Current Scratch: Publishing News, Social Media, and Book Events.

Howdy folks,  summer is ramping up and it is HOT! I hope that your works are on fire too.  This is a good time to hunker down in the air conditioning and move forward with your master works.

Our next Schmooze June 26, 2013

Our next Wednesday’s Schmooze is at 10 a.m. in the College Station Barnes & Noble. Our panel topic is: What's Your Favorite Color? and Other Questions to Ask Your Characters"  Before the meeting, a brief critique time begins at 9:30 a.m. Writers may bring up to 5 double-spaced pages of their work-in-progress to share.

 

The Ringer Library in College Station has two events for writers this Saturday June 15, 2012 if you have time.:

 

Brazos Writers offers Plotting Your Story with Mark Troy from 9:30 to 12:00.

 

Author Diane Kelly is offers a Horror Workshop from 2:00-4:00 a.m. . 

 

Check out more about these at this link.

 

PUBLISHING NEWS
 

Strong season ahead for children's publishers. Check out this article in PW.

 

New Children's Imprint Sci Fi and Fantasy by publisher Rebellion launched. Read about it here.

 

Follow the link for a new opportunity, Victoria Wells Arms leaves Bloomsbury to start a children's literary agency.  

 

SOCIAL MEDIA

 

Check out these 10 mistakes you might be making on Twitter.

Fun Tweet turns up lots tons of responses. Check out Sherman's Alexie's grammar cop rant.

 

 

 BOOK EVENTS

 

Do you have a recently published book?   The SCBWI Book Launch Award is now open. It provides $2000 to help market your book: http://www.scbwi.org/Pages.aspx/Book-Launch-Award.

 

Swag.  This is the free stuff you offer with book at signings and events -- bookmarks, pins, buttons, magnets, cupcakes, cookies, posters, tattoos, seed packets...authors are creative folk. Here is a new idea: Digital Swag. Check out this article at GalleyCat.

  

 

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

 

 

Current Scratch: Publishing News, Interest, Just For Fun, & Something Meaningful

Howdy folks! Phew. *fans self* If you're anything like me (melts in the sun), this is the time of the year when I spend the hot hours of the afternoon indoors, writing to my heart's content. So dig out those writing and/or illustrating projects and get busy!

JOIN US

Our next Schmooze May 29, 2013

Our next Wednesday’s Schmooze is at 10 a.m. in the College Station Barnes & Noble. Our panel topic is: Schmooze: Promise and Fulfillment—novel beginnings & endings. Before the meeting, a brief critique time begins at 9:30 a.m. Writers may bring up to 5 double-spaced pages of their work-in-progress to share.

Also Mark Your Calendars:

June:

Schmooze 6/26--"What's Your Favorite Color? and Other Questions to Ask Your Characters"  

 

***

Children's Literature Book Club
Date: May 30th
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Place: The Arts Center

Book to be discussed: The Moves Make the Man by Bruce Brooks

To find out more about the book club follow this link:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChildLitbookclub/

PUBLISHING NEWS

Check out the 2013 Children's Choice Book Awards.

Who's acquiring what? Publishers Weekly's Rights Report for the week of May 20th.

Read an interesting story about Barefoot Book's Brave Breakup with Amazon HERE. (Try to say that 5x quickly!)

INTEREST

2013 Cheerios' Spoonfuls of Stories Contest (For unpublished writers only)

This one's for the illustrators! Ever dream of submitting your fabulous artwork to the SCBWI Bulletin? Visit here to find out how.

Here's a cool call for submissions you don't see everyday, and it pays!

JUST FOR FUN

You must read this delightful story of Lost & Bound. It's a publishing success story you'll never forget.

Does your writing get bogged down with boring clichés? If so, check out this nifty tool.

SOMETHING MEANINGFUL

Writers Reaching Out To Others In Need


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

Current Scratch: Publishing News, Interest, Just for Fun!, Poetry

Hi folks! I wore my jacket in May in Texas. Proof positive anything is possible. Keep sending out your stories. May they bloom!

Our next Schmooze May 29, 2013

Our next Wednesday’s Schmooze is at 10 a.m. in the College Station Barnes & Noble. Our panel topic is: Schmooze: Promise and Fulfillment—novel beginnings & endings. Before the meeting, a brief critique time begins at 9:30 a.m. Writers may bring up to 5 double-spaced pages of their work-in-progress to share.

Also Mark Your Calendars

Children's Literature Book Club
Date: May 30th
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Place: The Arts Center

Book to be discussed: The Moves Make the Man by Bruce Brooks

To find out more about the book club follow this link:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChildLitbookclub/


PUBLISHING NEWS
Wondering what books sold like hot cakes last year (hmm, hunger...)?  Check out this article at PW.

Who is acquiring what? Check out the PW's rights report.

INTEREST

2013 NaPiBoWriWee is going on. The fifth annual 2013 NAPIBOWRIWEE (National Picture Book Writing Week) is a group of like minded picture book writers who attempt to write 100 picture books in 100 days. Read about it here.
View the 2013 SCBWI Crystal Kite Winners here.  These are SCBWI members choice awards.
Late bloomer? Good news for you from SCBWI.  Check out this article here. 
JUST FOR FUN!
Do you want write by hand, old school, but still want to save a trees. There is an app for that if you own a tablet. Check out this article at Galleycat.

POETRY

Out of print but if you can get your hands on a copy try to: Poem Making by Myra Cohn Livingston.  Myra was a crazy talented teacher who influenced the lives of many children's poets.

Want a witty, reader friendly guide to poetry.  Try the Ode Less Traveled by Stephen Fry. 

Want even more about poetry. Is the rhyme the thing for you?  Check out Children's Poetry at the Poetry Foundation.


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

Current Scratch: Publishing News, Interest, and Just For Fun!

Hi folks! I hope April's showers sprinkled new life into your projects! May they bloom!

Our next Schmooze April 24, 2013

Linnea Heaney will speak about Writing Lyrical at Wednesday’s Schmooze at 10 a.m. in the College Station Barnes & Noble. Her poetry has appeared in regional anthologies and in the new publication for very young children, Highlights Hello (upcoming titles: Bouncy, Filling Up). A Real Best Friend, a lyrical picture book story for children, was published at Hunger Mountain: the Vermont College of Fine Arts journal. Before the meeting, a brief critique time begins at 9:30 a.m. Writers may bring up to 5 double-spaced pages of their work-in-progress to share.

Also Mark Your Calendars

Children's Literature Book Club
Date: May 30th
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Place: The Arts Center

Book to be discussed: The Moves Make the Man by Bruce Brooks

To find out more about the book club follow this link:
 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChildLitbookclub/

PUBLISHING NEWS

Changes and Trends in Children's and YA Publishing: An ABPA Panel

INTEREST

Interesting article about the 10 Best Small Towns in Books. Check out those Texas towns!

Farewell to award-winning children's author, E.L. Konigsburg. R.I.P. See article here.

JUST FOR FUN!

Illustrator Adam Rex shows us how he makes a picture book.

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

Current Scratch:Shout Out!, Publishing News, Interest.

Hi folks, I hope that you have a chance to get out and see the wildflowers. The Brazos Valley is blooming and hope that your projects are doing the same.

Mark your calendars. Our next Schmooze will fall on 3-27-13 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. This month: Writing Lyrical.

Also mark your calendar. It's national poetry month, and our local region of SCBWI promotes poetry in the our town every year by holding a contest for 6th through 8th graders in the Brazos Valley. Consider attending the award ceremony. Want to know more? Please email our regional advisor, Liz Mertz.

Young Poets on the Brazos poetry reading and award ceremony

Date: April 16, 2013
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: A&M United Methodist Church, 417 University, College Station

We have a local children's book club. Check it out.

Children's Literature Book Club
Date:  April 25th and May 30th
Time: 4:30 PM
Place: The ArtsCenter

Books to be discussed:

April: The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P Figg by Rodman Philbrick

May: The Moves Make the Man by Bruce Brooks

Please learn more by following this link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChildLitbookclub/

SHOUT OUT!

Kathi Appelt has a new book on the horizon: THE TRUE BLUE SCOUTS OF SUGAR MAN SWAMP.  Out in July from Simon and Schuster. Read about it here: .http://books.simonandschuster.com/True-Blue-Scouts-of-Sugar-Man-Swamp/Kathi-Appelt/9781442366138.

Sherry Garland's first picture book THE LOTUS SEED just had a birthday! It's 20 years old and in its 14th printing.  Check it out here.

PUBLISHING NEWS

Amazon has acquired the book lovers social networking site: Goodreads. Read about it here.

Here's a new imprint from Enslow. They are accepting submissions. This is all about boy books. Here is a link to Speeding Star.

INTEREST

This article at GalleyCat might be of some interest to those who wish to self publish. This article offers links to many self publishing video tutorials on the web. Enjoy here.

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

Current Scratch: Local Events, Publishing News, For the Illustrator, And A Bit Of Fun

Howdy, folks! Can you feel it? Spring is all abuzz. I hope your writing and illustrating projects are zooming with invigorating energy. If not...grab a pen / pencil and a notebook and head outdoors. Let nature inspire you!

Mark your calendars. Our next Schmooze will fall on 3-27-13 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. This month: Kid-lit discussion boards - Why? What? How? Speaker: Molly Blaisdell, moderator for Children's Writer and Illustrator Board. See you there!

SCBWI Brazos Valley presents "Self-Publishing: When, Why & How to

Professionally Self-Publish Your Book" with Erin Casey, author, editor, and self-publishing expert. More info? http://www.erin-casey.com/

Date: Saturday, April 6, 2013
Time: 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. 

Place: Arts Center, 2275 Dartmouth St., College Station, Texas 77840

Fee: $20 for SCBWI members/$25 non-members

Bring your own lunch and join us at the Arts Center!  Click for registration form.

Also mark your calendar. It's national poetry month, and our local region of SCBWI promotes poetry in the our town every year by holding a contest for 6th through 8th graders in the Brazos Valley. Consider attending the award ceremony.  Want to know more? Please email our regional advisor, Liz Mertz.

Young Poets on the Brazos poetry reading and award ceremony

Date: April 16, 2013
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: A&M United Methodist Church, 417 University, College Station

LOCAL EVENTS

Bestselling & award winning author presents a 2-part workshop
Writing Workshop with Beth Wiseman

PUBLISHING NEWS

Check this out
Bestselling Children's Books of 2012

FOR THE ILLUSTRATORS

"Art is a language"
Speak the Language by E.B. Lewis

AND FOR A BIT OF FUN

Who doesn't love cupcakes and books?
Have Your (Cup)Cake & Read it Too


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

Current Scratch: Local Events, Shout Out, Awards, App, New Adult

Howdy, folks!  Spring is in the air! Proof positve: my redbud tree is covered with buds. I hope that you are springing up with new projects, too. I've heard there are bluebonnets in North Bryan already!

Mark your calendars. Our next Schmooze will fall on 3-27-13 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. This month: Kid-lit discussion boards - Why? What? How? See you there!

LOCAL EVENTS

Children's Literature Book Club
Date: March 28
Time: 4:30 PM
Place: The ArtsCenter

Please learn more by following this link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChildLitbookclub/

SHOUT OUT!

Congrats!  Beautiful new cover of Sherry Garland's book, Voices of Pearl Harbor. Available locally at Barnes and Noble.

AWARDS

This year's SCBWI Golden Kite has been announced along with Sid Fleischman Award winners and honorees. The Golden Kite for fiction goes to: The Five Lives of Our Cat Zook by Joanne Rocklin. For the complete list of winners, follow this link.

Check out the Charolotte Zolotow Award for picture book text awarded by the Cooperative Children's Book Center. This year's winner is  Each Kindness, written by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by E. B. Lewis. Follow the link to learn the rest of the honorees.

APP

Here is an app that may be of some interest to you. Check out Scholastic's Storia.

New Adult

One buzzing genre out there is a new adult and may be of some interest to those who write books for readers between teens and adults. Here is an article discussing this new genre. Check out this article about  a "new adult" imprint.


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