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Kite Tales

Kite Tales

Category Archives: Author’s Perspective

The Life Poetic: An Interview with April Halprin Wayland

31 Wednesday Jan 2024

Posted by Judy Y Faulkner in Author's Perspective, Poet's Perspective, Tips and Tools

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

April Halprin Wayland, interview, Janet Wong, Myra Cohn LIvingston, Orange Marmalade, Paige Vinten Taylor, poetry, poets, Pomelo Books, publishing, Sylvia Vardell, TeachingAuthors.com, UCLA, writing, writing tips

by Paige Vinten Taylor

Poet, picture book writer, and verse novelist April Halprin Wayland

In her own words, April Halprin Wayland is “a writer, a mother, a wife, a speaker, a fiddle player, an organizer, a teacher, a poet, a doodler (see blog posts), a daughter, a sister, a performer, a storyteller, a peace activist, a traveler, a walker, a hiker, a meditator, an aqua farmer, a sun farmer, an animal lover, a cloud collector, a procrastinator, an infrequent twitterer, facebooker (sometimes) and instagramer. All!”

Paige Vinten Taylor: Welcome to Kite Tales, April. We’re so glad you’re here with us to talk everything poetry. Can we begin at the beginning? When did you first decide that you loved poetry?

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10 Inspiring Kite Tales Quotes from 2023

27 Wednesday Dec 2023

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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authors, Benson Shum, Brady Smith, Cara J. Stevens, Christine Van Zandt, Courtney Stevenson, craft, illustrators, Imelda Hinojosa, inspiration, Jackie Huang, Karol Ruth Silverstein, Kitty Felde, Laura Hunt, Laura Taylor Namey, Lucy Hamilburg, Molly Ruttan, Philana Marie Boles, publishing, publishing tips, quotes, Savannah Brooks, SCBWI community, Vincent X. Kirsch, writing tips

The high-flying little girl in Laura Hunt’s illustration “Kite Night,” winner of this year’s SCBWI-L.A. Twitter Banner Contest, answered the question of whether it’s ever too late to follow your dreams.

Editing Kite Tales has its perks. One is being among the first to see, hear, and be able to use the many uplifting ideas expressed by the blog’s kidlit guests during the year. Another is being one of the first to look back at year’s end and take inspiration anew. Here are some of my favorite 2023 moments gathered up in KT’s traditional list of 10 inspiring quotes. (Plus some extra inspo via the images.) Scroll through. Click through. Catch a thermal current and be uplifted. Thank you to everyone who brought words, pictures, and stories to the blog this year. Thank you to our readers! May you continue to soar in 2024.

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Publishing BTS: Author Sara Hosey and Freelance Editor Christine Van Zandt Talk Process

16 Wednesday Aug 2023

Posted by losangelesscbwi in Author's Perspective, Editor's Perspective, Tips and Tools

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

ADHD, authors, Blackstone Publishing, CamCat Books, Christine Van Zandt, editing tips, editors, publishing, publishing tips, Sara Hosey, Summer People, writing, YA

Sara Hosey, author of Iphigenia Murphy, Imagining Elsewhere, and Summer People

The editorial process is a give-and-take experience between two equal, essential partners. Kite Tales listens in as YA author Sara Hosey and freelance editor Christine Van Zandt discuss working together to bring a book they felt was both crowd-pleasing and socially significant to market. Summer People, published by CamCat Books and released August 8, 2023, tells the story of seventeen year-old Christmas Miller. Over the course of a summer, as Christmas tries to navigate sudden friction in her closest friendship and fathom a violent attack on another of her friends, she learns that the ADHD she’d thought was a liability is actually a superpower. Here are Sara’s and Christine’s reflections on the path to publication. – KT

Summer People by Sara Hosey, published by CamCat Books, August 2023
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Interview with Author-Illustrator Brady Smith

09 Wednesday Aug 2023

Posted by Michelle Lin in Author's Perspective, Illustrator's Gallery, Illustrator's Perspective

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

author-illustrator, authors, Brady Smith, illustrators, Louie and Bear, Random Acts of Drawness, You're Missing It!

Author-illustrator Brady Smith

Anyone who has seen the Instagram series Random Acts of Drawness knows that Brady Smith can draw just about anything. In addition to being a first-class speed drawer, he’s written and illustrated three picture books, an interactive activity/sketchbook, and a graphic novel series.

He’s also a fine artist who’s had solo exhibitions in Los Angeles, Houston, and New York and painted over half a dozen large-scale murals in LA, Salt Lake City, and Austin. 

Brady spoke to us about his work and process from his studio in Los Angeles, where he lives with his wife, Tiffani Thiessen, their two kids, four dogs, and eleven chickens.

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Here’s a Secret About Diverse Books

24 Wednesday May 2023

Posted by Judy Y Faulkner in Author's Perspective, Industry News

≈ 1 Comment

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#WNDB, Are You There God? It's Me Margaret, authors, diversity, Judy Blume, Little Divas, middle grade, Philana Marie Boles, publishing, We Need Diverse Books

by Philana Marie Boles

Philana Marie Boles

Since its inception in 2014, I have applauded the refreshing “We Need Diverse Books” initiative. Yet internally, as a multi-published author, I’ve also whimpered a weary cry whenever I see those words. I’ve wanted to remind anyone who will listen, “But we’re here. We’ve always been here. Diverse books just need to be seen and supported.”

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Navigating Your First Picture Book Writing Journey, Part 2

03 Wednesday May 2023

Posted by Michelle Lin in Author's Perspective, Editor's Perspective, Tips and Tools

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Cara J. Stevens, editing, picture books, writing, writing tips

by Cara J. Stevens

Part 2: 7 Self-editing checkpoints to take your manuscript from first draft to ready for submission

**Note: This is the second in a two-part series. To read part one, click here.**

My first post covered storytelling basics to get you to a solid first draft. Once your manuscript is complete, however, it’s far from finished!

Here are seven checkpoints to guide you once you’re ready to edit.

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Navigating Your First Picture Book Writing Journey

26 Wednesday Apr 2023

Posted by Michelle Lin in Author's Perspective, Editor's Perspective, Tips and Tools

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Cara J. Stevens, editing, first draft, picture books, writing, writing tips

by Cara J. Stevens

Part 1: From idea to first draft

The first time I submitted a manuscript, it was rejected within 24 hours. “This story is more instructional than engaging,” the editor said, and went on to suggest that it would make a great article. I was dismayed and confused. I thought I had written a story that hit all the notes of a good picture book. I wondered where I had gone wrong.

I reached out to a colleague who used to be a children’s book agent. “Your main character has no agency,” he pointed out. “If your main character has a problem and someone else solves it, then he’s not really your main character.” My mind was sufficiently blown. As soon as he said it, I saw it so clearly! After a lifetime of reading and exploring picture books, how could I have missed that?

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Interactive Books: The Dance Between Mechanics and Story

19 Wednesday Apr 2023

Posted by Michelle Lin in Author's Perspective, Illustrator's Perspective, Tips and Tools

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

author-illustrator, flip tabs, illustrating, interactive, Jackie Huang, Picky Panda, picture books, SCBWI community, writing

by Jackie Huang

Whether it’s a novelty book or a picture book, an interactive element (e.g., flip tabs, spinners, sliders, touch/feel textures, etc.) can give your book an extra level of engagement. But how do you decide if your book should have interactive elements?

Coming from a paper engineering background (i.e., I make pop-up cards), I really wanted to include some kind of interactive element in my first book. When you decide to include something interactive, there’s a special kind of dance that happens. 

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The Sue Alexander Grant Is Open for Submissions!

12 Wednesday Apr 2023

Posted by losangelesscbwi in Author's Perspective, Contests & Grants, SAG, Writers' Retreat

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Christine Van Zandt, Milkweed for Monarchs, picture books, SCBWI members, Sue Alexander, writing contests

by Christine Van Zandt

The 2023 Sue Alexander Grant contest opens tomorrow, April 13, offering one SCBWI-L.A. writer a guaranteed spot and free tuition to the Working Writers Retreat (to be held at the Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino, September 29 to October 1, 2023). This will be the first time this popular event has been held in person since 2019!

We asked last year’s Sue Alexander Grant recipient, Christine Van Zandt, to talk about her winning manuscript:

Christine Van Zandt, 2022 Sue Alexander Grant recipient, with western monarch.

The idea for Butterfly Dreams began in May 2020, when my daughter and I bought our first milkweed plant unaware that a mother monarch had sent us home with a surprise—actually 26 surprises! Soon, our plant was covered in adorable caterpillars. We excitedly watched them grow … until something came along one night and ate every last one.

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Let’s Get Rhyming!

29 Wednesday Mar 2023

Posted by Judy Y Faulkner in Author's Perspective, Central Coast, Tips and Tools

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authors, CenCal, craft, Patricia Toht, poetry, publishing, rhyming, SCBWI community, SCBWI events, SCBWI members, writing, writing tips

by Ann Rousseau Smith, SCBWI CenCal News Liaison

Author and Rhyme Doctor Patricia Toht is on call in April to help you take your rhyme to the next level.

Join us on Thursday, April 13, at 6:30 p.m. for a webinar with Patricia Toht titled “Let’s Get Rhyming!” Despite what some may insist, it’s not a crime to write in rhyme! But it does take effort to master your verse. Join author and Rhyme Doctor Patricia Toht as she shares her new releases, Together With You and Pick a Perfect Egg, along with other wonderful books in rhyme, and reveals key elements that make them shine. The price will be $12 for SCBWI members.

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What is SCBWI?

Founded in 1971 by a group of Los Angeles-based children's writers, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators is a non-profit, 501 (c)3 organization. There are currently more than 22,000 members worldwide, in over 70 regional chapters writing and illustrating in all genres for young readers, making it the largest children's writing organization in the world.

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Members of SCBWI receive exclusive access to tools, information, and industry professionals as well conferences, workshops, and critiques. Click HERE to find out more. Join us and take your writing to the next level!

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