SCBWI SoCal Fall Harvest Writers and Illustrators Day

12 Wednesday Jul 2023

Posted by Judy Y Faulkner in Community Corner, Illustrators Day, SoCal, Tri-Regional News, Writers Days

Tags

agents, authors, editors, illustrators, Laura Taylor Namey, Lauren Rille, Lisa Johnston Hancock, Lucy Hamilburg, Megan Ilnitzki, Reggie Brown, Savannah Brooks, SCBWI community, SCBWI members, SCBWI SoCal, Scott Sussman, Tina Athaide, Writers & Illustrators Day

by Beverly Plass, RA SoCal SCBWI

*An amazing faculty will present to in-person and Zoom attendees of the SCBWI SoCal Fall Harvest* conference, Saturday, October 7.

Join SCBWI SoCal at Cal State University Fullerton or on Zoom on October 7, to learn about craft and book publishing, connect with professionals in the industry, and mingle with other SCBWI attendees.

SoCal’s FALL HARVEST WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS DAY will take place Saturday, October 7, 2023, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. You can attend in-person at California State University, Fullerton OR participate via Zoom. Lunch is provided for in-person attendees.

Continue reading →

SCBWI CenCal Writer’s Day 2023

05 Wednesday Jul 2023

Posted by Michelle Lin in Central Coast, Community Corner, Illustrators Day, Tri-Regional News, Writers Days

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

authors, CenCal Writer's Day, editors, illustrators, Jaime Zollars, Jen Rofe, Karen Jameson, Kitty Donohoe, Lin Oliver, Melissa Manlove, Mona Alvarado Frazier, Patrice Karst, SCBWI community, SCBWI members

by Ann Rousseau Smith, SCBWI CenCal News Liaison

*The Camarillo Public Library will host CenCal’s 2023 Writer’s Day* *on September 9*.

Join SCBWI CenCal for Writer’s Day 2023!

WRITER’S DAY: SPARK THE FIRE WITHIN is a two-day event this year. The first day is in-person at a new location, the Camarillo Library, on Saturday, September 9. Doors open at 8:45 am, coffee and pastries for early arrivers. Event begins at 9:30 am and ends at 3:30 pm. Lunch will be provided.

Day One includes writing contests, written critiques, first lines feedback, 4-corners critique meet-up, door prizes, book sales, and a tour of the Camarillo Library Children’s Room, aka the Pirate Ship.

Continue reading →

CenCal SCBWI Members Win CLA’s Beatty Award

21 Wednesday Jun 2023

Posted by Michelle Lin in Central Coast, Industry Conferences, Industry News, Tri-Regional News

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Beatty Award, California Library Association, Lisa Kerr, Mark H. Parsons, Peach Rebellion, SCBWI members, Wake Sleepy One, Wendelin Van Draanen

by Mark H. Parsons

*Wendelin Van Draanen (left) and Lisa Kerr (right) at the 2023 CLA Awards in Sacramento.*

The California Library Association awarded this year’s prestigious John and Patricia Beatty Awards (“The Beatty”) to two CenCal SCBWI members.

Founded in 1989, the Beatty annually honors the creator of “a distinguished book for children or young adults that best promotes an awareness of California and its people.” The winners are selected by a committee of children’s librarians from throughout California.

Continue reading →

SCBWI Serves Up A Slice of Literary Camaraderie at Booth #826

10 Wednesday May 2023

Posted by Judy Y Faulkner in Industry Conferences, Industry News, Los Angeles, PAL, SoCal

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Annelouise Mahoney, authors, C.K. Malone, Caroline L. Perry, Glenda Armand, Heather Buchta, illustrators, Janie Emaus, Jennifer Pitts, LATFoB, Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Molly Ruttan, PAL events, published, R.S. Mellette, SCBWI community, SCBWI members, Tina Athaide, writing

by Annelouise Mahoney

Saturday morning booth exhibitors (l-r) Glenda Armand, R.S. Mellette, Annelouise Mahoney, and Janie Emaus get a thumbs-up from SCBWI-L.A. volunteer Jennifer Pitts (r) as they all prepare to greet festival-goers.

The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books is an annual tradition of literary wonder. It’s the Coachella of book festivals, the largest in the country.

This year, as they do each year, the SCBWI Los Angeles chapter extended an invitation for its PAL members to sell and sign their books at a festival booth. SCBWI SoCal joined the L.A. chapter at the festival for the first time ever, sharing Booth #826. PAL members of the two regions who signed up could choose a two or three-hour time slot for either Saturday or Sunday of the event.

Continue reading →

Down On The Corner At The L.A. Times Festival of Books

14 Friday Apr 2023

Posted by Judy Y Faulkner in Industry Conferences, Industry News, Los Angeles, PAL, SoCal

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

authors, illustrators, LATFoB, Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, PAL events, published, R.S. Mellette, SCBWI community, SCBWI members, writing

by R.S. Mellette

The L.A. Times Festival of Books is back in person—and as in prior years, friendly SCBWI members will be there to welcome you to the event.

Like James Brown said, it’s time to “Get up offa that thing.”

If you are reading this, chances are you are an SCBWI member, quite possibly in Southern California. That means you’re interested enough in writing and/or illustrating books that you’re willing to pay dues, go to mingles, take workshops, and generally give of your time and money to improve your craft. On Saturday and Sunday, April 22 and 23, you will have that opportunity at the largest book festival in the country, the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.

Much of this event is FREE, and SCBWI will be there to make you feel welcome.

Continue reading →

Springing Forward with Kite Tales!

05 Wednesday Apr 2023

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

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

SCBWI community, SCBWI members, volunteering, volunteers

by Judy Faulkner and Michelle Lin, Kite Tales Co-Managing Editors

The seasons are changing—at Kite Tales, too.

Jessica Chrysler and Noel Csermak, two stalwart SCBWI Tri-Region volunteers, have recently stepped away from their respective long-time roles as KT’s managing editor and proofreader. If you’ve enjoyed the blog in recent years (as we know so many of you have!), they are two major reasons why.

Continue reading →

Let’s Get Rhyming!

29 Wednesday Mar 2023

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

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

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.

Continue reading →

Always Go to the Workshops

15 Wednesday Mar 2023

Posted by Judy Y Faulkner in Author's Perspective, Industry Conferences, Los Angeles, PAL, Tips and Tools

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

authors, craft, Creative Toolbox, Henry Lien, publishing, R.S. Mellette, SCBWI community, SCBWI members, writing

by R.S. Mellette

Warm-up for the workshop’s “hawt” writing tips includes homemade cookies and hot coffee.

Before attending Henry Lien’s Creative Toolbox Workshop in January, I wasn’t much of a workshop person. I’ve got a theatre (with an “re”) degree. I’ve studied all the great playwrights from the inside out—meaning I’ve played their characters, and there is no better teacher about what works and what doesn’t than a live audience. I have written screenplays. I’ve won awards for TV and film. I have books published with glowing reviews. I have earned my snobbish attitude!

But I’ve also been locked inside for two years, like the rest of us, so any chance to see another person face-to-face is a joy these days. Also, I know Henry. Author of the Peasprout Chen middle grade fantasy/adventure series, he sat on a panel I put together for L.A. Comic Con. He’s a really nice guy, so I should go wave the flag of the SCBWI-L.A. board, right?

Fine. I went.

Continue reading →

An Interview with Karen Jameson, Picture Book Author

01 Wednesday Feb 2023

Posted by Michelle Lin in Author's Perspective, Central Coast

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

A Llama is not an Alpaca, authors, Karen Jameson, Moon Babies, picture books, rhyming, Time to Shine, Where the Wee Ones Go, Woodland Dreams

by Ann Rousseau Smith, SCBWI CenCal News Liaison

After publishing a couple of picture books, Karen Jameson retired from teaching and became a full-time author. Karen Jameson’s books include Moon Babies, illustrated by Amy Hevron (Putnam, 2019); Woodland Dreams, illustrated by Marc Boutavant (Chronicle, 2020); and Farm Lullaby, illustrated by Wednesday Kirwan. Woodland Dreams is a Keystone to Reading List Award winner and is included on Bank Street’s The Best Children’s Books of the Year List 2021.

Two more books came out last year: Where the Wee Ones Go: A Bedtime Wish for Endangered Animals, illustrated by Zosienka (Chronicle, April 2022), and Time to Shine: Celebrating the World’s Iridescent Animals, illustrated by Dave Murray (Groundwood, May 2022). Karen has books coming out in 2023 and 2024.

It’s been two years since Kite Tales interviewed her. It’s time to check in!

Continue reading →

Disability Inclusion 101: Five Tips for Writing Disability “Right”

18 Wednesday Jan 2023

Posted by Judy Y Faulkner in Author's Perspective, PAL, SoCal, Tips and Tools, Tri-Regional News

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

authors, disability, illustrators, inclusion, Karol Ruth Silverstein, publishing, SCBWI community, SCBWI events, writing tips

by Karol Ruth Silverstein

Disability is everywhere, sometimes hidden, sometimes unmistakable. Disabled people make up the largest and most diverse minority group in the world. So—yes—disability should be abundant in our children’s literature as well. But is “bad” (i.e., inaccurate, inauthentic, insensitive) representation better than no representation at all?

Continue reading →

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: