2006 SCBWI-MI Spring Conference: What in the World is the World Looking For? 10 June 2006 Location: Washtenaw Community College Morris Lawrence Building 4800 E. Huron River Drive Ann Arbor, MI 48106 Free parking is available in the parking lots. Maps of Washtenaw Community College Lodging in Ann Arbor area near Washtenaw Community College Presenters: Wendy McClure, Senior Editor, Albert Whitman & Company Wendy McClure is a Senior Editor of picture books and middle-grade novels at Albert Whitman & Company. Her favorite book projects include: Trading Places with Tank Talbott, Armadilly Chili, and the popular holiday books: The Runaway Valentine and The Halloween Queen. In addition, she has edited dozens of titles for The Boxcar Children Mysteries. Wendy writes essays and humor for grownups, and is the author of a memoir, I’m Not the New Me. Wendy lives in Chicago. Maya Rock, Agent, Writers House Maya Rock is a new acquiring agent from Writers House. She graduated from Princeton University with a major in English. For the past two years, Maya has been the assistant to Al Zuckerman, Chairman of Writers House; she also assists Anderson Grinberg Literary Management. She is looking for good, transportive fiction, especially historical, and she is drawn to stories with strong heroines. Maya likes literary, YA, romance, memoir, self help, inspirational, narrative non-fiction, and stories focused on people at the edges of society. She recently sold her first book, a memoir titled Gone to the Crazies (Regan Books). Kelly DiPucchio, Author Kelly DiPucchio is the author of several picture books for children, including Bed Hogs, voted Michigan’s Best Preschool Book of 2006, and Liberty’s Journey, an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award recipient. Kelly is a graduate of Michigan State University, and a former newspaper columnist. She lives with her family in Macomb Township, MI. Lin Oliver, Executive Director - SCBWI Lin Oliver is the Executive Director of SCBWI. She is the former Senior Vice President of Television and Home Video at MCA/Universal. After nine years, Lin established her own company, Lin Oliver Productions. Her projects are mainly based on children’s books, including E. B. White’s The Trumpet of the Swan and Finding Buck McHenry. She is currently working on a new children’s television series, Wayside School. Lin is the co-author of a series of books, Hank Zipzer: the Mostly True Confessions of the World’s Best Underachiever (Penguin Putnam, 2003) with Henry Winkler. Laurie Keller, Author/Illustrator Laurie Keller grew up in Muskegon, MI. She graduated with a BFA degree in illustration from Kendall College of Art and Design. She worked at Hallmark Cards as a greeting card artist for more than seven years. After realizing that her passion was creating children’s books, she wrote and illustrated several books such as: The Scrambled States of America, Arnie the Doughnut, and Open Wide: Tooth School Inside, (Henry Holt). Laurie also illustrated Marty Frye, Private Eye and Toys! Amazing Stories Behind Some Great Inventions. Book Sales: Speakers' books will be available for sale. See schedule for book sales, and book signings. We accept cash and checks (payable to SCBWI-MI) only. Conference Schedule: 8:15 Morning Registration & Continental Breakfast 9:00 Welcome 9:15 Lin Oliver, Exec. Director, SCBWI 10:15 Break and Book Sales 10:30 Wendy McClure, Sr. Editor, Albert Whitman & Company What in the World is that Editor Thinking? 11:30 Announcements 11:45 AM - 1:00 PM Lunch & Book Sales 12:30 - 1:00 Book Signings 1:00 Afternoon Mentorship Award Presentation 1:15 Maya Rock, Agent, Writers House The First Step: Crafting the Perfect Query Letter 2:15 Break and Book Sales/Signings 2:30 Kelly DiPucchio, Author What in the World is So Funny? Writing and Selling Humorous Picture Books 3:00 Laurie Keller, Illustrator/Author Playing with Words, Birds and Things I've Heard 3:30 Q&A with Kelly and Laurie 4:00 Break and Book Sales/Signings 4:15 Door Prizes, Closing Portfolio Showcase Illustrators are invited to bring their portfolio for display. Comment cards will be available for feedback from speakers and conference participants. Please bring promotional materials. For more information, email Leslie Helakoski or phone Leslie at 269-624-1130. Portfolio Critique Lottery Ten portfolio critiques will be available with Laurie Keller. You may have a portfolio or a dummy critiqued. Bring your portfolio or dummy to the conference with you. Please do NOT mail artwork. Send the $35.00 critique fee to: Sandy Carlson, 244 Honey Lane, Battle Creek, MI 49015. Make check payable to SCBWI-MI and write "portfolio critique" on the check. To be eligible for the Portfolio Critique Lottery: Checks must be postmarked by 5/3/06. (Full refund if not selected for the lottery.) You must be a member of SCBWI. You may not apply for the mentorship or manuscript critique lottery. Mentorship Competition: Download in PDF format the 2006 Mentorship Program Information. Mentorship program applicants may not enter the manuscript or portfolio critique lotteries. Manuscript Critique Lottery A total of 20 manuscript critiques will be available. Lottery winners will receive a written critique and a 10 minute meeting with either Wendy McClure or Maya Rock. Please indicate if you wish to have your critique with Wendy or Maya; your request will be taken into consideration (but no guarantees). To be eligible for the Manuscript Critique Lottery: Manuscripts and checks must be postmarked by 5/3/06. (Full refund if not selected for the lottery.) You must be a member of SCBWI. Manuscripts must be properly formatted. (If you need information re a properly formatted manuscript, visit The SCBWI website, click "publications" then "SCBWI publications" and download the PDF file called "From Keyboard to Printed Page: Facts You Need to Know.") IF YOU APPLY for the Manuscript Critique Lottery, you may not apply for the mentorship or portfolio critique lottery. Critique Lottery Submission Details: For picture books and magazine articles, please send the entire manuscript. For novels, send the first chapter and a synopsis. Send a SASE for the return of your manuscript in the event it is not selected for the lottery. Send the $35.00 critique fee (payable to SCBWI-MI) and your submission to: Sandy Carlson, 244 Honey Lane, Battle Creek, MI 49015. DEADLINES to remember: Mentorship contest deadline: 5/3 (to April Gaff) Manuscript critique lottery deadline: 5/3 (to Sandy Carlson) Portfolio critique lottery deadline/checks only: 5/3 (to Sandy Carlson) Registration deadline: 5/15 (to Joanna Brod) Conference Registration Form suitable for printing Questions or additional information, contact Rachel Anderson or Susi Walter by email or phone. Rachel Anderson or phone Rachel at 989-435-9258 Susi Walter or phone Susi at 586-677-3541.