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Kite Tales

Tag Archives: SCBWI community

Interactive Books: The Dance Between Mechanics and Story

19 Wednesday Apr 2023

Posted by Michelle Lin in Author's Perspective, Illustrator's Perspective, Tips and Tools

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

author-illustrator, flip tabs, illustrating, interactive, Jackie Huang, Picky Panda, picture books, SCBWI community, writing

by Jackie Huang

Whether it’s a novelty book or a picture book, an interactive element (e.g., flip tabs, spinners, sliders, touch/feel textures, etc.) can give your book an extra level of engagement. But how do you decide if your book should have interactive elements?

Coming from a paper engineering background (i.e., I make pop-up cards), I really wanted to include some kind of interactive element in my first book. When you decide to include something interactive, there’s a special kind of dance that happens. 

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Down On The Corner At The L.A. Times Festival of Books

14 Friday Apr 2023

Posted by Judy Y Faulkner in Industry Conferences, Industry News, Los Angeles, PAL, SoCal

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

authors, illustrators, LATFoB, Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, PAL events, published, R.S. Mellette, SCBWI community, SCBWI members, writing

by R.S. Mellette

The L.A. Times Festival of Books is back in person—and as in prior years, friendly SCBWI members will be there to welcome you to the event.

Like James Brown said, it’s time to “Get up offa that thing.”

If you are reading this, chances are you are an SCBWI member, quite possibly in Southern California. That means you’re interested enough in writing and/or illustrating books that you’re willing to pay dues, go to mingles, take workshops, and generally give of your time and money to improve your craft. On Saturday and Sunday, April 22 and 23, you will have that opportunity at the largest book festival in the country, the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.

Much of this event is FREE, and SCBWI will be there to make you feel welcome.

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Springing Forward with Kite Tales!

05 Wednesday Apr 2023

Posted by Judy Y Faulkner in Central Coast, Los Angeles, SoCal, Tri-Regional News

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

SCBWI community, SCBWI members, volunteering, volunteers

by Judy Faulkner and Michelle Lin, Kite Tales Co-Managing Editors

The seasons are changing—at Kite Tales, too.

Jessica Chrysler and Noel Csermak, two stalwart SCBWI Tri-Region volunteers, have recently stepped away from their respective long-time roles as KT’s managing editor and proofreader. If you’ve enjoyed the blog in recent years (as we know so many of you have!), they are two major reasons why.

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Let’s Get Rhyming!

29 Wednesday Mar 2023

Posted by Judy Y Faulkner in Author's Perspective, Central Coast, Tips and Tools

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authors, CenCal, craft, Patricia Toht, poetry, publishing, rhyming, SCBWI community, SCBWI events, SCBWI members, writing, writing tips

by Ann Rousseau Smith, SCBWI CenCal News Liaison

Author and Rhyme Doctor Patricia Toht is on call in April to help you take your rhyme to the next level.

Join us on Thursday, April 13, at 6:30 p.m. for a webinar with Patricia Toht titled “Let’s Get Rhyming!” Despite what some may insist, it’s not a crime to write in rhyme! But it does take effort to master your verse. Join author and Rhyme Doctor Patricia Toht as she shares her new releases, Together With You and Pick a Perfect Egg, along with other wonderful books in rhyme, and reveals key elements that make them shine. The price will be $12 for SCBWI members.

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Hear ye, hear ye: Announcing the 2023 SCBWI-L.A. Mentorship Contest Winner!

22 Wednesday Mar 2023

Posted by Michelle Lin in Contests & Grants, Mentorship Contest

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Cara J. Stevens, contests, Jeff Creely, Mentorship Award, picture book, SCBWI community

by Cara J. Stevens

Note: In January, we invited picture book authors to apply for a six-month mentorship with one of our Published and Listed members. This year’s mentor, Cara J. Stevens, joins us to announce the winner and share some of the submission highlights.


I was blown away by the submissions I received for this year’s mentorship contest. Each story showed promise, and each author’s interview responses showed just how ready they all are to take their picture book writing to the next level.

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Always Go to the Workshops

15 Wednesday Mar 2023

Posted by Judy Y Faulkner in Author's Perspective, Industry Conferences, Los Angeles, PAL, Tips and Tools

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

authors, craft, Creative Toolbox, Henry Lien, publishing, R.S. Mellette, SCBWI community, SCBWI members, writing

by R.S. Mellette

Warm-up for the workshop’s “hawt” writing tips includes homemade cookies and hot coffee.

Before attending Henry Lien’s Creative Toolbox Workshop in January, I wasn’t much of a workshop person. I’ve got a theatre (with an “re”) degree. I’ve studied all the great playwrights from the inside out—meaning I’ve played their characters, and there is no better teacher about what works and what doesn’t than a live audience. I have written screenplays. I’ve won awards for TV and film. I have books published with glowing reviews. I have earned my snobbish attitude!

But I’ve also been locked inside for two years, like the rest of us, so any chance to see another person face-to-face is a joy these days. Also, I know Henry. Author of the Peasprout Chen middle grade fantasy/adventure series, he sat on a panel I put together for L.A. Comic Con. He’s a really nice guy, so I should go wave the flag of the SCBWI-L.A. board, right?

Fine. I went.

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Toot Your Horn!

01 Wednesday Mar 2023

Posted by Judy Y Faulkner in Toot Your Horn!

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

board book, middle grade, nonfiction, nonfiction anthology, picture book, published, publishing, SCBWI community, SCBWI members, young adult

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 hi-fives welcome in the comments!

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Great News!

15 Wednesday Feb 2023

Posted by Michelle Lin in Great News!

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Tags

SCBWI community, SCBWI members

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!

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Disability Inclusion 101: Five Tips for Writing Disability “Right”

18 Wednesday Jan 2023

Posted by Judy Y Faulkner in Author's Perspective, PAL, SoCal, Tips and Tools, Tri-Regional News

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

authors, disability, illustrators, inclusion, Karol Ruth Silverstein, publishing, SCBWI community, SCBWI events, writing tips

by Karol Ruth Silverstein

Disability is everywhere, sometimes hidden, sometimes unmistakable. Disabled people make up the largest and most diverse minority group in the world. So—yes—disability should be abundant in our children’s literature as well. But is “bad” (i.e., inaccurate, inauthentic, insensitive) representation better than no representation at all?

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10 Inspiring Kite Tales Quotes from 2022

28 Wednesday Dec 2022

Posted by Judy Y Faulkner in Author's Perspective, Illustrator's Perspective, Tips and Tools

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

authors, Barbara Bietz, Britta Lundin, Emily Asaro, Faith McClaren, illustrators, Jessica Chrysler, Jorjeana Marie, R.S. Mellette, SCBWI community, Toni Gallagher, Victoria Fulton

As calendar year 2022 winds to a close, here are some things I have noticed this season: friends and family gathering together more frequently, people traveling for vacations, and folks going out to the movies again.

Do you sense it, too? That life in general has recovered some of its vivid color? And that our own—and our community’s—creative focus has reawakened?

Call it a holiday gift. (It is!) But renewed spirit has also been a trend all year long. Read or re-read these 10 favorite quotes and stories from Kites Tales 2022 to see—and to get ready for a “trending terrific” 12 months ahead. 

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What is SCBWI?

Founded in 1971 by a group of Los Angeles-based children's writers, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators is a non-profit, 501 (c)3 organization. There are currently more than 22,000 members worldwide, in over 70 regional chapters writing and illustrating in all genres for young readers, making it the largest children's writing organization in the world.

Member Benefits

Members of SCBWI receive exclusive access to tools, information, and industry professionals as well conferences, workshops, and critiques. Click HERE to find out more. Join us and take your writing to the next level!

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