2011 Conference Series- Faculty Q & A with Deborah Wiles

Happy Friday All! The pre-conference fun starts today! To add to the fun here's the last Faculty Q & A from our 20th Annual Writing and Illustrating for Children Conference Faculty! Enjoy these answers from Keynote Speaker Deborah Wiles. Deborah will be our first keynote speaker on Saturday, and you can read her Conference Bio here.

What is the best and worst advice you were given when you started in children's literature?
Best advice: "Ignore any prohibitive thing and just write."
Worst: "That won't sell." (whatever "that" is)

What advice would you give now to others?
Ignore any prohibitive thing and just write.

What was your favorite book as a child? And now?
MR. DOG by Margaret Wise Brown. I wanted to belong to myself, like Crispins Crispian did. I'm still working on it.

Which authors/illustrators do you feel are most influencing current trends in children's literature?
I am so not qualified to answer this! In addition to ignoring any prohibitive thing, I'm keeping my head down in my own work.

As you know, those who are in children's literature tend to have lengthy discussions on the important topic of snacks (usually a baked good). What's your favorite snack?
Ha! I love clementines.

Attendees are often nervous to meet you at a conference. What, if anything, makes you nervous about being part of the faculty?
I want to do a good job and offer something meaningful that others can take away with them and put to good use in their own work.

What do you like most about your job? What do you like least?
I like the freedom I have to create my life and work. That can also work against me, if I'm not careful.

What do you most want our attendees to know about you?
I'm shy by nature. Speaking scares me but I love it and do well, once I begin. Hugs help afterward when I'm standing there, dazed.

I can't wait to hear what Deborah has to share on Saturday! Hope to see you all tonight at the Pre-Conference Kid Lit Drink Night (you're invited whether you're attending the conference or not!).

2011 Conference Series- Faculty Q & A with Martha Mihalick

IT'S THURSDAY!! Has everyone packed? Have you brought your notebook to write down all the incredible things that you'll hear? Packed your cash and/or checks for the SCBWI store? Picked out a fun costume for the Dance Party?

Well, if haven't you've got one more day to get it done before our 20th Annual Writing and Illustrating for Children Conference! If you have, then you can slowly sip your coffee & enjoy perusing the answers from the fabulous Martha Mihalick! Martha is part of our Editorial and Art Director Faculty. You can read her conference bio here.

What is the best and worst advice you were given when you started in publishing?

Best advice:

Never be afraid to ask a question.

Trust yourself and your taste.

What were your favorite books as a child? And now?

Too many to name! But particular favorites as a child were Tamora Pierce's SONG OF THE LIONESS QUARTET, MATILDA, BEAUTY, A WRINKLE IN TIME, and the DRINA BALLERINA series. I still love all of those (and many more!), but ones I’ve added more recently are Megan Whalen Turner's ATTOLIA books, CRISS CROSS, GRECELING, ST. LUCY'S HOME FOR GIRLS RAISED BY WOLVES, THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE, and the Scott Pilgrim graphic novels.

If you hadn't gone into publishing, you might have been an....

I don’t know! But likely something that had to do with theatre in a backstage or script development way, or film editings always fascinated me. Not that I have any training in either of these things.

What's your favorite snack?

Do people really have just one favorite snack? Mine’s nearly anything chocolate or any baked good—as long as no cherries or raisins are involved!

What do you like most about your job? What do you like least?

I get paid to read and love and talk about books! I am never more challenged or fulfilled as when I’m elbow-deep in an edit. And I’m never more thrilled as when I get to call and make an offer!

What I like least? Having to say “no” a lot. That’s never fun.

Another great Q & A! Enjoy your last day before our Annual Conference! See you tomorrow at the Pre-Conference Kid Lit Drink Night (you don't have to be registered for the conference to attend!).

2011 Conference Series- Faculty Q & A with Justin Chanda

Happy Wednesday! The day after tomorrow the fun begins for our 20th Annual Writing and Illustrating for Children Conference! I know you're all as excited as I am to be part of this conference! Here's another Faculty Q & A- this time with Justin Chanda. Justin is on the Editorial and Art Director Faculty. You can read his Conference bio here.

What is the best and worst advice you were given when you started in publishing?
The best advice? Don’t do this if you are in it for the money… because at the end of the day… there’s not much money. Do this if you love kids books.

Worst advice? It was from someone outside the industry who told me children’s TV (which I was doing) was the same as children’s books. Um… no.

What were your favorite books as a child? And now?
I have to confess that I do not remember reading picture books as a kid. I am sure that I did. I do not want to accuse my parents of bad parenting. I just do not remember them. Which is ironic because as much as I love working on, editing and publishing Teen and Middle Grade I have this big, big soft spot in my dark heart for the picture book.

The book I remember the most and that changed my perception of what a book could be BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA by Katharine Paterson. I read that in grade school and everything was different after that.

If you hadn't gone into publishing, you might have been an...

Theatre Director. Or a Food Critic. Or both at the same time.

What do you most want our attendees to know about you?
That I am honest and straightforward in my critiques and in my advice. I love to talk about books and the industry. I love this industry. I love books. But I am also very much a realist. There is a business aspect to this business, and that needs to play a part in the final decisions that I make and the books that my staff acquires. Which does not mean I want to spend every waking moment talking about money and the marketplace. And it does not mean that we do not acquire passion projects in my imprints. We do all the time. It DOES mean that there always has to be a balance. I have a staff who depends on me to keep the lights on which needs to be weighed with the responsibilities (and the joys) of bringing quality books to kids of all ages.

What's your favorite snack?
That I shouldn’t eat? Oh my, it’s sour patch kids

That I should eat? I have become VERY fond of kale chips these days. No joke.

What do you like most about your job? What do you like least?
What I like most is the work. The fact that at the end of the day we produce books for kids. How amazing is that? The fact that I get to publish so many books, but also still EDIT some. Very cool, indeed.

And my staff. I work with the absolute best people in the business. I have no doubt about that!

I like the hours the least. And the stress. Oddly enough when I first started I thought big decisions would be made sitting on plush, comfy carpets while playing with fluffy bunny and duckie stuffed animals. Sadly, I work in an office, and even though our doors are painted BRIGHT colors, and there is artwork everywhere and clutter everywhere else… there are days when it is very clear I work a desk job.

Great answers from Justin! (I love the answer to what he wants attendees to know about him- good insight). Make sure you tune in tomorrow for another exciting Faculty Q & A!!

2011 Conference Series- Faculty Q & A with Lionel Bender

Tuesday already!?! This week can't go fast enough! I can't wait until this weekend's 20th Annual Writing and Illustrating for Children Conference! We have just a few more Faculty ! & A's to share! Here's one with Lionel Bender. Lionel is on our Editorial and Art Director Faculty. You can read his Conference Bio here.

What is the best and worst advice you were given when you started in children's literature?

BEST: "Take every opportunity to learn as much as you can about all aspects of publishing. Ask questions and try your hand at design, picture research, production, sales, and marketing. Understand where authors, illustrators, and editors fit in the grand scheme of publishing".

WORST: "At school, you were average grade at English. At high school and university you did "hard" sciences. I don't think book publishing is the career for you".

What advice would you now give someone starting out in children's literature?

The world of children's publishing has changed rapidly these past few years and is set to change even more. Explore all avenues and get to learn what publishers are looking for, how they market books, and about self-promotion and self-publishing. Don't think only of "book" publishing—there are many new media, and many new ways of reaching readers.

What was your favorite book as a child? And now?

AS A CHILD: The TIM stories by author and illustrator Edward Ardizonne [not sure if published in the US]

NOW: Some of the new graphic novels

As you know, those who are in children's literature tend to have lengthy discussions on the important topic of snacks (usually it's a baked good). What's your favorite snack?

Beigel, cream cheese, and lox

What are you most looking forward to about being part of the 2011 SCBWI WWA faculty?

Sharing experiences and perspectives on children's publishing. As a book packager, it is interesting to hear publishers', editors', authors' and illustrators' perspectives on how the industry is developing and changing.

Attendees are often nervous to meet faculty at a conference. What, if anything, makes you nervous about being part of the faculty?

Speaking a different language (the Queen's English) and telling things as they are.

What do you like most about your job? What do you like least?

THE MOST: Having to come up with a different way of presenting a familiar subject or topic. As many have said, "There is nothing new in publishing." The challenge is to present a familiar subject in a novel, unique, or different way, whether it be by the illustrations or photographs used, or the voice of the text, or a mixture of all of these.

LEAST: Having to deal with individuals or companies that do not understand how the publishing industry works.

What do you most want our attendees to know about you?

I have spent my publishing career working in market-driven, illustrated non-fiction publishing. Here there is little room for, "Wouldn't it be nice to do this, or "We'll try this and see how it sells". And I have worked for many of the pioneering book packaging companies, editing and writing alongside designers, illustrators, photographers, picture researchers, production people, and sales and marketing people. For 20 years, I and my partners have run our own book packaging company. So, for me, book publishing is about "teamwork." I believe this has given me a fairly unique experience of the business of publishing and how authors and illustrators can succeed in it. Hence my focus is more on how to make a career in the world of children's publishing than it is on the art and craft of writing.

Wonderful answers from Lionel! Make sure you visit the event website to get your name on the waiting list (since registration is full).

2011 Conference Series- Faculty Q & A with Jim Whiting

Happy Monday! I can't believe it's the week of our 20th Annual Writing and Illustrating for Children Conference!! Weekends are always worth looking forward to, but THIS weekend will be a memorable one!!! It's also time for another Faculty Q & A, and this one is with Jim Whiting. Jim is part of our Distinguished staff, and also co-leading the Nonfiction Intensive with Lionel Bender! You can read J

im's Conference Bio here.

What is the best and worst advice you were given when you started in children's literature?
Because I stumbled into children’s literature on my own, I didn’t really receive any outside advice. It was more a matter of realizing that the skills I had developed editing and publishing Northwest Runner magazine 17 years were as applicable for younger readers as for adults.

What advice would you now give someone starting out in children's literature?
Develop a strong stomach. You’ll hear the word “no” quite a bit – if you hear anything. And while it may be self-evident, take pains to submit your best possible work and make sure you submit it on time. Publishers don’t like prima donnas.

What favorite author/illustrator blogs, websites, Facebook pages, or Twitter accounts do you follow?
Chinook Update is about it.

Where do you do your best work?
In my home office, which about the only place I ever work.

As you know, those who are in children's literature tend to have lengthy discussions on the important topic of snacks (usually it's a baked good). What's your favorite snack?
Cupcakes

What are you most looking forward to about being part of the 2011 SCBWI WWA faculty?
In general, the sheer energy and optimism of the presenters and attendees, as well as the chance to meet a lot of new people. In particular, the nonfiction intensive that Lionel Bender and I are presenting on Friday.

Attendees are often nervous to meet faculty at a conference. What, if anything, makes you nervous about being part of the faculty?
Me? Nervous?

What do you like most about your job? What do you like least?
Like. 1) Learning about new things, in science, history, biography or the other fields I write about and edit. 2) Being paid to write about stuff I like. 3) Helping other authors to hone their work and make it much better.

Dislike. The generally low pay for series nonfiction.

What do you most want our attendees to know about you?
I’m very approachable and easygoing.

Great answers from Jim!! As a bonus, I'm including a great Suzanne Collins interview that Jim recently sent us. Jim finds it interesting that she doesn't pay much attention to social media (thanks Jim).

2011 Conference Series- Faculty Q & A with Tina Wexler

Yesterday the SCBWI WWA Advisory Committee had their final pre-conference meeting for the 20th Annual Writing and Illustrating for Children Conference, and I have to say that the conference is going to be A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!! The facilities, the wine and cheese reception, and the faculty are JUST a few highlights to look forward to at the conference! Speaking of faculty, we've got a Faculty Q & A with Tina Wexler to share! Tina is on our Agent Faculty, and if you missed it you can read Tina's conference bio here.

What is the best and worst advice you were given when you started in children's literature?
The best advice was “Never take on a client just because you think his work will sell; take on clients whose work you love, whose work you believe in, and the sales will follow.”

The worst advice was “Get out of kids books.”

What advice would you give now to others?
Play harder.

What was your favorite book as a child? And now?
Gulp. I know this will sound like a cop out, but I really didn’t have a favorite. I just raced through books—from BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA to BLUBBER, A WRINKLE IN TIME to GO ASK ALICE—without much thought as to favorites, only “what’s next?” And I suppose I’m somewhat still like that; my favorite these days is usually whatever book I’m in the middle of reading, since it’s such a treat when I get to turn off my “agent” brain and read something that’s already published.

As you know, those who are in children's literature tend to have lengthy discussions on the important topic of snacks (usually a baked good). What's your favorite snack?
This is a very important issue. In the category of baked goods, I side with lemon squares. (Donna Gephart has a great recipe for them at the back of AS IF BEING 12 ≤ ISN’T BAD ENOUGH, MY MOTHER IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.) But my all-time favorite snack is popcorn. Or as I call it on really gray days, “dinner.”

Attendees are often nervous to meet you at a conference. What, if anything, makes you nervous about being part of the faculty?
If I answer honestly and say “public speaking,” are you going to rescind my invitation?

What do you like most about your job? What do you like least?
I read for a living. How awesome is that? Least? I have to deliver bad news on occasion. Far less awesome.

What do you most want our attendees to know about you?
For one, they shouldn’t be nervous about meeting me—I’m a “cat person,” if that helps put things in perspective—and I really am interested in signing new clients.

Fabulous answers from Tina (especially the lemon squares answer). And, as a little bonus I found an article by Tina on Wild About Words titled "6 1/2 Ways to Impress an Agent". By the way, if you aren't able to make it to the conference we'll have Blogging Team (a whole team) that will be blogging live updates during the conference!!

2011 Conference Series- Faculty Q & A with Tim Travaglini

Next week at this time we'll all be enjoying our 20th Annual Writing and Illustrating for Children Conference (and thinking about our fun outfits for the First Annual Conference Dance Party!). So lets celebrate with another Faculty Q & A!! Here's one with Tim Travaglini, who is on our Editorial & Art Director Faculty. You can check out Tim's conference bio here.

What is the best and worst advice you were given when you started in children's literature?

I am not sure I recall anyone giving me advice that stuck with me (which my advisers would probably tell me is part of my problem). And I doubt anyone ever gave me bad advice.

What advice would you give now to others?
Marry money.

What was your favorite book as a child? And now?

There certainly was never one single favorite book I had as a child; but I did love anything and everything by Lloyd Alexander, THE GREAT BRAIN series, THE MOOMINTROLLS, THE PHANTOM TOLL BOOTH, IN THE NIGHT KITCHEN--they all sprang readily to mind.

Can't answer what my favorite books are now, but I certainly have a passion for books I've acquired and edited; D.M. Cornish's MONSTER BLOOD TATTOO (now retitled THE FOUNDLING'S TALE here in the US), Laini Taylor's Dreamdark books, BENJAMIN FRANKLINSTEIN LIVES. And books that were published during my adulthood; HOLES, THERE'S A HOLE IN MY LIFE, GOODNIGHT GORILLA. This is completely off the top of my head, mind you...

Which authors/illustrators do you feel are most influencing current trends in children's literature?
Anyone and everyone who is selling the most copies immediately has the most influence on current trends. Thankfully, we can all still be continually surprised by new hits, and thus the trends keep changing. Just peek at the bestsellers lists: Whomever is on the list, and more importantly stays on the list, are the influencers.

As you know, those who are in children's literature tend to have lengthy discussions on the important topic of snacks (usually a baked good). What's your favorite snack?

Geez...I like anything with peanut butter and bananas in it...

Attendees are often nervous to meet you at a conference. What, if anything, makes you nervous about being part of the faculty?

Hmmm...nervous? I instantly get nervous when someone says, "I submitted X to you 3 years ago..." because I then have to say, "Well, I hope I got back to you..."

What do you like most about your job? What do you like least?
What I like most is taking a worthy book and building as great an audience for it as possible. And what I like the least is that the industry has all but completely transformed into an aggressive, money-driven commerical enterprise where human relationships take a back seat to the bottom line.

What do you most want our attendees to know about you?
Tim really likes roller derby, and if you are talking to him Saturday night he'll be secretly thinking how he can sneak out the back to see the Rat City Rollergirls home bout.

You can check out Tim's Facebook page (The Devils Wears Bowties). Make sure you visit the event website to get your name on the waiting list (registration is full).

2011 Conference Series- Faculty Q & A with Lin Oliver

One week! One week! I can't believe we are so close to our 20th Annual Writing and Illustrating for Children Conference!! We have a few more Faculty Q & A's to share, and with the week's countdown it seems only right to share Lin Oliver's answers. Lin is the SCBWI co-founder, and one of our Distinguished Faculty member. You can read her conference bio here. Lin has a wonderful sense of humor (as you'll see).

If you hadn't become a writer and formed the SCBWI, you might have been an....
Earring designer or a potter.

What is the best and worst advice you were given when you started in children's literature?
The best advice is: Approach writing the way you jump into the ocean. Be prepared to splash around and make merry! (E.B. White)

And the worst advice is: Write what you know. I think you should write what you wonder about. You already know what you know.

What were your favorite books as a child? And now?
My favorite books as a child were the LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRARIE SERIES. How I loved Pa. Also WINNIE THE POOH. (I still have a thinking place, just like Pooh did.) As a teen, I loved FIFTEEN by Beverly Cleary, and all the books of Max Shulman (THE MANY LIVES OF DOBIE GILLIS), and of course, CATCHER IN THE RYE. My favorite books now are JANE ERYE, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, CHARLOTTE'S WEB, and anything with a horny vicar.

What do you most want our attendees to know about you?
That I have a secret crush on flirty vicars? No, really. That I feel incredibly lucky to be involved with children’s book creators. It is the best peer group in the world. I can think of no other group I’d more like to be a part of.

What are you most anticipating about being part of the 2011 SCBWI faculty?
Talking to everyone there and asking personal questions. I love to get the true scoop on all attendees.

What's your favorite snack?
Oh, tuna melts. Wait, that’s a meal not a snack. So then I guess I’d have to say those little baby drumsticks with chocolate at the bottom of the cone that come ten to a pack. Cookie dough flavor, please.

What do you like most about your job? What do you like least?
I love the people I get to work with (children’s book folk) and I love that I get to exercise creativity every day. That is never to be under-estimated. What do I like least? That’s easy. Getting up in the morning. I would like all jobs to begin at noon, which coincides with my own peculiar circadian rhythm.

Fun answers from Lin! Make sure you visit the event website to get your name on the waiting list (registration is full).

2011 Conference Series- Faculty Q & A with Brent Hartinger

The 20th Annual Writing and Illustrating for Children Conference is right around the corner (a good reason for a mid-week dance of joy!). We've still got so much to share about our faculty, events, and more (more celebratory dancing!). Here's an Faculty Q & A with Distinguished Faculty member Brent Hartinger. You can check out his conference bio here if you missed it.

What is the best and worst advice you were given when you started in children's literature?
Oh, the worst advice was probably also the best: "Relax! Don't worry about reviews or sales or anything. Everything will be what it will be!"

It's absolutely the right advice. Writers should try as much as possible to focus on the craft and the project they're working on, and ignore the ups and downs of the marketplace and the mixed signals your publisher might be giving you at various times in your career -- all of which you really ultimately have very little control over, so what's the point in worrying about it anyway? It's like worrying about the weather: wasted energy.

That said, for me anyway, it was simply impossible NOT to worry about it, even obsess about it, with my first few books. For the record, this is why so many authors are so miserable, despite being published!

I'm much better now -- I make a conscious point to avoid all the "marketplace" stuff as much as possible. But it's always a struggle.

What advice would you give now to others?
Well, this will sound like I'm contradicting my first answer, but I'm not: in addition to learning the craft, learn the business of publishing. Work in a bookstore or publishing house or library, go to conferences, take classes. Absorb all the information you can.

Look, here's the truth: a career as a published author is extraordinarily difficult and very, very stressful. The competition is insane -- and it's a contracting industry to boot.

So I'm a big believer in doing everything you can to avoid all those rookie mistakes that we all make at first, before we learn the unwritten rules of the industry and the marketplace. Basically, there's already so much rejection and heartache -- why invite even more on yourself by doing things that are basically certain to fail?

What was your favorite book as a child? And now?
I loved THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA (by C.S. Lewis) and THE GREAT BRAIN books (by John D. Fitzgerald). And I might say they're still my favorite books! They don't just get any better than that, and I still examine them regularly to try to figure out why and how the storytelling is so damn good.

Which authors/illustrators do you feel are most influencing current trends in children's literature genre?
This is a fascinating question, and I'm sure all the bestsellers and award-winners are creating and influential the trends. Or are they? I guess when push comes to shove, I'd say that "trends" are sort of out of the control of individual authors: they happen (for WHATEVER reason), and sometimes we authors are lucky enough to take advantage of them, either by writing the right book at exactly the right time (which starts a new trend), or by writing a book that sort of taps into an existing trend.

I've actually done both these things, and it's a heady thing. But did I plan it? I wish I could say I did, but I think I was just lucky. Because other times I've tried to predict or start a new trend -- and fallen flat on my face.

I think we authors are flattering ourselves if we say we "created" a trend. Ultimately storytelling is all reinvention -- and random chance. I'm quoting William Goldman, who first said it about screenwriting, but ... "no one knows anything." It's sadly true.

As you know, those who are in children's literature tend to have lengthy discussions on the important topic of snacks (usually a baked good). What's your favorite snack?
It's my opinion that the best food of all time -- not just the best snack! -- is popcorn. But I don't even want to be within a 50-mile radius of that microwave stuff, which I think is way over-salted, stale, and dreadful. Popcorn simply has to be popped in oil in an actual popper.

Attendees are often nervous to meet you at a conference. What, if anything, makes you nervous about being part of the faculty?
Ha! I'm never nervous if someone asks me what I think makes a good book or story -- maybe I'm deluding myself, but I think I know what I'm talking about there and actually have something worthwhile to say, an angle you don't usually hear from most other creative writing teachers (plot is my forte, something I think is too often slighted).

But ask me what will win awards or make the best-seller list? That makes me nervous, because I have absolutely no idea whatsoever. (For the record, I don't think anyone else does either. And if this is the primary reason why you're writing, you're in the business for the wrong reason.)

What do you like most about your job? What do you like least?
It all boils down to the writing, which I love, and the feedback from readers who are so incredibly generous. Basically, the rest of it I could take or leave -- especially the traveling, which is exciting the first few times you do it, but then gets really old really fast.

What do you most want our attendees to know about you?
That I'm generally, well, an open book. I've been teaching creative writing for years (at Tacoma's School of the Arts, the Masters in Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults at Vermont College, and many other places (many of my students have gone on to be published very successfully). I don't teach for the money (truthfully, I make more money doing actual writing), but because I enjoy it, and I genuinely think I have something to say.

Great answers from Brent! You can learn more about Brent, and his work at his website.

2011 Conference Series-Editorial & Art Director Faculty: Anne Moore

We have only one final amazing 20th Annual Writing and Illustrating for Children Conference Faculty member to showcase! Anne Moore is on our Editorial and Art Director Faculty, and is co-leading the Master Class for Illustrators along with Dan Santat. Anne works for Candlewick Press as the Art Resource Coordinator.

Anne has worked in children's book publishing for over 20 years working as a Senior Book Designer both at Little, Brown and Company and Candlewick Press. She works extensively with art agents who represent a wide variety of illustrators and is involved with the process of negotiating offers & contracts for illustrators. Her specialties include researching and finding illustration styles to suit particular texts and providing visual resources to the art and editorial departments.

Anne also took some time and answered questions from our Faculty Q & A (that were adjusted especially for her by our own Jaime Temairik).

What's your average day like?

When I was a book designer, I worked on 10-15 books at a time, had tight deadlines and worked on a book from sketch stage to final proof stage My role now is more big picture & not quite as deadline-driven. I coordinate weekly meetings that help editors find the appropriate illustration style for their texts, and on the average, we’re considering or negotiating about 15-20 new projects at a time. I assist the creative director, Chris Paul by keeping the department up-to-date on new & seasoned illustrators and suggest illustration styles for stories that have been newly acquired. I often have the honor of sending a text to an illustrator or their agent to ask if they are interested in illustrating the story. That certainly is a highlight, as it often involves a very excited illustrator or agent on the other end of the line. My day is filled with looking at artist websites, blogs and I also review art submissions and picture book dummies from agents and artists, providing feedback and/or sharing with the creative director or an appropriate editor.

Do you have a favorite working snack?

Ah, I love dark roast coffee in the morning & a steaming mug of Good Earth tea in the afternoon. Little chunks of dark chocolate also seem to appear on my desk at key times too.

Are you currently acquiring illustrators?
I’m always looking for new illustrators with a strong sense of character that I connect with emotionally. It’s exhilarating to find an illustrator that has their very own/unique style...this certainly jazzes me. Obviously, we look for folks who can illustrate children and animals with believable gestures, movement and perspectives in identifiable scenarios. Themes involving bedtime, playground, siblings, nature, pets, school and home are some standard ones for an illustrator to consider showcasing in their portfolio.

You're on Twitter! Do you find artists via Twitter? Or is it more about keeping up on industry news, community building, having fun?
I decided to join Twitter as an experiment of sorts to connect with the children’s book industry news and to share some of the Candlewick news that relates to our illustrators & books. I’ve found it’s such an easy, immediate way to communicate and share ideas with a circle of creative people. I cannot say I’ve necessarily found illustrators on Twitter for our books per se, but I do see new work as it appears on their blogs, so it’s been a great way to be connected to fresh ideas and images. Come follow me.

What's your favorite children's book/cover of 2010 (or even the last two months if you want!) (not done by your publishing house)?
I love the strong graphic quality & charm of Lane Smith's IT’S A BOOK. The type design is so clean & I love how it integrates with the image in such a deceptively simple & satisfying way....perfecto! I also adore Jon Klassen’s work and his covers for the THE INCORRIGIBLE CHILDREN series. This fall, Candlewick is publishing I WANT MY HAT BACK, his very first picture book that is both written and illustrated by him. We’re beyond thrilled.

Kill, kiss, or marry: Helvetica, Baskerville, or Comic Sans?
Well, I’d certainly kiss Helvetica.

Favorite Pantone color?
Well, it would have to be emberglow: 17-1547 I just love how saturated & luscious that coral is.
I love browns & corals together & citrons for accent...and I also have a soft spot for robin’s egg blue & hues of celery & sage.
I also adore pale blush Pantone 14-1312 like Hallie Berry’s Oscar gown this year, ooh lah lah!

I could go on & on...did I answer your question sufficiently?


Pictures! Are you willing to share any pictures? Either of your desk, a favorite spot in the office, tchotchkes, current project covers?

Candlewick Press ~ in background: our in house art gallery. Original art pieces that were chosen for the Society of Illustrators Original Art 2010 show are exhibiting currently.

Anne's basket of inspiring art samples ~ one way to remember styles & illustrators' work

Art samples surround Anne's office walls

This is our second year doing a master class for illustrators, and we are really excited about both your and Dan's sessions. Any last minute advice you want to give participants?
Enjoy the process...relax, dream, doodle... let the characters come to life. We’ll all be learning together as we go.

What's something else you'd like to tell us about your background in children's books (lifelong dream? Randolph Caldecott is your great-great-great-great-great-great-uncle? Candlewick is a front for a crime syndicate?)
You probably don’t know that I used to work on Marc Brown’s ARTHUR book series; one of his books was the very first I ever designed on a computer. Some other highlights of my career have been designing the Louisa May Alcott books re-published by Little, Brown and Company, visiting Melissa Sweet in her Maine studio and seeing her delightful illustrations gracing her kitchen cabinets. And, more recently, it’s been a pleasure to watch a former art intern at Candlewick, Julia Denos, blossom into a full-time, successful children’s book illustrator. I’ll be highlighting some of her work from Grandmother’s Gloves in one of the SCBWI-WA workshops.

What great details (and pictures!) from Anne!! A fun fact about Anne is that one of her favorite things to do is to meet with art students and review their portfolios, picture book dummies and sketchbooks. Make sure you get your name on the waiting list at our event website (registration is full).

2011 Conference Series-Distinguished Faculty: Rollin Thomas

Happy April!!! In two weeks from now we'll all be enjoying the 20th Annual Writing and Illustrating for Children Conference! I'm so excited for the incredible faculty, the creativity in our conference planning (dance party anyone?), and time to be with fellow SCBWI WWA members. Speaking of faculty, and fellow members, we have one more Distinguished Faculty to introduce; Rollin Thomas!

Rollin is an artist, designer, author, playwright, and educator. He has designed for over 240 theatrical productions including operas, musicals, plays, puppets, and festivals. Rollin has written/adapted over thirty plays for elementary school performances, creates books for children and teaches a course in creating and illustrating for children. He also has over twenty-nine years of teaching arts and design at all levels.

As an added bonus (since we're getting SO close to our conference) I've included two illustrations that Rollin has done, and also his Faculty Q & A. He has some wonderful answers (the last one is my favorite). Enjoy reading Rollin's responses!

What is the best and worst advice you were given when you started in children's literature?

“After you have written and illustrated the best story you can, it is a numbers game and every ‘no’ is just that much closer to a ‘yes,’ so persevere. Oh,” she said, “and join SCBWI.”

What advice would you now give someone starting out in children's literature?

Same advice I received and that we get what we aim for, so aim high, and believe in yourself to keep persevering.

Where do you do your best work?

Wherever I am but I do my best work when I am consciously creating for people I love.

What are you most looking forward to about being part of the 2011 SCBWI WWA faculty?

I really look forward to being with my friends and meeting new ones—that and going dancing this year—but I don’t have to be on the faculty to go to the dance.

Attendees are often nervous to meet faculty at a conference. What, if anything, makes you nervous about being part of the faculty?

Meeting the faculty— kidding. Being certain to help and not harm new writers and illustrators and a few old ones. I believe we all have something to give and I want to help people learn to give their gift well, so many can receive it.

What do you like most about your job?

Which one? My job as a writer, illustrator, teacher, set designer, puppet designer, playwright, fine artist, or whatever job I am doing in the moment? Oh, that job. I love creating things for children, quite selfishly to see their eyes light up and smiles cross their faces. In the end, I really create things to entertain myself or someone I have in mind. My favorite question to answer is, “You really did that?” And the answer is always the same, “You can too if you give it a try.”

What do you like least?

Not working. I get anxious and restless and very unhappy. So to create for me is to live.

As you know, those who are in children's literature tend to have lengthy discussions on the important topic of snacks (usually it's a baked good). What's your favorite snack?

In the category of longest set-up & question—shortest answer:

Chocolate.

What was your favorite book as a child? And now?

Favorite picture book was anything by Dr. Seuss but it started with MCGILLIGOT'S POOL for Christmas when I was six (published just two months before I was born). I began drawing in earnest, noodling away the hours creating Dr. Seussian worlds, funny houses and towns and strange creatures and contraptions. When I graduated to middle grade reading it was DAVID AND THE PHOENIX by Edward Ormandroyd. The first novel I read it in one sitting but I was such a slow reader then and it took me all day. Both books were pivotal adventures that lifted me away from my own world but started me on reading more. To me, any book that lifts me away is my favorite book while reading it.

Which authors/illustrators are most influencing current trends in children's literature genre, for better or for worse?
I can only speak to picture books and the over all quality is raising the bar. There is a staggering array of very talented creators being published. Worse will take care of itself because it does not last long, but for better, three people come to mind (though there are so many others) as being innovative and perhaps starting new trends or more accurately being excellent examples of our craft:

Mo Willems for his expanding Elephant & Piggie book series. Like little early reader graphic novels. While he is not the first with this idea, he is the first with a series that is trimmed down to strong emotions, simple backgrounds, and only what hand props or clothes are needed. His simplicity succeeds for me.

I really like the work of Oliver Jeffers such as THE INCREDIBLE BOOK EATING BOY and each of the books that have come after that. His spare almost European style has a nice appeal, what we need to see, we can see right away in his well composed images. He has a fun use of supportive collage for the book mentioned above but he uses media choices to fit each book.

And lastly, I really like the work of our local SCBWI’s Paul Schmid because he too uses great emotion in his characters, simple—only what is needed backgrounds and fun color. His stories are so very accessible for all readers. Check out his work in A PET FOR PETUNIA.

In all three cases, there is a wonderful use of age appropriate humor and each story is a read-it-again kind of story with wit, compassion, and discovery. They are a move away from heavily illustrated books, a move toward visually easy to read images that are actually helping the young readers to read both words and pictures. Good use of type and overall design only helps to enhance this effect. And the drawing style of their characters can be emulated by children. This is not to diminish the place for the page filled with visual opulence, saturated color, details to delight the eye, and beautifully painted characters, but simplicity might be the new trend and as a bonus, these books will translate well to electronic media.

Rollin's blog is a fun place to visit, and it even has one of the non-plotted story structures (Rollin's talk at the conference) on there to try out (good pre-conference activity). He's also rebuilding his website, so we can look forward to seeing what he has in the future! Thanks Rollin for sending the illustrations! They are perfect for Spring! Make sure you visit the event website if you haven't gotten your name on the waiting list for the conference (registration is full).