Kite Tales Home Spring 2010 Volume 21 Number 2 www.scbwisocal.org In This Issue Regional News Saturday, April 10, 2010 Los Angeles ...................................2 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Orange County/ Clairbourn School, speakers Inland Empire ...............................3 San Gabriel, CA Ventura/Santa Barbara ..............6 Rachel abRams Tri-Region Calendar .............10 Editor, HarperCollins (www.harpercollinschildrens.com) Features Skype Speeds by David Boeshaar ...................7 Freelance Concept Work by J.H. Everett Printz Award-winning author, & JR Johnson ...............................8 lIbba bRay, (http://libbabray.com) Illustrator’s Perspective by Mark Fearing .....................11 Poet’s Perspective by Stephanie Hemphill .......13 Writer’s Perspective by Sherry Shahan ..................15 Middle grade series author, Editor’s Perspective: KathleeN o’dell, Miniview with Ruta Rimas (www.kathleenodell.com) by Terry Pierce .........................17 WD Faculty Feature by Nancy I. Sanders ..............19 Q&A with Michelle Zink by Bonnie Ferron ...................26 ALA Awards ................................33 Prolific picture book author, Columns lIsa WheeleR, A Penchant for Poetry (www.lisawheelerbooks.com) Stephanie Hemphill .............13 To Market, To Market by Vicki Arkoff .........................20 Illustrator’s Gallery Katie McDee .............................25 Agent JIll coRcoRaN, A Hint of Humor Professional Forum: Herman Agency will show us how to by Debbie Ridpath Ohi .......28 NaNcy I. saNdeRs write a winning query and synopsis News from the Internet (www.nancyisanders.com) (www.hermanagencyinc.com) by Jenn Bailey ................................29 on how to set up Volunteers in the Spotlight .....30 virtual book tours Bulletin Board ............................32 Lunch included c Toot Your Horn ..........................36 ome join us! Member $85 ~ Non-Member $95 Join SCBWI today $160 Definitions for the Perplexed Look for registration form and ($75 membership plus $85 Writer’s Day) by Editorial Anonymous ....37 details at www.scbwisocal.org SCBWI-L.A. Regional News Who’s Who in SCBWI-Los Angeles Ah, Spring! Regional Advisors: Claudia Harrington, Edie Pagliasotti, We love this time of year because it reminds us to do as Sarah Laurenson (Assistant RA) Nature and open ourselves up to the world. It’s time for those creative You can reach us at: 310-573-7318 or mail us at: SCBWI-L.A., P.O. Box 1728, buds to bloom, for us to soak up the sun and the nutrients around us, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 and to become the best we can be. E-mail Claudia at [email protected], Edie at [email protected], Whether you find your creative juice by digging into a writer’s Sarah at [email protected] schmooze and finally nabbing that elusive beginning, an illustrator’s Conference Coordinators: schmooze and stumbling on an idea that gives your work that Illustrator’s Day: Ken Min & Milla Zeltzer dimension you’ve been hoping for, or something bigger, like what Writer’s Day: Claudia Harrington & Edie Pagliasotti you’ll find at Writer’s Day, we are here for you! Working Writer’s Retreat: Judy Enderle & Speaking of Writer’s Day, come and soak up what makes a can’t-say- Stephanie Jacob Gordon Down The Rabbit Hole Sunday Field Trip: no query letter, or how to make your picture book/middle grade/ Dawne Knobbe teen novel stand out. No matter what stage of the game you’re in, & Svetlana Strickland you will always take home what you need to hear. Our speakers are Writer’s Toolbox: Sally Jones Rogan Small Events: Dawne Knobbe & Sue Wellfringer OUTSTANDING this year — writers libba bray (winner of the Contest Coordinator: Susan Ruch Roush 2010 Printz Award), lisa Wheeler, and Kathleen o’dell; agent Jill corcoran; and Professional Forum speaker Nancy sanders who will Schmooze Organizers: Gay Toltl Kinman (Schmooze Advocate) talk about virtual school visits. Manuscripts will bloom when you get Rita Crayon Huang & Lee Wind (Westside) home! Suzy Block (Westside Illustrators) Jennifer Swain (San Fernando Valley Illustrators) Dorothy Raymond (West San Gabriel Valley) Once they’ve bloomed, it’s time to weed — and just in time, Suzanne Gibson (South Bay) along comes Critiquenic, June 12th. What better way to take your manuscript or portfolio to the next level than to do it among peers Advisory Board: Joan Charles, Stephanie Jacob Gordon, while sitting under the sky and devouring scrumptious dessert? We Marcelle Greene, Claudia Harrington, Rilla know that chocolate spurs creativity, so we come armed for you! Jaggia, Dawne Knobbe, Sarah Laurenson, Although it’s informal and free, you do need to register in advance so Marilyn Morton, Edie Pagliasotti, Sally Jones Rogan, Susan Ruch Roush we can gather the perfect facilitators. Emeritus: Judy Enderle, Julie Williams Be sure to check upcoming events and contests for the tri-regions at www.scbwisocal.org, www.scbwisocal.org! Webmistress Sarah Laurenson SCBWI International We truly are blessed to play in the garden of SCBWI-L.A. along with so Executive (International) Office: many wonderful gardeners — we mean volunteers! We would not grow Steve Mooser, Lin Oliver For general info, membership & other national without you, so a huge round of thanks to each and every one. SCBWI business: 8271 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048 Here’s hoping your spring and 323-782-1010, [email protected] summer are full of the seeds of great www.scbwi.org manuscripts, great portfolios, and Regional Advisor Chairperson: Cheryl Zach even greater friendships. Now dig in! RA Chair Assistant: Pat Wolfe Int’l Regional Advisor Chair: Erzsi Deak Illustrator Coordinator: Claudia and Edie Priscilla Burris E-mail: [email protected] Kite Tales 2 Spring 2010 contents Orange County/Inland Empire News Who’s Who at Kite Tales Greetings from Francesca and Q, KITE TALES is a newsletter published by the L.A. Chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators for the SCBWI Tri- We recently had the joyous opportunity to pick the brains of two Regions of Southern California. Information talented SCBWI-Orange County members: Marlene Perez, author of published in KITE TALES does not constitute an the successful Dead is The New Black series, and award-winning picture endorsement by SCBWI and/or SCBWI-L.A. book author Roseanne Thong, author of Fly Free, Tummy Girl, and Wish. KITE TALES Editors Rilla Jaggia, [email protected] Here is the inside scoop on: How do they do it? Vicki Arkoff & Bonnie Ferron, SCBWI-L.A. Editors Alexis O’Neill, V/SB Editor, 805-581-1906 or [email protected] Q: marlene, do Francesca Rusackas & Q.L. Pearce, you keep a writing Orange/Long Beach/Riverside/ San Bernardino Editors, schedule? [email protected] or Yes, I write each morning [email protected] for 2½ hours, squeezing KITE TALES Layout & Production Marcelle Greene, in an hour at night after [email protected] the kids are in bed. I keep KITE TALES Proofreader to this schedule 7 days a Jill Linden, Author Marlene Perez [email protected] week. My husband is a KITE TALES Subscriptions huge help, which allows Mary Peterson, me to write at least 20 hours a week. I’ve also discovered that in order [email protected] KITE TALES Ads to stay on task, I’ve had to learn to say no to situations that would take Bonnie Ferron, me away from my writing. [email protected] Q: how do you pick your projects? KITE TALES is free at http://www.scbwisocal. I have tons of ideas and it’s important that I’m passionate about what org/htmls/kitetales.htm. Join the I’m working on. At the same time, it’s also important that I have online mailing list to receive Kite Tales announcements via e-mail at enough of an idea to make a book. So even though I hate to do it, I will http://groups.yahoo.com/group/KiteTales/. start with a 1-page synopsis. A synopsis will tell me if I have enough of Snail mail subscriptions cost $18/year (4 issues). a plot for a complete book. And since I like my books to be current, I’ll www.scbwisocal.org/htmls/ktform.htm run my synopsis by my agent to get his feedback. But nothing is written Submission Deadlines: in stone. Some authors will write a 50-page outline to help them pick a Spring - Jan. 15 for March 1 issue project. There are no rules. Summer - April 15 for June 1 issue Fall - July 15 for Sept. 1 issue Winter - Oct. 15 for Dec. 1 issue Q: What is the hardest element about a project? I often find that the hard work begins 100 pages into a project. It’s no Send comments, articles, great news, questions, etc. to Rilla Jaggia at longer the glittery, beautiful, and shiny new idea. That’s when I have to [email protected]. be careful not to be drawn away and seduced by a new idea. Columns - 500 words max Features - 800 words max Interviews - 1400 words max Q: any advice for YA authors? Poetry - 150 words max If you are new to the YA field, you can’t shop on an idea. Because of the economy, editors and agents are more cautious. You really need Critique Connections: Contact Sheryl Scarborough at to have a nearly completed manuscript. I also don’t like to talk about [email protected]. my project until it is done. You run the risk of tricking yourself into thinking that you’ve finished it, when you haven’t. Ads: Follow instructions on page 8 of this issue. Q: how do you keep your series-writing fresh? While I’m waiting for my first draft to be critiqued, I give myself (continued next page) Kite Tales 3 Spring 2010 contents … Orange county/inland empire news a little vacation from my series. I’ll work on a Q: What makes a project market savvy? completely different project.