Chinook Update

Introducing, our brand new blog: Pen & Story!

2019-04-11T14:02:00.001-07:00

The Chinook Update has been good to us for a long time, but

'tis the season for "out with the old, in with the new."

So, just in time for spring,

we're thrilled to unveil our brand new blog:

Pen & Story

New blog! New Look! New Features!

We think this new blog home will help us serve you better

as we all look toward the future.

So, go check it out, and be sure to subscribe by email

so you don't miss any upcoming posts!

https://www.penandstory.com/

There will be no new posts on this blog.

From now on, it's all happening at Pen & Story.

Please make sure to update your bookmarks accordingly.

A huge THANK YOU to Kimberly Baker for envisioning and leading this effort, and for putting together the amazing new Primer, an awesome one-stop-shop for anything you might need at every stage of your career!

April Meeting: Alma Alexander and World Buiding

2019-04-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

For our April Monthly Meeting, we present Alma Alexander, novelist, anthologist, and short story writer. Alma will speak to us on the evergreen topic of worldbuilding and creating solid story worlds. Come add trusty tools to your crafty toolkit!

Worldbuilding for Solid Story Worlds

Saturday, April 13, 10 am - noon

Bellevue College Paccar Auditorium N-201

(Coal Creek Rd, Bellevue, WA 98007)

Free parking! Closest lots are 13 and 14.

Faculty Spotlight on Local Talent Nisi Shawl

2019-04-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

Julie Artz: Welcome, Nisi! We're so excited to have you join us as keynote speaker and honored faculty at SCBWI Western Washington's Spring Conference, Imagine That!

I first learned about your work when I read the book you co-authored with Cynthia Ward, Writing the Other. What led you to write that book and to tackle the topic of representation in literature?

Nisi Shawl: The full origin story is posted on the website of the publisher, Aqueduct Press. Basically, I heard one too many times from one too many intelligent writers that they wanted to skip out on doing the work of believable representation--for fear of getting it wrong. Though the instigating comment was made more than 25 years ago, that same sentiment is something I continue to hear to this very day. Writing is not for the faint of heart, I say. Learning is risky. However, in the book and in the courses I co-teach, I offer tools and techniques for getting better at believable representation with practice and good will. It’s work, but it’s doable.

Julie: I hear you have a children's book coming up. What can you tell us about it? What led you to try your hand at children's literature?

Nisi: That’s my middle grade historical fantasy, Speculation, coming out from Lee and Low sometime next year. I’m in the midst of revisions now. Speculation is the story of two African American girls who go to stay with their grandparents in the country while their mother’s hospitalized. The younger girl sits on the older girl’s glasses and breaks them, so the older one has to wear her great-aunt’s glasses and she sees ghosts through them and is given a magical quest…it’s inspired by my encounters as a kid with the works of Edward Eager and E. Nesbit, but blackified. I was quite the young nerd, and I wrote Speculation and some other as-yet-unpublished books as gifts to the girl I was. And of course for all those girls and boys like me.

Julie: In addition to keynoting Saturday's conference, you're also teaching a masterclass Sunday on Representing the Other: Dialect and Narrative Voice. Can you tell us a little bit more about your teaching experience and what you think participants will walk away with after they attend your class?

Nisi: Experience! I am big on practical results, and I include several exercises in my classes so that students get to use the tools and techniques I recommend for this work. I want people also to have fun, so that they realize that while Representing the Other takes effort, it is a joyful and rewarding effort.

My teaching experience is quite varied. I’ve led weeklong retreats for 5th- and 6th-graders, workshops and classes for MFA programs, and online webinars lasting anywhere from one hour to six weeks. And more. I always learn something from my students. It’s performance art, and every audience draws out new skills, new perspectives, new insights.

Julie: What's one piece of advice that really helped you early in your career?

Nisi: John Crowley told me that the emotional burden of any situation is what I need to have gone through. I don’t need to BE the long-lost heir to the throne, but I better know how said long-lost heir feels. Invaluable and always appropriate advice.

Julie: What's the best part of your job? The most challenging part?

Nisi: By far the best part of my job is hearing that a writer has sent a book out into the world that they credit me for helping with. Writing the Other is like a midwife, and these authors bear their literary offspring and I am part of it!

The most challenging aspect of my job these days is travel. Packing, buying tickets, making transfers, passing through security, adjusting to new time zones--“Aaugghhh!” as Charlie Brown would say. Thank goodness SCBWI WWA is in my current hometown of Seattle. Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Julie: We can't wait! Many thanks.

Nisi Shawl wrote the 2016 Nebula Award finalist Everfair and the 2008 James Tiptree, Jr. Literary Award winner Filter House. In 2005 she co-wrote Writing the Other: A Practical Approach, a standard text on diversity and inclusivity in the imaginative genres. She has spoken at institutions ranging from University of Hawai’i Manoa to Smith College. Shawl is a founder of the Carl Brandon Society, a nonprofit dedicated to the fair representation of minorities in fantastic literature. For the last twenty years she has served on the board of the Clarion West Writers Workshop. She lives in southern Seattle and takes frequent walks with her cat.

Faculty Spotlight on Local Publisher Asia Citro

2019-03-28T09:34:00.000-07:00

Asia Citro, publisher at The Innovation Press

BETH BACON: Today I'm thrilled to speak with the publisher of The Innovation Press, Asia Citro, who is a faculty member of the SCBWI WWA's Spring Conference, Imagine That! Asia, please tell us how The Innovation Press came to be.

ASIA CITRO: I started as a blogger at Fun at Home With Kids, sharing activities that helped parents and kids integrate science, art, crafts, and play into creative, inexpensive at-home activities. My success with that site thankfully made it really easy to get a deal for my first book, 150 + Screen-Free Activities for Kids. The book was a natural extension of my blog and by publishing a book, I’d achieved a big goal. But parts of the experience were frustrating for me. The publisher put out so many titles, I think at the time they were producing something like 600 to 800 books per season. That volume seemed problematic to me. They just couldn't offer the amount of attention that I wanted for my book.

So when I was ready to write another book, I did not want to go through the same experience. Instead I started The Innovation Press. The Curious Kid’s Science Book was our first title, and then a year later, A Little Bit of Dirt.

BETH: How did you learn to be a publisher?

ASIA: I basically created the publishing company that I, as an author, wanted for my books. It was for sure overwhelming, but I tried to look at it as a great opportunity for me to create new and possibly better ways to do things. And that’s why I called us The Innovation Press, because we definitely do a lot of things differently. I wanted, as an author, to have a say in the creation of the books. I wanted marketing support. I wanted to know that my book was being meticulously cared for. I designed my dream publishing house around those ideals.

BETH: What things does The Innovation Press do differently than traditional publishers?

ASIA: There are definitely things we do differently than traditional publishers. Many publishers have a policy that illustrators and authors never talk. That’s how it’s always been done. We don’t do that. We have an editor who coordinates the relationship, but our authors definitely get to look at, and comment on, all the illustrations. And vice versa if an illustrator is feeling like something isn’t working in the text, then we facilitate that conversation as well.

BETH: What other things does The Innovation Press do differently?

ASIA: We only take on a max of ten titles a year; that’s probably pretty different than most traditional houses. We want to give every book enough of our attention. We do a lot more publicity work per title than most houses as well.

BETH: With only ten titles a year, how do you choose your catalog?

ASIA: When I’m reviewing a manuscript, I like to ask, “Is this something I haven’t seen before?” For instance, a manuscript I fall in love with might some really quirky way of dealing with a high-interest subject or it might be the biography of someone we haven’t heard about before. I like innovative stuff (ha!). Recently in Publisher’s Weekly, they announced one of our deals, which was a book about a kraken that ties in to setting boundaries and offering consent. You haven’t seen that before right? I love it. [The book is Klyde the Kraken Wants a Hug, by Brooke Hartman illustrated by Katy Halford.] That’s the kind of book we’re looking for. Something that people haven’t seen before, that’s also done really well.

BETH: Do you acquire manuscripts and then find illustrators? How does that work?

ASIA: We do that a little differently than most traditional publishers, too. We make the offer to the author first and go over the contract, but before we actually sign them, we go through the work of finding an illustrator we all love -- and we make sure that that illustrator is available. We want to make sure that we have the right illustrator for the job, and that everyone is happy. So I’ll tell an author, “I want you, hold on and let me see who we can find to illustrate this.” Once all parties are satisfied, and we’ve settled on a schedule, we all sign at the same time.

BETH: Do you receive a lot of pitches?

ASIA: Yes -- probably between 30 and 40 a day. BETH: What is the main thing that you would love aspiring children’s book writers and illustrators to know?

ASIA: Authors, please take your time on edits. If I like something, but it’s not quite there, I’ll often ask for a revise-and-resubmit (R&R). Every time I do, I hope the author will take their time and really dig into the rewrite. But I’ve found that authors generally fall into two camps -- one camp rushes to turn the manuscript back to me as soon as possible. Often, they do not do a complete job polishing it. Those manuscript don’t get signed. When we ask for an R&R, we are trying to help the book be more competitive, and we don't want an author to quickly rush through what we’ve asked them to do.

The other camp of authors takes their time with revisions. For example, one author -- and this was for a middle grade manuscript -- took eight months on an R&R. We ended up making an offer on that book. They did an amazing job and really listened to everything we said to get the manuscript to where we wanted it to be.

So, authors, if anyone -- an agent, editor, or any publishing house -- asks you for an R&R, it means that you’re very close and you should take whatever amount of time you need to do a good job. Please don’t rush through the process to give us a 24-hour turnaround and hand in a choppy revision.

BETH: What about illustrators? Do you add that level of feedback with them?

ASIA: When we’ve got a manuscript in hand, we’ll typically search out two illustrators that the author also approves of, and then we have them do a sketch of a character -- usually, the main character from the story. If we feel like their portrayal of the character is close, but not there yet, we’ll ask for a redraw. Also, in terms of portfolio submissions we get, we’ll sometimes offer free portfolio feedback if we feel an illustrator, especially an illustrator of color, is new on the scene, but is really showing promise. Sometimes we’ll go back and forth with them to sharpen up what they’ve got in their portfolio and hope to work with them down the road once we find a manuscript we think would be a fit.

BETH: You will be on both the faculty panel and the local success panel at SCBWI Western Washington’s Spring Conference, Imagine That! on May 18, 2019. Many of the people at this conference will be aspiring writers and illustrators, all wanting to show you what they’ve got. What advice do you have for them?

ASIA: I'd like them to realize that every press has its own style. You can see what might be successful at which publishing house if you take a look at their books. And it doesn’t mean you have to go out and buy all their books -- checking them out from the library is also super helpful. Pay attention to what people like at that house and make sure that what you’ve got fits in there. There's a flavor to the books we put out. At The Innovation Press we don’t love fashionista princess stuff that’s gender stereotypical; we love STEM titles, quirky titles. A well-selected submission is going to get a lot more of our attention right off the bat.

BETH: Maybe aspiring authors think, "Well, let me send it everywhere, because you never know."

ASIA: There’s no rule that you can’t do that but I think you will have more success for your effort if you are more specific with your submissions.

BETH: On that note, can you talk more about the kinds of books you like?

ASIA: I love books that really break the mold. My favorite picture books include titles like Press Here by Herve Tullet and Du Iz Tak by Carson Ellis, because they are so revolutionary and awesome. They changed what a picture book could even be. I’m always looking for something like that.

BETH: As a business, not in terms of manuscripts, but on the organizational side of your press, what are you working on?

ASIA: We are bringing the first ever Seattle Children’s Book Festival to Seattle on September 28th, 2019. It’s free to the public and we’re working with a bookstore partner, Madison Books. They are giving 20% of the book sales back to our organization and we’ll use it to put on free book fairs at the Seattle Public Schools in the highest poverty neighborhoods.

BETH: Thank you for taking the time to talk to me.

ASIA: Thank you so much.

ABOUT US

Beth Bacon is the author of several books for children, including: I Hate Reading, The Worst Book Ever, The Book No One Wants To Read, and Blank Space. Beth earned an MFA in writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She also has a degree in Communication Theory from NYU and a degree in Literature from Harvard University. Beth grew up in Boston, Massachusetts and now lives in the furthest Northwest corner of the USA. Learn more about Beth on her website.

Asia Citro is the founder and publisher of The Innovation Press. Asia has an M.Ed in Science Education and has worked as a classroom science teacher. Asia is the author of several books including: 150+ Screen-Free Activities for Kids, The Curious Kid's Science Book, A Little Bit of Dirt, the chapter book series Zoey and Sassafras, Vroom Vroom Garbage Truck, and Pigeon Math.

Inclusivity Scholarship for Conference!

2019-03-22T10:54:00.003-07:00

Earlier this week, we shared the 4-1-1 on our spring conference, Imagine That!

Now we've got some more good news! We'll once again be offering our Inclusivity Scholarship, which covers Saturday's tuition and lunch.

The deadline to apply is March 30, so apply today. Don’t forget to share with your friends, too!

Saturday, May 18th will be a full day of breakouts, keynote speakers, and panels. We are delighted to welcome Raúl Colón, Nisi Shawl, and Corinna Luyken as keynote speakers, plus a great line up of agents, editors and art directors who will be sharing their knowledge with you throughout the day.

How to Apply

To apply, send a one-page artist statement (as a Word doc or PDF) that describes your work and what attending the conference would mean to you to wwa-ra@scbwi.org, no later than March 30. Be sure to include the following information:

§Full name

§Address

§Email address

§Phone number

§Diversity with which the applicant identifies

§Whether the applicant is an author or illustrator

Applicants will be chosen based on how well their work promotes and contributes to diversity in children’s literature.

Additional information about the scholarship and the conference is available online at https://wwa.scbwi.org/events/imagine-that-wwa-may-conference/.

Hope we'll see you there!

Upcoming UW Course on Picture Books!

2019-03-20T11:34:00.003-07:00

Interested in writing picture books for kids? The UW Continuing Education department is offering a new nine-week picture book intensive course. It starts next month, taught by Jolie Stekly.

Check out all the details here.

A Spring Conference, Imagine That!

2019-03-19T14:45:00.003-07:00

Registration is live for Imagine That!, our SCBWI Western Washington 2019 Conference.

This 2-day event will take place May 18-19, 2019, at Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, Washington.

This year’s event consists of a full day of conference programming, including keynote speakers, panel discussions, and breakout sessions, and optional add-on Sunday activities, including Master Classes & Roundtable Critiques. Attendees may register for Saturday as a stand-alone, or for both Saturday and Sunday events. While Sunday activities offer a potential full day of programming, you may only register for one roundtable critique. These critiques fill on a first-come, first-served basis, and will fill quickly, so register today!

This 2-day event provides tremendous opportunities for growing your career as a writer and/or illustrator for children. Learn from esteemed literary professionals—agents as well as editors and art directors, from major publishing houses—in addition to award-winning authors and illustrators.

Watch the blog over the next couple of weeks for fun faculty interviews and tips and hints about how to maximize your conference experience!

The Details:

Keynote Speakers:

Nisi Shawl, author

Corinna Luyken, author & 2018 Crystal Kite Award Winner

Raúl Colón, illustrator

Editorial & Art Director Faculty:
Asia Citro, author & founder of The Innovation Press

Christy Cox, editor, Sasquatch Books
Saho Fujii, art director, Little Brown Books

Anna Goldstein, art director, Sasquatch Books

Allyn Johnston, vice president and publisher, Beach Lane Books

Agent Faculty:
Garrett Alwert, associate agent, Emerald City Literary Agency
Taryn Fagerness, founder, Taryn Fagerness Agency
Adria Goetz, agent and literary manager, Martin Literary Management
Mandy Hubbard, agent and founder, Emerald City Literary Agency
Tricia Lawrence, agent, Erin Murphy Literary Agency
Kathleen Ortiz, agent, New Leaf Literary & Media
Britt Siess, agent and associate literary manager, Martin Literary Management

Additional Faculty:
Kevan Atteberry, author/illustrator
Mina Witteman, author

Standard tuition
SCBWI Members, Saturday only: $150
Non-members, $175

Above prices include all-day attendance, coffee, tea, snacks, and a boxed lunch on Saturday, as well as admission to Saturday's Reception and Book Signing Party.

Continuing Education Credits:
Up to 15 Clock hours for teachers will be provided by The Heritage Institute for $35.

Optional Saturday Activities:

Juried Art Portfolio Show:
SCBWI Members, $35 Non-members $45

Published Attendee Showcase for Authors and Illustrators: SCBWI Members only, no fee.

Optional Sunday Activities:

Intensive Workshops: There are four Intensive Workshops on Friday and four on Sunday, each three hours in length.
SCBWI Members: $75 Non-members: $100

Roundtable Critiques: Each session includes two roundtables.
SCBWI Members, $60 Non-members, $80

Got Books?

2019-03-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

The Snohomish School District's Book Cafe is in need of good to gently used preschool/children/teen books! The Book Cafe hits the road every summer to deliver books to kids in need throughout the district. Donations can be dropped off or mailed to Snohomish School District Book Café.

Attn: Kristin Foley

1601 Avenue D

Snohomish, WA 98290

Chapter books, storybooks, board books, and kids magazines are always in particularly high demand.

Monetary donations are also welcome and are used to support students with new books as well as gas for the weekly bookmobile bus runs. Checks can be made out to Snohomish School District Book Cafe or donate online with the Snohomish Education Foundation and designate funds to "Book Cafe." Amazon gift cards are also greatly appreciated!

Magazine Call for Submissions

2019-03-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

From Cricket Media:

We are delighted to share our latest calls for submissions for Cricket Media's children's literary magazines. While we accept general submissions year-round, we're hoping to see some great new pieces on these topics in the coming months.

Cricket Media seeks fiction, non-fiction, folktales, and poetry for our literary magazines for children and teens: Babybug (ages 0-3), Ladybug (ages 3-6), Spider (ages 6-9), and Cricket (ages 9-14). Especially welcome are works by LGBTQIA+ writers/artists, writers/artists with disabilities, and writers/artists of color. We are sensitive to issues of cultural appropriation and misrepresentation.

Read on for our latest calls for submissions, and visit here for more details.

PAL Members: Call for Mentors!

2019-03-14T08:00:00.001-07:00

Dear PAL members,

Our mentorship program is expanding this year. If you are seeking an additional platform to promote your books, stay connected with the SCBWI writing community, help amazing mentees, and receive long-lasting friendships and fans, this is your opportunity. Our mission is to push the envelope and empower our PAL members by creating avenues to expand your platform, and also provide the best possible mentorship experience to set up aspiring and emerging writers and illustrators for success in their publishing journeys.

Details here and here.

We look forward to receiving your applications.

Warmly,

Suma Subramaniam

Mentorship Program Coordinator

SCBWI Western Washington

Email: wwa@scbwi.org

https://wwa.scbwi.org/

Nonfiction Craft Talk with Laurie Ann Thompson!

2019-03-13T10:24:00.000-07:00

Nonfiction Craft Talk with Author Laurie Ann Thompson

Saturday, March 23, 2019, 10:00 to 11:30 AM
Island Books

3014 78th Ave SE, Mercer Island, WA 98040

Join us for a craft talk in a Q&A format with SCBWI-WWA's own Laurie Ann Thompson, moderated by Nonfiction Coordinator Lisa L. Owens. We'll discuss certain craft elements in Thompson's nonfiction work, including EMMANUEL'S DREAM, BE A CHANGEMAKER, and the TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE series.

March Meeting with Quressa Robinson from Nelson Literary, 3/9!

2019-03-06T13:13:00.001-08:00

Quressa Robinson from Nelson Literary Agency will present a keynote lecture on “The Courage to Fail,” an issue most creative people face at one time or another, but seldom have an opportunity to explore together. Join us on Saturday, March 9th, 10-noon, at Seattle Pacific University! More details here.

Creativity webinar recording now available!

2019-02-22T08:16:00.000-08:00

Is your mind swirling with creative juices for 2019? Want a little guidance and a few useful tips? The Creative Salon Webinar held Wednesday, February 20, 2019, was free for SCBWI WWA Passport Holders, who have also received a link to the recording. But now others can check out the recording and learn just as much for a low cost!

Care and Feeding of the Creative Spirit

Deb Lund, author, teacher, and creativity coach, talked about how to handle the rejection, self-doubt, or stuck feelings most of us face sooner or later. Deb also shared some of her hard-won tips and lessons on finding greater creative flow, enjoyment, and success.

To access the nearly two hours of goodness in the recorded webinar:

For $15, SCBWI International members may register before March 3 to view the webinar recording.
For $25, non-members may register by March 3 to view the webinar recording.

All paid registrants will receive an email containing a link to the recording on March 4 and will have more than a week to view the webinar.

Call for Mentors!

2019-02-15T12:04:00.000-08:00

SCBWI WWA’s Third Annual Mentorship Program 2019-2020 : Call for Mentor Proposals
Mentor an Aspiring Writer or Writer/Illustrator or an Illustrator!

PAL members of SCBWI Western Washington are invited to submit proposals to our third annual mentorship program. We’re seeking creators who write, illustrate, or write and illustrate in any category of children’s and young adult literature, to work with our SCBWI members from October, 2019 to March, 2020.

Our Mentorship Program Team will support you through the process.

What you receive:

Honorarium

Publicity to include your name, headshot, bio, website links, and/or book sales links on the SCBWI WWA website

Interviews on our chapter’s blog and promotions through our Facebook, twitter, and Instagram accounts

The gratitude of at least one new fan and friend within the SCBWI-Western Washington membership

What you need to do:

Submit a proposal by Saturday, March 23, 2019 to wwa@scbwi.org.

Proposal: The Mentorship

a) What are your publishing credits? Why would you be a good writing mentor? What are your areas of expertise?

b) What categories would you like to mentor?
How often?

__Author-Illustration portfolio

__PB manuscripts (text only)

__Nonfiction proposal (pitch & three sample chapters)

__Chapter Books

__Graphic Novel

__MG manuscript

__YA manuscript

c) What skills/techniques are you prepared to help develop in your mentee

d) How will you communicate with your mentee? By phone, email, in-person?

e) What kind of critiques will you provide? Any limits on number of pages or projects?

f) Other information to support your proposal?

Note: the chosen mentor must not solicit business or monies from the mentee during the course of the mentorship.

The SCBWI-WWA Mentorship Coordinator will administrate the mentorship program announcements, collect and qualify submissions, and turn them over to you for judging and selection of the lucky mentees

Eligibility:

You must be a SCBWI-WWA PAL member in good standing of SCBWI-Western Washington.

You must be an SCBWI member to apply.

Deadlines & Tentative Calendar:

Saturday, 03/23/19 Mentor proposals due by 11:59pm

Friday, 04/01/19 Mentors selected by SCBWI-WWA Advisory Committee

April 2019 – July 2019 Mentorship application program window, mentee applications collected

8/15/19 – 8/30/19 Mentors review applications and selects mentee

September 2019 Winning mentees announced

October 2019 Mentorship Reception conducted

October 2019 – March 2020 Mentorship Program Period

May 2020 End-of-term Mentorship Reception

Passport holders, sign up now!

2019-01-30T07:00:00.000-08:00

Need a little extra oomph to keep your 2019 creative momentum on fire? Register for a Creative Salon Webinar on Wednesday, February 20, 2019, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Pacific. It’s FREE for SCBWI WWA Passport Holders—and you won't have to drive!

Care and Feeding of the Creative Spirit

Deb Lund, author, teacher, and creativity coach will discuss how to handle the rejection, self-doubt, or stuck feelings most of us will face, sooner or later. We'll come together as a supportive community, and Deb will also share some of her hard-won tips and lessons. Join us to talk about how to find greater creative flow, enjoyment, and success.

To attend the webinar, Passport holders will need to register in advance using the private link in the email that went out January 25th. If you know you're a Passport Holder (not simply an SCBWI member) and haven't received that invitation:

Check your spam folder and settings.
If it isn't there either, email Joni Sensel and she'll look up your Passport status and send you the link directly if need be.

If you're not a Passport holder, you'll still be able to view the webinar recording, after the event, for a small fee. Stay tuned—or consider getting your own Passport now.

November SCBWI WWA meeting, this Saturday!

2018-11-07T10:43:00.003-08:00

Our next SCBWI WWA meeting is this Saturday in Bellevue, and we're trying something new!

Come to this monthly meeting where we will use this time to make announcements, break the ice, and share our first pages in small breakout groups with others who write in your age group. Enjoy this first-ever Passport offering--with tasty snacks, music, and writing buddies!

November 10, 2018 from 10 am-noon at Bellevue College Paccar Auditorium, N201 with FREE parking

See you there!

Upcoming Events for November and December

2018-11-04T11:51:00.001-08:00

Network Events:

What Does an Editor Do, Anyways?

(Besides Reject My Stories)

We know they’re real people, right? But sometimes we imagine them as fiendish ogres, just waiting to reject the brilliant work we send in. What does an editor REALLY do? Come take a peek at the people behind the big desk, who, as it turns out, just want to make wonderful books.

Wednesday, November 7, 2018, 7:00 p.m.

The Bellingham Barnes & Noble (4099 Meridian Street)

Questions? email Rebecca at rebecca_vanslyke@hotmail.com.

Classes:

The Sno-Isle Library System is offering a series of free writing classes at various branches. Check out their Write Now program.

Book Events:

November 7
Are You Ready to Hatch an Unusual Chicken? Well then join Kelly Hones at Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park for the launch of the sequel to Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer.

November 9
Middle grade fans should head to Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park to hear Newbery Honor winner Polly Horvath and Tom Llewellyn talk about their latest books, Very Rich and The Bottle Imp of Bright House.

November 10
If you miss her on the 7th, Kelly Jones will be at Edmonds Bookshop.

November 11
Christine Grabowski launches her YA debut, Dickensen Academy, at Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park.

November 13
Join Marissa Meyer at Village Books in Fairhaven to hear about Archenemies, book two in the Renegades Trilogy.

November 16
Brandon Mull is back in town for Dragonwatch: Wrath of the Dragon King at University Bookstore.

November 16
YA fans, go to the University Bookstore in Mill Creek for Michele Hodkin and Kendare Blake.

November 17
Jennifer Mann launches Josie's Lost Tooth with Toni Yuly at Eagle Harbor Books in Winslow.

November 18
Fonda Lee and Emily Suvada talk speculative YA at University Bookstore.

November 18
Neil Gaiman comes to Benaroya Hall to talk about writing, story and whatnot. He describes it as "fun and odd and not like any other evening with Neil Gaiman." Elliott Bay Books will sell books.

December 7
Martha Brockenbrough launch for Unpresidented: A Biography of Donald Trump at University Bookstore.

December 9
Darius the Great is Not Okay. Hear why when Adib Khorram visits Third Place Books in Seward Park.

Events may be added periodically. Did we miss something?

Email us at news.scbwiwwa@gmail.com.

Double-check times and whatnot with bookstores before you set out for events. If you snap a great picture, tag us at @scbwiwwa on Instagram and/or Twitter, and we'll try to repost. If you have good news or an event coming up, let us know!

Support book culture.

Support independent bookstores and libraries.

Support authors and illustrators.

❤️

Oct. 20: Southerly Network Meeting & Creative Salon

2018-10-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

Come play! Join the South-Sound and emerging Tacoma network teams and creativity coordinator Joni Sensel for a joint meeting on Saturday, Oct. 20, from 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

We'll gather at the Parkland/Spanaway Branch of the Pierce County Library to meet fellow south-enders, talk about creativity, and enjoy a fun project that’s equal parts grade-school game, imagination booster, and armchair Rorschach test. (Bring a pencil, pen, or other writing instrument!)

When: 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 20
Where: 13718 Pacific Ave. S., Tacoma, WA 98444

Please RSVP to Joni at senselj@yahoo.com to make sure she brings enough supplies. (But come regardless.) Thanks!

Washington State Book Awards Ceremony on Saturday, October 13th!

2018-10-08T09:49:00.000-07:00

Here's our plan for Saturday. It's all free, and it's all amazing!

9:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m: KISS (Keep It Simple, Silly) Art Show

10:00 a.m.-noon: Savvy and smart Holt editor Tiffany Liao's talk on Mirrors, Windows & Doors: Writing & Thinking Cross-Culturally

Noon-7 p.m.: Lunch, a little writing, some sketching, Saturday errands, and then back to the Seattle Central Library for the...

7:00-9:00 p.m.: Washington State Book Awards!

Come to the Washington State Book Awards THIS SATURDAY NIGHT and support another year of great books. We've got more than a few members that are finalists (see the whole list here), so come cheer them on! It's inspiring, fun, and free. More details on Facebook.

Weekend on the Water Interview: Kirby Larson

2018-10-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

Why did you become a children's book writer?

Because (1) books saved this odd-duck, lonely kid and (2) because when I read Arnold Lobel’s Ming Lo Moves the Mountain to my children, I finally figured out what I wanted to do with my life: write books that hopefully might save other odd-duck lonely kids!

Was the journey difficult? How did you learn to master your craft?

The perky FB version answer to the first part of your question? Oh yes, it was so easy! The true story: it took me 20 years to become an overnight success. I wrote for three years before anything was published and then, after five books under my belt, I experienced seven years without one word getting published. That dark time was a true test of my writer’s heart and soul. To answer the second part of the question: I have yet to master my craft. There’s always something new to learn, which is what draws me to the computer each day. And I learned to write by reading as much as I could and writing as much as I could (and showing my work to kind but honest colleagues); no other way around it.

How have you, personally, benefited from the SCBWI?

There is not enough space to share all the ways in which I’ve benefited from the SCBWI. Early in my career, the courses, workshops, and conferences not only informed and sustained this prospective writer, they kept me from committing many horrible and embarrassing newbie mistakes. I am grateful, too, that through this organization I’ve met treasured mentors and caring friends; I would not/could not still be writing without their wisdom, advice, love, and support.

What are you going to talk about in your Keynote, why is this important to writers and illustrators of children's books?

I have no idea if what I’m going to share is important to fellow book creators— I’d say that’s for the participants to decide for themselves! But because I feel so grateful to be part of a creative community that makes books for kids, I have been working to give back in my talk by gathering ideas and suggestions for how we can nurture and grow our creative lives; how we can not only survive but thrive in times that seem determined to quash our tender artistic spirits, and how we can make the art we were put here to make.There will also be pictures of my grandkids and Winston the Wonder Dog and a few bad jokes.

Can you mention your thoughts on the value of children's literature?

As I said above, books saved me as a child so I know their power firsthand. A book can change a life; an example that comes to mind is the story Trent Reedy tells of being a young soldier in Afghanistan and, instead of getting a promised steak dinner, he and his comrades were given a delivery of books. In that delivery, he found The Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. Reading that novel turned that young soldier into a renowned writer of young adult fiction. Honestly, children’s literature is so potent and explosive, that certain folks in power would be shaking in their boots - if they themselves even read. Books are icy glasses of lemonade for the emotionally parched. They are hopscotch tokens, taking us skips and jumps beyond our own small, narrow worlds. They break hearts. Heal hearts. I cannot think of an art form that is more valuable and more essential to the future of humanity.

What words do you have for someone who wishes to create a children's book?

Start! Dive in! Take a chance. Be weird. Make mistakes. Have fun. Put your heart into it. Surround yourself with other creatives. And remember: experts built the Titanic; an amateur built the Ark.

What are your favorite kids' books? How have they influenced you?

Encyclopedia Brown made me want to be a detective; a goal I’ve reached because writing historical fiction requires a good deal of detective work. Pippi Longstocking inspired my not-so-subtle passion for shining the spotlight on girls’ stories. As I mentioned above, Ming Lo Moves the Mountain (Arnold Lobel) opened my eyes and heart to a possible career path. I re-read The Secret Garden nearly every year; that book is a reminder that magic is a critical component of any work of art. Catherine Called Birdie by Karen Cushman gave me permission to break a few rules. And A Crooked Kind of Perfect, by Linda Urban, and How to Steal A Dog, by Barbara O’Connor inspire me to weave white space/room for the reader into my work.

Can you describe a wonderful moment when a reader of your books has reached out to you?

There have been so many wonderful moments but I will share this one. About ten years ago, I received an email from someone who wanted advice on writing books. The email was written in such a way that I had no idea the age etc of the sender. However, the email was essentially illiterate. Snobby Kirby read it, thinking, “How could the person who wrote this email even hope to write a book?” Thankfully, nice Kirby smacked snobby Kirby upside the head and my reply was gentle and positive. It turned out the writer was a twelve-year-old girl I’ll call Anna. Though Anna wrestled with severe learning disabilities, she possessed a huge passion for children’s books, especially picture books (this was information I later learned from Anna’s mother). Anna and I became pen pals and, when I was invited to an author festival in her state, I let her know, even though it was far from where she lived. Undaunted, she and her mother made the trek. Over lunch, Anna shared her art work — her stunning, unbelievable and beautiful artwork. And she gifted me a painting which recreated the cover of Hattie Big Sky, a painting I treasure. Anna continued to work on her art, keeping me posted of her accomplishments, including her admission to art school. She graduated last spring and has already made her first foray into picture book illustration. I feel so fortunate that readers like Anna take a chance on reaching out to me and feel completely blessed when those moments blossom into something beyond my imagination.

Learn more about Kirby at her website.

Register to join Jennifer Mann and Kirby Larson at the Weekend on the Water retreat November 2-4.

Weekend on the Water Interview: Author Illustrator Jennifer Mann

2018-10-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

Why did you become a children's book writer and illustrator?

I was working as an architect, and struggling

with a bit of malaise regarding my career, when I rediscovered children’s books—one of the many perks of becoming a parent. So much amazing beauty and incredible writing—and artistic freedom! All of a sudden I realized that being a children’s book author and illustrator would be a much better outlet for my creative interests. That idea lodged itself in my noggin, and I set my sights on becoming a published author and illustrator.

Was the journey difficult? How did you learn to master your craft?

Yes, the journey was difficult. Once I decided that I absolutely wanted to become a children’s book author and illustrator, I had to teach myself how to do it. Most of that process involved reading gazillions of picture books and carefully studying and deconstructing how my favorites are written and how the illustrator made the art. It took me many years of trial and error, and many false starts and rejections before I finally got some actual positive interest from within the publishing industry. And then it was several years after that before I actually had something publishable, found my agent, and sold my first book. Fortunately I have a pretty thick skin from my years as an architect, and fairly single minded focus once I set my sights on something I want. I had only one moment when I almost threw in the towel—about two weeks before I got an offer of representation from Holly McGhee at Pippin Properties, which I accepted with so much relief and joy.

How have you, personally, benefitted from the SCBWI?

I absolutely would not be published were it not for SCBWI, and I would not be a part of this amazing community of people who love children’s books as much as I do. Most of what I know about becoming published has come directly from SCBWI events and publications. Many of my dearest friends are the people I have met through SCBWI. Now I am so grateful to be able to give back, by sharing my knowledge with SCBWI members who are eager to experience the wonderful joy of publishing books for children.

What are you going to talk about in your Keynote, why is this important to writers and illustrators of children's books?

Well, I don’t want to give it all away here, but it’s fair to say that I will share a few details of my journey to publication, and how I battle the inner critic who assures me that I will never have another good idea once I am done with whatever project I am currently working on. Based on all I have learned from others in this field, I am sure that what I have learned along the way about writing and illustrating for children will be helpnothers who are on this same journey.

Can you mention your thoughts on the value of children's literature?

It is no wonder that most of us will cite a children’s book when asked to list our favorite books—the books we read as children are our first exciting glimpse into the amazing world beyond our own experience, a world that is wondrous, confusing, sometimes painful, and always mysterious. Books allow children to build their inner worlds and expand their imaginations, develop empathy and gain understanding of experiences other than their own. Picture books help children to recognize beauty, develop visual literacy, and to feel the power that words and images have to relate experiences both familiar and brand new.

What words do you have for someone who wishes to create a children's book?

Work hard and be patient. Read read read, and then read a whole lot more, especially in the genre in which you hope to be published. Your best education will be those books that you read and look at carefully. The masters have so much to teach us, and you can access their wisdom with only your library card! Be prepared to spend a lot of time and energy birthing your idea, honing your craft, and learning what it takes to get published. Enjoy the process, and have faith!

What are your favorite kids' books? How have they influenced you?

I was born in the era of the golden age of picture books, but my parents, after raising my four older siblings, were probably too tired to notice--I honestly don’t remember a lot of picture books from my childhood except The Cat in the Hat, and all Richard Scarry books. The books I do remember from my childhood are the ones I could read to myself--all E.B. White books, Harriet the Spy, the Velveteen Rabbit, and The Chronicles of Narnia. That feeling of being someone else, somewhere else, is a feeling I cherish from those reading days. I strive to recreate that feeling for my readers in everything I create.

Can you describe a wonderful moment when a reader of your books has reached out to you?

I have experienced wonderful moments of connection numerous times. One of the best was when a fifth grade girl, shy and awkward, approached me after I read I’ll Never Get a Star on Mrs. Benson’s Blackboard. While her teachers tried to lead and back to class, telling her not to bother me, she told me that she felt that she was just like my character, Rose, who is a misunderstood, messy, creative dreamer. It meant so much to her that I had written a book that she felt was about her. The effort the she made to tell me how she felt meant to so much to me. This makes all the struggle worthwhile!

Learn more about Jennifer at her website.

Register to join Jennifer Mann and Kirby Larson at the Weekend on the Water retreat November 2-4.

October Editor Extravaganza with Tiffany Liao!

2018-10-03T08:58:00.000-07:00

Please join us for our season kick-off, Saturday, October 13, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. - noon in the Microsoft Auditorium at Seattle Public Library Central Branch. Tiffany Liao, editor at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, will join us to speak about writing and thinking cross-culturally.

To make the October meeting even more exciting, we’ll present the KISS (Keep It Simple, Silly) Art Show from 9:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Come see wonderful art by our chapter’s illustrators. We will also introduce this year’s mentors and mentees. And don't forget to stick around town for the Washington State Book Awards Ceremony: 7:00 p.m - Seattle Central Library, Microsoft Auditorium (Free and open to all!).

What: Mirrors, Windows & Doors: Writing & Thinking Cross-Culturally.If you’re supposed to “write what you know,” how can you create convincingly and respectfully from a perspective outside of your own? I'll offer insights and craft-based advice from my experience editing and reading cross-culturally.

When: Saturday, October 13, 10:00 a.m. - noon; 9:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. for KISS Art Show, doors open at 9:30. Please enter through the garage or 4th Ave entrance.
Where: Seattle Public Library Central in Downtown Seattle. Paid parking is available at the library and nearby. Information at the library's website.

Also Coming Soon!

November 2-4 - Weekend on the Water Creatives Retreat, IslandWood (Bainbridge Island)Balancing creativity with our other responsibilities is a challenge every writer and illustrator faces—and it’s the theme of this year’s Weekend on the Water retreat in November. We invite you to join us for a weekend of craft, creativity, and nature. The insights you gain just might be propel your craft to where you’ve always wanted it to go. Our keynote guests Jennifer K. Mann and Newbery honoree Kirby Larson are offering workshops and talks to hone your craft. The IslandWood setting and locally-sourced food will inspire your muse. To register, visit the “retreats” link on the SCBWI-WWA website.

Oct. 27th, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. - Tacoma Network Meeting at Wheelock Library, Tacoma Mining Childhood Memories for Stories with Wendy WahmanTom Robbins said, “It’s never too late to have a happy childhood.” Let’s see if he’s right. Wendy will lead us through a series of writing and drawing exercises to loosen memories and get our stories flowing. She can’t promise a happy childhood, but one would be hard pressed to leave the meeting without at least one new story idea.Bring paper and pencils for writing and illustrating exercises.

Looking forward to seeing you at Tiffany Liao’s presentation on October 13th!

The Creative Salon comes to Facebook

2018-09-28T22:41:00.003-07:00

Join the SCBWI WWA Facebook group, if you're not already a member, and you can take part in an online edition of the Creative Salon. A new prompt will be posted every Friday, so you have all weekend and next week to participate. (It's important to make creative stretching a priority. You can afford 20 minutes, and you, and your work, deserve it.)

We'll call this project "Visual Emotions." Here's the assignment: Every Friday, one word will be posted. You set aside 20-30 minutes to take your camera, preferably outside, and snap photos that capture that idea or emotion for you. Let yourself go; be playful; think in terms of metaphor or symbol or even a very personal meaning. Include other people in your shot if you like, or get very abstract.

Then post one or two of your favorite images in the thread for that week, silently or with an explanation if you want to provide it. Review others' images to see what you like, what communicates to you, and what surprises you.

IMPORTANT: It doesn't matter how good or bad they are. The point is to set your creativity loose on an assignment that won't be judged and doesn't matter. In addition to helping de-stress you, this project can help increase your fluency with metaphor and symbol... and together we can see how differently others think about the same concept to cross-pollinate our creativity a bit.

This week's word is HOPE. There are a couple of images posted as samples to give you the general idea. (You may have to scroll down a bit to find the post, if many days go by before you see it, but look for the Creative Salon image.) Go take a peek, and get out your camera!

Interview: Author Christina Wilsdon on Nonfiction, Work-for-Hire, and Deadlines

2018-09-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

Describe your most recent release in one sentence.

It’s Ultimate Predatorpedia, a photo-packed nonfiction book for 7-to-10-year-olds (and older!) about predators from Aardwolves to Zorillas.

What made you want to become a writer?

I always loved to write and illustrate stories when I was little, but I never really thought about being A Writer until my sixth-grade teacher required everyone in the class to hand in creative writing every week. Her encouraging comments jogged me into more awareness of writing as something you worked on to improve your craft rather than just being a nice way to fill time (and notebooks!).

What books helped form you as a reader?

Tons and tons of Little Golden Books. Everything by Beverly Cleary and Beatrix Potter. Animal books by Wilfrid Swancourt Bronson.The Golden Treasury of Poetry selected by Louis Untermeyer.The Chestry Oak by Kate Seredy, My Friend Flicka by Mary O’Hara, Black Beauty by Anna Sewell.

What inspires you?

Strange animals and plants and ecosystems.

How do you approach a new topic?

First I read broad, general articles, such as encyclopedia entries. Then I borrow whatever the library has on the topic and buy books that the library lacks and that I know I simply must have. I find articles in online newspaper and magazine archives and check out museum websites. Any items of interest I pick up in there I pursue further to find out more details. I also read scientific papers and contact scientists if I have a question.

I stick mainly to biology, zoology, and natural history because I’ve read widely in those subject areas, so I have a substrate in place for new information and know what to look for as I research and how to analyze it and fill in gaps.

How do you keep to a tight deadline for a work-for-hire project?

This’ll sound kind of obnoxious, I guess, but a deadline has never seemed like a dreadful thing to be loathed, detested, and feared. In fact, a deadline is sort of motivating in an odd way. (For example, I am often puzzled as to why I can easily meet deadlines imposed by others but am highly unlikely to meet self-imposed goals.) I just stick the due date in my day planner, and if it’s a project with stages I put mini-deadlines in the day planner before that, and then I just get it done.

If you miss deadlines, you don’t get hired again, so it doesn’t pay to get a reputation for tardiness…perhaps fear creates a healthy respect for deadlines! Sometimes meeting deadlines has meant late nights, and in the early days of my career I had to take on jobs with unreasonable deadlines that resulted in pulling all-nighters, but that hasn’t been the case of most jobs. And the few times family emergencies caused me to ask for an extension, my editors were invariably kind, obliging, and helpful.

What would you do differently, if you could have a do-over?

I would submit manuscripts like mad, because back in the day more publishing houses were open to writers without agents. And I would be brave and approach the actual real-live children’s book editors in the offices where I got my start in publishing as a lowly editorial assistant.

(The only conversation I had with the children’s book editor at one house, over the course of three years, was when she rebuked me very coldly for throwing away the outer envelope of a package, even though the manuscript inside had a SASE with it.)

What do you do for fun when you’re not writing?

Reading, drawing, birding, walking, gardening, baking, needle-felting, taking photos, researching family history, impersonating a sloth, and if I can scare up a friend, go out for coffee or wine.

Who is your favorite children’s literature character?

If I have to pick just one, it would be Jill Crewe from Ruby Ferguson’s “Jill” pony books. This series isn’t well known in the U.S.—it’s a British series from the 1950s, which a relative brought home from Ireland for me when I was nine years old. I’d never read anything like it before. It contained horses AND humor, unlike the very earnest or action-filled horse books typically found at my local library (which also mostly starred boys).

Jill was irreverent and practical and down-to-earth, always noticing things like when you knock over a coffeepot, more coffee comes out of it then ever could’ve fit into the pot in the first place. I still have my set of paperbacks, though they’re so foxed and dry by now, the pages fall out as I turn them and drift to the floor like autumn leaves.

What’s a work-for-hire project and how does it proceed?

Work-for-hire typically means that the publisher comes up with the idea for the book, hires an author to research and write it, and pays them a flat fee, which is usually broken into two or three parts (for example, 1/3 on signing, 1/3 upon completion of an outline, and 1/3 for delivery of the manuscript). There are no royalties, the publisher keeps the copyright, and once you’re paid, you’re usually done with the job. I have written many work-for-hire books, but I only earned royalties on one educational series (now out of print) and a small royalty on one trade book.

You can get work-for-hire jobs in many ways. For example, a publisher might put out a general call for writers, to which you can respond, or they might contact you directly. You can also research publishers (typically educational publishers) to see if they hire writers for projects and follow their directions for sending in samples and a resume. You’ll often get lots of direction and specs to follow, though some projects have lots of room for creativity, in which case you may be given little more than a topic, a page count, and a word count.

What do you make of the revival of interest in nonfiction books for children?

I’m thrilled! What a treat to enjoy such a bounty of gorgeous, fascinating books on so many topics, and it’s great that creative nonfiction is in the spotlight. But I think that revival is only on the part of publishers and educators…kids themselves didn’t need a revival. They’ve always loved nonfiction that’s not presented in a dry or dull fashion; they want to read nonfiction books that relate to topics they love, and study the pictures and diagrams, and tell grown-ups reams of fascinating facts.

Today’s beautiful nonfiction books make me think of some of the creative nonfiction that existed long before this renaissance of the genre: I still have my childhood copy of the Giant Golden Book of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Reptiles, with its gripping text and fierce, beautiful paintings, and Marguerite Henry’s Album of Horses, with full-page paintings of horses and narrative text telling their history by way of stories. And Rain Drop Splash by Alvin Tressalt, a picture book published in 1946, is still being used to introduce kids to the water cycle.

Thanks, Christina!

New book? Apply now for Inside Story

2018-09-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

Do you have a new book out? If so, you may be eligible to present at Inside Story, our SCBWI region's biannual celebration of new books. We invite our membership, area booksellers, teachers, and librarians to hear two or three minute presentations from eligible PAL (Published and Listed) members.

The deadline to apply for this season’s Inside Story is Friday, October 19th, at 5 p.m. Pacific.

Event details are as follows:
Sunday, December 2nd, 2018 from 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Seattle Central Library
1000 4th Ave
Seattle, WA 98104

If you're not planning to present this time around, do mark this event on your calendar. You won’t want to miss it!

In order to present at our Spring Inside Story, you must be able to say "Yes!" to all of the following:

• You are a CURRENT SCBWI member at the PAL (published and listed) level and your profile at SCBWI.org is updated to reflect this.

• You live in the official Western Washington region.

• Your publisher is on SCBWI’s list of recognized (traditional) PAL publishers.*

• Your book is brand new (released between June and December 2018) and has never before been published. (Reprints and new editions do not qualify for Inside Story)

• Your book is readily available through normal trade channels (e.g., Baker & Taylor).

*There is one exception to this requirement. If your self-published book is a continuation of a PAL published series and/or a Spark Award winner, you are still eligible to participate in Inside Story.

The application is here. Please fill in all areas. We will email you further information by the end of October. We look forward to hearing from you and learning your inside stories!

Sincerely,
Michele Bacon and Dana Sullivan, Inside Story Co-Chairs