Good News for Clare Hodgson Meeker

Good News for Clare Hodgson Meeker! Seattle Sounder's Roger Levesque and two local kids who inspired the story of SOCCER DREAMS joined Clare for an interview with New Day Northwest host Margaret Larson on June 20 on KING TV! If you missed the interview you can see it on here. For more information on Clare, and her work, visit her website.

Jennifer Shaw Wolf's Cover Reveal

Jennifer Shaw Wolf is graciously sharing the cover of BREAKING BEAUTIFUL, her debut novel that comes out in April 2012. If you click here you can see her "outside story" of how a picture her husband took became the cover of her book.

For more information on Jennifer, and her work, you can visit her website and her blog.

Thanks for sharing Jennifer!!!

Summer Writing Classes for Kids and Teens with Margaret Nevinski

Creative Writing Workshop (Ages 8-11)
Wind up your summer by joining us for a week filled with fun writing activities! Margaret helps young writers explore their creativity and write their own stories and poems. We'll use "Magic Pen Story Starters," "Imagination Triggers," and other prompts to get us started. We'll also read our work out loud and get feedback from our fellow authors. If your writing skills have been asleep all summer, now is the time to wake them up! Come prepared with a notebook, a pencil, and your imagination.

Section 1: Monday-Friday, Aug. 15-19. 9:30-noon. $105
Section 2: Monday-Friday, Aug. 22-26. 9:30-noon. $105
Section 3: Monday-Friday, Aug. 22-26. 1:00-3:30. $105

Strawberry Hill Center, 7666 High School Road NE, Bainbridge Island. To register, visit Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District or call 206-842-2306.

Teen Creative Writing Workshop (Ages 12-15)
This workshop, exclusively for young teens, is for those who want to explore their ideas for stories, novels, or poems. Whether you’ve been writing this summer or just thinking about writing, this workshop provides a place to express your unique teen voice. Margaret organizes our time together like an adult writing workshop. We’ll work on our own stories, have fun with writing prompts, and share our writing out loud to give each other helpful feedback. As a bonus, August weather should allow us to write outside!

Monday-Friday, Aug. 15-19. 1:00-3:30. $105. Strawberry Hill Center, 7666 High School Road NE, Bainbridge Island, WA. To register, visit Bainbridge Island Park & Recreation District or call 206-842-2306.

To register, visit Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District or call 206-842-2306.

Teen Creative Writing Workshop (Ages 12-15)
This workshop, exclusively for young teens, is for those who want to explore their ideas for stories, novels, or poems. Whether you’ve been writing this summer or just thinking about writing, this workshop provides a place to express your unique teen voice. Margaret organizes our time together like an adult writing workshop. We’ll work on our own stories, have fun with writing prompts, and share our writing out loud to give each other helpful feedback. As a bonus, August weather should allow us to write outside!

Monday-Friday, Aug. 15-19. 1:00-3:30. $105. Strawberry Hill Center, 7666 High School Road NE, Bainbridge Island, WA. To register, visit Bainbridge Island Park & Recreation District or call 206-842-2306.

For more information on Margaret, and her work, visit her website.

KidLitCon registration is now open

KidLitCon (the annual conference of KidLit bloggers) will be in Seattle this year, September 16-17, and registration is now open. Scott Westerfeld! Friday pre-conference fun! Some SCBWI presence/involvement/trouble-making we haven't yet figured out!

Get the scoop or sign up. Registration will be limited to 190 folks.

(They're looking for a few presentation proposals, too -- deadline July 15.)

Kid Lit Drink Night Location Clarification

NOTICE: Going to the Eastside Kid Lit Drink Night from 6-8 p.m. tomorrow? Make sure you show up at the right Red Robin and head to Bellevue Square!

Kid Lit Drink Night Reminder & Update

Don't forget there's a Kid Lit Drink Night this Sunday, June 26, from 6-8 p.m. at the Bellevue Red Robin, hosted by Lily Garfield. Eastsiders are expected to show en force.

And for July, something new for the Kid Lit crowd: We'll be at Olympic Pizza III in Capitol Hill Monday, July 18, from 7-10 p.m. Bring your favorite librarian and an appetite!

Good News for Mindy Hardwick

Not one but TWO big HIP HIP HOORAYS for Mindy Hardwick!! Mindy loves exploring the complexities of the unreliable narrator, and has just sold her young adult romance novel, WEAVING MAGIC, to Muse-It-Up Publishing. (Canadian). Publication date, April 2012. While working on this story, Mindy learned a lot about characters who can't quite tell the truth which resulted in an article, UNRELIABLE NARRATORS, published in the Summer SCBWI Bulletin.

And, Mindy's flash fiction piece, JAILBIRDS, is published on Sarah LaPolla's blog, Glass Cases. Jailbirds also includes an unreliable character which gives the story an unexpected twist at the end! Here's the link to check out!

For more information on Mindy, and her work, check out her website! Congratulations Mindy!

Wendy Wahman at Secret Garden

Author/Illustrator Wendy Wahman launches her new book, A CAT LIKE THAT, at Secret Garden Books on Thursday, July 7, starting at 7 p.m.

Here's what Secret Garden has to say about Wendy:

We love a great animal person, and if there ever was one, Wendy is a great animal person. Animals have no better champion to tell their side of the story than Wendy, and the super-bonus is that kids totally vibe to the way she tells them, too!

We're awed by how well animals and even the tiniest kids are getting along out there, in no small part due to Wendy's books!

We are thrilled to be hosting the west-side launch for her second book A CAT LIKE THAT, which looks to be right up there in our fannish attentions! It's purrrrrfect!

For more information on Wendy, and her work, visit her website.

Ann Gonzalez Writing Workshops

Are you looking for feedback on and help shaping the young adult or middle-grade novel you're working on? The next session of Ann Gonzalez's online craft and workshop class is set to start Monday June 27. It's only 125.00 for 8 weeks and comes with a money-back guarantee. To enroll or for more information please contact Ann at ann@anngonzalez.com.

Or maybe you're interested in in-person workshops? For the first time, author and teacher Ann Gonzalez, will be offering an in-person craft workshop in her home. The class will run for 8 weeks on Tuesday nights from 7-9 p.m. beginning July 12. Because of the limited number of critiques possible in an in-person class this is being offered at the discounted rate of 100.00 for the 8 weeks. If you'd like more information please contact Ann at ann@anngonzalez.com.

2011 KidLitCon seeking proposals!

SAVE THE DATE!

The fifth annual Kidlitosphere Conference will be held September 16-17, 2011, in downtown Seattle! 

* * * * * * *

AND, they are now accepting presentation proposals!

Here's what their proposal submission form says:

"We are looking for 50 minute presentations, panels, and keynotes that will appeal to and edify Kidlitosphere bloggers. Our goal is to provide a balanced selection for a wide range of interests and include, but are not limited to, topics of diversity, reviewing critically, evaluating illustrations, social media, marketing, and technology, and industry relationships.

Submissions are due by July 15, 2011."

For more information, you can visit here to see how it's shaping up, visit their webpage here, friend them on Facebook here, follow them on Twitter here, and/or email them at KidLitCon@gmail.com.

Highlights Announces 2012 Contest Theme

Highlights 2012 Fiction Contest's theme is a funny story inspired by an unusual newspaper headline.

Prizes:
Three prizes of $1,000 or tuition for the Highlights Foundation Writers Workshop at Chautauqua

Entry Dates & Details:
-All entries must be postmarked between January 1 and January 31, 2012.
-They welcome work from both published and unpublished authors. All submissions must be previously unpublished.

-Stories may be any length up to 750 words. Stories for beginning readers should not exceed 475 words. Indicate the word count in the upper right-hand corner of the first page of your manuscript.

For all the contest details visit the Highlight's contest page. (Thanks to Lois for the tip!)

Northwest Bookfest Sets Date--Looking for Panelists

NORTHWEST BOOKFEST SETS DATE

Inaugural event in Kirkland Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1 and 2

KIRKLAND – May 10, 2011 – Celebrating the printed word, a new festival of books is set to launch in Downtown Kirkland this fall on October 1–2. The City of Kirkland and the King County Library System will be some of the community partners for the Northwest Bookfest. The long-term goal is to make this an annual fall event.

Book Publishers Network, Bothell, will coordinate the Northwest Bookfest as a community festival open to everyone. Publishers, booksellers and dozens of authors will be on hand to promote their latest offerings.

The two days of workshops, readings and book signings will encompass all genres of fiction and nonfiction, children’s books, young adult offerings, live performances in puppetry and storytelling, as well as resources for writers and readers, such as critique groups, writer’s organizations, book clubs and library functions.

Coordination with the City of Kirkland and King County Library System are major pluses for the festival, which will take place at several locales, indoors and outside, including the King County Kirkland branch library, the Kirkland Performance Center, the Peter Kirk Community Center and the Kirkland Teen Center.

“We want this to be the most entertaining and informative Bookfest ever,” says Sheryn Hara, owner of Book Publishers Network. “Right now, as we organize the entire event, we are looking for volunteers, authors, organizations, any who wants to have a role. Our theme is ‘It’s Raining Books!’”

The Whidbey Island Writer's Group and Book Publishers Northwest have offered to create the education component of the festival, offering concurrent discussion sessions for writers and authors throughout the weekend.

Bookfest hours will run from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, October 1-2. For more information on how to get involved or to submit an application for booth space, contact Deborah Schneider, Public Programming Coordinator at King County Library System, at 425.369.3319 or dschneid@kcls.org.

New West Coast-based Red Fox Literary will Represent Authors and Illustrators for Children’s Market

Red Fox Literary, a boutique agency representing children’s book authors and illustrators, officially opened shop and launched its website today. The agency will offer a dazzling array of talents from among its roster of clients, including New York Times and Time magazine Best Book winners, and some of the most promising up-andcoming talents working in the field today.

The duo behind Red Fox Literary is veteran agent Karen Grencik and seasoned editor Abigail Samoun. They hope to reproduce the success of their first agent/editor collaboration from nearly a decade ago, Sarah Wilson and Chad Cameron’s George Hogglesberry, Grade School Alien, which won the highly esteemed SCBWI Golden Kite Award.

Grencik is thrilled about the new agency. “I love everything about agenting: corresponding with clients and editors; watching ideas and books come to life; having that first cup of coffee and opening up my emails to see what surprises are in store for the day.” But what really drives Grencik are her authors. “I love them—they are my reason for getting up in the morning.” Grencik will be representing authors writing for picture book, chapter book, middle grade, and young adult audiences. She’s currently looking for stories about real life and real people. “I love stories where character development is front and center. I’m all about the people.”

As the other half of the agency, Samoun will initially be focusing on the illustration division. “We have sixteen illustrators signed so far, most of whom I’ve worked with before as an editor,” she says. “They represent a wide range of styles—reflective and digital, figurative and stylized, humorous and whimsical, traditional and contemporary. Some of the illustrators have been in the business thirty years; some of them are just starting out.” In understanding the market, Samoun states, “An author’s voice is important in helping carve out an identity in the publishing world, but there’s an illustrator equivalent of voice too—each of Red Fox Literary’s
artists has a distinctive style and point-of-view. I’m very excited about the talent we’re bringing to editors and art directors.”

Redfoxliterary.com will have a key role in promoting the agency. Says Samoun, “As an editor, I conducted hundreds of hours of illustration searches. I know what it’s like to go from website to website, hour after hour, looking for the perfect match for a story. The websites I liked best presented the illustrators’ thumbnails right on the splash page, included lots of samples, and the option of making those samples nice and big. I really didn’t like having to squint at the screen, trying to determine whether something was done in colored pencil or watercolor. So when we created the Red Fox Literary portfolio page, our priority was making it as easy as
possible for editors and art directors to review our talented illustrators’ work. They can even download a PDF of each artist’s portfolio to print out and take to meetings.”

The site will also include an author page, agency highlights, a blog, a shop selling the work of Red Fox illustrators, and a unique feature Samoun calls “Studio Tours.” “Working with an illustrator for the first time was always a bit daunting for me. Who was this person? How did they work? What had they done before? It was always a bit of a gamble. I wanted to find a way to make editors and art directors more comfortable about trying someone new.” Samoun came up with the idea of creating short films of artists in their studios showing their work and discussing their inspirations and past projects. The site’s first Studio Tour highlights Princess Posey illustrator Stephanie Roth Sisson. In the five-minute film, Sisson discusses her early influences as a child growing up in Switzerland and shows sketches of a current book in progress. “It’s great because it really gives you a sense of how Stephanie works and what she’s like as a person,” says Samoun. She eventually hopes to create studio tours for each of the Red Fox Literary artists.

When asked about her ultimate goal for the new agency, Grencik responds, “We want Red Fox Literary to become a respected agency that strives for the highest standards, both in terms of the quality of its clients’ work and its professional ethics. We want to provide authors with a fresh diving board from which to spring, and a safe home from which to do their best work.”

Contacts:
Abigail Samoun, abigail@redfoxliterary.com
Karen Grencik, karen@redfoxliterary.com

Ultimate Tuesday at Secret Garden Bookshop

June’s Ultimate Tuesday special guest is illustrator is Kathleen Kemly, who’s illustrated many books for children, including GOLDEN DELICIOUS: A CINDERELLA APPLE STORY, A FISHING SURPRISE, and YOU CAN’T DO THAT, AMELIA! She’s here to talk about drawing the pictures for all her books, including her new book is A MOTHER'S SONG (written by Janet Lawler).

This free event is Tuesday, June 28, from 7-7:30 p.m. For more information on the event visit Secret Garden's website, and for more information on Kathleen visit her website.

Interested in Joining FirstBooks's Advisory Board?

FirstBook organization is starting an advisory board in the Seattle area. They are looking for a children's author to be part of the board. Here's the website to learn more about what they do.

Here are some of the advisory board members responsibilities:

• Raise funds to provide book grants to local programs that serve children in need.
• Identify local schools and community programs to receive book grants
• Recruit new members who represent a professional and cultural cross-section of the community
• Participate in national cause-based marketing events and campaigns
• Promote First Book and literacy issues within the community

Advisory Board members will be meeting 1-2 times a month, and are not required to make money donations to the organization. If you're interested or have questions contact Ramiro Rey at rrey11(at)yahoo(dot)com.

Quarterly Published Pro Think Tank

SCBWI Western Washington Published Pro Think Tank

E-Books and Self-Publishing for Traditionally Published Authors

Monday, July 11, 2011 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Seattle Pacific University, Demaray Hall, 150

Please join us on Monday, July 11 from 7-9 p.m. at Seattle Pacific University for our next quarterly Published Pro Think Tank, where we’ll have an informal show-and-tell discussion about e-books and self-publishing for traditionally published authors. Panelists who’ll be sharing their experiences and learnings include Janet Wong (ONCE UPON A TIGER), Kevin Emerson (THE TRIAD OF FINITY), P.J. Hoover (SOLSTICE), Laura Rennert (P.J.’s agent with Andrea Brown Literary Agency), and Chris Eboch (THE EYES OF PHARAOH).

Today’s publishing landscape is changing quickly, and the stigma that once loomed over e-books and self-publishing is being lifted. In fact, many authors who’ve already hit the big time with traditional book publishers are turning to self-publishing.

Earlier this year, for instance, New York Times best-selling thriller author Barry Eisler turned down a $500,000 publishing deal from a mainstream publisher in order to self-publish his next book. Last fall, acclaimed writer Seth Godin, author of about a dozen books including PURPLE COW, told the Wall Street Journal that “he now has so many direct customer relationships, largely via his blog, that he no longer needs a traditional publisher.”

Janet Wong, Kevin Emerson, P.J. Hoover, and Chris Eboch are among the few authors following suit in the children’s book industry. At the Think Tank, they’ll dish (in person, over the phone, and via Skype) about things like doing the math to make profits work… the logistics of selling e-books through online bookstores… when it makes sense to self-publish, and when it doesn’t… and how and when to talk about it with your agent. They’ll answer questions and share things that have worked well and things they’d do differently on the next go ‘round.

This event is free to all current Published and Listed (P.A.L.) SCBWI members, however you must RSVP to sara@saraeasterly.com (or via the Punchbowl invite that was delivered to all SCBWI WWA P.A.L. members earlier today) on or before July 9, 2011.

Please verify that you are a P.A.L. member before you RSVP by logging in to SCBWI's website and viewing your profile. If you are listed as a Full or Associate member, you will need to apply for P.A.L. membership here.

Graphic Artists Guild June Workshop

Moving from Graphic Design to User Experience (UX) Design

What is User Experience Design (UX Design) ?
How does it differ from traditional graphic design?
Why does it matter?
How is it done?

Find out this month as David Kelley takes us on an exploration of UX Design approaches.

When:

Wednesday, June 22, from 12-2 p.m. (Doors open at 11:30 a.m.)

Where:

EAFA Gallery - room A239 in the Seattle Design Center Atrium Building

5701 Sixth Ave South

How Much:

Pre-register at Brown Paper Tickets

Guild Member-$10

Full time student-$10

Sister Association Member-$15

General-$20

At the door, Cash or check only.

Guild member-$15

Full time student-$15

Sister Association Member-$20

General-$25

You can find more information at the Guild's website, or for questions: seattleguild@gmail.com

Children's Book Illustration and Painting Classes with Craig Orback

Local illustrator Craig Orback has some new Children's Book Illustration and painting classes starting soon in Bellevue and Seattle. Visit him at his website and blog.

Children's Book Illustration I
Immerse yourself in the world of children’s book illustration with this introductory course. Through in-class assignments using a variety of media, you'll learn basic techniques to complete illustrations for young readers. Also learn the business side of children’s book illustration, including what it takes to get your work seen by the right people. Character consistency, portfolios, contracts, and other topics are also covered. Craig Orback is an award-winning illustrator of over 15 children's books. Basic drawing skills are helpful but not required. Homework is required.

Bellevue Community College, Saturdays, 8 Sessions, July 9- August 27, from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Cost is $149 Call (206) 527-3705 or register here.

North Seattle Community College, Thursdays, 8 Sessions, July 7- August 25, from 6:30-9 p.m. Cost is $125, register here.

Beginning Oil Painting for Teens
This no pressure introductory course introduces teens to the basics of painting with oils. Learn about materials available to painters, color mixing and some basic color theory as well as composition. Instructor gives one-on-one feedback in this fun, hands-on studio class. Please
bring supplies to the first class and be ready to paint!

Bellevue Community College, Saturdays, 4 Sessions, July 16- August 6, from 1:30-4:30 p.m. Cost is $169, Call (425) 564-2263 or register here.

Illustrating Children's Picture Books Class with Jaime Temairik

Hey Picture Book Makers!

Join me this summer for a great class, Illustrating Children's Picture Books, at the University of Washington Seattle campus. I can promise you four weeks of wall-to wall-picture book making talk. Incredible guest speakers like Martha Brockenbrough (www.marthabee.com) and Richard Jesse Watson (www.richardjessewatson.com) can promise you incredible inspirational writing tips and illustration techniques (Richard will be doing a live painting demo!)

Especially suited to those just starting out in picture books, this class is also an excellent bootcamp for seasoned creators that need a refresher course or some outside accountability.

Give your children's book career that boost in craft it needs this summer. There are a few spots left, so sign up soon—class starts June 14!

Details:

http://www.pce.uw.edu/course.aspx?id=6246

Start Date: 6/14/2011, End Date: 7/7/2011

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Credits:2.4 CEUs

Location:UW Seattle

Cost:$549

Reg #:108945

You're Invited to Page Ahead's Best Books for Kids Awards Event

Members of the SCBWI are invited to attend Page Ahead’s Second Annual Best Books for Kids Awards event on Wednesday June 15, from 6- 8 p.m. at the Library Bistro in downtown Seattle. They will announce the winners of the 2011 Best Books for Kids Awards.

Page Ahead serves 55,000 children in need across Washington State with new books and literacy services. They hope that these awards will serve as a guide to parents, teachers and librarians for choosing quality children’s literature.

The event is free – hors d’oeuvres and wine will be served. Be sure to RSVP here if you plan to attend.

Wendy Wahman Book Launch Dates

Wendy Wahman sent me an email letting me know that all you lucky SCBWI WWA members can go straight from her Eastside book launch party for A CAT LIKE THAT to Kid Lit at Red Robin on Sunday, June 26!

Wendy is having Eastside and Westside book launch parties so you can head to the one that's closest to you (or both since they're on different dates & also because book launch parties are so much fun!).

Here's the book launch dates:

Sunday, June 26 at 3 p.m. at Parkplace Books in Kirkland

Thursday, July 7 at 7 p.m. at Secret Garden Books in Ballard

For more information on Wendy, and her work, visit her website. You can also see her fabulous trailer here.

Fellow Member Lending a Hand

Fellow SCBWI member Dorine White is lending a helping hand to spread the word about Kevin Emerson's self published OLIVER NOCTURNE #6, THE TRIAD OF FINITY book release. It's Kevin Emerson week on her blog! There's a signed book giveaway, information about Kevin's book launch, writing help, and more! Check it out and help support Kevin!

DaVinci does Spokane!

Spokane's MAC museum is hosting a major DaVinci exhibit over the summer. Included are numerous mechanical models based on his drawings and replicas of his masterpieces (since many of the paintings are frescos, impossible to move). The show runs June 3 to September 5. Any artist should get the chance to see this exhibit.

Tickets are $11 for MAC members, $18 for non-members, and all students $8.00. Tickets must be purchased through Tickets West, or 800-325-SEAT. To find out more, see the MA website.

Carole Estby Dagg Author Event This Thursday!

Join Carole Dagg at Third Place Books (17171 Bothell Way NE, in Lake Forest Park) this Thursday, June 2, at 7 p.m.

She'll be in costume and carrying a satchel, ready to read from THE YEAR WE WERE FAMOUS and share newspaper articles and photos of her Great-aunt Clara and Great-grandmother Helga, who walked from Spokane to New York City back in 1896 to save the farm and prove women could do it.

For more information on Carole, and her work, visit her website. You can also check out her book trailer here.

So Long, Vampires! Kevin Emerson Book Launch @ Secret Garden

Let’s celebrate Kevin’s new book, THE TRIAD OF FINITY, and bury the vampire genre in this part-party, part-ceremony on Saturday, June 11 at 4 p.m.

In 2008-2009, Seattle children’s author Kevin Emerson released 5 books in his OLIVER NOCTURNE series. The books sold tens of thousands of copies, were published in 5 languages, and garnered Kevin near daily correspondence from excited fans around the world. His publisher, Scholastic, agreed that he didn’t need to end the series with book 5, and could leave the ending open for more books, but two years later, Kevin’s enthusiasm to finish off the series with one more book ran into a brick wall made of befuddling numbers at Scholastic (not to mention an editor change).

What should the author of a moderately successful and unfinished series do? Kevin’s own desire to finish what he’d started, and the calls from fans led him to into the much-hyped but nearly-as-often derided world of self-publishing. With the help of his author friends in town, Kevin produced a final novel - written, designed and printed entirely in Seattle, the place he and his supernatural universe call home. The result is the 6th and final Oliver book, THE TRIAD OF FINITY.

And the timing couldn’t be better, or later, in terms of getting out of the vampire genre. Widely considered to be the *last* craze, and currently being replaced by dystopian and steampunk novels, vampires are on their way out. Our event here, then, is also a requiem for the vampire genre. The event, called, “So Long, Vampires!” will be part book party and part ceremony, as a handful of Seattle’s best teen authors read eulogies and odes to the broody creatures they loved (or loathed, or endured) for the past five years, (ending in a group chant that will attempt to stop the much-talked-about Buffy reboot).

Kevin is available to discuss the murky path through sales numbers and self-publishing, the glowing fan letters paired with crushing Scholastic emails, and the (so far) positive and freeing journey of making your own book. (His his next 4 books will be published by HarperCollins). For more information about this free event visit Secret Garden's website. For more information on Kevin, and his work, visit his website.