Author Archives: losangelesscbwi

News from the Internet: Whatpad? Nope! Wattpad by Ronna Mandel

30 Wednesday Sep 2015

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Wattpad is billing itself as the world’s largest community of readers and writers by putting over 100 million stories at your fingertips. Once you go online and begin your own search on the site, you’ll understand why Wattpad is not to be ignored. It’s like an Internet potato chip for readers because you may find it impossible to stop after devouring just one story. I know because that’s what happened to me. Fortunately it’s fat-free!

I asked Catherine Linka, author of A Girl Called Fearless and its sequel, A Girl Undone, to give us the inside scoop on this popular online community. She dove into Wattpad waters way before many other authors, and her experience might encourage you to take a dip.

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Poet’s Perspective: Poetry Month Revisited by Briana Pullen

23 Wednesday Sep 2015

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April is a month of transition, either by finishing up your taxes or enjoying more daylight hours. It is a month which brightens up the disappearing dimness and provides us all with a nourishing chance to renew (or try again)… April is Poetry month, which snuck up on me this year again.

Aspirations and resolutions are given a moment to be checked into or revised. What time would be better matched with poetry than the vibrant month of April? Amidst refreshing showers this rebirth (or renewal) thrives. I sampled a foretaste of this renewal when Redondo Beach Public Library invited poets to read their work on a podcast in preparation for Poetry month. Waiting outside with other poets, listening to them rehearse, I revisited my own work, as well.

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Volunteer in the Spotlight: Maggie Grinnell, Co-editor of SCBWI Kite Tales

16 Wednesday Sep 2015

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maggie2

I knew I wanted to be a writer when I was in college, but the aspiration really started when I was little, making up stories in the backyard making mud pies.

After college, I wanted to be a part of a writing family. I didn’t find this family until SCBWI came along.

I work as an emergency room clerk. Sometimes my job is stressful but I always find the time to write.

I use to write suspense stories along the lines of Mary Higgins Clark. But I found my voice along with my inner child and began writing children’s picture books.

I am a co-editor of Kite Tales.

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Great News! & Classes

09 Wednesday Sep 2015

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Kite Tales loves to celebrate our SCBWI members. Congratulations to all listed below!

GREAT NEWS

Christine Brallier’s picture book illustrations have been featured on Julie Danielson’s blog, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast (http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings/?p=3610). Christine is a stained glass mosaic artist and the post shows the mosaic process in detail, from first sketch to final artwork. She was also recently interviewed by Kathy Temean on her blog, Writing and Illustrating (https://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2015/01/10/illustrator-saturday-christine-brallier/), and her illustrated book, The Night Before Christmas, was featured at Fuse #8 Productions where Betsy Bird said it was “one of the most beautiful Christmas children’s books I’ve ever seen.” Wonderful press for a self published book!

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How I Write: Edith Cohen, author of Spirit’s Key

02 Wednesday Sep 2015

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Edith alone copy

How long have you been an SCBWI member?

10 years

What do you write?

I write middle grade novels. My first published novel is a middle grade mystery fantasy. I’m currently working on a middle grade contemporary.

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Agent’s Perspective: A spotlight on three agents at the SCBWI Summer Conference By Clare Di Liscia Baird and Beth Navarro

28 Friday Aug 2015

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The 2015 SCBWI Summer conference had an impressive line-up of agents including Alexandra Penfold, Barry Goldblatt and Brenda Bowen. There is a good amount of information out there answering questions about how to get an agent and how to write a fabulous (the ever elusive and tricky) query letter, but much less talked about is what happens once an agent’s interest is piqued. We wanted insider information on how these top of the line agents work with potential clients. They were kind enough to take time out of their busy conference schedules to talk with us.

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SCBWI Summer Conference By Julia Markovich

26 Wednesday Aug 2015

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“In Reverence of Resonance”

At the 44th Annual SCBWI Summer Conference, the esteemed Mem Fox, Queen of children’s storybooks, told us that there are really only two themes in all of literature: the “Quest” and the “Stranger Comes to Town.” As a first-time conference goer, I certainly felt like the ‘stranger come to town’ as I navigated my way through the biggest Summer Conference to date – a whopping 1,173 people attending from 19 countries (including France, Japan, Spain and Bangladesh!) and 48 states represented. But with over 400 “pre-published” new attendees just like me, I knew I wouldn’t be alone for long.

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Schmooze Spotlight: San Fernando Valley Schmooze

19 Wednesday Aug 2015

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Writing means sharing. It’s part of the human condition to want to share things – thoughts, ideas, opinions. ~ Paulo Coelho

Sh. Oaks Library front view copy_Schmooze Spotlight

Sherman Oaks Library

On the fourth Monday of the month co-coordinators Karen Sampson and Jennifer S. Pitts gather together with a friendly group of writers and illustrators at the Sherman Oaks Library, in the heart of the beautiful San Fernando Valley. Their goal is to help Schmoozers assuage the solitary art of writing and illustrating while fulfilling their natural human desire to share.

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Illustrator’s Gallery: Renee Kurilla

12 Wednesday Aug 2015

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Drawing is Therapy and Dirty Dishes are Annoying

I’m not entirely sure how strange a concept this is to other creative folks, but I’ve discovered that while I’m working on illustrations for a book, I’m thinking about everything. I mean, really…all the things. My mind jumps back and forth from the decorations in my childhood bedroom, to my friend’s desire to own a corgi, to my failed attempt at making beef stew the night before, to wondering if I remembered to take the garbage out. I try to block out that last type of thought because those are the distractions that have the ability to make me get up and lose focus. For instance, all of a sudden desperately needing to do the dishes; that stuff can wait. Or can it? Gah!

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Illustrator’s Perspective: Will Hillenbrand

05 Wednesday Aug 2015

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WILL HILLENBRAND is a celebrated author and illustrator whose published works include over sixty books for young readers. In addition to his own self-illustrated titles, he has illustrated the works of writers and retellers including Verna Aardema, Judy Sierra, Margery Cuyler, Judith St. George, Phyllis Root, Jane Yolen, Karma Wilson, Maureen Wright, Daniel Pinkwater and Jane Hillenbrand. Will has lived almost all of his life in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he grew up as the youngest of four boys. He now lives in Terrace Park.

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