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!)

Where's wik'20? So Glad You Asked!

For many years, the Writing and Illustrating for Kids Conference has been held in Spain Park High School in the Birmingham area. But when the high school became unavailable for our use, we needed to find a new conference space, so I asked Co-Regional Advisor, Claudia Pearson, to introduce you to our venue for wik’20. I have a feeling you’re going to love it! 

Welcome to our not so new venue - the Homewood Library! If you attended wik18, you might’ve already seen the Homewood Library; we held the book signing and dessert party there on Friday. It's a very nice place, and the downtown Homewood area is similar to Decatur, Georgia: walkable, safe, diverse, with lots of great locally owned businesses. 

The Homewood Library has plenty of parking and plenty of conference rooms so we can continue to offer a great variety of breakout sessions. This format has worked well for our conferences in Alabama, but too often in the past, attendees were shut out of the most popular sessions because the classrooms would only accommodate a maximum of 25 attendees. At the library, there are not only two auditorium style spaces, much nicer than the classroom auditorium at Spain Park and better suited to our purposes, but also some of the additional conference rooms will hold up to 40 people!

We love holding events at libraries for several reasons. Our alliances with librarians, local government and nonprofit organizations who support what we do, help us spread the word about SCBWI. Like Joe Davich at the Decatur Library, Laura Tucker, the Children's Librarian at the Homewood library, has held leadership positions in state librarian organizations. She is a great ally for SCBWI and a valuable liaison with those organizations. Through her, the library will promote our conference and our public activities to both librarians and library patrons.

Libraries also generate walk-through interest for our published members’ book signing and our artists’ portfolio show. And another bonus for the Homewood library: we will be close to kids! The library is near the central park area in Homewood, is only blocks away from two of the three elementary schools and the middle school, and is directly across the street from a Catholic grammar school.

There will be plenty of room to sit together for lunch at the library, spaces for critique groups to gather, a park where you can stretch your legs nearby, and a wonderful Greek restaurant across the street (Nabeel’s) if you don’t like what we offer in our box lunches from Urban Cookhouse. And it is walking distance from the Aloft hotel!


DIRECTIONS:

The Library is also easy to reach for those coming from out of town. Take I-20/59 straight into Birmingham from East or West, and take Highway 31 South to get into Homewood. If you are coming from the south you can take Highway 280, Highway 31 or I-65 to Oxmoor/Montevallo/Hollywood (it’s all the same street, just changes names from east to west LOL) and the library is right there! There are also a number of good restaurants and hotel options nearby (in case you didn’t get your reservation at the Aloft - the room block is almost all sold out).


We look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones in Homewood. Won’t you join us and bring your career into sharper focus at wik’20?

                                  CLICK HERE AND REGISTER FOR WIK’20 TODAY!

Bring Your Career into Sharper Focus with wik2020: On Beginnings, Resolutions, and VOLUNTEERING

It was a dark and stormy night...No. Strike that.

Once upon a time, there was a writer, a conference, and a volunteer coordinator. I'm the volunteer coordinator, desperately seeking, well, volunteers; WIK 20 is the totally awesome conference; and you, my sweet one, are the writer that I and the conference are after.

All of you who have attended a Southern Breeze conference know it takes a village of volunteers to pull the conference together. And we all know that writers are sometimes solitary people. It takes solitude to write, and it takes loving that solitude to make the magic happen. But then comes conference time -- and that is when we kiss our solitude goodbye for two precious days.

"BUT WAIT!" you say. "I may have to kiss my solitude goodbye for a day or two, but no one said I actually had to, um, talk to people." Here is where I must lovingly disagree. In fact, I not only want you to talk to people, I want you to put yourself into a position where you have to help them in some way! Think of this as one of your new year's resolutions: You volunteer for the conference, which makes you talk to people, and that means you meet new people, which then leads to new critique partners, and that, of course, makes you write more, and we all made a resolution to write more, right? Right! (See what I did there?)

So. Volunteering. You can do this! There are all types of things to do, from manning the registration desk, helping with book sales, helping with food, assisting with book signing, and more.

Email me, Valerie Nelan, at vmnelan@gmail.com with your interest. In addition to my undying love and affection, you'll also get a snazzy bio in the conference hand-outs (infamy!), and you're guaranteed to meet new people.

(Register for wik'20 today so you can get just the intensives, sessions, and volunteering jobs you want! See the Southern Breeze website here and sign up now!)

Big thanks to our Southern Breeze Conference Volunteer Coordinator, Valerie Nelan! You'll find her in Birmingham, where she writes very funny Middle Grade (when she's not running around, relentlessly pursuing volunteers).

Breezers in Your Neighborhood: JANUARY! 2020!

Wow, Breezers! It's not just a new year but a new decade! And though we've been extra busy, getting ready for wik'20--P.S. There's SO much this year to bring your career into focus! Register today and join us!--we've heard from some "starting the year off write" members who also have exciting plans for this month:


Tuesday, January 7th

In Alabama, from author Claire Datnow: A Behind the Scenes Glimpse into How Writers Create Science and Nature Related Narratives. The author's firsthand adventures researching and writing her Eco Mystery series will provide a road map for connecting with readers/audiences in an engaging and meaningful way. A lively discussion will follow and refreshments will be served.

When: 5:00 to 7:00 PM
Where: Hoover Public Library
             Fitzgerald Room
             Hoover, AL

This event is free but Claire asks that you RSVP to her at cldatnow@me.com. She'll have signed copies of her most recent eco mystery, The Adventures of the Sizzling Six: Monarch Mysteries available for purchase.


Also today in Florida:

Local Liaison Suzanne Purvis invites you to the monthly meeting of SCBWI Southern Breeze. It starts at 10:30 AM and they'll be meeting in the Santa Rosa Mall Food Court at Fort Walton Beach. And here's what you should bring:

1. A writing craft tip, craft book title, or a writing blog you enjoy
2. Up to 500 words of your current work-in-progress if you would like critique or positivity pass
3. OR up to three illustrations for critique or positivity pass.

It's free, y'all, so join in this fun critique group opportunity from Southern Breeze! (P. S. They meet year round!)


January 15

Deadline for applications to be submitted for the Liz Conrad Award! See the Southern Breeze website here for more information about this opportunity for our illustrators and then apply!






Wednesday, January 22nd

It's the Pre-Pitch Party! We're having a Zoom meeting from 7:00 to 9:00 PM (Eastern Time) for all those Breezers attending wik'20 who've signed up for the Pitch Party. We'll work on those :30 pitches and get them pitch-perfect for the agents and editors on the Pitch Panel.

If you've never attended an online meeting before, you'll find Zoom as easy as clicking on a link so come join us! And even if you're just thinking about registering for wik'20 and signing up for the Pitch Party, please feel free to join in the fun. It's free (but it's for members only! The link to the Zoom meeting will be in our Wonderful Wednesday newsletter coming out on January 8th.)

Questions? Contact Cathy Hall at southern-breeze-ara2@scbwi.org.


Saturday, January 25th

In Georgia, join Local Liaison Rhonda Knight for a writer's workshop:

When: 1:00 to 4:00 PM
Where: Suwanee Public Library
             361 Main Street
            Suwanee, GA

In this workshop, you'll practice how to get started in writing a children's book or story, and you'll practice how to write as a Co-author or team. There will be opportunity to share your work for feedback, so come join the fun! This event is co-sponsored by the Gwinnett Public Library, and as always, it's free. Rhonda Knight's books will be available for purchase following the workshop.

The start of a new year is the perfect time to start a new habit. So attend one of our SCBWI Southern Breeze free events in your area and watch your writing or illustrating soar! And if you have an event coming up, let us know! Contact Cathy Hall (southern-breeze-ara2@scbwi.org) with all the details before the first of the month in which your event will occur. We love to spread the word!

Bring Your Career into Sharper Focus with Wik2020: WRITERS' INTENSIVES!

Registration’s open and you want to get that Early Bird discount but…how to choose the right writers’ intensive? You want to bring your career into sharper focus but which track is best for you? There is so much to consider that we’re breaking it down for you:

First, this year, you must sign up for one track and stick with it so choose wisely, grasshoppers. Er, writers. And due to space limitations, some of the tracks will fill up quickly, so don’t wait too late or you may not get your first choice.

The schedule for the intensives is the same across the board. All the intensives start at 9:00 AM and last until 5:00 PM. Lunch for all the tracks is at the same time, noon until 2:00. So if you want to have lunch with friends or arrange rides, you can be in different tracks and you will easily be able to meet. And all the intensives are in the Homewood Library, a beautiful space that’s easy to navigate.

So now a few more details about the tracks that might help you decide:

The Picture Book Track

 Authors Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple will lead this intensive. In Picture Book 101, Part I, they’ll focus on the basics by looking at the nuts and bolts of this form. If you’re brand new to writing picture books, this intensive will get you started on the right track. If you’re experienced with picture books, you’ll get tips on how to elevate your manuscripts. And there will be homework! So if you have a manuscript you want to work on, now’s your chance to get feedback from two of the best in the business.

Picture Book 101, Part II, will look at the poetic form. Could your poem become a picture book? Or how do you make your picture book more poetic? And P.S. There’s more homework! But know that sharing any of your work in an intensive is strictly a voluntary pursuit. You are free to soak up every word—and not say a word yourself. Or you may welcome any and all advice and/or feedback. And the intensive will conclude with a Roundtable discussion, a perfect time to ask any questions and get even more professional information about the business and/or writing side of picture books.

 The Novel Track 

The novel track’s morning session will start with agent Kurestin Armada. She’ll be going deep into those all-important “first pages” so if you have a work-in-progress, here’s a great opportunity to find out what’s working and what needs work. But she'll also be looking at examples if you don't bring your own pages. And when editor Kait Feldman starts her Q and A Roundtable, you’ll learn even more. Beginner or already-published can benefit from these sessions.

The afternoon session will be led by author Janice Hardy who’ll give a master class on Plot, Setting, and Scene: Building a Strong Foundation for your Novel. Writers will learn about internal and external conflict, character arcs, bringing a scene to life, and much more. So bring your laptops and bring your pages because Hardy will take your work through exercises that’ll make your novel something that readers can’t walk away from.

The Pro Track

The Pro track is designed for those writers who are published (though you do not have to be a PAL member) who are looking for tips and advice on the business side of their career. So librarian Lisa Churchill will start with Ten Tips for the Best School Visits Ever. That’s followed by agent Rubin Pfeffer who will lead a rousing Q and A. Pfeffer will answer any question on the writing business—he’s been an editor as well—so come prepared with your questions (and you'll get frank answers)!

Afternoon begins with editor Mekisha Telfer with Raising the Stakes, and she’ll answer those questions about the challenges of working with your agent and/or your editor. She’ll also discuss the Hope of Every Child, a session on writing/illustrating for all children, including how to handle characters outside your culture, gender, religion, etc.

The Writers’ Intensives are held on Friday and they are optional; they are not part of the conference so the fee for them is extra. But ask anyone who’s attended these in-depth sessions and you’ll find they’re worth every penny!

Whew! I hope you’ve got all the information you could possibly need about the writers’ intensives! But if you still have questions, email us at southern-breeze@scbwi.org. We have all the answers—well, answers about wik2020—and we can’t wait to see what you choose! (P.S. Nothing's filled--yet!)

           REGISTER FOR WIK2020 HERE! EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT TILL JANUARY 1, 2020. 

Art Image by wik2020 brochure illustrator David SanAngelo.