Today we have an awesome, pre-conference interview with the lovely Esther Hershenhorn, who will be leading our March 31st “Rx for Children’s Book Creators:  Getting Your Stories Right” workshop!

And while Esther is getting settled in our cyber chair with her favorite coffeehouse beverage, a Skinny Caramel Latte, or a decaf/skim Misto with a shot of (fake) caramel if she doesn’t want the espresso is keeping her up . . . 

And her favorite snack, anything that combines dark chocolate, caramel and nuts (preferably cashews), and maybe even pretzels . . .

(This was as close as I could get with that snack! )

. . . let me send out another nag . . .er, reminder that the Critique and Portfolio Review Deadline is Wednesday, February 29, 2012! The thirty slots with HarperCollins Associate Editor Sarah Dotts Barley and Prospect Literary Agent Rachel Orr will be filled on a first come, first served basis, so get those submissions in now!

After you read this interview, of course.

Let’s begin! Esther, when did you decide to be a writer?

I decided when I was six that – someday – my name would be on the cover of a children’s book!

Nice! How long did your path to your first book sale take, and what were your biggest hurdles?

Suffice it to say, I am the Susan Lucci of Children’s Books and SCBWI’s Poster Child!

Hmm, I’m looking forward to hearing more on that at the workshop! Okay, what is your favorite writing how-to book, techniques, and websites that have helped you improve your craft or provide inspiration?

I recommend Cynthia Leitich Smith’s CYNSATIONS (www.cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com), PW’s Children’s Bookshelf (every Thursday for free), Lee Wind’s SCBWI Marketing Blog and my very own TeachingAuthors to anyone and everyone who writes (or wants to write) for Children.

All great sites! And thanks for the free Thursday tip.

If you followed the career path you chose for yourself in high school, what would you be doing for a living now? 

Actually, I’m doing just what I’d hoped/planned/wished to do several lifetimes ago  – i.e. teaching and writing.  What I didn’t know then was that I’d eventually swap adult students for fifth-graders and Writing for Children with newspapers and magazines.

Okay, you’ve been locked in a bank vault with that guy from The Twilight Zone, so you finally have time to read!  What’s the first book you crack open?  (And don’t worry—no one stepped on your glasses.)

Sorry, but I MAKE time to read – just about – each and every day because that’s how I keep writing.  In daylight hours, I read children’s books; just before bedtime, I read my adult fare.

Ironically, the book that awaits me -  John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars – satisfies both time slots.

What book would you have loved to have authored?

Mary Ann Hoberman’s YOU READ TO ME AND I’LL READ TO YOU.

The collection of 13 rhymed stories is intended to be read by two voices, with occasional parts to share.  The text is coded in double columns by color for the beginning reader.  Each story ends with a twist on the line, “You read to me, I’ll read to you.”

I do indeed covet Hoberman’s talents to tell a tale in flawless rhyme.  But this particular book’s premise, inspired by Hoberman’s work with Literacy Volunteers of America, trumps all I’ve read in all it affirms and celebrates.  “Go forth and read, joyously, with each other!” it proclaims.

The book embodies everything I believe in:  reading, stories, friendship, joy.

Time for the lightning round—no more than four words per answer!

Do you . . .

Outline or wing it?  Wing it, THEN outline.

Talk about works-in-progress, or keep it zipped?  A little of both.

Sell by proposal or completed draft? A little of both.

Prefer writing rough drafts or editing? A little of both!

Dread marketing/blogging or love it? I HEART promoting/marketing.

Read Kindle or traditional books?  Traditional-children’s; Kindle-adults.

And finally, what’s your favorite:

Time to work?  Morning, first thing, still in my pj’s, with my first cup o’Maxwell House beside me.

Music to listen to while writing?  Anything that SOUNDS like the book I am writing.

Writing tool?  A pen.

Pair of shoes?  My Barney’s black ankle-strap flats.

Guiltiest pleasure?  Lying in the sun, or anywhere, really, reading a delicious book.

Line from a movie?  Hmmm….one isn’t coming to mind.

Awesome, thanks so much, Esther, for stopping by at letting us get to know you better before the workshop! I’m looking forward to meeting you and learning a ton.

Happy writing or drawing, everyone!

Our Next ABC Event!

Here’s a reminder of our next wonderful ABC Event with the lovely Ann McCallum!

Pie graphs and fractions and math, oh my!

Some people would rather face lions, tigers, AND bears, than math equations… but that’s only because they haven’t read any of Ann McCallum’s books.

Join us as Ann shows us how to make math not only fun, but delicious. As the award-winning author of two math fairy tales, a history/mystery math project book and her latest book, EAT YOUR MATH HOMEWORK: RECIPES FOR HUNGRY MINDS, Ann has found ways to make math appeal to readers of all ages. Ann herself says it best: “My sincere hope with the books I’ve had published so far is to get kids to really, really love math. Just like broccoli in cheese sauce (Would we enjoy the plain, steamed variety as much– I think not), math and food or math and anything fun is a winning combination.”

Ann will entertain, and enlighten, us with a presentation, hands-on activity, and a Q&A. As always, this event is free, and books will be available for purchase. There will also be refreshments on hand: perhaps Fibonacci snack sticks, tessellations two-color brownies, or variable pizza pi! So come hungry for information as well as treats! Please RVSP Naomiwm@verizon.net, so we’ll be sure to have enough books and food on hand.

When: Saturday, February 11, 2012 from 2 to 4 PM
Where: Twinbrook Branch of Montgomery County Public Library, 202 Meadow Hall Drive, Rockville, MD 20851

Keep an eye out for an upcoming interview with Ann that we will be posting  soon. Or, check out the one she did for us last year! Hope to see you on the 11th!

2012 BEACH BOOK FESTIVAL

Have you written a beachy-style book?

If so, illustrator extraordinaire Chiêu Urban sent me the following info for all writers with books published since 2008 that have a “beach” feel.

The 2012 Beach Book Festival, New York, has issued a call for entries to its annual program spotlighting the hottest reads of the summer season. The Beach Book Festival will consider self-published or independent publisher non-fiction, fiction, biography/autobiography, children’s books, teenage, how-to, science fiction, romance, comics, poetry, spiritual, compilations/anthologies, history, business and health-oriented books.

More information and registration available at www.beachbookfestival.com.

Chiêu has also forwarded the following link for the New York Book Festival, where you can sell your books and meet other authors and artists.

http://hudsonchildrensbookfestival.com

Thanks, Chiêu!

USA Science and Engineering Festival Book Fair

And lastly, Fred Bortz, an SCBWI member from the Western, PA area, has shared with me the following good news!

He will be one of the featured authors at the USA Science and Engineering Festival Book Fair at the Walter L. Washington Convention Center on April 28. There will be several other children’s science authors there as well, plus some notable writers for adults, including Robin Cook.

Here are links to his presentation page and to the author list:

http://www.usasciencefestival.org/bookfair/authors?by=author&author_id=169

http://www.usasciencefestival.org/bookfair/authors

Also, Fred would like to arrange a school visit in your area on either April 27 or 30, and he’s offered to waive travel expenses. He would either present one of the two talks listed at http://www.fredbortz.com/daywith.htm or a new talk based on his USASEF presentation.

Those interested can contact Fred at drfredb@att.net or through links at his website, http://www.fredbortz.com

Awesome, congrats, Fred, and good luck at the book fair!

And happy writing/drawing, everyone!

Get those critiques for our March 31st conference in EARLY!! As Edie posted on Tuesday, there are only 30 slots available and they will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve  basis, so get registered and get going! Just in case you need help with your critique, I am posting links to Laura’s invaluable workshops from last year.:

Conference Critique Workshop #1: Opening Lines

Conference Critique Workshop #2: Amazing First Pages.

Conference Critique Workshop #3: Formatting

Conference Critique Workshop #4: Surviving Your First Critique

Conference Critique Workshop #5: Perfecting Your Book Pitch

No excuses! Get your critiques in ASAP!!

Now that you are fully awake, I give you…

Michelle Ray’s ABC Event!!

Our ABC Event Coordinator, the lovely Naomi Milliner, attended and was kind enough to send in a summary. Take it away, Naomi!

On Saturday, December 10^th, debut author Michelle Ray informed, entertained and inspired a crowd of 20 at Wheaton Library – including 4 teenagers and their parents!

Refreshingly candid, Michelle discussed everything from the initial inspiration for her YA novel (a modern interpretation of HAMLET in a D.C. theater) to her current work-in-progress: a contemporary MACBETH! She wrote her first draft in only four months; this despite being a full-time sixth grade teacher, as well as mom to two kids! Michelle said her biggest challenge in writing FALLING FOR HAMLET was working Ophelia into the story, since she was only in three scenes in Shakespeare’s play, “and she’s crazy in two of them.”

Some of the interesting tidbits she shared included: she originally wrote her book for adults, not teenagers; one change her publisher (Little, Brown) requested was that she remove most of the profanity; and that between 80 and 100 titles were discussed until the final one was reached! Like most (all?) of us, Michelle endured “a lot of rejections… a lot of suffering.” Yet she persevered until she found the perfect agent, who sold her book in record time, giving both Ophelia, and herself, a happy ending.

Thank you, Naomi, for a great recap!

Because it takes a village to have a successful blog, our fabulous Co-RA Edie Hemingway passed along pictures she took of the event:

We wish Michelle Ray continued success with Falling for Hamlet!

Many thanks again to Naomi and Edie for bringing Michelle’s event to those of us who couldn’t make it and reminding those who did of what a great afternoon it was.

Okay, friends…get writing and get to those critiques! Have a wonderful weekend!

Saturday, March 31, 2012
at
The Bishop Claggett Center in Buckeystown, MD

“Rx for Children’s Book Creators:  Getting Your Stories Right”

Join us for a hands-on, craft-centered morning workshop led by author Esther Hershenhorn and afternoon sessions led by Associate Editor Sarah Dotts Barley of HarperCollins Children’s Books and Literary Agent Rachel Orr of Prospect Agency.

Chicago author Esther Hershenhorn writes award-winning picture books and    middle-grade fiction, teaches Writing for Children classes at the University of Chicago’s Writer’s Studio and The Chicago Newberry Library and coaches writers of all ages to help them tell their stories.  Esther recently concluded her ten-year service on SCBWI’s Board of Advisors; she treasures her status as the Illinois Chapter’s Regional Advisor Emeritus.  To learn more, visit www.estherhershenhorn.com or her group blog www.teachingauthors.

There’s the story we tell, the one we write.  But there’s also the Writer’s Story we live each day.  Author, Teacher and Writing Coach Esther Hershenhorn will share resources, exercises and opportunities to ensure both kinds of stories meaningfully intersect so you keep moving forward on your chosen plotline–growing, changing, digging deep, and returning home triumphant, better for the journey.

Writers of all levels and genres (picture book, middle grade, young adult, nonfiction) will benefit from this workshop.  Come with your work-in-progress!

Sarah Dotts Barley

Sarah Dotts Barley is an associate editor focusing on middle grade and teen fiction at HarperCollins Children’s Books.  She’s lucky enough to work with authors including Georgia Byng, Holly Cupala, Donna Freitas, Gwendolyn Heasley, Geraldine McCaughrean, Joyce Carol Oates, and several new writers whose debut novels will publish in 2012 and 2013.  You can follow her on Twitter @The_SDB.

Rachel Orr

Rachel Orr has been representing authors and illustrators at Prospect Agency since 2007.  Prior to agenting, she edited children’s books at HarperCollins for eight years.  Her clients include Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen (CHICKS RUN WILD), Cori Doerrfeld (PENNY LOVES PINK), A.C.E. Bauer (COME FALL) and Katherine Easer (VICIOUS LITTLE DARLINGS).  Rachel especially loves launching new talent and will accept submissions via the agency’s website: www.prospectagency.com.  She lives in Hoboken, NJ with her husband and two children.

“VOICES CARRY:  Discovering and Developing Your Own Personal Style”

Voice can be the hardest element to master, yet it’s probably the most important factor that agents and editors look for in new writers.  By examining the work of our influences–and taking a critical look at our own work–Rachel will discuss how to develop our natural voices, as well as how to use voice to create likable (yet realistic) characters.  She’ll also explore the effective use of intentional repetition, first-person vs. third-person voice, multiple viewpoints and other experimental formats, and dialect.

The day will wrap up with a “Fairy Tales and Cautionary Tales” panel discussion featuring regional members and their experiences. (Participants to be announced…)

Costs for the Day

• Current SCBWI Member:  $90
• Non-Member:  $110
• Walk-In:  $120
• Manuscript Critique:  $45
• Portfolio Review:  $45

(Costs include continental breakfast, buffet lunch, and afternoon snack.)

Optional Manuscript & Portfolio Critiques

We have 30 slots for manuscript critiques available on a first come/first served basis, so reserve yours early!  Participants must register and pay for the entire workshop and mail in the manuscript BEFORE being assigned a review with either HarperCollins Associate Editor Sarah Dotts Barley or Prospect Literary Agent Rachel Orr.  No second critiques will be accommodated!  Critique and Portfolio Review Deadline is Wednesday, February 29, 2012, if slots are not filled earlier.

For Manuscript Critiques:

• Register for the workshop and include an extra $45 in your payment.
• Email up to TEN (10) double-spaced pages of one manuscript to Naomi Milliner at naomiwm@verizon.net. 
• Mail a printed copy to: Naomi Milliner, PO Box 253, Olney, MD 20832 before February 29, 2012.
• Include a brief summary with intended age group and genre noted at the top.
• Email questions to naomiwm@verizon.net. 

For Portfolio Reviews with Agent Rachel Orr:

• Register for the workshop and include an extra $45 in your payment.
• Send Susan Detwiler <susandetwiler@comcast.net> an email to receive your review time. 
• Do NOT send original artwork in the mail!

Directions to the Bishop Claggett Center:

The Bishop Claggett Center is located near Buckeystown, Maryland on a bluff overlooking Sugarloaf Mountain and the Monocacy River Valley.  The workshop will be held in Monocacy Hall.

• Click here for directions to the Claggett Center   
• Click here for Campus Map

Lodging

For those arriving the night before or staying after, a block of rooms has been reserved at Hilton Garden Inn of Frederick, 7226 Corporate Court, Frederick, MD 21703 (240-566-1500).  Mention SCBWI to get the special rate of $89 per night or follow this link  to book online.  You must reserve by March 2, 2012 to receive the reduced rate.

Book Sales Opportunity

Since we will not have an independent bookseller at this event, we are opening book sales up to all attending PAL (Published and Listed) members who would like to sell their books.

Please note, individuals…

• must be responsible for their own cash and sales.
• must be registered attendees of the workshop.
• must contact us at mddewvscbwi@gmail.com before March 15, 2012 to reserve a table.

Register Now!

For those who wish to register by mailing a check, click here for a printable registration form.

For those who wish to register online through PayPal, go to our regional website and click on the “Registration” page.

* Refund Policy:  No refunds will be given after March 23, 2012.  Refunds for registrations made through PayPal will be minus a service charge of $5.

Questions?  Email mddewvscbwi@gmail.com

Just a quickie announcement tonight. If any of you ladies are attending the SCBWI Winter Conference in New York and would be interested in sharing a hotel room with a fellow regional writer, than send me an email at laura.bowers@comcast.net. Oh, for those going . . . you lucky dogs!!! I just saw that Jane Yolen is speaking.

Okay, announcement over!

Happy writing, everyone!

As the holiday season is fading into a beautiful memory, I wanted to take some time to reflect on some of the amazing authors that have hosted ABC events this year.  One of the highlights for me was Amie Rose Rotruck!  On October 19th, at the Mount Airy public Library, Amie kicked off the holiday fun by showing us all how to handle monsters! (Halloween is my personal favorite)

We started off by discussing ways to track and trap a variety of monsters.

And then, we joined Amie as she discussed her book, Young Wizards Handbook: How to Trap a Zombie, Track a Vampire, and Other Hands-On Activities for Monster Hunters

We even got to put our new found monster hunting knowledge to good use and actually handcrafted monster nets!

It was interesting to see how each monster net turned out.  (I’ll just say that neither of these beautifully precise nets was mine)

Amie  also talked about the craft of writing, specifically “How I Got Paid to Write Fanfic” and “Writing a Book for the Child You Were (or Still Are).”

Afterwards,  Amie talked about her own writing and the stories behind several of her wonderful books including Bronze Dragon Codex.

Then we broke for a snack break and book signing session.

For more information about Amie, check out her website: www.amieroserotruck.com and/or aseraserburns.wordpress.com/…/coffee-conversation-with-amie-rose-.

Thank you, Amie!

Wow, I want to send out a huge thank you to the lovely Susan Mannix and Larissa Graham for taking care things here while I was recovering from surgery and for doing such an amazing job with the December Illustrator Spotlight! And I’m happy to report that they have both decided to stay on as fellow bloggers.

Come on. Say it with me . . . 

We have a lot of fun things planned for 2012, including an eight-week pre-conference writing challenge starting in January, a picture book writing challenge, more interviews, and tons of other goodies.

Until then, in case you’ve missed any of the interviews showcasing our many talented regional illustrators, here’s links to each of them. Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy!

Karen Craig

Vonnie Crist

Lulu Delacre

Susan Detwiler

Rebecca Evans

Kathryn Freeman

Juliette Furlong

Stephanie Geffert

Joyce Hesselberth

Jerel Jones

Christina Kaputsos

Noriko Senshu

Frank Sobczynski

Susan Stockdale

Chiêu Anh Urban

Joan Waites

Erin Rae Watson

Jean Wogaman

Jaime Zollars

Happy writing and drawing!

Stephanie is an unconventional and contemporary artist who specializes in acrylic folksy paintings and poetry paintings. She works full-time and manages two completely different art businesses. Her first, which she established this year, is a website for her art, www.folksyart.com. Stephanie just started her second business, www.StevanaArt.org, from which she is donating half her proceeds to charity to help victims/survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse. 

While I’m getting over Stephanie’s generosity towards such a worthy cause, here are a few examples of her work. I know you’ll enjoy them!

Now that Stephanie has made herself comfortable with her favorite beverage, a Starbucks Vanilla Frappuccino:

And her favorite snack, lemon bars:

Let’s get started! First off, when did you decide to be an illustrator?

I always wanted to be a writer actually and have started a YA manuscript and a children’s story, as well as a lot of poetry; I accidentally discovered that I could paint and draw four years ago without any formal training in art.  I am currently unpublished but would like to change that soon!

There is hope for me as an artist…NOT! That’s impressive, Stephanie! So, how long did your path to your first sale take, and what were your biggest hurdles? 

I am just getting started in art and with selling my art.  I started a website for my art this year. I have also been very lucky and have gotten accepted into some community shows like the Wilmington Fringe Festival and currently have artwork displayed at the Bellefonte Arts Gallery (www.bellefontearts.com) in Delaware.  My biggest hurdle right now is trying to balance being a single mom, working full-time and managing two completely different art businesses.

Since hindsight is 20/20, what advice for beginners do you wish you would’ve followed?

I am a beginner still and  I wish that I started artwork at a much earlier age, but I wasted my earlier years under the false belief that I could only draw stick figures…if you asked me if I would become an artist five years ago, I would have laughed and said I could only draw stick figures!  So this is what I would tell younger people, “If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint’, then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.”—Vincent Van Gogh.

Stellar advice!

What’s your favorite medium?

I love acrylics!

Where’s your favorite place to work?

I just moved into a new apartment in August and I turned the master bedroom into a bedroom/art studio so it is really fun to finally have my own space to work in.

Which illustrators inspire you?

All illustrators inspire me and I appreciate their differences.  I spent some time working in an elementary school library when I was student teaching and I did a lesson plan on Caldecott medal winners and I had to learn about the different mediums used for each book so that I could teach the students about them.  This was before I became an artist but I am still inspired by the Caldecott medal winners.

In terms of artists I am inspired by Jasmine Becket-Griffith, Josephine Wall, Jessica Galbreth, Georgia O’ Keeffe, Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh, and Claude Monet. I also have friends and family members who are artists.  Some display their art and some don’t but I am inspired by all of them.

What were your favorite books as a child?

My very favorite book was But No Elephants by Jerry Smath.  I also loved fairy tales.

How do you describe your style and has it changed throughout your career?

I would describe my art as folksy, contemporary, and experimental.  I can see my work evolving as an artist but my style is still the same.

Time for the lightning round!

Do you . . .

Work from photos or imagination? Both.  I wouldn’t have started painting if my daughter’s photo didn’t inspire me to paint my first painting, Princess Calla.  I still work with photos and also from a very active imagination!

Speaking of “Princess Calla,” here it is!

Talk about works-in-progress, or keep it zipped? Talk about it

Prefer sketching or final art? Final art. I usually sketch everything first and they look unfinished to me unless I paint them.  But there are always exceptions.

Dread marketing/blogging or love it? Love it.  It is as fun as you make it.

Enjoy brainstorming more or researching? I do research for a living so it is quite natural for me.  I normally don’t brainstorm at all.  Ideas tend to come to me easily so I write everything down and save it for when I have more time.

Read Kindle or traditional books?  I still don’t own a Kindle.  I feel that there is no substitute for a traditional book.  I love walking into a bookstore or library with shelves lined with books.  I’ve always loved libraries since I was a child and graduated from school with a degree in library science so traditional books have played a big role in my life.  I can see the benefits and convenience of a Kindle but I will always prefer traditional books.

And finally, what’s your favorite:

Time to work? Midnight

Music to listen to while drawing? None, unless I am directly inspired by a certain song to paint.  Sometimes my paintings even inspire me to write songs.  So music does play a role in my artwork.

Traditional media or digital? Both.

Pair of shoes? Anything retro.  I have my eye on a pair of high heeled saddle shoes!

Guiltiest pleasure? Collecting trolls, vintage clothes/purses/hats, and vintage lucite jewelry.

Yes, that is Stephanie’s actual collection!

Line from a movie? I didn’t really have a favorite line so I searched for one from old movies that I’ve seen that had a line about art in it and I found this one from The Razor’s Edge (1946).  “The enjoyment of art is the only remaining ecstasy that’s neither immoral nor illegal.”

One of my favorite movies!

Thanks so much for stopping by, Stephanie. Best of luck to you in the coming year!

To all our fellow writers and illustrators: we wish you the blessing of looking back with fondness on 2011 and ahead with excitement to 2012. Cheers!

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 14,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 5 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

Today we are shining our spotlight on local illustrator/artist extraordinaire, Karen Craig.  Karen moved to Shepherdstown, WV, from Woodstock, NY last year. She worked in children’s illustration, design, and product development for about 20 years. For the past 10 years, she has been freelancing from her home studio.  Previously, she worked as an in-house designer and artist for Upstart reading materials and Nickelodeon consumer products. To check out more of her fantastic art, visit her website: www.karencraigart.com.

During her freelance career, she illustrated many licensed books for the Nickelodeon properties Blues Clues, Blue’s Room and Yo Gabba Gabba. More recently, she has been doing freelance work in her own style, using a ”digital cut paper” look. It is hand drawn, then scanned in and finished digitally.

Here are some examples of her art:

Raccoon & Baby, a spread from a lift-the-flap book for YoYo Books, a Belgian publisher,

1 North Pole, a Holiday card design for The Museum of Modern Art, in NYC,

In Like a Lion, for Scholastic Publishing / Classroom Magazine

Thanks for sharing your work with everyone, Karen!  Best of luck with your illustration.  Happy New Year to you and to all:)