Current Scratch: Join Us, Local, NaNo, Book Business, Awards, & School Visits

Howdy, folks! Have your projects been spooktacular this month? Are you getting geared up for NaNo? Whatever your WIP is, may the bookish force be with you!


JOIN US


Only 9 days left before Pick up the Pace!—A Workshop with Agent Jodell Sadler of Sadler Children’s Literary, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014 at A& M United Methodist Church, College Station, TX

Story pacing can make the difference between a “nice try” rejection and a publishable manuscript. Whether you’re working on page turns in a 500-word picture book or end-of-chapter cliff-hangers in a 50,000-word novel, Jodell Sadler has tips and tools to help pick up the pace. Join SCBWI Brazos Valley for a day-long workshop focused on pacing and strong writing skills.* Registration fees are $125 for SCBWI members and $150 for non-members. Whether paying by check or credit card, please register through the event website.

SCBWI Regional Webinar

 Webinar: Evolution of a Book Cover with Chad

Date - 11/11/2014

TIME: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Cost: SCBWI members/ $10; non-members/ $35. Members, make sure you're logged in with your SCBWI id and password to get the member price.

Abrams Creative Director Chad W. Beckerman will teach "The Evolution of a Book Cover" for the last joint Texas SCBWI webinar of 2014.

LOCAL

Teen & Middle Grade Authors event. Larry J. Ringer Library in College Station: On Saturday, November 8, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., and Sunday, November 9, 2-4 p.m., Teen & Middle Grade Authors: Teen and tween aspiring authors and adult authors who write for teen and middle grade audiences, talk about your books and about other teen and middle grade fiction, book signings allowed. Contact Kendra at kperkins@bryantx.gov or (979) 764-3416. More info about this event here. *If you would like to be a featured author and have books signed at this event, please contact Kendra Perkins at the email address above.

NANOWRIMO

Have you had a story idea brewing in the back of your mind? Well, now is the perfect time to set that project on fire! The offical NaNoWriMo website can assist you. Meet other NaNo'ers, get support, keep track of progress, & write a novel in 30 days!

BOOK BUSINESS

Diversity in books... Here's the latest news from Publisher's Weekly on the subject. The We Need Diverse Books organization is doing great things!

AWARDS

Here's a list of the CILIP Carnegie Nominations for 2015.

TIPS ON SCHOOL VISITS

These tips come from a school librarian. Although written in a humorous tone, I found them most helpful when preparing for my school visit. 

*I'm working on a list of author visit tips. If you have any advice or suggestions, please email me at candice.fite@gmail.com.

 

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

Current Scratch: Events, Local, NANOWRIMO, In Memorium, News, Fun

Howdy, folks! The Monarch butterflies were emerging like crazy today. I hope that you were lucky enough to see one! I hope that your work is emerging like a beautiful butterfly too!

JOIN US

Our next Schmooze: Roundtable Discussion. and others. Join the discussion on Wednesday, Oct, 29 at 10 a.m. in the College Station Barnes & Noble. A brief summary of news from the SCBWI Summer Conference will follow. Those who have time will go out to lunch as well. Come early for a gentle critique starting at 9:30 a.m. Bring 5 copies of 5 double-spaced pages to share.


Brazos Valley SCBWI EVENTS

Illustrator event! Join SCBWI-BV, as we attend a free lecture featuring James Gurney, author of the Dinotopia series. This is sponsored by The Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts (AVPA) at Texas A&M University. A treat for your inner artist. We will meet on Thursday, October 23 at 5 p.m. for a bite to eat at Paolo's Italian Kitchen on University and then head over to at 7 p.m. to Geren Auditorium at the College of Architecture on the A&M campus for the lecture. Email me if you are interested! (molly@mollyblaisdell.com)

"James Gurney is the artist and author best known for his illustrated book series Dinotopia. He specializes in painting realistic images of scenes that can’t be photographed, from dinosaurs to ancient civilizations." (jamesgurney.com)

Pick up the Pace!—A Workshop with Agent Jodell Sadler of Sadler Children’s Literary
9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014 at A& M United Methodist Church, College Station, TX

Story pacing can make the difference between a “nice try” rejection and a publishable manuscript. Whether you’re working on page turns in a 500-word picture book or end-of-chapter cliff-hangers in a 50,000-word novel, Jodell Sadler has tips and tools to help pick up the pace. Join SCBWI Brazos Valley for a day-long workshop focused on pacing and strong writing skills.* Registration fees are $125 for SCBWI members and $150 for non-members. Whether paying by check or credit card, please register through the event website.

In addition to the workshop, attendees may submit pages/portfolios for critique. Only eight slots are available with Ms. Sadler, and the face-to-face meetings will be scheduled in the morning on Sunday, Nov. 9. A fee of $45 is due at registration, and submissions** will be due (postmarked by) Oct. 15.

SCBWI Regional Webinar

Webinar: Evolution of a Book Cover with Chad Beckerman

Date - 11/11/2014
TIME:7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Cost: SCBWI members/t $10; non-members/ $35. Members, make sure you're logged in with your SCBWI id and password to get the member price. 

Abrams Creative Director Chad W. Beckerman will teach "The Evolution of a Book Cover" for the last joint Texas SCBWI webinar of 2014. 

Texas BookFest Road Trip

Join us to carpool to the Texas Book Fest on October 25, 2014.  We will meet in the HEB TowerPoint Parking Lot at 8 a.m. to leave from College Station to Austin. If you don't want to travel with us, please meet us at the Capitol Building in front of the Peace Officer's Memorial.  Here are the directions.  Please RSVP on the our BV SCBWI Facebook Page. or email Molly (molly@mollyblaisdell.com).

LOCAL

Teen & Middle Grade Authors event. Larry J. Ringer Library in College Station: On Saturday, November 8, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., and Sunday, November 9, 2-4 p.m., Teen & Middle Grade Authors: Teen and tween aspiring authors and adult authors who write for teen and middle grade audiences, talk about your books and about other teen and middle grade fiction, book signings allowed. Contact Kendra at kperkins@bryantx.gov or (979) 764-3416. More info about this event here. *If you would like to be a featured author and have books signed at this event, please contact Kendra Perkins at the email address above.

NANOWRIMO

Do you have an idea brewing? A character or two who refuse to let you rest at night? No worries, here's a challenge just for you. National Novel Writing Month comes in November! Check out the site for details.

IN MEMORIUM

Author Zilpha Keatley Snyder, who received three Newbery Honors for her middle-grade novels, including The Egypt Game, has died of complications from a stroke, in San Francisco. She was 87. Read more in PW. 

NEWS

Check out the YA. These imprints are YA all the time.  This article in PW  unpacks current YA only imprints. 

FUN

This SNL parody of YA film adaptations of popular books will make you laugh. Check it out here. 

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