The Joan Broerman Book Basket

If you've attended a Southern Breeze conference in the last twenty years or more, then you've seen the Joan Broerman book basket. You might have even donated a book or two to the basket. But have you ever wondered what the story is behind the book basket?

I love a good mystery, and so a little sleuthing around Southern Breeze was necessary to track down the origin. It all began when then Regional Advisor Joan Broerman (Yep, the basket is named for her!) heard Harold Underdown give a keynote speech at a conference, exhorting attendees to support library funding. And so the idea for the basket was born: at each Southern Breeze conference, attendees are invited to donate books to a basket. At the end of the conference, one lucky winner is awarded the basket, but the real winner is the library or school that receives all the books!

This year at wik'18, Laura Tucker, herself a librarian, won the basket. She delivered books--and there are a ton of books collected!--to three libraries at Homewood elementary schools: Hall Kent, Edgewood, and Shades Cahaba. In Laura's words, "They were beyond delighted by the books and did not have them in their collection due to limited book budgets."

And so the Joan Broerman Book Basket brought a happy ending to lots of readers!

Southern Breeze is proud to support literacy for children, and you can be a part of providing books to kids in Alabama, Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle, too. Check out SCBWI's website for more information and to find members near you. Join us today and bring your story to kids (and maybe donate one of your very own books to our Joan Broerman Book Basket!)

"Something for Everyone!" 30 Days of WIK'15 - Writing Intensive with Harold Underdown

"Something for Everyone!"
30 Days of WIK'15
- Writing Intensive with Harold Underdown

Harold Underdown will host a half-day writing intensive titled, "Editing Without an Editor"

*Intensives are an additional fee. Please see Registration page for cost.

Editing Without an Editor
How can writers improve their work without hiring professionals? This fast-paced workshop shows you how to use reader response theory, feedback from others, and a variety of “big-picture” methods and detailed editing techniques to make your manuscript—novel, picture book or nonfiction—better.

AUDIENCE: Writers, all levels.

ABOUT HAROLD UNDERDOWN:

Harold Underdown is an independent editor and publishing consultant who helps writers develop their manuscripts through critiques and other editorial and consulting services for individuals and publishers. Harold enjoys teaching and is the author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Children’s Book Publishing, now in its third edition. He founded and runs “The Purple Crayon,” a respected web site with information about the children’s publishing world at www.underdown.org. He speaks and gives workshops through the Highlights Foundation, SCBWI’s national and regional conferences, and Kid’s Book Revisions (offering online and on-site tutorials, webinars, and workshops in partnership with Eileen Robinson). As an in-house editor, he previously worked at Macmillan, Orchard, and Charlesbridge, and has experience in trade and educational publishing.

Register now!

https://southern-breeze.scbwi.org/events/writing-and-illustrating-for-kids-conference-2015/

LINKS:

Website

Twitter

Click here to REGISTER FOR WIK'15 now!

Something for Everyone - 30 Days of WIK'15 - Harold Underdown

"Something for Everyone"
30 Days of WIK'15 - Harold Underdown

 Harold Underdown will host several workshops during WIK'15.

• Getting It Out the Door: Are Your Synopsis and Cover or Query Letter Ready? (REPEATS)
  Your manuscript is done. Now you’ll need to write a dreaded “query letter” and, if it’s a novel, a synopsis. Later, if the manuscript is requested, you’ll need a cover letter to go with it. In this workshop, learn what to do and what not to do in a query letter, how to put together an effective synopsis, and the simple requirements of a cover letter. You’ll also learn what struggles with drafting a query letter may say about your manuscript. We will use student examples. if you would like your query letter or synopsis to be critiqued (anonymously) please submit it by September 15, 2015 (submission information supplied after registration). 
  AUDIENCE: Writers and illustrators, all levels. 
• Choosing a Publishing Path: Self vs Traditional
  There are more publishing options available than ever before—but which one is right for you? Join two publishing veterans (editor and hybrid author) as they examine the advantages, disadvantages, and requirements of self- and traditional publishing to help you decide which is right for you or for your manuscript.
  AUDIENCE: Writers and illustrators, all levels.
• How Do I Find a(n) Editor/Publisher/Agent?
  You’re ready to send your manuscript out, but where? I’ll guide you through online, print, and in-person resources, culminating in the arcane art of catalog analysis, to teach you what you need to know when researching submissions options. 
  AUDIENCE: Writers and illustrators, all levels.

Harold Underdown will also host an Intensive Illustrating workshop on Friday, October 16,2016

*Intensives are an additional fee. Please see Registration page for cost.

ABOUT HAROLD UNDERDOWN:

Harold Underdown is an independent editor and publishing consultant; he does critiques, helps to develop manuscripts, and provides other editorial and consulting services for individuals and publishers.

Harold enjoys teaching, and in that role wrote The Complete Idiot's Guide to Children's Book Publishing, now in its third edition. He founded and runs "The Purple Crayon," a respected web site with information about the children's publishing world at www.underdown.org. He speaks and gives workshops through the Highlights Foundation, SCBWI's national and regional conferences, and Kid’s Book Revisions (offering online and on-site tutorials, webinars, and workshops in partnership with Eileen Robinson).
As an in-house editor, he worked at Macmillan, Orchard, and Charlesbridge, and has experience in trade and educational publishing.

*Harold Underdown will also host a half-day writing intensive titled, "Editing Without an Editor"

LINKS:

Website

Twitter

Register for wik'15 now!