12 Wednesday Nov 2025
Posted in Los Angeles, Tri-Regional News, Writers Retreat
Tags
Adam Blackman, Analía Cabello, craft, Events, Jennifer Rofé, SCBWI community, SCBWI members, working writers retreat, writing
by Judy Y Faulkner
It was Halloween. Many of us came in costume. We all bared our souls. We tendered—and tended—our words. Ate, played, and laughed together. This year’s SCBWI-Los Angeles Working Writers Retreat took place from October 31–November 2, and it was a sweet treat.
29 Wednesday Oct 2025
Tags
author-illustrator, authors, awards, Charlotte and Wilbur Award for Compassion for Animals, Children's Literature Council of Southern California, CLCSC, Comic Arts LA, grants, Great News!, Highlights Foundation, ILF Encouragement Fund, illustrators, middle grade, OC Book Fair, PAL, published, SCBWI Amber Brown Grant, SCBWI Annual Winter Conference, SCBWI community, SCBWI events, SCBWI Independently Published Pre-publication Grant, SCBWI members, SCBWI Russell Freedman Award, SCBWI Spark Award, The Author's Guild, Toot Your Horn!, volunteer, Walter Awards, We Need Diverse Books, Working Writer's Retreat, workshop, young adult
OPEN NOW
Registration for the annual SCBWI 2026 Winter Conference in New York City is officially open! This weekend-long event runs from Friday, January 16, 2026, to Sunday, January 18, 2026, at the Marriott Marquis Times Square. Join us for a weekend full of industry panels, consultations, breakout sessions, and publishing house tours! Sign up now to get early bird discounts! The cost to attend does not include accommodations. For more information on booking your room, click the link here.
08 Wednesday Oct 2025
Tags
Adam Blackman, Berrie Torgan-Randall, Cardinal Rule Press, interview, Just Ducky, Lee Wind, Like That Eleanor, publishing, SCBWI community, working writers retreat, writing
by Judy Faulkner
Registration for this year’s SCBWI-LA Working Writers Retreat closes in four days, and the event is only a few weeks away. Retreat faculty member Adam Blackman is Acquisitions Editor for picture books at the Cardinal Rule Press and a freelance editorial consultant on books for all ages. In this interview, he gives Kite Tales a taste of what he brings to a retreat conversation and what he hopes attendees will bring with them and be able to take away. In conversation, Adam listens closely, smiles easily, and laughs often. He also notes, “You can put in brackets, ‘gestured with hands,’ because I speak with my hands so much. It’ll be an art note.” Hooray, an editor with no fear of art notes! This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. – JF
Continue reading01 Wednesday Oct 2025
Tags
author-illustrator, authors, awards, Charlotte and Wilbur Award for Compassion for Animals, Comic Arts LA, Enchanted Realms Book Festival, Fall Harvest, grants, Highlights Foundation, ILF Encouragement Fund, illustrators, middle grade, PAL, published, Rare Books LA, SCBWI Amber Brown Grant, SCBWI community, SCBWI events, SCBWI members, SCBWI Russell Freedman Award, The Author's Guild, volunteer, Walter Awards, We Need Diverse Books, Working Writer's Retreat, workshop, young adult
OPEN NOW
Register now for the annual SCBWI Los Angeles Working Writers Retreat 2025! This space-limited event will take place from Friday, October 31, 2025, to Sunday, November 2, 2025, at the Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino, CA. Throughout the weekend, there will be opportunities to learn from our faculty members: Editor Adam Blackman, Assistant Literary Agent Analía Cabello, Editor Matt Phipps, and Agent Moe Ferrara. Registration closes on October 12, 2025, at noon!
03 Wednesday Sep 2025
Tags
author-illustrator, authors, CenCal Writer's Day, Enchanted Realms Book Festival, Fall Harvest, Fall Into Books Fest, illustrators, Los Angeles Kids Book Festival, Los Angeles Libros Festival, middle grade, National Centre for Writing, Nikkei Children's Book Festival, PAL, published, Rare Books LA, Reedsy, SCBWI community, SCBWI events, SCBWI members, scholarship, volunteer, Working Writer's Retreat, workshop, Writer's Digest, young adult
OPEN NOW
Register for the annual SCBWI Los Angeles Working Writers Retreat 2025 today! This space-limited event will take place from Friday, October 31, 2025, to Sunday, November 2, 2025, at the Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino, CA. Throughout the weekend, there will be opportunities to learn from our on-site and remote faculty members: Editor Adam Blackman, Assistant Literary Agent Analía Cabello, Editor Matt Phipps, and Agent Moe Ferrara. Registration spots to stay on-site or commute are very limited so sign up now to avoid disappointment. We hope to see you there!
OPEN NOW
Registration for SCBWI CenCal’s 2025 Writers & Illustrators Day – CATCHING THE CREATIVE WAVE is still open! Join us at the Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District Auditorium in Camarillo on Saturday, September 20, 2025, for a wonderful opportunity to connect with writers, illustrators, and agents! This two-day event will take place in-person on Day 1 and will feature an optional online Pitchfest over Zoom on Day 2. To learn more about what’s in store, click the link here.
OPEN NOW
Grab your spot for the SCBWI SoCal 2025 Fall Harvest Writers and Illustrators Day! We have a wonderful lineup of speaker presentations, critiques, pitches, and opportunities to mingle with fellow creatives! This hybrid event will be held on October 4, 2025, at the California State University Fullerton, Titan Student Union, AND via Zoom. Attendees will have access to the videos for 30 days following the event.
30 Wednesday Apr 2025
Tags
A. Orr Fantasy Grant, AAPI Joy, Abby Feder, April Halpin Wayland, authors, Celebrating Words Arts & Literacy Festival, Coffee with the Authors, Comic Orange, Crystal Kite Award, Fall Harvest, Highlights Foundation, illustrators, Los Angeles Public Library, Mark Parsons, middle grade, PAL, published, SCBWI Alaska, SCBWI community, SCBWI events, SCBWI members, SCBWI University, Shiho Pate, Tia Chucha, UCLA Extension, Volemos Grant, web design, website, Wendelin Van Draanen, workshop, young adult
MAY 10
“Create a website that works for you, that can grow with your career, and that you are genuinely proud to share” with Abby Feder through SCBWI LA Website Build 101! Abby will be going over “how to build a strong online presence that connects with readers and parents, impresses industry professionals, and serves your unique goals.” This online class will take place on Saturday, May 10, 2025, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. PST. The cost to attend for premium members is $20, while preview members is $40. “Attendees will receive the Zoom link by email about two days before the event. This webinar will be recorded and available to participants for 30 days after the event (barring technical difficulties).”
02 Wednesday Apr 2025
Tags
Alaska Writers Guild, April Halpin Wayland, authors, Coffee with the Authors, Comic Orange, Eori Tokunaga, Fall Harvest, Great News, Highlights Foundation, illustrators, Kids Book Conference, Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Mark Parsons, mentorship, middle grade, PAL, poetry, published, SCBWI Alaska, SCBWI community, SCBWI events, SCBWI members, SCBWI University, Sherry Shahan, Shiho Pate, tabling, Toot Your Horn!, UCLA Extension, volunteer, Wendelin Van Draanen, workshop, Writing Conference of Los Angeles, young adult, zine
APRIL 9
Register to attend Writing Poetry for Children with April Halprin Wayland through UCLA Extension! “In three hours of lecture, group participation, and individual writing time, you learn the basics of writing poetry for children, play with different forms, and learn to hear children’s poetry with new ears.” This class is free to attend and will take place on April 9, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Click here to save your spot!
05 Wednesday Mar 2025
Tags
authors, Comic Orange, illustrators, Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Los Angeles Zoo, mentorship, middle grade, PAL, Paula Yoo, published, SCBWI Art Day, SCBWI community, SCBWI Don Freeman Grant, SCBWI events, SCBWI Karen Cushman Late Bloomer Award, SCBWI members, SCBWI Work-In-Progress Award, Sketch Safari, tabling, volunteer, workshop, young adult
UPDATE – EVENT NEXT WEEK! MARCH 25
Award-winning author Matthew Burgess, Caldecott Medalist Doug Salati, and three-time Caldecott Honoree Marla Frazee will join forces for Illustrating the Power of Poetry!, a conversation about collaboration, the power of poetry and the process of illustrating poems for children. This free event takes place on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, beginning at 7:00 p.m., at Once Upon a Time Bookstore, 2207 Honolulu Avenue, Montrose, CA 91020. After the conversation, the creators will be available to sign books. “This gathering would be beneficial to teachers, librarians and anyone who works with children to inspire their creativity.” For more information, visit Once Upon a Time.
OPEN NOW
Join your friends and peers at the 2025 Art Day: Illustrators and Writers Connect, SCBWI SoCal! This one-day hands-on workshop runs from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Laguna College of Art & Design on March 15, 2025. Our fun-filled day near the ocean will include warm-up exercises, “draw off and hands on activities,” as well as presentations from award-winning authors and illustrators.
OPEN NOW
Sign up today for the SCBWI-LA Sketch Safari at The LA Zoo! Pack your drawing materials and wear your comfiest walking shoes as you trek the Los Angeles Zoo with illustrator Alexander Vidal on Saturday, March 29, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The cost of registration also includes admission to the zoo. “While this is a sketch event, writers are welcome to share the fun for story inspiration!” Although the event is only two hours long, folks are more than welcome to spend the rest of the day at the zoo!
05 Wednesday Feb 2025
Tags
authors, Charlotte Huck, Comic Orange, Getty, Golden Kite Awards, Highlights Foundation, illustrators, indie-publishing, LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund, Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Los Angeles Zoo, middle grade, Next Generation Indie Book Awards, PAL, published, SCBWI Annual Winter Conference, SCBWI Art Day, SCBWI community, SCBWI events, SCBWI members, SCBWI Virtual Winter Conference, scholarship, Sketch Safari, tabling, volunteer, workshop, young adult
OPEN NOW
We are deeply saddened by the devastations that have impacted our artist friends as a result of the Palisades and Eaton fires. “The LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund (the ‘Fund’) is a pooled fund led by the J. Paul Getty Trust with support from a coalition of major arts organizations and philanthropists.” If you are in need of financial support, applications must be submitted by Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. For more information about eligibility, click the link here. If you would like to donate in support of the Fund, please go directly to the Getty’s website here.
OPEN NOW
Registration for the SCBWI-LA Sketch Safari at The LA Zoo is now open! “Join illustrator Alexander Vidal and SCBWI peers for a fantastic, in-person illustration event at the Los Angeles Zoo” on Saturday, March 29, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. “While this is a sketch event, writers are welcome to share the fun for story inspiration!” The cost of registration also includes admission to the zoo.
OPEN NOW
The in-person 2025 SCBWI Winter Conference in New York City may have passed, but it is not too late to register for the SCBWI Virtual Winter Conference 2025! “Don’t miss this chance to boost your children’s book career! Join us online for exclusive industry panels, hands-on sessions diving deep into the craft of writing and illustrating children’s books, and valuable networking with fellow creators.” The online event will take place ONLINE from February 21–22, 2025. Register today!
OPEN NOW
Register now for 2025 Art Day: Illustrators and Writers Connect, SCBWI SoCal! This one-day hands-on workshop will take place at the Laguna College of Art & Design on March 15, 2025, and feature several award-winning guest speakers! If you would like to register for written critiques, the deadline to sign up is February 13, 2025. Scholarship applications to attend Art Day 2025 are due February 27, 2025, by 10:00 p.m. Winners will be notified by March 1, 2025. For more information about the Art Day: Equity and Inclusion Scholarship, click here.
03 Friday Jan 2025
Tags
12x12, authors, CenCal Writers Retreat, Charlotte Huck, Comic Orange, Critique Day, Great News, Highlights Foundation, illustrators, indie-publishing, mentorship, National Council of Teachers of English, NCTE, Next Generation Indie Book Awards, PAL, published, SCBWI Annual Winter Conference, SCBWI community, SCBWI events, SCBWI members, scholarship, theater, Theater Camp, Toot Your Horn!, virtual critique, workshop
OPEN NOW
Make sure you register for the in-person 2025 SCBWI Winter Conference in New York City and book your stay soon! “Special rates of $215 per night (plus tax) are available for attendees on single and double rooms. A limited number of rooms are available at this rate up until January 6, 2025.” Click here to learn more! For those who are unable to attend the in-person conference in New York City, the Virtual Winter Conference 2025 will be taking place February 21–22, 2025.
OPEN NOW
Join us at the beautiful Laguna College of Art & Design on March 15, 2025 for 2025 Art Day: Illustrators and Writers Connect, SCBWI SoCal! This “one day hand-so workshop for illustrators, picture book writers, graphic novelists and author-illustrators” will include “presentations, interactive activities and off-site written critiques.” Registration is now open so click here to sign up!
OPEN NOW
Register for the 2025 SCBWI SoCal Tahquitz MG-YA Writers Retreat! This “four-day small-group intensive writer retreat” will take place from May 1, 2025 to May 4, 2025 in Idyllwild-Pine Cove. “You’ll be able to hone your craft and polish your manuscript with the guidance of industry professionals.” Spots are going very quickly so sign up today!
Kite Tales 