The Writing Contest! Our Judges! Show-Mos! Oh, My!

Are you a member of SCBWI? Because we've got lots going on, just for you!

June is only a few weeks away and that means our Southern Breeze Writing Contest will be open for entries. And we have some exciting changes coming to the 2020 writing contest!

In order to help our members best prepare their manuscripts for publishing, the contest entries will now mirror submissions that would be sent to future agents or editors. So although the manuscript requirements are shorter in length, every entry will now also include a query.

The query is such an important part of all submissions, even for those already represented by an agent. To get some great tips on writing your query, please refer to SCBWI THE BOOK which is available online for free to our members.

Along with having query feedback, each manuscript receives a scoring sheet from one to two of our Southern Breeze published authors, depending on the number of submissions to the contest category. The top 15 manuscripts in each category move on to the final round and receive feedback from an editor or agent judge.

And now to announce the judges for our 2020 categories!

Illustrated text (which includes fiction and non-fiction picture books only): ADRIA GOETZ

Adria Goetz is a literary agent with Seattle-based Martin Literary and Media Management, specializing in picture books, middle grade, young adult, and adult fiction, as well as gift books and devotionals. To learn more about Adria and what she is (and isn't) looking for, check out her wish list at adriagoetz.com. She tweets at @adriamgoetz.




Middle Grade novels, including chapter books: LAUREN SPIELLER

Lauren Spieller is a literary agent at TriadaUS. She has a sharp editorial eye, and is passionate about author advocacy. Lauren is seeking middle grade and young adult fiction. Whatever the age category or genre, Lauren is passionate about finding diverse and underrepresented voices.







Young Adult novels: ALEXANDER SLATER

Alexander Slater is a literary agent with the Trident Media Group. He is most interested in stories that blend genres, in characters that have historically been underrepresented, and in voices that enrapture him to the point of missing his subway stop. His list focuses intently on middle grade and young adult fiction and nonfiction, and in particular, graphic novels for all ages. You can follow his infrequent tweets at @abuckslater.





Our judges always rave about the Southern Breeze contest entries (and P.S. Something else new: First Place winners will receive a year's SCBWI membership!) and this year, we're once again sponsoring special programming for our members to get those entries polished up and prize-ready: Show-Mos!

This year, our annual Show-Mo events are moving online! By now, you've heard from Critique Coordinator TK Read about the meetings starting on May 15th. There are 10 Show-Mo events, with five different categories. You can go to as many Show-Mo events as you like, too, and then decide which manuscript is the best to enter into the Southern Breeze Writing Contest.

It's free to enter the contest and it's free to attend any Show-Mo event, as long as you're a member of SCBWI. So take advantage of all that your SCBWI membership offers... and good luck!

Breezers in the (Virtual) Neighborhood: MAY!

Even though some businesses are opening in our region, bookstores, libraries, and other businesses where our Breezers would typically share a book-signing or host a release party remain closed. So we asked you to send news of your virtual events so that we can join you online!

From Jenny L. Cote, author of the series, Epic Order of the Seven:

Every Thursday from 4:30 - 5:30 PM EST, I hold a Facebook Live event at my author page. I've been focusing on a different aspect of writing each week and taking reader questions:

 https://www.facebook.com/Jenny-L-Cote-33032532428/

From Reem Faruqi, author of Laila's Lunchbox:

Join her for an online Storytime with a Q & A on May 9th on Instagram Live at
 https://www.instagram.com/taleswithmimi/?hl=en 





From TeMika Grooms, our Illustrator Coordinator:

Join us for a 3-part series on Children’s Book Illustration designed to give you the basics of visual storytelling in children’s books from start to finish.  This free event, sponsored by Microsoft, Art Is King and SCBWI Southern Breeze, will cover the development of thumbnails and book dummies, book design, character design, and the basics of typography and hand lettering.  

The three-part series will be on Sundays May 17th, 24th and 31st  from 1pm – 3pm EST.

May 17th- Thumbnails, Book Dummies & More 

May 24th – Character Design

May 31st – Typography and Hand Lettering

To learn more go to the Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/Atlanta-Children-s-Book-Writers-Illustrators-Meetup

Join us! Registration is required.

And of course, we're joining in the virtual fun with Zoom Local Liaison meet-ups starting May 7th. And Zoom Show-Mos are coming, too! Look for more details in your members-only newsletter.

There are lots of opportunities for our members to get together during these social-distancing days of spring in Southern Breeze. So see you soon online, Breezers!

What Can SCBWI Southern Breeze Do For You?

The other day, I was having a (cellphone) walk-n-talk with a Southern Breeze member who asked for feedback about a webinar proposal. At the end of the conversation, she thanked me and asked, "And what can I do for you today?"

Such a nice thing to say! And I thought of all our Southern Breeze members because SCBWI is, after all, a support group. What can we do for you?

Of course, it's not possible these days to provide all the in-person programming you've previously enjoyed; even our Breezers in the Neighborhood are staying safe inside. But we are still here for you!

Here's a look at what we have going on in Southern Breeze and beyond for both members and for those wondering if children's writing or illustrating is for you:

wik'20 2.0: There are still spots left and registration is open for both fee and free sessions. Don't worry if you can't attend the session at the date and time; we'll send you the recording and it's available for seven days to watch over and over (and over) again.

Regional webinars: SCBWI offers webinars across the regions in the U.S. and abroad. And webinars are reasonably priced so that you all can attend. Check out the list HERE and find exactly what you need to get your writing and/or illustrating to the next level.

*Speakers Bureau: Virtual school visits and speaker events are always popular, but right now, parents and libraries are looking for engaging authors and illustrators to share their expertise with all the kids stuck at home! So if you haven't added yourself to our Southern Breeze bureau, take a few moments to add your name and the kinds of presentations you offer to your profile. *Must be an SCBWI Member.

*Contests: We have both writing and illustration contests and even now, we're busy finding industry judges for our Writing Contest and fine-tuning changes. Keep an eye on our website for updates to this year's contest and as always, these contests are offered to you for FREE! *Must be an SCBWI member (but the prizes are totally worth it!)

SCBWI: Now's the time to take a tour around the SCBWI website because SO much has been added during these challenging days.


So if you haven't joined us in SCBWI yet, now is a great time to come aboard! And if you're a member and you have ideas, SCBWI Southern Breeze wants to hear about 'em! Stay safe, y'all, keep well, and tell me...

What can we do for you today?

~Cathy C. Hall, ARA
SCBWI Southern Breeze

Bringing Community to a Conference

There's something special about a conference, isn't there?

The speakers, the intensives, the portfolio critiques! Not to mention all those sessions, the one-on-one consults with agents, the Pitch Party! All designed to help you improve your craft, to bring your career into focus.

And then there's the community of a conference, the friends and professionals who understand the struggles of the creative life and are there for you with generous support, the gift of inspiration, and sometimes even a bit of courage.

When Southern Breeze started working to make wik'20 an online conference, we knew we could bring the craft and career focus; we were a bit more challenged with bringing the community.

But Zoom is an amazing platform! We were able to find a way to bring Informal Critiques (and you can still sign up for 'em--they're free!) and the Mentorship Review for illustrators (also free but only a day left for signup!) so that you can get that interactive support that's so much a part of community-building.

Oh, but the inspiration. You can't beat the book launchers for inspiration! When I think back to my earliest conferences, I sometimes remember a keynote speaker but I always remember a book launcher or two. Whether it's the passion they bring as they tell their journey to publication or the grit and determination they share, it's so inspiring! We had to have the book launchers, and we had to have the launchers from wik'20 who'd worked so hard preparing their three minutes of inspiration. But getting 15 people together at one time for a live book launch?

That's extra-challenging. But it was Zoom to the rescue again! Thanks to PAL Coordinator, Heather Montgomery, the launchers were recorded. And rather than having their presentation at a certain time and available only for a week, we've given them a prime spot on the Southern Breeze website HERE.

Throughout the next six weeks or so, for as long as wik'20 2.0 lasts, we'll keep the Book launchers presentation there for you, and all the information about their books, too. All you have to do is copy and paste the Zoom link to the recording into your browser to bring their smiling faces up on your screen. Or you can click directly on the links here:

https://zoom.us/rec/share/wNJcKIvZzmZOcrPMtRrfcKp6McPDT6a80CUc8_sLnx1qahxF6lRkH6mO4uX-C5Ip 

https://zoom.us/rec/share/4dZ6d57900FJSKvU7UTbY4QfRIr3aaa823Id-6ZYy00NoHKJv-5b3OgMaTypBD0t


'Cause we all need a little inspiration now and then, right?

Stay safe, stay inside, and join us for wik'20 2.0. Register HERE!

But What About the Books?

When we had to cancel our wik'20 conference in Birmingham, there was disappointment all around. But there was so much to do to get all of our speakers ready with the online format that we didn't have a lot of time to think about all the extra events that go along with a conference. Events like the Book Signing and Portfolio Show, which was also unfortunately cancelled.





But then I heard our Membership Coordinator, Paula Puckett, talking about the books she'd ordered from the conference. What a great idea, I thought. So I asked her to share her book-buying info:




There are SO many favorite things about attending an SCBWI Southern Breeze conference, and seeing books by some of our SB authors/speakers is right up there at the TOP of my list! I love, love, LOVE the chance to catch up with a few long-time friends, make NEW friends, buy their books, and have them sign my very own copy.

Things changed up just a bit for this year, and the Conference Team has been busy putting together our conference in an online format. Now is the time to sign up, if you haven't already done so. But what about the books? you might be asking. How can you get the books? 

Little Professor Book Center in Homewood, AL is Birmingham's Oldest Independent Bookstore. They are also the wonderful folks who were going to be at the conference, selling us all of those books.

And here is what they are saying:

"We would be happy to handle book sales for the people interested in books from the conference. In fact we have already handled a few orders. Please give anyone interested in purchasing books our contact information."

Orders can be sent to any of the following:

Email - lphomewood@gmail.com

Phone - (205) 870-7461 T

Text message - (205) 526-3332

"We also have begun offering a local delivery service. Free for addresses within 10 miles of the store and $5.00 for the rest of the Birmingham area."

And what a stellar line up of books from WIK speakers they have available for us! Just take a look at this list: 

Answering the Cry for Freedom by Gretchen Woelfle and R. Gregory Christie (illustrator)
Bugs Don’t Hug: Six-Legged Parents and their Kids by Heather Montgomery and Stephen Stone (illustrator)
Counting Birds by Heidi E.Y. Stemple and Clover Robin (illustrator)
Cowhide-and-Seek by Sheri Dillard and Jess Pauwels (illustrator)
Dictionary for a Better World by Irene Latham, Charles Waters, and Mehrdokht Amini (illustrator) Eek You Reek!: Poems about Animals that Stink, Stank, Stunk by Jane Yolen, Heidi E.Y. Stemple, and Eugenia Nobati (illustrator)
Emily Writes by Jane Yolen and Christine Davenier (illustrator)
The Falling Between Us by Ash Parsons
FireTruck vs. Dragon by Chris Barton and Shanda McCloskey (illustrator)
Fly With Me by Jane Yolen, Heidi E.Y. Stemple, Adam Stemple, and Jason Stemple
Freedom in Congo Square by Carole Boston Weatherford and R. Gregory Christie (illustrator)
Girls Like Us by Randi Pink
Grandma’s Purse by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
The House on Dirty-Third Street by Jo S. Kittinger and Thomas Gonzalez (illustrator)
Into White by Randi Pink
Just Like Me by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
A Kite for Moon by Jane Yolen, Heidi E.Y. Stemple, and Matt Phelan (illustrator)
Love, Agnes: Postcards from an Octopus by Irene Latham and Thea Baker (illustrator)
Mama’s Work Shoes by Caron Levis and Vanessa Brantley-Newton (illustrator)
Maple by Lori Nichols
Mapping the Bones by Jane Yolen 
Meet Miss Fancy by Irene Latham and John Holyfield (illustrator)
Miriam at the River by Jane Yolen and Khoa Le (illustrator) 
Mousetropolis by R. Gregory Christie
Octopus Escapes! by Nathaniel Lachenmeyer and Frank W. Dormer (illustrator) 
Oliver: The Second-Largest Living Thing on Earth by Josh Crute and John Taesoo Kim (illustrator) Owl Moon by Jane Yolen and John Schoenherr (illustrator)
Rosa’s Bus: The Ride to Civil Rights by Jo S. Kittinger and Steven Walker (illustrator)
The Shifter by Janice Hardy
The Singing Rock & Other Brand-New Fairy Tales by Nathaniel Lachenmeyer and Simini Blocker (illustrator)
Something Rotten: A Fresh Look at Roadkill by Heather Montgomery and Kevin O’Malley (illustrator)
T-Bone the Drone by Shanda McCloskey
Two By Two by Lisa Lowe Stauffer and Angelika Scudamore (illustrator)
Until I Break by Kara M. Bietz
You Nest Here with Me by Jane Yolen, Heidi E.Y. Stemple, and Melissa Sweet (illustrator)

Thank You, Thank You, Thank Yous all around. To Little Professor and their Team for bringing us BOOKS! To all of the Volunteers and Conference Team for working to bring us a conference in (yes) another format. Thank Yous to our Faculty and Speakers, for what you have done and are yet to do.

 All my best,
 Paula Puckett
SB Membership Coordinator