Be An Indie Superhero!

Today is Small Business Saturday/Indies First Day! Your local independent bookstore just might have some authors and illustrators working in their shops, helping you find the perfect gift for your holiday shopping. Ozzie, Digger, Daisy and I will be working at University Book Store, Bellevue, this afternoon, along with Karyn King, Lisa L. Owens, and Samantha R. Vamos. And I know that Jaime Temairik and Kim Baker will be punching the time clock with Sherman Alexie at Secret Garden Books in Ballard. Come out and support your local bookstore and book creators! Read Sherman Alexie's letter about this event and find out which author/illustrators will be at YOUR local bookstore HERE!

Meet the Artist #6

As part of the hoopla around our first-ever public exhibition of illustrations by SCBWI WWA artists, Update will post a mini-profile of each,* in completely random order, between now and the exhibit's closure in early January. Read about 'em here, or check them ALL out online here, or go see their work in person at the Washington State Convention Center! You can even shake their hands on Dec. 12 at our Holiday Gathering! (More info and registration here.)

Wendy Wahman

(Just a snippet of Wendy's illustration)

Why did you choose to submit your particular piece of art?
It was already framed for the Original Art Show.

What does being part of SCBWI mean to you?
Support, friendship, connection, information, education, collaboration.

What is your favorite picture book from childhood?
How about we turn this around and ask, "What's the one question you least like to answer?"

Fun fact: Wendy used to be a staff artist for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Also, Blogger must be scared of dogs, because it didn't want to play with her images for some reason. Learn more, and see the entire image, on STQRY here.

*excluding only those lazy bones or privacy freaks who don't answer our email questions, of course. We love them anyway.

Meet the Artist #5

As part of the hoopla around our first-ever public exhibition of illustrations by SCBWI WWA artists, Update will post a mini-profile of each,* in completely random order, between now and the exhibit's closure in early January. Read about 'em here, or check them ALL out online here, or go see their work in person at the Washington State Convention Center! You can even shake their hands on Dec. 12 at our Holiday Gathering! (More info and registration here.)

Penny Holland

Why did you choose to submit your particular piece of art?
We were allowed to submit five paintings, and I was hoping that one of my illustrations for my picture book The Adoption of Boris would be selected. I submitted three from that book and then two other watercolors. I chose the turtle because it's one of my favorites, and I thought it looked like it could be in a children's book.

What does being part of SCBWI mean to you?
I've been a member of SCBWI since 1979 or 1980 (the year I first wrote The Adoption of Boris), and when I lived in the LA area I was able to attend the August conference every single year. SCBWI has been my support, my teacher, and my networking group ever since. It is what got me started writing for children, and kept me going and encouraged along the way. I've met my best friends through SCBWI-sponsored events. I just can't say enough good words about this wonderful organization.

What is your favorite picture book from childhood?
I still have on my shelf two picture books from my childhood in the 1940s. They are a soft-cover Ferdinand the Bull and a first-edition hardback of Little Black Sambo. I know that's not politically correct, but I loved the pictures in that book, and the little boy, Sambo, was a brave and wonderful hero to me.

Fun fact: Penny has published a series of eight easy-reader books, “Looking at Computers,” through Franklin Watts. Learn more, and see more images, on STQRY here.

*excluding only those lazy bones or privacy freaks who don't answer our email questions, of course. We love them anyway.

Meet the Artist #4

As part of the hoopla around our first-ever public exhibition of illustrations by SCBWI WWA artists, Update will post a mini-profile of each,* in completely random order, between now and the exhibit's closure in early January. Read about 'em here, or check them ALL out online here, or go see their work in person at the Washington State Convention Center! You can even shake their hands on Dec. 12 at our Holiday Gathering! (More info and registration here.)

Richard Jesse Watson

Why did you choose to submit your particular piece of art?
Because it makes me happy. It made me happy to paint it, and it makes me happy to see others making art.

What does being part of SCBWI mean to you?
Being a part of SCBWI means being a part of a caring, literate community of writers, rabbits, renegades, and rascals. And I mean the good kind of rabbits.

What is your favorite picture book from childhood?
Make Way for Ducklings.

Fun fact: Richard's work is in a solo exhibition at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art from now through January 2014. Learn more about him, and see more images, on STQRY here.

*excluding only those lazy bones or privacy freaks who don't answer our email questions, of course. We love them anyway.

Recap: KLDN, Island-style

Despite technical difficulties, the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (BIMA) hosted a lively evening with Richard Jesse Watson on Sunday night. His lecture and gallery reception not only highlighted the creative process and his own artistic journey, but proved that a great storyteller doesn't need a projector to hold an audience spellbound––especially when describing his first siting of Susi, the love of his life, in junior high. 

The exhibit, Richard Jesse Watson, Inner Zoo, Outer Orbit, on view through January 5, showcases 30 years of RJW's amazing children's book paintings as well as playful sculptural works that will either give you nightmares or visions of sugarplums.

Jennifer Mann then led SCBWI members through a freezing cold evening to the farthest possible bar on the island, the Harbour Public House ("The Pub") for food, drink, and a loud and wide-ranging discussion about politics, painting, and potato fries. Islanders tried not to rub it in when the mainlanders had to run for the ferry. We had such a good time that one cell phone and one set of keys were lost (since found, by amazing grace) and one of the hosts ran out on his/her bar tab (since tracked down, but under litigation).

Anonymous artist's rendition of the festivities at the Pub.

This show at BIMA is not to be missed! Call RJW with at least an hour's notice and he will join you for drinks afterwards.

––Tina Hoggatt and Dana Sullivan

Meet the Artist #3

As part of the hoopla around our first-ever public exhibition of illustrations by SCBWI WWA artists, Update will post a mini-profile of each,* in completely random order, between now and the exhibit's closure in early January. Read about 'em here, or check them ALL out online here, or go see their work in person at the Washington State Convention Center! You can even shake their hands on Dec. 12 at our Holiday Gathering! (More info and registration here.)

Dave Wheeler

Why did you choose to submit your particular piece of art?
It was based on the idea of comfort food for a kid who has had a bad day at school.

What does being part of SCBWI mean to you?
For me, SCBWI means creative camaraderie and professional development.

What is your favorite picture book from childhood?
Probably The Sweet Smell of Christmas. I used to kick the peppermint scratch-and-sniff candy cane.

Fun fact: Dave's illustrations have appeared in publications including The New York Times, Time Magazine, Harvard Business Review, and many more. Learn more about Dave, and see more images, on STQRY here.

*excluding only those lazy bones or privacy freaks who don't answer our email questions, of course. We love them anyway.

Renata -- fresh from Canada -- to join Nina Dec. 3

Bestselling illustrator Renata Liwska (THE QUIET BOOK) will join local member & bestseller Nina Laden for the launch of their new book, ONCE UPON A MEMORY, at the Secret Garden Bookshop in Ballard at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3. And guess what? If you were going to take guesses about a shiny Canadian illustrator who might be joining the faculty for our annual conference in April... well, let's say Renata would be a worthwhile guess. Get a sneak preview of her awesomeness and a great new book at the same time at this international event on Dec. 3.

Meet the Artist #2

As part of the hoopla around our first-ever public exhibition of illustrations by SCBWI WWA artists, Update will post a mini-profile of each,* in completely random order, between now and the exhibit's closure in early January. Read about 'em here, or check them ALL out online here, or go see their work in person at the Washington State Convention Center! You can even shake their hands on Dec. 12 at our Holiday Gathering! (More info and registration here.)

 

Elizabeth Blake

Why did you choose to submit your particular piece of art?Rabbit and Robot have been my favorite characters for many years. This is my favorite story about Green Bean the Rabbit and her friend Robot, zipping through space with their homemade jet packs.

What does being part of SCBWI mean to you?
SCBWI has been my way of being connected with other children's book illustrators and writers. Otherwise we are all off in our own distant studios and writing spaces without the companionship and support of colleagues.

What is your favorite picture book from childhood?
I cannot locate my favorite book from childhood. It was a story about a woodcarver who made a duck decoy with a heart anchor attached by a string. When the decoy was in the lake, the heart string was snipped by a water creature, and he was very sad. If anyone knows the name of this book, I will be forever grateful.

Fun fact: Elizabeth  also works as a pediatric nurse practitioner and public health consultant, and as such has authored a series of 50-page booklets about children's health. Learn more, and see more images, on STQRY here.

*excluding only those lazy bones or privacy freaks who don't answer our email questions, of course. We love them anyway.

Small Business Saturday

What's the best way to snap yourself out of a post-Turkey Day food coma?

Head for your nearest bookstore (indie, that is) this Saturday, November 30. Why, you might ask, while assembling your umpteenth plate of leftover stuffing and checking the football schedule?

Because it's Small Business Day at Secret Garden Books and University Book Store, as well as bookstores across this great country of ours!

Support your local businesses and get some seriously amazing recommendations from authors you know and love. Secret Garden features sellers like Kim Baker, Jaime Temairik, Sherman Alexie and Bonny Becker (click here for their complete schedule), while the University Bookstore has to contend with the likes of Cat Patrick and Nancy Pearl, Janet Lee Carey and Kevan Atteberry, and many more. (Click here for the full lineup at various locations.)

C is for COOKIE...

 ...that's good enough for me!

 

Gourmet.com throws down the gauntlet!

 

 

 To all those who have commenced with the pre-holiday meeting salivation––

 

The answer is, YES! There will be cookies. Potentially many, many cookies. But this will depend on you. At this year's holiday meeting/party/gathering/celebration/art exhibit/good news on December 12 (and you've all registered, right? good!)

 

There will be three categories of judging: 

1. BDC (best damn cookie)
2. DAM (delicious artistic masterpiece)
3. SGF (scrumptious gluten free)

Contestants should have a sign with:

1. Name of the cookie
2. list allergen ingredients if present: dairy, eggs, nuts, or gluten/wheat
3. Baker's name
4. optional: recipe on an index card, in case it's requested

Entries need to be submitted by 7pm, and winners will be announced around 8pm. Prizes for each category!!!

Meet the Artist #1

As part of the hoopla around our first-ever public exhibition of illustrations by SCBWI WWA artists, Update will post a mini-profile of each* between now and the exhibit's closure in early January. Read about 'em here, or check them ALL out online here, or go see their work in person at the Washington State Convention Center! You can even shake their hands on Dec. 12 at our Holiday Gathering! (More info and registration here.)

First up, in completely random order, but there is an A in her last name:

Diane Solvang-Angell

Why did you choose to submit your particular piece of art?I submitted "Turtle and the Fish" because it showed action, and it was one of my first creations in the iPad app called Paper 53 when I was just beginning iPad painting last spring. I love the image of turtles, and I just kept coming back to that painting whenever I reviewed sketchbook images.

What does being part of SCBWI mean to you?
There are several stories I’ve long cherished and meant to put into book form at some point. I have been a professional illustrator in advertising and editorial illustration, and this seemed like a natural next step—to meet the people doing children’s storybooks and gain some insight. Because of childhood picture books I wanted to be an artist. I eventually became one, so I think of this as a full-circle opportunity to give back.

What is your favorite picture book from childhood?
Now I am in trouble already, because it was Little Black Sambo. It now has a bad reputation because it was ripped off from the original Scottish author, who set the story in East India as an entertaining story for her children set in an exotic location. Later American ripoffs were illustrated with crude racial stereotypes, which contributed to Jim Crow prejudice. It is still my favorite childhood book, and my particular copy was illustrated in a gentle way. That's the reason I remember it so fondly––besides the fact that I loved the story—as well as for Sambo’s parents’ names: Mumbo and Jumbo.

Fun fact: Diane has authored a book on creativity from Cune Press. Learn more, and see more images, on STQRY here.

*excluding only those lazy bones or privacy freaks who don't answer our email questions, of course. We love them anyway.

Illustrators' submissions for Tomie dePaola Award

A timely and friendly reminder to all illustrators!

Submissions for SCBWI's Tomie dePaola Award are welcome now from near and far, with a deadline of December 13. The award is given annually to an illustrator of promise chosen by Tomie himself. The award consists full tuition, transportation to, and accommodations at SCBWI's New York Winter Conference held in Manhattan. Plus, the winning piece of art will be featured at the winter conference. Learn more about Tomie and the award at scbwi.org. And anyone who submits will have their work featured online in what's known as the Unofficial Gallery (click here for a previous example), which might be another nice way to attract art director attention.  Consider entry requirements and toss your art into the ring!

Authors/illustrators sought for Na-Ta-Ki-Boo-Day

Because there are never enough opportunities to hyphenate special things, here's another:

National Take Your Children to a Bookstore Day

This day, which certainly warms the cockles of our hearts, is slated for Saturday, December 7.

In recognition, Todd Hulbert of Finally Found Books in Auburn would like to host a slew of local children's authors and illustrators. Anyone who's interested should contact Todd asap.

Get those kiddos ready!

 

In case you haven't heard....

The National Book Awards were handed out earlier this week. For all categories, from fiction to poetry to nonfiction to––hooray!––young people's literature.


The winner of the 2013 NBA for Young People's Literature is: Cynthia Kadohata, for her middle-grade novel The Thing About Luck. Cynthia is also the author of the 2005 Newbery Award-winner, Kira-Kira.

The end of an era: Charlotte Zolotow

Children's book giant Charlotte Zolotow, author of more than 70 books and editor (at HarperCollins predecessor Harper & Row, where she reigned over her namesake imprint), has died at the inspiring age of 98.

Zolotow's picture books are numerous (Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present, William's Doll, My Grandson Lew, to name a few). As both a writer and editor she crossed paths with a veritable Who's Who of children's literary stars (M. E. Kerr, Paul Zindel, Robert Lipsyte, Patricia MacLachlan, William Pene du Bois, Maurice Sendak, H.A. Rey, Hilary Knight, Ursula Nordstrom, and more).

In the New York Times article announcing her death, Mrs. Zolotow is quoted from an earlier piece of writing for The Horn Book journal: "We are not different from the children we were––only more experienced, better able to disguise our feelings from others, if not ourselves.”

  

Egads! for Sarah

By Sarah R. Diehl

Member Sarah Romano Diehl is pleased to announce her collaboration with John Romano at Egads Press to create a new children's book app called "My Day."

Sarah illustrated and co-wrote. "My Day" is an end-of-the-day story kids can personalize with their own photos. The story explores  the events of a basic day for many children and attempts to show children how their own lives link to those in the rest of the world. Activity pages in the app can be completed on a mobile device, printed, or shared. It's available at the link above or on iTunes here.

List-o-mania: The best children’s books from 2013

In case you haven’t noticed the recent burst of lists featuring the best children’s books of 2013, we’ve put together a roundup of a few popular ones for anyone who cares to compare and contrast. For those who wish to dig deeper, the blog Chicken Spaghetti puts our little round up to shame with a plethora of best-of-2013 list links for your surfing delight.

For everyone content with highlights, here are a few:

PW’s Best Children’s Books of 2013

Amazon’s Best Children’s Books of 2013

Parents Magazine 2013 Best Children’s Books

The New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books of 2013

Finalists for the 2013 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature (Winner to be announced Nov 20)

Please feel free to add additional list links in the comments.

— Post contributed by Kjersten Anna Hayes

RJ Watson AND Kid Lit Drink Night on Jennifer's Island!

This coming Sunday Jennifer Mann is hosting Kid Lit Drink Night at the Harbour Public House on Bainbridge Island! Short notice you say? She did too, but there it is. The Harbour has great food and beverages AND you can walk there from the ferry, so leave the car in Seattle. Let's say it starts 7-ish.


But WAIT, THERE'S MORE: that lovable, theologically ambigous Richard Jesse Watson will be setting free the animals of his inner zoo at a lecture at Bainbridge Island Museum of Art that same Sunday from 4 - 6. Come get an earful from RJW and then buy him a snootful at the Harbour Pub! 

The only way this could get any better is if we had a song. I'll be darned, we do!

Sit right back and enjoy a tale

A tale of a pub night ride

That starts at Seattle's Coleman dock

And ends on the Bainbridge side.

Your host is a mighty drawing gal

With a new book out we hear

She invites you to set sail in search

Of a five dollar beer, a five dollar beer.

She urges all her island friends

To join in the revelry.

To get Deb Lund from Whidbey

Would be a sight to see. Would be a sight to see.

The ferry ride will be such fun

It's been too long a while

Since, Jennifer, Brenda/Dana too

Susie Watson and her RJ man

Came out to see, how fun it will be

Here on Jennifer's Isle!

Your brain on stories

Why are clichés ineffective? Why is simple language likely to make for a more popular book? Get the answers to these and other great writing-related questions at this cool post about how our brains respond to stories.

Seen in the wild

The Chinook Update is happy to report another book sighting, this one of two titles by member Andy Helman in the Sea-Tac airport terminal for Alaska Airlines. O is for Orca and 1,2,3, Moose are just waiting to go home with someone as Seattle souvenirs. Congrats!

Nina and Elizabeth are NEXT!

Congratulations and many huzzahs to our very own Nina Laden and Elizabeth Rose Stanton, whose new and upcoming picture books have been named to the Winter 2013-14 Kids Indie Next List! This means their books are leading the push for the latest slew of kids' books to hit the shelves this winter.

Nina's book launches December 3.
Click here for launch party info!

Elizabeth's debut releases January 7.
Details on launch party coming soon!

Junie B. Jones author passes away

Barbara Park

 The beloved author of the Junie B. Jones series, who wrote more than 30 books––many featuring the feisty elementary-school heroine––passed away on Friday after a long illness. Lin Oliver, SCBWI founder, remembered Park today on her Facebook page with the following tribute: "Reflecting at this moment on Barbara Park, creator of many funny children's books and especially the classic Junie B. Jones books, who passed away today. Junie is such an inspiration for all high spirited girls---I identified with her from the first page. That character will continue to bring so much pleasure to all kids as they wrestle with the adult world. Barbara's life ended way too soon, but in Junie, she leaves a truly meaningful legacy."

 

Artsies & PB lovers: Check out this blog

Every two weeks we'll try to connect to you a few of the amazing websites and blogs that are out there for illustrators. The first is Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, also known as 7-imp. This lovely blog, which focuses primarily on illustration and picture books, is crafted by Jules Danielson. Julie received her Master’s in Information Sciences with a focus on children’s librarianship. She has juried for the Society of Illustrators’ Original Art Award, as well as the BolognaRagazzi Awards for the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in Italy. She writes about picture books at the Kirkus website and provides occasional picture book reviews for BookPage. WILD THINGS, her book about children’s literature that was written with Betsy Bird and the late Peter D. Sieruta, will be published by Candlewick Press in 2014.

A good place to start: this week's interview of Aaron Becker, the author/illustrator of JOURNEY, one of the top books of the year. Check it out!

—Contributed by Street Team member Suzanne Kaufmann

Editors play favorites

This week, Publisher's Weekly gave readers––and particularly children's book devotees––an early holiday gift. In a fascinating post, prominent children's book editors expounded on their personal favorite books they worked on. To hear the backstory of many beloved stories is something many of us will appreciate and enjoy.

Happy pre-holidays!

(Which reminds me. Have you registered for our fabulous December holiday party / art show / raffle / extravaganza yet? It's going to be oh, so merry, and all the merrier with you there!)

Seen in the wild

Our correspondent from far afield, Ann Belov, would like to report that she saw Nina Laden's book When Pigasso Met Mootisse at both the New York Historical Society Museum and the Philadelphia Art Museum. She will report on sitings of any other WWA member books she comes across in her travels—and you can, too! Send titles, author or illustrator's name, and the locations of sitings to us here at the Chinook Update, and photos of the sightings are welcome, too!

For instance, also spotted in the wild this weekend, on the top shelf of a bookcase, was Peggy King Anderson's The Fall of the Red Star (written with Helen M. Szablya) in a Highlights Foundation facility in Pennsylvania.

Discover our now-famous illustrators on STQRY!

As part of the shindiggity fun around our first-ever public Illustrator's Exhibit now on public display at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle, event coordinator and futurist Tina Hoggatt has introduced us to a spiffy way to check out the participating artists and their work online. It's at STQRY, which is... a new thingy. Go see for yourself, and click on the 67, which just *happens* to be the number of illustrators who participated in the exhibit. Coincidence? I think not.

In fact, each artist has a "story" page where you can see a sample of his or her work, read the artists' statements or bio information, and click through to their own websites for more arty goodness. Slick! (And thanks for all the hard work to build it, Tina!)

This doesn't mean, of course, that you shouldn't still plan to attend our December holiday event at the Convention Center from 6 - 9 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12, to see the art, and many of the artists, in person. (Not to mention catch up with friends, hear more about 2014 events in the works, and ring in the approaching year.) Register here and now. It'll be a fest-abulous celebration!

In the meantime, you can check out the exhibit any time. One of only four curated exhibits in 2013, the artwork will remain on view through January 8, 2014.

Once upon a Nina

Does a feather remember it once was a bird? Does a book remember it once was a word? Member Nina Laden will answer these questions and more when she reads from her new book, ONCE UPON A MEMORY, at the Secret Garden Bookshop in Ballard at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3. Go get answers!

PiBoIdMo-palooza

Who's following PiBoIdMo over at Tara Lazar's blog? Some of our talented locals have awesome guest posts up on this November-long fest of work and inspiration for picture-book authors. Participant, member, and local PiBo author Laurie Thompson suggests this one from member Paul Schmid and this one from member Elizabeth Rose Stanton. Go, locals!


Also, for those of you who'd appreciate some visuals, here's a great link celebrating the month with some book trailers. Yay, Picture Books!

The weekend! The water!

It could have gone badly. Very, very badly. The first omen was the premature death of my car battery in the ferry line in Edmonds. Panic, and much running up and down the dock ensued. Thankfully, I received a portable jump-start from a genial ferry employee in a screaming yellow vest. Covered in a sheen of stress sweat, I kept my engine running the entire way over to Kingston, hoping not to be chastised by a yellow-vested person on the boat.

I didn't. My luck changed from then on.

The Inn at Port Ludlow.

The weekend's water

This year's Weekend on the Water retreat was a dizzying, yet blissful, opportunity to rub shoulders (and brains) with two stellar mentors, middle-grade author Linda Urban and editrix Patti Lee Gauch. Needless, to say, much transpired.

The "Weekend on the Water" cocktail

First, however, the Queen of Retreats, Jolie Stekly, welcomed one and all with the weekend's signature cocktail, a locally produced sparking hard cider with a pour of locally produced pear brandy. (Yes, I said Pear Brandy.) The Friday noshing hour brought everyone together for a chance to meet, greet, and eat.

Patti Gauch

The energetic sessions with Patti focused on, you guessed it: ENERGY. She had it, and then some! She willingly and sharply shared her wealth of knowledge. Her opinions were cultivated over years of experience in the children's book industry, and she delivered her impassioned declarations with a twinkle in her eye and a self-effacing humor. Patti doesn't mince her words, but she communicated her devotion to children's books with an eagerness and excitement for language at its very foundation––the voice, the sentence, the word.

Linda Urban

Linda was effervescent. She dazzled us all with her Point of View workshops, and shared many passages from beloved and important examples. (If you haven't read the entire Gary D. Schmidt oeuvre, get thee to your nearest indie bookstore, stat!) Linda invited people to read their weekend exercise assignments in fireside conversations late on Saturday, and her warmth and enthusiasm, as well as her careful attention to people's work, won everyone over.

Food, glorious food!

In between filling your head with all sorts of NoTaW (Nuggets of Truth and Wisdom), a person gets hungry. The buffet offerings kept us going, and they were excellently stocked for those of us (ahem) whose eyes were larger than their tummies. There was plenty of free time scheduled, for writing or walking or socializing. The Inn staff was gracious and helpful, and those of us who arrived as individuals departed as a cohesive and grateful unit.

Jolie Stekly

There really are no words for how incredibly Jolie Stekly took care of everyone, mentors and attendees alike, and allowed us all to focus on the experience of crafting and thinking about our own work. This is really her retreat, and I felt lucky to share in it. (Not to mention the chance to step away from the roles of Mom and Spouse for a couple of days.)

And my car? Unfortunately, I think I'm looking at a new battery in my near future, but it got me home––a refreshed and inspired version of my former self. And a writer with a lot of food for thought. (Did I mention the food?)
Here's a collection of faces and folks from the 2013 Weekend on the Water Retreat. Cheers, all!

Signing 1, 2, 3

Member Beth Stanton has shared a couple of pics from the booksigning by members Joe and Wendy Wahman (left to right, in case there was the slightest doubt) at Bellevue's University Book Store on Saturday. They signed their wintery title, SNOWBOY 1, 2, 3. Yay for books, music, and enraptured young readers!

Lee & Low spread the word

Lee & Low Books, a publisher specializing in diversity, has been running a series on the diversity gap in publishing. Their goal is to deconstruct some of the myths about diversity in books, and in turn to encourage more diversity at all levels––including among authors/illustrators. 

In spreading the word about their mission, the publisher wanted to pass along some pertinent posts that might be of interest to writers for children and members of SCBWI: Literary Agents on the Diversity Gap in Publishing, True or False: Multicultural Books Don't Sell (A Bookseller's perspective).

In sharing these posts, Lee & Low hopes you'll offer reactions and/or feedback. To let them know what you think, click here.

Amazon Bestie!

Member Suzanne Selfors' THE SASQUATCH ESCAPE has been named an Amazon Best Children's Book of 2013! It's also one of the "Top 20 Children's Books of 2013" in the "Ages 6-8: Chapter Books" section. CONGRATS, CONGRATS, CONGRATS! The sasquatch would approve, we're sure. Congrats, Suzanne!

Wanted: One creative geek!

Calling all you Kid Literate Website nerds! Your SCBWI region is in need of a Webmaster. SCBWI International (the mothership) has created a brand new website at scbwi.org. It's based in Wordpress and will soon replace scbwi-washington.org. We need someone with Wordpress savvy to migrate our information from one site to the other and then to keep the site up-to-date.

This fabulous job could be yours! And it gets better… if you volunteer for this Advisory Committee position, you'll enjoy fabulous perks and endless laughs & camaraderie with your fellow adcommers! Not enough? Did you know that volunteering for adcom gives you some of our local programming for free? And wait, there's more. If you stick around long enough, you get complimentary membership in SCBWI (That means no annual due paid to the LA office.)

Now, who's in? If you're interested in this position, please contact your Co-RA Dana Arnim (D1) at dana@dannaarnim.com. Thanks!

Jez Alborough at Tacoma Public Library

Jez Alborough, the author and illustrator of over 45 books for young readers, will appear at the Tacoma Public Library on Saturday, November 16 for two free book talks / performances.

The internationally acclaimed best-selling children's author will read from his new book, Nat the Cat’s Sunny Smile, and Six Little Chicks. Featuring singing and storytelling and book-signing, this promises to be a fun-packed event. 

WHEN: Saturday, November 16

WHERE: Downtown Tacoma main library (10:30am); Moore Library (2:30pm). See TPL home page for locations and addresses.

DETAILS: For more information, visit the Tacoma Public Library's website. 

 

Published YA authors Facebook group

PAL young-adult authors, this one's for you!

Seattle-based author Katherine Kirkpatrick (The Snow Baby, Mysterious Bones) is starting a Facebook group for published YA authors to support each other with encouragement, practical advice, and book promotion on social media (Twitter, Facebook, Amazon, GoodReads, etc.). If you're interested in being a part of all this virtual action and all the benefits it could have for you, please contact Katherine through email or Facebook.

For more information about Katherine, and her writing projects, please click on her blog. Her very first post just went up, featuring an interview she gave to a high-schooler. 

 

Southern Network: hear Nikki and get a sneak preview

Our South Sound Network, which meets in Olympia, is gearing up for a dynamic winter, thanks to network coordinator Tony Dorrough. First, renowned South Sound artist and author/illustrator Nikki McClure spoke to the group at the Evergreen College library on Tuesday. Now the network is currently trying to wrangle a visit from former South Sound member and successful author Marissa Meyer and is planning to host a representative from Kindle who can discuss e-publication. Finally, rumor has it our Southern and Northern networks might bring on the implosion of the universe by coming together, like matter and anti-matter, for a Bi-Network Schmooze in January!

Stay tuned here and at our website for details as these events are firmed up and you're in the South Sound area, or touch base with Tony at anthonydorrough@rocketmail.com. Yay, networks!

Book giveaway

Member Lois V. Harris, the author of Mary Cassatt: Impressionist Painter, has an interview live on  SCBWI's California Central Coast member Robin Dobson's blog. The interview includes a chance to win a copy of Lois' Charlie Russell book, along with a beeswax modeling kit. Check it out and enter!

Great national kicker-offer!

SCBWI Western Washington's Fall 2013 Inside Story happened Sunday evening, and what a great night! Mockingbird Books at Greenlake was a fabulous venue, and its booksellers fabulous hosts for a standing room only crowd. Coordinator Deb Lund owned the place behind the microphone and kept the ravening librarians in line, at least until they swarmed downstairs to buy loads of books and swill wine.

Before then, though, award-winning member Laura Kvasnosky gave the crowd the Inside Story on the Inside Story, explaining some of the event's origins and history — very timely given that our event has now gone international, with other SCBWI regions participating. Rumor has it the inaugural Inside Story in Massachusetts was so successful, that region hopes to make it an annual event. (And just think, we get to do it TWICE a year!)

Thanks to all who helped with this, past and present. It might've been member Kathryn Galbraith who noted that the Inside Story is the most joyous event we hold. And she's right!

New contest for stories for beginning readers of all ages

A new contest is now open for those — writer, readers, teachers, and others — with an interest in stories for teen and adult beginning readers. With over 20 percent of US teens and adults lacking fundamental literacy skills, there simply isn’t enough compelling and accessible content out there.

The Poses Family Foundation has partnered with Benetech, the National Center for Learning Disabilities, CAST, and Orca Book Publishers to launch Story Share: The $50,000 writing contest to benefit teen and adult beginning readers. Story Share seeks to inspire writers and educators in the United States to author engaging stories with age-appropriate characters and themes for readers of age 13+ who read at a beginning or intermediate level.

Find more details or check out their Facebook page. Anyone who might be interested in writing a story can enter, but do read the rules carefully; it appears that entrants give up many or all rights to their work.  Be informed.

The contest is open now through December 8, 2013. Winners will be announced in January. More information is available from Louise Baigelman at lkraft@posesfamilyfoundation.org.

We can't get enough! And there's MORE!

Last Sunday's "Make Art and Meet the Illustrators" Day was so much fun that we can't help but post more photos.

And in making you all feel regretful at not making it last weekend, wipe those tears. And noses!
On Thursday, December 12, our holiday meeting shifts venues to the Convention Center, for a combination of a celebratory artists' reception AND chapter meeting! There will be more details to follow in the coming weeks, but mark your calendars and get ready to take in this one-of-a-kind experience, as well as the opportunity to catch up on all the latest good news. 

Happy art-making with Elizabeth Rose Stanton.

Standing room only.

Wahman and Watson work well with willing artists.

Kathryn Dennis helps kids crack codes.

Monsters University, employing the Kevan Atteberry curriculum.

Oscar said he drew this eclipse on a dare. Daring!