16 Wednesday Sep 2026
Posted in Toot Your Horn!
Tags
authors, biography, fiction, illustrators, juvenile fiction, 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!
12 Wednesday Aug 2026
Posted in Ask an Editor, Tips and Tools
Tags
#AskanEditor, author, author visits, authors, books, business, Christine Van Zandt, editor, Events, publishing, school visits, virtual resources
“Ask an Editor” is a forum wherein SCBWI members submit questions that are answered quarterly as part of our Kite Tales blog.
Hi Christine—I’m considering contacting local schools to earn money doing author visits. What are they generally like?
—Brianna, Los Angeles
Hello again, Brianna –
Let’s pick up where we left off last month. You’ve booked your author visit, and now you’re getting ready to spend your time with the class. Remember, each school visit will be unique.
Continue reading22 Wednesday Jul 2026
Posted in Ask an Editor, Tips and Tools
Tags
#AskanEditor, author, author visits, authors, books, business, Christine Van Zandt, editor, Events, publishing, school visits, virtual resources
“Ask an Editor” is a forum wherein SCBWI members submit questions that are answered quarterly as part of our Kite Tales blog.
Hi Christine—I’m considering contacting local school to earn money doing author visits. What are they generally like?
—Brianna, Los Angeles
Hello Brianna –
Each school visit is unique. Look into doing this if you feel comfortable speaking in front of people and enjoy interacting with kids. SCBWI.org has helpful information in its publication The Essential Guide to Publishing for Children. The “SCBWI School Visits and Speaking Engagements” section includes helpful articles and a sample contract.
Here’s a quick overview of what I’ve experienced.
Continue reading15 Wednesday Jul 2026
Posted in Contests & Grants, Illustrators Day, SoCal, Tri-Regional News, Writers Days
Tags
Alvina Ling, Analía Cabello, Andie Smith, Andrea J. Loney, Aubrey Hartman, authors, Carter Hasegawa, critiques, Fay Ryu Kelling, Haley Casey, illustrators, Judy Campbell-Smith, Karina Grande, Lindsey Aduskevich, Michaela Whatnall, pitches, Priscilla Burris, publishing, SCBWI community, SCBWI events, SCBWI members
by Beverly Plass, SCBWI SoCal Regional Advisor
When: Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Where: Cal State University, Fullerton, and on Zoom
Registration is OPEN
Writers and illustrators are invited to a full day of speaker presentations, critiques, pitches, first pages, contests, and mingling with fellow creatives! This hybrid event is both in-person and via Zoom. Attendees will have access to the videos for 30 days following the event and receive submission guidelines from all our faculty.
Continue reading17 Wednesday Jun 2026
Posted in Toot Your Horn!
Tags
authors, fiction, illustrators, 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!
15 Wednesday Apr 2026
Posted in Contests & Grants, Los Angeles, Mentorship Contest, Tri-Regional News
Tags
authors, contest, fiction, Julia Edwards, mentorship, middle grade, nonfiction, picture book, publishing, Rebecca Langston-George, SCBWI community, SCBWI members, Sherry Shahan, writers, YA
**Note: The SCBWI-L.A. Mentorship is a six-month program that alternates between various categories of writing and illustrating. In this post, our 2025 winner, author Julia Edwards, shares her experience with the program. The 2026 mentor will be announced at the end of the post.**
by Julia Edwards
Last year, I was the lucky winner of the SCBWI-L.A. Mentorship Contest and got to work with middle-grade author Sherry Shahan for six months on my manuscript I Speak for the Trees.
I am so glad I met this human! She is enthusiastic, she asks essential questions, she elucidates truths. She dove into her own research to understand the heart of my story, and we had deep conversations about eco-anxiety, the Wood Wide Web of mushroom fibers that allows trees to communicate, women’s climbing camps, and more.
Continue reading25 Wednesday Feb 2026
Posted in Toot Your Horn!
Tags
authors, fiction, illustrators, 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!
28 Wednesday Jan 2026
Posted in Ask an Editor, Tips and Tools
Tags
#AskanEditor, author, authors, books, business, Christine Van Zandt, community, editor, Events, Jane Friedman, libraries, publishing
“Ask an Editor” is a forum wherein SCBWI members submit questions that are answered quarterly as part of our Kite Tales blog.
Hi Christine – I keep hearing about “literary citizenship.” How does this apply to authors?
– KD, Redondo
Hello KD – For me, literary citizenship means establishing and maintaining relationships. It also means giving throughout our careers without expecting something in return; relationships aren’t a 50-50 thing. But, just wait; those relationships will pay off, guaranteed.
Continue reading31 Wednesday Dec 2025
Tags
#AskanEditor, Adam Blackman, Alexander Vidal, Analía Cabello, authors, Brenda Scott Royce, Cassandra Federman, Christine Van Zandt, craft, Ellen Hopkins, Harshini Vankineni, illustrators, inspiration, Jaime Zollars, Jennifer Rofé, Jennifer S. Pitts, Jenny Turnbull, Judy Faulkner, Kelly Pellico, Micky O'Brady, Paige Vinten Taylor, Philana Marie Boles, publishing, publishing tips, quotes, SCBWI community, Sherry Shahan, writing tips
January is not just right around the corner—it’s tomorrow! But don’t panic. We still have time to make our resolutions or More/Less lists (see below and linked), and to dream big for 2026. Hopefully, revisiting some of the ideas and insights in Kite Tales’ 2025 posts through the quotes and article links below will provide a fresh sprinkle of information and inspiration to help you get started. Write on. Draw on. Read on!
Continue reading17 Wednesday Dec 2025
Posted in Toot Your Horn!
Tags
authors, fiction, illustrators, MG, middle grade, mystery, picture book, published, publishing, SCBWI community, SCBWI members, Spiritual, YA
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!
Kite Tales 