SCBWI.org's new look

They did it! SCBWI just launched its new website today, and yes, it had some initial glitches that are still working their way out. Test it out and see how it goes, but don't tear out your hair if it's not fully cooperative. It will be soon, you can bet on it. All good things take time!

Once it's all sorted, the new-and-improved site will provide the following––and more!––for members: an online bookstore, podcasts, blog listings, a new Illustrators Gallery, blueboards, a Bulletin archive, book launches, and even video intensives.

So give it a few days, maybe a week. When all's said and done, it's going to be a tremendous resource. Stay tuned....

Children's Websites: Usability Issues in Designing for Kids

Thanks to Wendy Wahman for sending us the link to this article on usability issues in developing children's websites (a good thing for authors with sites, and those of us who want to develop websites that are kid-friendly). Here's the summary of the article:

New research with users aged 3–12 shows that older kids have gained substantial Web proficiency since our last studies, while younger kids still face many problems. Designing for children requires distinct usability approaches, including targeting content narrowly for different ages of kids.

Jakcob Neilsens's website use.it.com is all about current issues in web usability, and worth checking out.

Oodles of Story Ideas

Our own Laurie Thompson has discovered some great new story idea resources that she wanted to share. Check out her Oodles of Story Ideas post on her website. Laurie's site is full of other great posts as well! Reviews, interviews, and more! Thanks for sharing Laurie!!!

Website to Check Out...

Northwest Book Lovers is a great website to check out. It's a blog by and about authors, librarians and independent booksellers in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. It features finding local stores, Northwest authors, and a classified section. There are also many ways YOU can participate. Visit their website here.

Good News for Debbie Reber

Good News for Debbie Reber, who created and edited a series of teen-authored memoirs for HCI Books called LOUDER THAN WORDS. Three new memoirs in the series came out this last August. Here are the details about the series:

ALEXIS: My True Story of Being Seduced By An Online Predator is written by 19-year-old Alexis Singer, who shares her harrowing story of being solicited in an online chat room by an older man who drew her into an emotionally dependent and cybersexual relationship.

RAE: My True Story of Fear, Anxiety and Social Phobia is brilliantly penned by 18-year-old Chelsea Rae Swiggett, and is a firsthand account of what it’s like to be a teen suffering from severe anxiety disorder.

HANNAH: My True Story of Drugs, Cutting and Mental Illness comes from 19-year-old Hannah Westberg, who describes how her pill-popping, depression, and suicidal tendencies resulted in a tumultuous high school existence and a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder.

According to Debbie;

These girls are the real thing, and I’m so honored I got to be the one to find them and help them craft their memoirs!

You can find out more about the series, including watch trailers for all three books, read the girls’ blogs, and listen to their book soundtracks, at the website. To find more about Debbie, visit her website, and her blog.

Looking for Flash!

The Dragons of Noor are slapping their tails, excited by the upcoming release of the newest Noor book, THE DRAGONS OF NOOR, by Janet Lee Carey! Janet is looking for someone to update the flash animation on her website for the book's release, this October. If interested please contact Janet at jlcarey@hotmail.com.