Are you an SCBWI member at the PAL level? Do you enjoy
school visits and workshops? Here’s your chance to woo schools and get more
speaking opportunities through your own listing in SCBWI Western Washington’s
forthcoming (and whizbangy)
Author/Illustrator Directory.
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| Another directory's full page space |
The full-color, printed directory — which will include author photos,
book covers, and information about why your school visit is the best one between the Pacific Ocean and the Cascade Crest — will be distributed to hundreds of librarians and teachers through
regional events, including at this fall’s Washington Library Media Association
conference and Inside Story events. We’ll also provide copies for as many
interested teachers, librarians, and booksellers in the region as possible, and
participants each will receive a few copies for distribution to their personal
contacts, too. A minimum of 1,000 copies will be produced; if participation (and
thus funding) permits, we’ll print more to distribute over time.
Similar sourcebooks have been successful for other SCBWI
regions, making it easy for schools and other organizations to identify local
authors whose books and presentations mesh well with curriculum and programming
needs. (See a sample page above.) We expect this publication to have a shelf
life of at least 18 months. It's a souped-up version of our long-ago eKite Directory!
Three space options
and fees
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| One-third-page ads |
Participating SCBWI members at the PAL level may select from
three space options, with graduated fees that cover the cost of printing. (As
usual, all labor for assembling the book is being donated by your hardworking
Advisory Committee and other volunteers.)
Your choices:
- One-third page ads ($35): room
for one book cover, one head shot, contact info, and up to approximately 170
words of text, which may include the focus of your visits or workshops,
author bio info, the availability of lesson plans, etc.
- One-half page ads ($55):
room for an author photo and 2-3 book covers or “in action” photos, plus
up to about 300 words of text.
- Full page ads ($100): room
for an author photo and at least three book covers or “in action” photos,
plus up to about 475 words of text.
All participants will need
at least one fairly high-resolution (minimum 300 dpi, minimum 1” square,
tiff or jpg) cover
photo, an author photo to the same specs, and the ability to provide the
text submission in a Word doc or rtf file. (If that’s a problem for
you, contact us and we’ll see if we can work
out an alternative.) Submitted text will receive minor copyediting for
consistency only. Any text that exceeds space limitations will be cut based on
editor’s discretion. Your text generally should focus on school
presentations, curriculum tie-ins, classroom activity ideas, speaking experience, or other topics that
will sell your speaking abilities (not just your books).
Timing
Payment deadline (received by SCBWI WWA): Aug. 1, 2016
Final content deadline: Aug. 5, 2016
Directories distribution will begin: Oct. 1, 2016
Minimum participation
threshold
To cover printing costs, we need a minimum of 30
participants. We don't expect to have a problem, but if we don’t get that many,
we’ll cancel the project and refund all fees.
How to participate:
It’s easy!
- Mail a check for the proper amount, made out to
SCBWI WWA, to Joni Sensel, 58402 114th Street East, Enumclaw, WA
98022, with your full name and email address
and the space size you want. (Hint:
Doing this right away, rather than in three weeks, will help ensure that
we don’t cancel the project for apparent lack of participation. The absolute
payment deadline will be Aug. 1—received, not postmarked.)
- Joni will confirm receipt
of your payment and PAL eligibility and email detailed instructions for
submitting your text and photos.
- Follow those instructions
to submit your text and photos no later than Aug. 5.
PAL members, watch your email inbox for a reminder invitation with these details, too.
FAQ
Q: What if I don’t
have a new or recent title?
A: Any PAL member (including members whose PAL status is
based on magazine publication) may choose to participate. All that’s required
is an interest in doing school visits or similar events.
Q: Can I participate
if I’m not an SCBWI member or if I’m a Full or Associate member?
A: Sorry, no. Participation is a benefit of membership and
is specifically designed to support the careers of PAL members. Many other
SCBWI WWA benefits are available to members at other levels.
Q: Can I participate if I'm an SCBWI member in another region?
A: Because we're promoting regional authors and illustrators for regional school visits and events, we're limiting participation to Western Washington this time. But try talking to your region leaders about doing your own! We're very grateful to Mary Cronk Farrell and the Inter-Mountain Regions for sharing their experience on their successful sourcebook, and we'd be happy to pass along those tips, if you'd like.
Q: Are there any free
or scholarship-supported listing options?
A: No. As a nonprofit organization, we need participants to
cover the cost of printing, depending on the amount of page space requested.
But consider it an investment in your career, or get creative —ask a loved one
or friend to fund the space for a birthday or other special occasion, try a
small Kickstarter-style campaign, or engage your critique group in a
fund-raising bake sale!
Q: Can I get less
than a third page, such as a quarter or an eighth page?
A: No; as volunteers, we need to strike a balance between
providing options and keeping the process manageable, and that requires some
limits and templates. The available options should meet most needs.
Q: Can I submit
illustrations rather than photos?
A: Sure, as long as you can provide the required file types
and stay within your purchased space limitation.
Q: Can I pay by
credit card rather than check?
A: Sorry, no. You can send us a money order from a bank or
post office if you no longer use paper checks.
Q: What if my check
bounces?
A: We'll put a Mr. Yuk sticker in the catalog instead of
your photo and tell people you voted for [insert
objectionable presidential candidate here]. Okay, not really. If you’re
that close to overdrawn, spend the money on macaroni instead, okay?
