Disability Inclusion 101: Five Tips for Writing Disability “Right”

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authors, disability, illustrators, inclusion, Karol Ruth Silverstein, publishing, SCBWI community, SCBWI events, writing tips

by Karol Ruth Silverstein

Disability is everywhere, sometimes hidden, sometimes unmistakable. Disabled people make up the largest and most diverse minority group in the world. So—yes—disability should be abundant in our children’s literature as well. But is “bad” (i.e., inaccurate, inauthentic, insensitive) representation better than no representation at all?

SCBWI SoCal Regional News, Second Quarter 2018

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Jennifer March Soloway, Lin Oliver, Michael Mahin, Nancy Mercado, SCBWI events, Steve Bramucci

By Beverly Plass, Co-Assistant SoCal Regional Advisor

Into the Woods: May 4-6, 2018

Our weekend writer’s retreat sold out in one week! YA and middle-grade writers will gather in scenic Idyllwild to spruce up their manuscripts with the guidance of professionals. And what better theme for this year than “Into the Woods?” Attendees will participate in four critique-group sessions led by an editor, agent, or published author, hear speaker presentations on the craft of writing, and mingle during meals and a happy hour.

Our faculty includes:

SCBWI SoCal Regional News, 2nd Quarter 2017

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Erin Young, Estelle Laure, illustrators, Imagine 2, John Dadlez, Kate Sullivan, Salina Yoon, SCBWI events, SCBWI members, Steve Bramucci, writers

By CenCal Regional Team

Tahquitz Pines Retreat Center

Spring Retreat

It’s spring in the SoCal region and our Spring Retreat: Finding Gold is coming up soon! We have a few spots left for the perfect writer’s getaway at the Tahquitz Pines Retreat Center nestled in the beautiful Idyllwild mountains. Come join us May 5-7, 2017 as we seek to “find gold” in our manuscripts during this intensive revision weekend. Designed for Middle Grade and Young Adult authors, the retreat will include writing time, revision time, and roundtable critiques in an intimate setting with an editor or an agent, an author, and a few of your colleagues. Staff in Attendance: Kate Sullivan, Delacorte Press; Erin Young, Dystel, Goderich, and Bourret LLC; Estelle Laure, YA author of This Raging Light and But Then I Came Back; Steve Bramucci, MG author of The Danger Gang & the Pirates of Borneo!  Hope to see you there! Register here. And read on for more awesome events you won’t want to miss!

Estelle Laure

Kate Sullivan

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCBWI SoCal Regional News, 1st Quarter 2017

By SoCal Regional Team

SCBWI SoCal has some great events coming up!

May 5-7, 2017 – SCBWI SoCal Spring Retreat 2017: Finding Gold

YA and middle-grade writers, now’s your chance to work on your novel with the support of professionals in a scenic mountain retreat. Our goals? We want you to find the gold in your manuscript and query letter and inspire you to polish your work until we all holler “Eureka!”  Attendees will participate in four critique-group sessions led by an editor, agent, and published author. You will hear speaker presentations on the craft of writing as well as valuable feedback on query letters and what makes them shine. Plus, you’ll get to mingle with the editor, agent, authors, and fellow Forty-Niner writers during happy hour.

SoCal Regional News, Second Quarter 2016

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Anna Roberto, Cliff Cramp, exhibition, Gina Capaldi, John Dadlez, retreat, SCBWI events

by Francesca Rusackas, Regional Advisor

Spring is always a time of energy and renewal. With that in mind, our wonderful Regional Illustrator Coordinator, Gina Capaldi, is coming up with plenty of opportunities for illustrators (and writers) to improve their skills and make connections.

Our 2015, exhibition, Imagine! The Art of Children’s Books Illustration, was a huge success and Gina is already at work on plans for 2017!

The door

SoCal Regional News

by Francesca Rusackas, Regional Advisor

Happy Spring! Here in the SoCalRegion we are all looking forward to our annual Spring Retreat at the South Coast Winery Resort and Spa in Temecula. It will be held May 20 – 22. The winery gardens should be in full bloom by then. Our guest list includes: Stacy Cantor Abrams, Executive Editorial Director of Entangled Teen; Jenne Abramawitz, Senior Editor at Scholastic; Deirdre Jones, Associate Editor, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, and Deborah Warren, Co-Founder of East West Literary Agency.

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!

SoCal Regional News

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news, SCBWI events, SCBWI members

We hope everyone is enjoying summer, but it’s time to mark your calendars for our upcoming Editor’s Day on October 3, 2015 at Cal State University Fullerton!

Editor’s Day is packed with plenty of opportunities for our attendees, including Manuscript Critiques, Pitch Sessions, a pre-conference Friday night Illustrator’s art exhibit, First Pages Panel, Portfolio Displays, Promo and Tear Sheet Critiques, lunch with the editors, PAL Book displays, book signings, and book giveaways. Don’t miss out on this fabulous chance to connect with industry professionals!

SoCal Regional News

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news, SCBWI events, SCBWI members

Spring Greetings from Francesca and Q,

It’s often said that good things come in threes. In the last two Kite Tales we’ve introduced you to two wonderful authors—Marcie Wessels and Elana Azose—who each found a home for their first published picture book through our SoCal Editor’s Day. The third author in this talented trio is Michael Mahin. Michael earned his Ph.D. in American Literature at Claremont Graduate School. He went on to become a professor at San Diego State, a budding screenwriter, and the lead guitarist in an ‘80s cover band called Neon Nation. Michael is a bundle of talent, and we were fortunate to have him speak at several of our events. It was at Editor’s Day that Michael added published picture book author to his long list of credits. Michael agreed to give us an update, and it seems that there is a new book on the way! Here’s what he had to say.

SoCal Regional News

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news, SCBWI events, SCBWI members

 

The end of the year is fast approaching, and we can now curl up by the fire and enjoy the memory of a wonderful Agent’s Day in the OC. Our guests included authors Marci Wessels and Marianne D. Wallace, and agents Lori Kilkelly of Rodeen Literary Management, Sean McCarthy of McCarthy Literary, Christa Heschke of McIntosh and Otis, Inc., and Charlie Olsen of Inkwell Literary. As a special treat, our illustrators and picture book authors enjoyed a session with Suzanne Cruise, Licensing Agent and President of Cruise Creative Licensing.