Classes, a New Bookstore, and a Graphic Novel Call!

It's been pretty quiet around here. Summer is upon us, and things are peaceful and busy all at once. Not much news on our front, but here are three classes, a new bookstore, and a call for a graphic novel!

What's new?

Free Seminars
G.G. Silverman talks about marketing your novel, self published or not, in Poulsbo (July 8), and Port Orchard (August 3rd). Free! Details here.


Throwing Out the First Pitch! Webinar
July 12, 2017, 7:00 – 8:30 pm (Central)
Join us from the comfort of your own home for SCBWI-Nebraska's inaugural webinar! Have a completed manuscript? Not sure what to do with it? Join Heather Cashman, Managing Director of #PitchWars, #PitMad, and #PitchMadness, to find out how these online contests can help you hone your story and pitch, and prepare your work for an agent's eyes.

Heather will help you understand how to use the Twitter contest #PitMad to pitch to agents, editors, and publishers. Use Pitch Madness to polish your query and first chapter. Enter Pitch Wars to win a chance to have your entire manuscript polished, your query perfected, and have them showcased in front of the publishing industry's top agents. If there's time at the end, we'll discuss how to craft a pitch and even do some live pitch critiques!
Details and registration

Writing for Children and Getting Published 

a beginning level class taught by Al Rubeck

Two Tuesdays, Aug. 1 & 8

6:30pm - 9:00pm

Details here


Support local stores, they support authors, & we all get to keep our lights on!
Did you know there's a new bookstore in town? Brick & Mortar Books in Redmond celebrated their grand opening this weekend, and we are so happy to welcome them. They're off to a fantastic start. Stop by and grab a great book when you're in Redmond.

Already a great selection!

Kevan Atteberry entertains with BUNNIES!

Dan Richards reads CAN ONE BALLOON MAKE AN ELEPHANT FLY?

Historic Graphic Novel Commission Call

The Seattle Office of Arts & Culture (ARTS), in partnership with Seattle City Light (SCL), will commission one artist or artist team, to research, write and illustrate a fictionalized historic graphic novel in relation to the history, story and significance of the Georgetown Steam Plant, a National Historic Landmark. The Georgetown Steam Plant (GTSP) was built in 1906 and is important as it  represents: 1) significant achievements in electrical, mechanical and civil engineering design, 2) industrial architecture and early use of reinforced concrete in massive scale, 3) a "fast track" construction method developed by the project’s lead engineer and designer Frank B. Gilbreth, and 4) innovation in turbine generator design that greatly increased power generation capability across the nation, and that influenced the design seen in modern power generators.  Eligibility This call is open to all professional writers/artists/illustrators residing in Washington, Oregon, Idaho or British Columbia. Artist teams are required to have one member that meets the residency requirement. Experienced and published graphic writers/artists/cartoonists encouraged to apply. Students are ineligible to apply. Budget The budget for this project is $85,000 all inclusive. This budget assumes approximately $20,000 in printing costs for 1,000 copies of the graphic novel, a $50,000 author/illustrator artistic fee, and $15,000 in support budget and project management fees. The amounts all are inclusive of Washington State sales tax. The selected artist/artist team will work with the Project Manager to establish a budget outline and work plan and adjust as needed. Scope of work The artist/artist team will write and illustrate a compelling fictionalized graphic novel that incorporates aspects of the Georgetown Steam Plant’s history. WORKSHOP (optional) We are offering a free, optional drop-in time on July 8 when staff will be able to answer questions regarding the project and the CaFÉ online application system. Guided tours of the Georgetown Steam Plant are available at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on the same day. Saturday, July 8, 2017 from 10a.m. - 2p.m. Georgetown Steam Plant 6605 13th Ave S. Seattle, WA 98108. Please visit the Georgetown Steam Plant website for driving and parking access information. Deadline 11 p.m., Tuesday, August 15, 2017 (Pacific Daylight Time). Application Click here to apply on CaFÉ™ (Call for Entry). Info Maija McKnight, maija.mcknight@seattle.gov, (206) 684-7311

If you have something we should share, let me know at kim at kimbakerbooks dot com. :) 

Meeting recap: Dynamic duo!

Last Wednesday, our lucky meeting attendees luxuriated in the wealth of information and expertise of our presenters, G.G. Silverman and Holman Wang. It was one of those evenings where everyone walked out breathing, "Wow!"

G.G. Silverman put us through the paces of self-publishing.

G.G. Silverman condensed years of tireless research, experience, diligence, and intelligence into a riveting 25-minute whirlwind talk on Marketing Your Self-Published Work. Her self-published YA novel, VEGAN TEENAGE ZOMBIE HUNTRESS, has almost made back her initial investment. Her prescription for successful marketing is a complex and thorough process, which is too specific to restate, but G.G. has generously offered a link to her outline, which she is making available to all. Even those who didn't get the benefit of her wonderful live talk can find her knowledge really useful, for both self-publishing and traditional publishing.

CLICK ON THE LINK HERE. 

THE LINK WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THIS SATURDAY, JANUARY 30.
ACT QUICKLY!

Holman Wang dazzled the audience with his felted board-book characters, his journey through his craft, and the fascinating process of being part of the STAR WARS world and dealing with a large franchise and its constraints and rewards. Holman's story was both fascinating and awe-inspiring. His work takes patience, passion, and perseverance. The visual results were such a treat to see, and the examples of characters from his upcoming planned books, THE NUTCRACKER and THE WIZARD OF OZ, were a delight. The sheer amount of work that goes into every single scene of his books, on which he collaborates with his twin brother Jack, is staggering. Seeing the process from the conceptual side was revelatory and absolutely incredible.

Holman Wang took us through the Cozy Classics and into Epic Yarns.

Coming to a bookstore near you: Dorothy, Clara, and friends!

Reminder: Monthly meeting WEDNESDAY!

Mini Session: Marketing Your Self-Published Work with G.G. Silverman. G.G.’s self-published YA novel, VEGAN TEENAGE ZOMBIE HUNTRESS, became a Kindle Top 10 Bestseller in the Humorous Teen Books category and was also featured on Amazon’s list of “Hot New Releases.” An active blogger (http://www.ggsilverman.com/blog/) and savvy online presence, G.G. is readying a short story collection for self-publication, which you can be sure will showcase her love of all things horror and her sharp wit.


Main Session: Holman Wang presents The Making of "Star Wars, Epic Yarns." Come and learn how Holman and Jack Wang spent 12 months creating the most labor-intensive board books in history! (And how they got the rights from Lucasfilm Limited.) Check out their work at http://www.mycozyclassics.com.

G.G. Silverman: Three truths, one lie

Don't be afraid! 

G.G. Silverman is going to take the fear
out of marketing your self-published work. 

Already an accomplished author (Vegan Teenage Zombie Huntress, anthologized short stories, and many more publications), a one-woman marketing/branding/advertising specialist, and instructor at Sanford-Brown College, G.G. is going to be our first speaker at next Wednesday's monthly meeting. And she has a few things to say! Her debut has almost earned back her investment as a self-pubbed author, which is a major benchmark.

G.G. Silverman, marketing maven and self-published author.

Three Truths and One Big Fat Lie:

A Massachusetts native, G.G. wanted to share a little about herself.

• She practices archery on a compound bow, in case of the zombie apocalypse.
• She once cut herself with a butter knife.
• She can do fifty one-armed push-ups.
• She can curl her tongue into an O-shape and whistle.


In her holiday greeting to followers, friends, and fans, G.G. shared updates from her current writing projects, including:

• Book 2 (Stoners Vs. Moaners) recently came back from my editor and I have to take one last pass at edits, but I'm thinking it'll release in late spring.
   
• A possible collaboration in an anthology of post-apocalyptic zombie stories.
   
• A few short stories come out in 2015 in various places. They're in different styles and genres, as I love stretching my wings and trying new stuff. Some are dark with a horror vibe, the rest vary from gothic to sci-fi to literary. My fave is an emotional futuristic robot story that was reprinted by Pop Seagull in their ROBOTICA anthology, which just came out this fall. Links to all my shorts can be found here: http://www.ggsilverman.com/short-stories/

G.G. will speak NEXT WEDNESDAY, January 20 at SPU's Demaray Hall at 7pm. Come learn, appreciate, and let her motivate you. (And that lie? Well, she confesses she's not so great at those push-ups. She needs both arms....)

January meeting deets

Happy New Year, all!

Our first meeting of the year is almost upon us––and it's gonna be a doozy! Check it out. See you THERE!