Breezers In Your Neighborhood - APRIL #SBreeze17

Breezers In Your Neighborhood
April Events

Southern Breeze is kicking up some dust! 

Breezers In Your Neighborhood is a monthly post to list where you can find our authors & illustrators as they are out in the community. Come out and support your local members and invite others to do also!

Alabama:

• 
  

Florida Panhandle:

• 
  

Georgia:

• April 23 1pm – 3pm Artist Sketch Crawl & Lunch in Decatur Square, Decatur, GA

Upcoming May Events...

Alabama:

• SCBWI Tuscaloosa members May meeting.  We would love for anyone to come from Birmingham and surrounding areas.
  We will host Kevin Waltman, author of Quicks, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 16 at my home in Tuscaloosa. Kevin teaches writing and literature in the English department at the University of Alabama. He will speak for 15 minutes about his publishing experience, provide any advice he would like, take a few questions and then sell his books as others mingle. http://kevinwaltman.com/
  Anyone who needs additional information, including an address and directions, can email moniquefields@mac.com or call 205-447-3254. 
  Please let me know if I need to send this announcement to other writers and illustrators.
  
  
  Monique Fields

Florida Panhandle:

• 
  

Georgia

• May 6 Southern Breeze Workshop: So You Want to Write a Book, Gainesville, GA

• May 21 Southern Breeze Illustrators Workshop: Digital Artist Toolkit, Atlanta, GA

• May 26-27 Decatur Art Walk Illustrator Gallery Show, Public Library, Decatur, GA

Mississippi

• Vanessa Fortenberry...   Saturday, May 20, 2017; 10:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
  Children's Story Time and Book Signing
  Sponsored by the Christian Authors on Tour (CAOT)
  Tougaloo College
  500 W County Line Rd. 
  Tougaloo, MS 39174

~DEADLINE FOR MAY EVENTS IS APRIL 26TH~

:::Leave a Comment:::

Let us know if you plan to attend an event.

What other events do you know of not listed?

Is there another regular post you would like to see?

Leave us your thoughts!

Don't miss one post! SIGN UP for email notifications over here --->

Feel free to COMMENT and then SHARE this post across your social media. Help spread the word about Southern Breeze! Easy buttons found below.

Come Soar at #SpringMingle with 1-On-1 Critiques! - #SBreeze17

Come Soar at #SpringMingle with 1-On-1 Critiques!

What Can One-on-One Sessions Do for You?
by Tay Berryhill 

WIK attendees have three golden opportunities to receive feedback from agents: face-to-face critique, written manuscript critique, and one-on-one meetings with an agent. I’ve been fortunate to participate in all three. Each has helped me grow as a writer in different ways; all have advantages.

All written-only critiques are conducted by agents or editors who keenly target craft and marketability issues. Face-to-face critiques offer the same, but with the added benefit of a twelve-minute meeting with the expert who conducted the critique—although that person may not be an agent. One-on-one brings even more to the table—twenty minutes with an experienced agent to discuss anything. Anything. At WIK14, I spent my one-on-one time with literary agent Courtney Miller-Callihan of Greenburg Associates. Prior to our meeting, I submitted elevator pitches and one-paragraph synopses of three works-in-progress for Courtney to read in advance. I also put together a “goodie bag” of queries, first pages, and a full page synopsis of a finished draft, in case time allowed us to expand the discussion.

“...I mentioned a graphic novel I was outlining. Courtney gave me the name of her agent friend who represents graphic novels...”

During our first ten minutes, Courtney addressed the marketability of my WIPs, offering generous feedback on what was appealing and why, as well as potential pitfalls. Her input quickly gave me a clearer picture of which projects merited my attention. I then showed her a first page of the front runner, and she spent the rest of the session suggesting ways to improve it. All good. Before leaving, I mentioned a graphic novel I was outlining. Courtney gave me the name of her agent friend who represents graphic novels. I’m pretty sure that I danced out the door. For writers with a manuscript that needs detailed feedback, the formal manuscript critiques are invaluable. But for those also seeking individualized advice on queries, marketing, rejections, Internet presence, or any other topic an agent can enlighten, one-on-one is an ideal venue. Besides great advice, the meeting gave this tongue-tied writer the chance to relax and “talk shop” in a stress-free exchange with a fellow lover of words. Agents want to help us succeed. Let them. 

ABOUT TAY BERRYHILL:

Tay Berryhill writes young adult novels while also trying her hand at graphic novels and picture book illustrating. She lives in Birmingham with her husband and three dogs.    

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! Click  :::HERE::: to log in and register.

~See you in March~

#SpringMingle - Last Day for Early Bird Registration! - #SBreeze17

Last Day for Early Bird Registration

You know how the early bird always get the worm? Well, the early registers get a sweet discount on the conference! And today is the last day to get it!
So what are you waiting for? Click over and register!!!

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! Click  :::HERE::: to log in and register.

~See you in March~

#SpringMingle - Dinner & Gala - #SBreeze17

Dinner & Gala

Who said conferences were all work and NOOOOOO fun? Let us set the record straight. That's not true. At conferences you meet new friends and get to have fun seeing old ones. You get to dip your toes into new adventures or plunge deeper into things you thought you already knew.
BUT that's not all that SpringMingle offers. There's a time and a place for you to let your hair down, eat some great food, grab a few drinks, and maybe even sing a karaoke song or two. It is the Dinner & Gala offered for a small extra fee on your registration. This meal is held after the Saturday day-long  part of the conference. So it's a wonderful time to sit back and relax, and enjoy time spent with fellow authors and illustrators.
If you're wanting to join in on the festivities, make sure you check the box for the Gala on Saturday night.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! Click  :::HERE::: to log in and register.

~See you in March~

#SpringMingle - Jacquelyn Mitchard and the YA Connection - #SBreeze17

Come Soar with Jacquelyn Mitchard

Want your writing to soar? Then fly to sign up for Springmingle and catch a session with one of our super speakers! Next up, Jacquelyn Mitchard, the number one New York Times best-selling author of novels for adults, including The Deep End of the Ocean, the inaugural selection of the Oprah Winfrey Book Club.

Did you know that Mitchard is also the editor of a realistic Young Adult imprint, Merit Press, and the author of seven novels for Young Adults? Her work has won the Bram Stoker and Shirley Jackson awards, as well as the UK’s Walkabout Prize. And when she’s not writing, she’s teaching Creative Writing at Vermont College of Fine Arts.

We’re lucky to have her for our Friday Intensive, “A Whole Day of Beginnings and Endings,” where writers will consider the elements that go into a great ending, and how those elements are so much more than tying up the loose ends.

She’ll have a breakout session, too, called “Why YA? (And How)” on what does and does not comprise YA writing, and why those elements and traditions are so important. But you’ll never know if you don’t join us in Decatur, March 10th-12th at Springmingle, the only conference in Southern Breeze for 2017!

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! Click  :::HERE::: to log in and register.

~See you in March~

#SpringMingle - Soar with Patricia MacLachlan! - #SBreeze17

Soar with Patricia MacLahlan!

Want your writing to soar? Then fly to sign up for Springmingle and catch a session with one of our super speakers! Like Patricia MacLachlan!

You know Patricia Maclachlan. She’s the author of the Newbery Medal book, Sarah, Plain and Tall. But isn’t it time you learned more about her other novels? And how she manages to write so much, from picture books to poetry! Check out her newest picture books, The Iridescence of Birds, Someone Like Me, and The Moon’s Almost Here, as well as her soon-to-be-released Barkus.

She lives on a hilltop in Western Massachusetts but she’s going to come here to deliver the keynote at Springmingle. And she’ll also have a breakout session on “Writing to Find Out Who You Are.”

If she can come all the way to Georgia, then you can surely come to Decatur, March 10th-12th for Springmingle, the only conference in Southern Breeze for 2017!

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! Click  :::HERE::: to log in and register.

~See you in March~

#SpringMingle - Get InTeNsE! with our Writer's Intensive - #SBreeze17

Get InTeNsE! with our Writer's Intensive

We haven't forgot about our writers! This year we are please to offer an all-day writer's intensive with none other than Jacquelyn Mitchard!

Do you find yourself struggling with the opening of your story? Or maybe you need to improve on wrapping up your endings to make sure your readers are left satisfied. Well, this is the intensive for you...

Writing Intensive: A Whole Day of Endings and Beginnings

You Had Me at Goodbye: The Importance of Last Impressions/ Jacquelyn Mitchard considers the critical importance of narrative conclusions, and how to write great ones. It’s true that so many stories start out like a house on fire, but then simply stop, instead of truly concluding. Last impressions, however, are lasting, the poignant goodnight kiss in narrative terms. Writers will consider the elements that go into a great ending, and how those elements about to so much more than tying up the loose ends.

Jacquelyn Mitchard is the number one New York Times bestselling author of twelve novels for adults, including The Deep End of the Ocean, which was the inaugural selection of the Oprah Winfrey Book Club and also made into a major feature film. The editor of a realistic Young Adult imprint, Merit Press, Mitchard also is the author of seven novels for Young Adults. 

Her work has won the Bram Stoker and Shirley Jackson awards, as well as the UK’s Walkabout Prize and was short-listed for the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction. She is a professor of Creative Writing at Vermont College of Fine Arts and a contributing editor for More magazine. 

Mitchard grew up in Chicago, and now lives on Cape Cod with her family.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! Click  :::HERE::: to log in and register.

~See you in March~

Light Your Imagination at #SBreeze16 WIK with 1-on-1 meetings!

Light Your Imagination at #SBreeze16 WIK
with 1-on-1 meetings! 

What Can One-on-One Sessions Do for You?
by Tay Berryhill 

WIK attendees have three golden opportunities to receive feedback from agents: face-to-face critique, written manuscript critique, and one-on-one meetings with an agent. I’ve been fortunate to participate in all three. Each has helped me grow as a writer in different ways; all have advantages.

All written-only critiques are conducted by agents or editors who keenly target craft and marketability issues. Face-to-face critiques offer the same, but with the added benefit of a twelve-minute meeting with the expert who conducted the critique—although that person may not be an agent. One-on-one brings even more to the table—twenty minutes with an experienced agent to discuss anything. Anything. At WIK14, I spent my one-on-one time with literary agent Courtney Miller-Callihan of Greenburg Associates. Prior to our meeting, I submitted elevator pitches and one-paragraph synopses of three works-in-progress for Courtney to read in advance. I also put together a “goodie bag” of queries, first pages, and a full page synopsis of a finished draft, in case time allowed us to expand the discussion.

“...I mentioned a graphic novel I was outlining. Courtney gave me the name of her agent friend who represents graphic novels...”

During our first ten minutes, Courtney addressed the marketability of my WIPs, offering generous feedback on what was appealing and why, as well as potential pitfalls. Her input quickly gave me a clearer picture of which projects merited my attention. I then showed her a first page of the front runner, and she spent the rest of the session suggesting ways to improve it. All good. Before leaving, I mentioned a graphic novel I was outlining. Courtney gave me the name of her agent friend who represents graphic novels. I’m pretty sure that I danced out the door. For writers with a manuscript that needs detailed feedback, the formal manuscript critiques are invaluable. But for those also seeking individualized advice on queries, marketing, rejections, Internet presence, or any other topic an agent can enlighten, one-on-one is an ideal venue. Besides great advice, the meeting gave this tongue-tied writer the chance to relax and “talk shop” in a stress-free exchange with a fellow lover of words. Agents want to help us succeed. Let them. 

ABOUT TAY BERRYHILL:

Tay Berryhill writes young adult novels while also trying her hand at graphic novels and picture book illustrating. She lives in Birmingham with her husband and three dogs.    

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

 CLICK HERE to be directed to our registration page! 

~See you in October~

Light Your Imagination at #SBreeze16 WIK Get INTENSE!

Light Your Imagination at #SBreeze16 WIK
Get INTENSE! 

This year, WiK16 will host two intensives on Friday, October 7, 2016

Writers’ Intensive with Bruce Coville 
The Light Fantastic
The session will begin with an “annotated storytelling” of the first two chapters of The Monster’s Ring, examining in detail the tricks and techniques being used. Then we’ll examine ten specific tips for writing compelling fantasies. Audience: For editors, librarians, teachers, parents, and children, the hook is what pulls us in, what keeps us reading, and what remains with us after the last page is turned. This intensive will explore the hook of the book from many angles, and you will leave with ideas on how to improve your art.

Illustrators’ Intensive with Don Tate
Drawing on Diversity & Style to Create Authentic Characters 
The call for more diversity in children’s literature is not new. However groups like We Need Diverse Books and The Brown Bookshelf have helped to bring more attention to the issue. How do illustrators answer that call? And how can you create authentic characters of color who are outside of your own experience. It’s more than creating white characters in brown face. In session, we will discuss, investigate, draw and develop multi-dimensional characters that will ring true in today’s world. We’ll also work on developing a marketable style. But what is a marketable style/technique? How do illustrators discover and achieve this in their career? Don will conduct a drawing session that includes drawing like other illustrators and attendees will stretch and reach toward new strengths. He’ll also demystify the process of creating a winning picture book dummy. Planning through thumbnail sketches. Rising and falling action. Driving your reader through your story by the use of dynamic page turns, color, and composition. Audience: Illustrators, all levels.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

 CLICK HERE to be directed to our registration page! 

~See you in October~

Light Your Imagination at #SBreeze16 WIK with Jodi Wheeler-Toppen

Light Your Imagination at #SBreeze16 WIK
with Jodi Wheeler-Toppen 

Jodi Wheeler-Toppen is a science author and educator with 10+ books for children and teachers from National Geographic Kids, Capstone, and NSTA Press. She is a former high school science teacher, with a Ph.D. in Science Education from the University of Georgia. She loves having adventures with kids—her own and any others who come her way. Find her at www.OnceUponAScienceBook.com or on Facebook @JodiWheelerToppen.

WORKSHOP

• Getting your Books (and you!) into Schools How do teachers decide which books to use with their classes? What makes a teachers’ guide for a book really useful for a teacher? How do you get a teacher’s guide noticed so that teachers will try it out? In this session, we’ll hear from teacher interviews on how they select books. We’ll look at some lesson plans that teachers love and figure out why they work. We’ll look at some publications coming out of educator’s groups that can help us highlight our work for teachers, and help them see how valuable our author visits can be. And it will be fun! Audience: Writers and illustrators, all levels. 

 

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

 CLICK HERE to be directed to our registration page! 

~See you in October~

Light Your Imagination at #SBreeze16 WIK with Lisa Lewis Tyre

Light Your Imagination at #SBreeze16 WIK
with Lisa Lewis Tyre 

Lisa Lewis Tyre is the middle grade author of Last In A Long Line of Rebels, (Nancy Paulsen Books) a frequent contributor to The Huffington Post, a founder of the multi-author blog, Middle Grade Mafia, and a social media evangelist! She is currently working on her second novel, Eight Day Daughter, releasing 2017.

WORKSHOP

• It’s a Tweet Life! Twitter 101 When it comes to getting published, writers should use every tool available. It’s now possible to get noticed, find an agent, even get published because of Twitter! This class is designed to teach you the basics - how to use Twitter, how hashtags work and which ones to use, participating in twitter contests, building your platform, connecting with influencers, etc. Audience: Writers and illustrators, beginner.

 

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

 CLICK HERE to be directed to our registration page! 

~See you in October~

Light Your Imagination at #SBreeze16 WIK with Amy Dees

Light Your Imagination at #SBreeze16 WIK
with Amy Dees

Amy McCoy Dees loves to chat about anything concerning writing and reading, especially for children. An advocate for students, she serves on the Coweta County School board. She has published numerous articles on varying topics such as education, policy making, outstanding student achievement, and parenting. Her Young Adult novel, Freedom’s Secret, was shortlisted for this year’s Georgia Author of the Year Award, 2016. To learn more please visit her at: amydees.com or follow her own Twitter @amy_mdees.

WORKSHOP

• Set Your Work on Fire, Use Social Media as Your Gasoline! Introductions on how to make a book trailer-and post it to social media websites Step by step intros on making a book trailer Where to, when, and how to increase your ‘follow-ship’ Be engaging in PERSON and on social media-How audience: Writers and illustrators, all levels.

 

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

 CLICK HERE to be directed to our registration page! 

~See you in October~

Light Your Imagination at #SBreeze16 WIK with Joyce Sweeney

Light Your Imagination at #SBreeze16 WIK
with Joyce Sweeney

Joyce Sweeney is an awardwinning author, poet and theatrical producer. She is also a writing teacher and mentor .She offers a variety of classes and workshops, live and via Skype  and  her online courses, www. sweeneywritingcoach.com have helped her reach a national audience.  She is a member of Florida SCBWI and serves in their mentorship program.  So far, she has successfully mentored 57 students to traditional publishing contracts.

WORKSHOP

• The Path to Publication In my 25 years of mentoring, I have learned that there are not certain writers who ‘have what it takes’, there are just writers who are willing to DO what it takes. The process of traditional publishing is long and arduous and requires a lot of patience, character building and self esteem to work through rejections and near misses. There are steps to making a writer’s dream come true and knowing the steps and being willing to commit to the work or learning craft and navigating the maze of agents and editors can lead to success....eventually. audience: Writers and illustrators, advanced.

 

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

 CLICK HERE to be directed to our registration page! 

~See you in October~

Light Your Imagination at #SBreeze16 WIK with Cathy Hall

Light Your Imagination at #SBreeze16 WIK
with Cathy Hall

Cathy C. Hall just can’t seem to make up her mind. One day, she’s published in a book of puppet plays, and the next, she’s appearing in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. She’s written children’s books for the Korean educational market and short stories for a Chinese kidlit magazine. She’s like the Where’s Waldo of the writing world (only way better dressed).

WORKSHOP

• So You Want to Get Published  Many of us who join SCBWI think we must get a book published because...well, it’s the Society of Children’s BOOK Writers and Illustrators. But there are many children’s writers who are interested in poetry, short stories, plays, essays, and more--and there are plenty of kidlit markets for these children’s writers. In Part I, I’ll bring those markets to our newest writers, give first-hand tips on how to break into those markets and share the resources a new writer should have on the shelf, virtual or real. In Part II, I’ll discuss PAL membership in SCBWI and how it can benefit EVERY published member! audience: Writers and illustrators, all levels. 

 

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

 CLICK HERE to be directed to our registration page! 

~See you in October~

Light Your Imagination at #SBreeze16 WIK with Joan Broerman

Light Your Imagination at #SBreeze16 WIK
with Joan Broerman

Joan Broerman, Southern Breeze RAE and 1998 SCBWI Member of the Year, writes for all ages across the spectrum of newspapers, magazines, and books. She has contributed to more than a dozen books on the craft and business of writing for children. Her project, “Take a Librarian to Lunch” thanks our tireless partners in research. She blogs about children’s books for busy parents, joanbooklog.blogspot.com.

WORKSHOP

• Rejecting Rejection   Like characters in your book, rejection is layered, not one dimensional. It plays a vital role in the writing process. Reject what rejection does TO you and make it work FOR you to improve craft and redirect marketing energy. audience: Writers and illustrators, all levels. 

 

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

 CLICK HERE to be directed to our registration page! 

~See you in October~

Light Your Imagination at #SBreeze16 WIK with Randi Sonenshine

Light Your Imagination at #SBreeze16 WIK
with Randi Sonenshine

Randi Sonenshine has been an educator and professional developer for over twenty years. An instructional literacy coach and member of the ELA Advisory Council for the Georgia Department of Education, she has taught high school English, middle school language arts, and college reading. As a children’s author, she is represented by Kendra Marcus at BookStop Literary. She lives in northwest Georgia with her husband and two sons. You can find Randi at Facebook, randisonenshine.com, theproseytree.blogspot.com or on Twitter as @rsonenshine.

WORKSHOP

• Not Just for Circle Time: Enriching your Picture Book with Content Connections    Picture books provide the perfect bite-sized segue into core disciplinary concepts and complex literacy skills that span content areas and grade levels. But how can writers navigate the tangled maze of standards that leave many experienced educators shaking their heads? And which standards are the most important, anyway? In this session, participants will learn the answers to both of these questions, plus other practical tips for writing picture books that teachers will turn to again and again! audience: Writers and illustrators, all levels.  

 

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

 CLICK HERE to be directed to our registration page! 

~See you in October~

Light Your Imagination at #SBreeze16 WIK with Kami Kinard

Light Your Imagination at #SBreeze16 WIK
with Kami Kinard

Kami Kinard is the author of The Boy Problem (Scholastic, 2014) and The Boy Project (Scholastic, 2012), which was newly released in paperback July 2016 as part of Scholastic’s WISH series. Her poetry, stories, articles, and essays have appeared in numerous periodicals for children and adults. In addition to her professional critiquing services, she is a SCBWI mentor, and often leads writing workshops at conferences and in schools.  www. kamikinard.com.

WORKSHOP

• The Anatomy of Secondary Characters  When writing novels, we spend a lot of time developing our main characters. But secondary characters need our attention too! This session discusses how to develop secondary characters whose talents and characteristics amplify those of main characters and help them reach their goals. Using examples from many best-selling novels, we’ll look at various types of secondary characters, assigning each a part of the body, based on how they assist the main character. (Hermione Granger, for example, is the brain.) audience: Writers, all levels. 

 

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

 CLICK HERE to be directed to our registration page! 

~See you in October~