Author: Sarah

Responsible Adults

I was thrilled to learn that one of the short stories, titled Salvage, in Patricia Ann McNair’s latest collection was born in one of my writing classes. Responsible Adults is published by Cornerstone Press and the virtual book launch with Women and Children First bookshop, including the lively reading and conversation between Patty and novelist Eric May (pictured here), was fun.

Full Zoom Ahead

Wow! What a weekend at SCBWI-Illinois’ Full Zoom Ahead online conference for kidlit authors and illustrators! I was sad to take off my Committee member badge when it ended. In these strange times of social distancing, it was such a treat to connect and be inspired in live and interactive sessions with industry professionals.  I had the pleasure of moderating chats with these two wonderful editors, Esther Cajahuaringa from Little Brown Books for Young Readers and Meghan Maria McCullough from Levine Querido, alongside Darcy Day Zoells and Jennifer Wagh.

In addition to craft sessions, pitch sessions, inspiring keynote speeches from Commander Herrington, kidlit author and the first Native American astronaut, and Vanessa Brantley Newton, author, illustrator, crafter and champion of diversity, we celebrated Sarah Aronson’s Just Like Rube Goldberg and other #ReadLocalIllinois recent publications at the SCBWI-IL Crystal Kite Gala (what a poignant acceptance speech...), and had so many chances to connect during socials and Office Hours.

There were contests for writers and illustrators alike. Check out the two winning entries for the Portfolio Showcase.

Kudos to those organizing a brand new online format for an interactive conference: Deborah Topolski, Jenny Wagh, Cedric Gliane and the rest of the Committee. Thanks to the faculty and all the attendees. I love the kidlit world, feel inspired to get back to work today.

Shake Rag Alley, Writing Retreat 2020

That was fun — my Zoom workshop, Inner Child: An Exercise in Narrative Distance. I heard so many wonderful ideas and childhood memories. Thanks so much to Shake Rag Alley (and Artistic Director, Patricia Ann McNair) for inviting me to the Writing Retreat this weekend. At a time when we can’t meet in person, it was wonderful to gather online and build community, share stories and learn nonetheless. Check out Shake Rag Alley’s upcoming events in arts and craft. It’s a gem of a place.

Folk and Fairy Tales

I am thrilled to be hosting Dr Janice Del Negro at our Oak Park and Near West Suburban Network SCBWI October meeting.  The event is free and open to the public. All are welcome! Janice is a storyteller, author, educator and professor at Dominican University with a special expertise in this area. She will talk to us about the history of folk and fairy tales, ways that we can use them, of misappropriation, of tools for finding them, and also give more information about the Butler Children’s Literature Center’s Ellin Greene Folk and Fairytale Collection. Click here to find out more.

Full Zoom Ahead!

If you’re interested in writing or illustrating books for young people, check out this online conference from SCBWI Illinois. I am thrilled to be on the Committee and registration is now open. Full Zoom Ahead! 

When? November 13th, 14th & 15th.

What’s included?
  • Submission opportunities to industry professionals
  • Keynote speakers: John B. Herrington, PhD CDR, USN(Ret) Astronaut STS-113 & Author and Vanessa Brantley Newton, SCBWI PAL Author-illustrator
  • An option to select a live and interactive session that best suits you. (Live & Interactive means that sessions are small enough that you may speak & interact with the faculty in real time)
  • Many LIVE sessions are also recorded for later viewing
  • Craft Breakouts
  • Faculty Office Hours
  • Free Contests, Extras & Portfolio Showcase
  • Attendee Bookstore
  • Live Socials including a SCBWI-IL Crystal Kite Gala
  • Additional Opportunities: 1:1 Zoom Critiques & Written Portfolio Reviews, Faculty Ask-Me-Anything & More
There are other new offerings for this rebranded, online fall conference. See link to the event pages: https://illinois.scbwi.org/events/illinois-interactive-202

Story Builder Competition Results for the Talent Development Services Program

I’m thrilled to announce the results of my Story Builder Competition for my students, Grades 6 – 8, in La Grange D102, IL. It’s always a treat to celebrate the enthusiasm and dedication of these young writers. As ever, the choice was difficult, and I had to recruit the help of co-judge, fellow author and creative writing professor Shawn Shiflett to assist this year.  Click on the title links of the Story Laureates below to read the winning entries.

2020 Story Laureates:

Joanna Barcelona (Ogden Avenue  School) – “Branching Out”. 

I loved the arc of this story, the teasing question that threads through it about the identity of the narrator. Joanna also had some interesting ideas about how we communicate with one another and what friendship means. A thought-provoking entry.

Anka Lampe (Park Junior High) -“The Color of George.” 

The voice of this submission drew me in. Anka’s decision to show events through the eyes of a protagonist with learning difficulties is effective. George expresses himself well, even though he uses unconventional language.

Liam Whittleton (Ogden Avenue School) – “Card Throwing Killer.” The offbeat humor in this piece made me smile. I liked Liam’s choice of diary format, too. Quirky details, a pacy plot, and a chicken called Steve. Excellent stuff.

2020 Merit Winners:
Claire Hertz (Cossitt Avenue School) – “The Dance”
Many readers will identify with a protagonist who yearns to fit in after moving to a new home. In this case, our heroine auditions for a role in a dance community.
Madeline Luciano (Forest Road School) – “The Key”

With a hint of the horror genre, The Key is a dream-like story full of action and sensory details.

Benjamin Sander (Park Junior High) — “Excerpts from Defender”  A segment from a longer story, I loved Ben’s world-building in this piece. Details, large and small, are vividly imagined and tension about the protagonist and his actions run through the whole submission.

Rescheduled Writing Retreat at Shake Rag Alley

Am excited that Shake Rag Alley have rescheduled our writing retreat, Mining the Story, this year and that we’ll still get to teach and meet the students in the beautiful old mining town of Mineral Point. Join us if you’re free! The new dates are September 25-27, 2020 (click link for details).

Finding Our Jam: Fiction or Nonfiction? Series or Standalone? Graphic Novels?

I’ll be hosting this event on behalf of SCBWI Oak Park and Bolingbrook Networks. Join us to hear the wonderful Kate Hannigan talk about Exploring the Genres That Get Us Most Excited About Writing for Young Readers. To register, see this link.

Chicago children’s author Kate Hannigan writes fiction and nonfiction. Her standalone historical mystery THE DETECTIVE’S ASSISTANT (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) won the 2016 Golden Kite Award for middle-grade. Her new historical fantasy series THE LEAGUE OF SECRET HEROES (Simon & Schuster/Aladdin) blends superheroes and real-life figures from WWII. Weaving in chapters presented in graphic novel format, Book 1, CAPE, published in August 2019, and Book 2, MASK, hits shelves August 2020. Kate’s nonfiction graphic novel THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE: RISING FROM THE ASHES (First Second) publishes in June 2020. Her nonfiction picture book biography A LADY HAS THE FLOOR: BELVA LOCKWOOD SPEAKS OUT FOR WOMEN’S RIGHTS (Boyds Mills) explores the life of a remarkable but forgotten figure from history.

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