SCBWI-Ventura/Santa Barbara Region and
California Lutheran University School of Education present
Writers’ Day ‘07
Saturday
October 27
9:00am to 4:30pm
at
California Lutheran University
Preus-Brandt Forum
60 W. Olsen Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
Doors open at 8:00am
$85 members / $95 non-members
$45 extra for written manuscript critique/portfolio review
Click here to register.
SPEAKERS
SUSAN PATRON, Newbery Medalist, The Higher Power of Lucky (Atheneum)
REKA SIMONSEN, Senior Editor, Henry Holt Books for Young Readers
KENDRA LEVIN, Assistant Editor, Viking Children’s Books
TIM GILLNER, Art Director, Boyds Mills Press
JAY ASHER, Author of Thirteen Reasons Why (Razorbill/Penguin)
DENISE GRUSKA, Author of The Only Boy in Ballet Class (Gibbs-Smith)
BARBARA JEAN HICKS, Author of The Secret Life of Walter Kitty (Knopf)
RENÉ COLATO LAÍNEZ, Author of Playing Lotería (Rising Moon Books)
HEATHER TOMLINSON, Author of The Swan Maiden (Henry Holt Books
for Young Readers)
SPECIAL FEATURES
Spotlight presentations by newly published members
Random FIRST PAGE critiques by guest editors
Writing Contest
Illustration Gallery Display
Manuscript Critiques
Portfolio Critiques
Book Sale by Adventures for Kids
Display of Members’ Newest Books
Powerpoint Display of Published Members
Free lunch
Door prizes
Inspiration
DIRECTIONS
Directions to California Lutheran University * Preus-Brandt
Forum
60 W. Olsen Road * Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
Take Ventura Fwy (101) to Hwy 23 * Go NORTH on 23 (toward Fillmore) *
Exit at Olsen Road * Left on Olsen * Left on Mountclef Blvd * Right into
CLU parking lot
OR
Simi Valley Fwy (118) West * It becomes Hwy 23 South * Exit Olsen Rd *
Right on Olsen * Left on Mountclef Blvd * Right into CLU parking lot.
FREE parking.
SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES
(in alphabetical order)
Jay Asher
originally wanted to be a funny picture book writer. Then a funny middle grade writer. Then a funny chapter book series writer. Three agents and twelve years later, he almost called it quits (because it just wasn't funny anymore!), but his wife wouldn't let him. So he wrote something different. Thirteen Reasons Why, a suspense novel for teens, sold to Razorbill/Penguin in a two-book deal with a six-figure advance. Visit his blog at: http://www.discomermaids.blogspot.com.
Tim Gillner
Art Director Boyds Mills Press, is a graduate of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. He has worked in magazines, textbooks, and trade books for the past twenty-eight years. Tim was a teacher at Marywood University where he taught book illustration for twelve years. He is a member of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and the Society of Illustrators in New York City. Tim resides in a 150-year-old farmhouse with his wife, a beagle dog, and four cats, and enjoys spending time in the outdoors.
Denise Gruska
was a screenwriter by trade until she had a son in 1999. Then everything skewed younger for her. WAY younger. Plus, she is a firm believer in the adage Write What You Know, which begs the question, will she have to move on to chapter books and YA as time goes on? In the meantime, The Only Boy in Ballet Class is her first picture book, and she couldn't be more thrilled.
Barbara Jean Hicks
has worked more jobs than a leopard has spots, but the most enduring of her occupations is writing. The author of thirteen "grown-up" books and four children's books, including the award-winning Jitterbug Jam (FSG 2005) and her most recent release, The Secret Life of Walter Kitty (Knopf 2007), she also presents visiting author programs for schools and libraries. An aspiring artist, Barbara dreams of one day illustrating a picture book of her own.
René Colato Laínez
Known by his students as "the teacher full of stories,” René Colato Laínez is the Salvadoran author of several bilingual picture books including Waiting for Papá and Playing Lotería. His book I Am René, the Boy, received the Latino Book Award for Best Bilingual Children’s Book of 2006. René holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College. He lives in Arleta, California. His forthcoming book is My Shoes and I.
Kendra Levin
is an Assistant Editor at Viking Children’s Books, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA), where she has been for the past two years. Prior to that, she worked at Scholastic in Book Clubs and as an intern in the Trade Paperback group. She is also an award-winning playwright whose work has been produced Off-Broadway. Kendra lives in Brooklyn, but she is a California girl at heart—she was born and spent the first nine years of her life in Santa Barbara.
Susan Patron
is a slow reader who loves books. She was a librarian for 35 years at the Los Angeles Public Library, has taught courses in children's literature, reviewed children's books for various print media, published articles and given lectures on aspects of juvenile materials collection development, and served on many local, state, and national children's book award committees. She is married to a rare book restorer. Susan is also a children's book writer with four picture books, a chapter book called Maybe Yes, Maybe No, Maybe Maybe, and a novel, The Higher Power of Lucky (Atheneum), which was awarded the Newbery Medal this year.
Reka Simonsen
is a senior editor at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. She has been with the company for eight years, where she edits everything from picture books to young adult novels. Titles she has edited include The Poet Slave of Cuba by Margarita Engle, The Truth About Sparrows by Marian Hale, The Golden Dream of Carlo Chuchio by Lloyd Alexander, The Swan Maiden by Heather Tomlinson, and the Melvin Beederman series by Greg Trine. Before joining Holt, Reka edited coffee table books, assisted with college textbooks, and worked at New York’s premier children’s bookstore, Books of Wonder. She is from northern California.
Heather Tomlinson
grew up in California and New Hampshire. After majoring in French at Wellesley College, she taught English in Paris and French in the U.S., then worked for several years in book distribution. In 2000, Heather moved to Ventura County, joined SCBWI, and started writing full-time. Her first novel, The Swan Maiden, was inspired by French fairy tales and the magical countryside of Provence. Heather blogs about reading, writing, and sailing at http://calepin.livejournal.com/.
SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES
WRITING CONTEST
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Free.
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Limited to two manuscripts in any of these categories: fiction, nonfiction or poetry
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No more than one submission per genre.
Genres include:- Picture Book
(send whole, double-spaced manuscript. NO dummies or illustrations.) -
Easy Reader/Chapter Book, Middle Grade or Young Adult
(send up to 10 double-spaced pages plus a 1-page single-spaced synopsis)
- Picture Book
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NEW POLICY: Place your name on cover sheet only.
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Contest Deadline: Postmark by September 7. Do not send by certified mail or anything requiring our signature at the Post Office. Standing in line makes us cranky. We mean it!
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Manuscripts must be accompanied by the registration fee in the same envelope.
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CONTEST MANUSCRIPTS WILL NOT BE RETURNED.
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Judges reserve the right NOT to give awards in any category.
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You must be pre-registered and present to win.
ILLUSTRATORS’ GALLERY
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Illustrators are invited to display one 16” x 20” vertical, self-standing “gallery” of their work. No portfolios or handouts on the table. Handouts and “gallery” must be contained within the same display. Bring it with you on Writers' Day.
MANUSCRIPT CRITIQUES
Our guest editors and published reviewers will be offering critiques
of manuscripts & portfolios. Limited space. All children’s
genres welcome. Manuscript critiques will be handed out at the end of
the conference. Portfolios will be reviewed face-to-face in 15-minute
slots. It is okay to submit a duplicate manuscript of one contest entry.
Send full picture book manuscripts, and up to 10 pages plus synopsis
for all others.
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$45 fee. One entry only. Any category or genre. (See “Writing Contest” above for guidelines)
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Write CRITIQUE on the cover sheet of your manuscript along with your name, address, phone number and email. You will be assigned to either an editor or published reviewer, depending on space available. If you do not wish to exercise the option of having your work critiqued by a published reviewer, write EDITOR ONLY on your cover sheet with the understanding that editors’ slots fill quickly.
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Enclose a separate check made out to V/SB SCBWI. In the event that there are no slots available, your check will be returned to you on Writers' Day.
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For Writer’s Day attendees only.
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Manuscripts will be assigned to editors on a first-come basis.
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If editors’ slots are full, your written review will be conducted by a published author. No registration or critique refunds for anyone receiving an editor’s critique.
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The same manuscript may be submitted for both the contest and a critique. Submit two separate copies if submitting for both purposes.
PORTFOLIO CRITIQUES
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$45 fee. Limited number of slots available.
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Enclose a separate check made out to V/SB SCBWI. In the event that there are no slots available, your check will be returned to you on Writers' Day.
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For Writers' Day attendees only.
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Bring your portfolio with you if you are assigned a slot.
FIRST PAGES PANEL
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Bring one first page of a manuscript (double-spaced, 12-point type) with you to Writers’ Day. DO NOT PUT YOUR NAME ON THE PAGE.
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First pages will be randomly selected and read out loud to the audience and panel for guest editors’ comments.
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First pages will not be returned.
REGISTRATION
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Manuscripts, checks and the registration form must be sent in ONE package.
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Clearly label your manuscripts by indicating CONTEST or CRITIQUE at the top of the first page.
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To download a registration form, Click here
REFUNDS
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$20 service fee applied to all cancellations. Full fee retained after October 20.
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No refunds for those receiving an editor’s critique.
DEADLINES
September 7 (postmark): Free manuscript contest
entry and/or Paid manuscript critiques.
October 20 (postmark): Registration deadline.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Questions? Contact Regional Advisor Alexis O’Neill: CLICK HERE to e-mail Alexis O'Neill
Click
here
to register for V/SB Writers' Day ’07