SCBWI CenCal Writers and Illustrators Day 2025

25 Wednesday Jun 2025

Posted by in Central Coast, Tri-Regional News, Writers' Retreat

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by Ann Rousseau Smith, SCBWI CenCal News Liaison

Join us for Writers and Illustrators Day 2025!

CATCH THE CREATIVE WAVE will be Saturday, September 20, 2025, at the Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District Auditorium, 1605 E. Burnley Street in Camarillo (same as last year). Lunch is provided. In addition to our speakers and first pages panel, we’ll be offering written critiques, writing contests, prizes, and a chance to mingle with other writers and illustrators. There will be an optional pitchfest the following day on Sunday, September 21, 2025, online.

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TATE Turns One: A First Anniversary Debut Book Interview with Jenny Turnbull

18 Wednesday Jun 2025

Posted by in Author's Perspective, SoCal Voices

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by Kelly Pellico

Kelly Pellico: Jenny, welcome to Kite Tales and congratulations on the one-year anniversary of your debut picture book, Tate’s Wild Rescue!

Jenny Turnbull: Thank you, Kelly. It’s exciting to be here celebrating Tate‘s first book birthday!

KP: What was the initial spark for this story?

JT: Tate’s story is rooted in my lifelong love of animals and feeling wild animals are happiest free in the wild where they can thrive, while companion animals deserve the love and comforts of home. Commitment to our furry family members, and animal welfare, has always been so important to me. 

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Announcing the 2025 SCBWI-L.A. Mentorship Contest Winner!

11 Wednesday Jun 2025

Posted by in Contests & Grants, Los Angeles, Mentorship Contest, Tri-Regional News

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In March, we invited writers to apply for a six-month mentorship with one of our Published and Listed members, and we received a record number of entries! This year’s mentor, Sherry Shahan, joins us to announce the winner and discuss her selection process.

by Sherry Shahan

What a pleasure to spend time with this year’s mentee submissions, written by accomplished playwrights and actors, teachers, artists, music lovers, well-published poets, and other creators. While genres and approaches differed, each writer presented realistic characters with heartfelt desires. Their unique personalities shined through. Stepping into their characters’ worlds at the beginning of their transformations was a remarkable, emotional experience.

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Treasure Chest: June 2025

04 Wednesday Jun 2025

Posted by in Contests & Grants, PAL, SCBWI Summer Conference, Treasure Chest, Tri-Regional News

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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
Vote now for your favorite books from each of the 15 Crystal Kite divisions for the 2025 SCBWI Crystal Kite Awards! The Crystal Kite Awards are a “peer-given award to recognize great books published in 2024 from fifteen SCBWI regional divisions around the world.” The first round of voting will last until June 16, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. (UTC-7). The second round of voting starts June 17, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. and ends June 30, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. (UTC-7).

OPEN NOW
Registration for the SCBWI Virtual Summer Conference 2025 is now open! “Dive into every aspect of the children’s book world, from writing and illustrating and translating, marketing, and self-publishing” at this four-day-long event! Folks who register will have access to all 50+ sessions up until September 14, 2025. SCBWI members who sign up prior to June 25, 2025, will receive an early bird rate of $175. Nonmembers who sign up before June 25, 2025, will receive an early bird rate of $275. Click here to register today!

Illustration by Liz Brizzi

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Toot Your Horn!

28 Wednesday May 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

21 Wednesday May 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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Ask an Editor: When to Announce?

14 Wednesday May 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 – My book deal has been announced on Publisher’s Weekly but I don’t have an ISBN, exact publication date, or a cover image yet. When should I announce it myself?

– Carrie, Los Angeles

Hello Carrie – Congratulations! It’s exciting seeing the PW announcement—now the world knows! You don’t need to wait for an ISBN or the book cover. In fact, even if you have the book cover, you can use that at a later date as a “book-cover reveal” announcement.

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Storm Clouds and Sunny Spirits at LA Times Festival of Books

07 Wednesday May 2025

Posted by in Industry Conferences, Los Angeles, PAL, SoCal, Tri-Regional News

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by Jennifer S. Pitts

“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”

Though originally a tribute to the ancient Persian royal couriers, this enduring phrase also perfectly captures the spirit of SCBWI’s LA and SoCal PAL members, who braved unpredictable weather to complete their own “appointed rounds” at the 2025 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.

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Treasure Chest: May 2025

30 Wednesday Apr 2025

Posted by in Contests & Grants, PAL, Treasure Chest, Tri-Regional News, 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!

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).”

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Very Necessary: An Interview with Ellen Hopkins

23 Wednesday Apr 2025

Posted by in Author's Perspective

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by Philana Marie Boles

Author Ellen Hopkins

Introduction

Ellen Hopkins is a New York Times best-selling and multi-award-winning author, a celebrated literary force whose courageous storytelling has enthralled readers like me for over two decades. She is perhaps best known for her raw and poignant novels written in verse. The real-life challenges of being a mother prompted the first of these, Crank, inspired by her now-recovered daughter’s struggles with an addiction to crystal methamphetamine and a consequent stint in prison.

Following the success of Crank, Hopkins has gone on to author more than a dozen acclaimed novels in unabashed verse. She has tackled subjects ranging from drugs to mental health to abuse to sex trafficking, and most recently, the foster care system in her new novel, Sync.

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