Mock Newbery and the Mock Caldecott Workshops

The Children’s Services Division of the Oregon Library Association and the Children and Young Adult Services Interest Group of the Washington Library Association would like to announce a pair of workshops that may be of interest to SCBWI members.

THE MOCK NEWBERY WORKSHOP is presented by CSD, the Children and Young Adult Services (CAYAS) Interest Group of WLA, and the Fort Vancouver Regional Library!
Here are the particulars:
Date/Time: Friday December 10, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Cascade Park Library (600 NE 136th Ave, Vancouver, WA)
Cost: $15 pays for snacks and a lunch from Applewood Restaurant

Join library staff and educators from around Oregon and Washington for a fun and thought provoking look at the Newbery medal. Get a firsthand peek into the ALA Newbery Committee experience courtesy of 2010 committee member Steven Engelfried. In addition, school and public librarians who have run successful Newbery book groups will share tips for engaging kids in Mock Newbery discussions. The experience will culminate in a lively discussion of several of the best books of 2010, resulting in a vote for the OLA/WLA Mock Newbery winner. THE MOCK CALDECOTT WORKSHOP is presented by CSD, the Children and Young Adult Services (CAYAS) Interest Group of WLA, and the Multnomah County Library!

Here are the particulars:
Date/Time: Saturday December 11, from 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Location: Central Library (801 SW 10th Ave, Portland, OR)
Cost: $15 pays for snacks and a lunch from Elephants Delicatessen

Join library staff, educators, and children’s book enthusiasts from around Oregon and Washington for a fun and fruitful discussion of the best picture books of 2010! Speaker Suzanne Harold will review her year on the 2010 Caldecott Committee and help participants to learn more about the graphic elements in picture book illustrations as attendees closely examine a 2010 Caldecott Award book. Barbara Head will orient attendees to Visual Thinking Strategies, a method of inquiry for looking at picture books. Participants will read a book using this technique before discussing a series of potential 2011 award books. Both Harold and Head are youth librarians with Multnomah County Library. A brand new Steven Engelfried-designed Caldecott quiz will be available for participants to test their Caldecott knowledge, with a chance to win a great prize!

Register here.
If you register for both events, you get a $5 discount! Registration may be limited, so register quickly. Book lists will be sent out to registrants as soon as they are available.

"Reading Like a Writer" Class

Seattle poet and picture book writer Julie Larios is presenting a class through Field's End, "Reading Like a Writer," on Bainbridge Island on two Sundays, November 7 and 14, from 2-4 p.m. The cost is $50 for individuals, and groups of 5 or more registering together cost is $40 per person.

We turn to books for many reasons – for intellectual stimulation, entertainment, solace, the satisfaction of personal curiosity, the mastering of new skills, and the simple camaraderie of fellow readers. Each of these pleasures can be developed and deepened by learning how to read like a writer. Using the book Reading Like a Writer by Francine Prose as a guide, we’ll look at strategies writers use to pull readers into their stories. We’ll focus on devices both large and small (from narrative arcs to the artful sentence) and share careful observations about a handful of wonderful books, including the National Book Award winner Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann.

Seattle poet Julie Larios teaches in the MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts and has been published widely in reviews and magazines such as The Atlantic Monthly, Ploughshares, Threepenny Review, and Poetry Northwest. She is the author of four poetry collections for children and has had work included twice in The Best American Poetry series. Recently she was awarded a fellowship by the Washington State Arts Commission/Artist Trust. Find out more about Julie at her blog.

Details and registration at the Field's End website.

Another agent opportunity

Anna Olswanger, who visited us earlier this month from Liza Dawson Associates in New York, sent along this little tidbit today:

Caitlin Blasdell, another agent at Liza Dawson Associates, is now very interested in seeing historical or realistic fiction, YA or middle grade, in addition to the science fiction and fantasy that Caitlin is known for acquiring.

So, if you're ready to submit in any of these genres and don't have Caitlin on your list, read more about her here or here. Good luck!

Discussion Board Opportunity

Author Wendy Wahman's friend and ex-coworker from the Seattle P-I, Maren Hunt, is looking for children's book authors and/or author/illustrators to sit on a discussion board for a conference January 29, 2011. She would like five people (Wendy will be on the board). The conference is aimed at library school master's students, but many professional librarians attend as well.

Here's the website for the conference, and also a facebook page. Both pages will be updated will more information as it becomes available. Please email Maren Hunt at marenh@uw.edu, if you are available.

Reminder: Inside Story is Wednesday!

The Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators is delighted to invite you to our fall 2010 Inside Story, a party we hold twice a year to celebrate new books by local authors and illustrators and to share the secret "stories behind their stories" with fellow children's book lovers.

The event is at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 27 at Parkplace Books (348 Parkplace Center, Kirkland), featuring new releases by:

Kevan Atteberry
Bonny Becker
Erik Brooks
Royce Buckingham
Liz Callen
Janet Lee Carey
Holly Cupala
Barbara Caridad Ferrer
Karen Kincy
Laura McGee Kvasnosky
Karen Lewis
Liz Mills

Maggie Smith
Kathryn Thurman
Michele Torrey
Jesse Joshua Watson
Conrad Wesselhoeft
Suzanne Williams
Dori Jones Yang

There will also be a brief performance by Kevin Emerson, author of several books for children, and lead singer and drummer of our favorite Seattle kid music band, the Board of Education.

Please RSVP to parkplacebooks@integra.net,  or call (425) 828-6546.

All librarians, teachers, booksellers, book buyers, and media are invited to join us. Feel free to share this announcement with anyone who might be interested.

Next Northern Network Schmooze

SCBWI Western Washington's Northern Network invites one and all to our November Schmooze.

Wednesday, November 3, 7:00-9:00 pm
Barnes & Noble, Bellingham, Washington
“A Voice of Wisdom: Q & A with Author Judy Enderle”

Please join us for an encouraging evening as we discuss your craft and publishing-related questions. Remember, there are no dumb questions!

Judith Ross Enderle is a member of the SCBWI Board of Directors and the co-author (with fellow board member Stephanie Jacob Gordon) of several books for children including the award-winning SIX CREEPY SHEEP. Their book TWO BADD BABIES was featured on PBS's "Storytime." Judy has also written for Highlights for Children, Spider, and LadyBug magazines. When she is not writing, Judy speaks at schools and conferences and works with others who want to write children's literature. Read more.

No RSVP required. We will be meeting in the Barnes & Noble café. If possible, please send your questions for Judy in advance to Angelina Hansen, yascribe (at) comcast (dot) net.

Hope to see you there!

Mark your calendars for the next KLPN!

We're on a roll, and the next and greatest-yet Kid Lit Pub Night will be on the Eastside, at Paddy Coyne's Irish Pub in Bellevue on Monday, November 22, from 7 to 9 p.m. The food and beer (and cider!) will be delicious; there's even a Monday night steak and chips special for $4.99; and it's far enough in front of Thanksgiving that you should be able to eat, drink, and make merry while still recovering in time for your Tofurky or bird. We'll remind you again beforehand, but clear your calendar now!

Jack Frost Writing Contest

As we enter the season of NaNoWriMo, PiBoIdMo, and the wintry holidays, we at The Chinook wanted to offer a small, light-hearted writing contest to spark your creative magic.

In 250 words or less, compose a story for young readers around the following prompt:

What does Jack Frost want more than anything else this holiday season?

Submissions should be sent via email to scbwiwa@scbwi-washington.org with the words "Jack Frost Writing Contest" in the subject field. The usual grammar and spelling rules apply. The top three stories will appear in the February issue of The Chinook. 

Deadline: November 19, 5:00pm PST.

Enjoy and Happy Writing!

Attention Eastside Writers!

Gilman Village, located off Gilman Boulevard in Issaquah is fast becoming a writing mecca. First, the Pacific Northwest Writer's Association has opened Writer's Cottage, a warm, welcoming place to sit and write, host book signings, participate in book swaps. You must be a member of PNWA, but the $65 annual fee includes lots of perks in addition to entrance to the Village--it's worth it! They are having a Open House/Meet and Greet on October 30. Check out this link for more information.

Second, the Issaquah Coffee Company is about to open their doors! You can write there, or get your latte to go and bring it with you to the Writer's Village.

Finally, Village Green Yoga offers a T/Th lunchtime class from noon-1 p.m. that is a terrific writing break. Write for a couple of hours, yoga for an hour, write some more. A perfect day!

Thanks to Allyson Valentine Schrier for this great information! Have you checked out Story Sleuths? Allyson is one of the contributers for this writer's blog.

Liz Mills at Secret Garden Books

Liz Mills will be at Secret Garden Books for Ultimate Tuesday, Oct 26, at 7 p.m. with singing, book signing, music, treats, and THE SPOOKY WHEELS ON THE BUS! Find out more about Liz on her website.

Online Children's Writing Business Class

NAVIGATING THE CHILDREN'S WRITING BIZ
Fridays, October 29 – November 19
Online Class

Do you write for children (or want to) but freeze at the thought of learning how it all works? This online class from an industry veteran demystifies the business side of children's publishing. It provides writers with concrete steps for exploring the field and creating a personal path to publication.

Four information- packed sessions cover the following:

(1) The basics of children's genres, markets, and book formats; (2) must-have resources and time-tested tips for starting — and FINISHING — your writing projects; (3) finding a home for your completed manuscripts and/or seeking work as a writer-for-hire; and (4) networking with peers and other professionals working in children's publishing today.

You can see the full description at EFA's course catalog page. For questions email Lisa L. Owens at lisa@llowens. com.

Good News for Holly Cupala

Holly Cupala's trailer for TELL ME A SECRET is a finalist in the School Library Journal’s first ever Trailie Awards in the Publisher/Author created for secondary readers (7-12) category, and the voting closes on 10/22.

Click here for viewing and voting. Check out more information on Holly, and her book on her website.

Golden Kite Award Deadline & Instructions

If you were published in 2010, SCBWI wants to make sure that your book is included for consideration in the 2011 Golden Kite Awards! The deadline for receiving your book from your publisher is Friday, December 17, 2010.

How do I make sure my book is a contender for the 2011 Golden Kite Awards?

1. Click here to familiarize yourself with the guidelines for the Golden Kite Awards.

2. Make sure that your SCBWI membership is current!

Only current members of SCBWI are elligible for the Golden Kite Awards. Not sure when your membership expires? Log in at SCBWI.org and click on "Membership Renewal." Your member expiration date will be shown at the top of that page.

2. Log in at scbwi.org and update your publication information!

Click on "Manage Profile" and be sure to enter the name and publication date of your most recent book. Then, choose your publisher from one of the drop-down menus. If you have any trouble updating your profile, feel free to call our offices at 323-782-1010 during business hours (9 AM - 5:30 p.m., Pacific, Monday - Friday) and someone will be happy to assist you.

3. Check with your publisher to see if they've sent us your book.

Most publishers have their publicity departments handle awards submissions, but a quick email to your editor to make sure that someone is submitting your book for the Golden Kite Award is a good idea.

4. If you're an individual submitting your own book, be sure to follow the guidelines for individual submissions carefully.

Help from Published Members

Suzanne Selfors is looking for local writers who've written books for tweens, and/or teens, in which winged characters play a major role in the story - angels, fairies, dragons, etc. She's putting together a fun event. Please email her at suzanne@suzanneselfors.com. You can find out more about Suzanne at her website.

Don't forget KidLit Pub Night!

Just a reminder that Pub Night is pending! Think about meeting up with like-minded pals and sharing a cold one to celebrate Hump Day. This month's event will be Wednesday, Oct. 20, from 7-9 p.m. at the Copper Gate in Ballard (6301 24th Ave NW, 98107). Look for the group having a good time, and join in!

Aberdeen area car pool wanted

A member (and new Washington resident) in the Aberdeen area is looking to share a ride to region events, specifically the Inside Story coming up next Wednesday, Oct. 27. If you're able to drive and interested in a rider to help cover costs (and chat about kidlit with a new friend), contact Cassie at cassie (at) sbcglobal.net or call her at 360.532.8769. Thanks!

Janet Lee Carey Book Launch

Janet Lee Carey is celebrating the release of THE DRAGONS OF NOOR! The dragons are already flying into bookstores and libraries, landing on shelves and neatly tucking themselves in with their green spines showing.

SCBWI friends are all invited to the Masquerade Book Launch Party with music, masks, dancing & dining this Saturday October 23 7-9 p.m. at Parkplace Books .

FOOD: Delicious Eats & Noor Treats
FUN: Costumes if you please or come in comfy jeans and tees
FROLIC: Music & Dancing. Face Painting & Mask Making.
Author Reading, Riddling, & our traditional Dragon Dance!
GREEN: Add your green to donation jar for Plant a Billion Trees
COME: Writers, Illustrators, Readers, Friends, Families, Dragons, Fairies, Wind Spirits, & Tree deyas -- Fun for all ages.

You can find out more information about Janet at her website, and blog.

25 Ballard Authors Event

Ballard is filled with writers, some better known in other states than locally. This is a chance to meet "the writer next door." It's a free, casual evening for anyone and everyone in Ballard to meet and mingle with neighbors - who just might be award-winning childrens' authors, young adult writers, crime writers, psychics and/or historians. There's going to be 25 authors talking about how to build an audience in this new world of publishing (three of them are children's book authors: Liz Gallagher, Kevin Emerson and Nina Laden). There will be books by all participants on sale by Secret Garden books and and Author Bingo - with door prizes!

For more information click on the flyer above, or visit the post at At Large in Ballard.

Boo Books

If you missed our Professional Series Meeting last week (or even if you didn't), you might like to see the banner that Snackmeister Dana Sullivan created to welcome attendees and celebrate books with a Halloween feel. (Click the image for a closer view.) The books featured the banner are among those that will be celebrated at our upcoming Inside Story, which will be held at 6:30 p.m. on October 27 at Parkplace Books. Watch for banners at our November and December meetings for the covers of more books we'll hear about at the Inside Story. Thanks, Dana — and congratulations, authors and illustrators!

Field's End Event

Field's End's "From Dust to Diamonds: Building the Skill of Revision" event with Elizabeth Lyon, will be on Saturday, October 23, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. For more information visit their website.

Do you see your first draft as an expression of your creativity, but revision as routine and uninspiring? Do you see your first draft as so daunting it's hard to get started? Either way, Elizabeth Lyon's seminar is a day you won't want to miss. Her tried and true techniques are practical, fun, and demonstrate that revision isn't just editing. It's the natural creative extension of the original words we put on paper. And, knowing we have an effective tool kit to help with revision, that intimidating first draft becomes more approachable as just one step in the creative process. Join us for a day of change.

Good News & Launch Party for Christina Wilsdon

Congratulations to Christina Wilsdon! Her book FOR HORSE-CRAZY GIRLS ONLY was published by Feiwel & Friends, an imprint of Macmillan, September 28, 2010! Here's the Macmillian link. Christina says she has loved horses all her life, and is mom to a horse-crazy daughter, so she's really excited about this book. She also says it was the most incredible fun to research and write it over the past two years.

Secret Garden is hosting a launch party Monday, October 25, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Horsy treats, say hello to a Butterscotch Fur-Real pony (and suggest a name for her), and a door prize (not the pony!). Girls are invited to bring along their favorite horsy plush pal or horse model, if they'd like.

For more information on Christina, and her writing, check out her blog, and her website. She also writes for the Woodland Park Zoo Examiner.

Kid Lit Event

Thanks to everyone who showed up for the first Kid Lit Pub Night at Ravenna Third Place Books. We had so much fun, we're doing it again. On October 20, from 7-9 p.m., the Copper Gate in Ballard (6301 24th Ave NW, 98107) will be the place to meet up with fellow writers and illustrators to talk shop to your heart's content. Bring good news, probing questions, and latest reads for a couple hours of getting-to-know other folks in the Western Washington kid lit world. For more info contact your AdCom social event coordinator, Brenda Winter Hansen, at scbwiwa@scbwi-washington.org.

Please join us at the Inside Story

The Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators is delighted to invite you to our fall 2010 Inside Story, a party we hold twice a year to celebrate new books by local authors and illustrators and to share the secret "stories behind their stories" with fellow children's book lovers.

The event is at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 27 at Parkplace Books (348 Parkplace Center, Kirkland), featuring new releases by:

Kevan Atteberry
Bonny Becker
Erik Brooks
Royce Buckingham
Liz Callen
Janet Lee Carey
Holly Cupala
Barbara Caridad Ferrer
Karen Kincy
Laura McGee Kvasnosky
Karen Lewis
Liz Mills

Maggie Smith
Kathryn Thurman
Michele Torrey
Jesse Joshua Watson
Conrad Wesselhoeft
Suzanne Williams
Dori Jones Yang

There will also be a brief performance by Kevin Emerson, author of several books for children, and lead singer and drummer of our favorite Seattle kid music band, the Board of Education.

Please RSVP to parkplacebooks@integra.net,  or call (425) 828-6546.

All librarians, teachers, booksellers, book buyers, and media are invited to join us. Feel free to share this announcement with anyone who might be interested. 

The Novel: Live!

In a stunning, never-before-attempted marathon of literary wonder, thirty-six Northwest authors write a complete novel in just six days under the watchful eyes of Fairy God-author Nancy Pearl. YA authors Suzanne Selfors and Deb Caletti will each take a two hour shift, which will be streamed live to classrooms. Watch this process at the official website or come to Hugo House and watch in person. Each author gets a couple of lifelines and Suzanne will be telephoning Rebecca Stead during her shift.

The completed novel will be published by Open Road Media in ebook format and print-on-demand. All proceeds will go to literary programs. The event starts this Monday, Oct. 11 - Saturday, Oct. 16. The times are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. You can watch the promotional video here. For more information on the Richard Hugo House visit their website.

Good News for Lisa Owens!

Lisa's has a new nonfiction picture book series called LET'S BE SOCIAL! Written specifically for the school and library market, these six books introduce young readers to the various social groups they encounter and must learn to navigate in their community: family, friends, school, teams, worship groups, and neighborhoods. To learn more about Lisa's series, visit her blog post.

Saturday Event to Check Out...

The Soup Bowl Auction takes place on Saturday October 9, in the Methow Valley. Erik Brooks, a fellow SCBWI member is contributing 4 hand-painted bowls, 3 signed books, and some comic strip original art as a collection for the event.

If anyone is interested in placing a maximum bid, Erik would be happy to facilitate, check out his blog for more information about the event. You can find more about Erik's work at his website.

Good News for Samantha Vamos!

Samantha's first children's picture book, BEFORE YOU WERE HERE, MI AMOR (Viking, 2009) was named a 2010 Washington State Book Award winner (The Scandiuzzi Children's Book Award). Check out the article here. BEFORE YOU WERE HERE, MI AMOR, mixes in Spanish words in the story of how a pregnant mother, her unborn baby's older brother and an extended family of grandparents, aunts and uncles get prepared for life with a new baby. For more information on Samantha, visit her website.

Picture Book Blog

Fellow SCBWI member, and illustrator George Shannon started a blog recently that celebrates the picture book. This blog includes reviews, essays about picture books, writing tips, related bibliographies, and critique services. Check out his blog, and also his website.

Good News for Debbie Reber

Good News for Debbie Reber, who created and edited a series of teen-authored memoirs for HCI Books called LOUDER THAN WORDS. Three new memoirs in the series came out this last August. Here are the details about the series:

ALEXIS: My True Story of Being Seduced By An Online Predator is written by 19-year-old Alexis Singer, who shares her harrowing story of being solicited in an online chat room by an older man who drew her into an emotionally dependent and cybersexual relationship.

RAE: My True Story of Fear, Anxiety and Social Phobia is brilliantly penned by 18-year-old Chelsea Rae Swiggett, and is a firsthand account of what it’s like to be a teen suffering from severe anxiety disorder.

HANNAH: My True Story of Drugs, Cutting and Mental Illness comes from 19-year-old Hannah Westberg, who describes how her pill-popping, depression, and suicidal tendencies resulted in a tumultuous high school existence and a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder.

According to Debbie;

These girls are the real thing, and I’m so honored I got to be the one to find them and help them craft their memoirs!

You can find out more about the series, including watch trailers for all three books, read the girls’ blogs, and listen to their book soundtracks, at the website. To find more about Debbie, visit her website, and her blog.

Ten Things Every Artist (& Attorney) Should Know About...

TEN THINGS EVERY ARTIST (& ATTORNEY) SHOULD KNOW ABOUT...Business, Tax, Intellectual Property & Employment Law.

You can’t know everything, so what should you know? What are common legal issues that artists face? Join this distinguished panel to gain an overview of important legal topics in business, tax, intellectual property and employment law. You will gain practical advice and insights as the panelists use a hypothetical scenario involving a collaborative performance by writers, artists, performers and musicians to illustrate their presentations. After the panel, relax with a glass of wine and light hors d’oeuvres while conversing with fellow workshop participants.

Wednesday, October 13, from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. (registration begins at 5:30 p.m.). The event takes places at Garvey Schubert Barer (Second & Seneca Bldg) 1191 Second Avenue, Suite 1800, Seattle, WA 98101. Registration fees include snacks & drinks. In advance: $45 Attorneys and Paralegals; $20 Artists and Students or at the door: $50 Attorneys and Paralegals; $25 Artists and Students. To register, visit Brown Paper Tickets, or call: 800.838.3006. To pay at the door, RSVP to Washington Lawyers for the Arts at 206.328.7053.

Class of 2k11

Three of our local SCBWI members—Megan Bostic, Kiki Hamilton, and Carole Dagg—are among the twenty nationwide members of the Class of 2k11, a group of debut middle grade and young adult authors banding together to promote their books and share ideas. We hope to match the standard set by past classes, which have included Rebecca Stead (WHEN YOU REACH ME) and Jay Asher (13 REASONS WHY).

The Class of 2k11 contests, games and news won’t be officially on-line until November 11, but you can catch a preview on their website and sign up for their monthly newsletter now.