21 Wednesday Jun 2017
Posted in Ask an Editor
Tags
“Ask an Editor” is a forum wherein SCBWI members submit questions that are answered as part of our quarterly Kite Tales blog.
Dear Editor – How many pages will I submit to an agent?
—Lim, Los Angeles
17 Wednesday May 2017
Posted in Author's Perspective
Tags
agents, authors, Bill Contardi, Colleen Kong-Savage, contracts, Helena Ku Rhee, illustrators, picture books, publishers, publishing, The Turtle Ship
Jessica Echeverria (editor, Lee & Low), Helena, and Colleen Kong-Savage (illustrator)
Helena Ku Rhee is the author of The Turtle Ship, a forthcoming picture book by Lee & Low (Fall 2018). Helena, trained as a lawyer, followed an uncommon path by negotiating her own book deal. She tells Kite Tales about her debut and navigating publishing without an agent. Continue reading
25 Wednesday May 2016
Posted in Illustrator's Perspective
Tags
agents, authors, illustrator tips, illustrators, John Nez, picture books, publishing, tools, writing tips
Prolific illustrator John Nez shares with us about the tools he uses, why life as a working illustrator really is work, how to be your own best advocate, and how to keep that “little mouse of creative happiness” alive and thriving through it all. Read on for some great insight, tips, and illustrative goodness!
08 Friday Apr 2016
Posted in Author's Perspective, Illustrator's Perspective
Tags
agents, authors, conferences, critiques, Debbie Ohi, Debbie Ridpath Ohi, how-to, illustrator tips, illustrators, Inky Girl, InkyGirl, middle grade, picture book, SCBWI events, SCBWI members, writing tips
Debbie Ridpath Ohi writes and illustrates books for young people in Toronto, Canada. Her first solo picture book, Where Are My Books?, debuted from Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers in 2015. Her illustrations appear in picture books by Michael Ian Black and in Judy Blume chapter books and middle grade reissues, as well as many others. She gave a challenging and insightful keynote at this year’s SCBWI Los Angeles Writer’s Day as well as a “master class” on social media for authors. She was kind enough to do a follow-up interview with Kite Tales to share her perspective on being an introverted author, networking, and how to attract that magical publishing lightning.
26 Friday Feb 2016
Posted in Agent's Perspective
Tags
agent, agents, how-to, Jane Cowen Hamilton, Michelle Zeitlin, query, query letters, social media, writing tips
I sat down with agents Michelle Zeitlin and Jane Cowen Hamilton of More Zap Productions and Management to talk about their new literary division, discuss why an author must know their brand, and how children’s literature fits into their multi-media, and currently acquiring, agency. I was curious how an agency that represents dancers, directors, and other specialty talent got into the literary world and what their unique platform had to offer. Turns out, a lot.
11 Wednesday Nov 2015
Posted in Great News!, Toot Your Horn!
Tags
Kite Tales loves to celebrate our SCBWI members. Congratulations to all listed below!
TOOT YOUR OWN HORN!
A Girl Undone by Catherine Linka, St. Martin’s Press, ages 12+, dystopian, ISBN: 978-1-2506-8675, released June 24, 2015
Hotel Transylvania 2 Movie Novel by Stacia Deutsch, Simon Spotlight, ages 3-7, movie tie in, ISBN: 978-1-4814-4819-2, released August 18, 2015
16 Friday Oct 2015
Posted in Author's Perspective, Editor's Perspective
Tags
agents, authors, Chuck Sambuchino, editors, queries, query letters, reference guides, synopsis, word count, writing tips
GIVEAWAY: We’re giving away one copy of the newly-released Writers Digest 2016 Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market. We enjoy reading your comments! Therefore, on October 30, 2015, one person who has commented (left a reply) attached to this post will randomly be selected for this fabulous prize.
I met up with Chuck Sambuchino on October 10th at the Writing Conference of Los Angeles, where he was the featured speaker. With humor and enthusiasm, 
Chuck provided current marketplace insight and information. The breadth and depth of his presentations clearly revealed his expertise as a successful writer and editor for Writer’s Digest publications and as an author of his own two books. Read on for Chuck’s tips on reference guides, query letters, agents, writing a synopsis, word count—and clown attacks.
09 Wednesday Sep 2015
Posted in Great News!, Industry News
Tags
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!
28 Friday Aug 2015
Posted in Agent's Perspective
Tags
agents, Alexandra Penfold, Barry Goldblatt, Brenda Bowen, conferences, SCBWI events, SCBWI members
The 2015 SCBWI Summer conference had an impressive line-up of agents including Alexandra Penfold, Barry Goldblatt and Brenda Bowen. There is a good amount of information out there answering questions about how to get an agent and how to write a fabulous (the ever elusive and tricky) query letter, but much less talked about is what happens once an agent’s interest is piqued. We wanted insider information on how these top of the line agents work with potential clients. They were kind enough to take time out of their busy conference schedules to talk with us.
13 Wednesday May 2015
Posted in Great News!, Toot Your Horn!
Tags
Kite Tales loves to celebrate our SCBWI members. Congratulations to all listed below!
TOOT YOUR HORN
A Day and Night in the Rain Forest, written and illustrated by Caroline Arnold (Picture Window Books) ages 5-8, nonfiction, ISBN: 978-1-4795-6074-5 (hb), ISBN 978-1-4795-6086-8 (paperback), Released January 2015
A Day and Night in the Desert, written and illustrated by Caroline Arnold (Picture Window Books) ages 5-8, nonfiction, ISBN: 978-1-4795-6072-1 (hb), ISBN 978-1-4795-6084-4 (paperback), Released January 2015
