Bring Your Career into Sharper Focus with wik20 and BOOKS!

BOOKS! BOOKS! BOOKS!

At our Southern Breeze conferences, we're all about books! We can't wait to see our members' newest books! We love to buy books and get 'em signed by all those famous authors and illustrators in the kidlit world who are presenting at our conference! And we want to hear all about your newly launched books!

We have all kinds of information about books at the Southern Breeze website; it's on the Optional Activities page so if you click here, you'll find out all the details. But let's take a look at the big picture:

BOOK SALES:

Southern Breezers are invited to participate in our book sales and signings. That means if you're registered for wik'20, and you have a published book, you could be sitting at a table next to Jane Yolen, signing books. Now, we can't promise you'll be seated next to Jane but it could happen. If you register for wik'20 and sign up to sell your books by February 10th. And here are a few notes of interest:

*ANY SCBWI member attending the conference may designate a title to be included in the bookstore: it can be trade-published, self-published or indie-published, small publishers to major publishers.

*But you can only designate ONE title. Because we have so many published members, the book sales option fills up fast so please don't delay! Register now and fill out the book sales form so that your title is on the list!

*There will be a public book signing at the Homewood Library on Friday, March 13 from 5:00 until 6:30 PM. You will also have books for the Saturday signing and sales (unless you have heard otherwise from the bookseller). Saturday sales and signing will be during lunch, starting at 12:30 and lasting until 1:00.


BOOK LAUNCHES:

It's so much fun to hear our authors and illustrators tell their stories about their journey to publication! But you must register by February 2nd to be included in the book launches part of the conference! Once you are on the book launch list, you'll hear from PAL Coordinator, Heather Montgomery. She'll share all kinds of tips for the best book launch but here are a few notes of interest:

*A book launch should be no more than three minutes. And yes, they are timed. And yes, you will be politely but firmly cut off at three minutes!

*Ideally, your book should have been published within the last 12 months, but we realize that for members attending their first conference, your book may have been released at a later date. (If you have more than one book to launch, please note that you will still have only three minutes!)

*The book launches take place on Saturday from 11:30 to 12:00. Time for this activity is limited and the slots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis so please register today to assure your spot!

So books! Books! Books! (And did I mention that you probably want to register today to get your books at wik'20? CLICK HERE AND REGISTER NOW!)

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!

Breezers in Your Neighborhood: August!

We had a bit of a vacation for Breezers last month, but it's August now, and we're baaaaaaack...


Saturday, August 4:

Shelli R. Johannes will be launching her new book, CECE LOVES SCIENCE, at Little Shop of Stories from 3:00 until 4:30. Little Shop is located at 133 East Court Square in Decatur, Georgia, and you can find out more information here!

AND

Because CECE LOVES SCIENCE was chosen as the National Storytime Book at B & N on the same day, Shelli will be at the Mansell Road Barnes & Noble at 11:00 AM, also on Saturday!






Lisa Stauffer will be at FoxTale Book Shoppe for the launch of her debut board book, TWO BY TWO! Come see her at 105 East Main Street in Woodstock, Georgia at 11:00 AM.







Saturday, August 11:


Lisa Stauffer and TWO BY TWO will have a second book signing and storytime! You'll find Lisa and her mischievous monkeys at 11:00 AM at Starline Books in Chattanooga, Georgia.

Author Avery Elizabeth Hurt will be at the Local Authors Expo and Book Fair for book signing and writing talk! The Expo takes place from 9 AM until 1 PM at the Birmingham Public Library, Central Branch, located at 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, Alabama. It's free and open to the public.







Tracey M. Cox will be at the Harmony Jubilee, kissing hands, signing babies, and shaking books! The Harmony Jubilee takes place at Paulk Park Campground in Fitzgerald, Georgia.



That's Breezers in Your Neighborhood for August, y'all! If YOU are going to be at an event in your neighborhood that's open to the public, let us know. Send details to Cathy Hall at southern-breeze-ara2@scbwi.org.