Category Archives: Central Coast

Lisa D. Kerr, Picture Book Author and Spotlight Speaker

03 Wednesday Aug 2022

Posted by in Author's Perspective, Central Coast

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

by Ann Rousseau Smith, SCBWI CenCal News Liaison

Lisa D. Kerr is the debut author of Wake, Sleepy One: California Poppies and the Super Bloom, illustrated by Lisa Powell Braun (West Margin Press, April 2022), a nonfiction picture book about the California poppy super bloom. The story includes details such as the life cycle and plant parts of poppies, the desert habitat and its food web, as well as some early California history.

Lisa was a Spotlight Speaker at SCBWI CenCal’s How to Pitch to an Agent event on July 10. She took a moment to answer some questions for Kite Tales.

Continue reading →

An Interview with Lynn Becker, Picture Book Author

02 Wednesday Feb 2022

Posted by in Author's Perspective, Central Coast

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

, , , , , ,

By Ann Rousseau Smith, SCBWI CenCal News Liaison

Lynn Becker is the author of Monsters in the Briny, illustrated by Scott Brundage (Sleeping Bear Press, April 2022). What do you do with a grumpy kraken, a sickly sea serpent, and a tearful gigantic tortoise? You sing them a tune! The verse in this debut picture book follows the sea shanty rhyme of “What Do You Do With . . . ,” as the ship’s crew face each creature’s demand for comfort or attention.

Lynn Becker, former resident and volunteer member of the SCBWI Central-California Region, now lives and writes in Colorado. She took a moment to answer some questions for Kite Tales.

ANN ROUSSEAU SMITH: Congratulations on your debut picture book Monsters in the Briny, illustrated by Scott Brundage (Sleeping Bear Press, April 2022). What was the inspiration for writing about sea creatures?

Continue reading →

Happy Holidays from SCBWI Cen-Cal!

17 Friday Dec 2021

Posted by in Central Coast

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

Image by Laura-Susan Thomas, SCBWI CenCal Regional Illustrator Coordinator.

SCBWI CenCal Writers’ Day 2021: The Winners Are…!

24 Wednesday Nov 2021

Posted by in Central Coast, Tri-Regional News, Writers Days

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , ,

By Ann Rousseau Smith, SCBWI CenCal News Liaison

This year’s SCBWI CenCal Writers’ Day Creating with Hope! was a hybrid event. Saturday, October 30, was an in-person event with several author speakers. Day two, Sunday, November 7, was a webinar featuring Megan Ilnitzki, editor at HarperCollins Children’s Books, and an illustrator’s gallery. Our fabulous writing contest winners were announced at Sunday’s event.

Congratulations to all our contest participants, including our winners!

Continue reading →

SCBWI CenCal’s Bounce Back Writers’ Retreat

13 Wednesday Oct 2021

Posted by in Central Coast, Tri-Regional News, Writers' Retreat

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

By Ann Rousseau Smith, SCBWI CenCal News Liaison

Need a boost to your creative juices? Join us for a weekend of writing and revising beside the sea on January 21 to January 23, 2022.

Our get-away-to-write retreat will be held at the Cavalier Oceanfront Resort in San Simeon, overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Continue reading →

Save the Date! Cen-Cal Writers’ Day 2021

14 Wednesday Jul 2021

Posted by in Central Coast, Writers Days

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

By Ann Rousseau Smith, SCBWI CenCal News Liaison

SCBWI Central-Coastal California has set a date for Writers’ Day 2021. Please mark your calendars for Saturday, October 30.

This year’s Writers’ Day will be in two parts. The first will be in-person at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks with spotlight speakers. A featured guest will also speak on this day. The writing contest recipients will be announced and critiques distributed at this half-day event.

Spotlight speakers include:

Continue reading →

An Interview with STEM Author, Kristen Nordstrom

28 Wednesday Apr 2021

Posted by in Author's Perspective, Central Coast, Tri-Regional News

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

by Ann Rousseau Smith, SCBWI CenCal News Liaison

Kristen Nordstrom is the debut STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) author of Mimic Makers: Biomimicry Inventors Inspired by Nature, illustrated by Paul Boston (Charlesbridge Publishing, July 2021). The picture book profiles ten real-life scientists, engineers, and designers who copy nature to create amazing new technology. Thank you, Mother Nature!

Kristen teaches biomimicry and other topics to elementary-school students in a gifted science program, and is a member of NSTA, the National Science Teaching Association. She has written innovative curriculum, and has been honored with two writing awards from SCBWI for outstanding STEM manuscripts. Kristen took a moment from her busy schedule to answer some questions for the Kite Tales blog.

Continue reading →

An Interview with Karen Jameson, Picture Book Author

27 Wednesday Jan 2021

Posted by in Author's Perspective, Central Coast, Tri-Regional News

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

by Ann Rousseau Smith, SCBWI CenCal News Liaison

Karen Jameson is the author of Moon Babies, illustrated by Amy Hevron (Putnam, 2019). Her most recent book is Woodland Dreams, illustrated by Marc Boutavant (Chronicle, 2020). More stories are in the works. She was awarded the Sue Alexander Grant for the Working Writers Retreat (SCBWI-L.A.) for her lyrical picture book Woodland Dreams. Karen has retired from teaching to write full-time. She took a moment to answer some questions for the Kite Tales blog.

Continue reading →

How Does a Contest Submission Get to Be ‘Most Promising?’

11 Wednesday Nov 2020

Posted by in Central Coast, Contests & Grants, Tips and Tools, Tri-Regional News

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

by Anonymous SCBWI Contest Judge

Years ago, I’d sit among other eager writers, waiting to hear if my submission had won “Special Mention” or even better, “Most Promising.” Watching the elated winner claim their award, I’d wonder why my story didn’t capture the prize.

Now as a contest judge who’s “been there,” I hope that sharing my insights on how to take a story from good to impressive will help another aspiring writer.

Judges respond to stories that engage us. I may love some genres more than others, but when judging, I set aside personal preferences and look at the caliber of the work.

I read contest submissions multiple times to answer two key questions:

Continue reading →