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.
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 
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 
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 
Joanna Barcelona (Ogden Avenue School) – “
Anka Lampe (Park Junior High) -“
Liam Whittleton (Ogden Avenue School) – “
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 
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 
Looking forward to the fourth annual Writing Retreat: Mining the Story at Shake Rag Alley in May. I’ll be talking about Your Inner Child, An Exercise in Narrative Distance alongside a brilliant faculty of Christine Maul Rice, Patricia Ann McNair, Shawn Shiflett, Eric May and Philip Hartigan. For more details, click the link: 
Thank you Butler Children’s Literature Center for hosting the 2020 CaldeNott Awards this weekend! Was fun to read the excellent list and chime in as a “committee member.” Here are the results: 
Was so thrilled to learn that these sculptures of Kitty and Leah (characters from my picture book, MINE!, illustrated by Laura Hughes) have been created. Aren’t they gorgeous?! Thanks for sending me the photos, Allison Nix Marshall.
