Kid Lit Drink Night--WEDNESDAY!!

WHO'S IN?

Come join your peeps for a tipple. 

Come join your peeps for some creative reinforcement.

Come join your peeps because, well, it's Kid Lit Drink Night.

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

Good news for Sharon!

Sharon Mentyka just sent in this fabulous announcement:

My middle grade chapter book, BREATHE TO BOTH SIDES, was the 1st Place Winner in the Middle Grade category at this year’s Pacific Northwest Writers Association Literary Contest. The book tells the story of two 12-year old girls—one white, the other black—whose lives intersect across the space of 35 years when a whites-only swimming pool, buried to avoid the prospect of integrated swimming in the 1970s, is discovered in their small Southern town.

 

 

Congratulations, Sharon! Great news!

 

 

 

Weekend on the Water, 2015 edition

Wow! Do we have a retreat for you!

The 2015 Weekend on the Water Retreat
November 13–15
Dumas Bay Centre

 

 

 

The theme: "Shedding Light on the Murky Middle"

 

We are incredibly fortunate to be joined by: 

 

Katherine Jacobs, Senior Editor, Roaring Press Books

Independent Editor Noa Wheeler (formerly with Henry Holt Books for Young Readers)

Through lecture and workshops, Katherine and Noa will tap into their wisdom and experience to throw you the lifeline you need to drag your manuscript back from the Murky Middle—or better yet, keep it from getting there in the first place.

In addition to excellent tutelage and superb companionship, Weekend on the Water provides:

- Two nights’ lodging in a private room with a writing desk.

- Private half-baths available for an additional fee, on a first-come, first-served basis.

- A limited number of openings for writers who would prefer to lodge elsewhere, again, first-come, first-served.

- Six catered meals (with great respect paid to dietary restrictions)

- Opportunities to engage with faculty

- Free time for writing, walks, resting, and networking

- Optional peer critique groups

- Planned social activities

Retreat costs range from $300 to $500. The application process opens on August 7. Watch your email for the announcement. 

NOTE: Apply early for the greatest range of housing options.

 

Questions? Email Lois Brandt (Lois@loisbrandt.com)

Inland NW Annual Conference

Our sister chapter, SCBWI Inland NW, will be hosting their annual conference on September 19, 2015 in Spokane. To learn more about the location, panels, and registration details, please click HERE.

Mary Cronk Farrell, the chapter RA, promises a wonderful day of learning and communing with fellow kid-lit folks. And, she so temptingly shared two special guests who will be coming, as well as SCBWI-WWA's wonderful author/illustrator Jennifer K. Mann:

Associate Editor  Joanna Cardenas, Viking

Agent John Cusick, Greenhouse Literary

If you want to share rides or want to find out if your fellow Western WA neighbors are heading East in September, please use our SCBWI-WWA Facebook Group page and connect in a more timely way.

It's going to be a GOOD one! And, in knowing that our own regional conference won't be held again until 2017, you might be inclined to take advantage of this chance to share your work and get some nuts and bolts served up by the experts. Just saying....

 

Deb Caletti's new book and appearances

(This is straight from YA author Deb Caletti herself):

 

Dear friends, family, colleagues and favorite readers–––

I wanted to tell you that my second novel for adults, THE SECRETS SHE KEEPS, was just released a few days ago.  I'm really excited about this one. SECRETS is about two sisters with troubled marriages who unite at their aunt's former divorce ranch in Nevada.  Taking place in both the present and in the past - 1951, one of the last years the glamorous ranches existed - SECRETS explores a forgotten period of history, as well as the subjects of love, marriage, and sisterhood.  Readers are calling it "poignant", "beautiful", "poetic", "engrossing, complete with breathtaking vistas," and Booklist says, "Caletti once again combines interesting characters, pitch perfect dialogue, and an intriguing plot to tell a deeply memorable story."

Upcoming events:

Third Place Books (Lake Forest Park), July 31 at 6:30 

Elliott Bay Books, Seattle, August 12, 7pm

Queen Anne Books, Seattle, August 13, 7pm

Lois and some serious kudos!

We already know that Lois Brandt's picture book, MADDI'S FRIDGE, 

has won some incredible accolades since its publication. 

 

Well, they just keep coming!

 

Lois is thrilled to share that her book, which has not only been honored as:

 

2014 Christopher Award Winner

2015/2016 Washington Children's Picture Book Award Nominee

One of the Best Indie Picture Books of 2014 by Foreword Reviews

A Top 2014 Mighty Girl Books For Younger Readers

 

 

but now:

 

the 2015 ILA Children’s and Young Adults’ Book Award for Primary Fiction!!

 

 

Congratulations, Lois, on all your well-deserved praise! Cheers! 

 

 

Book it with Wendy!

Bookmaking Workshop with Wendy Wahman

 

When:  Saturday, August 8th

Where: Mockingbird Books: 7220 Woodlawn Ave NE, Seattle    /   206.518.5886
Time:  1-3pm
Cost:  $5
Ages:  7 & up
Limit 20 participants, please email  info@mockingbirdbooksgl.com to reserve a spot.

Let's make an 'Insight Book' together.  What's an Insight Book? It's art and writing, collage and doodling. It’s improvisation with yourself. You start with nothing in mind, then a line or color triggers an, ah ha! and you put that down. One line (written or drawn) leads to another.

Anyone can make one. Non-artists surprise themselves by making art.
When you’re done, you a hold a book in your hands. Your book. Your insights.

Creativity strengthens your brain by exercising the associative muscles of your mind Plus it’s really fun – but I don't have to tell you guys.

Martha, Martha, Martha!

Our very own Martha Brockenbrough, who will soon participate as a panelist in the LA Summer Conference's SCBWI Success Stories session, is featured in the latest issue of the SCBWI Summer Bulletin! Martha's had a very busy, exciting year, with FOUR starred reviews for THE GAME OF LOVE AND DEATH, as well as many appearances nationwide at conferences and bookstores.

Photo by Emerald England.

To read the full story, click here. Or, enjoy your copy when it hits your mailbox.

Published pro event this fall

I want to let all our published pros know about a great opportunity coming up this fall! YALSA's YA Lit Symposium will be taking place in Portland, OR, this year, November 6-8, 2015. I went to the one in Austin last year, and it was a blast! If folks have recent or soon-to-be-released YA books, they should see if they can get their publishers to sponsor them. More information about the conference can be found here (http://www.ala.org/yalsa/yasymposium). And the specific details to relay to publishers is below:

Author Participation   —  in-kind
YALSA’s Program Officer for Conferences & Events is happy to work with publishers to feature authors at the symposium.  Opportunities include a Book Blitz, panel presentations and keynoters for Sat. and a Sun. lunches.  Please contact Nichole  O’Connor at noconnor@ala.org or 312.280.4387.  Additional ideas for author participation are welcome.  This is an especially great opportunity for any authors you may have in the local area.

Thanks!

Laurie Ann Thompson

Graphic Artists Guild webinar Thurs

COMING THIS WEEK! 

On: Thursday, July 23 at 7:00pm in PDT
To register: Click here!

Sara on a Sunday!

You're never too far away from SCBWI-WWA!

While on vacation back East, imagine the thrill I just experienced as I opened the New York Times Book Review this morning over breakfast, where the name SARA NICKERSON fairly leapt off the page in the Children's Book section (apologies for the blur––I blame my hands, which were shaking with excitement and purpose):

Sara Nickerson gets noticed!

Her just-out latest middle-grade novel, THE SECRETS OF BLUEBERRIES, BROTHERS, MOOSE & ME, received a lovely review. What a nice way to launch! Congratulations to Sara, and for what sounds like a really great read. So well deserved!

NOTE: Sara will be at Ravenna's THIRD PLACE BOOKS on Thursday, July 23 at 7pm.  Come help her celebrate!

Richard Jesse Watson's workshop

The wonderful and wise Richard Jesse Watson has spaces still open in his upcoming workshop. What a great way to dig into your craft this summer!

Workshop: The Art of Writing for Children

with Author/Illustrator Richard Jesse Watson

July 18 & 19, 2015 • Saturday & Sunday

The Writers' Workshoppe/Imprint Books

Port Townsend, WA

Watson will demonstrate character development and story structure, with an emphasis on the picture book. Find the way back to your Island of Wild Things through interactive and personal writing exercises. This workshop provides tools and tangible steps to help launch your stories. Bring your paper, pen, pencil and eraser! For full details and registration information, please click here.