The Sue Alexander Grant is Open for Submissions!

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Christine Van Zandt, Milkweed for Monarchs, picture books, SCBWI members, Sue Alexander, writing contests

by Christine Van Zandt

The 2023 Sue Alexander Grant contest opens tomorrow, April 13, offering one SCBWI-L.A. writer a guaranteed spot and free tuition to the Working Writers Retreat (to be held at the Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino, September 29 to October 1, 2023). This will be the first time this popular event has been held in person since 2019!

We asked last year’s Sue Alexander Grant recipient, Christine Van Zandt, to talk about her winning manuscript:

Christine Van Zandt, 2022 Sue Alexander Grant recipient, with western monarch.

The idea for Butterfly Dreams began in May 2020, when my daughter and I bought our first milkweed plant unaware that a mother monarch had sent us home with a surprise—actually 26 surprises! Soon, our plant was covered in adorable caterpillars. We excitedly watched them grow … until something came along one night and ate every last one.

Happy Holidays from Your SCBWI Regional Team!

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Happy Holidays, SCBWI community, SCBWI members

In October, we were inspired by our wonderful members who brought energy and enthusiasm to our first in-person event since 2019. Seeing faces, both new and familiar, chatting craft with faculty, answering questions for each other… this is SCBWI at its best. We hope that in this holiday season, you’re able to recharge your creativity by drawing close to your family and friends, and by celebrating all that is good and precious to you. Looking forward to seeing even more of you in 2023. Happy Holidays!

Too Much of a Very Good Thing? Or: The KITE TALES Team is Changing!

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Erlina Vasconcellos, Sarah Parker-Lee, SCBWI community, volunteering, volunteers

Sometimes doing a good thing, even a very good thing, is not necessarily the best thing for us. It’s hard to know when boundaries need to be placed, when risks need to be taken, when the unknown is better for us than the relative safety of routine. It’s hard to change. But as writers and illustrators, we must be protective of our time, our creative mental space, and recognize when a good thing, even a very good thing, could be getting in the way.

Before & After with Matthew Rivera: Our Mentorship Program in Action

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contest, Matthew Rivera, mentorship, SCBWI members

The best advice aspiring author-illustrator Matthew Rivera received during the mentorship he won from SCBWI-L.A. was to wear a short tie. That’s because he’s working on a story about a dapper, yet fussy giraffe who finds a tie he really likes, but it’s too short for his long neck. Mentor Deborah Nourse Lattimore suggested that Matthew wear a short tie and, as he went about his day, ask himself questions: “How do I feel when I see myself in the mirror? Do I feel self-conscious in public? How do people look at me?” The exercise proved tremendously helpful for putting Matthew into the mind of his main character in order to better illustrate personality.

From The Dapper Giraffe, a work-in-progress by Matthew Rivera

Central Coast Regional News

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news, SCBWI events, SCBWI members

 

SketchCrawl at the Santa Barbara Zoo

June 7, 2015

 Creative individuals met for a day of sketching, writing, and sharing.

 

SoCal Regional News

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news, SCBWI events, SCBWI members

It’s hard to believe that autumn is here! That means that Editor’s Day 2015 is right around the corner. It will be held at the Titan Theater, California State University Fullerton (located inside the Titan Student Union) on Saturday, October 3.

Our wonderful editorial speakers include: Erica Finkel – Editor at Abrams Books, Taylor Norman – Assistant Editor at Chronicle Books, Becky Shapiro – Associate Editor at Scholastic Books, Jeffrey Salane – Editorial Director of Little Simon – Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division and Kristine Brogno – Children’s Design Director at Chronicle Books. They will be joined by our terrific local talent: Jennifer Grey Olson, Spotlight Author/Illustrator, Henry L. Herz, Spotlight Author and Rodolfo Montalvo, Spotlight Illustrator. The delightful Sara Sciuto of Fuse Literary Agency (formerly Foreword Literary) will be joining us for panels and pitches. Our speakers will be focusing on craft so if you plan to join us be prepared to take lots of notes!

News from the Internet: Whatpad? Nope! Wattpad by Ronna Mandel

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how-to, tools, Wattpad

Wattpad is billing itself as the world’s largest community of readers and writers by putting over 100 million stories at your fingertips. Once you go online and begin your own search on the site, you’ll understand why Wattpad is not to be ignored. It’s like an Internet potato chip for readers because you may find it impossible to stop after devouring just one story. I know because that’s what happened to me. Fortunately it’s fat-free!

I asked Catherine Linka, author of A Girl Called Fearless and its sequel, A Girl Undone, to give us the inside scoop on this popular online community. She dove into Wattpad waters way before many other authors, and her experience might encourage you to take a dip.

Poet’s Perspective: Poetry Month Revisited by Briana Pullen

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poetry month, poets

April is a month of transition, either by finishing up your taxes or enjoying more daylight hours. It is a month which brightens up the disappearing dimness and provides us all with a nourishing chance to renew (or try again)… April is Poetry month, which snuck up on me this year again.

Aspirations and resolutions are given a moment to be checked into or revised. What time would be better matched with poetry than the vibrant month of April? Amidst refreshing showers this rebirth (or renewal) thrives. I sampled a foretaste of this renewal when Redondo Beach Public Library invited poets to read their work on a podcast in preparation for Poetry month. Waiting outside with other poets, listening to them rehearse, I revisited my own work, as well.

Volunteer in the Spotlight: Maggie Grinnell, Co-editor of SCBWI Kite Tales

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SCBWI members, volunteers

I knew I wanted to be a writer when I was in college, but the aspiration really started when I was little, making up stories in the backyard making mud pies.

After college, I wanted to be a part of a writing family. I didn’t find this family until SCBWI came along.

I work as an emergency room clerk. Sometimes my job is stressful but I always find the time to write.

I use to write suspense stories along the lines of Mary Higgins Clark. But I found my voice along with my inner child and began writing children’s picture books.

I am a co-editor of Kite Tales.

Great News! & Classes

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agents, how-to, news, published, SCBWI members

Kite Tales loves to celebrate our SCBWI members. Congratulations to all listed below!

GREAT NEWS

Christine Brallier’s picture book illustrations have been featured on Julie Danielson’s blog, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast (http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings/?p=3610). Christine is a stained glass mosaic artist and the post shows the mosaic process in detail, from first sketch to final artwork. She was also recently interviewed by Kathy Temean on her blog, Writing and Illustrating (https://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2015/01/10/illustrator-saturday-christine-brallier/), and her illustrated book, The Night Before Christmas, was featured at Fuse #8 Productions where Betsy Bird said it was “one of the most beautiful Christmas children’s books I’ve ever seen.” Wonderful press for a self published book!