LitMingle Minute: South Bay LitMingle

02 Wednesday Mar 2016

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Author Sheri Fink with LitMingle Member

Writers and illustrators meet on the second Thursday of every other month in Redondo Beach for the South Bay LitMingle. The local group is in its second year, resurrected by Mingle Co-Chairs, Stephanie Dreyer and Anna-Mari Lija, who are thrilled to bring together local writers and illustrators in the South Bay. Read on for more on their recent mingle with award-winning and best-selling author, Sheri Fink, and how you can join in. Non-SCBWI members are welcome to LitMingle too!

The Mingle meets at a local pre-school, Mi Casita (1603 Aviation Blvd., #107, Redondo Beach 90278), that generously allows the group to use the space for free. It is a perfect atmosphere for children’s writers and illustrators to connect with their target audience and get inspired by the child-like surroundings.

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Michelle Zeitlin and Jane Cowen Hamilton: Agent Perspective

26 Friday Feb 2016

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JaneMichelleI sat down with agents Michelle Zeitlin and Jane Cowen Hamilton of More Zap Productions and Management to talk about their new literary division, discuss why an author must know their brand, and how children’s literature fits into their multi-media, and currently acquiring, agency. I was curious how an agency that represents dancers, directors, and other specialty talent got into the literary world and what their unique platform had to offer. Turns out, a lot.

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Catherine Rayner: Illustrator’s Gallery

24 Wednesday Feb 2016

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Book_CoversAward-winning illustrator/author Catherine Rayner shares her process, projects, and illustrations in this edition of “Illustrator’s Gallery.”

I often get asked why I chose to be an illustrator. Well, I’ve always found drawing therapeutic. I was the child who secretly loved it when it rained as it meant you could stay indoors and draw. I used to draw our pets. We had a sausage dog called Wilfred and he featured in most of my pictures. The first book I ever wrote, illustrated and made was about him being naughty. My mum still has it. I was about four. I think I knew then I wanted to be an author and illustrator. But like most dreams, you don’t expect them to come true.

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Carolyn Le: Illustrator’s Perspective

17 Wednesday Feb 2016

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abby2When award-winning illustrator Carolyn Le discovered she was allergic to her medium of choice, oils, she had to explore other options. Read on to learn more about her journey into watercolor, embracing mistakes, and the technique she’s developed along the way.

 

 

 

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Creating a Newbery Honor Book, an Interview with Victoria Jamieson

12 Friday Feb 2016

Posted by in Author's Perspective, Illustrator's Perspective

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In honor of Valentine’s Day weekend, we’re going to share the love and offer our readers a chance to win Victoria Jamieson’s awesome book, Roller Girl. Post a comment through February 19, 2016, to be entered in this random drawing.

SCBWI member Victoria Jamieson shares her process for creating the Newbery Honor book, Roller Girl. This middle-grade graphic novel has scored more than a dozen accolades including New York Times best seller, Publisher’s Weekly Best Book of 2015, and an ALA Notable Children’s Book of 2016.RollerGirlSticker

Roller Girl is Jamieson’s fourth children’s book and her third publication with Dial Books, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group. Her three picture books are Bea Rocks the Flock (Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books, 2009), Olympig! (2012) and Pest in Show (2013).

CHRISTINE VAN ZANDT: Welcome! Why did you change your focus from picture books to a graphic novel?

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Robin Reul: How I Write

10 Wednesday Feb 2016

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RobinReul_coverRobin Reul has been writing stories since she was old enough to hold a pen. Though she grew up on movie sets and worked for years in the film and television industry, she ultimately decided to focus her attention on writing contemporary young adult novels. Learn “How she writes” and get some great tips to add to your own writer’s toolbox!

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Coloring Outside the Lines with Drew Daywalt

05 Friday Feb 2016

Posted by in Author's Perspective, Community Corner

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FullSizeRenderWe all love a success story. By success, I mean Drew Daywalt’s book, The Day the Crayons Quit, with over 1.1 million copies in print in 17 languages. TIME magazine named this book one of “100 Best Children’s Books of All Time.” It was on the New York Times best-seller list for 100+ weeks (No. 1 in its category for more than half that span) until recently, when bumped from this spot by its sequel, The Day the Crayons Came Home.

It gets better! This talented, amazing author is an SCBWI member who writes, lives, and raises his kids here in Los Angeles. You may have seen him on the cover of this month’s Writer’s Digest magazine.

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SCBWI Community Corner with Sarah Parker-Lee

03 Wednesday Feb 2016

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The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators is a dynamic community of professionals and aspirings. Here’s one member’s story about how SCBWI has influenced their work and connected them to publishing professionals, life-long friends, and the tools they need to share their stories with children of all ages.

SCBWI 2013 Summer Conference

SCBWI 2013 Summer Conference

My name is Sarah Parker-Lee. I joined the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators in 2013, at the suggestion of an editor from Simon and Schuster, who is also a member. She told me, if I was serious about writing for children, and I wanted publishers and agents to know it, I needed to be here. And she was right. Nothing has influenced my work more or guided me on my career path like the SCBWI.

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Central Coast Regional News

27 Wednesday Jan 2016

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by Ann Rousseau Smith, CenCal News Liaison

 

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Writer’s Retreat, January 15-17, 2016

SCBWI CenCal Announces Its First Mentor Program

The SCBWI CenCal Digital Mentorship intends to match well-published, knowledgeable local CenCal PAL members* with promising mentees to provide one-on-one writing feedback and guidance. Three mentorships will be offered in 2016: one each for picture book, middle grade, and YA.

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Picture Book Manuscript Wins Sue Alexander Grant

24 Sunday Jan 2016

Posted by in Contests & Grants, SAG

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By Marcelle Greene, LA Contest Coordinator

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Sue Alexander

After three years of favoring novels, the judges for the region’s most prestigious annual contest have awarded the Sue Alexander Grant to a picture book:

    Woodland Dreams by Karen Lyn Jameson

In rhythmic writing that is sparse and word perfect, Jameson develops a gentle repetitive call to a range of forest creatures to bed down for the night. The text is “more than a bedtime story,” judges say, “offering just enough flora and fauna to spike a young listener’s interest and to create wonderful illustration potential.” Following are the first two stanzas:

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