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by Beverly Plass, SCBWI SoCal Regional Advisor

Fall Harvest Faculty (l-r): Sally Kim, Rebecca Sherman, Brian LaRossa, and Brett Duquette

Our Fall Harvest Writers and Illustrators Day at Cal State Fullerton and online was a huge success. Attendees got to hear a day full of inspiring speakers, enter writing contests and a portfolio contest, sign up for pitches and written critiques, get live feedback during First Pages, display published books, buy books from author and illustrator presenters, and participate in our daylong icebreaker bingo game.

Brett Duquette, executive director at Little Bee Books, gave us tips on how to make picture books laugh-out-loud funny. Who knew musical instruments could go to camp!

Rebecca Sherman, agent at Writers House, gave a behind the scenes look at how one of her writer clients progressed from query letter to revision to selling her story.

Sally Kim, agent at Andrea Brown, presented how to implement marketing and publicity to announce your book to the world.

Brian LaRossa, executive art director at Scholastic, gave illustrators insight as to “do’s and don’ts” for how to showcase your art on a website, social media, and in your portfolio.

Presenters (l-r): Tina Athaide, Marie Chan, and Robin Preiss Glasser sign their books for an enthusiastic crowd (not pictured, presenter author Robert Mellette)

We also featured local authors Tina Athaide, Marie Chan, and Robert Mellette. We even hosted illustrator Robin Preiss Glasser of Fancy Nancy fame on her birthday.

Congratulations to the following contest winners for their creativity!

Contest winners: (top, from left) Lorian Steider, Fay Kelling, Mary Shannon; (bottom, from left) Carrie Schneider, Bev Plass, Lauren Gallegos, Farnaz Nadim. (Not pictured, Susan Hunnicutt, AnneLise Wilhelmsen)

Picture Book Dummy
First Place: Where’s Frankie? by Fay Kelling

Picture Book
First Place: Book Hunt Day by Lorian Steider
Second Place: Blanket for Roho by Susan Hunnicutt

Middle Grade 
First Place: Warp & Weave by Carrie Schnieder
Second Place: Imaginary Friends by AnneLise Wilhelmsen

Young Adult
First Place: Stupid Cupid by Mary Shannon
Second Place: Double Take by Bev Plass

Portfolio
First Place: Farnaz Nadim
Second Place: Lauren Gallegos

Icebreaker Bingo winner Eori Tokunaga with limited edition print from Robin Preiss Glasser

Overall, attendees shared on the post-event survey they liked the presentations and mingling opportunities. A couple faculty shared that they asked for full manuscripts from their critique pile. We wish everyone luck!

Zoom Queen Crystal Schreck kept the event flowing smoothly for those attending virtually

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Photos courtesy of SCBWI SoCal