Image by Laura-Susan Thomas, SCBWI CenCal Regional Illustrator Coordinator.
Happy Holidays from SCBWI Cen-Cal!
17 Friday Dec 2021
Posted in Central Coast
Category Archives: Central Coast
SCBWI CenCal Writers’ Day 2021: The Winners Are…!
24 Wednesday Nov 2021
Posted in Central Coast, Tri-Regional News, Writers Days
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 readingSCBWI CenCal’s Bounce Back Writers’ Retreat
13 Wednesday Oct 2021
Posted in Central Coast, Tri-Regional News, Writers' Retreat
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.
Save the Date! Cen-Cal Writers’ Day 2021
14 Wednesday Jul 2021
Posted in Central Coast, Writers Days
Tags
Annelouise Mahoney, CenCal Writer's Day, critiques, Jamie Emaus, Kristen Nordstrom, SCBWI events, writing contest
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 readingAn Interview with STEM Author, Kristen Nordstrom
28 Wednesday Apr 2021
Posted in Author's Perspective, Central Coast, Tri-Regional News
Tags
Biomimicry, CenCal, Eiji Nakatsu, interview, Kristen Nordstrom, Mimic Makers, nonfiction, Paul Boston, STEAM, STEM
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 readingAn Interview with Karen Jameson, Picture Book Author
27 Wednesday Jan 2021
Posted in Author's Perspective, Central Coast, Tri-Regional News
Tags
interview, Karen Jameson, Kathleen Rushall, manuscript research, Marc Boutavant, Moon Babies, MSWL, picture books, Woodland Dreams
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.
Happy Holidays from SCBWI Cen-Cal!
16 Wednesday Dec 2020
Posted in Central Coast
How Does a Contest Submission Get to Be ‘Most Promising?’
11 Wednesday Nov 2020
Posted in Central Coast, Contests & Grants, Tips and Tools, Tri-Regional News
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:
SCBWI CenCal Writers’ Day 2020: The Winners Are…!
04 Wednesday Nov 2020
Posted in Central Coast, Tri-Regional News, Writers Days
by Ann Rousseau Smith, SCBWI CenCal News Liaison
This year’s Writers’ Day consisted of three separate webinars. On Saturday, September 26, after a fabulous presentation by Erin Siu, associate editor at Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group’s imprints, Square Fish, and Feiwel & Friends, the winners of our writing contest were announced.
Thank you to all our anonymous judges, who were chosen from outside our region. The judges’ comments are included in the list of honorees below. Most Promising will receive free entry to next year’s CenCal Writers’ Day. Special Mention will receive half-off Writers’ Day admission.
Congratulations to all our contest participants, including our winners!
Hope in the Mail: An Interview with Wendelin Van Draanen
14 Wednesday Oct 2020
Posted in Author's Perspective, Central Coast
Tags
fiction, Flipped, Hope In The Mail, inspiration, interview, nonfiction, Sammy Keyes, Wendlin Van Draanen, Writing Life
by Ann Rousseau Smith, SCBWI CenCal News Liaison
Wendelin Van Draanen, a member of the SCBWI Central-Coastal California region, has written more than thirty novels for young readers and teens. She is the author of the 18-book Edgar-winning Sammy Keyes series, and wrote Flipped, which was named a Top 100 Children’s Novel for the 21st Century by SLJ, and became a Rob Reiner directed Warner Brothers feature film.
Her first non-fiction book, Hope in the Mail: Reflections on Writing and Life, is part memoir, part writing guide, and part publishing insight.
ANN ROUSSEAU SMITH: Congratulations on your newest book Hope in the Mail: Reflections on Writing and Life! You have written many novels, why a non-fiction book, why now?
