Current Scratch:Oh, What Fun!, Book Sale,

Hi folks,  I do believe we have a tiny chill in the air here in the Brazos Valley.  Many of us are busy at this time of year, but take time to work on your stories. Your dedication to your craft is important. Bring good stuff into the world.

Mark your calendars. Our next Schmooze will fall on  1-30-13 at the College Station Barnes and Noble. Bring copies (up to 5) for gentle critique at 9:30 a.m. Our Schmooze program begins at 10 a.m.

Local authors in Brazos Valley were busy in 2012.  Want to try a children's book app to for the little ones ? CandiLynn Fite has an ebook LITTLE ACORN'S BIG FALL is available from uTALES app.  Molly Blaisdell has an ebook THE BIG FUZZY COAT available from the MeeGenius! app. Maybe you have some bookstore cash  or need a last minute gift?  Consider VOICES OF THE DUSTBOWL by Sherry Garland, illustrated by Judith Hierstein, from Pelican Publishing Company, Incorporated. Local, Janet Fox has a new book, SIRENS, from Penguin/Speak.  Don't forget  the wonderful books of local authors Kathi Appelt, Debbie Leland, and Kathy Whitehead.

OH, WHAT FUN!

Here we're gathered at  our annual holliday party at the local Boston's for a good time of meaningful conversation , our goals for the new year, and the trivia competition. Note the bar to your left. Our goals will rotate here year -ong.

BOOK SALE
 

The Fortnightly Club, a non-profit whose main beneficiary is the Nancy Carol Roberts Library in Brenham, is having their annual used book sale

When: February 20th to February 23rd, 2013 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Where: Washington County Fairgrounds, 1305 E. Blue Bell Road, Brenham TX.

Fee: $1.00 except on Wednesday, February 20th from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm, when dealers come, so the entrance fee is $10.00.

Some history about the club: It was founded by a small group of ladies, who wanted to form a literary club in Brenham. Together with friends they became the 14 charter members of The Fortnightly Literary Club of Brenham in 1895. They met every two weeks, thus the name “Fortnightly”. In 1901, the ladies decided to establish a public library and after being given the use of two rooms behind a bank, they collected about 1,000 books (all donated, I believe) and opened Brenham’s first library. In 1974 the City took over the library, but The Fortnightly Club maintains control of the Library Board.

The views expressed here are my own, and not necessarily those of the SCBWI.

Current Scratch: News, Book Sale

Howdy, folks.  Hope you are squeezing in time work. Weather has been distracting. Yay for the occasional thunder boomer or I'd want to stay out all the time and walk in the coolish air and sunshine. 

 

Here's our next event. 

 

SCBWI-BV Holiday Party: Oh, What Fun!

Host: SCBWI BRAZOS VALLEY, Liz Mertz, RA

When: Tuesday, December 4 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Where: Boston's, 820 University Drive East College Station, TX 77845

Bring a book to give to Larry Ringer Library. Books will be used for the collection or they will be handed out as prizes to young patrons throughout the year.

We will also have a time for trivia and time to share our goals for the upcoming year. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Brush up on the Newberys, Caldecotts and Prinzes.

 

NEWS

 

2012 100 Books for Reading and Sharing. Here is the link.  

 

HarperCollins is considering buying Simon and Schuster. Read about it here.

 

If you have writte a children's magazine article this year and want to be up for the SCBWI Magazine Merit Awards, follow this link.

 

Wondering if your book fits into schools? Do you know abut the Common Core State Standards Initiative?  Here is a link that may be of interest to you.

 

BOOK SALE

The Fortnightly Club, a non-profit whose main beneficiary is the Nancy Carol Roberts Library in Brenham, is having their annual used book sale

 

When: February 20th to February 23rd, 2013 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Where:  Washington County Fairgrounds, 1305 E. Blue Bell Road, Brenham TX.

Fee: $1.00 except on Wednesday, February 20th from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm, when dealers come, so the entrance fee is $10.00. 

Some history about the club: It was founded by a small group of ladies, who wanted to form a literary club in Brenham.  Together with friends they became the 14 charter members of The Fortnightly Literary Club of Brenham in 1895.  They met every two weeks, thus the name “Fortnightly”.  In 1901, the ladies decided to establish a public library and after being given the use of two rooms behind a bank, they collected about 1,000 books (all donated, I believe) and opened Brenham’s first library.  In 1974 the City took over the library, but The Fortnightly Club maintains control of the Library Board.

 

The views expressed here are my own, and not necessarily those of the SCBWI.

Current Scratch: SCBWI, Best Books, News, Fun

Hi folks: It's definitely getting chilly in the mornings. I hope this weather makes you want to sit down with a hot cup of tea or java and muse about current works.

Schmoozes are over for the year but we still have our Annual Holiday Party!

SCBWI-BV Holiday Party: Oh, What Fun!

Host: SCBWI BRAZOS VALLEY, Liz Mertz, RA

When: Tuesday, December 4 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Where: Boston's, 820 University Drive East College Station, TX 77845

Bring a book to give to Larry Ringer Library. Books will be used for the collection or they will be handed out as prizes to young patrons throughout the year.

We will also have a time for trivia and time to share our goals for the upcoming year. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Brush up on the Newberys, Caldecotts and Prinzs. 

Sat., Nov. 17, Suspense Authors: Kathy DiSanto, 1 to 2 p.m., Mitzi Pool Bridges, 2 to 3 p.m. will visit the Larry Ringer Library.

SCBWI

GOLDEN KITES SUBMISSION DEADLINE EXTENDED ONE MONTH DUE TO HURRICANE SANDY - Tuesday, October 30, 2012

 

Registration for the 2013 Annual SCBWI Winter Conference is currently open.  Check it out.

 

BEST BOOKS

 

2012 National Book Award  for Young People's Literature: Goblin Secrets (S&S/Margaret K. McElderry Books). "Alexander's book follows Rownie, the youngest in a witchworker's household of stray children, and his search for his missing brother." Read about this at PW.

 

PW's Best Books List is out. Read about it at PW.

 

NEWS

 

RandomHouse and Penguin merge making it the largest consumer book publisher in the world. Read about it in at nytimes.com.  Read about it here from BBC. Read about here from a Pearson press release. Pearson owns Penguin, and Bertelsmann owns Random House. Bertelsmann has the controlling interest in the partnership.

 

FUN

 

Want some old school fun?  Turn your web browser into a typewriter.  Read about it GalleyCat.

 

A twitter book festival. Check it out.

 

Check out Tammara Webber's self-publishing story at her website. She landed a literary agent and a two book deal.

 

The views expressed here are my own, and not necessarily those of the SCBWI.

 

Current Scratch: AROUND TOWN, SHOUT OUT, NEWS, NANOWRIMO

Howdy, folks. Don't you just love the weather? Sweaters one day, shorts the next. I hope you are taking some time to dig into your books. 

Our next Schmooze will fall on  10-31-2012  at the College Station Barnes and Noble.  Bring copies (up to 5) for gentle critique at 9:30 a.m.  Our Schmooze program begins at 10 a.m. and the discussion topic will be: Publishers in Texas.

SCBWI-BV Writing Intensive with Executive Editor of Philomel, Jill Santopolo.
ONLINE REGISTRATION HAS BEEN EXTENDED!  THERE ARE ONLY A FEW SPOTS LEFT!  

DATE: November 3, 2012

TIME/LOCATION:  8 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. The Glory Inn on Still Creek Ranch, Bryan, TX 77808COST: $150 SCBWI Members and $175 Non-Member.

AROUND TOWN

ChildLitBookClub CLBC http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChildLitbookclub/cal
This month's books: Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
Date: Thursday 10/25/2012
Time: 9:30 am- 11:00 am
Location: Arts Center

RED WASP FILM FESTIVAL
DATE:  Friday, October 26, and Saturday, October 27, 2012, Doors open at 7.
TIME AND LOCATION: Stage Center Theater (201-B W. 26th St.) in downtown Bryan, TX.
COST: Tickets are available at the door: $25/both nights, $15/one night; with student ID, $15/both nights, $10/one night.

Brazos Writers is also offering a screenwriting workshop in conjuction with this event a three hour workshop, learn the basic of screenwriting from industry expert BEN WIGGINS founder and Development Executive at AccessFilms.

Date: Saturday, October 27, 2012. 
Cost: $10.00, tickets available at the door.  
Place: Stage Center Theater (201-B W. 26th St.) in downtown Bryan, TX

Creative Thinking for Productive Writing. Saturday, November 10, 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. Creativity experts Hector and Suzanna Ramos will lead participants in exploring basic creative thinking skills such as exploration, ideation, idea selection, idea development, and attribute transfer. Creative skills help writers develop insight and resilience in their writing, as well as overcome the dreaded writer’s block. More info to come. www.brazoswriters.org

Author Molly Blaisdell is offering a novel writing workshop (Teen Novel Boot Camp) for teens in honor of the National Novel Writing month.  This two hour event will cover the nuts and bolts of novel writing and will offer teens a chance to share their work (5min) and receive gentle critique.(Ages 10-19)

DATE:  11/06/2012

TIME:  4:00pm to 6:00pm

PLACE: LARRY J. RINGER LIBRARY, 1818 Harvey Mitchell Pkwy., College Station, TX. 77845, (979) 764-3416

COST: FREE, please RSVP @ (molly@mollyblaisdell.com) or at the library (space is limited)

SHOUT OUT

Big Shout Out for local author Candilynn Fite. She has a new ebook out on uTales.com. It's illustrated by Caroline Lee. LITTLE ACORN'S BIG FALL is a picture ebook available on the uTales ebook platform.  Click here for the link to preview her book! Check out this! Download the app. Buy the book. :) Yay! Congratulations, Candilynn.

NEWS


The National Book Award Finalist in Young People's literature has been announced.  Read about the finalists in PW.

Here's PW article reporting the AAP's Children's  and Young Adult Books sales for the past few months. Note the rise in ebook sales!  FYI: AAP=Association of American Publishers. 

NANOWRIMO

Yes it is time to write a novel in the November!  Here is the link to Nanowrimo.  Here is the link to our local BCS Library Nanowrimo events.  Here is a link to help you create a survival kit for the month of November. 

Current Scratch: Local Tale, Opportunities, Hot, Fun

Our next Schmooze will fall on  9-26-2012  at the College Station Barnes and Noble.  Bring copies (up to 5) for gentle critique at 9:30 a.m.  Our program begins at 10 a.m. and the discussion topic will be: Schmooze: Happy 20th Birthday SCBWI BV!

Local events:

ChildLitbookclub CLBChttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChildLitbookclub/cal
This month's books: When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead and A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'EngleDate: Thursday September 27, 2012
Time: 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Location: Arts Center

SCBWI-BV Writing Intensive with Executive Editor of Philomel, Jill Santopolo.
ONLINE REGISTRATION HAS BEEN EXTENDED!  THERE ARE ONLY A FEW SPOTS LEFT!  

DATE: November 3, 2012

TIME/LOCATION:  8 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. The Glory Inn on Still Creek Ranch, Bryan, TX 77808COST: $150 SCBWI Members and $175 Non-Member.

RED WASP FILM FESTIVAL
DATE:  Friday, October 26, and Saturday, October 27, 2012, Doors open at 7.
TIME AND LOCATION: Stage Center Theater (201-B W. 26th St.) in downtown Bryan, TX.
COST: Tickets are available at the door: $25/both nights, $15/one night; with student ID, $15/both nights, $10/one night.

Brazos Writers is also offering a screenwriting workshop in conjuction with this event a three hour workshop, learn the basic of screenwriting from industry expert BEN WIGGINS founder and Development Executive at AccessFilms.

Date: Saturday, October 27, 2012. 
Cost: $10.00, tickets available at the door.  
Place: Stage Center Theater (201-B W. 26th St.) in downtown Bryan, TX

Creative Thinking for Productive Writing. Saturday, November 10, 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. Creativity experts Hector and Suzanna Ramos will lead participants in exploring basic creative thinking skills such as exploration, ideation, idea selection, idea development, and attribute transfer. Creative skills help writers develop insight and resilience in their writing, as well as overcome the dreaded writer’s block. More info to come. www.brazoswriters.org

LOCAL TALE

Local author Sherry Garland's picture book Children of the Dragon: Selected Tales from Vietnam has found a new home. Back in 1989, Sherry wrote a children's non-fiction book about Vietnam (her first children's book). Some of the tales were so good, she rewrote them in her own words, using everything she'd learned about the Vietnamese culture. She sold the resulting picture book to Harcourt in 1990 and it came out in 2001 to rave reviews! (Ya, 11 years.) Caldecott-winning illustrator Trina Hyman provided the art.

When Harcourt was bought out by Houghton Mifflin, this book was a victim of inventory reduction and went out of print in 2011. Sherry requested her rights back and contacted Pelican Publishing, who agreed to reprint it in a shorter format.  Instead of six folk tales in 48 pages, it's now three folk tales in 32 pages.  This all took quite awhile.  But now the new version is available.

Yay, Sherry! Yay for your persistence and belief in your book!

OPPORTUNITIES

Point of View and Psychic Distance in Fiction for Young People

Before the first word of a story can be written, a writer must decide on point of view.  Before the story can evolve, the writer must discover how close in to the character she wants to stand.

A free, live in-depth webinar with author Marion Dane Bauer.
Date: Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Time: 7:00 EST
Can't make the webinar, but really wish you could?  Not to worry!
There will be a free replay of the webinar available to those who register, for the 24 hours following the webinar.  You must be registered to gain access.

More info and registration: http://www.writingforchildrenlive.com/Marion_Dane_Bauer.html

YA Sci-fi/fan Authors, Check This Out

Do you have an original GAME OF THRONES or FEED type book in your ready to submit pile? For the first time in over a decade, Harper Voyager (a fantastic fiction imprint) is opening the doors to unsolicited submissions in order to seek new authors with fresh voices, strong storytelling abilities, original ideas and compelling storylines. Submission window is October 1 to October 14, 2012.

http://harpervoyagerbooks.com/harper-voyager-guidelines-for-digital-submission/

HOT

Here is a link to a SLJ article listing the top picks of the Junior Library Guild.

Here is a link to an PW article. Who is reading YA?  PW reports.

Kathy Dawson gets a new Imprint at Penguin's Young Readers Group. PW reports.

FUN

Is reading healthy? Can it save your life?  Check out this fun acticle. :) 

The views expressed here are my own, and not necessarily those of the SCBWI.

Current Scratch: Local events, Shout out, Stories, Fun

Howdy, folks! Schools have started. Traffic has spiked. The Ags are back. I bet you're busy. I am. Still I'm planning to work. Make a goal and keep it!

Hey, if you have any good news send it my way, and I will shout it out on the blog.  Don't be shy!

Our next Schmooze will fall on  9-26-2012  at the College Station Barnes and Noble.  Bring copies (up to 5) for gentle critique at 9:30 a.m.  Our program begins at 10 a.m. and the discussion topic will be: Schmooze: Happy 20th Birthday SCBWI BV!

SCBWI-BV Region an upcoming event and we have ONLINE REGISTRATION that has
BEEN EXTENDED!  THERE ARE ONLY A FEW SPOTS LEFT!   SCBWI-BV Writing Intensive with Executive Editor of Philomel, Jill Santopolo.

DATE: November 3, 2012

TIME/LOCATION:  8 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. The Glory Inn on Still Creek Ranch, Bryan, TX 77808COST: $150 SCBWI Members and $175 Non-Member.

LOCAL EVENTS

AUTHOR VISIT: Tera Lynn Childs, award-winning author of mythology-based young adult novels.
Meet the author, ask questions, book signing, chance to win a book. Free snacks!
Tera Lynn Childs is the author of Oh.My.Gods, Goddess Boot Camp, Forgive My Fins, Fins Are Forever, Just For Fins (July 2012), Sweet Venom, and Sweet Shadows (comes out Sept. 4th)

DATE: Thursday, September 13th
TIME AND LOCATION: Ringer Library in College Station in in the front meeting room.
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm 

Map to Larry J. Ringer Library

If you have questions, call the Reference Desk at (979) 764-3416 or email Kendra at kperkins@bryantx.gov.

RED WASP FILM FESTIVAL

DATE:  Friday, October 21, and Saturday, October 22, 2011, Doors open at 7.
TIME AND LOCATION: Stage Center Theater (201-B W. 26th St.) in downtown Bryan, TX.
COST: Tickets are available at the door: $25/both nights, $15/one night; with student ID, $15/both nights, $10/one night.

SHOUT OUT

Great thanks to Liz Mertz and Kathy Ruth for a great program covering the SCBWI Summer Conference -- the next best thing to being there. Thanks for sharing cool tidbits and the toasting the light of children's books. If you want to read more about the SCBWI Conference check out the SCBWI blog. 

Candi Lynn Fite completed her Camp August NaNoWrMo goal. Here is a Facebook link!  Go congratulate her.

STORIES

Here is an inspiration promotional story from an author who has launched a grassroots campaign to get the word out about her books. From PW.

Here is an interesting approach to writing a series from a group of Canadian authors. From PW.

A fun thought from C.S Lewis  -- Your book bill ought to be your biggest extravagance."  Check out the backstory on GalleyCat.

FUN

Ever struggling to describe a particular facial expression?  Try FaceTurn,  a 3-D face expression viewer to help you get all the details just right. 

After our monthly schoomze we join together for lunch and conversation. This month at Abuelo's.  Good times.

The views expressed here are my own, and not necessarily those of the SCBWI.

Current Scratch: Free, SCBWI, Historical Resources

Howdy, folks! Whew, it's hot. Hope you add some of that heat to your stories.  

Our next Schmooze will fall on  8-29-2012  at the College Station Barnes and Noble.  Bring copies (up to 5) for gentle critique at 9:30 a.m.  Our program begins at 10 a.m. and the discussion topic will be: Schmooze: The Art of Picture Books.

SCBWI-BV Region has two upcoming events and we now have ONLINE REGISTRATION.  The links are to the left. Here are brief details. Follow the links to learn more.

SCBWI-BV Saturday Workshop: Finding the Story
SPEAKERS: Mary Wade (non-fiction) and Jo Whittmore (YA).

DATE: August 18, 2012
TIME/LOCATION:: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Arts Center, 2275 Dartmouth, College Station, TX
COST: $45 SCBWI members, $50 Non-members.

SCBWI-BV Writing Intensive with Executive Editor of Philomel, Jill Santopolo.

DATE: November 3, 2012

TIME/LOCATION:  8 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. The Glory Inn on Still Creek Ranch, Bryan, TX 77808COST: $150 SCBWI Members and $175 Non-Members

Free

Check out the WriteOnCon. It is currently in progress.  Here is the link. What is the WOC?  Attendees don’t need to take time off work, travel, or spend a truckload of money. They can enjoy the conference from the convenience of their own homes. All for childrens authors!  Yay!

SCBWI

Here is the PW write up for the Annual Conference.

Historical Resources

Article about historical fiction from Chris Cheng.  Chris is a fine children's writer and great friend of SCBWI. He is also an international consultants for a new e-journal, First Opinions, Second Reaction, that comes from Purdue University reviewing contemporary children's and young adult literature through various thematic and contextual lenses.

National Curriculum Stanadards for Social Studies offers curriculum standards adopted by many schools. Check out his resource to increase your work's relevancy in schools

Award for children's New World history writers -- Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction -- historical fiction set in the New World (North, South, or Central America) is celebrated by this award.

Read historical fiction for teens? Here's a good resource.   

  

The views expressed here are my own, and not necessarily those of the SCBWI.

Current Scratch: Marketing, Good, RIP

Howdy, folks. I hope the rain has helped you spend some time working on your stories.  

Our next Schmooze will fall on  7-25-2012  at the College Station Barnes and Noble.  Bring copies (up to 5) for gentle critique at 9:30 a.m.  Our program begins at 10 a.m. and the discussion topic will be: Schmooze: Historical Fiction for Children.

SCBWI-BV Region has two upcoming events and we now have ONLINE REGISTRATION.  The links are to the left. Here are brief details. Follow the links to learn more.

SCBWI-BV Saturday Workshop: Finding the Story
SPEAKERS: Mary Wade (non-fiction) and Jo Whittmore (YA).

DATE: August 18, 2012
TIME/LOCATION:: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Arts Center, 2275 Dartmouth, College Station, TX
COST: $45 SCBWI members, $50 Non-members.

SCBWI-BV Writing Intensive with Executive Editor of Philomel, Jill Santopolo.

DATE: November 3, 2012

TIME/LOCATION:  8 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. The Glory Inn on Still Creek Ranch, Bryan, TX 77808COST: $150 SCBWI Members and $175 Non-Members

MARKETING

Want some spot on, sensible advice about social media marketing. Check out this post on Writer Unboxed featuring advice from Elizabeth Law, Vice President and Publisher of Egmont USA.

I think this guy Michael Hyat is a smart cookie. I go to his sit often for practical advice about marketing, social, media, platform building, etc. Consider giving some of posts a read.

Do you know about KidLitosphere Central --The Society of Bloggers in Children’s and Young Adult Literature. Go here to learn you know everything about kid-lit. !


GOOD

Hey, book sales were up in May. Check it out here.

Texas author Varian Johnson just landed a deal with Scholastic!  Check out the details here.  

RIP

Were you a fan of Encyclopedia Brown? I know I was. Author Donald Sobol has passed away. Here is a thoughtful article about his passing in Mediabistro.  

The views expressed here are my own, and not necessarily those of the SCBWI.

Current Scratch: Events, News, YA

Howdy, folks! Are you hot yet?. Are you make goal progress? Be sure to mark you calendar with all our upcoming events.

Our next Schmooze will fall on  7-25-2012  at the College Station Barnes and Noble.  Bring copies (up to 5) for gentle critique at 9:30 a.m.  Our program begins at 10 a.m. and the discussion topic will be: Schmooze: Historical Fiction for Children.

Sign up for our awesome upcoming events. Coming soon -- online registration! Keep checking back.

SCBWI-BV Saturday Workshop: Finding the Story with Mary Wade, SCBWI Houston—Non-fiction and another TBA author—Fiction.

DATE: August 18, 2012
LOCATION/TIME: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Arts Center
2275 Dartmouth, College Station, TX
$45 SCBWI members
$50 Non-members

SCBWI-BV Writing Intensive with Executive Editor of Philomel, Jill Santopolo.

DATE: November 3, 2012

LOCATION AND TIME:

$150 SCBWI Members

$175 Non-Members

Register here!

NEWS

Great article in PW about writing memorable children's literature. This gives a broad perspective from many children's literature industry gurus.  Give it a look.

Wondering how to TWEET?  I mean, some of us are not the techno-gifted. Here is a link to a Twitter Cheat Sheet for Writers. Check it out.

YA RESOURCES

ALAN is the  Assembly on Literature for Adolescents of the National Council of Teachers of English website.  A great organization devoted to YA literature. Check it out.

Verlakay's  YA thread on her BLUE BOARDS. This is a great place to ask your burning questions. Many questions have already been asked. Lots to read.  

Adventures in Children's and YA Publishing. A great site with a worthy goal: in search of readers, and the information, market info, insider tidbits, and writing advice they find en route. 

Agent Mary Kole explores the children's genre with a focus of YA books. She is happy to answer questions. Check out her site.

Vandergrift's YA Literature page offers much in the way of understanding and appreciating YA lit. Check it out.

The Literary Link offers connections to so many wonderful YA lit sites. Go!

Want to know what is hot in YA lit. Check out the Bookanistas! The review the best upcoming books with nothing but love. Check out their site.

The views expressed here are my own, and not necessarily those of the SCBWI

Current Scratch: Shout Out, Awards, To Market

Howdy folks, summer is starting. Do you have a goal? I hope you carve out some time for your work over the next few months.  

Our next Schmooze will fall on  6-27-2012  at the College Station Barnes and Noble.  Bring copies (up to 5) for gentle critique at 9:30 a.m.  Our program begins at 10 a.m. and the discussion topic will be: Schmooze: What Is YA Today?

In local news, authors Kathy Whitehead  and Molly Blaisdell will be speaking on several panels at the upcoming Writers League of Texas Agent Conference.  

SHOUT OUT

SCBWI member with close local ties  Kelly Bennett has a new book out called ONE DAY I WENT RAMBLING from Bright Sky Press. It's illustrated by Terri Murphy.  The book is a celebration of shutting down the screens and diving into a creative play. You may wish to purchase it HERE.  You may also enter win an original illustration from the book and more HERE. Pass the word.

Here is a peek at the cover. 

 

Awards

This year the CLIP Carnegie Medal for picture book writing and the Kate Greenaway Medal for picture book illustration went  to the author and illustrator of the same book: A MONSTER CALLS (Walker).  No book has ever won both awards in the same year, reports PW.

To Market

Here is Vonna Carter's popular post: Conferences 2012: Editors. This post may help you choose what conferences to visit and you seek publishers for your work.

Here  is a little article over at GalleyCat. It's entitled "When Is Your Book Ready For An Agent."  Check out Eddie Schneider's advice; he's an agent at JABberwocky Literary Agency.

The views expressed here are my own, and not necessarily those of the SCBWI

Current Scratch: Messages, Magazines, Queries, News

Howdy folks, summer is starting. Do you have a goal? I hope you carve out some time for your work over the next few months.  

Our next Schmooze will fall on  6-27-2012  at the College Station Barnes and Noble.  Bring copies (up to 5) for gentle critique at 9:30 a.m.  Our program begins at 10 a.m. and the discussion topic will be: Children‘s Magazine Publishing. 

Local Author Sherry Garland is teaching a week long session at the Writers' Academy at West Texas A&M University on June 20-24, 2012. Sherry is an award-winning and best-selling author of thirty books for children, teens and adults and will teach Writing for Children and Young Adults. Using lectures and writing exercises, this course will cover a survey of children's literature; components of a picture book; components of a MG/YA novel including characterization, plot, dialog and voice; query letters and submitting manuscripts; working with editors and agents; marketing your book and promoting yourself; critique sessions. Here is the link to learn more and register for this event.  

Messages

Many authors feel they want insert a message into their work. This goes against the age old advice, "don't preach."  Here is an article by author Patrica C. Wrede that offers a unique perspective.

Laura Backes also offers a useful perspective on whether you should insert teaching into you current work. Here is an article at Children's Fiction Factory.

Magazines

Here is a link to many writer's guidelines for children's magazines at Freelancewriting.com.

Here is a listing of children's magazines at Yahoo.

Here is a link for non-fiction writers to help the build professional submissions for the magazine market, courtesy of the talented Fiona Bayrock.

Queries

Here is some solid advice on how to write a query letter to a magazine at AskAllison.

Here are some sample query letters from Margot Finke that worked at The Purple Crayon.

Children's author Cynthia Liu offers advice on how to create a professional query letter.

News

Houghton Mifflin-Harcourt filed for bankruptcy. Read about it in Businessweek.com  http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-05-21/houghton-mifflin-harcourt-publishing-files-for-bankruptcy

Random House book designer Chip Kidd gave a TED talk called “Designing books is no laughing matter. OK, it is.” This offers some insight into the marketing of books.  You may find this of some interest.

A new children's/YA imprint from World Wisdom for the philosophically inclined. Read about at PW.

The views expressed here are my own, and not necessarily those of the SCBWI

Current Scratch: Literacy, Write, Non-fiction, and RIP

Howdy folks, hope you are spending some time working on master works! Yay for rain to keep us indoors and working.

Our next Schmooze will fall on  5-30-2012  at the College Station Barnes and Noble.  Bring copies (up to 5) for gentle critique at 9:30 a.m.  Our program begins at 10 a.m. and the discussion topic will be: Children‘s Magazine Publishing. 
 
A new blog in town! Andy Sherrod's Big Boy Book Blog is a place to get the scoop on boy books. Andy's stated purpose, "My purpose here is to equip you to promote reading among boys who are alliterate (they know HOW to read but don't because they think books are boring)." Check it out.

Brazos Writers has an upcoming workshop on Saturday, June 16, from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. as poet, memoirist, and associate professor at Texas A&M University English Department Chuck Taylor helps writers draw on life experience to create memoirs or use memories to enrich other writing types. On-site registration and networking time at 8:30 a.m. Check it out.

Literacy

The story of one small town and how they got the kids reading. Reported in SLJ.

Write

We all can use some helps some times to create the best works. Here are some tools to help you create your best book. Here is one that will help you strengthen you plot. Here is another tool, 40 questions to a stronger manuscript.

Non-fiction Writers

Nonfiction Monday was started by Anastasia Suen. Bloggers across the kidlitosphere celebrate Nonfiction Monday by writing about nonfiction books for kids on Monday. Check it out.

 

Nonfiction writers, check out Ink Think Tank, a website with a database of non-fiction writers. You might find it interesting...

 

RIP

 

Take a moment to check out Leonard S. Marcus's article celebrating the life of Maurice Sendak in Publisher's Weekly.

 

The views expressed here are my own, and not necessarily those of the SCBWI

Current Scratch: Young Poets, News

Howdy, folks.   I hope you are taking time to create master works! 

Our next Schmooze will fall on  5-30-2012  at the College Station Barnes and Noble.  Bring copies (up to 5) for gentle critique at 9:30 a.m.  Our program begins at 10 a.m. and the discussion topic will be: Children‘s Magazine Publishing.  

April 28 -- Jeanette Larson, SCBWI member from Pflugerville, will be speaking about hummingbirds at 11 a.m. in the Clara B. Mounce Library, 201 E 26th St in downtown Bryan.  Her children's book, Hummingbirds: Facts and Folklore in the Americas (Charlesbridge, 2011), is illustrated with quilts, and she is bringing some samples of the art.

http://www.jeanettelarson.com/Books.htm#Books for Young People

http://www.charlesbridge.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=5433

Apr 28 --Brazos Valley's Sherry Garland will be signing her new book, Voices of the Dust Bowl (Pelican, 2012), 3:30-5:30 p.m. at Katy Budget Books. 

http://sherrygarland.com/  and http://www.pelicanpub.com/proddetail.php?prod=9781589809642

Apr 28 -- Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site and the Star of the Republic Museum for free on Saturday, April 28. See details below from the Arts Council of Brazos Valley. As an affiliate member of the ACBV our group is included in the event.

May 12 -- Brazos Writers presents Law & Disorder: Tales from the Street, Body Farm & Criminal Mind.  Brazos Center, Bryan, TX. 9 to 2:30. Here is the link. A little birdie might have told me that YA thrillers are hot, and this might help you out.

May 23 -- "Lessons from a Bestseller," writer’s workshop with New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry (The Jefferson Key, The Romanov Prophecy, The Amber Room) from When: 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church Fondren Hall. Follow this link for more info.

My (Molly Blaisdell) YA novel advanced to the semi-finals of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest. Follow this link to download the novel excerpt. I also have another story on an app called Farfaria. The story is "Waiting for Princess Tea."



YOUNG POETS

Winning young poets across the Brazos Valley joined to celebrate National Poetry Month on April 24 at the College Station Conference in BV-SCBWI annual poetry contest. Great thanks to Alyson Greene for doing such a great job chairing this event. Thanks to our volunteers Mary Mize, Kathy Whitehead, ARA Jacqueline Gramann, and everyone else who helped encourage the 6th, 7th and 8th graders of the Brazos Valley to explore the world of poetry.  Highlights included readings, snack and poems for your pocket. Follow this link to learn more about poems for your pocket. Contact Liz Mertz for additional copies of the poem books on sale for $5.00 each. Here are some pics from the event:

 A big crowd showed up. We have many fine poets in our area!

 Thanks to efforts of  program coordinator Alyson Greene the event was perfect!  She did a fabulous job!

Thanks Andy Sherrod for serving as MC. Thanks always to our SCBWI regional advisor, Liz Mertz.  And thanks to local educators, like 6th grade English teacher, Andrew Maly, of the Odyssey School in Bryan, Texas (on left) for encouraging participation.
 

NEWS

 

Capstone has launched a new trade division called Capstone Young Readers.  Read about it in PW.

 

An income avenue for publisher writers. Check out the honorarium deal from Audible.com

 

Catch up on who is moving where at Harold Underdown's site, The Purple Crayon.

 

Mystery writers, the 2012 Edgar Award winners have been announced. Click here for the nominees. Here are the two chidren's winners: BEST JUVENILE: Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby (Scholastic Press) and BEST YOUNG ADULT: The Silence of Murder by Dandi Daley Mackall (Random House Children’s Books – Knopf BFYR.

The views expressed here are my own, and not necessarily those of the SCBWI

Current Scratch: Trends, Edit, Poetry

Howdy, folks. Tough to work when the weather is perfect. Let the wildflowers inspire you some!  We have oodles of stuff going on in the Brazos Valley in the coming weeks. 

Our Schmooze this month will fall on  4-25-2012  at the College Station Barnes and Noble.  Bring copies up to 5 copies for gentle critique at 9:30 a.m.  Our program begins at 10 a.m. and the discussion topic will be: Elements of a Mystery" . 

April 7—Kelly Bennett, author of Your Mommy Was Just Like You and Dance, Y'all, Dance  reads at College Station Barnes & Noble Storytime, 10 a.m.—noon (also signing books)

April 17-20—Texas Library Association Conference at George R. Brown in Houston
            “Exhibits Only” pass allows a visitor to see publisher’s new books and authors' signings.

April 24—Young Poets on the Brazos poetry reading/award night, 7 p.m. at College Station Conference Center on George Bush Drive

April 28—Jeanette Larson, author of Hummingbirds: Facts and Folklore from the Americas will speak at Bryan Public Library, 11 a.m. to noon, family event

All April -- Script Frenzy is on, like NANOWRIMO for scripts. You might want to join in with the script writers at the Bryan/College Station Library events. Here is the link.

May 12 -- Brazos Writers presents Law & Disorder: Tales from the Street, Body Farm & Criminal Mind.  Brazos Center, Bryan, TX. 9 to 2:30. Here is the link. A little birdie might have told me that YA thrillers are hot, and this might help you out.

TRENDS

Here's the recap of Bologna Children's Bookfair and some enlightening news on trends. PW reports.

EDIT

Need some advice on how to edit a novel. Here's a useful article over at Writer's Digest.

POETRY

I know poetry is a big deal in the Brazos Valley. I mean we are having our yearly contest.  Why? It's National Poetry Writing Month!  Perhaps you want to write a poem. If you like children's poetry, this is a name you want to know: Lee Bennet Hopkins. Check out his website. Wonder who is the Children's Poetry Laureate?  For inquiring minds that want to know.  Check out NaPoWriMo too...

The views expressed here are my own, and not necessarily those of the SCBWI.