Southern Breeze at the DBF, Part Two

For the first time in a number of years, Southern Breeze authors and illustrators will have a booth at the Decatur Book Festival in downtown Decatur, Georgia. And we have so many authors attending, we couldn't fit 'em all in the first post!

On Labor Day weekend, from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon (Aug. 31 - Sept. 2), this festival offers a nonstop roster of speakers, panels, and entertainment that goes on all over the downtown area--and it's all free!

So where will we Breezers be? Our booth is #621, and it’s smack dab in the middle of the children’s section on Sycamore Street. Breezers will be signing as well as selling, so here's the rest of the rundown of what and who you'll find at our booth and when they'll be signing:

Lucyann Wagner and Delia Blackstone's book, NORAH BEDORAH AND THE PINK DOUGHNUT WITH SPRINKLES, is a rhyming story about a spunky little girl who wants to eat LOTS of pink doughnuts with sprinkles for breakfast at her Groovy Grandmas' house.  The Groovy Grandmas ( with pink doughnuts!) will be signing on Saturday 12-2 and Sunday 2-4.

Andy Klein is back with his 3rd book in the 'Oliver Phenomena' series. 'Oliver and the Little Bigfoot' has the boy with an unusual flair for the supernatural meeting up with a young sasquatch who is very shy and just as helpful. Andy will be signing copies of all his books on Sunday from 12-4pm.

Did you ever yearn to hop on a plane and fly to Paris?  In Pap Pap Goes to Paris, and so does Ricky, a five-year-old boy convinces his parents to let him travel to Paris with his beloved grandfather, so they can climb the Eiffel Tower together.  Author Janie Dempsey Watts will sign copies on Saturday and Sunday from 12-2 p.m.

Alayne Smith's novel, Ellen and the Three Predictions, is set in 1959 Marshall, Alabama, where an elderly soothsayer, Luella, makes predictions about all the babies' lives.  Stop by Sunday from 2:00 to 6:00. Luella may have a prediction for you!

Jodi Wheeler-Toppen's Dog Science Unleashed: Fun Activities to Do With Your Canine Companion teaches the science of dogs with hands-on activities and behind-the-scenes peeks into current pup-related research. She'll be signing (and petting dogs) from 10-12 on Saturday and 4 to 6 on Sunday.

Over on a Desert is the seventh book in the “Over in” series of animal counting books written by Marianne Berkes and illustrated by Jill Dubin, published by Dawn Publications. These nature books show a wonderful array of animals and background material illustrated using cut paper collage. Jill will be signing books on Saturday 12-4.

Illustrator Laura Freeman will be signing a handful of books she's illustrated on Saturday from 2-6pm, including Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race, (written by Margot Lee Shetterly). The incredibly inspiring true story of four black women who helped NASA launch men into space was named as one of the ten “Books All Young Georgians Should Read for 2018." 

Laura will also be signing a book she authored and illustrated, Natalie's Hair was Wild!, inspired by her own childhood adventures with her hair!

That's all but it's quite enough! Don't forget to check the DBF map for parking and the location of the SCBWI Southern Breeze booth. And remember: wear comfortable shoes and plenty of sunscreen, and be sure to come by the booth and say hello! We'd love to see y'all!

Southern Breeze at the DBF, Part One

For the first time in a number of years, Southern Breeze authors and illustrators will have a booth at the Decatur Book Festival in downtown Decatur, Georgia. (And we have so many authors attending, we can't fit 'em all into one post!)

On Labor Day weekend, from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon (Aug. 31 - Sept. 2), this festival offers a nonstop roster of speakers, panels, and entertainment that goes on all over the downtown area--and it's all free!

So where will we Breezers be? Our booth is #621, and it’s smack dab in the middle of the children’s section on Sycamore Street. Breezers will be signing as well as selling, so here's the rundown of what and who you'll find at our booth and when they'll be signing:

When Bigfoot dies in the forest, but no one’s there to see, does he still leave a body? Find out when BIGFOOT CSI author K. Osborn Sullivan signs copies of this exciting, hilarious new young adult novel from 10-12 on Saturday and 2-4 on Sunday.

It will take practice and patience for Joey to master a new skill in 

MORE-IGAMI by Dori Kleber, illustrated by G. Brian Karas. This award-winning picture book was named one of Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2016.

STEM author Morgan Young's tween novel--LANA & THE WATER CARRIER--takes readers on a cosmic adventure with a fierce girl and her magic telescope. Morgan will be on hand Saturday, 4pm-6pm, to demo her spaceflight VR goggles and sign copies of her book.

Lisa Lowe Stauffer's debut, TWO BY TWO, is a rollicking rhyming board book about two monkeys and their adventures on Noah's Ark. Lisa (and the monkeys!) will be signing on Saturday 10-12 and 4-6, and Sunday 4-6.

Every day is an adventure for Barkley the dog and his farmyard friends in Susan Allen’s latest book, A Week with the Wee Beasties! Come by the Southern Breeze booth between 12:00 - 2:00 on Sunday, where you can have your book signed by Susan and Barkley! 

GABBY GRAPE MEETS JUNK FOOD JUNKIE! written by Linda Hodge-McLoud is an engaging children’s story set in a fictional town called Healthyville where she is often confronted by "Junk Food Junkie and the Munchies". Linda will be signing books on Saturday 2- 4 pm, and 12- 2 pm on Sunday. 

Peggy Shaw will be bringing a collection of her Sesame Street 8x8 books with titles like “What Makes You Giggle?” and “Abby Cadabby’s Rhyme Time.” She'll be signing on Saturday from 10 until 12.

Vickie McEntire’s second children’s book and winner of the Georgia Author of the Year Award, Little Bird & Myrtle Turtle, is an inspiring story of encouragement and persistence for young children. Little Bird overcomes adversity with the help of an unlikely rescuer, Myrtle Turtle.  McEntire will be signing on Saturday 12-2 and 4-6, and Sunday 12-2.

Please check out the map on the DBF website to pinpoint our booth location and available parking and please note: parking is NOT free (but MARTA will drop you off right in the middle of all the activities). And come back tomorrow to read about the next batch of Southern Breeze authors who'll be appearing at the DBF!

Southern Breeze Goes to the SCBWI Summer Conference (And We're Dishing on LA!)

Every year, the SCBWI Summer Conference in LA beckons…and every year, I find myself following all the big doings from afar. But I know a couple of Southern Breezers who did make it to Los Angeles, so I asked RA Claudia Pearson, ARA Sharon Pegram, and IC Temika Grooms to give us the up close and personal rundown of their conference experience. Special thanks to Temika for putting it all in pictures!

(Bonus points if you can guess what character or book Claudia dressed up as for the big costume party!)

What was your don’t-miss-one-minute-of-it event/intensive/workshop session of the Summer Conference?

Claudia: Elana K. Arnold’s workshops on Increasing Tension and Writing through to the end, although Kevin Lewis’s Picture book Session was also outstanding. Both Elana and Kevin offered a ton of well organized info with solid examples.

Sharon: I learned a lot from Carolyn Mackler's workshop on what she's learned from writing novels for 20 years, and she made us laugh. Also, Lin Oliver at the Artists and Authors Ball with her face painted like a Picasso was definitely memorable!

And what benefits do you get from attending the conference, both for your personal professional growth, and for the membership here in Southern Breeze?

Sharon: The whole gigantic-ness of the experience recharges me professionally. I think it's impossible to marinate in that much creative energy and enthusiasm for three days and not bring some home with you. For our membership, I talk with regional leaders from around the country and the world about the programs they offer their members and how they do things, and that always yields some great ideas. And while I'm scribbling down my notes at workshops and key notes, part of my brain is always evaluating the speaker as possible Southern Breeze conference faculty.

Claudia: SCBWI offers an excellent community for professional writers and illustrators. I love touching base with so many wonderful authors, illustrators and acquiring professionals I have come to know over the years, and also meeting new people, like Ekua Holmes and Ibi Zoboi! Of course getting to meet Lois Lowery and Mildred Taylor are also huge highlights! These personal interactions make it much easier to evaluate and approach potential speakers for our own regional conferences.

Thanks for sharing, y'all! And P.S. Every year, I sulk a little bit, missing all the fun. But maybe it's a lot of work and no fun at all. What do you think?