Sign on for net neutrality

Are you an Author's Guild member? (If not, perhaps you should be.) Read the Guild's letter to the FCC regarding the upcoming vote on net neutrality and, if you agree that the regulations about to be repealed should be upheld, sign on here.

For better or worse, SCBWI has traditionally stayed away from most political advocacy, other than those directly related to literacy. The Guild takes a much more active approach to issues that affect authors, illustrators, and publishers, ranging from copyright infringement to First Amendment topics. That's one of the many reasons to consider Guild membership, too. Learn more.

Wednesday, December 13 - Book Events that Change Lives

Please join us on Wednesday, December 13, at Seattle Pacific University (SPU) in Demaray Hall from 7-9 pm. We’ve got goings-on a-plenty, from our pre-meeting Annual Cookie Exchange to a stellar panel talk on “Book Events That Change Lives.” We’ll also be offering Passport holders a last chance to sign up for the Great Critique held on January 20, 2018. You won’t want to miss this meeting!

What: Book Events that Change Lives. Join Kim Baker as she moderates a panel with Linda Johns, and authors, librarians, and media specialists who host and present at a variety of library and school events. Learn how to market yourself to public and private schools, the benefits of a book signing at a public library, how to build audience, and more!
When: Wednesday, December 13, 7-9 pm.
Where: SPU, Demaray Hall. Parking is free in commuter lots after 5 p.m. except where noted by signs.

The Official Cookie Exchange Rules:
· Make at least one dozen cookies – three cookies on a plate to be judged. The rest are for general scarfing.
· Label the plate with your name, your category (most beautiful or most delicious) and the name of your cookie.
· Set them up before 6:30 pm. You will be directed to the setup area by Snack Mistress Milagros.
· Contest closes at 6:45 pm, to give judges time to argue about “mouthfeel,” “depth of flavor” and “locally-foraged toothsome essence.”

Winner will receive PRIZES. FAME. GLORY!

And don’t forget the annual Book Exchange!
· Bring up to five kid-lit books you no longer have room for.
· Take only as many books as you bring.

Extra books will be donated to Kinder Konnection (http://kinderkonnection.org/ and https://www.facebook.com/kinderkonnection/) a non-profit that helps underserved school children in Washington State.

Regional December Events

December 2

Martha Brockenbrough and Susan Adrian fill Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park with holiday cheer for LOVE, SANTA and NUTCRACKED.

December 3

Join Janet Lee Carey for a Chickens Christmas story time and sing along at The Neverending Bookshop. For more family fun, attend the  Bothell Tree Lighting ceremony at 5 pm, then come to the bookstore for cozy cocoa, yummy treats and the Chickens Christmas Celebration! 

December 3

HERE WE ARE with Oliver Jeffers at University Bookstore. Tickets required.

December 6

The Critique Group Roadshow hits Issaquah!

NETWORK MEETINGS!

December 6

Northern Network Meeting! Come share new work and get feedback on it. Bring a picture book manuscript, a few pages of a novel, or a few illustrations, and we’ll celebrate your creativity!

(Don’t be timid. We promise not to throw rotten tomatoes at you! :) )

Date: Wednesday, December 6, 2017, 7:00 p.m.

Location: The Bellingham Barnes & Noble (4099 Meridian Street)

Questions? Email Rebecca at rebecca_vanslyke@hotmail.com. 

December 6

The Other Side: SCBWI Peninsula Kidlit Drink Night, Wednesday December 6th  6 pm at The Pourhouse. We have the “Living Room Space” reserved. Just look for the friendly faces!

Share news, tips, support and conversation. Hope to see new and old faces, pre-published, published children’s book authors and illustrators and those involved in children’s books in any way.

December 9

Suzanne Kaufman reads Confiscated at Third Place Books in Seward Park.

December 9

Corinna Luyken will be on hand at Secret Garden for the Ballard Art Walk.

December 13

SCBWI WWA December meeting, book donation, and cookie-fest! 

December 15

The Whatsits (Kevan Atteberry, Ben Clanton, Jennifer Mann, Elizabeth Rose Stanton, and Wendy Wahman!) will be at University Bookstore talking and signing books. 

December 18 ⛄️

In lieu of an office party, join us an SCBWI WWA Holiday Happy Hour, 6-8, at Percy's in Ballard! Good cheer, HH prices on food and drinks, plus a tarot reader on site. Kick off the holidays with some creative comrades! 

December 20

The Critique Group Road Show hits Tacoma!

Events will be added periodically.  Did we miss something? 

Email us at news.scbwiwwa@gmail.com.

Double-check times and whatnot with bookstores before you set out for events. If you snap a great picture, tag us at @scbwiwwa on Instagram and/or Twitter, and we'll try to repost. If you have good news or an event coming up, let us know!

Support book culture.

Support independent bookstores and libraries.

Support authors.

❤️

November Book Events

November 9
William Joyce will be at Third Place Books Ravenna to talk about SANTA CALLS.

November 10
Shannon Messenger is at University Bookstore to talk about NIGHTFALL, the latest in her Keeper of the Lost Cities series.

November 12
Join Suzanne Kaufman for the launch party of CONFISCATED! at Secret Garden at 3 p.m.

November 15
The Peninsula Network meets up for a Kid Lit Drink Night at The Pourhouse in Port Townsend at 6 p.m.! All welcome.

November 15, too
Marissa Meyer shares RENEGADES, the first book in her new series, at Third Place Books LFP. Signing line tickets available with purchase.

November 19
Up and comer Jeff Kinney rolls into town to make THE GETAWAY from University Bookstore. Tickets required.

November 19: 19th Harder

November 25
Join Elizabeth Rose Stanton for a special story time at Third Place Books, Seward Park!

December 3

HERE WE ARE with Oliver Jeffers at University Bookstore. Tickets required.

Double-check times and whatnot with bookstores before you set out for events. If you snap a great picture, tag us at @scbwiwwa on Instagram and/or Twitter, and we'll try to repost. If you have good news or an event coming up, let us know!

Support book culture.

Support independent bookstores and libraries.

Support authors.

❤️

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Featured Illustrator: Faith Pray

Faith Pray is our Featured Illustrator for November/December! Faith was the Booster Award winner at the 25th SCBWI Western Washington Conference for Writers and Illustrators this past spring. Faith is a book-loving writer/illustrator living in Port Townsend, Washington. She regularly wrangles four wildebeest-children, and make art and stories in all her extra corners.

Can you briefly explain your creative process, favorite mediums, etc?

I work mostly in pencils, colored pencils, watercolor, and watercolor sticks, but am always exploring new feels.

I'm drawn to pencils. It's my most portable medium, and keeps me without excuse when traveling to kids' soccer practices and violin lessons. Blackwing animator pencils are quite fun, because the eraser is bundled into the pencils, so I have less chance of losing my eraser or having it get all smudged-up from lead.  

I like to add color and texture in with watercolor paints, Polycolor oil pencils, Prismacolors, watercolor sticks, and Graphitint sticks. After I have a base drawing or painting, I scan it to my computer and tidy everything up with Photoshop.

Where do you find your ideas? Do you have a process?

I try to carve out sketch and dream time every day. I read. I fill sketchbooks and notebooks with concepts, scribbles, characters, sketches. It also helps that I am surrounded by kids 15 hours a day. Kids are my daily source of oddity and inquiry.

I have a burning goal to make art and words happen every day. If I miss a day of creative breath, I get itchy. I think that constant creative practice helps grow my ideas.

How do you deal with creative blocks?

I use sticky notes to shuffle a story that's confusing. I switch from words to sketches if my story won't eek out. I switch to words if my sketches need more story. I have out-loud arguments - with myself - and often. I read books on craft.  I hunt for story lightning to strike, and if it doesn't, I keep hunting.

I push myself with online illustration challenges. In different seasons, I've enjoyed SCBWI's monthly "Draw It" prompts, Twitter's #Colour_Collective weekly prompts, as well as prompts from illustrator friends.

Who are your illustrator heroes?

My dad, Richard Jesse Watson. My brother, Jesse Joshua Watson. Trina Schart Hyman. Ernest Shepard. David Small. Amy June Bates. Juana Martinez-Neal. Lisbeth Zwerger.

Did you have any favorite children’s books as a child?

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken.

Rainbabies (Laura Mehmed, Jim LaMarche)

The Flower Fairies by Cicely Mary Barker.

What’s inspiring you and your work right now?

I'm inspired any time I get to play with pencils and paint. Extra inspired when I get to connect with illustrator and writer friends, meet up at conferences, or have virtual chats. I'm thrilled to be taking a Writing for Children class with SCBWI-WWA's Jolie Stekly this Fall.

Any words of wisdom you want to share?

I really want a magic wand that will magick me into an accomplished author/illustrator, but my best magic spell is still the tried-and-true one: Keep it up. Every day. Don't give up.

And as much as I want to grow into a published author-illustrator, I want even more to be a learner, to create my best, find joy in the making, and spread love wherever I go.

I'm thankful for each day I get to put my creative spin into the world, and so grateful for this booster award. Thank you, SCBWI-WWA!

Thank you, Faith!

You can view Faith Pray’s portfolio here.

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SCBWI WWA November meeting next week in BELLEVUE!

Our November meeting is coming up this Wednesday, November 8, 7-9pm, and 

this month only the meeting will be held at Bellevue College N201.

Not sure where to go? Here's a map, and there's free parking (look for signs). Join us for Poetry Power with Sean Petrie & Critique Group 101 with Mark Maciejewski.

Poetry Power

Want to break through writer’s block? Add some panache to your prose? On-the-spot poetry does both! Discover how the process of creating instant poetry can help put words on the page, enliven your writing, and even generate new story ideas. Poetry can provide tools for overcoming writer’s block, boost writing confidence, enliven existing text, and produce new story ideas. Plus, it’s fun.

There will be vintage typewriters on hand, if you want to try it old-school style!

Critique Group 101

Join I Am Fartacus author Mark Maciejewski as he shares best practices for creating productive and lasting critique groups. He is a member of an intensive weekly critique group, The Papercuts, which he counts as a major factor in his writing success. 

Inside Story is on November 4th!

Don’t forget! Inside Story is coming up on Saturday, Nov. 4., 2:00pm until 4:00 pm, at the downtown Bellevue Library (1111 110^th Ave. NE in Bellevue).

Meet and greet 17 local children’s authors and illustrators including: Ruth Austin, Bonny Becker, Martha Brockenbrough, Dori Hillestad Butler, Laurel Gale, Melissa Goodman, Lois V. Harris, Amanda Hosch, Kelly Jones, Suzanne Kaufman, Karen Lewis, Margaret Read MacDonald, Lisa L. Owens, Michaele Razi, Karen S. Robbins, Laurie Ann Thompson and Wendy Wahman.

Hear 2-minute “behind the scenes” stories from each author or illustrator about their recently published books. Win (and purchase) autographed books. Mingle with your fellow children’s book lovers.

Hope to see you there!