16 Wednesday Mar 2016
Posted in Volunteer in the Spotlight
We love our volunteers at SCBWI and couldn’t exist without them! “Volunteer Spotlight” is a great way to get to know them for yourself and learn more about what they do – and how you can volunteer. Now meet Catherine Lee, Kite Tales Illustrative Liaison:
11 Friday Mar 2016
Posted in Author's Perspective
Tags
Antonio Sacre, local, marketing, multiculturalism, parent, Spanish speaking, speaker, storyteller, UCLA, writer
Meet LA-region SCBWI member, Antonio Sacre, a storyteller and author of four children’s books. Multiculturalism is an important word in the marketplace today. In his three children’s picture books and one YA collection of stories (memoir and traditional folktales), Sacre incorporates this theme using his own mixed ethnicity.
09 Wednesday Mar 2016
Posted in Industry News
By A.J. Cosmo
Amazon offers two types of formatting options when creating books for the Kindle platform. The options allow for much different reading experiences and require different preparation before publication. It’s important to know the differences and limitations of the formats and choose one before you start work on the illustrations. Why’s that? Let me explain.
Re-Flowable Format
Re-flowable books allow users to change font sizes and even font selection at any time. It allows for links to websites, annotations, bookmarks, highlights, and more—stuff that makes an eBook different from a print book. Continue reading
09 Wednesday Mar 2016
Posted in SoCal, Tri-Regional News
by Francesca Rusackas, Regional Advisor
Happy Spring! Here in the SoCalRegion we are all looking forward to our annual Spring Retreat at the South Coast Winery Resort and Spa in Temecula. It will be held May 20 – 22. The winery gardens should be in full bloom by then.
Our guest list includes: Stacy Cantor Abrams, Executive Editorial Director of Entangled Teen; Jenne Abramawitz, Senior Editor at Scholastic; Deirdre Jones, Associate Editor, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, and Deborah Warren, Co-Founder of East West Literary Agency. Continue reading
02 Wednesday Mar 2016
Posted in LitMingles!
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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.
26 Friday Feb 2016
Posted in Agent's Perspective
Tags
agent, agents, how-to, Jane Cowen Hamilton, Michelle Zeitlin, query, query letters, social media, writing tips
I 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.
24 Wednesday Feb 2016
Posted in Illustrator's Gallery
Award-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.
17 Wednesday Feb 2016
Posted in Illustrator's Perspective
When 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.
12 Friday Feb 2016
Posted in Author's Perspective, Illustrator's Perspective
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.
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?
10 Wednesday Feb 2016
Posted in Author's Perspective
Robin 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!
