Current Scratch: Join Us, Awards, Opportunities, Interest, & For Fun

Howdy, folks! It's official. The Bluebonnets and Texas Paintbrushes are blooming. The trees are budding. Spring has sprung! What new projects of yours are springing to life?

JOIN US

Diandra Mae: An Illustrator's Perspective, 10 a.m. March 26, Barnes & Noble College Station, TX. Want to know what happens once an illustrator receives a new picture book text? Illustrator coordinator for SCBWI Houston, Diandra Mae, will fill us in, along with tips for writers on "leaving room for the illustrator." Check out her portfolio in the Illustrators Gallery. Or stop by her website or her blog. Come early for gentle critique at 9:30 a.m. and/or stay around as the discussion continues over lunch. Join us!

The Children's Literature Book Club meets on March 27th. March reading list.RETURN TO SENDER by Julia Alvarez and A CAFECITO STORY, by Julia Alvarez, will be shared More info? Contact here: ChildLitbookclub@yahoogroups.com.

AWARDS

The Texas Institute of Letters gives out literary awards every year in several different categories. Read more about it here. 

Our local members are nominated!

VOICES OF PEARL HARBOR by Sherry Garland, illus. by  Layne Johnson is a finalist H-E-B Awards for Best Children’s Book ($500)

And

TRUE BLUE SCOUTS by Kathi Appelt. is a finalist in the YA category.

National Book Awards at Sam Houston

OPPORTUNITIES

In light of our recent (awesome!) Speculative Fiction workshop with Martha Wells, check out this writing opportunity in Inaccurate Realities, a Speculative Fiction magazine. Next submission theme: Superpowers, due May 15, 2014.

Highlights Retreat Scholarship


INTEREST

April 26-27  SCBWI Houston holds their annual conference.  Find out more details here.

FOR FUN

Ever wanted to pick Neil Gaiman's brain about why he writes scary stories for kids? Here's your chance.

And how about the big Oxford comma squabble? Are you for or against it? Check out this fun, animated video.

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

Current Scratch: Join us, Industry News, Grants, In State, Crystal Kite

Hi folks, warmer days have arrived! I hope that you have found some time to work on your projects. I hope that everything is singing.

JOIN US

Want to know what happens once an illustrator receives a new picture book text? Illustrator coordinator for SCBWI Houston, Diandra Mae, will fill us in, along with tips for writers on "leaving room for the illustrator." Check out her portfolio in the Illustrators Gallery. Or stop by her website or her blog. Come to the Schmooze on Wednesday, March 26, at 10 a.m. in the College Station Barnes & Noble. 

ALSO Join us for "Writing Speculative Fiction for Kids and Teen with acclaimed fantasy author Martha Wells.

March 22
Time: 10 a.m - noon
Place: Arts Council of Brazos Valley

Martha will offer her expert overview of  writing speculative fiction, including tips, resources, exercises and practical advice. Bring your questions for a time of Q&A. Copies of Martha’s books will be available for purchase—cash or check only. We look forward to seeing you!

Registration for the workshop is $20 for SCBWI members or $25 for non-members. Seating is limited. Please let us know you are coming by emailing brazosvalley@scbwi.org and then paying at the door. Bring your check book to buy books too!

Martha Wells (www.marthawells.com) is the author of a number of fantasy novels, including her YA fantasy, Emilie and the Hollow World, which was published by Angry Robot/Strange Chemistry in April 2013, and the sequel, Emilie and the Sky World, which will be out in March 2014. She’s also the author of The Cloud Roads, The Wizard Hunters, and the Nebula-nominated The Death of the Necromancer. The Siren Depths was published in December 2012 by Night Shade Books, and is the third in the Books of the Raksura series.

March 27 Children's Literature Book Club: Meets last Thursday of the month, subject to change. Please check.  March reading list.RETURN TO SENDER by Julia Alvarez and A CAFECITO STORY, by Julia Alvarez, will be shared More info? Contact here: childlitbookclub-owner@yahoogroups.com.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Here is an in depth artcle about the shifting children's market from PW. Emphasis on how ebooks are changing the market. Interesting.

What do editors thing about their work? Publishing advice that editors would give to their younger selves. Check it out in PW.

Thinking about self-publishing. Here are six questions to ask yourself from GalleyCat.

DreamWorks launches its own press. Read about it here.

 GRANTS

Work-in-progress grant applications are due in March.  Follow the links for the important details.

Here is an extended list of grants, fellow ships and prizes post on Horn Book. 

IN STATE

April 26-27  SCBWI Houston holds their annual conference.  Check ou this link for details.

Here are the links to our state's SCBWI regions: austin.scbwi.org, brazosvalley.scbwi org, houston.scbwi.org, northtexas.scbwi.org, swtexas.scbwi.org.   

CRYSTAL KITE

This is our annual members choice award. The deadline has been extend until Mar. 26.  Consider entering your book! Here are the details.

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