Fall Harvest Writers and Illustrators Day 2025 Brings Warmth to the Season

22 Wednesday Oct 2025

Posted by in Contests & Grants, Illustrators Day, SoCal, Tri-Regional News, Writers Days

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by Beverly Plass, SCBWI SoCal Regional Advisor

Fall Harvest Faculty (l-r): Sally Kim, Rebecca Sherman, Brian LaRossa, and Brett Duquette

Our Fall Harvest Writers and Illustrators Day at Cal State Fullerton and online was a huge success. Attendees got to hear a day full of inspiring speakers, enter writing contests and a portfolio contest, sign up for pitches and written critiques, get live feedback during First Pages, display published books, buy books from author and illustrator presenters, and participate in our daylong icebreaker bingo game.

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SCBWI CenCal Writers and Illustrators Day Winners 2025!

15 Wednesday Oct 2025

Posted by in Central Coast, Contests & Grants, Illustrators Day, Tri-Regional News, Writers Days

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by Ann Rousseau Smith, SCBWI CenCal News Liaison

The SCBWI Central-Coastal Region held its in-person Writers and Illustrators Day on Saturday, September 20, at the Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District Auditorium in Camarillo. A few honors were presented during an inspiring day of speakers and camaraderie, and a fabulous lunch.

Congratulations to all our participants in the writing and illustration contests, including our winners! Each winner receives free entry to next year’s Writers and Illustrators Day.

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Mission-Driven Editing: An Interview with Adam Blackman of Cardinal Rule Press

08 Wednesday Oct 2025

Posted by in Editor's Perspective, Los Angeles, Tri-Regional News, Writers Retreat

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by Judy Faulkner

Adam Blackman, Acquisitions Editor for Cardinal Rule Press, is on the faculty at the 2025 SCBWI-LA Working Writers Retreat

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

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Treasure Chest: October 2025

01 Wednesday Oct 2025

Posted by in Contests & Grants, Illustrators Day, PAL, Treasure Chest, Tri-Regional News, Writers Days, Writers Retreat, Writers' Retreat

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Events, Opportunities, and Resources happening now and coming soon for the Tri-Regions and beyond

Check out more resources at the end of the post!

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!

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The Poetry Match Game

24 Wednesday Sep 2025

Posted by in Poet's Perspective

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Two rounds! Two ways to play! Can you make the match? 
(Answers to both rounds at the bottom of the post)

by Paige Vinten Taylor

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Toot Your Horn!

17 Wednesday Sep 2025

Posted by in Toot Your Horn!

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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!

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Great News

10 Wednesday Sep 2025

Posted by in Great News!

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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!

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Treasure Chest: September 2025

03 Wednesday Sep 2025

Posted by in Contests & Grants, Illustrators Day, PAL, Treasure Chest, Tri-Regional News, Writers Days, Writers Retreat, Writers' Retreat

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Events, Opportunities, and Resources happening now and coming soon for the Tri-Regions and beyond

Check out more resources at the end of the post!

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.

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TODAY, August 13—Final Call for the Summer Crop of News

13 Wednesday Aug 2025

Posted by in Central Coast, Great News!, Los Angeles, SoCal, Toot Your Horn!, Tri-Regional News

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We’re Going Fishin’ … but First, a Deadline for YOU

Today (Wednesday, August 13) is the last day to submit your news for Kite Tales’ September Great News and Toot Your Horn columns.

Follow the link, fill out the forms, upload an image (no larger than 2MB), and shine some light on your recent and upcoming work and achievements. Let the community help you celebrate!

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Ask an Editor: Advice for Selling at Tables

06 Wednesday Aug 2025

Posted by in Ask an Editor, Tips and Tools

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

Hi Christine – I’m selling my book for the first time at an event. What tips can you share? I’m looking for things that have worked well for sales and that were cost-effective.

– Ellie, Pasadena

Hello Ellie – You’ll have fun! That’s one of the great things about being a kidlit author.

Authors who have been there and done that share their tips:

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