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SketchCrawl at the Santa Barbara Zoo
June 7, 2015
Creative individuals met for a day of sketching, writing, and sharing.
Central Coast Regional News
14 Wednesday Oct 2015
Posted in Central Coast
SoCal Regional News
02 Friday Oct 2015
Posted in SoCal
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It’s hard to believe that autumn is here! That means that Editor’s Day 2015 is right around the corner. It will be held at the Titan Theater, California State University Fullerton (located inside the Titan Student Union) on Saturday, October 3.
Our wonderful editorial speakers include: Erica Finkel – Editor at Abrams Books, Taylor Norman – Assistant Editor at Chronicle Books, Becky Shapiro – Associate Editor at Scholastic Books, Jeffrey Salane – Editorial Director of Little Simon – Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division and Kristine Brogno – Children’s Design Director at Chronicle Books. They will be joined by our terrific local talent: Jennifer Grey Olson, Spotlight Author/Illustrator, Henry L. Herz, Spotlight Author and Rodolfo Montalvo, Spotlight Illustrator. The delightful Sara Sciuto of Fuse Literary Agency (formerly Foreword Literary) will be joining us for panels and pitches. Our speakers will be focusing on craft so if you plan to join us be prepared to take lots of notes!
News from the Internet: Whatpad? Nope! Wattpad by Ronna Mandel
30 Wednesday Sep 2015
Posted in Industry News
Wattpad is billing itself as the world’s largest community of readers and writers by putting over 100 million stories at your fingertips. Once you go online and begin your own search on the site, you’ll understand why Wattpad is not to be ignored. It’s like an Internet potato chip for readers because you may find it impossible to stop after devouring just one story. I know because that’s what happened to me. Fortunately it’s fat-free!
I asked Catherine Linka, author of A Girl Called Fearless and its sequel, A Girl Undone, to give us the inside scoop on this popular online community. She dove into Wattpad waters way before many other authors, and her experience might encourage you to take a dip.
Poet’s Perspective: Poetry Month Revisited by Briana Pullen
23 Wednesday Sep 2015
Posted in Poet's Perspective
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April is a month of transition, either by finishing up your taxes or enjoying more daylight hours. It is a month which brightens up the disappearing dimness and provides us all with a nourishing chance to renew (or try again)… April is Poetry month, which snuck up on me this year again.
Aspirations and resolutions are given a moment to be checked into or revised. What time would be better matched with poetry than the vibrant month of April? Amidst refreshing showers this rebirth (or renewal) thrives. I sampled a foretaste of this renewal when Redondo Beach Public Library invited poets to read their work on a podcast in preparation for Poetry month. Waiting outside with other poets, listening to them rehearse, I revisited my own work, as well.
Volunteer in the Spotlight: Maggie Grinnell, Co-editor of SCBWI Kite Tales
16 Wednesday Sep 2015
Posted in Volunteer in the Spotlight
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I knew I wanted to be a writer when I was in college, but the aspiration really started when I was little, making up stories in the backyard making mud pies.
After college, I wanted to be a part of a writing family. I didn’t find this family until SCBWI came along.
I work as an emergency room clerk. Sometimes my job is stressful but I always find the time to write.
I use to write suspense stories along the lines of Mary Higgins Clark. But I found my voice along with my inner child and began writing children’s picture books.
I am a co-editor of Kite Tales.
Great News! & Classes
09 Wednesday Sep 2015
Posted in Great News!, Industry News
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Kite Tales loves to celebrate our SCBWI members. Congratulations to all listed below!
GREAT NEWS
Christine Brallier’s picture book illustrations have been featured on Julie Danielson’s blog, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast (http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings/?p=3610). Christine is a stained glass mosaic artist and the post shows the mosaic process in detail, from first sketch to final artwork. She was also recently interviewed by Kathy Temean on her blog, Writing and Illustrating (https://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2015/01/10/illustrator-saturday-christine-brallier/), and her illustrated book, The Night Before Christmas, was featured at Fuse #8 Productions where Betsy Bird said it was “one of the most beautiful Christmas children’s books I’ve ever seen.” Wonderful press for a self published book!
How I Write: Edith Cohen, author of Spirit’s Key
02 Wednesday Sep 2015
Posted in Author's Perspective
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How long have you been an SCBWI member?
10 years
What do you write?
I write middle grade novels. My first published novel is a middle grade mystery fantasy. I’m currently working on a middle grade contemporary.
Agent’s Perspective: A spotlight on three agents at the SCBWI Summer Conference By Clare Di Liscia Baird and Beth Navarro
28 Friday Aug 2015
Posted in Agent's Perspective
Tags
agents, Alexandra Penfold, Barry Goldblatt, Brenda Bowen, conferences, SCBWI events, SCBWI members
The 2015 SCBWI Summer conference had an impressive line-up of agents including Alexandra Penfold, Barry Goldblatt and Brenda Bowen. There is a good amount of information out there answering questions about how to get an agent and how to write a fabulous (the ever elusive and tricky) query letter, but much less talked about is what happens once an agent’s interest is piqued. We wanted insider information on how these top of the line agents work with potential clients. They were kind enough to take time out of their busy conference schedules to talk with us.
SCBWI Summer Conference By Julia Markovich
26 Wednesday Aug 2015
Posted in SCBWI Summer Conference
“In Reverence of Resonance”
At the 44th Annual SCBWI Summer Conference, the esteemed Mem Fox, Queen of children’s storybooks, told us that there are really only two themes in all of literature: the “Quest” and the “Stranger Comes to Town.” As a first-time conference goer, I certainly felt like the ‘stranger come to town’ as I navigated my way through the biggest Summer Conference to date – a whopping 1,173 people attending from 19 countries (including France, Japan, Spain and Bangladesh!) and 48 states represented. But with over 400 “pre-published” new attendees just like me, I knew I wouldn’t be alone for long.
Schmooze Spotlight: San Fernando Valley Schmooze
19 Wednesday Aug 2015
Posted in LitMingles!
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Writing means sharing. It’s part of the human condition to want to share things – thoughts, ideas, opinions. ~ Paulo Coelho
Sherman Oaks Library
On the fourth Monday of the month co-coordinators Karen Sampson and Jennifer S. Pitts gather together with a friendly group of writers and illustrators at the Sherman Oaks Library, in the heart of the beautiful San Fernando Valley. Their goal is to help Schmoozers assuage the solitary art of writing and illustrating while fulfilling their natural human desire to share.
