Sunday, July 31, 2016

SCBWI MEMBERSHIP! Time to Renew?





Make sure your membership is up to date!

We want to make sure our communications go to EVERY member in Western Washington. If you did NOT receive an email from us yesterday, it’s a good time to check on your SCBWI International membership status. If you’re already a member, your membership remains active for one year from the time you joined or last renewed. Not only does a membership give you a discount on SCBWI WWA events, including the Monthly Programming Passport, there are many other benefits too:


  • Assistance in finding or forming a critique group
  • Free participation in Inside Story, our twice-yearly salon to celebrate local authors’ and illustrators’ new books (for P.A. L. members only)
  • Inclusion in the SCBWI International speaker directory (for P.A.L. members only)
  • The ability to submit news and events to our region’s blog, The Chinook Update
  • Member discounts and special offers from SCBWI International as well as SCBWI Western Washington
  • Subscription to the Bulletin
  • Access to awards and grants, online resources, and insider publications

Membership in the SCBWI is open to anyone with an active interest in children’s literature or media. A passion for children’s literature is the #1 criterion. Dues are $95 for the first year and $80 each renewing year.

How to check your status? The quickest and easiest way to check your status is to login at www.scbwi.org. You’ll be directed to your Member Home page where you can check your status under the membership tab as well as update your profile or contact information. Click Renew Now on the left sidebar if you need to renew your membership. You will be prompted to renew with credit card information, and you’ll receive a confirmation when it is accepted. If you have edited your billing address for the credit card, your mailing address will not be disturbed.


You are automatically on the list for the SCBWI WWA chapter which matches your mailing address, and you can go to wwa.scbwi.org for our local chapter information.

How to login to scbwi.org?  Your login ID is your email address.  If you’re unsure of your Password, click “Forgot password?” and a message will be emailed to you with your login information. If you have any trouble logging in, please email membership@scbwi.org.

Renewal by mail or phone is also possible if you’d prefer – just send a letter with a check of US$95 (to join) or US$80 (to renew) to the address:  SCBWI - Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators | 8271 Beverly Blvd. | Los Angeles | CA | 90048,  or call at 323-782-1010 Pacific Time at any time.

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Get Up Close with Librarians

PAL members, here’s an exciting chance to introduce hundreds of state teacher/librarians to your latest book and your school visit program! SCBWI Western Washington is hosting a session at the Washington Library Media Association annual conference on October 15, and you can apply to participate.

At the event, which will be similar to our semi-annual Inside Story events, authors and illustrators will briefly share the stories behind their books and how they might present them at a school or library visit. Then conference participants will have a chance to chat informally with the presenters, pick up swag and info, and get purchased books signed. The WLMA program describes it like this:

Behind the Books: Up Close with the Creators
Enjoy fast and furious presentations (think speed dating meets TED talks) from local authors and illustrators about their books, then mingle with the presenters for an informal meet-and-greet and signing.

The skinny:
Where: Highline Community College in Des Moines
When:
  • The event: Saturday, October 15, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
  • The application period: Opens Monday, August 15
Who: PAL members with titles published in 2016*, in two groups:
o   Pre-K and elementary grade readers (through sixth grade)
o   Middle-school and high-school readers (grades 6 – 12)
How many: 20 eligible participants in each age group — first-come, first-served
Our bookseller: Secret Garden Books


How to apply to participate:
1.     First, check your SCBWI membership and PAL status and renew or update as needed. Membership status will be confirmed for all participants, so check your Member Profile at www.scbwi.org now. See http://www.scbwi.org/about/levels-of-membership-2/  for more information about membership levels. See http://www.scbwi.org/pal-publishers/ for information about PAL publishers and special circumstances.
2.     Watch for the application period to open on August 15. We will post the info and link here on the Chinook Update blog and send out a Cvent mail to all current SCBWI-WWA PAL members.
3.     On August 15 or as soon thereafter as you can, apply by completing the Google form indicated when we declare the application period open. You’ll need your 2016 book title, publisher, publication date, etc.
4.     We’ll confirm participation and provide more information by August 31.

So mark your calendars for August 15 and get ready to apply!


FAQ:
Q: What’s the cost?
A: Absolutely zero! This opportunity is free for PAL members of SCBWI Western Washington who have a new title released or releasing in 2016.

Q: Can I apply for both sessions?
A: Choose the reader age group that your book most targets and that you’d most like to meet with at a school or library visit. If your book could realistically fit in either session, please indicate that in your application and we will consider you for your second choice if your first choice is already full.

Q: *What if my book came out in 2015 or is scheduled for 2017?
A: Because space is very limited and the event’s purpose is to help librarians identify books and potential visitors they don’t already know about, we’re starting with 2016 books. If we don’t reach the participant limit, we’ll put out a call for more, using an extended publication range, so watch the Chinook Update. And don’t forget that 2017 books will be eligible for forthcoming Inside Story events.

Q: What if my paperback came out in 2016?
A: If it’s a paperback original, you’re eligible. If it’s a paperback edition of a previous hardcover title, we’re sorry, but spaces will be reserved for original publication in 2016. (See the answer above.)

Q: Can I apply if I live in Oregon or Eastern Washington or anywhere else?
A: No; only members of SCBWI Western Washington are eligible this time. If you live in another region, talk to your region leaders about conducting similar events in your region.

Q: Is there a waiting list?
A: Yes; we’ll automatically build a short wait list so that if someone can’t make it, we can quickly fill that space. We’ll let you know as soon as possible if you’re accepted into the event or on the waitlist.

Q: What should be in my presentation?
A: We’ll provide more guidance when we send participant confirmations, but expect to talk for 2 minutes about the story behind your book, what you like to share with readers, and how you bring a unique experience to students at school visits.

Q: What if I don’t do school or library visits? Can I still showcase my book?
A: Yes, you can still apply to present your book. Have you thought about putting together a school visit program? :)

Q: What if I still have questions?
A: Email your hard-working SCBWI volunteers and PAL liaisons Laurie Ann Thompson or Joni Sensel.


Sunday, July 24, 2016

Author Event Sign-ups at Page 2 Books



Bill Virgin and his wife, Jenny Cole, co-owners of Page 2 Books in Burien are planning a series of events this summer and fall to have multiple authors read, talk about their books, meet fans and sign their books. The events will be held at the Burien branch of the King County Library System, a half block from their store. You can join the ranks of authors Eric Ode, Thor Hanson, Wendy Wahman, Megan Morrison and Martha Brockenbrough.

They plan to have a session featuring children's-book authors (picture, early chapter and beginning readers) at 10:30 a.m. Saturday Aug. 20. There will be a similar session in October or November featuring YA authors.

Bill and Jenny would like to invite interested authors to participate in these events. This is a great opportunity to introduce new authors and new books (or to promote older titles) in individual appearances at the store in the coming months.

If you are interested contact Bill at bill.virgin@yahoo.com or Jenny at books@page2books.com. Or call the store at 206-2248-7248.

Happy Reading!


Saturday, July 16, 2016

The Great Summer Critique-Nic!!



Don’t let your writing or illustration project languish just because its summer! Take the first five pages of your manuscript, illustrated manuscript or your artwork and pack it up with your lunch and get to the ... wait for it ...

Great Summer Critique-nic!

    When: Saturday, August 20, 2016

      Time:  12 - 4pm

      Where: The Evergreen State College
                  Olympia, WA

      Cost:    FREE!

      Registration Deadline: August 13

Participants will receive feedback from a small group of their peers. This event offers both writers and illustrators a chance to experience how critiques can help strengthen your work and to bond with other local SCBWI members. Those already in a critique group will find feedback from a fresh set of eyes and ears invaluable.
Shortly after arriving, we will do our best to pair WRITERS and ILLUSTRATORS, AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATORS into small groups of approximately five people. Everyone will get a chance to submit their work and receive constructive comments from the entire group.

Pre-register by August 13 by emailing Critique Coordinator Tony Dorrough at tonyseattle@live.com. Pre-registration will give us an accurate count of participants and make sure your name badge is waiting for you.
The Great Summer Critique-nic will be held at Evergreen’s “Red Square,” main pavilion in the middle of campus. Follow the signs to the (free!) parking lot

Questions and registration: tonyseattle@live.com

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Halloween in July - Book Launch Party for Garth Stein and his New Picture Book



Garth Stein is the author of Enzo Races in the Rain!, based on the New York Times bestselling novel The Art of Racing in the Rain (and its tween adaptation, Racing in the Rain). His other works include A Sudden Light, How Evan Broke His Head and Other Secrets, Raven Stole the Moon, and a play, Brother Jones. He is the cofounder of Seattle7Writers.org, a nonprofit collective of sixty-two Northwest authors dedicated to fostering a passion for the written word. A former documentary filmmaker, Garth was co-producer of the Academy Award-winning short film The Lunch Date and director of When Your Head's Not a Head, It's a Nut, which chronicles his sister's brain surgery for epilepsy. Garth lives in Seattle with his family and his dog, Comet.

In celebration of the launch of this, Garth's third picture book, we'll be having Halloween in July, complete with costumes and trick or treats.

Date:          Tuesday July 26, 2016

Time:          7:00pm

Location:    Secret Garden Books
                     2214 MW Market Street
                     Ballard, WA

For more information, contact Suzanne Perry, Events Manager at Secret Garden Books, Suzanne@secretgardenbooks.com



Saturday, July 9, 2016

PAL members: Get listed in our forthcoming Author/Illustrator Speaker Directory!

Are you an SCBWI member at the PAL level? Do you enjoy school visits and workshops? Here’s your chance to woo schools and get more speaking opportunities through your own listing in SCBWI Western Washington’s forthcoming (and whizbangy) Author/Illustrator Directory.

Another directory's full page space

The full-color, printed directory — which will include author photos, book covers, and information about why your school visit is the best one between the Pacific Ocean and the Cascade Crest — will be distributed to hundreds of librarians and teachers through regional events, including at this fall’s Washington Library Media Association conference and Inside Story events. We’ll also provide copies for as many interested teachers, librarians, and booksellers in the region as possible, and participants each will receive a few copies for distribution to their personal contacts, too. A minimum of 1,000 copies will be produced; if participation (and thus funding) permits, we’ll print more to distribute over time.

Similar sourcebooks have been successful for other SCBWI regions, making it easy for schools and other organizations to identify local authors whose books and presentations mesh well with curriculum and programming needs. (See a sample page above.) We expect this publication to have a shelf life of at least 18 months. It's a souped-up version of our long-ago eKite Directory!

Three space options and fees
One-third-page ads
Participating SCBWI members at the PAL level may select from three space options, with graduated fees that cover the cost of printing. (As usual, all labor for assembling the book is being donated by your hardworking Advisory Committee and other volunteers.)

Your choices:
  • One-third page ads ($35): room for one book cover, one head shot, contact info, and up to approximately 170 words of text, which may include the focus of your visits or workshops, author bio info, the availability of lesson plans, etc.  
  • One-half page ads ($55): room for an author photo and 2-3 book covers or “in action” photos, plus up to about 300 words of text.
  • Full page ads ($100): room for an author photo and at least three book covers or “in action” photos, plus up to about 475 words of text.  

All participants will need at least one fairly high-resolution (minimum 300 dpi, minimum 1” square, tiff or jpg) cover photo, an author photo to the same specs, and the ability to provide the text submission in a Word doc or rtf file. (If that’s a problem for you, contact us and we’ll see if we can work out an alternative.) Submitted text will receive minor copyediting for consistency only. Any text that exceeds space limitations will be cut based on editor’s discretion. Your text generally should focus on school presentations, curriculum tie-ins, classroom activity ideas, speaking experience, or other topics that will sell your speaking abilities (not just your books).

Timing
Payment deadline (received by SCBWI WWA): Aug. 1, 2016
Final content deadline: Aug. 5, 2016
Directories distribution will begin: Oct. 1, 2016

Minimum participation threshold
To cover printing costs, we need a minimum of 30 participants. We don't expect to have a problem, but if we don’t get that many, we’ll cancel the project and refund all fees.

How to participate:
It’s easy!
  1. Mail a check for the proper amount, made out to SCBWI WWA, to Joni Sensel, 58402 114th Street East, Enumclaw, WA 98022, with your full name and email address and the space size you want. (Hint: Doing this right away, rather than in three weeks, will help ensure that we don’t cancel the project for apparent lack of participation. The absolute payment deadline will be Aug. 1—received, not postmarked.)
  2. Joni will confirm receipt of your payment and PAL eligibility and email detailed instructions for submitting your text and photos.
  3. Follow those instructions to submit your text and photos no later than Aug. 5.

 PAL members, watch your email inbox for a reminder invitation with these details, too.

FAQ
Q: What if I don’t have a new or recent title?
A: Any PAL member (including members whose PAL status is based on magazine publication) may choose to participate. All that’s required is an interest in doing school visits or similar events.

Q: Can I participate if I’m not an SCBWI member or if I’m a Full or Associate member?
A: Sorry, no. Participation is a benefit of membership and is specifically designed to support the careers of PAL members. Many other SCBWI WWA benefits are available to members at other levels.

Membership status will be confirmed for all participants; make sure your SCBWI profile is up to date before applying. See http://www.scbwi.org/about/levels-of-membership-2/  for more information about membership levels. See http://www.scbwi.org/pal-publishers/ for information about PAL publishers and special circumstances.

Q: Can I participate if I'm an SCBWI member in another region?
A: Because we're promoting regional authors and illustrators for regional school visits and events, we're limiting participation to Western Washington this time. But try talking to your region leaders about doing your own! We're very grateful to Mary Cronk Farrell and the Inter-Mountain Regions for sharing their experience on their successful sourcebook, and we'd be happy to pass along those tips, if you'd like.

Q: Are there any free or scholarship-supported listing options?
A: No. As a nonprofit organization, we need participants to cover the cost of printing, depending on the amount of page space requested. But consider it an investment in your career, or get creative —ask a loved one or friend to fund the space for a birthday or other special occasion, try a small Kickstarter-style campaign, or engage your critique group in a fund-raising bake sale!

Q: Can I get less than a third page, such as a quarter or an eighth page?
A: No; as volunteers, we need to strike a balance between providing options and keeping the process manageable, and that requires some limits and templates. The available options should meet most needs.

Q: Can I submit illustrations rather than photos?
A: Sure, as long as you can provide the required file types and stay within your purchased space limitation.

Q: Can I pay by credit card rather than check?
A: Sorry, no. You can send us a money order from a bank or post office if you no longer use paper checks.

Q: What if my check bounces?
A: We'll put a Mr. Yuk sticker in the catalog instead of your photo and tell people you voted for [insert objectionable presidential candidate here]. Okay, not really. If you’re that close to overdrawn, spend the money on macaroni instead, okay?

Friday, July 8, 2016

Meet Some of the Greatest Artists of Our Time - Book Signing with Lois V. Harris





Meet Lois V. Harris
Author and illustrator of the following pictures books:
 
 

 
 Mary Cassatt: Impressionist Painter, illustrated with Cassatt's colorful artwork, this inspiring biography highlights her beloved portraits of mothers and children along with lesser-known work and shows Cassatt's range of talent. Ages 5 and up.
Charlie Russell: Tale-Telling Cowboy Artist, an award-winning biography about the greatest artist and storyteller of the old American West, illustrated with images of Russell’s drawings, paintings, and sculptures. Ages 5 and up.
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
Maxfield Parrish: Painter of Magical Make-Believe, the life of the popular artist known for his imagination and style who helped develop the future of visual arts accompanied by images of Parrish’s ads, calendars, landscapes, murals, posters, and children’s book illustrations. Ages 5 and up.
 

Lois will sign her three artist picture book biographies at Gig Harbor’s Summer Art Festival in the Literary Corner at Timberland Bank, Saturday, July 16, 2016 from 10 AM to 5 PM.

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Book Launch and Cake Walk for Jaime Temairik's New Picture Book


Jaimie Temairik has got her very own, first picture book both illustrated and written by her. Sure, she's doodled illustrations for other people's writings before, (Bigfoot Does Not Like Birthday Parties, by Eric Ode, and How to Negotiate Everything by David Spellman). But for this one, the writer she's doodling for is none other than Jaimie. And that is her!

Alice & Lucy Will Work for Bunk Beds is about a couple of gluten-loving sister bears. Bears who are sisters. With a penchant for baking and for getting their way. Start polishing your cake walk shoes, and plan to hit this party on a Sunday afternoon after you stroll the Ballard Sunday Market. Which is the best darned farmers market in all the land. With an old fashioned cake walk (which will include several lucky winners going home with several gourmet homemade cakes) this is the not-to-be-missed party of early summer. And, it's free!

DATE:                Sunday July 24


TIME:                 1:00pm



LOCATION:       Secret Garden Books
                            2214 NW Market St.
                             Ballard, WA
            
CONTACT:        Suzanne Perry
                            Events Manager
                            206-789-5006
                            suzanne@secretgardenbooks.com

EVENT:              http://www.secretgardenbooks.com/event/jaime-temairik-alice-lucy-will-work-bunk-beds

AUTHOR BLOG: http://cocoastomp.blogspot.com/



Monday, July 4, 2016

Calling All Writers Who Teach

Help The Charlie Browns in the Sno-Isle Communities


Jackie Parker, Lead Librarian for Readers' Services is soliciting proposals for a series of workshops, classes, lectures, and presentations called Write Now: Write, Revise, Publish, and Find an Audience. Proposals covering any step of the writing and publishing process from any perspective (traditional publishing, indie/self-publishing, fiction, non-fiction, author, agent, bookseller, marketing, etc.) will be considered. The strongest proposals will be included in a course list that 21 community libraries can select to book at their locations. Selected proposals will include clearly measurable learning outcomes that will be measured in a post-event survey.
 
Sno-Isle is hoping to sponsor between 15-20 sessions between October and December 2016. If successful, Sno-Isle will continue to offer the Write Now series through 2017.
 
Proposals will ONLY be accepted through the Request for Proposals form. Proposals for fall sessions are due July 20. Sessions should range between one and four hours. If you are interested in offering a longer session or if you have any additional questions, please contact me.
 
For additional information, please see the attached instructions and peruse the RFP. Please feel free to share this request with your colleagues.
 
We look forward to working with you! 
 
Thank you,
 
Jackie Parker, MLIS
Lead Librarian for Readers’ Services