You can also enter a drawing for one of 10 autographed paperback copies of the birthday book here. Hurry! The drawing chance ends at midnight on May 30.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
A chance to win a birthday Birdy
You can also enter a drawing for one of 10 autographed paperback copies of the birthday book here. Hurry! The drawing chance ends at midnight on May 30.
How Naked! was made
Illustrator Suzanne Kaufman suggests this great post, with insight about how the lovely and talented Debbie Ohi illustrated her new picture book, Naked!, written by Michael Ian Black and edited by Simon & Schuster vice president and publisher Justin Chanda, who was just in Seattle for our conference last month. (Poke around Debbie's site for other useful information, too.)Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Congrats to a Children's Choice winner!
Member Emily Krieger's first book, National Geographic Kids: Myths Busted!, won this year's Children's Choice Fifth/Sixth Grade Book of the Year award. She says, "I'm thrilled! During my speech I gave a shout-out to my beloved city, Seattle, for being such a supportive place for creative endeavors (and I also locked eyes with Rush Limbaugh---definitely one of the most surreal moments of my life)."In addition, Myths Busted 2 just came out. Check both titles out!
Friday, May 23, 2014
Looking for a critique group?
Well, look no further!
Our outstanding Great Critique and Critique Group Coordinator, South Sound Network guru, and all-around amazing AdCom member, Anthony Dorrough, has put together a way for you (yes, YOU!) to more easily connect with nearby kid-lit folks with a similar focus.
(Is that applause I hear? Why, yes! Yes, it is!)
From Tony:
Critique Group Seekers,
Thank you for your continued enthusiastic interest in getting involved in a Critique Group!
It's finally time to find your dream team. Just head on over to the SCBWI WWA website and sign in.
Remember, after you get a chance to look over the page, be sure to let me know about any inaccurate information you may encounter and/or if you cannot find a group to get plugged into in your area. My Critique Group email is: anthonydorrough@rocketmail.com.
This is what makes SCBWI special. It is all about finding and making these connections. If you've been hanging back and wondering how the heck you're going to find your "people," now's the time to give it a try.
Click HERE (the link has also just gone up on our SCBWI web page) to start your journey. You might just find what you're looking for––and that will go a long way toward creating the work you always wanted.
Good luck, and let the matchmaking begin in time for summer!
Our outstanding Great Critique and Critique Group Coordinator, South Sound Network guru, and all-around amazing AdCom member, Anthony Dorrough, has put together a way for you (yes, YOU!) to more easily connect with nearby kid-lit folks with a similar focus.
(Is that applause I hear? Why, yes! Yes, it is!)
From Tony:
Critique Group Seekers,
Thank you for your continued enthusiastic interest in getting involved in a Critique Group!
It's finally time to find your dream team. Just head on over to the SCBWI WWA website and sign in.
Remember, after you get a chance to look over the page, be sure to let me know about any inaccurate information you may encounter and/or if you cannot find a group to get plugged into in your area. My Critique Group email is: anthonydorrough@rocketmail.com.
This is what makes SCBWI special. It is all about finding and making these connections. If you've been hanging back and wondering how the heck you're going to find your "people," now's the time to give it a try.
Click HERE (the link has also just gone up on our SCBWI web page) to start your journey. You might just find what you're looking for––and that will go a long way toward creating the work you always wanted.
Good luck, and let the matchmaking begin in time for summer!
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Answering the call for more diverse books
-->
ETA: Another good voice in the discussion is Anne Ursu's here.
If you haven’t already been following the We Need Diverse Books campaign,
it’s time to learn more. The campaign began as a response to the initially
all-white line-up of speakers for the first BookCon in New York, which is
scheduled for the end of this month. Learn more about the controversy here
or better yet, join the discussion on Twitter at #WeNeedDiverseBooks.
Answering the call this week, the literacy nonprofit
First Book pledged to buy 10,000 copies of each book it selects to distribute to
children in need as a part of its Stories For All Project. Be sure not to miss other info posted as part of their announcement and read more about it in PW and the CCBC newsletter.
— contributed by
Kjersten Hayes
ETA: Another good voice in the discussion is Anne Ursu's here.
A budding illustrator needs to buy you coffee
Illustration student Kimberly Peterson, who is finishing up a Visual Communications degree at Highline Community College, needs an informational interview with an illustrator to complete her degree requirements and is hoping one of you arty types might be willing. She can meet you anywhere in the Seattle or Tacoma area and will just need a signed business card as proof you exist.
To help her out, contact her at kpeterson7@students.highline.edu.
To help her out, contact her at kpeterson7@students.highline.edu.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
First Loves YA reading
Third Place Books is the place to be on Thursday, May 15 at 7pm.
Why, you ask?
A talented group of authors reads from their latest YA offerings, all under the heading of First Love.
They are: Lindsay Leavitt, The Chapel Wars; Emery Lord, Open Road Summer; Mandy Hubbard, Fool Me Twice.
Come swoon over this group, and fall in love all over again with some YA goodness.
- See more at: http://www.thirdplacebooks.com/event/first-loves-tour-teen-event#sthash.7RN6jEul.dpuf
- See more at: http://www.thirdplacebooks.com/event/first-loves-tour-teen-event#sthash.7RN6jEul.dpuf
- See more at: http://www.thirdplacebooks.com/event/first-loves-tour-teen-event#sthash.7RN6jEul.dpuf
- See more at: http://www.thirdplacebooks.com/event/first-loves-tour-teen-event#sthash.7RN6jEul.dpuf
Why, you ask?
A talented group of authors reads from their latest YA offerings, all under the heading of First Love.
They are: Lindsay Leavitt, The Chapel Wars; Emery Lord, Open Road Summer; Mandy Hubbard, Fool Me Twice.
Come swoon over this group, and fall in love all over again with some YA goodness.
First Loves Tour - TEEN EVENT
Lindsey Leavitt: The Chapel Wars, Emery Lord: Open Road Summer, & Mandy Hubbard: Fool Me Twice
Thursday, May 15 at 7pm
- See more at: http://www.thirdplacebooks.com/event/first-loves-tour-teen-event#sthash.7RN6jEul.dpufFirst Loves Tour - TEEN EVENT
May 15 2014 7:00 pm
First Loves Tour - TEEN EVENT
Lindsey Leavitt: The Chapel Wars, Emery Lord: Open Road Summer, & Mandy Hubbard: Fool Me Twice
Thursday, May 15 at 7pm
Join us for an evening with a wonderful group of young adult authors sharing their books about young love and relationships.
First Loves Tour - TEEN EVENT
May 15 2014 7:00 pm
First Loves Tour - TEEN EVENT
Lindsey Leavitt: The Chapel Wars, Emery Lord: Open Road Summer, & Mandy Hubbard: Fool Me Twice
Thursday, May 15 at 7pm
Join us for an evening with a wonderful group of young adult authors sharing their books about young love and relationships.
First Loves Tour - TEEN EVENT
May 15 2014 7:00 pm
First Loves Tour - TEEN EVENT
Lindsey Leavitt: The Chapel Wars, Emery Lord: Open Road Summer, & Mandy Hubbard: Fool Me Twice
Thursday, May 15 at 7pm
Join us for an evening with a wonderful group of young adult authors sharing their books about young love and relationships.
First Loves Tour - TEEN EVENT
May 15 2014 7:00 pm
First Loves Tour - TEEN EVENT
Lindsey Leavitt: The Chapel Wars, Emery Lord: Open Road Summer, & Mandy Hubbard: Fool Me Twice
Thursday, May 15 at 7pm
Join us for an evening with a wonderful group of young adult authors sharing their books about young love and relationships.
Indies First Storytime reading
In honor of Children's Book Week, authors and illustrators around the
country are giving back to their youngest fans. Gathering at independent
bookstores all around the county, they will spend all day Saturday, May 17
reading children's stories out loud and helping get kids excited about
summer reading. At University Book
Store, they'll be celebrating Indies First Storytime Day with visits and
readings from favorite authors, illustrators and
bibliophiles.
Schedule of Author Readings, University Book Store, Bellevue
11am: Samantha Vamos (children's author, Alphabet Trucks)
Noon: Wendy Wahman (children's author and illustrator, Snowboy 1, 2, 3)
Schedule of Author Readings, University Book Store, Bellevue
11am: Samantha Vamos (children's author, Alphabet Trucks)
Noon: Wendy Wahman (children's author and illustrator, Snowboy 1, 2, 3)
Happy Children's Book Week!
...which is now partly over, but still. It's here. And we should take a moment to revel, contemplate, or just plain skip around and holler.
For more information, check out the site from the folks who started it all, the Children's Book Council.
How are YOU going to commemorate this week? By holding your own personal write-a-thon or read-a-thon? Create a special sandwich after your favorite character?
Whatever you do, take a bow. This week is all about what you're all about: creating and appreciating books for kids.
Cheers, all!
For more information, check out the site from the folks who started it all, the Children's Book Council.
How are YOU going to commemorate this week? By holding your own personal write-a-thon or read-a-thon? Create a special sandwich after your favorite character?
Whatever you do, take a bow. This week is all about what you're all about: creating and appreciating books for kids.
Cheers, all!
A White Christmas for Martha
An exciting announcement!
Our very own Martha Brockenbrough's upcoming (2016) book entitled Love, Santa––the text of which has already spawned a devoted following on the web as a "Dear, Virginia" book for the modern age––is slated to receive Lee White's illustrations. The book addresses a girl's growing questions about Santa,
revealing the truth and yet makes it possible to continue to believe. The book was acquired by
Arthur Levine at Arthur A. Levine Books, for publication in Fall 2016,
by Paul Rodeen at Rodeen Literary Management for
the illustrator.
Henny spreads her wings, er, arms....
A delightful dispatch from Elizabeth Rose Stanton, author of the picture book Henny:
 |
| The setting! |
Henny and I had a great time this past
weekend at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, MA. I am so
honored to have been asked to read Henny for Storytime, and we
sure had fun! We had lots of chicken-talk with the kids, and a book
signing. It was a thrill to see Henny in the bookshop!
 |
| The sitting––for Story Time! |
People
just couldn't have been nicer. Speaking of nice people––two of my
favorites showed up. Our own Ben Clanton and his wife, Kelsey, drove
over from their new home in Andover, MA to cheer Henny on. Ben got into the
spirit of things, as you can see....
 |
| The sighting! Kelsey, Elizabeth, and Ben. |
It was a magical, wonderful time, in a magical wonderful place! As Henny herself would say, "Bwwaaak!"
 |
| The signing! |
Monday, May 12, 2014
Seeking book donations for Cambodia
Member Matthew Porter is helping a friend start a children's free library in a rural village in Cambodia. They are seeking used children's books to do so, and Matthew says, "The reading room is a place for Cambodian village children to come at their own convenience to have access to a free library of children’s books, art supplies, and other educational materials. The Antipodes Collection currently has a selection of about 200 books, and the goal is 1,000 books. Donations may be made at Ravenna's Third Place books through July 1.
WordPress design workshop
This workshop by the Graphic Artists Guild might actually be helpful for writers, too.
Creating Sites in WordPress: What Designers Should Know
Presented by Bob Dunn
Wed. May 28, 2014, noon-1:30 p.m. (social time at 11:15 a.m.)
Seattle Design Center-EAFA Gallery
Get more information or tickets.
Creating Sites in WordPress: What Designers Should Know
Presented by Bob Dunn
Wed. May 28, 2014, noon-1:30 p.m. (social time at 11:15 a.m.)
Seattle Design Center-EAFA Gallery
Get more information or tickets.
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Dispatch from the Inside
SCBWI Western Washington's Spring 2014 Inside Story went swimmingly at Mockingbird Books last night! The late sun put spotlights on loads of great new books; here's a glimpse. Many thanks to organizer Deb Lund and all the authors who participated! 
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
UW Writing for Kids class open house
If a class description went like this––
"Investigate the world of children's fiction and nonfiction, including picture books, chapter books and novels. Learn to bring your own tales to life and captivate children's imaginations. Discover how to transform the idea of a story into an enthralling narrative. Explore how to use your own inner resources to strengthen your creative voice and prepare for the long, quiet phase of writing and rewriting on your own."
–––does it sound too good to be true?
Thankfully it's real, and it's happening at the UW Professional and Continuing Education program. Join the always-marvelous Jolie Stekly on Tuesday, May 13 at 6pm. She will be on hand to answer questions about the Writing for Kids course that she teaches.
Click here to register for the open house event or for more information.
Monday, May 5, 2014
And the Crystal Kite Award goes to....
Drum roll, please!
The winner of the 2014 Crystal Kite Award for Washington/Oregon/Alaska/northern Idaho/Montana/North Dakota/South Dakota is:
Once Upon a Memory, written by Nina Laden and illustrated by Renata Liwska
[MANY WHOOPS AND CHEERS, MANY HANDS CLAPPING]
BONUS: Come out to the Inside Story event this Tuesday, May 6 at Mockingbird Books, and you can congratulate Nina Laden in person!
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Northern Network May Meeting
Can you believe
it?
It's May already, and time for our final meeting before we break for the summer. Traditionally May is our "Show and Tell" meeting, so bring whatever it is that you are working on to share with us. We promise to cheer you on and celebrate your successes, even if your current success is getting out of the house and coming to the meeting.
We'll be at the Bellingham Barnes & Noble (4099 Meridian St.) at 7pm on Wednesday, May 7 in the cafe area.
Remember, we break for the summer, so our next meeting will be September 3rd.
Hope to see you there!
It's May already, and time for our final meeting before we break for the summer. Traditionally May is our "Show and Tell" meeting, so bring whatever it is that you are working on to share with us. We promise to cheer you on and celebrate your successes, even if your current success is getting out of the house and coming to the meeting.
We'll be at the Bellingham Barnes & Noble (4099 Meridian St.) at 7pm on Wednesday, May 7 in the cafe area.
Remember, we break for the summer, so our next meeting will be September 3rd.
Hope to see you there!
Children's Choice Book Awards voting
Take a peek at the Children's Choice Book Award finalists in virtually every category, and see if you can sense a trend. This year's offerings in different age groups are a varied bunch.
There are only 8 more days until Children's Book Week, which runs May 12-18, when the winners in all categories will be officially tallied and announced.
For your sneak peek at those in the running, click here. Then, check back during Children's Book Week and find out who snagged all the glory.
What better testament to kid lit than recognition from your own audience? This may not be a Caldecott or Newbery, but in many ways it's the ultimate validation of an author's choice to write for children.
Stay tuned!
There are only 8 more days until Children's Book Week, which runs May 12-18, when the winners in all categories will be officially tallied and announced.
For your sneak peek at those in the running, click here. Then, check back during Children's Book Week and find out who snagged all the glory.
What better testament to kid lit than recognition from your own audience? This may not be a Caldecott or Newbery, but in many ways it's the ultimate validation of an author's choice to write for children.
Stay tuned!
Friday, May 2, 2014
Generous illustrators wanted
Want to help a young boy fund a library for Gondar, Ethiopia? Got a little art lying around or begging you to commit it to paper (or bytes) for posterity? Check out this appeal associated with Ethiopia Reads and consider donating an illustration for an online auction; the art will be displayed in San Jose and Portland along the way. Evan, the 11-year-old founder of fundraising organization Wee Hopes, will thank you.
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Come to Inside Story on Tuesday!
We hold this party twice a year for booksellers, librarians, teachers, and other children's book lovers so you can hear the "stories behind the stories" of new and upcoming books by our local authors and illustrators.
Is it the kidlit trivia contest and prizes that pack the hall? The plethora of authors and illustrators? The fast and furious three-minute stories you could never hear anywhere else? The best material around for book talking brand new books? The opportunity to get signed copies of new books? The snacks and banter with creative types? Yes, it's all this and more!
This spring's featured authors and illustrators include Stacey R. Campbell, Kristin Varner, Carole Lexa Schaefer, Jennifer Phillips, Nina Laden, Anne Belov, Kevin Emerson, Suzanne Selfors, Katherine Kirkpatrick, Jennifer Longo, Craig Orback, Josh Tuininga, Jennifer K. Mann, Patrick Jennings, Karen Finneyfrock, Bonny Becker, and Kathryn O. Galbraith.
Please join us! RSVP to Mockingbird Books at info@mockingbirdbooksgl.com
Deb Lund
SCBWI Inside Story Chair
Which Jeopardy champ writes middle-grade?
Come to Seattle Central Library on Monday to find out!
We'll give you a hint: He's the guy who got to know host Alex Trebek the longest.
Give up? It's Jeopardy champion Ken Jennings, who's now a MG author!
Ken reads from his new series for middle-graders, Ken Jennings’ Junior Genius Guides: U.S. Presidents at 7pm on Monday, May 5, at the Seattle Public Library Central location. Ken is a bestselling author who also holds the record for the longest winning streak on the game show Jeopardy.
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