Eric Brooks Book Event

"These FEET were made for walking. And that's just what they'll do..." A book event with Erik Brooks for this December two!

Bad promotional rhymes aside, you can check out Erik's new book, WHO HAS THESE FEET and the Washington State Book Award winning, POLAR OPPOSITES at Kirkland's Everyday Athlete on Friday, December 2 at 6:30 p.m.

Everyday Athlete, 11829 98th Ave NE, Kirkland, WA

My apologies to all of Seattle's wonderful bookstores for hosting at a rather unique venue, but these guys are friends of mine, and idea of reading from a feet-themed book in a running shoe store was just too perfect :)

For more information on Erik, and his work, visit his website.

Good News for Marilee Brothers

Congrats to fellow SCBWI WWA member Marilee Brothers! Her newest book, SHADOW MOON (Book 4 in the Unbidden Magic series), is now available in both electronic and print format at Amazon, Belle Books, or you can order it at your local bookstore. Book 5, the last in the series, will be out in 2012.

For more information on Marilee you can visit her website or her blog.

Northern Network News--December Schmooze!

Last month in Bellingham we discussed critique groups. We had a chance to share our experiences in critiquing—good and bad—and talked about the etiquette of being a positive group member. Now we get a chance to practice those skills! 

In December we're going to do an informal “first pages” critique. To participate, please bring 5-10 copies of the first page of a story, poem, non-fiction piece, or other writing for children. Illustrators, please bring 1-2 samples of your artwork. Don’t worry if you missed last month, you’re still very welcome to join in the fun! Here are the particulars:

Date: Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Location: The Bellingham Barnes & Noble (4099 Meridian Street) in the coffee shop

Questions? Email Rebecca Van Slyke at rebecca_vanslyke(at)hotmail(dot)com

NaNoWriMo Write-In Event

Don't forget, tomorrow is the last SCBWI sponsored NaNoWriMo write-in of the month! Meet Brenda Winter Hansen at the Pub at Third Place in Ravenna from 7-10 p.m. for a last dash toward your word count goal (whether you NaNo or not). Look for the rubber duck and an open laptop.

Interesting Article

Thanks to Jim Whiting for sending this New York Times article! The article talks about how the kids of e-book-loving adults still prefer paper for their own books. It also brings up the subject/debate about if anything is lost by taking a picture book and converting it to an e-book.

A great piece to check out!

Great Review for Katherine Schlick Noe

Good News for Katherine Schlick Noe! School Library Journal reviewed Katherine Schlick Noe's debut novel, SOMETHING TO HOLD, which will be released on December 6. Click here to see the review.

For more information about the book and to meet Katherine, visit her website.

Kid Lit Drink Night!!

Join Fellow SCBWI WWA members this Tuesday, November 22, for Kid Lit Drink!! They'll convene at the Pub at Third Place below Ravenna Third Place Books, as a joint event with the Nano Write In.

Special features for this month's event include surrealist story generation, and the unveiling of the Magic Plot 8-Ball. Bring your thirst for conversation, knowledge, and beverage! Hope to see you then.

Good News for Lois V. Harris

More good news for Lois V. Harris!! Love hearing good news!!

Publishers Weekly reviewed her new book, MAXFIELD PARRISH: PAINTER OF MAGICAL MAKE-BELIEVE. To see the review click on this link.

For more information on Lois, and her work, visit her website.

Helen Landalf Book Launch

Please join Helen Landalf in celebrating the launch of her debut YA novel, FLYAWAY.

Where: Secret Garden Books in Ballard

When: Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m.

What: Refreshments, music, prizes, reading, book-signing

Helen hopes to see you all there! For more information on Helen, and her work, visit her website.

Paul Schmid Book Launch Party

Come celebrate Paul Schmid's new book, HUGS FROM PEARL, at the Secret Garden Books book launch! The event is on Tuesday, November 22, starting at 7 p.m. Here's the link to the event.

For more information on Paul, and his work, visit his website.

Awesome Mural Proposals Requested from the Washington State History Museum

What makes Washington amazing? The Washington State History Museum seeks proposals from muralists for an interior project in its Education Center. The space is darn close to 30 feet long x 8 feet high and needs a grand vista of Washington (or some such idea) to add depth and space to this children's lunchroom. Proposals must include the following: -A rough preliminary sketch; -job bid (price with estimated hours, materials, and study); -sample project schedule; -description of work process and materials; -complete contact info for the artist and a link to his/her online portfolio. Proposals may be emailed to Stephanie Lile, Head of Education, at slile(at)wshs(dot)wa(dot)gov or sent via USPS to 1911 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402. Questions may also be sent to that email address. Note: Interested artists may come see the space on Tuesday, November 29 between 2-3pm. Please contact Stephanie to get access info since the museum is closed that day. Due date for proposals: December 15, 2011

Seattle7Writers Holiday Reading and Book Signing

This Saturday, November 19, join Suzanne Selfors, Clare Hodgson Meeker and 20 other writers, including Garth Stein, Erik Larson, Elizabeth George, and Deb Caletti, for a wintry afternoon of readings and delicious goodies (Santoros Books is co-sponsoring). Each writer will have books on hand to sign! What makes a better gift for the holidays than a signed book from a local writer? And a percentage of the proceeds will go to local literacy programs.

Saturday November 19, from 3-6 p.m.
Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave North (Near Woodland Park Zoo between 66th and 68th)

Here is a link for more information about the event.

Come See a Play About Youth Literacy (and support Meg Lippert)

WORDS FLY: A play about youth literacy developed by Amy Rider King and Meg Lippert

When: Friday, November 18 at 11 a.m.
Saturday, November 19 at 2 p.m.

Where: Seattle Central Library, Meeting Room 2, 4th floor
1000 Fourth Ave.
Seattle, WA 98104
206-386-4636

Parking: There is a parking garage under the library

WORDS FLY is the culmination of our current project, "Read With Me," which was focused on soliciting from high school students the challenges, and successes, they have faced in their personal lives with respect to learning to read and learning from reading. Student actors from Interagency Academy (the Seattle Public Alternative School program) and from Franklin High School will be performing along with professional actors and musicians. Although Amy and I have been working together with high school students in Seattle for over 10 years, this is our first project focused on literacy.

The play script was developed based on improvisations by the actors inspired by the words of over 100 students we worked with beginning last February, selected from their written assignments or recorded during our interactive workshops in their classrooms. The play uses the interesting architectural structure of the Seattle Public Library as the stage set. Each performance is an hour long, begins promptly, and ends with a "talkback" when the audience will be able to share their impressions of the play and ask questions of the actors.

This is an opportunity to hear directly from local youth about what specifically they love, and hate, about reading. The play was written for a high school audience, and uses elements of scenes we developed for their workshops that particularly engaged and delighted them, since high school students will be attending both performances and they are our primary focus. The performances are free and everyone is welcome.

The "Read With Me" blog at umoensemble.wordpress.com has more information about the actors and the "behind the scenes" team of teaching artists, as well as a post about brief excerpts from the play that several students presented to the Seattle School Board on November 2.

Retreat Roundup

If you weren't able to join us for the Fall 2011 Weekend on the Water Retreat (or even if you were), here are some retreat wrap-up blog posts we wanted to share!

From Laurie Thompson: Lessons learned at the 2011 SCBWI WWA retreat

From Sperry Hung: Weekend on the Water 2011

From Tina Hoggatt: arthur levine & linda sue park: WOW | big ideas

Amazon's Lending Library and the Author's Guild

Are any of the books in Amazon’s new e-book subscription/lending program properly there?

Earlier this month, Amazon launched its Kindle Online Lending Library as a perk for its best group of customers, the millions who’ve paid $79 per year to join Amazon Prime and get free delivery of their Amazon purchases. Under the Lending Library program, Amazon Prime members are allowed to download for free onto their Kindles any of more than 5,000 books. Customers are limited to one book per month and one book at a time – when a new book is downloaded, the old one disappears from the Kindle.

The program has caused quite a stir in the publishing industry, for good reason...

Read more of this latest volley from the Author's Guild about what's going on and what authors should know.

Good News for Barbara Jean Hicks (and a chance to help her out!).

Good News for Barbara Jean Hicks!!! Barbara has received confirmation that she'll be leading a 3-day Founders Workshop for the Highlights Foundation in September 2012 in Honesdale, PA.

"Writing for Little Eyes and Little Ears" will be focused on writing read-alouds for pre-schoolers. Now she just has to plan the workshop! She'd love to hear what fellow SCBWI WWA member's favorite read-alouds are, both old and new, to add to her research.

Please add your comment on this post to help Barbara out!! For more information on Barbara, and her work, visit her website.

Unleashing the Power of Social Media- An SCBWI Inland NW Event

Unpublished? Mid-career? Best Selling Author?

Social media can be an incredibly powerful tool for promoting yourself and your work, learning about your business and craft, making contacts and connections, and so much more. This workshop will be led by Greg Pincus.

Saturday, November 19
10:30 a.m. -3:30 p.m.
Moran Prairie Library
6004 S. Regal St., Spokane

$45 SCBWI members

$55 non-members

Private Consultations on Your Web Presence
$35 SCBWI members
$40 non-members

Unleashing the Power of Social Media Appeals To Many Small Business People, As Well As Musicians, Jewelry Makers, Crafters, Anyone Who Wants To Network With Colleagues And Customers.

Greg Will Also Offer Individual Consultations Friday Evening And Saturday Morning. For an additional fee, receive direction, advice, and strategies for getting the most out of social media based on what you’re already doing (or NOT doing) and what you hope to accomplish. Hone your focus, learn about efficiencies, and ask questions, too. Required in advance: links to your site, blog, Twitter, Facebook, whatever-exists-already and answers to a short question and answer sheet. You’ll receive a write up of ideas and suggestions, 20 minutes of face-to-face time to ask questions, and a clear way to follow up on anything that we cover.

Learn more about Greg Pincus at GottaBook and the social web at The Happy Accident. Through the wonders of social media, he’s sold poetry, helped himself land a book deal, ended up in the New York Times, the Washington Post, School Library Journal (multiple times), and many other interesting places… and also made friends and gotten free cookies on more than one occasion!

To Register: on-line visit http://www.scbwi.org/Regional-Chapters.aspx?R=81&sec=Conf

Graphic Artists Guild Workshop

WordPress for Everyone with Erik Fadiman

WordPress is everywhere these days, not just as a blogging platform, but also as an excellent Content Management System. If you’re ready to use blogging as a means of self-promotion, this is a great time to look at WordPress. It’s free, open source, versatile for any kind of website and accessible to a broad range of skill levels. We'll explore how to get started with WordPress and how to work with a developer for more complex projects.

More info on the website.

Wednesday, November 30, from 12-2 p.m.

Seattle Design Center Plaza Building

EAFA Gallery suite 292
5701 6th Avenue South

Pre-register at Brown Paper Tickets

Guild member/student $10
Professional association member $15
General $20

Good News for Anne Belov

Happy Friday!! Good news and happy times for Anne Belov!!! Pandas International asked to use one of Anne's cartoons as the invitation for their upcoming "Black and White auction"

Congrats to Anne and keep the good news coming everyone!!!

Attention illustrators!

Get your portfolio tuned up by Caldecott Honor illustrator Margaret Chodos-Irvine. We are now taking submissions for this fantastic opportunity. Margaret will curate a group of the submitted images for review and commentary during our February meeting. (Note: Not all submissions will be used.) Margaret will provide suggestions and comments on how to improve everyone's portfolios for conference shows, as well as for submission to agents, art directors, and editors. It will be a stellar night for illustrators at the February Professional Series Meeting!

The Details: Email 5 or 6 .jpegs to art@scbwi-washington.org by December 20. Please reduce your file sizes to no more than 2MB per image. Please label each image: FirstName_LastName_01.jpg, FirstName_LastName_02.jpg, etc. Failure to follow these submission guidelines will result in your images not being sent to Margaret for review.

Good News for Lois V. Harris

Don't you love hearing good news in the middle of the week?!? Here's a big congratulations and good news for Lois V. Harris. Her new book, MAXFIELD PARRISH: PAINTER OF MAGICAL MAKE-BELIVE, has earned a good review in the November 1 issue of the American Library Association’s Booklist by Julie Cummins who called the content “fascinating.”

To find out more information about Lois, her "fascinating" new book and other work visit her website.

Light Up the Night Auction

To celebrate the release of Jean Reidy's new book, LIGHT UP THE NIGHT, and to honor the children who inspired her to write the book, she is holding an online auction to benefit literacy in Africa and a library at Musana Children's Home in Iganga, Uganda.

You can find out more information about the auction here on Laurie Thompson's website!

The auction is now open, and there are so many awesome items for writers, that Laurie wanted to make sure our members know about it! The auction closes November 18, so get your bids in soon!

Free Workshops with Joni Sensel

Need more words to meet your NaNo challenge? A little world-building is a great way to do it, while adding depth to your work at the same time. Joni Sensel will lead a couple of workshops on world-building in mid-November, and they’re all FREE:

• November 15, 4 – 5 p.m., Lake Forest Park library (adults or teens welcome)
• November 17, 7 - 9 p.m., PNWA monthly meeting, Chinook Middle School, Bellevue (If you’re not a member, PNWA allows guests to attend one meeting a year) ETA: Actually, this one's a public event sponsored by the King County Library System, so all are welcome!
  

She’ll also be leading a free workshop in writing for middle-grade and YA readers on November 19, from 2-3 p.m., Richmond Beach library. This one’s an intro session. Questions? Email joni (at) jonisensel.com

John Nez Book Signing

John Nez is happy to announce a signing of his new book, which will hopefully be discovered beneath many an evergreen tree this holiday season. The book signing will be at Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park - November 26 at 1 p.m. Signings at Costco and other stores are in the works.

THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS IN WASHINGTON is a picture book about two cousins who travel across the state of Washington during the holiday season enjoying the wonders of Washington. It's based loosely on the popular carol "The 12 Days of Christmas".

The two cousins visit:
12 boats a-blinking, in the Lake Washington Christmas Ships Parade
11 skiers whooshing, in Waterfront Park in Spokane
10 apples gleaming, near Wenatchee
9 cowboys crooning, near Omak & Ellensburg
8 wild wonders, at the Tacoma Zoo
7 jets a-zooming, over downtown Seattle
6 giant footprints, near Mt. Rainier
5 golden trout, at Pike Place Market
4 alpenhorns, in Leavenworth
3 huge whales, in the San Juan Islands
2 ferryboats, crossing Puget Sound
and a goldfinch in a hemlock tree.

Washington state residents will recognize the many local landmarks right off. John says that he greatly enjoyed writing and illustrating this colorful book. It's full of fun scenes in Pike Place Market, Mt. Rainier, Downtown Seattle, Puget Sound, Tacoma, Winthrop, Leavenworth and Spokane. (all his favorite places).

More details about school visits and inside pages can be found at THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS IN WASHINGTON webpage. For more information on John, and his work, you can visit his website.

Book signing this weekend for Kevan Atteberry and BOOGIE MONSTER!

Our own Kevan Atteberry will be signing copies of his new book, BOOGIE MONSTER, and it's prequel, TICKLE MONSTER, this weekend!

Where: Bellevue Art & Frame/The Toy Place (13131 NE 20th St, Bellevue, WA  98005)

When: Saturday, November 5, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

And the Boogie Monster himself will be there, too!

Secret Garden Author/Illustrator Event

Author Caspar Babypants and Illustrator Kate Endle share their new books, MY WOODLAND WISH and BUNNY RABBIT IN THE SUNLIGHT, this Saturday, November 5, at 11 a.m. at Secret Garden Bookstore.

The songs that go with the books will be performed at this free event. For more information about this event you can visit Secret Garden's website.

It's time for NaNoWriMo!

Attention NaNoWriMers:

Do you need a little extra motivation to attempt to write a whole novel during the month of November?

University Book Store is promoting National Novel Writing Month by publishing the best local manuscript during this year's NaNoWriMo!

NaNoWriMo Contest: Here are the basics

• Your NaNoWriMo book must be submitted to the contest by midnight
  on December 2, 2011.
• All submissions must meet NaNoWriMo guidelines. www.nanowrimo.org/eng/faq/.
• Three finalists will be chosen from all eligible submissions.
  A panel of judges will select one winner. The winner will be announced in January 2012.

Check out this link for contest details as well as local University Book Store sponsored events to help you achieve your word count goals.

Western Washington SCBWI hosted NaNoWriMo 2011 write-ins:

Tuesday • November 1 • 8:00pm

Pub at Third Place

Kick off National Novel Writing Month [NaNoWriMo] with a write-in at a cozy Ravenna pub connected to the Vios Cafe. Bring your laptop, power cord, notebook, pens, and $ for food & drink. Surround yourself other writers dedicated to reaching their daily word count goal. Hosted by the Western Washington chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Look for the rubber duck; there will be candy!

Tuesday • November 15 • 8:00pm

Pub at Third Place

Stay dedicated to NaNoWriMo with another write-in at this writer-friendly Ravenna pub. Bring your laptop, power cord, notebook, pens, and $ for food & drink. Get energized with others trying to reaching their daily word count goal. Hosted by the Western Washington chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Book giveaway: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing for Young Adults

Tuesday • November 22 • 8:00pm

Pub at Third Place

Are you meeting your daily word goal? Catch up or stay on track by meeting with other NaNoWriMo devotees at this writer-friendly Ravenna pub. Bring your laptop, power cord, notebook, pens, and $ for food & drink available from the Vios Cafe. Stay for an hour or until closing trying  to reach your word count goal. Hosted by the Western Washington chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

Tuesday • November 29 • 8:00pm

Pub at Third Place

Wind up your literary sprint in the company of other equally frantic scribblers. Come to the last NaNoWriMo write-in at this Ravenna pub connected to the wonderful Vios Cafe. Bring your laptop, power cord, notebook, pens, and $ for food & drink. Share your misery and celebrate your successes. Stay for as little or as long as you need to reach your word count goal. Hosted by the Western Washington chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators

Stages on Pages Tour

COME JOIN THE PARTY as

SCBWI Western Washington AUTHORS share the spotlight

On the STAGES ON PAGES NATIONWIDE BOOK TOUR

TWELVE YOUNG ADULT & MIDDLE GRADE AUTHORS BRING STORIES OF THE STAGE TO THE PAGES OF THEIR NOVELS AND TO BOOKSTORES NEAR YOU!

Ex-ballerinas and theater geeks, opera singers and violinists populate the cast of the STAGES ON PAGES author tour stopping at bookstores across the country to share stories of their teen years as performers and to celebrate the literary and performing arts. At many stops, they’ll be joined by young actors, singers & dancers! Raffles, signed books, candy and fun. More info at www.stagesonpages.com.

*ROSANNE PARRY (Second Fiddle, Random House)

* STASIA WARD KEHOE (Audition, Viking)

*CONRAD WESSELHOEFT (Adios Nirvana, Houghton Mifflin)

* TARA KELLY (Amplified, Henry Holt)

*LOUISE SPIEGLER (The Jewel & the Key, Clarion)

* JESSICA MARTINEZ (Virtuosity, Simon & Schuster)

This week, they’ll be stopping at the following Pacific Northwest Bookstores:

NOVEMBER 3 at 6 PM – Secret Garden Bookshop, Seattle

NOVEMBER 4 at 4 PM – Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park

November 5 at 4 PM – Orca Books, Olympia

November 6 at 2 PM – A Children’s Place, Portland

For more information:

Bernadette Cruz, Publicist Stasia Kehoe

Penguin Young Readers Group stasiakehoe@msn.com

345 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014 www.stagesonpages.com

P: 212.414.3561 P: 425.844.9958

Bernadette.Cruz@us.penguingroup.com