‘Hippy Holidays’ from SCBWI-Los Angeles!
25 Wednesday Dec 2019
Posted in Los Angeles
Holiday Wishes from SCBWI Cen-Cal!
20 Friday Dec 2019
Posted in Central Coast
Image by Laura-Susan Thomas.
Finding Confidence at Illustrators Day
18 Wednesday Dec 2019
Posted in Illustrator's Perspective
Tags
Christy Tugeau Ewers, illustrators, Illustrators Day, Joe Cepeda, Lauren Rille, Lisa Saint, Marla Frazee, SCBWI events
by Lisa Saint
THE DREAM
For over twenty years I have been a fine art painter, card designer, and have taught book making classes for children. But my deepest desire has been to write and illustrate children’s books. I’ve attended SCBWI conferences, workshops, and retreats – and created some nice, even well-received work. But that’s where it all stops. Jobs, family, friends, and numerous commitments continually take up my time and attention. Year after year. The sad revelation is that this pattern could go on forever.
When the most recent Illustrators Day was announced, I made a pledge to commit to my dream. I registered for the one-day conference. Gathering my 10 strongest illustrations for a mail-in portfolio review, I sent them off to be critiqued by an industry professional. Continue reading
Why Enter the 2020 Writers Day Contest? Why Not?!
11 Wednesday Dec 2019
Posted in Contests & Grants, Writers Days
Tags
awards, contests, middle grade, picture books, published, SCBWI community, SCBWI events, young adult
by Karol Ruth Silverstein, SCBWI-L.A. Contest Coordinator
2019 Picture Book category winner Sue Schmitt. (Photo by India Schmitt)
The SCBWI-L.A. annual Writers Day will be held March 28, 2020 and, as usual, there will be a manuscript contest open to all who register for the event. Whether you’ll be attending the event for the first time or you’ve been to so many Writers Days you’ve lost count, entering the contest is a fun and valuable part of the experience.
Submissions will be accepted in four categories—Picture Book, Middle Grade novel, Young Adult novel and Other (which includes non-fiction and poetry). Instructions for entering will be included on the 2020 Writers Day event information page. The contest opens as soon as registration goes live, which will be sometime in December. Winners receive a free written critique from one of the Writers Day faculty members PLUS free tuition to Writers Day 2021 (or equivalent).
In recent years, the Writers Day contest has been particularly prescient when it comes to recognizing promising work. Continue reading
Ask an Editor: Is Querying an Agent Different Than Querying a Publisher?
04 Wednesday Dec 2019
Posted in Ask an Editor
Tags
“Ask an Editor” is a forum wherein SCBWI members submit questions that are answered as part of our quarterly Kite Tales blog.
Dear Editor – I’m getting ready to query my book for the first time and am confused. Do I query an agent or a publisher?
—Jackson, Los Angeles
Dear Jackson – Congratulations on having finished a manuscript! To pursue traditional publication, a writer “queries” (sends a query letter to) a literary agent or a book publisher. At a publishing house, it may be the acquisitions editor’s job to find new talent so, sometimes, you will hear a writer saying they “queried an editor”—this is essentially the same as querying the publisher. Whether you choose to query an agent or publisher, check online submissions specifications to see whether they are accepting queries and, if they are, how to do so. Continue reading
Toot Your Horn!
27 Wednesday Nov 2019
Posted in Toot Your Horn!
SCBWI members’ publishing news is something to celebrate here atKite Tales! Check out whose book is coming to a platform near you or around the world. Horn-tooting and digital hi-fives welcome in the comments! Continue reading
SCBWI CenCal Writers’ Day 2019: What’s Next?
22 Friday Nov 2019
Posted in Central Coast, Tips and Tools, Writers Days
Tags
Alexis O'Neill Volunteer of the Year, Carol Heyer Mentorshihp, CenCal Writer's Day, Charlotte Wenger, Illustration awards, Karen Jameson, Kari Sutherland, Karol Ruth Silverstein, middle grade, Nikki Barthelmess, Rachael Stein
by Ann Rousseau Smith, SCBWI CenCal News Liaison
After numerous wildfires and road closure scares, we had a lovely, informative, and inspiring Writers’ Day on Saturday, October 12. Faculty included Kari Sutherland from the Bradford Literary Agency, Charlotte Wenger with Prospect Agency, and Rachael Stein, editor at Sterling Children’s Books. We also heard emotion-filled, inspiring speeches from three spotlight speakers: Nikki Barthelmess, Karen Jameson, and Karol Ruth Silverstein. After speeches, first page panels, and a writing contest, what’s the next step or steps a conference attendee might pursue? Continue reading
Interview with Middle-Grade Author M.G. Hennessey
20 Wednesday Nov 2019
Posted in Author's Perspective, Tips and Tools
Tags
author, Author Tips, child welfare, foster kids, M.G. Hennessey, middle grade, novel, published, The Echo Park Castaways, The Other Boy
Local author and SCBWI member M.G. Hennessey’s new middle-grade book, The Echo Park Castaways, addresses LA’s child-welfare system. The four main characters share the same foster-care home and the story is told from three viewpoints.
CHRISTINE VAN ZANDT: Welcome to Kite Tales! This is such an important topic but you convey the issues in a way a middle-grade reader can understand. Did you write it in an alternating fashion as it’s published, or did you write each character’s piece separately?
What Are Kids Reading? Here’s What They Wish We’d Write
15 Friday Nov 2019
Posted in Industry Conferences, Tips and Tools
by R. S. Mellette
On the last morning of the 2019 Los Angeles Comic Con, Sarah Parker-Lee saved the day. She handed out fliers to every kid in sight, begging them to attend our panel, “What Are Kids Reading? What Do You Wish We’d Write?”
Out of fifty or so invited, four kids showed up, along with a handful of adults. A fifth kid had to come because she was a friend of Andrea J. Loney, who was on the panel. The idea was, we authors would switch places with kids in the audience, to make them the panelist. If no kids showed up, I didn’t have a B-plan – so hats off to Sarah!
Once we had the bright, talkative, reading, kids on the panel, everyone knew we had to share their thoughts with Kite Tales readers. So, what are kids reading? What do they wish we’d write? Continue reading
Finding An Audience at L.A. Comic Con
13 Wednesday Nov 2019
Posted in Industry Conferences, PAL
Tags
Chris Robertson, conferences, Elisa Parhad, illustrators, Kelly McNeil, LA Comic Con, Rosalind Barden, SCBWI PAL, SCBWI Panel, Sue Berger
by Chris Robertson
Spiderman… Batman… Superman… Elephant and Piggy…Paddington Bear…The Very Hungry Caterpillar? What the…?
You may think that kid-lit does not have a place at L.A. Comic Con, right? Well, maybe 10 – 20 years ago you would’ve been right. But now, given the overwhelming popularity of Comic Cons, there certainly is a place for kid-lit authors and illustrators.
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