Your peeps are coming. Are you?

Has everybody registered for our fabulous Winter Celebration next Thursday, December 12? It's like a holiday office party, but without all those pesky cube mates! Don't forget––you can stroll merrily through the Convention Center (reminder: Level 2, South Galleria), taking in the breathtaking work of our stellar illustrators, while nibbling on scrumptious hors d'oeuvres and swilling cocktails. Could it get any better? 

 

YES. 

The annual cookie contest! We're challenging all Lida Enche wannabes to show your dough and compete in these three categories:   

BDC (best damn cookie)

DAM (delicious artistic masterpiece) 

and, because we're Seattle: SGF (scrumptious gluten-free)

Raffle! Door prizes! Kid Lit Book Swap! Dress Up! (I'm talking to you, Cressy), Good News! Surprise Guests! Secret Garden Books! And more! Come celebrate with your peeps!

Register now! (Online through Sunday, December 8, or pay at the door: $20 members/$25 non-members.)

illustration by Dana Sullivan

Meet the Artist #12

As part of the hoopla around our second-ever public exhibition of illustrations by SCBWI WWA artists, Update will post a mini-profile of each*—in completely random order—between now and the exhibit's closure in early January. Read about 'em here, or check them ALL out online here, or go see their work in person at the Washington State Convention Center! You can even shake their hands on Dec. 12 at our Holiday Gathering! (More info and registration here.)

Karen Lewis

Why did you choose to submit your particular piece of art?
This is one of my favorite images from the book it belongs to––an unexpected piece, it suggested itself as a prequel to the story inside.

What does being part of SCBWI mean to you?
Wonderful support, great information, networking and––above all––inspiration.

What is your favorite picture book from childhood?
Richard Scarry's Busy, Busy World (1965). I wore it out, and my mom had it re-bound. Now, dog-eared and drooled on, it's been re-bound again for my preschooler.

Fun fact: Karen tends 40,000 honeybees, among other critters and family members. Learn more, and see more images, on STQRY here.

*excluding only those lazy bones or privacy freaks who don't answer our email questions, of course. We love them anyway.

Meet the Artist #11

As part of the hoopla around our second-ever public exhibition of illustrations by SCBWI WWA artists, Update will post a mini-profile of each*—in completely random order—between now and the exhibit's closure in early January. Read about 'em here, or check them ALL out online here, or go see their work in person at the Washington State Convention Center! You can even shake their hands on Dec. 12 at our Holiday Gathering! (More info and registration here.)

Anne Belov

Why did you choose to submit your particular piece of art?
I picked this piece of art from my (as yet unpublished) picture book, Pandamorphosis, because I've been working on it and been totally immersed in it for the past three to four years. This scene takes place near the middle of the story, where the chaos is beginning to reach panda-monium. I love the little panda playing with the slipper.

What does being part of SCBWI mean to you?
SCBWI is a refuge for those of us who love and create children's literature—in much the same way that books were a refuge for me when I was growing up.

What is your favorite picture book from childhood?
I remember having a picture book about pandas, though I don't remember the name. Although it is not a picture book, the illustrations and the philosophy of Winnie the Pooh make it still one of my all-time favorites.

Fun fact: Anne is the founder of The Institute for Contemporary Panda Satire. Learn more, and see more images, on STQRY here.

*excluding only those lazy bones or privacy freaks who don't answer our email questions, of course. We love them anyway.

PiP, PiP, hooray!

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Three cheers for all who finished PiBoIdMo this year!

For picture book writers, the end of November isn’t just about filling up on turkey. It’s also about filling up on ideas. Picture Book Idea Month (PiBoIdMo) has become an annual favorite for many children’s book writers. And for good reason.

Not only do we finish the month off with a big stack of ideas to play around with, we also finish the month with a big stack of fabulous prompts and inspirational blog posts dancing around in our heads like visions of sugarplums. It's all due to PiBoIdMo super-guru Tara Lazar, who once again gathered a smashing collection of industry-pro blog contributors for this year’s challenge.

In addition to great posts by locals Paul Schmid and Elizabeth Rose Stanton, highlights this year included Tammi Sauer’s fantastic kick-off post about titles, Zachariah OHora’s illustrator-friendly post on pimping characters and Annette Simon’s spine-tingling post featuring sentences she put together using the spines of books stacked on top of one another (it’s really cool, you have to see it to believe it).

If you haven’t already browsed through the posts, do head over to Tara’s blog and look around a bit. And for everyone who completed the challenge: Three cheers to you! Give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back.

—Contributed by Street Team Member Kjersten Anna Hayes

Meet the Artist #10

As part of the hoopla around our second-ever public exhibition of illustrations by SCBWI WWA artists, Update will post a mini-profile of each*—in completely random order—between now and the exhibit's closure in early January. Read about 'em here, or check them ALL out online here, or go see their work in person at the Washington State Convention Center! You can even shake their hands on Dec. 12 at our Holiday Gathering! (More info and registration here.)

Jeff James

Why did you choose to submit your particular piece of art?
I submitted the untitled piece of the boy on the ship because it shows the viewer a unique perspective and also gives a good sense of setting. I wanted people to feel as though they could be at a vantage point within the scene, whether from the view of a bird circling overhead or climbing up the rigging gazing at the deck below.

What does being part of SCBWI mean to you?
Being part of this community means realizing there's endless possibility in our world that's too great for any one of us to imagine or experience alone. And it means having the tremendous potential for sharing it with everyone else in that world.

What is your favorite picture book from childhood?
Where the Wild Things Are (yeah, I know) and Andrew Henry's Meadow.

Fun fact: Jeff started his illustration career doing work for packaging and retail exhibits. Learn more, and see more images, on STQRY here.

*excluding only those lazy bones or privacy freaks who don't answer our email questions, of course. We love them anyway.

Meet the Artist #9

As part of the hoopla around our second-ever public exhibition of illustrations by SCBWI WWA artists, Update will post a mini-profile of each*—in completely random order—between now and the exhibit's closure in early January. Read about 'em here, or check them ALL out online here, or go see their work in person at the Washington State Convention Center! You can even shake their hands on Dec. 12 at our Holiday Gathering! (More info and registration here.)

Steve Walker

Why did you choose to submit your particular piece of art?
Of the pieces I submitted, the one selected for the show told the most story in one drawing.

What does being part of SCBWI mean to you?
SCBWI is an opportunity to meet other artists and writers who cherish the format of children's books as I do.

What is your favorite picture book from childhood?
I love the deceptive simplicity of Ernest Shepard's drawings, but I think my favorite book from my childhood was My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett and illustrated by her stepmother, Ruth Chrisman Gannett (1948).

Fun fact: Steve also builds custom cars that have appeared on TV. Learn more, and see more images, on STQRY here.

*excluding only those lazy bones or privacy freaks who don't answer our email questions, of course. We love them anyway.

Seattle Times NW holiday book buying guide

Our local news rag just ran a nice spread on local kids' books that'd make great holiday gifts. First up is Turkey Tot, written by local legend George Shannon and illustrated, in her debut, by our WWA illustration coordinator, Jennifer Mann. If you missed it, check out the whole list!

Meet the Artist #8

As part of the hoopla around our second-ever public exhibition of illustrations by SCBWI WWA artists, Update will post a mini-profile of each,* in completely random order, between now and the exhibit's closure in early January. Read about 'em here, or check them ALL out online here, or go see their work in person at the Washington State Convention Center! You can even shake their hands on Dec. 12 at our Holiday Gathering! (More info and registration here.)

Blanca Santander

Why did you choose to submit your particular piece of art?
For me, "Dream Big" represents all that is fun about reading––it is social, it makes you happy, it fills your mind with ideas. The trunks of the elephants make a heart. They are happy too, and love to be in the story. It is about children dreaming about growing up and having adventures.

What does being part of SCBWI mean to you?
SCBWI is important to me because I am part of a group of people who share many of the same feelings and experiences. An artist can become isolated in her studio, and SCBWI keeps us connected.

What is your favorite picture book from childhood?
Goodnight Moon. I remember hearing it in Spanish (Buenas Noches Luna). I remember my father reading to me, and I would sometimes read it to myself. I didn't read yet, but I knew the story. I was inspired to make my own stories with pictures when I was just a little girl from picture books like it. I read it many years later to my own son as he fell asleep.

Fun fact: Blanca is originally from Peru. Learn more, and see more images, on STQRY here.

*excluding only those lazy bones or privacy freaks who don't answer our email questions, of course. We love them anyway.

Errata!

You know all our posts about our "first-ever" public exhibition of SCBWI WWA art? Well! We've had a major whack-upside-the-head by Terri Cohlene, who was president of Seattle SCBWI back (mumble mumble) years ago when that's what the region and office were called. No no no no! Terri says that actually, the first-ever's been done: "That would be the 1991 Gala at the Seattle Aquarium. It was elegant and exciting! Glad to be showcasing our wonderful talents again!"

We're glad to set the record straight, grateful for a legacy long enough to start forgetting it, and thrilled to suggest you try to attend the SECOND-ever public exhibition at the Washington State Convention Center through the first few days of the new year.

Emergency Sketchup Session Called for Wednesday!

Renata Liwska is in town for the launch of "Once Upon a Memory" and she's jonesing for some sketch time with the Seattle area SCBWI illustrators! Nina Laden invites everybody to show up at the Back bar of Bastille in Ballard Wednesday at 5 p.m. for some drinking and drawing with this dynamic duo. If you can't make their Tuesday night launch at Secret Garden Books (7 p.m.), this will be your chance to get them to sign your copy of their new book AND draw with them. See you there!

Hot off the press! It's the....

...latest edition of THE NORTHERN NETWORK NEWS!

 

Have you ever wanted to participate in a “First Pages” critique session? 

The Northern Network is going to host an informal “Mini Critique” on Wednesday, December 4 at 7pm in the Bellingham (Barnes & Noble, 4099 Meridian St.). 

To participate, please bring FIVE copies of the first chapter of a story, a picture book manuscript, poem, nonfiction piece, or other writing. Illustrators, please bring 1-2 samples of your artwork.

Questions? Call Rebecca Van Slyke at (360) 354-5797, or shoot her an email.

Hope to see you there!

Meet the Artist #7

As part of the hoopla around our first-ever public exhibition of illustrations by SCBWI WWA artists, Update will post a mini-profile of each,* in completely random order, between now and the exhibit's closure in early January. Read about 'em here, or check them ALL out online here, or go see their work in person at the Washington State Convention Center! You can even shake their hands on Dec. 12 at our Holiday Gathering! (More info and registration here.)

Carrie O'Neill

Why did you choose to submit your particular piece of art?
I choose to submit "Take a Deep Breath and Count to Ten" because it is the central image for the picture book I am writing and illustrating. I thought it would hold up as a stand-alone image.

What does being part of SCBWI mean to you?
As an author and illustrator trying to break into the field, SCBWI has been an invaluable resource. Attending my first regional SCBWI conference last spring was a life-changing experience! Although I was nervous when I arrived, spending an entire weekend with people who are passionate about children's books and freely share their experience within the industry was a warm welcome into the community.

What is your favorite picture book from childhood?
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein was the funniest book I had ever read. I still have the copy from when I was a kid.

Fun fact: Carrie uses gouache and pencil. Learn more, and see more images, on STQRY here.

*excluding only those lazy bones or privacy freaks who don't answer our email questions, of course. We love them anyway.