Field's End Event

Field's End's "From Dust to Diamonds: Building the Skill of Revision" event with Elizabeth Lyon, will be on Saturday, October 23, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. For more information visit their website.

Do you see your first draft as an expression of your creativity, but revision as routine and uninspiring? Do you see your first draft as so daunting it's hard to get started? Either way, Elizabeth Lyon's seminar is a day you won't want to miss. Her tried and true techniques are practical, fun, and demonstrate that revision isn't just editing. It's the natural creative extension of the original words we put on paper. And, knowing we have an effective tool kit to help with revision, that intimidating first draft becomes more approachable as just one step in the creative process. Join us for a day of change.

Good News & Launch Party for Christina Wilsdon

Congratulations to Christina Wilsdon! Her book FOR HORSE-CRAZY GIRLS ONLY was published by Feiwel & Friends, an imprint of Macmillan, September 28, 2010! Here's the Macmillian link. Christina says she has loved horses all her life, and is mom to a horse-crazy daughter, so she's really excited about this book. She also says it was the most incredible fun to research and write it over the past two years.

Secret Garden is hosting a launch party Monday, October 25, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Horsy treats, say hello to a Butterscotch Fur-Real pony (and suggest a name for her), and a door prize (not the pony!). Girls are invited to bring along their favorite horsy plush pal or horse model, if they'd like.

For more information on Christina, and her writing, check out her blog, and her website. She also writes for the Woodland Park Zoo Examiner.

Kid Lit Event

Thanks to everyone who showed up for the first Kid Lit Pub Night at Ravenna Third Place Books. We had so much fun, we're doing it again. On October 20, from 7-9 p.m., the Copper Gate in Ballard (6301 24th Ave NW, 98107) will be the place to meet up with fellow writers and illustrators to talk shop to your heart's content. Bring good news, probing questions, and latest reads for a couple hours of getting-to-know other folks in the Western Washington kid lit world. For more info contact your AdCom social event coordinator, Brenda Winter Hansen, at scbwiwa@scbwi-washington.org.

Please join us at the Inside Story

The Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators is delighted to invite you to our fall 2010 Inside Story, a party we hold twice a year to celebrate new books by local authors and illustrators and to share the secret "stories behind their stories" with fellow children's book lovers.

The event is at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 27 at Parkplace Books (348 Parkplace Center, Kirkland), featuring new releases by:

Kevan Atteberry
Bonny Becker
Erik Brooks
Royce Buckingham
Liz Callen
Janet Lee Carey
Holly Cupala
Barbara Caridad Ferrer
Karen Kincy
Laura McGee Kvasnosky
Karen Lewis
Liz Mills

Maggie Smith
Kathryn Thurman
Michele Torrey
Jesse Joshua Watson
Conrad Wesselhoeft
Suzanne Williams
Dori Jones Yang

There will also be a brief performance by Kevin Emerson, author of several books for children, and lead singer and drummer of our favorite Seattle kid music band, the Board of Education.

Please RSVP to parkplacebooks@integra.net,  or call (425) 828-6546.

All librarians, teachers, booksellers, book buyers, and media are invited to join us. Feel free to share this announcement with anyone who might be interested. 

The Novel: Live!

In a stunning, never-before-attempted marathon of literary wonder, thirty-six Northwest authors write a complete novel in just six days under the watchful eyes of Fairy God-author Nancy Pearl. YA authors Suzanne Selfors and Deb Caletti will each take a two hour shift, which will be streamed live to classrooms. Watch this process at the official website or come to Hugo House and watch in person. Each author gets a couple of lifelines and Suzanne will be telephoning Rebecca Stead during her shift.

The completed novel will be published by Open Road Media in ebook format and print-on-demand. All proceeds will go to literary programs. The event starts this Monday, Oct. 11 - Saturday, Oct. 16. The times are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. You can watch the promotional video here. For more information on the Richard Hugo House visit their website.

Good News for Lisa Owens!

Lisa's has a new nonfiction picture book series called LET'S BE SOCIAL! Written specifically for the school and library market, these six books introduce young readers to the various social groups they encounter and must learn to navigate in their community: family, friends, school, teams, worship groups, and neighborhoods. To learn more about Lisa's series, visit her blog post.

Saturday Event to Check Out...

The Soup Bowl Auction takes place on Saturday October 9, in the Methow Valley. Erik Brooks, a fellow SCBWI member is contributing 4 hand-painted bowls, 3 signed books, and some comic strip original art as a collection for the event.

If anyone is interested in placing a maximum bid, Erik would be happy to facilitate, check out his blog for more information about the event. You can find more about Erik's work at his website.

Good News for Samantha Vamos!

Samantha's first children's picture book, BEFORE YOU WERE HERE, MI AMOR (Viking, 2009) was named a 2010 Washington State Book Award winner (The Scandiuzzi Children's Book Award). Check out the article here. BEFORE YOU WERE HERE, MI AMOR, mixes in Spanish words in the story of how a pregnant mother, her unborn baby's older brother and an extended family of grandparents, aunts and uncles get prepared for life with a new baby. For more information on Samantha, visit her website.

Picture Book Blog

Fellow SCBWI member, and illustrator George Shannon started a blog recently that celebrates the picture book. This blog includes reviews, essays about picture books, writing tips, related bibliographies, and critique services. Check out his blog, and also his website.

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.

Ten Things Every Artist (& Attorney) Should Know About...

TEN THINGS EVERY ARTIST (& ATTORNEY) SHOULD KNOW ABOUT...Business, Tax, Intellectual Property & Employment Law.

You can’t know everything, so what should you know? What are common legal issues that artists face? Join this distinguished panel to gain an overview of important legal topics in business, tax, intellectual property and employment law. You will gain practical advice and insights as the panelists use a hypothetical scenario involving a collaborative performance by writers, artists, performers and musicians to illustrate their presentations. After the panel, relax with a glass of wine and light hors d’oeuvres while conversing with fellow workshop participants.

Wednesday, October 13, from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. (registration begins at 5:30 p.m.). The event takes places at Garvey Schubert Barer (Second & Seneca Bldg) 1191 Second Avenue, Suite 1800, Seattle, WA 98101. Registration fees include snacks & drinks. In advance: $45 Attorneys and Paralegals; $20 Artists and Students or at the door: $50 Attorneys and Paralegals; $25 Artists and Students. To register, visit Brown Paper Tickets, or call: 800.838.3006. To pay at the door, RSVP to Washington Lawyers for the Arts at 206.328.7053.

Class of 2k11

Three of our local SCBWI members—Megan Bostic, Kiki Hamilton, and Carole Dagg—are among the twenty nationwide members of the Class of 2k11, a group of debut middle grade and young adult authors banding together to promote their books and share ideas. We hope to match the standard set by past classes, which have included Rebecca Stead (WHEN YOU REACH ME) and Jay Asher (13 REASONS WHY).

The Class of 2k11 contests, games and news won’t be officially on-line until November 11, but you can catch a preview on their website and sign up for their monthly newsletter now.