural reporter, accepting various broadcasting contracts with: KBS for news, music and gaming shows; cultural reporting with MBC and Arirang television; SBS and Hyundai Broadcasting to name a few. Selina Kucks became such a household name that in 1997, she was honoured by the Korean National Ministry of Culture for her service to Korea and the Arts.

In 1998, Selina Kucks took up the Artistic Director position at Seoul Royal Ballet Company; and taught English to underprivileged Korean children on the border of North and South Korea. Curriculum formulation led her back to writing and developing short stories for her students, which in turn, gave birth to The Parchment Series.

A rocky marriage, saw Selina and her son returned to Australia in 2000. She sought solace in her books and education - concentrating on online M.A. studies in Diplomacy and Trade through Monash University, while guest teaching at the University of Southern Queensland. Throughout this academic period, Selina Kucks became an instrumental figure in establishing: Arts Council Toowoomba Inc.; QAGTC – Darling Downs and Western Regions Branch; and Sketa Oz Arts Sponsorship for dancers across Austral-Asia.

In 2007, Sketa Oz International Ballet merged with Seoul Royal Ballet and in the same year, Selina Kucks was awarded the Australia Day Cultural/Arts Award alongside five other founding members of Arts Council Toowoomba Inc.

By 2009, ‘The Parchment Series’ was finally published by ELK Publishing, Korea - translated into Korean and in 2010, it hit the Korean market. In that same year, The Parchment was entered for both the Australian Aurealis Awards and the QLD Premier Literary Awards. In August 2011, it hit #6 in fantasy and #7 in children’s literature on Amazon.

Learn more about The Parchment Series and Possum Tales at: www.elk-publishing.com

In 2013, ELK Publishing established itself in Australia under the Sketa Oz brand, publishing Sketa’s next children’s book – Possum Tales...in the Lettuce Patch. In 2016, her second illustrated children's book – Possum Tales...an odd day, hit the shelves in hardback and softcover, across the globe – the ongoing adventures of two mischievous, Australian brushtail possums – Poss and Milly whose lives are put to the test, while living in the harsh, Australian outback. In the same year, Sketa’s Black & White Arts Series (An Artist’s Collection to Frame and Colour) was published.

Dedicated to her late father, Sketa also created ‘LILIWIOFE’ – an annual diary/planner that inspires people to ‘Live Life Without Fear’ – a portion of the proceeds going to Cancer Research.

Sketa’s latest Y.A. book – Part 3 of ‘The Parchment Trilogy’ – The Parchment Tale Reveals, stands due for release, early 2023. For Ethan Hobbs, the mystery of the parchment reveals more than he anticipates and leaves him struggling for answers, as only he can wrangle the balance between Time and Destiny.

With the progressive development of the Sketa Oz brand, Selina Kucks’ privately owned company received the APAC Insider – 2018 Australian Enterprise Award for Best Creative Agency & Publishing Advisory.

Learn more about the Sketa Oz brand at: www.sketaoz.com