08 Friday Jul 2016
Posted in Ask an Editor
Tags
Welcome to “Ask an Editor” where our wonderful SCBWI members send in questions that are answered as part of our quarterly Kite Tales blog. 
Dear Editor – I am writing and illustrating a picture book. Do my illustrations need to fit a vertical (tall) layout? I can’t find a book that’s horizontal, but that’s my preference when painting. —Ann, Los Angeles
Dear Ann – Great question! Industry experts respond. Continue reading
06 Wednesday Jul 2016
Posted in Los Angeles, Tri-Regional News
by Nutschell Anne Windsor
SCBWI-L.A.’s New Regional Team
From left to right: Sally Jones Rogan (Co-Regional Adviser), Kim Wildman (Asst. Regional Adviser), and Nutschell Anne Windsor (Co-Regional Adviser)
22 Wednesday Jun 2016
Posted in Author's Perspective, SCBWI Summer Conference
New York Times best-selling author Shannon Hale (and SCBWI member) has published more than 20 children’s books. Her third Princess in Black book was released earlier this month; this middle-grade chapter book is part of Hale’s latest series.
CHRISTINE VAN ZANDT: Welcome! How long have you been writing books? Continue reading
08 Wednesday Jun 2016
Posted in Ask an Editor
Tags
Welcome to our newest feature, “Ask an Editor,” where our wonderful SCBWI members send in questions which may be answered in an upcoming Kite Tales blog. You can remain anonymous if you wish.
Have a question to submit? Log in to your SCBWI account, then either click on the “Ask an Editor” image at the left or follow this link http://losangeles.scbwi.org/ask-an-editor/ and fill out the form. It’s easy!
Dear Editor – I write picture books. Why picture books are almost always 32 pages? Is this something I even need to care about while I’m writing? It’s all about writing the best story and staying within the word count, right?
—Notta Paige Counter
11 Wednesday May 2016
Posted in Contests & Grants, SASE Award, Writers Days
And the winner is . . . Beth Navarro!
Beth Navarro, Sally Jones Rogan, and Sarah Laurenson
At this year’s Writer’s Day, Sally Jones Rogan, LA’s Regional Advisor, presented the 2016 Sue Alexander Service and Encouragement Award. Here are her words:
“The Sue Alexander Service and Encouragement Award is presented to a regional volunteer who has shown exceptional dedication to SCBWI Los Angeles.
The Region is completely volunteer run, from the LitMingle coordinators to the website guru, to the Regional coordinators, and everyone in between who makes up our successful organization of more than 1,300 members. Continue reading
04 Wednesday May 2016
Posted in Central Coast, Tri-Regional News
by Ann Rousseau Smith, CenCal News Liaison
SCBWI CenCal’s Mentor Program
Congratulations to our 2016 Mentees
Picture Book: Laurie Daley, Doreen Maulhardt, and Susanne Whitehouse
Middle Grade: Cindy Marcus
Young Adult: Linda Hearn Continue reading
27 Wednesday Apr 2016
Posted in SoCal, Tri-Regional News
by Francesca Rusackas, Regional Advisor
Spring is always a time of energy and renewal. With that in mind, our wonderful Regional Illustrator Coordinator, Gina Capaldi, is coming up with plenty of opportunities for illustrators (and writers) to improve their skills and make connections.
Our 2015, exhibition, Imagine! The Art of Children’s Books Illustration, was a huge success and Gina is already at work on plans for 2017!
The door
13 Wednesday Apr 2016
Posted in Los Angeles, Tri-Regional News, Writers Days
by Sally Jones Rogan, Co-Regional Advisor, SCBWI – Los Angeles
Hello SCBWI –Los Angeles! If you attended our recent Writer’s Day at the Skirball Cultural Center, you will already know that Sarah Laurenson shared some rather “big” regional news. After many years as Co-Regional Advisor, first with Lee Wind and then with yours truly, Sarah has decided to step down for a well-earned rest!
Sally Jones Rogan (left) and Sarah Laurenson (right)
It was on Sarah and Lee’s watch that SCBWI obtained its nonprofit status. With that came more rules, regulations, more scrutiny—and many more RA volunteer hours needed than ever before. Sarah tackled all of these new challenges with aplomb and by the time I came onboard three years ago, there was a “system” in place for just about everything! Who knew that spreadsheets could be an art form?
06 Wednesday Apr 2016
Posted in Writers Days
Tags
Brenda Bowen, conferences, contest winners, Debbie Ridpath Ohi, Robin LaFevers, SCBWI events, SCBWI members, Stephanie Stein
by Christine Van Zandt
On March 12, 2016, writers from all walks of life attended this year’s daylong SCBWI-Los Angeles Writer’s Day at the beautiful Skirball Cultural Center. The comfortable seating was an ideal place to take in presentations by the four keynote speakers: Stephanie Stein, Brenda Bowen, Debbie Ridpath Ohi, and Robin LaFevers. As with other SCBWI events, Writer’s Day provided opportunity for education, motivation, and networking.
Writer’s Day 2016
23 Wednesday Mar 2016
Posted in Industry News
by Christine Van Zandt
Last month, Amazon implemented important changes wherein books which appear to have “quality issues” are being flagged. Quality issues include typos, unsupported characters, cover issues, image quality, formatting, links, table errors, duplicated text, missing content, wrong content, content unsuited for reading on Kindle, and disappointing content.
Heated debate has ensued. Is Amazon infringing on our rights and acting like Big Brother? Or, is it about time they enforced restrictions to ensure mostly error-free books? Continue reading
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