Northern Network June Celebration

Northern Network June Celebration: Bring & Brag!
June 7, 2017, 7 p.m.

It’s been a fun year—and hopefully a productive one— so let’s get together to celebrate! Bring something you’ve been working on and we’ll cheer for you! Nothing you want to bring? Come anyway and help cheer for others! 

Please note: This will be our last meeting until September.
Date: Wednesday, June 7, 2017, 7:00 p.m.

Location: The Bellingham Barnes & Noble (4099 Meridian Street)
Questions? Call Rebecca Van Slyke at (360) 354-5797, or email at rebecca_vanslyke@hotmail.com. 

Picture Book Summer School

Are you ready to take the next step with your picture book manuscript? Harold Underdown and Eileen Robinson are offering a self-guided summer school version of their online class "Revising and Re-Imagining Your Picture Book Manuscript,” running from June through August, with registration open now through the end of June. Students can work their way through any or all of several classes, and also take part in an optional speed critique group.

Information

Critique option information

There is also a giveaway drawing, with the prize being a complete scholarship to this or one of our upcoming classes. People can enter by posting about the class. Full details here.

Kid Lit Drink Night this Thursday (5/25)!

It's an excuse to hang out with authors and illustrators! 

Meet us at the Roanoke Inn on Mercer Island (1825 72nd Ave SE, Mercer Island, WA 98040)  this Thursday for book talk, beverages and merriment.

Will you have fun? The odds are good (and the goods are odd.).

And someone send us pictures so we can post them on Instagram.

Kevin Emerson, Suzanne Selfors, and Garth Stein in Bellingham!

Heads up, northern book lovers! Join Kevin Emerson, Garth Stein, and Suzanne Selfors to celebrate their new releases.

Three authors, lots of books, and good fun. All at Village Books on Thursday.

First Page Blitz webinar with Kat Brzozowski

The Houston SCBWI chapter is offering a first pages session with Macmillan editor Kat Brzozowski, and you won't even have to leave your couch!

Webinar: First Page Blitz with Editor Kat Brzozowski
June 20, 7pm to 8:30pm, Central time

Are you ready to improve the chances of your work getting read by an agent or editor? Ready to strengthen your craft? Learn from home with this online class about first pages from editor Kat Brzozowski at Swoon Reads/Feiwel & Friends. Get tips on creating eye-catching, page-turning first pages that launch your story, and tools to strengthen every page of your manuscript after that. Attendees who register before June 1 can submit the first page of their manuscript for the chance to get it reviewed live during the webinar. 

NOTE: Submission is not a guarantee that your page will be reviewed during the webinar. 

SCBWI members pay just $10; non-members pay $35. Registration details here. 

2017 Crystal Kite Award winners announced!

💠Congratulations to Janet Fox on her Crystal Kite Award for the Western division!💠

SCBWI members from Washington, Oregon, Alaska, northern Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota voted, and the spooky and wonderful The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle took the prize.

We tip our hats to all of the nominees and finalists, with a hearty round of applause for the winners! It was a great year for books. Thanks to everyone for reading and voting. Need to add some height to your TBR pile? See the full list of division winners on the SCBWI site here.

More May events

The book event season is winding down for summer, but we have a few more for May! 


May 16:
It's not kids' or YA books directly, but a lot of us struggle with writing anxieties, yes? William Kenower talks about Fearless Writing at Third Place Books, LFP. 

May 18:

Here's one for the middle grade appreciators! Kate Beasley will be at Third Place Books, LFP to talk about Gertie's Leap to Greatness. 

May 19:

Drew Daywalt will be at Secret Garden Books to talk about his newest picture book, The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors. 

May 20:
Amber Keyser and Elana K. Arnold come to town to discuss their newest YAs, Pointe, Claw and What Girls are Made of. They'll be discussing feminism and the female body with Martha Brockenbrough at Secret Garden.

Double-check times and whatnot with bookstores before you set out for events. If you snap a great picture, tag us at @scbwiwwa on Instagram and/or Twitter, and we'll try to repost. 

If you have an event coming up, let us know!

Support book culture.
Support libraries and independent bookstores.
Support authors.
❤️

Heading to NCTE? Let us know!

SCBWI Western Washington authors and illustrators, heading to St. Louis for the NCTE Convention in November?

Please let our Co-PAL Liaison, Laurie Thompson, know. Email her at laurie@lauriethompson.com for possible SCBWI related activities.

And, because this post is short and you may not know much about St. Louis yet--

There's a giant eyeball in Laumeier Sculpture Park.

Also, the world's biggest pencil at the City Museum (which is filled with other awesome things as well). That seems like something worth a writer's pilgrimage.

Use your downtime wisely.

Upcoming Illustration Class with Dana Sullivan

Dana Sullivan is teaching a two-Saturday Illustrating Children’s Books class at Green River College, Auburn.

Two Saturday Sessions: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. May 13 & 20.

This crash course will include manuscript formatting, storyboards, making a book dummy and illustration techniques. Agents, editors and publishing also discussed. Great for any level of illustrator, from beginner to pro. Bring story ideas, one or two recent picture books you like, a sketch pad, kid’s watercolor set and a cheap paint brush.

Details and registration

See Dana’s work at www.danajsullivan.com. Give him a shout with questions at danajsullivan@comcast.net. 

SCBWI WWA Boffo Season Ender May 10th!

Thrills! Chills! Maybe a few Spills! Can this really be the end of our amazing season? YES! And this is an evening NOT to be MISSED!

What’s the lineup?

Illustrator Videos! It’s Studio Confidential time for writer/illustrators Liz Wong and Toni Yuly as they demonstrate their secrets to creativity on the big screen. Following the video presentations, Liz and Toni will keep you riveted with a lively Q&A session.

Badass Heroines! Sara Wilson Etienne will lead a discussion and workshop on bringing a new generation of powerful, three-dimensional, female characters to life. From middle grade and young adult novels, movies and pop culture – swashbuckling pirates, creative inventors, and daring courtesans await!

The Western Washington Mentorship Program! Who are the mentors? How can YOU apply for the mentorship program? Who’s sailing this mentorship anyway? Find out Wednesday night! (you can also click here…)

Farewells and Welcomes! Speaking of badass women, there are some new sheriffs in town you need to meet and a few other changes in store for our vibrant, powerful chapter. Who’s leaving? Who’s arriving? All will be revealed at the meeting…

Under the Covers with Suzanne! Our lovely literary lioness, Secret Gardener Suzanne Perry, will do some book talk-talk-talkin’ and dish the latest about authors and illustrators from our region and around the world. Remember, you can always call Secret Garden and order books for Suzanne to bring to the meeting!

Live Music! Yes, it’s Band: Books, the all-SCBWI Western WA member band that can’t be stopped! Although their much-anticipated concert at the Spring Conference was shut down by The Man, they will take the stage immediately following the meeting so you can sing along to their hits “Rejection Blues,” “Picture Book Writer,” “Writer’s Block,” “Sweet Book of Mine” and more! Bring your instruments for a post-concert jam!

Call for Presenters

You want another great season in the fall? Then we need to hear from YOU! We’re looking for presenters for our 2017-2018 season and need YOU to submit your proposal! Even if you don’t want to present, send us what you would like to learn about. Click here for details and application. 

How Will You Survive The Summer?

Just because our official meetings will be taking a summer break, that doesn’t mean there won’t be kid lit happenings for you to enjoy! Stay in touch with the Chinook Update! Click the "Join our blog" button at the bottom of our homepage to get to the Chinook Update blog and you will get the lively and scintillating local, SCBWI-related news sent directly to your in box. 

We want to see you Wednesday night!

Dana Arnim and Dana Sullivan

Your Soon-To-Be-Ex-Co-Regional Advisors of SCBWI Western Washington

p.s. See you at Inside Story Tuesday night!

Ben Clanton nominated for Eisner Award!

Congratulations are in order for our own Ben Clanton on his Eisner Award nomination for 

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea! 

🌟🌟🌟

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea! has been nominated in the Best Publication for Early Readers category. See all of the categories here. Professionals in the comics industry should vote by June 16th, and winners will be announced July 21st at (Where else?) Comic-Con International in San Diego.

Want to congratulate Ben in person? He'll be celebrating the release of the second book in the series, Super Narwhal and Jelly Jolt, this Sunday at Secret Garden!

Congratulations, Ben!

Have good news? Let us know! We like to celebrate.

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Call for Education Proposals for the 2017 PNBA Tradeshow

Call for Education Proposals 

For sessions to be offered at the 2017 PNBA Tradeshow

Sunday, October 8 *

Red Lion on the River, Portland, OR 

 85 BOOKSTORES * 300 ATTENDEES * 100 AUTHORS 

The Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association will offer educational programming on the opening day of its annual Tradeshow, this year to be held at the Red Lion on the River in Portland, OR. PNBA will produce a full day of sessions, Sunday, October 8, the day before the exhibit floor opens. 

Our Education Committee will review proposals for educational presentations aimed at retail booksellers, librarians, authors and small press publishers.

If you would like to facilitate an educational session for the 2017 show, please complete this Education Proposal form.

Sessions should be in a panel format with at least one bookseller participating as a panelist or moderator. PNBA may be able to assist in finding appropriate booksellers, authors, or other literary professionals willing to participate in your proposed session. Please include requests in your submissions.

PNBA MUST RECEIVE EDUCATION PROPOSALS AND  

SUPPORTING INFORMATION BY FRIDAY, MAY 19.

The Education Committee traditionally prioritizes presentations for booksellers that offer direct advice and instruction that can be immediately and directly applied to the operations of their stores.

Sessions that include a variety of participants are especially attractive. Marketing and Promotion are popular themes. Sales pitch presentations that are perceived to promote just one business solution or service are discouraged.

PNBA is also soliciting proposals for education aimed at librarians, small press publishers, and authors. We request that all sessions promote an atmosphere of cooperation amongst literary entities. 

WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN PROPOSALS THAT INSTRUCT AUTHORS OR PRESSES HOW TO PUBLISH, PROMOTE, OR SELL BOOKS THROUGH AMAZON OR OTHER CHANNELS THAT COMPETE WITH THE INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE MARKET.

Applicants will be notified of the status of proposals by Friday, June 30. Committee members will contact presenters via email to schedule sessions and secure details for production of the show program, show signage, and classroom set-up.

Deadline for production materials is Friday, July 28.

Novel Retreat with Janet Lee Carey and Katherine Grace Bond

Full-Bodied Novel Summer Writing Retreat

Hoping to take your writing to another level? Join Janet Lee Carey and Katherine Grace Bond for the Second Annual Full-Bodied Novel Retreat, July 21-23. Explore the writer's mind-body connection in a peaceful, relaxing setting at St. Andrew's House on Hood Canal. Authors Katherine and Janet invite you to explore your characters, plot, and setting using physical prompts, group interaction, and private reflection. Learn the practice of Deep Characterization and enter your story in a way you never thought possible. Katherine and Janet will offer one-on-one consultation on your manuscript. A professional massage therapist will provide a relaxing massage (included in retreat cost).

Earlybird discount: Use the code MAY12 to get $105 off when you register by May 12th.

Find more information here. 

Inside Story on May 9th!

We invite writers, illustrators, booksellers, teachers and librarians to come and hear two or three minute presentations from local writers and illustrators on how their newest releases came to be, picture book through &A. There will be fun, prizes, book signings, and more with:

Sonja Anderson

Jessixa Bagley

Dori Hillestad Butler

Ben Clanton

Laura N. Clement

J. Anderson Coats

Kevin Emerson

Sundee T. Frazier

Corinna Luyken

Kate Harvey McGee

Gretchen Brandenburg McLellan

Margaret Read MacDonald

Laura McGee Kvasnosky

Mark Maciejewski

Curtis Manley

Jennifer K. Mann

Jessica Petersen

Randall Platt

Brianna Caplan Sayres

Debi Schmid

Suzanne Selfors

Breeana Shields

Trudi Trueit

Jing Jing Tsong

Wendy Wahman

Join us on Tuesday, May 9, 2017 from 7:00-9:00pm at 

University Book Store

4326 University Way NE

Seattle, WA  98105

See you there!

Shop local, read local.