Interview with Laura Hunt, Winner of 2023 Twitter Banner Contest

28 Wednesday Jun 2023

Posted by in Community Corner, Contests & Grants, Illustrator's Gallery, Twitter Banner Contest

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Author-Illustrator Laura Hunt

In SCBWI-L.A.’s latest Twitter Banner Contest, illustrators were asked to submit their most creative response to our prompt: KITE NIGHT. The winning contestant’s artwork is featured on the Los Angeles Region SCBWI Twitter profile until the next contest, with a feature article published here on Kite Tales.

We’re excited to announce Laura Hunt as our winner! Laura is an author-illustrator who grew up in Connecticut and now resides in Los Angeles with her college sweetheart, young son, and old Yorkie. Her dummy received an honorable mention from PB Party 2023. Her comedy writing background includes writing sketches on a house team for the Upright Citizens Brigade, and her work has been featured on Funny or Die and HuffPost.

Read on to learn more about Laura, her tools and tips, and what inspires her work.

Continue reading →

CenCal SCBWI Members Win CLA’s Beatty Award

21 Wednesday Jun 2023

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

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,

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 →

Write for Kite Tales!

14 Wednesday Jun 2023

Posted by in Community Corner, Great News!, Toot Your Horn!

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

Be heard.

Whether you’re a PAL member, independently published, or pre-published, Kite Tales wants your stories about your experiences in kid lit. Writers, illustrators, translators, editors, publishers, agents, teachers, librarians, and more welcome!

Continue reading →

Toot Your Horn!

07 Wednesday Jun 2023

Posted by in Toot Your Horn!

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

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!

Continue reading →

Great News

31 Wednesday May 2023

Posted by in Community Corner, Great News!

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

,

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 reading →

Here’s a Secret About Diverse Books

24 Wednesday May 2023

Posted by in Author's Perspective, Industry News

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

by Philana Marie Boles

Philana Marie Boles

Since its inception in 2014, I have applauded the refreshing “We Need Diverse Books” initiative. Yet internally, as a multi-published author, I’ve also whimpered a weary cry whenever I see those words. I’ve wanted to remind anyone who will listen, “But we’re here. We’ve always been here. Diverse books just need to be seen and supported.”

Continue reading →

Ask an Editor: Writing Nonfiction

17 Wednesday May 2023

Posted by in Ask an Editor, Tips and Tools

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , ,

“Ask an Editor” is a forum wherein SCBWI members submit questions that are answered quarterly as part of our Kite Tales blog.

Hi Christine–Since you write nonfiction, are you an expert on those topics? How much does an author need to know to write nonfiction and get it published?—Gen, Pasadena

Continue reading →

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

10 Wednesday May 2023

Posted by in Industry Conferences, Industry News, Los Angeles, PAL, SoCal

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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 →

Navigating Your First Picture Book Writing Journey, Part 2

03 Wednesday May 2023

Posted by in Author's Perspective, Editor's Perspective, Tips and Tools

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , ,

by Cara J. Stevens

Part 2: 7 Self-editing checkpoints to take your manuscript from first draft to ready for submission

**Note: This is the second in a two-part series. To read part one, click here.**

My first post covered storytelling basics to get you to a solid first draft. Once your manuscript is complete, however, it’s far from finished!

Here are seven checkpoints to guide you once you’re ready to edit.

Continue reading →

Navigating Your First Picture Book Writing Journey

26 Wednesday Apr 2023

Posted by in Author's Perspective, Editor's Perspective, Tips and Tools

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , ,

by Cara J. Stevens

Part 1: From idea to first draft

The first time I submitted a manuscript, it was rejected within 24 hours. “This story is more instructional than engaging,” the editor said, and went on to suggest that it would make a great article. I was dismayed and confused. I thought I had written a story that hit all the notes of a good picture book. I wondered where I had gone wrong.

I reached out to a colleague who used to be a children’s book agent. “Your main character has no agency,” he pointed out. “If your main character has a problem and someone else solves it, then he’s not really your main character.” My mind was sufficiently blown. As soon as he said it, I saw it so clearly! After a lifetime of reading and exploring picture books, how could I have missed that?

Continue reading →