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

Posted by in Central Coast, Tri-Regional News

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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

SueAlexander

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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Thérèse Makes a Tapestry, Part 2: Author, Alexandra S. D. Hinrichs

22 Friday Jan 2016

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Today, we present Part Two of the series featuring the author and illustrator of the historical fiction children’s picture book, Thérèse Makes a Tapestry.

Alex_gettyAlexandra S. D. Hinrichs, an SCBWI member, is the author of this beautiful book. Set in the time of King Louis XIV’s reign of France (1643-1715), Thérèse’s father is a painter who travels with the king; their family lives at the Gobelins Manufactory where world-famous tapestries are made (and are still being made today!). Although women and girls are not permitted to weave, Thérèse practices at home. The book reveals how Thérèse surprises those around her.

Alexandra’s background includes historical researcher for American Girl, substitute youth services librarian, and children’s bookseller. She has two young boys. This is her debut children’s picture book.

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Thérèse Makes a Tapestry, Part 1: Illustrator, Renée Graef

20 Wednesday Jan 2016

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

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Today, we present Part One of the series featuring both the illustrator and author of the historical fiction children’s picture book, Thérèse Makes a Tapestry.

Graef_Promo_MedRenée Graef, an SCBWI member, is the illustrator of this beautiful book. Set in the time of King Louis XIV’s reign of France (1643-1715), Thérèse’s father is a painter who travels with the king; their family lives at the Gobelins Manufactory where world-famous tapestries are made (and are still being made today!). Although women and girls are not permitted to weave, Thérèse practices at home. The book reveals how Thérèse surprises those around her.

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Interview with Brenda Drake of Pitch Wars

13 Wednesday Jan 2016

Posted by in Community Corner, Great News!, Industry News

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Each quarter we try to spotlight something helpful to writers and provide them with appropriate information. This week I have an interview with BRENDA DRAKE, founder of PITCH WARS. Read on to find out more about this interactive and free service for writers.

Brenda Drake Author Photo32

Brenda Drake

 

CHRISTINE VAN ZANDT: What is Pitch Wars?

BRENDA DRAKE: Pitch Wars is a contest where published/agented authors, editors, or industry interns choose one writer each, read their entire manuscript, and help the writers to shine it up for agents. The mentors also help with their mentees’ pitches to get them ready for the agent round. Writers send applications (query and first chapter of manuscript) to the four mentors that best fit their work. The mentors then read all their applications and choose the writer they want to mentor for the next two months. Then we hold an agent round with tons of amazing agents making requests.

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LA Regional News

06 Wednesday Jan 2016

Posted by in Los Angeles, Tri-Regional News, Writers Days

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Happy New Year to all of our Los Angeles SCBWI Members from the Regional Team and Board!

This year, Writer’s Day has an exciting new format that you won’t want to miss.

On Saturday, March 12th, we will be at the beautiful Skirball Cultural Center. Registration opens January 10th. Click on this link for the full details: http://losangeles.scbwi.org/events/la-writers-day-16/.

Main Stage: In the Magnin Auditorium, there will be a morning of talks by publishing professionals and author presentations in the afternoon. Each talk will allow time for questions from you, the audience. We will also have door prizes and the Sue Alexander Service and Encouragement Award.

Some of our faculty and their presentations:

wd2016_Bowen wd2016_Stein wd2016_Ohi wd2016_LaFevers

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Illustrator’s Gallery: Angela Dominguez

23 Wednesday Dec 2015

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Writing about my busiest day now as an illustrator and author is a little tricky. In the past, it would have included teaching. For almost six years, I have taught at the Academy of Art University while pursuing my publishing career. Teaching is incredible. I’ve learned so much about the process of creating a book by explaining it to eager, enthusiastic students. However, working two full time careers at the same time, like I’m sure many of you know, is both physically and mentally draining.

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Volunteer in the Spotlight: Beth Navarro, Co-editor of Kite Tales

16 Wednesday Dec 2015

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Beth Navarro6847 100dpi copyWhen I joined SCBWI I was still a bit hardened from working the grind as an actor in Hollywood. Though it did have its good moments, acting really wore down my love for storytelling. I was desperate to find it again. I knew it was there. While working at Vroman’s bookstore I finally realized that writing for kids and teens was my medium.

The first SCBWI event I attended was LA Writer’s Day, and the warmth and support I felt from the get go was exactly what I needed (even though I’m pretty sure I didn’t speak to one person and was happy the outfit I chose matched the walls). Not long after that, the opportunity arose to become a co-editor of Kite Tales, the newsletter for the Southern California tri-regions. Continue reading →