10 Inspiring Kite Tales Quotes from 2025

31 Wednesday Dec 2025

Posted by Judy Y Faulkner in Agent's Perspective, Author's Perspective, Community Corner, Editor's Perspective, Illustrator's Perspective, Tips and Tools

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#AskanEditor, Adam Blackman, Alexander Vidal, Analía Cabello, authors, Brenda Scott Royce, Cassandra Federman, Christine Van Zandt, craft, Ellen Hopkins, Harshini Vankineni, illustrators, inspiration, Jaime Zollars, Jennifer Rofé, Jennifer S. Pitts, Jenny Turnbull, Judy Faulkner, Kelly Pellico, Micky O'Brady, Paige Vinten Taylor, Philana Marie Boles, publishing, publishing tips, quotes, SCBWI community, Sherry Shahan, writing tips

January is not just right around the corner—it’s tomorrow! But don’t panic. We still have time to make our resolutions or More/Less lists (see below and linked), and to dream big for 2026. Hopefully, revisiting some of the ideas and insights in Kite Tales’ 2025 posts through the quotes and article links below will provide a fresh sprinkle of information and inspiration to help you get started. Write on. Draw on. Read on!

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Best of the Holidays from Your Regional Teams

24 Wednesday Dec 2025

Posted by Judy Y Faulkner in Central Coast, Los Angeles, SoCal, Tri-Regional News

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SCBWI community, SCBWI members

by Kim Wildman, Regional Advisor, SCBWI Los Angeles

As the year wraps up, we hope you remember that your words and pictures to the children of the world matter. They play a vital role by planting seeds of hope, building courage, and lighting up young minds to the endless possibilities in front of them.

Please join us in our 2026 programming as we continue to grow, learn, and challenge ourselves to reach new heights, finish more projects, and touch more hearts with wonder.

Happy Holidays!
From the CenCal Team

May the spirit of the season spark your creativity in new ways.
Los Angeles Regional Team

Wishing you joy, time with loved ones,
and inspiration this holiday season.
Warmly, The SCBWI SoCal Regional Team

For more fantastic content, community, events, and other professional development opportunities, become a member today! Not sure if there is a chapter in your area? Check here.

Images created by: Zuri Timmons (CenCal), Jessica Cooper (Los Angeles), and Lisa Johnston Hancock (SoCal)

Toot Your Horn!

17 Wednesday Dec 2025

Posted by Judy Y Faulkner in Toot Your Horn!

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authors, fiction, illustrators, MG, middle grade, mystery, picture book, published, publishing, SCBWI community, SCBWI members, Spiritual, YA

SCBWI members’ publishing news is something to celebrate here at  Kite Tales!  Check out whose book is coming to a platform near you or around the world. Horn-tooting and digital high fives welcome in the comments!

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Grateful for …

26 Wednesday Nov 2025

Posted by Judy Y Faulkner in Community Corner

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SCBWI community, SCBWI members

Friends, family, teachers, and colleagues traveling the same path, and all the opportunities to be there for each other.

All of us at Kite Tales wish you a peaceful start to your holiday season and continued satisfying leaps into your creative endeavors.

For more fantastic content, community, events, and other professional development opportunities, become a member today! Not sure if there is a chapter in your area? Check here.

Illustration by Judy Y Faulkner

No Tricks, All Treat: A Spirited SCBWI-L.A. 2025 Working Writers Retreat

12 Wednesday Nov 2025

Posted by Judy Y Faulkner in Los Angeles, Tri-Regional News, Writers Retreat

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Adam Blackman, Analía Cabello, craft, Events, Jennifer Rofé, SCBWI community, SCBWI members, working writers retreat, writing

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*

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Fall Harvest Writers and Illustrators Day 2025 Brings Warmth to the Season

22 Wednesday Oct 2025

Posted by Judy Y Faulkner in Contests & Grants, Illustrators Day, SoCal, Tri-Regional News, Writers Days

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authors, Brett Duquette, Brian LaRossa, contest winners, illustrators, Marie Chan, middle grade, picture book, publishing, Rebecca Sherman, Robert Mellette, Robin Preiss Glasser, Sally Kim, SCBWI community, SCBWI events, SCBWI members, Tina Athaide, YA

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.

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SCBWI CenCal Writers and Illustrators Day Winners 2025!

15 Wednesday Oct 2025

Posted by Judy Y Faulkner in Central Coast, Contests & Grants, Illustrators Day, Tri-Regional News, Writers Days

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CenCal County Mingles, CenCal Writers and Illustrators Retreat, Claire Annette Noland, Gela Kalaitzidis, illustrators, Jessica Woo, Leanne Pankuch, Lee Wardlaw, Patrice Karst, Rebecca Langston-George, SCBWI community, SCBWI events, Trish Heully, writers

by Ann Rousseau Smith, SCBWI CenCal News Liaison

The SCBWI Central-Coastal Region held its in-person Writers and Illustrators Day on Saturday, September 20, at the Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District Auditorium in Camarillo. A few honors were presented during an inspiring day of speakers and camaraderie, and a fabulous lunch.

Congratulations to all our participants in the writing and illustration contests, including our winners! Each winner receives free entry to next year’s Writers and Illustrators Day.

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Mission-Driven Editing: An Interview with Adam Blackman of Cardinal Rule Press

08 Wednesday Oct 2025

Posted by Judy Y Faulkner in Editor's Perspective, Los Angeles, Tri-Regional News, Writers Retreat

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Adam Blackman, Berrie Torgan-Randall, Cardinal Rule Press, interview, Just Ducky, Lee Wind, Like That Eleanor, publishing, SCBWI community, working writers retreat, writing

by Judy Faulkner

*Adam Blackman, Acquisitions Editor for Cardinal Rule Press, is on the faculty at the 2025 SCBWI-LA Working Writers Retreat*

Registration for this year’s SCBWI-LA Working Writers Retreat closes in four days, and the event is only a few weeks away. Retreat faculty member Adam Blackman is Acquisitions Editor for picture books at the Cardinal Rule Press and a freelance editorial consultant on books for all ages. In this interview, he gives Kite Tales a taste of what he brings to a retreat conversation and what he hopes attendees will bring with them and be able to take away. In conversation, Adam listens closely, smiles easily, and laughs often. He also notes, “You can put in brackets, ‘gestured with hands,’ because I speak with my hands so much. It’ll be an art note.” Hooray, an editor with no fear of art notes! This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. – JF

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