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by Judy Y Faulkner

It was Halloween. Many of us came in costume. We all bared our souls. We tendered—and tended—our words. Ate, played, and laughed together. This year’s SCBWI-Los Angeles Working Writers Retreat took place from October 31–November 2, and it was a sweet treat.

Faculty, attendees, and the SCBWI-L.A. team at the spirited SCBWI-Los Angeles 2025 Working Writers Retreat

Peer critiques got us acquainted fast, and helped us chase perfection—or at least material improvement—in our work. Faculty presentations and optional one-on-ones with ABLA Associate Agent Analía Cabello and Cardinal Rule Press Acquisitions Editor Adam Blackman added opportunities to go “behind the veil” and gain industry perspectives, pitch pet projects, and receive guidance on any peculiarly perplexing craft and business questions that haunted us.

ABLA Associate Agent Analía Cabello taught us to “Slay the Query Letter!” (with time to revise ours ahead of Sunday’s Query Letter and First Pages panel), while Cardinal Rule Press Acquisitions Editor Adam Blackman took us through the publishing process “From Submission to Shelf.”

A scavenger hunt “challenging you with spooky clues and mind-bending riddles” on Friday night set the stage for animated performances of poetry and skits at Saturday night’s wine and dessert party.

Scavenger hunt teams Pumpkin, Owl, Monster, and Scarecrow prepared, presented, and celebrated performances based on the six items each team gathered.

Faculty members Adam Blackman and Analía Cabello
with members of the SCBWI-L.A. Board
A diabolically hard-to-resist dessert bar

On the quieter side were foggy morning walks to the duck pond and the meditation labyrinth, even alone time to rewrite and recharge.

Kudos and many, many thanks to the faculty, SCBWI-L.A. regional team, the staff and administration of the Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino, and this year’s wholly game attendees for daring to create a not-to-be-missed experience. (But if you did miss it, come next year and create your own. And this year’s attendees, do come again! )

Sunday Query Letters and First Pages Panel: ABLA Senior Agent Jennifer Rofé, ABLA Associate Agent Analía Cabello, and Cardinal Rule Press Acquisitions Editor Adam Blackman

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Photos by Sally Jones Rogan, Jean Grabow, Judy Y Faulkner