Friday, October 2 to Sunday, October 4 2009
Check in from 3-6 p.m. Friday
Yarrow Golf and Conference Center
10499 N. 48th Street
Augusta, MI 49012
This Fall's conference will be held at the beautiful Yarrow Golf and Conference Center in Augusta, MI. Click on the link to the left to view their website or for directions.
To register, click on the Register Now link in the box (to the left), print the registration form, and follow the mailing instructions.
For more information about the conference, scroll down to see if your question is below. If not, you can contact conference co-chairs Jennifer Whistler (jenniferjwhistler AT yahoo DOT com) or Julie Chase (ruffdrft AT gmail DOT com).
Presenters
Harold Underdown
Harold is a freelance editorial consultant. He has worked at Macmillan, Orchard, and Charlesbridge, and has experience in trade and educational publishing. He is also the author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Children's Book Publishing and runs "The Purple Crayon," a website with information about the business at www.underdown.org.
Matt Faulkner
Award-winning children's book author and illustrator Matt Faulkner grew up in a small town just outside Boston. He delights in illuminating both historical stories and more fanciful tales. His most recent book, A Taste of Colored Water, received the Comstock Honor by Minnesota State University, was chosen as a finalist by the California Commonwealth Club for its 2009 Book Award, and was chosen as a winner in the pre-adolescent category for 2009 by the National Storytelling Network, an organization that also chose Laurie Halse Anderson's Independent Dames (which Matt illustrated) as the winner of its adolescent category for 2009. Even though our conference this year is on a golf course, Matt can't golf. It's against his philosophy. Sorry. He does like to draw, though! You can visit Matt's website at www.mattfaulkner.com.
Loraine Joyner
Art director for Peachtree Publishers in Atlanta for the last 16 years, Loraine has worked with both seasoned, well-known illustrators and first-time illustrators in picture books, middle readers, and young adult fiction. During her tenure, Peachtree's books have consistently won recognition in both editorial and design/illustration with such notable awards as the Bologna Regazzi, the Christopher Award, Pura Belpre, CA Annual, and numerous Society of Illustrators awards including a Gold Medal in S of I's 50th Annual Exhibition. Loraine has gone to great lengths for her job, including sacrificing her knees and fingertips in the company parking lot as she created a crafty chalk drawing as the cover for one of Peachtree's middle readers. Now that's someone who loves what she does! For more information, visit http://peachtree-online.com.
Jennie Dunham
Jennie has been a NYC literary agent since 1992. In August of 2000, she founded Dunham Literary, Inc. Her clients have been New York Times bestsellers and have won awards such as the Boston Globe Horn Honor Book, New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year, the Charlotte Zolotow Award, and International Reading Association Award. Her agency represents children's books for all ages, from novelty and picture books through middle grade and young adult, as well as literary fiction and non-fiction for adults. Visit the Dunham Literary website at www.dunhamlit.com.
Leslie Connor
Leslie is the author of the picture book Miss Bridie Chose a Shovel, winner of the IRA prize for primary fiction and the Connecticut Book Award's prize for children's literature in 2005. Her YA novel in verse, Dead on Town Line, was a New York Public Libraries selection, and has been a popular title on summer reading lists. Most recently, Leslie's tween novel, Waiting for Normal, won the Schneider Family Book Award. Leslie believes that the best book to write is the one you can't ignore. Currently, she can't ignore two separate books, which she is writing from her home "in the woods and near the shore" in Connecticut. To find out more about Leslie, visit http://www.harpercollins.com/authors/30604/Leslie_Connor/index.aspx.
Tim Travaglini
A senior editor at G.P. Putnam's Sons, a division of Penguin Group, Tim is the editor of #1 New York Times bestseller Goodnight, Goon by Michael Rex, and its companion book The Runaway Mummy. He has also edited Monster Blood Tattoo by D.M. Cornish; The Youngest Templar by Michael P. Spradlin; Dreamdark by Laini Taylor; Bean Thirteen by Matthew McElligott; Just One Wish by Janette Rallison; Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith; You Are the First Kid on Mars by Patrick O'Brien; and Uncle Bobby's Wedding by Sarah S. Brannen. You can check out more information about G.P. Putnam's Sons at http://us.penguingroup.com/static/pages/publishers/yr/putnam.html
Ellen Hopkins
Ellen Hopkins is a poet, freelance writer, and the award-winning author of twenty nonfiction titles and five New York Times Bestselling novels-in-verse: Crank; Burned; Glass; Impulse; and Identical. She has published hundreds of articles on subjects ranging from aviation to child abuse to winegrowing. Ellen mentors other writers through her position as a regional adviser for the Nevada chapter of SCBWI. Visit Ellen's website at www.ellenhopkins.com.
Lotteries
If you have questions about any of the lotteries, contact Janice Broyles at conanthe3rd AT charter DOT net.
To enter any of the lotteries, please click on the Register Now link in the Quick Links section at the top of this brochure.
Paid Critique Lotteries
A limited number of paid manuscript and portfolio critique slots are available to SCBWI members ONLY, and will be filled by a lottery. The fee is $40 and will be returned if you are not chosen.
NOTE: You must attend the conference to participate in any of the lotteries. Members are eligible for one critique per category per year. Fall begins the new year. The manuscript critique and the portfolio critique may occur at the same conference or at separate conferences. However, you may only enter one time per category per conference. If extra slots become available, they will be announced on our website in September.
Postmark deadline for critiques is August 25, 2009.
For either critique, please include the following:
· A separate check for $40 payable to SCBWI-MI.
A SASE with sufficient postage for return of fee if not chosen.
For MS critiques, please include two copies each of the following:
· For picture books: complete manuscript
· For middle grade or young adult: one complete chapter (10 pages max) and a 2-3 page summary of the entire manuscript
For magazine, short story, or non-fiction: complete manuscript
For portfolio critiques, please bring your entire portfolio with you to the conference. Do not send it in the mail.
First Pages Lottery
Our speakers will once again provide impromptu feedback on anonymous manuscript "first pages" and single illustration pieces. There is no fee, but spaces are limited and will be filled by lottery.
NOTE: You may enter both the Manuscript or Portfolio critique and the First Pages lottery. However, if you win a critique slot, you will not be eligible for First Pages.
Postmark deadline for First Pages is August 25, 2009.
Authors--To participate, send the first page of your manuscript in the following format:
· Use font size 12 and one-inch margins.
· On the first line, type the MS title, genre, and intended audience.
· On the second line, begin the MS, double spacing until the end of the page. (It's okay if you end in mid-sentence.)
On the back, IN PENCIL, write your name, phone number, and email address.
Illustrators--To participate, send 6 copies of an illustrated narrative piece (no portraits or character sketches).
Breakout Session Lotteries
This year, we have two breakout sessions that have limited participant numbers: Matt Faulkner's picture book breakout, and Jennie Dunham's breakout on pitch. Below is a short description of each breakout. To enter the lottery for either session, check the appropriate box on the Lottery Enrollment form. Lottery winners will be posted at the registration table on Friday.
NOTE: Both sessions are offered at the same time. You may register for both, but can only win a slot in one.
Postmark deadline for Breakouts is August 25, 2009.
Matt Faulkner Breakout--The Right Grip: Getting a Handle on the Picture Book Biz
Matt has put together gobs of insightful material on "the biz" for his Academy of Art University/San Francisco graduate class. Book layout, contracts, industry secrets? He'll tell you all about 'em. Lively discussion! Hand outs galore! Cash drawings (he is an illustrator, after all)! Be sure to bring your story draft and/or thumbnails along. Limited to 15 participants.
Jennie Dunham--Swing Clinic: Perfecting Your Pitch
A hands-on workshop in which Jennie will help you create a short pitch for your picture book, novel, or narrative non-fiction piece. You must bring a complete draft of your MS to the session. Limited to 20 participants.
