Tag Archives: writers

SCBWI CenCal Writers and Illustrators Day Winners 2025!

15 Wednesday Oct 2025

Posted by in Central Coast, Contests & Grants, Illustrators Day, Tri-Regional News, Writers Days

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by Ann Rousseau Smith, SCBWI CenCal News Liaison

The SCBWI Central-Coastal Region held its in-person Writers and Illustrators Day on Saturday, September 20, at the Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District Auditorium in Camarillo. A few honors were presented during an inspiring day of speakers and camaraderie, and a fabulous lunch.

Congratulations to all our participants in the writing and illustration contests, including our winners! Each winner receives free entry to next year’s Writers and Illustrators Day.

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SCBWI CenCal Writers and Illustrators Day 2025

25 Wednesday Jun 2025

Posted by in Central Coast, Tri-Regional News, Writers' Retreat

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by Ann Rousseau Smith, SCBWI CenCal News Liaison

Join us for Writers and Illustrators Day 2025!

CATCH THE CREATIVE WAVE will be Saturday, September 20, 2025, at the Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District Auditorium, 1605 E. Burnley Street in Camarillo (same as last year). Lunch is provided. In addition to our speakers and first pages panel, we’ll be offering written critiques, writing contests, prizes, and a chance to mingle with other writers and illustrators. There will be an optional pitchfest the following day on Sunday, September 21, 2025, online.

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Storm Clouds and Sunny Spirits at LA Times Festival of Books

07 Wednesday May 2025

Posted by in Industry Conferences, Los Angeles, PAL, SoCal, Tri-Regional News

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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.

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See You at the LATFoB!

11 Friday Apr 2025

Posted by in Industry Conferences, Los Angeles, PAL, SoCal, Tri-Regional News

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Friday Special Edition

Join SCBWI at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books!

  • When: April 26–27
  • Where: USC, 3551 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles, CA 90089
  • Booth # 826

PAL authors and illustrators from the LA and SoCal regions will be appearing and signing their books in the famed Booth #826. Here’s the weekend schedule of Signing Authors and Illustrators to help you make your plans:

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SCBWI CenCal Focus and Flourish Writers and Illustrators Retreat

09 Wednesday Oct 2024

Posted by in Central Coast, Tri-Regional News, Writers' Retreat

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Ann Rousseau Smith, SCBWI CenCal News Liaison

Join us for a weekend of pursuing creativity at the Cavalier Oceanfront Resort in San Simeon along the beach. Enjoy plenty of unstructured writing or illustrating time, plus short inspirational gatherings and optional critique groups.

The retreat begins Friday, January 24, 2025, at 4:00 pm and continues through Sunday, January 26, 2025, at 11:00 am. Four meals are included: Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast, Saturday dinner, and Sunday breakfast.

As a no-speaker event, flexibility and abundant time to focus on your projects can be combined with community gatherings at meals and optional opportunities for feedback.

Bring your critique group!

The hotel will be offering special rates. Local commuters are also welcome. Full information will be posted on the CenCal Website by October 15, 2024. Make sure you are following SCBWI CenCal on your SCBWI profile home in order to receive an alert when information about this event is posted.

Volunteers Needed for 2025!

SCBWI CenCal is looking for volunteers. Contact Regional Advisor Rebecca Lanston-George at cencal-ra@scbwi.org.

Images provided by the SCBWI Central-Coastal Region and Cavalier Oceanfront Resort, San Simeon

Write for Kite Tales!

19 Wednesday Jun 2024

Posted by in Community Corner, Great News!, Illustrator's Gallery, Toot Your Horn!

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Looking for more ways to get your voice out?

Whether you’re a PAL member, independently published, or pre-published, Kite Tales wants to hear about your stories and experiences in the kid lit world. Writers, illustrators, translators, editors, publishers, agents, teachers, librarians, and more welcome!

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SCBWI CenCal Recharge Beach Writing Retreat

11 Wednesday Oct 2023

Posted by in Central Coast, Community Corner, Writers' Retreat

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by Ann Rousseau Smith, SCBWI CenCal News Liaison

Recharge your writing at CenCal’s beach retreat in San Simeon.

Recharge your writing life beside the sea. Join us January 19–21, 2024. The CenCal get-away-to-write retreat will be held at the Cavalier Oceanfront Resort in San Simeon, overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Enjoy writing time, beach walks, ten-minute TED-style talks, campfire chats, and optional critique group sessions.

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Meet the Faculty…part 2!

13 Wednesday Sep 2023

Posted by in Agent's Perspective, Editor's Perspective, Los Angeles, Writers' Retreat

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Welcome back to Meet the Faculty! In anticipation of the SCBWI-L.A. Working Writers Retreat on September 29–October 1, we’re getting to know the agents and editors who will be sharing their time and expertise at the event. This week we spoke with agent Sera Rivers and editor Sydnee Monday. Read on to discover what they look for in books and tips for making the most of the retreat!

(And if you’re inspired and would like to hear more from Sera and Sydnee, you can register for the retreat here! Registration will close at 11:59pm on Thursday, September 14.)

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Interview with Laura Hunt, Winner of 2023 Twitter Banner Contest

28 Wednesday Jun 2023

Posted by in Community Corner, Contests & Grants, Illustrator's Gallery, Twitter Banner Contest

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Author-Illustrator Laura Hunt

In SCBWI-L.A.’s latest Twitter Banner Contest, illustrators were asked to submit their most creative response to our prompt: KITE NIGHT. The winning contestant’s artwork is featured on the Los Angeles Region SCBWI Twitter profile until the next contest, with a feature article published here on Kite Tales.

We’re excited to announce Laura Hunt as our winner! Laura is an author-illustrator who grew up in Connecticut and now resides in Los Angeles with her college sweetheart, young son, and old Yorkie. Her dummy received an honorable mention from PB Party 2023. Her comedy writing background includes writing sketches on a house team for the Upright Citizens Brigade, and her work has been featured on Funny or Die and HuffPost.

Read on to learn more about Laura, her tools and tips, and what inspires her work.

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Write for Kite Tales!

14 Wednesday Jun 2023

Posted by in Community Corner, Great News!, Toot Your Horn!

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Be heard.

Whether you’re a PAL member, independently published, or pre-published, Kite Tales wants your stories about your experiences in kid lit. Writers, illustrators, translators, editors, publishers, agents, teachers, librarians, and more welcome!

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