21 Wednesday May 2025
Posted in Great News!
Tags
Caroline L. Perry, Eori Tokunaga, Highlights Foundation, Kathleen Troy, Mona Alvarado Frazier, R.S. Mellette, SCBWI community, SCBWI members, Sue Ganz-Schmitt
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!
Continue reading07 Wednesday May 2025
Posted in Industry Conferences, Los Angeles, PAL, SoCal, Tri-Regional News
Tags
Ann Suk Wang, Annelouise Mahoney, authors, Book Festivals, Dan McCauley, Events, Glenda Galvan-Garcia, illustrators, Janie Emaus, Jennifer S. Pitts, Joy Hwang Ruiz, Judy Campbell-Smith, Kimberly Tso, Kobina Commeh, Kumiko Yamada-Yuge, LATFoB, Lauren Gallegos, Lori Polydoros, Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Molly Ruttan, PAL, PAL events, R.S. Mellette, Sasha Mayer, SCBWI community, SCBWI events, SCBWI members, W.R. Miller, writers
by Jennifer S. Pitts
“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”
Though originally a tribute to the ancient Persian royal couriers, this enduring phrase also perfectly captures the spirit of SCBWI’s LA and SoCal PAL members, who braved unpredictable weather to complete their own “appointed rounds” at the 2025 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.
Continue reading30 Wednesday Apr 2025
Tags
A. Orr Fantasy Grant, AAPI Joy, Abby Feder, April Halpin Wayland, authors, Celebrating Words Arts & Literacy Festival, Coffee with the Authors, Comic Orange, Crystal Kite Award, Fall Harvest, Highlights Foundation, illustrators, Los Angeles Public Library, Mark Parsons, middle grade, PAL, published, SCBWI Alaska, SCBWI community, SCBWI events, SCBWI members, SCBWI University, Shiho Pate, Tia Chucha, UCLA Extension, Volemos Grant, web design, website, Wendelin Van Draanen, workshop, young adult
MAY 10
“Create a website that works for you, that can grow with your career, and that you are genuinely proud to share” with Abby Feder through SCBWI LA Website Build 101! Abby will be going over “how to build a strong online presence that connects with readers and parents, impresses industry professionals, and serves your unique goals.” This online class will take place on Saturday, May 10, 2025, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. PST. The cost to attend for premium members is $20, while preview members is $40. “Attendees will receive the Zoom link by email about two days before the event. This webinar will be recorded and available to participants for 30 days after the event (barring technical difficulties).”
23 Wednesday Apr 2025
Posted in Author's Perspective
Tags
author, Ellen Hopkins, interview, Jim Averbeck, Laurent Linn, Nancy Paulsen, National Poetry Month, Philana Marie Boles, publishing, SCBWI community, verse novel
by Philana Marie Boles
Introduction
Ellen Hopkins is a New York Times best-selling and multi-award-winning author, a celebrated literary force whose courageous storytelling has enthralled readers like me for over two decades. She is perhaps best known for her raw and poignant novels written in verse. The real-life challenges of being a mother prompted the first of these, Crank, inspired by her now-recovered daughter’s struggles with an addiction to crystal methamphetamine and a consequent stint in prison.
Following the success of Crank, Hopkins has gone on to author more than a dozen acclaimed novels in unabashed verse. She has tackled subjects ranging from drugs to mental health to abuse to sex trafficking, and most recently, the foster care system in her new novel, Sync.
Continue reading02 Wednesday Apr 2025
Tags
Alaska Writers Guild, April Halpin Wayland, authors, Coffee with the Authors, Comic Orange, Eori Tokunaga, Fall Harvest, Great News, Highlights Foundation, illustrators, Kids Book Conference, Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Mark Parsons, mentorship, middle grade, PAL, poetry, published, SCBWI Alaska, SCBWI community, SCBWI events, SCBWI members, SCBWI University, Sherry Shahan, Shiho Pate, tabling, Toot Your Horn!, UCLA Extension, volunteer, Wendelin Van Draanen, workshop, Writing Conference of Los Angeles, young adult, zine
APRIL 9
Register to attend Writing Poetry for Children with April Halprin Wayland through UCLA Extension! “In three hours of lecture, group participation, and individual writing time, you learn the basics of writing poetry for children, play with different forms, and learn to hear children’s poetry with new ears.” This class is free to attend and will take place on April 9, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Click here to save your spot!
26 Wednesday Mar 2025
Posted in Author's Perspective
Tags
Candlewick, Carter Hasegawa, Dara Hyde, Harshini Vankineni, interview, Neha Rawat, publishing, SCBWI community, writing
by Judy Faulkner
Harshini Vankineni is a writer and an immigrant from India and lives in Southern California with her husband and children. Her debut picture book, What Color is the Baby?, is set for release on April 1, 2025. Harshini writes picture books, young adult fantasy, and new adult romance. She likes to write complex characters who are often dealing with societal pressures head-on and to tell stories that are a lens to her culture.
Judy Y Faulkner: Welcome to Kite Tales, Harshini! Tell us a bit more about your history. Have you always been a writer?
Harshini Vankineni: Thank you, Judy. I think I’m a specimen of what middle-class Indian kids are brought up to be—despite many dreams and talents, you end up becoming a computer engineer or a doctor because of parental and societal pressures. I’m a graduate of Software Engineering. I came to the USA, or should I say was sent to the USA, to pursue a master’s in Computer Engineering. But I have been writing since the day I read an abridged version of The Tempest (with pictures and everything). My first manuscript was a really messy tale inspired by Johanna Spyri’s Heidi. I was twelve then, and boy, did I plagiarize. I wrote it in an expired, dated journal that an uncle gifted me, and my mother preserved it until I burned it. Because in that, the villain was my mother.
Continue reading05 Wednesday Mar 2025
Tags
authors, Comic Orange, illustrators, Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Los Angeles Zoo, mentorship, middle grade, PAL, Paula Yoo, published, SCBWI Art Day, SCBWI community, SCBWI Don Freeman Grant, SCBWI events, SCBWI Karen Cushman Late Bloomer Award, SCBWI members, SCBWI Work-In-Progress Award, Sketch Safari, tabling, volunteer, workshop, young adult
UPDATE – EVENT NEXT WEEK! MARCH 25
Award-winning author Matthew Burgess, Caldecott Medalist Doug Salati, and three-time Caldecott Honoree Marla Frazee will join forces for Illustrating the Power of Poetry!, a conversation about collaboration, the power of poetry and the process of illustrating poems for children. This free event takes place on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, beginning at 7:00 p.m., at Once Upon a Time Bookstore, 2207 Honolulu Avenue, Montrose, CA 91020. After the conversation, the creators will be available to sign books. “This gathering would be beneficial to teachers, librarians and anyone who works with children to inspire their creativity.” For more information, visit Once Upon a Time.
OPEN NOW
Join your friends and peers at the 2025 Art Day: Illustrators and Writers Connect, SCBWI SoCal! This one-day hands-on workshop runs from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Laguna College of Art & Design on March 15, 2025. Our fun-filled day near the ocean will include warm-up exercises, “draw off and hands on activities,” as well as presentations from award-winning authors and illustrators.
OPEN NOW
Sign up today for the SCBWI-LA Sketch Safari at The LA Zoo! Pack your drawing materials and wear your comfiest walking shoes as you trek the Los Angeles Zoo with illustrator Alexander Vidal on Saturday, March 29, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The cost of registration also includes admission to the zoo. “While this is a sketch event, writers are welcome to share the fun for story inspiration!” Although the event is only two hours long, folks are more than welcome to spend the rest of the day at the zoo!
19 Wednesday Feb 2025
Posted in Toot Your Horn!
Tags
chapter book, early reader, fantasy, Historical Reference, horror, MG, middle grade, mystery, nonfiction, nonfiction picture book, picture book, poetry, published, publishing, SCBWI community
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 Feb 2025
Posted in Great News!
Tags
Ben St. James, Delia Ruiz, Jenny Turnbull, Kitty Felde, Lee Wardlaw, Margery J Fain, Marie Chan, Moni Ritchie Hadley, Nell Cross Beckerman, SCBWI community, SCBWI members, Sue Ganz-Schmitt
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!
Continue reading05 Wednesday Feb 2025
Tags
authors, Charlotte Huck, Comic Orange, Getty, Golden Kite Awards, Highlights Foundation, illustrators, indie-publishing, LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund, Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Los Angeles Zoo, middle grade, Next Generation Indie Book Awards, PAL, published, SCBWI Annual Winter Conference, SCBWI Art Day, SCBWI community, SCBWI events, SCBWI members, SCBWI Virtual Winter Conference, scholarship, Sketch Safari, tabling, volunteer, workshop, young adult
OPEN NOW
We are deeply saddened by the devastations that have impacted our artist friends as a result of the Palisades and Eaton fires. “The LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund (the ‘Fund’) is a pooled fund led by the J. Paul Getty Trust with support from a coalition of major arts organizations and philanthropists.” If you are in need of financial support, applications must be submitted by Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. For more information about eligibility, click the link here. If you would like to donate in support of the Fund, please go directly to the Getty’s website here.
OPEN NOW
Registration for the SCBWI-LA Sketch Safari at The LA Zoo is now open! “Join illustrator Alexander Vidal and SCBWI peers for a fantastic, in-person illustration event at the Los Angeles Zoo” on Saturday, March 29, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. “While this is a sketch event, writers are welcome to share the fun for story inspiration!” The cost of registration also includes admission to the zoo.
OPEN NOW
The in-person 2025 SCBWI Winter Conference in New York City may have passed, but it is not too late to register for the SCBWI Virtual Winter Conference 2025! “Don’t miss this chance to boost your children’s book career! Join us online for exclusive industry panels, hands-on sessions diving deep into the craft of writing and illustrating children’s books, and valuable networking with fellow creators.” The online event will take place ONLINE from February 21–22, 2025. Register today!
OPEN NOW
Register now for 2025 Art Day: Illustrators and Writers Connect, SCBWI SoCal! This one-day hands-on workshop will take place at the Laguna College of Art & Design on March 15, 2025, and feature several award-winning guest speakers! If you would like to register for written critiques, the deadline to sign up is February 13, 2025. Scholarship applications to attend Art Day 2025 are due February 27, 2025, by 10:00 p.m. Winners will be notified by March 1, 2025. For more information about the Art Day: Equity and Inclusion Scholarship, click here.
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