Non-Fiction Workshop Rocked!

Southern Breeze is bursting with talent, from our vital volunteers to our illustrious illustrators to our winning writers! So when Local Liaison, Melissa Miles, met with non-fiction author, Jennifer Swanson, it’s no surprise that they were able to plan Non-fiction Rocks!, a terrific workshop, in Savannah, Georgia. I asked about the event and here’s what Melissa had to say:

 “On a hot, steamy Saturday in Savannah, a group of lucky writers discovered new and exciting ways to rock those non-fiction projects—thanks to the guidance of award-winning author, Jen Swanson. On July 13th, writers from Tampa, Birmingham, Atlanta, Beaufort, and Augusta joined local Savannah area writers to learn about writing proposals, finding and interviewing experts, obtaining photo releases, and more. Most of those in attendance were already members of SCBWI, but the few who were not expressed interest in joining after the workshop. 

One workshop attendee stated, “Jennifer was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and I especially

learned a lot about expert interviews.” Another said, “I gained a good deal of behind the scenes help.” Overall, the writers in attendance expressed their appreciation for an affordable, one-day workshop with a non-fiction focus. Hopefully, this will be the first of many workshops held in beautiful Coastal Georgia offered by SCBWI Southern Breeze.”

Right now, the Regional Team is busy planning for wik’20, our spring conference in Birmingham, Alabama, and pssst! We’ve got a great slate of agents and editors and authors and illustrators coming your way!

But we hope to bring more workshops like Non-fiction Rocks your way! So if you’re one of our talented Southern Breezers with an idea for a workshop, contact your Local Liaison and/or your Regional Team. There’s still time to do something terrific in 2019!

Don't You Love a Good Success Story? Meet Breezer Catherine Black!

It's been a few weeks since the Southern Breeze Writing Contest ended for our members, but for PAL judges and the professional judges, the work is just beginning. For the next couple of months, the hard task of choosing winners will be decided. Come the chill of November, our winners will be announced and then...well, then what happens?

What happens next is up to each member. Last week, we heard from Catherine Black, a member who won the Southern Breeze Writing Contest and she had big news about what happened next for her!

SB: Catherine, we're so glad you contacted us! When did you win the contest and what category did you place in?

CB: Hi! I’m excited to share this with all my Breezers. I won first place in the YA fiction contest in 2016.

SB: So when you got the results, what's the first thing you did? (Or maybe I should ask what did you do AFTER the celebration?)

CB: I had been querying that manuscript for a while, and I was using the SCBWI competition as a way to tell myself if I was crazy for seeking publication or not with this book. I was so thrilled that the manuscript won that I told myself not to give up and that I would keep at it till I found a publisher! Winning that competition was like adding wood to a fire that was getting low. I needed it!

SB: I love that image, Catherine! Now you're all fueled up and your journey with this manuscript began. Tell us how you got from winner to published author.

CB: After winning (I was so excited and humbled and thankful!), I continued querying the manuscript, but I was able to include the wonderful little line about it winning an award. I had some good feedback on it, but no offers. I kept submitting. I tweaked the story here and there. I was teaching full time, so things were going slowly. But one day I discovered the world of PitMad and that’s when things changed. I submitted a pitch as a Tweet to a group of small publishers. That Tweet led to my contract! I never would have guessed Twitter would have been the gateway, but it was! 

SB: And here's where you tell us a little about your YA novel. What's the hook that sold it?

CB: Here’s the Tweet that led to the contract: Confined to a research facility where she must share her mind with others, sixteen-year-old Valeria escapes into the city only to find that her genius in the lab is useless on the streets. Here’s the back-cover copy:

V is a genius. She also frequently forgets her own name. Raised to put science over self, V must link her brain with fifteen other people, making her one of the world’s smartest humans. With this privilege comes a life dedicated to continual research inside a secluded facility, a life devoid of freedom. But she is losing her identity, unable to predict which face will peer back at her from the nearest mirror. Escaping this life will mean freedom to think for herself, but it will mean abandoning everything she’s ever known, ever loved. Will it be worth it? 

SB: Sounds intriguing, Catherine, and all your work was certainly worth it for you! What's next for you? Are you still entering contests or too busy writing your next YA?

CB: Both! I am finished with a new YA fantasy (the love of my life) and I submitted it to the contest just last month. We’ll see! I am also nose deep in getting things ready for Mind of Mine to release in less than a month! 


See what happens when you get involved in all that SCBWI Southern Breeze has to offer? And we’re offering big congratulations to Catherine for her soaring success—and if you have a success that SCBWI Southern Breeze had a hand in, let us know. We love sharing a good success story!

Breezers in the Neighborhood: JULY!

It must be too darn hot around Southern Breeze for book signings and such 'cause there's not a single one in the neighborhood. But there is an event this month, and there's still time to register:

Non-Fiction Rocks with Jennifer Swanson

Saturday, July 13
10:30 to 3:00 PM
Savannah, GA



Swanson is one of the science rock stars in this region and her non-fiction workshop will give you hands-on tips on non-fiction topics, research know-how, and even how to get that tricky photo permission. Bring your manuscript for expert advice and soon you could be rockin' a non-fiction book yourself!

Find more details and register at the Southern Breeze website here.



Just a reminder if you have an event coming up for Breezers in Your Neighborhood: send the who, what, where, and when, plus a book cover or photo to Cathy Hall. Make sure to use the ARA email:
southern-breeze-ara2@scbwi.org. We know it's not always possible to get that event in by the first of the month but please understand that it's not always possible to add an event later in the month. However, late events will usually get a shout out on the Southern Breeze Facebook page so if you haven't checked us out there yet, come say hello today!

Why the Southern Breeze Contest is Great for You! (And P.S. Here Come the Judges!)

If it's June, it must be time for the Southern Breeze Writing Contest! 

Southern Breeze sponsors two contests for its members: the Writing Contest (during June) and the Liz Conrad Illustrator Award (Accepts submissions in November and December). We love that we can offer this benefit because our contests provide a great opportunity for our members. But how do our contests benefit you? Here's a few reasons why you should enter:

1. Our contests are judged by professionals in the industry. For our writing contest, your work is first judged by two published authors of our region. The top 15 entrants go on to the next round. This year, our writing contest boasts three agents from some of the top literary agents for children's authors. Professional feedback is invaluable--and it's free!

2. You are guaranteed professional critique. Southern Breeze uses the Gold Standard for critique which means that every person who enters the contest gets the same level of feedback, and you will receive at least two critiques. If you're lucky enough to move forward, you'll receive three critiques. The more feedback you receive, the more you will grow as a writer. (And the stronger, more sellable your manuscript will be!)

3. Anyone can enter as long as you are a current member of SCBWI Southern Breeze. Whether you are just starting your creative journey or you are a multi-published member who's been around for twenty years, you have the exact same chance of winning. The manuscripts are blind-judged which means that nowhere along the line does a judge know the name on the manuscript. New members can and do win all the time!

4. You can try, try again. It's completely allowable to enter the same manuscript more than once. So take your past feedback, apply it to your manuscript, and try again. (The published authors who judge the first round of manuscripts change every year, so don't worry about entering the same-old, same-old. You will get fresh eyes on your work.)

5. Learn how to do your homework. Research the professional judges in the category you're submitting! If you have several different manuscripts, think positive and send the one that's the best fit for the pro judge. It will be good practice for you when you start pitching your manuscript out into the wide world of agents and editors.

Oh! Almost forgot to announce the pro judges for this year's writing contest:

For illustrated text (and this includes nonfiction and fiction), we have Christa Heschke. Heschke comes from McIntosh and Otis, Inc. and she has the blog called Neverending Stories that might give you a little insight into what she likes.

For Middle Grade, the pro judge is Alyssa Henkin from Trident Media Group. If you take a look at her information, you'll notice that she's interested in fiction and nonfiction for Middle Grade.

And finally, for Young Adult, we have Samantha Wekstein from Writer's House. You can find some interesting tidbits about Wekstein at Manuscript Wish List.

So now you know the judges; all that's left is the writing. Get those manuscripts ready for submission! Remember, manuscripts are due by midnight, June 30th.

And a special thank you to our Writing Contest Coordinator, Debbie D'Aurelio, who works so hard to bring this terrific contest to our members as well as the PAL judges who do such a great job. Our region is wonderful because we have so many wonderful volunteers. Let them know they're appreciated! And P.S. Good luck!

Breezers in Your Neighborhood: JUNE!

After a whirlwind May, it's time for those lazy days of summer. But not too lazy because the Southern Breeze Writing Contest is in full swing! You'll need to get those manuscripts polished and sent in by June 30th and there are still a few Show-Mo's to give you a helping hand:

June 8th and June 22nd

Join TK Read on these dates from 10 AM to 1 PM at 915 Commercial Street, Conyers, GA. Bring your manuscripts from PB to YA for great critique and feedback. Contact TK at tk@tkread.com if you have questions.







Starting June 10th

When you live far from the urban areas in our region, how do you celebrate a book? Leave it to our webmaster, Tracey M. Cox, to find a fun online way to host a book party!

Tracey will be celebrating the tenth year anniversary of her first published picture book, Shaping Up the Year, but you won't find Tracey and her book at a bookstore. This party's happening at Tracey's blog and she wants everyone to come! She's having a contest and giving away 10 prize packs which will include her book, stickers, a bookbag, and an adorable crocheted mouse. Plus, she has a coloring page of Squeaks the mouse with his birthday cake, free to download and print.

Come to Tracey's place and join in the fun this month with Squeaks and Shaping Up the Year!



And even more Show-Mo's have been added:


June 12th

New Gwinnett County LL Rhonda Knight will host her first event with a Show-Mo at the Five Forks Public Library:

Time: 5 - 8 PM
Location:  Five Forks Library
                 2780 Five Forks Trickum Rd.
                 Lawrenceville, GA


June 13th

And join Paula Puckett the following evening for a Show-Mo from 6 - 8 PM at the North Hall Technology Center in Gainesville, GA.


And just an FYI: You may attend as many Show-Mo's as you like! These are free events offered to our members in order to work on manuscripts which we hope will be submitted to the Southern Breeze Writing Contest. And P.S. We have Show-Mo attendees whose workshopped manuscripts have won in the contest! So revise and polish and send those manuscripts in by June 30th. NOTE: You must be a member of SCBWI Southern Breeze--or have attended the previous conference--in order to participate in the contest.