29 Wednesday Mar 2017
Posted in Ask an Editor
“Ask an Editor” is a forum wherein SCBWI mem
bers submit questions that are answered as part of our quarterly Kite Tales blog.
Dear Editor – What is New Adult? How is it different from Young Adult?
—J.T., Los Angeles
26 Monday Dec 2016
Posted in Author's Perspective
Tags
100th Anniversary, 100th Birthday, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Chloe Dahl, Fantastic Mr. Fox, James and the Giant Peach, Knuckle and Claw, Lucy Dahl, Matilda, Roald Dahl, snozzcumber, The BFG, The Twits, Voodoo Doughnuts
Holiday giving isn’t over! Enjoy this special interview, a gift from Kite Tales to all of our readers. We hope you find time to relax with a book as we say good-bye to 2016.
On September 18, 2016, I attended a celebration of Roald Dahl’s 100thbirthday at his granddaughter Chloe’s restaurant, Knuckle and Claw, in Santa Monica. Lucy Dahl, Roald’s daughter, was in attendance, reading from The Twits and entertaining the crowd with anecdotal stories about her father. The kids in the audience were obviously fans of Dahl’s work, eagerly citing their favorite books and characters—even having some lines from the books memorized. Why do Dahl’s books resonate with children today? Lucy Dahl provides some insight. Continue reading
26 Wednesday Oct 2016
Posted in Writers' Retreat
Every year SCBWI hosts a members-only retreat that provides space, support, and permission to write—an ideal experience for writers at vari
ous stages of the creative process. On the final day, attendees have a chance to present their work to some of the most talented editors and agents in the business. To prepare for this moment, SCBWI faculty crafts three days of carefully planned and protected writing time.
The buzz from years past caught my attention and I was motivated to sign up the day registration opened. This opportunity meant time alone with my story without having to worry about the pressing responsibilities of life. Continue reading
19 Wednesday Oct 2016
12 Wednesday Oct 2016
Posted in Ask an Editor
Tags
“Ask an Editor” is a forum wherein SCBWI members submit questions that are answered as part of our quarterly Kite Tales blog.
Dear Editor – Word count requirements confuse me. Should I try to reach a certain number before I submit my novel? Does it really matter? —Rob, Studio City
Dear Rob – An ideal reference for word count is SCBWI’s annual publication, The Book: The Essential Guide to Publishing for Children, available to SCBWI members at https://www.scbwi.org/online-resources/the-book/. The printed version is a bargain at $6.25 plus shipping, or download the PDF for free. Continue reading
28 Wednesday Sep 2016
Posted in Author's Perspective, Illustrator's Perspective
Today we’re talking with SCBWI member and former Angelino, Booki Vivat. Her illustrated middle-grade novel, Frazzled: Everyday Disasters and Impending Doom (HarperCollins Children’s Books), became available on September 27, 2016.
CHRISTINE VAN ZANDT: Welcome! In this debut novel Abbie Wu, the middle child in her family, is about to enter middle school. What was your process as author-illustrator from idea to publication?
BOOKI VIVAT: Frazzled has a pretty unconventional origin story. It didn’t start with a traditional pitch or a query or a manuscript. It started with a doodle—or rather, a whole bunch of them. I kept a planner a few years ago to try and get my life in order, but it ended up becoming more of a creative outlet to channel all my feelings. Doodles literally took over the pages of my life! Continue reading
02 Friday Sep 2016
Posted in Industry News, Writers Days
Tags
Anomaly, Augmented Reality, Between Worlds, Brian Haberlin, Jay Anacleto, Morton Heilig, Penguin Random House, Skip Brittenham, YA, YA Fantasy
I recently attended a demonstration of the amazing Augmented Reality (AR) which accompanies Skip Brittenham’s new YA speculative fiction book, Between Worlds (released August 30th). The AR is created when your mobile device’s camera registers one of the book’s thirteen illustrations, enabling three-dimensional images to literally pop out of the pages. Readers can interact with the characters by tapping these images. The AR also includes additional text not found in the book itself.
Brian Haberlin, Co-Founder of Anomaly Productions talks with us today. Continue reading
31 Wednesday Aug 2016
Posted in Industry Conferences, SCBWI Summer Conference
Tags
2016 Summer Conference staff, Alvina Ling, Editor's Panel, Kat Brzozowski, Kate Sullivan, Kim Wildman, Lin Oliver, Matt Ringler, Melissa Manlove, Neal Porter, Nutschell Windsor, Reka Simonsen, Sally Jones Rogan, Sara Sargent, Stacey Barney
by Christine Van Zandt
Inspiration, education, and conversation 
The SCBWI’s 45th Annual Summer Conference was held at the beautiful, centrally located Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. With almost 1,000 attendees representing 48 states and 15 countries, from the first moment it was apparent that this was the place for a children’s writer or illustrator to be. Continue reading
17 Wednesday Aug 2016
Posted in Writers' Retreat
by Marilyn Morton
Among the many reasons for SCBWI-LA Working Writer’s Retreat’s (WWR) popularity is that it may result in a publication. Just ask Julie Williams (HarperCollins), Cecil Castelluci (Candlewick), Jesse Marie Klausmeier (Chronicle), and Amanda Hollander (Beach Lane Books) who became published authors as a result of attending this event. In recent years WWR, which is also open to non-SCBWI members, has filled within hours of opening registration. Continue reading
03 Wednesday Aug 2016
Posted in Critique Day
Tags
by Daka Hermon 
“When you decide not to be afraid, you can find friends in super unexpected places.” —Ms. Marvel
I found that to be true at the SCBWI Peer2Peer Critiquenic. What is that you ask? It’s an amazing opportunity to have your work critiqued by your peers. Continue reading
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