Tag Archives: SCBWI members

What to Take on Your Writer’s Journey #2: Ask Why Must You Write This Book?

05 Wednesday Jan 2022

Posted by in Author's Perspective

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,

by Rieko Mendez

Photo by Anna Tarazevich on Pexels.com

Editor’s Note: This is the second of three installments on What to Take on Your Writer’s Journey. Look for the third installment next month that will explore deeper revision.

I’ve been writing YA fiction seriously for the last five years. Like many of you, I’ve immersed myself in books on the writing craft and consumed every minute of workshops I could afford. Early in the pandemic, I lived for those free SCBWI digital workshops. In these blog posts, I want to share something different — the less obvious, yet crucial insights that upped the game in my writing journey.

Continue reading →

Happy Holidays from Your SCBWI Regional Team

22 Wednesday Dec 2021

Posted by in Los Angeles

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

,

Did you know that studies have shown that expressing gratitude induces feelings of pleasure and contentment, which in turn can impact your overall health? We are all about expressing gratitude—for our amazing volunteers, for our wonderful members, and for being part of an industry that cares so deeply.   

Continue reading →

Happy Holidays from SCBWI Cen-Cal!

17 Friday Dec 2021

Posted by in Central Coast

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

Image by Laura-Susan Thomas, SCBWI CenCal Regional Illustrator Coordinator.

#KTIllustrates 2nd Annual Contest: Announcing the Winner and Runners Up!

10 Friday Dec 2021

Posted by in #KTIllustrates, Contests & Grants, Illustrator's Gallery

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

This year we had a tremendous amount of participation in our #KTIllustrates Contest, with entries inspired by the prompt: “Here you will find the dragon’s secret.” The contest was open to any form (spot, spread or cover design) and in any medium, so long as it kept the interpretation of the prompt as it would apply to children’s books.

The winner is set to receive a gift certificate to ArtSupply Warehouse and will have a feature interview article for Kite Tales coming soon. So let’s give a hand to our winner and two runners up!

Continue reading →

What to Take on Your Writer’s Journey: #1 Find Your Communities of Writers

08 Wednesday Dec 2021

Posted by in Author's Perspective, Community Corner

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

by Rieko Mendez

Editor’s Note: This is the first of three installments on What to Take on Your Writer’s Journey. Look for the next article next month, that explores the question of “Why Must You Write This Book?” 

I write YA fiction and started writing seriously in the last five years. As a writer, there are craft books, workshops and conferences to hone your writing and I recommend using them. Here though, I want to share what I found crucial in my writing journey—what upped the game so to speak. 

Continue reading →

SCBWI CenCal Writers’ Day 2021: The Winners Are…!

24 Wednesday Nov 2021

Posted by in Central Coast, Tri-Regional News, Writers Days

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , ,

By Ann Rousseau Smith, SCBWI CenCal News Liaison

This year’s SCBWI CenCal Writers’ Day Creating with Hope! was a hybrid event. Saturday, October 30, was an in-person event with several author speakers. Day two, Sunday, November 7, was a webinar featuring Megan Ilnitzki, editor at HarperCollins Children’s Books, and an illustrator’s gallery. Our fabulous writing contest winners were announced at Sunday’s event.

Congratulations to all our contest participants, including our winners!

Continue reading →

Toot Your Horn!

03 Wednesday Nov 2021

Posted by in Toot Your Horn!

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,

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!

Continue reading →

Great News!

27 Wednesday Oct 2021

Posted by in Great News!

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

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 reading →

Interview with Author Moni Ritchie Hadley

20 Wednesday Oct 2021

Posted by in Author's Perspective

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , ,

Moni Ritchie Hadley is the author of the picture book, The Star Festival (2021, Albert Whitman). A half-Japanese military brat, she bounced back and forth from the USA to Japan as a child. Daydreaming was a favorite pastime. She received a BA in Psychology at UCLA and later became a home/hospital teacher for the LAUSD, where she taught students with medical needs. Also published in Highlights magazine, The Star Festival is her picture book debut.

CHRISTINE VAN ZANDT: Welcome to Kite Tales! The first printing of your debut picture book, The Star Festival, sold out almost immediately—wow! Were you expecting that?

MONI RITCHIE HADLEY: I wasn’t even aware of this until I noticed that my publisher’s site (Albert Whitman) listed my book as “sold out.” My book released on April 1st; the second run was ordered on April 2nd. “Sold out” is relative to size of printing, and that can vary greatly between publishers, but it was a pleasant surprise that my book exceeded expectations!

Continue reading →

The Power of a Listicle

06 Wednesday Oct 2021

Posted by in Author's Perspective, Tips and Tools

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , ,

by Sherry Shahan

Simply put, a ‘listicle’ is a catchall phrase for a short article arranged as a list. Each numbered item expands on the topic in simple, succinct sentences. Rarely is an individual item given more than a paragraph. 

Young readers are drawn to listicles because they offer information in easily digestible chunks—as opposed to trying to absorb concepts plopped on a page in an inky mass. 

Continue reading →