News & Events

If you are a writer or illustrator of children’s books, SCBWI is a pretty important organization to consider. It offers so many resources to help kidlit professionals at all levels of their career. I am a co-representative for one of the SCBWI networks in Illinois. We run a monthly program which is open and free to the public, online at the moment of course. For up to date details of our meetings, click here. Last week, we gave a presentation and had a discussion about the SCBWI awards and grants that are available for kidlit writers and illustrators. There is an impressive range of opportunities out there — check out this link if you are interested.

Interested in learning about writing kidlit? I’m excited to be teaching a 3-day class at Mining the Story – 5th Annual Writing Retreat at Shake Rag Alley from May 21-23. We’ll be covering story craft from picture books, to middle grade, and young adult fiction. There are lots of other writing treats scheduled, too. 📚 ✍️ Check out this link for details. Hope to see you there!  

I’m delighted to have been invited by the Illinois Association for Gifted Children to give a webinar about promoting creative thinking and storytelling in the upper elementary/middle school classroom.

I will discuss the structure of a fiction writing session and give ten tips and tricks to boost creativity in students. Topics covered will include: ways to spark imagination, how to deepen story craft techniques, and a discussion of writerly processes to improve conditions when working with the imagination. There will also be an opportunity for a Q&A. Attendees will leave with practical resources to help their pupils’ stories to soar! Click here to learn more and register.

I had a lovely start to the new semester this week. These three books came up in my first eighth grade class of the year, along with story beginnings about equal rights, dream sequences, and discussions about how to write a good argument. If you’re interested in learning more about my creative writing program options, click here.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

• 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

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.

2020 Merit Winners: