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.