Announcing our Flagship 2017 SCBWI Western Washington Mentorship Program!

SCBWI WWA Mentorship Program

Do you have a completed manuscript that needs help with revision? If yes, then do not miss out on our new mentorship program. For a six-month period, writers will work one-on-one with a published author to analyze every aspect of their manuscript.

Eligibility: This program is open to SCBWI WWA members.

Tuition Cost: $650 covers six months of one-on-one work with a published author

Application materials:

Middle Grade/Young Adult: A one-page pitch or synopsis and 20 standard double-spaced manuscript pages of one completed, polished work.

Nonfiction: A bibliography plus either one full standard double-spaced manuscript of up to 1500 words you intend to work on or, if completed manuscript will be more than 1500 words, the first two chapters plus an overview and outline.

Picture Book: Up to three full standard double-spaced manuscripts of up to 1000 words or dummies.

Please mention which category you are applying to. Send your application materials as a Word or RTF document (or PDFs for dummies/illustrations). Applications should be sent to wwa@scbwi.org with Mentorship Application in the subject line. Applications will be accepted May 15- June 15.

Here is the tentative timeline:

May 15, 2017 – June 15, 2017 –  Application period

June 2017 – September 2017  – Applications review and selection

October 2017–  Mentees announced and mentorship begins.

May 2018 – Mentorship Reception

Categories and mentors:

Category	Mentor
Middle Grade	Kim Baker
Middle Grade	Dori Hillestad Butler
Young Adult	Kevin Emerson
Young Adult	Jeanne Ryan
Nonfiction	Lisa Owens
Nonfiction	Laurie Thompson
Picture Book	Peggy King Anderson
Picture Book	Lois Brandt

Meet the mentors:

Middle Grade:

Kim Baker’s debut middle grade novel, Pickle, was a Children's Choice Awards Book of the Year finalist, one of Mamiverse’s Top 50 Latino Children’s Books, and the recipient of an SCBWI Crystal Kite award. She is a former SCBWI Western Washington regional advisor and a longtime SCBWI lover. Kim has worked as a teacher and crisis counselor, but now makes up stories and teaches the occasional writing workshop from Seattle. She can often be found in the woods, despite a chronic fear of bears. Learn more at www.kimbakerbooks.com.Dori Hillestad Butler is an award-winning author of more than 50 books for young readers, including the Haunted Library series, the Buddy Files series, and the King & Kayla series. Her Buddy Files #1: Case of the Lost Boy won a 2011 Edgar Award and her books have appeared on numerous children's choice and teen award lists, including Washington's new Otter Award list. Dori would love to mentor an SCBWI WWA member who is interested in easy readers, chapter books, series books, mysteries, and/or MG/YA novels. See more at www.kidswriter.com, on Facebook, or on Twitter at @Dorihbutler. Young Adult:

Kevin Emerson is the author of sixteen novels for children and young adults, most recently LAST DAY ON MARS, BREAKOUT, and the ATLANTEANS series. His books have been published in ten different countries, and you could say he’s big in the Czech Republic. Formerly a science teacher, Kevin has taught with Seattle Arts & Lectures’ Writers in the Schools program and Richard Hugo House. He has won a spelling bee, lost a beauty pageant, and once appeared in a Swedish TV commercial. Learn more at www.kevinemerson.net.Jeanne Ryan writes young-adult thrillers that could take place next week--but let's hope they don't! Her first novel NERVE, about an online game of truth or dare taken to dangerous extremes, was adapted for film by Lionsgate, spent six months on the NYT bestseller list, and has been published in twenty countries. Her second novel, CHARISMA, is about a cripplingly shy girl who accepts an underground gene therapy to transform herself from meh to magnetic, with unintended, and possibly lethal, consequences. You can find out more at www.jeanneryan.com.Nonfiction:

A former software engineer, Laurie Ann Thompson writes for young people to help them better understand the world we live in and make it a better place for all. She strives to write nonfiction that encourages imagination and fiction that reflects universal truths, as seen in Be a Changemaker, an inspiring how-to guide for teens; Emmanuel’s Dream, a picture book biography of a man who changed perceptions of disability; My Dog Is The Best; and the upcoming Two Truths And A Lie series for middle grade readers (co-authored with Ammi-Joan Paquette). Learn more at lauriethompson.com, and on Twitter at @lauriethompson.

Since 1998 Lisa L. Owens has authored nearly 100 books for young readers. About two-thirds of those are nonfiction, and among her most popular are Space Neighbors, a picture book series about the solar system; American Justice I & II, which examine the cultural impact of famous 20th-century trials; and Frenemies: Dealing with Friend Drama, a self-help book for teen girls. As a former reporter, Lisa loves chasing the facts and shaping them into high-interest narratives that cultivate further curiosity. And, as a veteran in-house and freelance editor of thousands of published works, she also enjoys helping other writers make their own stories shine.  See more at www.llowens.com, on Twitter at @LisaLOwens, or Instagram at @llowriter.

Picture Book:

For 35 years, Peggy King Anderson has taught writers of all ages. She loves it!  She was awarded the SCBWI (W. WA) Lifetime Achievement award in 2012. She’s taught creative writing both in colleges, and in conferences ranging from SCBWI, to the Highlights Foundation Writers Workshop in Chautauqua, New York. She has four published books, including THE FALL OF THE RED STAR (co-author, Helen Szablya), featured on Children's Book TV. Her MG historical fiction novel, TWO MOON JOURNEY, is due for publication in fall of 2018. She writes a monthly fiction series, TREE FROG TRAIL, for Pockets Magazine. Check out Peggy’s website at www.peggyking.com   

Years ago, Lois Brandt peeked into her best friend’s refrigerator and found empty shelves and one small carton of milk; her friend’s family didn’t have enough money to buy food. Maddi’s Fridge, Lois’ first picture book, is the result of that moment. Maddi’s Fridge has been universally praised by teachers, librarians, parents, and --most significantly -- young readers. It is the recipient of a 2014 Christopher Award and the International Literacy Association’s 2015 Book Award for Primary Fiction, among other honors. When she is not working on her own projects, Lois teaches writers of all ages, helping her students tell the stories they hold close to their hearts. Learn more at https://www.loisbrandt.com/.

Pickled tink for Kim Baker

Here's a nice piece of good news to share!

Our very own former Regional Advisor and Crystal Kite Award winner, Kimberly Baker, just received word that her book, Pickle, has been included on a list of nominees for the Texas Library Association's Texas Bluebonnet Award. Check out their website for a full list of other nominees and details about the award.

Congratulations, Kim! Fingers crossed!

CONFERENCE 2013: Local Success Panel

Featuring:

Kim Baker, Pickle
Stacey R. Campbell, Hush
J. Anderson Coats, The Wicked and the Just
Suzanne Kaufmann, I Love Monkey

Introductions:

JAC - Wrote 11 completed novels until Wicked and the Just.

KB - I failed miserably. I tried to be a PB writer and failed miserably.

SK - Came from animation, video games. Discovered when selling her paintings at a craft fair!

SC - Dyslexic, told she could never be a writer in third grade.

What has kept you going? How did you get past obstacles?

SC - Teen girls in the house, getting inside their heads, pumping them with questions. There's no wall you can't break through.

SK - Draws and paints every day.

KB - If I'm not writing I'm grouchy. I hit walls all the time. Self-doubt, months of not writing during Pickle. My character traits aren't accepted in "normal" society. I think of giving up all the time! But you want to be inspired, right? (laughs) But hey, don't give up!

JAC - All of us think about giving up about once a day, it's part of the process. When I was pursuing publication, right before you're about to have success, you think you're going to give up. "Great story, but I don't think I can sell it." Then agent involvement, back and forth courtship, making changes over nine months. Than, an offer of representation. An offer came soon after: within one wk of signing with agent!

KB - Critique partners convinced her to keep writing, keep going. Conference one-on-one with Grace Lin, who saw something in an early draft.

What are your favorite and least favorite aspects of creating kids' books?

SK - I absolutely hate the query, and I hate sending the work in, I get so nervous.

JAC - I hate the waiting. You send something out...contract, copyedits., etc. You distract yoruself by writing more stuff. Finding my tribe was a huge component. Ever since I got my contract I've met so many amazing people who've been so welcoming, making me feel like a writer.

SC - Query sucks. I love the writing process, editing you define your characters, research. The thing I hate the most is the marketing aspect, the going to the bookstores, trying to sell this piece of your soul. I'm an introvert, would rather be in front of my computer.

KB - Favorites: thinking of new ideas, finishing projects. Talking to kids. I get to go talk to kids about books, and they get so excited. Hanging out with writers, writers are the best people. The bad parts - the middle of the draft is bad - and trying to find the balance between promotion and authenticity. Trying to appreciate every aspect of this, I'm very fortunate. My main goal is that a kid will put down my book and pick up another book.


                                                              If you could give advice, what would it be?

KB - It took me a while to figure out my voice, versus watching the market and seeing what kids read. You need to find your uniqueness, what you liked to read as a kid. You have to tap into YOU. If you're going to succeed, it's going to be with YOU.

SC - Stick with it. Don't be afraid to chop words, chapters. Your book is only going to get better. Constantly learn. There's so much out there to make you better, to make you connect more.

JAC - I would have told myself, "Learn to write this book." I thought I had a formula, but really, you do start over with every book, start the process over every time. Learn to write THIS book.

SK - Focus. I come from animation, but I love picture books. I have to do picture books, and even if I don't publish another book, I have to keep making stuff. I'd now rather do this than animation.

What or who has influenced you the most?

JAC - Cliche, but it was my misspent youth. (laughter) Moved to the East Coast, learned to be there, and it's when I really started to produce writing that became more real ad close to tbe bone.

SC - My kids. Hush came about at the dinner table. Family origins.  Family collaboration, teen feedback. Working with her kids, bribery: If you don't clean your room, I'm going to write a scene where you have gas!

KB - I was a troublemaker, and I was poor, I was kind of invisible. I remember the teachers and librarians who encouraged me to read. My school librarian made a job for me after school. But having somebody on your side, aligning themselves with you. I had that. When I thought about who inspired me career-wise, I wanted to be weird like Adam Rex. It was important to me to have an Hispanic protagonist, because I'm Hispanic and there just aren't that many books available. A kid might pick my book up at the store and think, "This character is like me!" Think about what kind of writer you want to be, be inspired by those around you.

Some story of what happened on the journey to publication you haven't shared yet?

SK - Comi-con, kid comes every year, loves my book.

JAC - Last year I did a school visit, hosted by the teen book club. Tall linebacker kind of guy among the girls. Guy was the most animated, excited. I was amazed and charmed by this kid who wasn't ashamed to admit his excitement about teen books.

SC - Volunteered for "I Love to Read" program in Anacortes. Skippy John Jones, reading aloud is so fun, so important. Little girl was reluctant to keep book, didn't have any others, her mother didn't let her keep books because she ruined them. "It's a treasure, show her you can take good care of it."

KB - Park Place Books in Kirkland. Saw an old man pick up my book, first time I'd seen anyone pick my book up. Watched him from afar. He read the flap copy, wife asked if he was going to buy it. Then he said, "No! It's about troublemakers, and kids don't need that." I thought, "Yes, they do!" Which made me determined to always write about rabble-rousers and troublemakers. I was inspired by his rejection.

Best of 2012 lists

2012 has gone by fast. Too fast. Am I the only one who thinks this has been the case? I am still brushing sand out of my T-shirts. How can it be that I am sitting in a coffee shop with a sweater AND a scarf, or that when I pick my daughter up from anywhere this week I am forced to leave the car running and the heater blasting? (Don't hate me, I learned the hard way and had to call AAA the other night for a drained battery.)

Which brings me to the onslaught. You know, the annual Best Of, Notable, Bestselling, Head of the Class lists that decree that certain books that are not only good, but, considering all the titles and authors who published things this year, at the tippy-top of the heap. Scan down one of these lists, and you've pretty much scanned them all. But...and this is a biggie: They are drawing attention to not only books, but to children's books. This is ultimately good. (Plus, isn't it fun to read lists? It's easy on the eye and also fun to count on your fingers the number you've actually read. Who's with me?)

And so, while I know puh-lenty of incredible writers (both personally and from my intimate moments holding their tomes in my lap in said car with said engine running and heat blasting), I pay attention to these year-end roundups. I have to. We all do, if this is what we aspire to be: one of the few, the proud, the Listed. Then again, some of these designations have to do with big marketing engines, and some have to do with actual readers. Either way, they're a way to mark the passing of yet another year in the publishing industry. Or, as I like to think of them, as the lily pads that float atop a much deeper and richly diverse pond of 2012's kid-lit offerings.

See for yourself:

 New York Times, Notable Children's Books of 2012

New York Public Library's 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, 2012 (hi, Pickle! and congrats to Kim Baker!)

Goodreads Choice Awards, 2012: Best Young Adult Fiction, Best Young Adult Fantasy, Best Middle-Grade and Children's, Best Picture Books

Publisher's Weekly, Children's Picture Books, Children's Fiction, Children's Nonfiction

Kirkus Books Reviews, Best Children's Books of 2012, Best Teen Books of 2012 (hi, Devine Intervention! and congrats to Martha Brockenbrough!)



There are lots more where these came from, and surely even more to follow after the American Library Association's annual meeting IN SEATTLE this coming January! Stay tuned!