22 Friday Apr 2016
Posted in Industry News, Tips and Tools
Tags
authors, community, illustrator tips, illustrators, middle grade, news, nonfiction, picture book, published, publishing, SCBWI events, SCBWI members, volunteers, writer, YA
How do you get 150,000 dedicated book buyers to consider your book? How do you get 50 authors and/or illustrators together to sell their work to those 150,000 eager buyers? The answer is the Los Angeles SCBWI booth at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. Continue reading
20 Wednesday Apr 2016
Posted in Tips and Tools
Tags
authors, Comics, conferences, Graphic Novels, illustrator tips, illustrators, local, middle grade, networking, picture book, publishing, SCBWI members, Wonder Con, WonderCon, writer, writing tips, YA
Do the words “comic book convention” sound scary to you? Overwhelming? Completely irrelevant to you as a children’s book author or illustrator? Think again. Even if your work isn’t “in genre,” you can still learn a lot. If you want to know what kids are into right now, or your creative juices need a boost, there’s no better place to go than a Con.
This year Wonder Con, the smaller, gentler, but just as fun little sister of the San Diego Comic Con, was held in Los Angeles. In addition to sneak peaks of superhero movies, geektastic T.V. shows, and panels about everything from new anime to the real science in sci-fi, there were kids everywhere!
08 Friday Apr 2016
Posted in Author's Perspective, Illustrator's Perspective
Tags
agents, authors, conferences, critiques, Debbie Ohi, Debbie Ridpath Ohi, how-to, illustrator tips, illustrators, Inky Girl, InkyGirl, middle grade, picture book, SCBWI events, SCBWI members, writing tips
Debbie Ridpath Ohi writes and illustrates books for young people in Toronto, Canada. Her first solo picture book, Where Are My Books?, debuted from Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers in 2015. Her illustrations appear in picture books by Michael Ian Black and in Judy Blume chapter books and middle grade reissues, as well as many others. She gave a challenging and insightful keynote at this year’s SCBWI Los Angeles Writer’s Day as well as a “master class” on social media for authors. She was kind enough to do a follow-up interview with Kite Tales to share her perspective on being an introverted author, networking, and how to attract that magical publishing lightning.
30 Wednesday Mar 2016
Posted in Great News!
Tags
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!
Joan Bransfield Graham’s book The Poem That Will Not End: Fun with Poetic Forms and Voices was selected as a CRA Eureka! Silver Award winner for Excellence in Nonfiction. In October 2015 The National Geographic Book Of Nature Poetry, edited by J. Patrick Lewis, and Amazing Places, edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins, both featured poems by Joan.
02 Wednesday Mar 2016
Posted in LitMingles!
Tags
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.
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!
16 Friday Oct 2015
Posted in Author's Perspective, Editor's Perspective
Tags
agents, authors, Chuck Sambuchino, editors, queries, query letters, reference guides, synopsis, word count, writing tips
GIVEAWAY: We’re giving away one copy of the newly-released Writers Digest 2016 Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market. We enjoy reading your comments! Therefore, on October 30, 2015, one person who has commented (left a reply) attached to this post will randomly be selected for this fabulous prize.
I met up with Chuck Sambuchino on October 10th at the Writing Conference of Los Angeles, where he was the featured speaker. With humor and enthusiasm, 
Chuck provided current marketplace insight and information. The breadth and depth of his presentations clearly revealed his expertise as a successful writer and editor for Writer’s Digest publications and as an author of his own two books. Read on for Chuck’s tips on reference guides, query letters, agents, writing a synopsis, word count—and clown attacks.
02 Wednesday Sep 2015
Posted in Author's Perspective
Tags
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.
