Treasure Chest: April 2024

03 Wednesday Apr 2024

Posted by Judy Y Faulkner in Los Angeles, SoCal, Treasure Chest, Tri-Regional News

Tags

authors, Christine Van Zandt, Comic Orange, craft, illustrators, Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, middle grade, PAL events, publishing, SCBWI community, SCBWI events, SCBWI Impact & Legacy Fund, SCBWI members, SCBWI SoCal

Events, Opportunities, and Resources happening now and coming soon for the
Tri-Regions and beyond

On Thursday, April 11th at 4pm PT / 7pm ET, you’re invited to the Children’s Book Changemakers Special, presented by the SCBWI Impact and Legacy Fund. This exciting Zoom program is free to all (no SCBWI membership required) and features rare appearances from iconic children’s book thought leaders whose work has made a difference. More information or register today.

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SCBWI-L.A. Writers Day 2024 Contest Winners

20 Wednesday Mar 2024

Posted by Amy Carbo in Contests & Grants, Los Angeles, Tri-Regional News, Writers Days

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Andy Narwahl, Annette Bethers, authors, Lillie Pardo, Mary Malhotra, Mary Shannon, middle grade, picture book, Rilla Jaggia, SCBWI community, SCBWI events, SCBWI members, Trenise Ferreira, WritersDay2024

by Brenda Scott Royce, Contest Coordinator

*SCBWI-L.A. Contest Coordinator Brenda Scott Royce announces this year’s winners.*

Please join us in celebrating the 2024 Writers Day Contest runners-up and winners, who were announced at the SCBWI-L.A. Writers Day event on Saturday, March 9. With a record number of submissions this year, the competition was very steep! Our anonymous judges chose seven honorees in four categories: Young Adult, Middle Grade, Picture Book, and Non-Fiction. First-place winners in each category receive free tuition to next year’s Writers Day event and a manuscript critique from one of this year’s faculty members.

Excerpts from the judges’ comments are included in the list of honorees that follows. If you’d like to contact any of the winners to request their manuscript or discuss publication, please let us know!

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Ask an Editor: School Visits (Finding Gigs, What to Charge)

17 Wednesday Jan 2024

Posted by Christine Van Zandt, up next: HOT DOG! in Ask an Editor, Tips and Tools

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

#AskanEditor, Alexis O'Neill, author-illustrators, authors, business, Christine Van Zandt, editor, illustrators, middle grade, nonfiction, picture book, publishing, school visits

“Ask an Editor” is a quarterly forum wherein SCBWI members submit questions that are answered as part of our Kite Tales blog.

Hi Alexis – I have three traditionally published nonfiction picture books and have heard that I can make money doing school visits. You seem to do a lot of them. How do I get my first school visit and what should I charge?

—KK, Los Angeles

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Ready, Set, Enter: The Writers Day Contest Is Open!

29 Wednesday Nov 2023

Posted by Michelle Lin in Contests & Grants, Los Angeles, Writers Days

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

authors, middle grade, Nicholas Ponticello, Patricia Toht, picture book, SCBWI community, Vincent X. Kirsch, writing contest, young adult

by Brenda Scott Royce

SCBWI-L.A.’s signature event, Writers Day, will be back in 2024—and with it comes the Writers Day Contest, an opportunity for all attendees to enter for a chance to win prizes and public recognition of their work.

Why enter writing contests? Prizes are awfully nice, and hearing your name announced as the winner is a definite thrill. A contest win can get you a step closer to publication. And just entering can be a reward in itself, providing the boost you need to polish your manuscript and send it out into the world.

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Ask an Editor: Query Letters—When to Start Writing One?

01 Wednesday Nov 2023

Posted by Christine Van Zandt, up next: HOT DOG! in Ask an Editor, Tips and Tools

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

#AskanEditor, authors, Christine Van Zandt, editor, middle grade, nonfiction, novel, picture book, publishing, query letters, writing tips, YA

“Ask an Editor” is a quarterly forum wherein SCBWI members submit questions that are answered as part of our Kite Tales blog.

Hi Christine—I’ve finished the first draft of my middle-grade mystery but still have a ways to go before it’s ready for me to submit it to literary agents. When do I start writing my query letter?—Ava, Los Angeles

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SoCal Represents at OC Children’s Book Festival

04 Wednesday Oct 2023

Posted by Michelle Lin in Community Corner, SoCal, Tri-Regional News

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Amin Sharif, author-illustrator, authors, Bronwen Butter Newcott, Heather Buchta, illustrators, middle grade, Nazli Tahvili, OC Children's Book Festival, picture books, SCBWI community, SCBWI events, SCBWI members, Shiho Pate, Susi Schaefer, Susie Yi, Tootie Nienow, YA

by Beverly Plass, RA SoCal SCBWI

*Heather Buchta (left), Bronwen Butter Newcott, Susie Yi and Susi Schaefer sell their books at the OC Children’s Book Festival.*

Thousands of book-loving families flocked to the OC Children’s Book Festival at Orange Coast College on October 1. The event featured hundreds of booths as well as several on-stage presentations. SoCal SCBWI hosted a booth with its published authors, illustrators, and author-illustrators.

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SCBWI CenCal Writers’ Day Winners 2023!

20 Wednesday Sep 2023

Posted by Michelle Lin in Central Coast, Tri-Regional News, Writers Days

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Alexis O'Neill Volunteer of the Year Award, Elizabeth Kuelbs, Leanne Pankuch, middle grade, Paulina Hill, picture books, SCBWI community, SCBWI events, SCBWI members, young adult

by Ann Rousseau Smith, SCBWI CenCal News Liaison

The SCBWI Central-Coastal Region held its in-person Writers’ Day on Saturday, September 9, at the Camarillo Public Library. After an inspiring day of speakers and camaraderie, a few honors were presented, with the winners receiving free entry to next year’s Writers’ Day.

Congratulations to all the participants in the writing contest, including the winners:

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Toot Your Horn!

30 Wednesday Aug 2023

Posted by Judy Y Faulkner in Toot Your Horn!

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

middle grade, nonfiction, picture book, published, publishing, SCBWI community, SCBWI members

SCBWI members’ publishing news is something to celebrate here at  Kite Tales!  Check out whose book is coming to a platform near you or around the world. Horn-tooting and digital high fives welcome in the comments!

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