27 Wednesday May 2015
Posted in LitMingles!
As the wind whips across the desert landscape known as Antelope Valley, writers tumble into the bookstore for their monthly schmooze. The schmoozers are a small, somewhat disheveled yet endearing band of writers who learn from each other and share a love of writing.
13 Wednesday May 2015
Posted in Great News!, Toot Your Horn!
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Kite Tales loves to celebrate our SCBWI members. Congratulations to all listed below!
TOOT YOUR HORN
A Day and Night in the Rain Forest, written and illustrated by Caroline Arnold (Picture Window Books) ages 5-8, nonfiction, ISBN: 978-1-4795-6074-5 (hb), ISBN 978-1-4795-6086-8 (paperback), Released January 2015
A Day and Night in the Desert, written and illustrated by Caroline Arnold (Picture Window Books) ages 5-8, nonfiction, ISBN: 978-1-4795-6072-1 (hb), ISBN 978-1-4795-6084-4 (paperback), Released January 2015
06 Wednesday May 2015
Posted in Contests & Grants, SASE Award
And the winner is…. Claudia Harrington!
The Sue Alexander Service and Encouragement Award is given to a deserving member of SCBWI that honor his/her service to SCBWI. This award is a great honor as it embodies to spirit of Sue Alexander who was dedicated to giving back to SCBWI.
29 Wednesday Apr 2015
Posted in Central Coast
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Rev Your Poetry Power with Joan Bransfield Graham
Award-winning poet Joan Bransfield Graham is leading a poetry writing workshop on Saturday, May 16, in Westlake Village. Joan took a few moments to answer some questions about exploring poetic possibilities.
22 Wednesday Apr 2015
Posted in SoCal
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Spring Greetings from Francesca and Q,
It’s often said that good things come in threes. In the last two Kite Tales we’ve introduced you to two wonderful authors—Marcie Wessels and Elana Azose—who each found a home for their first published picture book through our SoCal Editor’s Day. The third author in this talented trio is Michael Mahin. Michael earned his Ph.D. in American Literature at Claremont Graduate School. He went on to become a professor at San Diego State, a budding screenwriter, and the lead guitarist in an ‘80s cover band called Neon Nation. Michael is a bundle of talent, and we were fortunate to have him speak at several of our events. It was at Editor’s Day that Michael added published picture book author to his long list of credits. Michael agreed to give us an update, and it seems that there is a new book on the way! Here’s what he had to say.
08 Wednesday Apr 2015
Posted in Los Angeles
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SCBWI-L.A. blossomed with ‘firsts’ this Spring with the launching of a new Regional Mentorship Program with the fabulous Deborah Nourse Lattimore. Our first ever SCBWI-L.A. representation at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books takes place April 18th/19th. Please visit our booth #834 and show your support for our signing authors and illustrators – this could be you next year!
01 Wednesday Apr 2015
Posted in Writers Days
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This year’s SCBWI-Los Angeles Writer’s Days event was held March 7 & 8 at the beautiful Skirball Cultural Center. The event was well attended without being overwhelming, with plenty of opportunities to network with fellow SCBWI members. Just as I have at the end other SCBWI events I’ve gone to, I left the Skirball this weekend feeling motivated and inspired.
(Mary Ann Fraser)
18 Wednesday Mar 2015
Posted in Volunteer in the Spotlight
My journey as a member of the SCBWI began in 1993. I savored the bimonthly Bulletin and dreamed from afar. Once I started attending events and joined a critique group, I was asked to be the Critique Group Coordinator for the Ventura/Santa Barbara Region (which includes Kern and San Luis Obispo Counties), now known as the Central-Coastal California Region, which was led at that time by our illustrious Regional Advisor Alexis O’Neill.
When I first joined the SCBWI, my interest was in illustration. As my visual exploits floundered, I began my voyage into poetry as an introduction to writing. Poetry soon became my mode of expression.
04 Wednesday Mar 2015
Posted in LitMingles!
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Welcome to Schmooze Land!
Once upon a time there were two SCBWI schmoozers who had a dream: Renee Carter and Saundra Davis imagined a schmooze centrally located in Los Angeles where fellow children’s book authors, librarians, and children’s literature fans could gather. Here they would exchange ideas to conquer the dreaded enemy, writer’s block, discuss the questions that plague many authors (to plot or not to plot), and munch on cookies. After all, Renee and Saundra had grown while attending the Westside Schmooze under its wise and creative coordinators, Rita Crayon Huang and Lee Wind. They had flourished under the the spunky and ingenious next team of Karol Silverstein and Charlie Cohen. Surely there were other children’s lit writers who could benefit from an additional schmooze.
04 Wednesday Feb 2015
Posted in Contests & Grants, SAG
Judges had a tough decision in selecting this year’s Sue Alexander Grant winner, which attracted more than 90 entries vying for a free coveted slot at the fall Working Writer’s Retreat.
The winner is a young adult novel by Kes Trester, an associate member (as yet unpublished). But with the promising manuscript Collision, we expect to welcome Kes to the ranks of PAL (published) members soon!
Kite Tales 