02 Wednesday Nov 2016
Posted in LitMingles!
Tags
community, illustrators, middle grade, picture books, SCBWI events, SCBWI members, writer, young adult
We at the SFV-Glendale LitMingle are dedicated to the pursuit of writing and illustrating children’s literature. We support, guide, and nurture budding authors and illustrators as well as established authors and illustrators. Our goal is to create quality works of fiction, non-fiction and poetry that educate, entertain, and inspire children of all ages. Continue reading
14 Friday Oct 2016
Posted in Community Corner
SCBWI Summer Conference 2015
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators is a dynamic community of professionals and aspirings. Read on for a member’s story about how SCBWI has influenced their work and connected them to publishing professionals, life-long friends, and the tools they need to share their stories with children of all ages.
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators has changed my life for the better in many ways. It’s hard to explain how a group of book writers and illustrators can do that, but they have. I’m not sure where to start, so I’ll start at the beginning: I’m a writer, who also draws. I worked in animation for many years and have recently worked in children’s books both as a writer and an illustrator.
24 Wednesday Aug 2016
Posted in LitMingles!
Tags
authors, community, critiques, illustrators, middle grade, mingles, picture books, publishing, query letters, SCBWI events, SCBWI members, tools, volunteers, writer, writing tips, YA, young adult
Minglers discussing plot.
The SCBWI L.A. Hollywood LitMingle started humbly. For the past three years, Deborah Blum and Jean Perry (that’s me) have taken the mingle from a living room to the meeting space at the Hollywood Fairfax Library. It’s absolutely delicious to meet with other children’s writers. We who gather on those special Thursdays “get” each other. We find friends whose eyes don’t glaze over at the mention of plot and inciting incident. When we talk about crisis and climax, we can ask which is which. Picture book, middle grade, young adult, and new adult writers are welcomed to this free event every month. We usually start out full group, and then break into small groups based on genre, to get the specific support we need. Mingles are open to the public.
15 Wednesday Jun 2016
Posted in Volunteer in the Spotlight
We love our volunteers at SCBWI and couldn’t exist without them! “Volunteer Spotlight” is a great way to get to know them for yourself and learn more about what they do – and how you can volunteer. Now meet Chester Perryess, Central/Coastal CA regional Schlepper and Minion:
I’m an introvert. I’m happiest at home making those characters come to life, or sequestered in my “shedio” narrating audiobooks, or researching etymologies for Wordmonger, my blog about words. Still, I volunteer out in the Big Scary World and encourage my fellow introverts to consider doing the same.
01 Wednesday Jun 2016
Posted in LitMingles!
Tags
“There is nothing permanent except change.”
-Heraclitus
The Westside Writer’s Mingle kicked off last fall with a bunch o’newness. SCBWI’s oldest local Mingle (since 1990) got a new name, a new location, and new coordinators.
Last June, beloved co-coordinators Karol Ruth Silverstein and Charlie Cohen stepped down after a successful 4-year run to make way for new coordinators, and unexpectedly, a new venue. After more than a decade at the Fairview branch of the Santa Monica Library, the Mingle moved 1.5 miles and roughly 5 minutes west, to the Ocean Park Branch of the Santa Monica Library.
27 Wednesday Apr 2016
Posted in SoCal, Tri-Regional News
by Francesca Rusackas, Regional Advisor
Spring is always a time of energy and renewal. With that in mind, our wonderful Regional Illustrator Coordinator, Gina Capaldi, is coming up with plenty of opportunities for illustrators (and writers) to improve their skills and make connections.
Our 2015, exhibition, Imagine! The Art of Children’s Books Illustration, was a huge success and Gina is already at work on plans for 2017!
The door
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
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.
06 Wednesday Apr 2016
Posted in Writers Days
Tags
Brenda Bowen, conferences, contest winners, Debbie Ridpath Ohi, Robin LaFevers, SCBWI events, SCBWI members, Stephanie Stein
by Christine Van Zandt
On March 12, 2016, writers from all walks of life attended this year’s daylong SCBWI-Los Angeles Writer’s Day at the beautiful Skirball Cultural Center. The comfortable seating was an ideal place to take in presentations by the four keynote speakers: Stephanie Stein, Brenda Bowen, Debbie Ridpath Ohi, and Robin LaFevers. As with other SCBWI events, Writer’s Day provided opportunity for education, motivation, and networking.
Writer’s Day 2016
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.
Kite Tales 