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.

Current Scratch: Local Events, SCBWI News, Publishing News, Better Blogs

Howdy, folks! Sorry there has been a little gap on the Scratchpad coming out. I'm working on that. Note: I'm looking for volunteers to join as contributors to the Scratchpad. Let me know if know if you are interested!

I hope your year hums with good news!

Mark your calendars. Our next Schmooze will fall on 2-27-13 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. The topic is picture books. See you there!

LOCAL EVENTS

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

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

Free lecture from author George R. R. Martin: 

"Deeper Than Swords: Celebrating the Work of George R. R. Martin"
Date: March 22, 2013

Time: 6:30 PM
Place: Rudder Auditorium: Texas A&M University

SCBWI NEWS

Crystal Kite: FIRST ROUND CRYSTAL KITE VOTING ENDS FEBRUARY 28TH. If you have not voted take time to look at the entries and vote.

 

WIP Grants: The Work-In-Progress, Barbara Karlin, and Don Freeman Grant will be open MARCH 1-30. Get your submissions ready! For more information and the full application check out the "Awards and Grants" section. This year for the first time submissions will be accepted electronically only- no paper submissions will be accepted.

 

All work in progress material must be submitted electronically. No paper submissions will be accepted, so make sure you read the applications carefully!

PUBLISHING NEWS
 
Sales of children's and YA books up significantly last year. Check out this ariticle at GalleyCat.

Wondering about "Common Core Standards" and how it might change the children's book industry?  Here is an article in Publisher's Weekly that might shed some light for you.

BETTER BLOGS

Do you want to make your blog better. Check out the tips on ProBlogger. Also check out Michael Hyatt's site.  Want some short and sweet tips -- check out this article from Rachelle Gardner.

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

Current Scratch: Local Events, Shout out! ALA Youth Media Awards

Howdy, folks! Welcome to a brand new year! First blog! I hope you are working on your stories.

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. We have a surprise guest.  Get your laptops and phones set up for a Google Hangout!  See you there!

LOCAL EVENTS

Book Signing With Janet Fox and Joy Preble

Author Signing. Join Janet Fox and Joy Preble for an exclusive young adult Q&A session of their latest books and what it takes to be a YA author. We will release Janet's newest book, Sirens, and Joy will talk about her upcoming book, The Sweet Dead Life.

 

Date/Time: Tuesday February 05, 2013 6:00 PM

Place Barnes and Nobles, Lone-Star Pavilion, 711 Texas Avenue, College Station, TX 77840, 979-764-8955

 

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.

Somehistory 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.

SHOUT OUT!

Local author, Linnea Heaney's poem, ALL GONE, has been accepted at Highlights Hello. The poem is her second poem accepted at Hello; BOUNCY was accepted last summer.

ALA YOUTH MEDIA AWARDS

Here are some 2013 highlights:
Newbery Medal - “The One and Only Ivan,” written by Katherine Applegate, is the 2013 Newbery Medal winner. The book is published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers.
Caldecott - “This Is Not My Hat,” illustrated and written by Jon Klassen, is the 2013 Caldecott Medal winner. The book is published by Candlewick Press.
Printz - “In Darkness,” written by Nick Lake, is the 2013 Printz Award winner. The book is published by Bloomsbury Books for Young Readers.

Follow this link to learn more.
 

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

Current Scratch: Shout Out, Perfect Copy, Book Sale

Howdy, folks! Welcome to a brand new year! First blog!  I hope you are working on your stories.

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.

Shout Out!

Local member CandiLynn Fite had some good news over the holidays! Candi received and accepted an offer for representation from Ms. Kathleen Rushall from Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. Go over to her blog to congratulate her!


Perfect Copy

Here is a useful copy advice article on Biographile:
Good Prose Month: Advice From a VP Executive Managing Editor and Copy Chief, From A to X.

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.