15 Wednesday Nov 2023
Posted in Toot Your Horn!
Tags
board book, graphic picture book, picture book, published, publishing, SCBWI community, SCBWI members
SCBWI members’ publishing news is something to celebrate here at Kite Tales! Check out whose book is coming to a platform near you or around the world. Horn-tooting and digital high fives welcome in the comments!
08 Wednesday Nov 2023
Posted in Great News!
Tags
Alva Sachs, Caroline Arnold, Diane de Anda, R.S. Mellette, SCBWI community, SCBWI members, Sherry Shahan, Tim Cummings
SCBWI loves celebrating our members’ successes and noteworthy news, and there are many! Read on to find out who’s got something to shout about. Digital high-fives welcome in the comments!
Continue reading01 Wednesday Nov 2023
Posted in Ask an Editor, Tips and Tools
Tags
#AskanEditor, authors, Christine Van Zandt, editor, middle grade, nonfiction, novel, picture book, publishing, query letters, writing tips, YA
“Ask an Editor” is a quarterly forum wherein SCBWI members submit questions that are answered as part of our Kite Tales blog.
Hi Christine—I’ve finished the first draft of my middle-grade mystery but still have a ways to go before it’s ready for me to submit it to literary agents. When do I start writing my query letter?—Ava, Los Angeles
25 Wednesday Oct 2023
Posted in Contests & Grants, Los Angeles, Mentorship Contest
Tags
authors, Cara J. Stevens, Jeff Creely, mentorship, publishing, SCBWI community, SCBWI members, writing
by Cara J. Stevens
I’ve been a member of SCBWI since the late ’90s, when I gave a talk on writing for children via a new platform at the time: the World Wide Web. Since then, I have been involved with SCBWI on and off throughout the years as my career took me in and out of the children’s writing world.
Last year, as I did my annual check-in at the last-100-days-of-the-year mark, I looked back on the amazingly good fortune I’ve had in working with many editors and publishing mentors. As I planned ahead for the coming year, I decided to make 2023 a year of giving back to the children’s writing community. Within the course of the next one hundred days, I embarked on a journey to self-publish a guide to writing picture-perfect picture books, started a picture book writing podcast, and reconnected with SCBWI.
Continue reading18 Wednesday Oct 2023
Posted in Illustrators Day, SoCal, Writers Days
Tags
author-illustrators, authors, Betty C. Tang, Courtney Stevenson, illustrators, Laura Taylor Namey, Lauren Rille, Lisa Johnston Hancock, Lucy Hamilburg, Savannah Brooks, SCBWI community, SCBWI members, Scott Sussman, Tina Athaide
by Beverly Plass, RA SCBWI SoCal
SCBWI SoCal’s annual Fall Harvest Writers and Illustrators Day on October 7 was a big hit. The event featured speakers, critiques, pitches, first pages, contests, book signings, a portfolio table, a published book display, and a pop-up by San Marino Toy & Book Shoppe.
We started with a fun ice-breaker suggested by SCBWI member Kelly Powers—a snowball fight. People tossed balled up pieces of paper at each other—getting a lot of laughs. Afterward, each person opened their snowball to an ice-breaker question to engage with people near them.
Continue reading11 Wednesday Oct 2023
Posted in Central Coast, Community Corner, Writers' Retreat
by Ann Rousseau Smith, SCBWI CenCal News Liaison
Recharge your writing life beside the sea. Join us January 19–21, 2024. The CenCal get-away-to-write retreat will be held at the Cavalier Oceanfront Resort in San Simeon, overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Enjoy writing time, beach walks, ten-minute TED-style talks, campfire chats, and optional critique group sessions.
Continue reading04 Wednesday Oct 2023
Posted in Community Corner, SoCal, Tri-Regional News
Tags
Amin Sharif, author-illustrator, authors, Bronwen Butter Newcott, Heather Buchta, illustrators, middle grade, Nazli Tahvili, OC Children's Book Festival, picture books, SCBWI community, SCBWI events, SCBWI members, Shiho Pate, Susi Schaefer, Susie Yi, Tootie Nienow, YA
by Beverly Plass, RA SoCal SCBWI
Thousands of book-loving families flocked to the OC Children’s Book Festival at Orange Coast College on October 1. The event featured hundreds of booths as well as several on-stage presentations. SoCal SCBWI hosted a booth with its published authors, illustrators, and author-illustrators.
Continue reading27 Wednesday Sep 2023
Posted in Central Coast, PAL
by Ann Rousseau Smith, SCBWI CenCal News Liaison
Save the date: November 4, 2023!
The SCBWI Central-Coastal California Region is hosting a School Visits Workshop. Alexis O’Neill, children’s book author, writing teacher, and school visits expert will present “The Art (and Business) of School Visits: Sharing Best Practices” on Saturday, November 4, from 9:45 am to 1:30 pm. The event will be held at the Camarillo Library, 4101 Las Posas Rd, Camarillo 93016. Lunch will be provided.
Continue reading20 Wednesday Sep 2023
Posted in Central Coast, Tri-Regional News, Writers Days
Tags
Alexis O'Neill Volunteer of the Year Award, Elizabeth Kuelbs, Leanne Pankuch, middle grade, Paulina Hill, picture books, SCBWI community, SCBWI events, SCBWI members, young adult
by Ann Rousseau Smith, SCBWI CenCal News Liaison
The SCBWI Central-Coastal Region held its in-person Writers’ Day on Saturday, September 9, at the Camarillo Public Library. After an inspiring day of speakers and camaraderie, a few honors were presented, with the winners receiving free entry to next year’s Writers’ Day.
Congratulations to all the participants in the writing contest, including the winners:
Continue reading13 Wednesday Sep 2023
Tags
agents, authors, editors, Kokila, publishing, Sera Rivers, Speilburg Literary Agency, Sydnee Monday, writers
Welcome back to Meet the Faculty! In anticipation of the SCBWI-L.A. Working Writers Retreat on September 29–October 1, we’re getting to know the agents and editors who will be sharing their time and expertise at the event. This week we spoke with agent Sera Rivers and editor Sydnee Monday. Read on to discover what they look for in books and tips for making the most of the retreat!
(And if you’re inspired and would like to hear more from Sera and Sydnee, you can register for the retreat here! Registration will close at 11:59pm on Thursday, September 14.)
Continue reading
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