Big, Warm Hug - Southern Breeze

SCBWI Southern Breeze Newsletter | Summer 2014
ALABAMA, GEORGIA and the FLORIDA PANHANDLE
1
volume 44
Summer 2014
SCBWI Southern Breeze Newsletter | Summer 2014
The Southern Breeze Newsletter, published semi-annually, is available online.
Hard copies may be printed from the pdf format as desired.
Opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not constitute an
endorsement of any kind by SCBWI. Articles, illustrations, or photos may be
used with permission only.
ALABAMA, GEORGIA and the FLORIDA PANHANDLE
Volume 44 Summer 2014
6
Newsletter Staff
Publisher
Heather L. Montgomery
[email protected]
Managing Editor
Dori Kleber
[email protected]
Art Director
Prescott Hill
[email protected]
Copy Editors
Claudia Pearson
[email protected]
Kim MacPherson
[email protected]
Kathleen Bradshaw
[email protected]
Tradewinds
Sheri Dillard
Soaring Successes
Gail Handler
Write Angles
Janice Hardy
Photographers
Allison Adams, Prescott Hill, Stephanie Moody, Sandy Fry,
[email protected]
Kitty Klein
Submissions
[email protected]
Guidelines
www.southern-breeze.scbwi.org
Steering Committee
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Regional Advisors
Kathleen Bradshaw & Claudia Pearson
Assistant Regional Advisor
Heather Montgomery
Regional Advisors Emeritus
Jo Kittinger & Joan Broerman
Conference Coordinators
wik14
SM14
20
Stephanie Moody
Lisa Lowe Stauffer
Marketing/Publicity Coord.
Janice Hardy
PAL Coordinator
Cathy C. Hall
Critique Group Coord.
TK Read
Illustrator Coordinator
Elizabeth O. Dulemba
Listserv Moderator
Claudia Pearson
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SCBWI Southern Breeze Newsletter | Summer 2014
Table of Contents
Meet Kerry Madden,
this issue’s writer profile,
on page 13.
Cover illustration by
YoungJu Kim.
Read more about
YoungJu on page 15.
RA Corner
4
Write Angles
5
Two Minutes that Changed My Life
5
Springmingle: Non-Stop Ideas and Inspiration
6
Crossing Borders, Bridging Regions
8
A Big, Warm Hug
8
Liz Conrad Scholarship Winner Announced
9
Springmingle was“like a complete children’s
book illustration and writing course”
10
Success Story: Conference Connection
11
PAL Membership: Not Just for Book Authors!
11
Meet Kathleen Bradshaw
12
Writer Profile: Kerry Madden
13
Illustrator Profile: YoungJu Kim
15
Drawing on Experience
16
Joan Broerman Book Basket
17
Picture Book Boot Camp Puts Breezers
through Their Paces
18
Real Tips Lead to Real Progress
19
Illustrators Gallery Show Returns
19
Tradewinds
20
Sketchbook
22
wik14 Preview
23
Calendar
23
Soaring Successes
24
Local Events
25
Local Liaisons
26
New Members
27
Hard Choices
28
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SCBWI Southern Breeze Newsletter | Summer 2014
RA Corner
T
I have called you my tribe because we share common
goals and geographic location, but you are much more
than that to me. Thank you to all who shared my hats in
this year of problematic websites and registration snafus
and personal struggles—you know who you are. And
thank you to all who joined informal critique groups,
to all who volunteered and stepped up when help was
needed. Thank you to all who sat beside other members
of our tribe and answered their questions and to those
who asked questions and shared their work with the
panel and audience. As Pharrell Williams recently said
about the success of his song, “Happy,” “It’s not the kite
that flies. It’s the wind beneath it that lifts it up!” -
ribe: A group sharing common ancestry and
geographic location, often defined by language
and traditions. The term comes from the Latin tribus,
referring to the tripartite division of ancient Rome into
the Latins, Sabines, and Etruscans. It has been used to
describe less developed societies in a colonial context,
and more recently is the name given to a group of
people on a reality show who are arbitrarily assigned to a
geographic location and proceed to stab other members
of the tribe in the back in order to survive.
Unlike in the survival show, in the “bunny eat bunny”
world of children’s books, SCBWI members come
together to support one another, to celebrate successes,
and to encourage those who struggle with rejections.
Springmingle and Illustrators’ Day are annual rites
for our tribe, gatherings that are about much more
than honing our plots and steering our crafts. They are
opportunities to be discovered, opportunities to share
in the discovery of others, opportunities to share both
our personal stories and our work. It is a great deal of
work, but worth every minute when an editor or agent
approaches me and says, “Claudia, do you know who
wrote this first page?” or “Would you introduce me to
this illustrator?”
– Claudia Pearson
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SCBWI Southern Breeze Newsletter | Summer 2014
Three Questions to
Get to the Heart of Your Story
Write Angles
Janice Hardy
S
ometimes we don’t know where to start when
beginning a story, but there are three things every
book has. Nail those, and the book becomes much easier
to write.
could only apply to this person in this circumstance.
Otherwise, anyone in the vicinity of the plot could be the
hero.
3. How will the protagonist’s life change forever
if she doesn’t get it?
1. What does the protagonist want? This is why the character is there and the reason
the book exists in the first place. It applies to both the
external plot and the internal character arc. If you can’t
answer this, the story is going to give you trouble since
you won’t know what’s driving your plot.
This is the number-one, most important question in
the entire book. If there are no life-altering consequences
to not getting what she wants, why spend an entire book
on this part of the character’s life?
Answer these three questions and you’ll know what’s
at the heart of your story. Once you know that, it’s much
easier to figure out the rest of the plot since you’ll have a
clear goal to work toward, with clear stakes for failure.
2. Why does it matter?
Character motivation is key to making your reader
care about what your protagonist wants. People don’t
act for no reason. Even if that reason is selfish or dumb,
there is a reason and it makes sense to the person doing
it. What’s more, that reason is personal. It’s a reason that
Janice Hardy is the author of THE SHIFTER, BLUE FIRE, and DARKFALL from
Balzer + Bray/Harper Collins. She blogs about writing at Fiction University.
blog.janicehardy.com.
At the end, I heard one sentence clearly. Someone
said a flower was interesting. That was it. A flower in
my portfolio was the only positive I could hear.
The Portfolio Quickfire:
Two Minutes that
Changed My Life
I felt confused. Did I fail? I felt as if all the answers
I craved were unattainable and my dream was a
nonsensical illusion ending in sorrow.
Cassaundra Dunbridge
Then, I changed the perspective. The answers were
there. They were right in front of me and these critics
gave me a gift to ignite my passion. This is how an art
department evaluates incoming work. I was a part of
that process. My flower stood out.
It was my first Illustrators’ Day, and the moment I’d
been looking forward to—and dreading—had come. My
anxiety rose to new heights as each name was announced
and portfolios were brought to the art directors’ table for
their review.
This was not a competition, but a collaboration; not
a judgment, but an opportunity to learn how to sell
my work. My skin grew a bit thicker that day. I lost
my insecurity and gained a like-minded community.
There is strength in community. I now know how to
achieve my illustrating dreams.
The faculty panel thumbed through each portfolio,
moving at a rapid pace, marking the pages they thought
were the best.
Then my name was announced. I wanted to cry. They
did not know me and I knew them only from having
listened to their sessions that day. They flipped through
my pages so quickly.
Cassaundra Dunbridge resides in the lovely city of Rome, Georgia with her
darling husband, three young and charming boys, two demanding felines,
and one canine princess. She is a whimsical illustrator and author for the
picture book genre. www.cdunbridge.com
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SCBWI Southern Breeze Newsletter | Summer 2014
Springmingle:
Non-Stop Ideas
and Inspiration
Lisa Lowe Stauffer
Photos by Stephanie Moody & Prescott Hill
From top left to bottom right: Breezers launch new books; Irena Tervo and Conference Coordinator Lisa Stauffer; Krista Russell shares her story; Portfolios were
enjoyed by all; Jo Kittinger receives a suitcase full of thanks; Robyn Hood Black; Attendees get silly; Keynoter Ruth Sanderson and Loraine Joyner, art director
of Peachtree Publishers, share tips; RA Claudia Pearson and her outstanding hat; Intensive attendees drink in knowledge from Cheryl Klein; Cheryl Klein, editor,
Arthur A. Levine Books; Susan Rosson Spain and Illustrator Coordinator Elizabeth Dulemba enjoy camaraderie at Springmingle ‘14.
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SCBWI Southern Breeze Newsletter | Summer 2014
From left to right: Agent Ammi-Joan Paquette talks about
your nemesis; Sharon Pegram and Krista Russell exchanging
ideas; Keynoter Ruth Sanderson inspires with her fairy tale
life; Cheryl Willis Hudson, editorial director of Just Us Books
and Lucy Ruth Cummins, art director at Simon & Schuster;
Stephanie Fretwell-Hill, editor at Peachtree Publishers; Randi
Revill introducing faculty.
T
be writing.” From her author hat, “Always be reading.”
And from her mom hat, “Always be doing something
new. It’s important to write, but also to live.”
he Springmingle ’14 weekend kicked off with
Illustrators’ Day and a writing intensive in
plotting. By the end of Friday afternoon, attendees of
both events were inspired—though sometimes also
overwhelmed—by all the new information and ideas.
After dinner, the faculty gave feedback on artwork
and the first eight lines of manuscripts, submitted
anonymously by attendees. The panel agreed it was best
to establish an interesting action and keep going with it;
save the back story for later. After dinner Friday night, Regional Advisor Emeritus
Jo Kittinger delivered a keynote address with some of
the gems she’s learned at conferences over the years, and
how she’s applied them in developing her writing voice.
Lucy Ruth Cummins, art director with Simon &
Schuster, opened Sunday’s sessions with an overview
of areas worth targeting, from character-driven picture
books to playing with format, from retro-look art styles
to the truly weird (like a chicken with arms). Cheryl
Klein followed with a talk on the five things editors
want to see, and the conference ended with a brisk Q&A
panel. Saturday morning, Ruth Sanderson shared her
personal journey in “A Fairy Tale Life,” reminding us
that even fairy tales do not depict problem-free lives.
Publisher/author Cheryl Willis Hudson talked about
her personal roots, growing up in segregated Virginia,
where the “colored” library consisted of a table of books
discarded from the “white” library. As an adult, she and
her husband founded Just Us and Marimba, imprints
devoted to diversity.
Special guests at SM14 included Peachtree Publishers
art director Loraine Joyner and editor Stephanie
Fretwell-Hill, and Janell Walden Aygeman, agent with
Marie Brown Agency. Breezers who launched their new books included
Robyn Hood Black (POETRY FRIDAY ANTHOLOGY),
Elizabeth O. Dulemba (A BIRD ON WATER STREET),
Krista Russell (THE OTHER SIDE OF FREE), Vicky
Alvear Shecter (ANUBIS SPEAKS), Trisha Slay (NOT
SO LONG AGO, NOT SO FAR AWAY), and Susan
Rosson Spain (THE DEEP CUT, paperback).
With new ideas, a long to-do list for improving my
work in progress, and tons of renewed enthusiasm,
Springmingle has set me on my path until October,
when I look forward to learning even more at Writing
and Illustrating for Kids ’14.
Agent/author Ammi-Joan Paquette offered advice on
juggling roles. From her agent hat, she advised, “Always
Lisa Lowe Stauffer organizes conferences, writes picture books and middlegrade fiction, and lives in Roswell, Georgia.
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SCBWI Southern Breeze Newsletter | Summer 2014
Springmingle14:
Crossing Borders, Bridging Regions
Irena Tervo
happily sit at a crowded table in the Marriott bar
with writers and illustrators, while Claudia Pearson
explains the significance of the red balloon in Goodnight
Moon.
I
committee had lined up, there was something unique
about these people. The many years they had served
together had forged bonds that ran deep.
For several years I’ve remained true to both regions,
participating in Carolinas’ fall conference, crossing my
region border in spring for SM.
This is not my region, not my tribe. Region dictates
that I am a member of SCBWI Carolinas, but every
spring I drive from Greenville, South Carolina, to
participate in Southern Breeze’s Springmingle.
Claudia’s pink hat comes to me.
Do I dare call Southern Breeze my tribe? Members are
my kindred spirits. Social media and the Internet make it
possible to give and receive real support. And I will. Next
year, I will return, continuing to forge bonds I hope will
last a lifetime.
Claudia takes off her pink straw hat and passes it
around. The hat perches atop each head as cameras snap.
I joined SCBWI’s Florida region in 2006 while living in
South Florida, attending conferences in Orlando. Then
I moved to Greenville with fifty pages of my YA novel,
needing serious feedback. Since I’d missed the Carolina
fall conference, I crossed the border into Georgia. I
arrived, a friendless outsider, afraid of being labeled
writer-agent-stalker, but I sat next to kind, welcoming
people. More than the amazing faculty the conference
I put on Claudia’s pink hat and smile. Irena Tervo writes YA, middle-grade, picture books, short stories, and
articles. Her YA novel was awarded semi-finalist in the novel-in-progress
category of The Pirate’s Alley William Faulkner–William Wisdom 2013
competition, and she was awarded first prize in the annual Hub City/Emrys
Creative Writing Contest in the nonfiction category.
Springmingle14:
A Big, Warm Hug
prolifically talented Ruth Sanderson, and a heartwarming presentation by Cheryl Willis Hudson,
editor and author of MY FRIEND MAYA LOVES TO
DANCE. I also got an inside look at what an art director
does, thanks to the lovable and humorous Lucy Ruth
Cummins. Alicia Tubbs
S
pringmingle ’14 packed a lot of punch for its
attendees. Not only did Southern Breeze schedule
some of the finest acquiring faculty members, but also
the very reasonable registration fee included three great
meals, Starbucks coffee, and cookies that fell straight
from the ovens of heaven. (Let’s be real–it’s all about
the food.)
My interactions with the panelists were cordial, and
the friendly facilitators and volunteers embraced new
attendees like longtime family members. To shake things
up, Regional Advisor Claudia Pearson wore a different
hat every day—literally.
In all seriousness, this conference was rich, both in its
format and in the support that it offered to attendees.
For me, attending Springmingle was like getting a big,
warm hug from a Southern grandmother after eating a
hearty meal of sound writing advice. -
I went to the conference to meet agent and author
Ammi-Joan Paquette, as well as editor Cheryl Klein,
perhaps best known for her work on the last two Harry
Potter books.
Alicia Tubbs lives with her husband and cat in the Atlanta area, where she
writes middle-grade fiction and blogs about writing at aliciatubbs.com. She
holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Notre Dame, and is a
former college English teacher.
In addition to meeting these two lovely ladies,
I attended an inspirational presentation from the
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SCBWI Southern Breeze Newsletter | Summer 2014
Liz Conrad Scholarship
Winner Announced
Elizabeth O. Dulemba
T
he race was tight this year, but the judges (R.
Gregory Christie, Mark Braught, and myself)
agreed... Connie Lynn Reilly is this year’s Liz Conrad
Scholarship winner!
Connie has been a professional portrait artist for
many years, with quite the record of credentials, and
she is starting a new chapter in life adapting her distinct
skills and expertise toward children’s books. We think
her chances are very good!
The scholarship consists of free tuition to attend both
Springmingle and Illustrators’ Day along with a free
portfolio review during Springmingle.
Connie was thrilled with the news, “How encouraging
is that!?” (I love making that phone call.) And I know
Liz would be thrilled with Connie’s prospects as well.
What better way to honor our lost friend than by
encouraging new ones along this path of children’s
literature that we love so much. These are Connie’s winning submission pieces.
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SCBWI Southern Breeze Newsletter | Summer 2014
Liz Conrad Scholarship Winner:
Springmingle was“like a complete
children’s book illustration
and writing course”
Connie Lynn Reilly
Photo by Stephanie Moody
I
am so grateful for the opportunity to attend
Springmingle ’14 as the Liz Conrad Scholarship
winner. The conference left an unforgettable impression
on me.
career, and it was so helpful to hear confirmation from
professional illustrators that I am on the right track.
The conference faculty was superb. Everyone was
extremely open and willing to share what had taken
them a lifetime to learn. There was so much great
information given, I felt like writing a book afterwards
and it seemed as if I had attended a complete children’s
book illustration and writing course. I know I will be
referring to my notes for a very long time.
Over the years, in addition to receiving formal training
and mentoring from several renowned artists, I have
made a point to educate myself in various forms of art.
Fine art portraiture and figurative painting have been
my major focus throughout my art career, but during
the last couple of years, I have been learning more about
illustrating children’s books. I’ve learned what I could
from various books and other sources, but realized I still
needed feedback on my illustration work. Therefore, in
2013, I did a mentorship with Michael J. Austin, which
opened the door for me into the world of imagination
and illustration.
One last word of thanks to Stephanie Moody, who took
a portrait class from me several years ago and turned me
on to SCBWI.
Thanks, Steph! Connie Lynn Reilly is an international portrait and figurative artist including
corporate, children, adults, business, family, animals, and historical art.
She works in the mediums of oil, pastel, watercolor, and colored pencil.
www.ConnieReilly.com
Receiving the scholarship has been so encouraging to
me as an artist. Illustration is a new journey in my art
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SCBWI Southern Breeze Newsletter | Summer 2014
Success Story:
Conference
Connection
PAL Membership:
Not Just for
Book Authors!
Cathy C. Hall
Dianne Hamilton
I
C
had so much fun at Springmingle!
onferences are just the same ol’ thing, with the
same ol’ people doing the same ol’ stuff, right?
Attend one conference and you’ve attended them all,
right? Honestly, I always have a great time. But this year,
as the new PAL Coordinator for our region, I really
enjoyed saying, “Why, yes! You’re a PAL. And you’re a
PAL. And you are, too!”
Hardly!
I think most of us assume
PAL membership is only for
published book authors. After
all, PAL stands for Published
And Listed, right?
I attend as many conferences as I can because if I
didn’t, I would miss too much talent! Each conference
gives opportunities, to both volunteers and attendees,
to get to know the speakers as people and to showcase
their talents to those who might be able to publish them.
The writing contests and art portfolio showcases that go
along with conferences are wonderful ways to put your
talent out in front of editors and art directors.
Well, yes, it does. But it’s much
more than our book authors.
If you’ve had work published
in any children’s publication,
whether the work is a craft,
an illustration, or a four-line poem, you’re PAL. The
only requirement is that the publication be listed with
SCBWI. It’s easy enough to find out if your publisher is
listed. When you go to your profile at SCBWI.org to add
your publication, you’ll type in your publisher in the
appropriate box. If your publisher comes up, you’re PAL.
illustration by
Beth Crews Rommel
That’s just what happened at Springmingle ’14. Melissa
Shultz-Jones had her portfolio displayed, and her style
caught my eye. We talked a bit at the conference, and
met again the following week in Birmingham.
I am now happy to announce that OnStage Publishing
has signed Melissa to do the artwork for the cover for
BIRMINGHAM, 1933: ALICE, the next book in Wanda
Vaughn’s award-winning Alabama Girls series. The book
is expected to make its debut at WIK this fall.
In fact, if you have a contract and have been paid and
it’s a PAL publisher—even if your book or article won’t
come out for years—you’re PAL now.
I’m glad that Melissa took a chance and put her
artwork on display because it made my search so easy.
If I hadn’t gone to Atlanta, or if Melissa hadn’t had the
courage to display her artwork, we might never have
connected.
And I’d love to meet you! We’ve just started a (private)
Facebook group called Southern Breeze PALs where we
share news, publications, and tips, so come join.
And if you’re not PAL yet, don’t worry. It’s just a matter
of time (and applying what you learn at conferences)
before I tell you, “Why, yes, YOU are PAL, too.” -
Thank goodness for conferences! Dianne Hamilton is the senior editor/publisher of ONStage Publishing, a
small, traditional publishing company located in northern Alabama. She is
looking for mysteries for kids from grades 6 through 12. Go to her website,
www.onstagepublishing.com, to find out how to submit.
Cathy C. Hall shares all about the writing life at c-c-hall.com. In addition to
being the PAL Coordinator, she serves as a Local Liaison in Georgia.
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SCBWI Southern Breeze Newsletter | Summer 2014
Meet Kathleen Bradshaw,
Our New Southern Breeze
Co-Regional Advisor
Paula B. Puckett
She takes a sketchbook and camera with her
everywhere and loves the outdoors, museums, and
antique shops.
As a mother of four children, Kathleen discovered a
love for children’s literature, and a desire to write and
illustrate for children. Her husband recommended she
try SCBWI.
“Membership in SCBWI Southern Breeze is the
most important step I took towards being serious
about my work,” she says. “I’ve learned a great deal
about the craft of writing and illustrating for children
by attending conferences and taking advantage of the
resources provided by SCBWI and Southern Breeze. The
friendships I’ve made are priceless. Breezers are generous
in sharing their expertise and in giving constructive
feedback. Not only are our members amazing artists and
writers, they are incredible people who are passionate
about their work and about making a positive difference
in the world.”
K
athleen Bradshaw was named Co-Regional
Advisor this year. A long-time Southern Breeze
volunteer, she has served as Assistant Illustrator
Coordinator, Springmingle Coordinator, Conference
Angel, and Regional Illustration Contest Coordinator.
Stepping into the position previously held by Jo
Kittinger is “exciting and scary,” Kathleen says, as she
wants to continue the momentum built by the current
and prior RAs. Kathleen’s goals include growing the
region’s events, critique groups, and membership.
Even as a small child, Kathleen wanted to be an artist,
and enjoyed putting her impressions of the world on
paper. Years later, she graduated from the Lamar Dodd
School of Art at the University of Georgia.
She hopes to encourage members to not only attend
conferences, but become part of making things happen,
either by volunteering in existing programs, or by
coming up with new ideas.
She still loves learning, and not just about art. “I’m
interested in everything,” she says, “which is good if I’m
looking for something to draw or write about, but bad
if I need to focus on one thing while something else is
going on.”
“Everything we do started with a shared idea,” she says.
“Our members are contributing ideas and energy all the
time. I’m thrilled to be a part of it.” Paula B. Puckett is a writer/illustrator, educator, and handspinner who
encourages creative thinking and outdoor education. Her work has appeared in
HIGHLIGHTS and ALPACAS MAGAZINE.
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SCBWI Southern Breeze Newsletter | Summer 2014
K
erry Madden is a critically
acclaimed author of six
books for young people, including
the middle-grade novel GENTLE’S
HOLLER (Viking, 2005). Her
novels have received starred reviews
and been named to the New York
Public Library’s “100 Books
for Reading and Sharing” list.
She serves as editor-in-chief of
Poemmemoirstory, an all-women’s
literary journal published annually
by the University of Alabama at
Birmingham (UAB).
Member Profile:
Kerry Madden
Children’s Book Author
Interview by Laura Golden
How did you research
the setting?
I interviewed people in Maggie
Valley, North Carolina. I visited
Ghost Town in the Sky when it
was closed, and took pictures. It
was eerie, wandering around an
empty amusement park alone on
top of Buck Mountain, especially
climbing into the old schoolhouse
where life-sized replicas of a
teacher and students sat. I thought
I saw the “fake” teacher’s hand
move, which gave me chills.
I looked at newspaper articles
and just soaked it up. I bought
moonshine cherries in a Mason
jar from a moonshiner. One of
the librarians in the mountains
gave me that idea. She said, “The
cherries are great on vanilla ice
cream.”
Was your pathway to
publication fraught with potholes
or was it fairly smooth? Rocky, most definitely. Pebbles,
boulders, and slabs of sandstone
greeted me along the path—and
sometimes still do.
You split your time between
LA and Birmingham. You’re also
a wife and mother. How do you
balance your personal life and
writing life?
What do you value most
about SCBWI?
SCBWI is invaluable to me. I
would not have sold GENTLE’S
HOLLER if I had not gone to
Writers Day in 2003 in Southern
California to hear Melanie Cecka
speak. She said to us, “Don’t hand me
your novel, because I’m getting on a
plane. But if you send it to me and
tell me in the cover letter you were
here at Writers Day, I’ll read it.” I sent
it to her, and she kept her word, and
she said yes. (This was after MANY
rejections and revisions, of course.)
You show up every day because your
characters are waiting for you. Two of my
kids had the good sense to grow up at 23
and 25, and my youngest, Norah, is 15, and
I know how fast it goes. I put my kids in all
my books, I think, as a way to hang onto
the wild children I once had hanging off of
me every day. Now of course, like a giant
cliché, I miss them so much. What inspired GENTLE’S HOLLER?
I’ve made my closest friends
and colleagues from SCBWI. We
support each other, make each other laugh, and keep
from going crazy in the darker times. -
I was missing the mountains, the south,
storytelling. My husband, Kiffen, is one of
thirteen children, and I always wanted to
open a novel with a momma putting a baby to sleep in
a drawer instead of a crib, which is what my mother-inlaw did with her ninth child, Eppie.
Laura Golden is the author of EVERY DAY AFTER (Delacorte, 2013)–winner
of the 2014 Alabama Author Award for Juvenile Fiction–and the forthcoming
STANDING TALL ON MULBERRY HILL (Delacorte, 2015).
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SCBWI Southern Breeze Newsletter | Summer 2014
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SCBWI Southern Breeze Newsletter | Summer 2014
W
hen did you first become
interested in art?
Vitale. I studied his works, as well as
illustrators Brian Wildsmith, Lisbeth
Zwerger, and Barbara Cooney.
I first began drawing as a child
growing up in Busan, the second
largest city in South Korea. My aunts
loved to tell folktales, and I would
listen to them and draw. My childhood
drawings were a mix of inspiration
from my aunts’ stories, from my
imagination, and from everyday play.
What was your inspiration for
the cover piece for this issue of the
Southern Breeze News?
What motivated you to become a
professional artist?
I dreamed of being an artist when
I was young, but it wasn’t until I
moved to Savannah (Georgia) with
my husband, after a stop in Atlanta,
that I really decided to pursue that
dream. Moving to Savannah was a huge
adjustment. Busan is a huge city with a
population of more than two million,
while Savannah is much smaller. I
was leaving behind my friends and
family and starting over. To fill my
time, I decided to go to art school in
Savannah.
Member Profile:
YoungJu
Kim
Cover Illustrator
Interview by Jared Austin
A lot of your images are executed
in gouache on wood. What made
you decide to use wood as your
background?
I’ve been driving along Highway 16
to Savannah every day for six years.
Along the highway there is a small
creek that I like to look at whenever
I pass by it, and I decided to create
a picture of it for the summer. An
origami motif is one of my themes,
which I used for the boat.
How has SCBWI helped you?
I’ve gone to Illustrators’ Day twice,
and both times have been wonderful.
They’ve given me great information on
how to get into the market, promote
my work, and improve my portfolio.
At the Illustrators’ Day in the spring,
one of the illustrators that I met, Laura
Freedman, said, “Never give up.” Simple
words, but sometimes those little
encouragements are all the motivation
you need. Final words?
My favorite definition for
illustration is that it is like a language,
a communication tool to tell a story.
I like picture books because they are
the art of word and picture together.
My long-term goal is to create picture
books based around my memories of
childhood, as well as inspiration from
my son. I would recommend that
any illustrator take inspiration from
everyday life and from the familiar
stories around you. It will infuse your
work and bring it to life. -
While in graduate drawing classes,
I started looking for new textures for
my drawings. A local supply store in
downtown Savannah had beautiful
wood grains, and I decided to use them
as a background. Typically, I use birch
plywood. I will first search the wood
grain, cut them into appropriatelysized pieces, then put a matte medium
over it. As I continued to paint, I
eventually started to incorporate the
wood grains into my composition. One
of my graduate school professors mentioned that my work
on wood grain was similar to an Italian illustrator, Stefano
Jared Austin lives in Huntsville, Alabama, and spends his days translating the
work of NASA engineers into interesting and easy-to-grasp messages for
public audiences. He writes YA sci-fi that is partly inspired by his work. Follow
him on twitter @JaredAustin1981.
15
SCBWI Southern Breeze Newsletter | Summer 2014
Drawing on Experience
Thinking Outside
the Jack-o’-Lantern
Kristen Applebee
F
...“Being original means
we must dig a little deeper,
think a little harder”...
or years, I’ve
asked my
college art students
to draw a man on
a bicycle with an
umbrella. Almost
every student has drawn a stick figure riding a rightfacing bicycle, holding a vertical, open umbrella.
to do them. But do look beyond the obvious and find
ways to happily surprise your readers, friends, clients, or
workshop attendees.
I have yet to see a drawing of a circus clown balancing
on the seat with a tiny, polka-dotted umbrella, or an
angry young man jumping up and down on a broken
bike while beating it with an umbrella. In fact, I’ve never
seen anything interesting come from this challenge.
After that Halloween exercise, I went home and made
my own image of Halloween. Yes, there are skeletons in
my painting. Yes, one is carving a triangle-eyed jack-o’lantern, but the other is breaking holiday barriers. He’s
dying eggs. -
That’s the point. I want students to recognize that
their first thoughts are obvious thoughts. Being original
means we must dig a little deeper, think a
little harder.
Last summer, I offered an assignment
with more possibilities. I asked graduate
students to draw “Halloween,” then waited
to see the witches, goblins, black cats,
mummies, zombies, vampires, spiders,
cemeteries, ravens, and werewolves. Sadly,
every student drew a jack-o-lantern. Two of
them finished early and managed to add a
Pac-Man-style ghost.
After these experiments, most students
promise that they will try harder to “think
outside the box.” I tell them that they can
start by not using the cliché “think outside
the box.” Apple says to “think different.”
Chanel goes a step beyond, by telling us
to “be unexpected.” Sign a urinal. Paint a green stripe
down your wife’s nose. Place daisies at the tips of your
mustache. Except don’t. All of those things have been
done by men who lived a century ago and had a reason
Kristen Applebee’s unexpected illustration, “For Halloween, PJ dyed eggs,”
was awarded first place in the 2013 Southern Breeze Illustration Contest.
Kristen Applebee teaches art at Wesleyan College and Georgia Academy for
the Blind. Her blog and portfolio can be found at www.kristenapplebee.com.
16
SCBWI Southern Breeze Newsletter | Summer 2014
Refugee Girls’ School Receives
Joan Broerman Book Basket
Vicky Alvear Shecter
O
n behalf of Southern Breeze, I had the pleasure of
delivering the Joan Broerman Book Basket to The
Global Village Project (GVP), a school for refugee girls
in Decatur, Georgia. I first learned about the GVP from fellow SCBWI
member and author Ricky Jacobs, a retired linguistics
professor who’d been tutoring refugees for years.
Eventually, his commitment to educating these oftentraumatized young girls bloomed into the GVP.
This fully accredited school serves the educational
needs of refugee girls and young women who have come
from war-torn or politically unstable regions in Africa,
Asia, and the Middle East. If they’ve had any schooling
at all, it has been interrupted during their relocation to
safety.
(Left to right) Student Day Day, from Thailand; Vicky Alvear Shecter; student
Keriya Osman, from Ethiopia; head of school Amy Pelisser
coming here, while others are quite ready to tackle more
complex novels. So this range of books is perfect for us.”
The school has been in the process of building a
library based on donations of old books. The Broerman
Book Basket—three boxes of brand new picture books,
middle readers and young adult novels, all donated by
the authors and illustrators at Springmingle ’14—was
just what their library needed.
In addition to the books, the Broerman Basket comes
with a stipend to help defray the cost of processing the
books. “We are so, so grateful,” Pelissero continued. “Thank
you, SCBWI. All our students will benefit greatly from
your generosity.” -
“The students here have varied levels of schooling
and literary experiences,” head of school Amy Pelissero
said. “One student had never even held a book before
Vicky Alvear Shecter writes YA historical fiction (CURSES & SMOKE;
CLEOPATRA'S MOON) and middle-grade nonfiction (ANUBIS SPEAKS!;
CLEOPATRA RULES!) and is a docent at the Emory Carlos Museum.
Prescott Hill Named Assistant
Illustrator Coordinator
He’s going to be such a help to me and to Southern
Breeze illustrators. I’m thrilled to have him aboard!”
S
Prescott is the art director of the Southern Breeze
News, and has been a featured speaker at Writing and
Illustrating for Kids.
outhern Breeze is pleased to
welcome Prescott Hill as the
region’s new Assistant Illustrator
Coordinator. Prescott will help to
organize many of the upcoming
illustrator events.
A graduate of the New England School of Art
and Design, he has illustrated numerous books for
Scholastic and has designed and art directed toys
and packaging for several toy and game companies,
including Hasbro. -
Illustrator Coordinator Elizabeth Dulemba said,
“Prescott has proven his chops time and time again.
17
SCBWI Southern Breeze Newsletter | Summer 2014
Picture Book
Boot Camp Puts
Breezers through
Their Paces
• Make sure dialogue sounds authentic.
• Avoid red herrings.
• Use the rule of threes.
• End with something from the beginning, or a
surprise or shock.
When thinking of picture books as a whole, Wheeler
told the class to think visually. “Think bookends,” she
said.
For nonfiction picture books, Wheeler advised:
Leeann Zouras
• Look for a new angle.
“Picture books have
one truth—that’s all.”
• Highlight cool stuff.
• Omit “adult” facts.
• Include author’s note and bibliography.
• Entertain the reader.
T
“Picture books are poetry,” Wheeler reminded
attendees. “Read them out loud.”
hat’s the take-away from author Lisa Wheeler’s
Picture Book Boot Camp, which took place in
January at the Alabama Center for the Arts in Decatur,
Alabama.
All that, and she never blew her whistle. -
Wheeler, author of thirty-three children’s books, told
writers to keep it simple.
Leeann Zouras is an Atlanta-based children’s writer who sold her first story to
HIGHLIGHTS in November 2013.
“Your opening makes a promise to the reader,”
Wheeler said. “You must deliver on that promise.”
Before that, make sure your first line is unforgettable,
Wheeler said.
She sure was. Sporting a camouflage camp shirt and a
megawatt, Michigan smile, Wheeler led thirty-six writers
through seven hours of picture book training.
Okay, we got a lunch break. And Wheeler’s
straightforward delivery made the whole thing seem like
a Southern Breeze. Still, she wore a whistle.
Here are the highlights of her advice:
• Picture books are about economy. Need to trim?
Cut redundancy.
• Every word, every sentence, every paragraph must
have forward movement.
• Avoid unnecessary description.
illustration by Shanda McCloskey
• Don’t give too many stage directions.
• Give names to only the most important players.
18
SCBWI Southern Breeze Newsletter | Summer 2014
Picture Book
Boot Camp:
Real Tips Lead
to Real Progress
Illustrators Gallery
Show Returns to
Decatur Library
S
outhern Breeze’s popular Children’s Book
Illustrators Gallery Show will be on display
from May 23 to June 8, 2014, at the Decatur Library in
Decatur, Georgia.
Deanna Calvert
I
wonder if any of my fellow Breezers have the same
problem I have. I’d like to publish a picture book—or
several picture books—but haven’t managed to break
into that market. I have notepads full of picture book
ideas, drawers full of not-quite-right manuscripts, and
a computer drive full of abandoned efforts. I diligently
wrote and revised, but because I couldn’t detect what
was “off ” with my manuscripts, I couldn’t fix them.
The show will open with a wine and cheese reception
on Friday, May 23, in conjunction with the Decatur
Arts Festival ArtWalk. The reception begins at 7 p.m.
and gives the public the chance to meet many of the
participating illustrators.
This year’s participants include well-known and awardwinning illustrators Mark Braught, R. Gregory Christie,
Jill Dubin, Elizabeth O. Dulemba, Laura Freeman, Sarah
Frances Hardy, Prescott Hill, Mike Lowery, Bill Mayer,
Susan Nees, Lori Nichols, and Amy Schimler.
But after attending Lisa Wheeler’s Picture Book
Boot Camp, I have a folder full of fresh approaches, a
clear list of revision techniques, and countless ideas
for turning that drawer full of not-quite-right picture
book manuscripts into the real thing. I also have a new
picture book manuscript, “Buried Treasure.” It’s my most
picture-booky manuscript yet, and I’m bursting to share
it with my critique group.
Each year, traditionally published illustrators showcase
their original artwork alongside the books in which the
art appears, so viewers can make the connection that
their favorite books are indeed works of art.
The show is produced in cooperation with the Georgia
Center for the Book, which is the state affiliate of the
Center for the Book at the Library of Congress in
Washington, DC. -
So, what’s different about my writing technique? For
openers, my openers. I spent three days after Boot Camp
writing opening lines for “Buried Treasure.” After that,
I studied and compared each potential opening until I
could see precisely which opening my story demanded.
Next, I applied the rule of three (over and over and over,
for another three days), worked rhyme and meter into
my prose, and revised with keener eyes.
Will it work? Will “Buried Treasure” get published as
a picture book? I don’t know. But I spent several hours
today writing openings for my next picture book. And
I’ll keep at it tomorrow. And the next day. Deanna Calvert has published poetry in LADYBUG and Rookie Readers with
Scholastic. She has two ESL early readers forthcoming from TunTun, a leading
Korean educational publishing house.
illustration by
Cassaundra Dunbridge
19
SCBWI Southern Breeze Newsletter | Summer 2014
Tradewinds
Ruta Rimas, Editor, Margaret K.
McElderry, an imprint of Simon
& Schuster
A Southern Breeze Guide to
wik14 Faculty
Ruta acquires picture books, middlegrade fiction and nonfiction, and
teen fiction. Before coming to Simon
& Schuster, Ruta worked for the Balzer + Bray imprint
at HarperCollins. She’s worked with some of the most
talented authors and illustrators in the industry.
Sheri Dillard, Columnist
O
ur conference organizers are hard at work
planning the Writing and Illustrating for Kids ‘14
(wik14) Conference. It’s time for you to start planning,
too! Check out the impressive line-up of speakers.
Our faculty includes Bethany Strout of Little, Brown
Books for Young Readers; Ruta Rimas of Margaret K.
McElderry imprint at Simon & Schuster; and Courtney
Miller-Callihan of Sanford J. Greenburger Associates.
Read on to learn what our faculty members are hoping
to find in their submission piles, as well as helpful tips
and conversation starters for the conference.
Bethany Strout, Associate
Editor, Little, Brown Books for
Young Readers
Prior to joining LBYR in 2010,
Bethany worked her way through
the book business with stops at
her local library, the University of Chicago Press,
and the literary agency Writers House. She assists
publisher Megan Tingley and manages her own list.
She has acquired and edited the Veronica Mars-like
YA novel THE PRINCE OF VENICE BEACH by Blake
Nelson (author of GIRL and Recovery Road); the strongvoiced middle-grade debut SURE SIGNS OF CRAZY by
Karen Harrington; and the boisterous picture book THE
BEST-EVER BOOKWORM BOOK by Alice Kuipers,
illustrated by Bethanie Murguia.
For submissions, Bethany says, “I’m always looking
for novels with small-town settings, romances that feel
messy and real, mysteries that make me realize the
author is much smarter than I am, and fully realized
fantasy worlds. On the picture book side, I’m drawn
to picture books that tell true or imagined stories with
emotional resonance. A strong sense of place gets me
faster than almost anything else, and I’d always like to
see books featuring underrepresented protagonists.” Although Ruta is looking for a variety of fiction and
nonfiction, she mentions a couple specific things on her
wish list: “Growing up with a bi-cultural family—I’m
a first generation American—I deeply understand the
need for a diverse range of stories, and characters, too.
I like my list to be as varied as can be when it comes
to whose story is being told.” She adds, “Many of the
stories I gravitate towards are often sad and harrowing.
Death, mental illness, abuse, neglect often factor in some
way. In short: I go dark. That isn’t to say that I don’t like
upbeat, too. But life is rarely neat and tidy, and emotions
can be messy, contradictory, and complicated, and that is
how I like my books, too.”
Courtney Miller-Callihan,
Agent, Sanford J. Greenburger
Associates
Courtney began her career in
publishing at Random House before
joining Sanford J. Greenburger
Associates in 2005. She works closely with authors to
help them reach their full creative and commercial
potential. For submissions, Courtney says, “I’m always
looking for really fantastic, fresh YA and middle-grade
novels. I tend to be more drawn to contemporary and
historical novels than to fantasy- or paranormal-driven
stories, but I’m always happy to take a look. I’d dearly
love to see more multicultural and LGBTQ submissions,
particularly if the focus isn’t solely on the ‘diversity’
element (e.g. coming out stories, or a character’s
experience of racism). And I’ve been saying for years
that I want someone to write me a really spectacular
time-travel novel, so forget what I said before about
paranormal or fantasy if you’ve got something amazing!”
20
SCBWI Southern Breeze Newsletter | Summer 2014
Tradewinds
A
writers’ conference is an opportunity to connect
with other writers and illustrators, and to meet
the industry experts on our faculty. It’s not the time to
pitch a project—unless you’re asked—but it’s a great
chance to learn more about the world of children’s
publishing. So ask questions!
Whatever you choose to talk about, know that these
talented professionals are excited to meet you. Bethany
says, “My favorite part of my job is talking to writers
and artists. I love having conversations about their work,
about work we admire, and about crafting stories in
general. If that’s all I did every day, I’d be happy.”
Since many publishing questions these days can be
answered with a quick online search, Bethany suggests
you ask questions that are specific to the faculty.
Courtney says, “I love talking to
writers and illustrators—being in a
creative environment, surrounded
by brilliant people, is really exciting
for me! I hope people will feel free to
come up and introduce themselves,
as I’m really not an intimidating
person.”
Courtney adds, “Make the most of your conference
time, whether it’s your first conference or your fiftieth.
Attend a workshop you know nothing about, and ask
good questions of the presenter. Sign
up for pitches and critiques, if you
can manage it. Introduce yourself
to your fellow attendees. Ask them
what they work on, and tell them
about your work. Conferences are
a great opportunity to make new
writer/illustrator friends, or even
find new critique partners. The
connections you make will serve you
well.”
For anyone who might be shy
about saying hello, Ruta makes
it simple. “Like every conference
attendee, I am a human being,” she
says. “Just say hi. Ask me a normal
human being question. I’ll probably
babble about my cats.”
“Know that if
you’re writing
books with diverse
characters or points
of view, there are
editors and agents
who welcome
them!”
And for after the conference, Ruta
offers this helpful advice: “Write.
Read. Write. Read. Read books
that aren’t for children. Write. Get
to know the business. Understand
how a book is actually physically
made. Learn the process of contract
to finished book. Advocate for yourself. Write. Practice
patience. Read. Meet other creative people. Write. Learn
about the sales process and distribution of books. Write.
Read.”
In addition to talking about books
(and cats), you might ask about
any of the interesting things going on in the publishing
industry today. Bethany mentions the wonderful support
for diverse books. “Know that if you’re writing books
with diverse characters or points of view, there are
editors and agents who welcome them!” Or you could
ask about industry trends. For example, Ruta is happy to
see a resurgence of contemporary YA.
As you can see, wik14 will be a fun and informative
time for everyone. Please join us in Birmingham the
weekend of October 10-11, 2014. We hope to see you
there! -
Courtney comments on another recent industry
move. “I’m reeling a bit from the news last week that
HarperCollins has bought Harlequin!” she says. “They’re
both huge and very well-established publishers, of
course, so it will be interesting to see how that merger
unfolds, and just how ‘merged’ the two different
companies become.”
Sheri Dillard writes picture books and lives in Atlanta with her husband and
three sons.
21
SCBWI Southern Breeze Newsletter | Summer 2014
Sketchbook
North Georgia
Sketchbook Event
Dori Kleber
H
aving completed a round of sketchbook
challenges at the North Georgia Zoo on
April 26, Breezers relax over lunch at Frogtown Cellars
winery in Cleveland, Georgia. After lunch, the group
found more sketch-worthy spots at the winery, then
headed to Paula Puckett’s farm for a lively visit with her
pack of freshly sheared alpacas. To find out when the
next Sketchbook Event will be, visit the Southern Breeze
Illustrators blog or join the Southern Breeze Illustrators
group on Facebook.
“Girly Goat at a Tea Party” by Naomi Kleber - age 8
Kitty Klein
Various subjects by Sara Cramb
22
SCBWI Southern Breeze Newsletter | Summer 2014
wik14 Preview
Introducing a Full-Day
Intensive for Illustrators
Stephanie Moody
S
outhern Breeze will celebrate the thirty-third
year of Writing and Illustrating for Kids at wik14,
Saturday, October 11, 2014 in Birmingham, Alabama.
As in the past, this year’s WIK will include a full-day
writer’s intensive on Friday, October 10, followed by a
variety of workshops on Saturday. But this year, we’re
also offering an intensive for illustrators.
Candice Ransom, author of more
than one hundred books for children
and young adults, will be our keynote
speaker and will lead Friday’s writers’
intensive, “From Peanut Butter to
Plot: Writing Chapter Books and
Candice Ransom
Middle-Grade Novels.” She has an
MFA in writing for children from
Vermont College and an MA in
children’s literature from Hollins
University, where she also teaches.
R. Gregory Christie will lead the
illustrators’ intensive, “Embracing
Your Inner Maverick,” a look at
R. Gregory Christie
how to market an “edgy” illustration style, along with
basic illustration fundamentals and how to build a
career. Gregory has more than fifty books to his credit,
and has been awarded the Boston Globe’s Horn Book
Award, the NAACP’s Image Award, and three Coretta
Scott King Honor Awards.
Other wik14 faculty include
Courtney Miller-Callihan, literary
agent with Greenburger and
Associates; Bethany Strout, assistant
editor with Little,
Brown Books for
Young Readers;
Courtney Miller-Callihan
and Ruta Rimas,
editor with Simon & Schuster.
Registration for the conference and
Bethany Strout
intensives will open in July. Watch the
Southern Breeze web site and listserv
for an announcement, as popular sessions will fill
quickly. You can make your reservations at the Hampton
Inn in Hoover starting now, with group rates available if
you book by September 25. -
2014/15 Southern Breeze Calendar
5/23-6/1
PAL Illustrators’ Gallery Show
6/1-30
SB Writing and Illustration Contests
10/10-11
Writing and Illustrating for Kids ‘14
Birmingham, AL
4/7
Writing Intensive on Characters with Agent Marietta Zacker
Atlanta, GA
8/1-4
43rd Annual SCBWI Summer Conference
Los Angeles, CA
1/30-2/1/2015
Decatur, AL
Annual SCBWI Winter Conference
23
New York
SCBWI Southern Breeze Newsletter | Summer 2014
Soaring Successes
Books/Poetry/ Magazines
Nellie Maulsby’s middle-grade science-fiction novel
KAT, WITH A K, was published online, April 2014, by
Thunderchild Publishing.
Elizabeth O. Dulemba’s debut historical fiction
middle-grade, A BIRD ON WATER STREET (Little
Pickle Press), is available in e-formats and in print.
Johnna Stein’s article about a brave and bold teenager,
“Go Bald or Go Home,” appeared in the April/May 2014
issue of KIKI magazine.
Sara Lynn Cramb’s illustrations will appear in
SMITHSONIAN YOUNG EXPLORERS FACT BOOK
AND FLOOR PUZZLE: 50 STATES, published by Silver
Dolphin Books, in June 2014.
Jo S. Kittinger and Chuck Galey have just released
HELPING A HERO with the American Bar Association
and will soon be releasing THE BEAUTY OF DREAMS,
also with the ABA.
Debra Mayhew’s poem “Treetop Tag” is featured
on the back cover of the March/April 2014 issue of
HUMPTY DUMPTY magazine.
Patricia Cruzan’s middle-grade book, THE
WONDER IN THE WOODS, available through
Amazon, had a cover design by Kathleen Brewer. Toni Rhodes’s book, THEY WROTE IT ON THE
WALL: DISCOVERING ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL
GRAFFITI, will be published by Prufrock Press, spring
or fall 2015. (www.ToniBRhodes.com)
Robyn Hood Black has three poems in THE POETRY
FRIDAY ANTHOLOGY FOR SCIENCE, compiled by
Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong (Pomelo Books, March
2014).
Deanna Calvert has sold two ESL early readers,
FAMILY CAMP-OUT and SPRING SURPRISE, to
TunTun English Preschool, the leading educational
publisher in Korea.
Gail Langer Karwoski’s novel, WHEN HURRICANE
KATRINA HIT HOME, is a Sydney Taylor Notable Book
for Older Readers by the Association of Jewish Libraries.
Tanya Valentine has gained representation with Linda
Epstein at Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency for her
chapter book, “Creepy Casey and the School Play.”
Sandra Havriluk sold an historical fiction short story
to HIGHLIGHTS entitled “The Sign of the Cat.” It will
be published in the November 2014 issue.
Sarah Frances Hardy’s DRESS ME! was sold by Suzie
Townsend of New Leaf Literary to Julie Matysik at Sky
Pony Press, for publication in spring 2015.
Elizabeth O. Dulemba has released four picture
books, which she wrote and illustrated for Children’s
Healthcare of Atlanta: NANA’S GARDEN, THE
BIG BOX, BACKYARD PICNIC, and PLAYTIME
ANYTIME. Rob McClurkan is feeling squirrelly as his first picture
book AW, NUTS! (HarperCollins) is set to release in
August 2014.
Awards & Accolades
Mike Lowery’s cover for the January/February 2013
BULLETIN was featured in PRINT MAGAZINE’S
“Regional Design Annual,” an honor within the design
and communication arts industry.
Elizabeth O. Dulemba’s A BIRD ON WATER
STREET has won two awards: a Southern Independent
Booksellers Alliance (SIBA) Okra Pick and a GOLD
Mom’s Choice Award Winner.
Jo S. Kittinger’s THE HOUSE ON DIRTY-THIRD
STREET received the first ever Social Justice Literature
Award from the International Reading Association. -
Sarah Frances Hardy is celebrating the release of her
picture book PAINT ME! (Sky Pony Press) in May 2014.
24
SCBWI Southern Breeze Newsletter | Summer 2014
Local Events
Past Events
Future FREE Events
Birmingham, AL
Local Liaison: Irene Latham
Birmingham, AL
Local Liaison: Irene Latham
Birmingham has embarked on a monthly series
of Schmoozes going all spring long. The first, held
in March, was a “Tech Talk,” led by author Heather
Montgomery. The discussion included pros and cons
and basic how-tos about writing software like One Note
and Scrivener, social media, and writing apps. The April
Schmooze was a discussion about time management,
led by Javacia Bowser, founder of SeeJaneWrite.com.
Javacia’s advice was to think of writing like brushing
your teeth—not optional! She also showed attendees
how to use an old-fashioned daily planner, or go hightech with an app that supports the Pomodoro Technique,
a carefully plotted mix of work periods and breaks. May
12, Lori Nichols presented “Talking Pictures: AuthorIllustrator Exchange.”
The Birmingham monthly Schmooze series continues
June 9, with a “Book Talk” Schmooze. Attendees
are asked to bring a book published in 2012-14 that
accomplishes something they are striving for in their
own work. The meeting will be led by Mat Layne, YA
librarian at the Emmet O’Neal Library in Mountain
Brook, Alabama. Monthly Schmoozes are held at the
home of Joan Broerman. For more information, or
to suggest a Schmooze topic, contact Irene Latham at
[email protected].
North Fulton, GA
Local Liaison: Stephanie Moody
Jana Oliver, award winning YA author, delivered the
February Schmooze, “Keeping It Real: How to Write
a Young Adult Novel.” Her workshop shared details
about teen interests, and depicted teen readers as
“hormones with feet” who face the problem of how to
rebel and conform at the same time. Oliver said making
a character authentic is more important than the writer’s
voice. Because teens are focused on themselves, YA
writers must show the teen’s internal focus through
selfish and insecure actions.
In April, YA author Jackson Pearce spoke about
navigating the publishing world and avoiding wrong,
outdated, and confusing advice. From writing the
ill-thought-out query letter, to finding an agent, to
negotiating advances and royalties, she shared her own
publishing path to success, pitfalls and all, along with
advice about how to approach an editor or agent.
Jackson returned May 12 for a session called, “How to
Conceive, Outline, and Write a Young Adult Novel.”
Get more details on past and future Schmoozes at
www.moodyviews.com.
illustration by Beth Crews Rommel
25
SCBWI Southern Breeze Newsletter | Summer 2014
Local
Liaisons:
Alabama
Birmingham
Irene Latham
[email protected]
Gulf Shores
Chris Bailey
[email protected]
Mobile
Carrie Cox [email protected]
Montgomery
Doris Jean Peak
[email protected]
Tennessee Valley
Melanie Smith
[email protected]
Tuscaloosa
Monique Fields
[email protected]
Athens
Gail Karwoski
[email protected]
Warning
Augusta
Sherri Rivers
[email protected]
The SCBWI membership list is for
members only. Use of our roster to solicit
manuscript submissions is entirely unauthorized. Our region has been vulnerable
to such violations of members’ privacy.
To protect yourself, obtain as much
information about unfamiliar publishers or
agencies as you can. Ask publishers for
a catalog, who distributes their books,
and in what bookstores you can find
them. Ask agencies which authors and
illustrators they represent, what published
books they have placed, and with which
publishers. Legitimate businesses will
respond without hesitation. SCBWI
recommends that members be wary of
publishers who either ask for a fee or
who hold out the promise of publication
provided the writer works with a specified
literary agent or editor who requests a
fee.
Cobb
Sally Apokedak
[email protected]
Conyers/Decatur
John Witkowski
[email protected]
Gainesville
Paula Puckett*
[email protected]
Lawrenceville/Lilburn/Tucker
Cathy C. Hall
[email protected]
Debra Tiefel Mayhew
[email protected]
Macon
Melanie Jones
[email protected]
Newnan
Kimberly Campbell
[email protected]
North Fulton
Stephanie Moody
[email protected]
Ocilla/Tifton
Tracey Cox
[email protected]
Pine Mountain
Bobbie Canada
[email protected]
Savannah
Phyllis Tildes
[email protected]
Ann Morrow
[email protected]
A Click Away!
Ask about
Critique Groups
& Events
Georgia
Florida Panhandle
Tallahassee
* Denotes illustrators
illustration by Sara Cramb
26
SCBWI Southern Breeze Newsletter | Summer 2014
Explore the
Possibilities
Southern Breeze Is Growing!
New Members
ALABAMA
Bessemer
Birmingham
Decatur
Ellenwood
Fairhope
Florence
Fultondale
Hoover
Huntsville
Mobile
Montgomery
Odenville
Phenix City
Prattville
Somerville
Springville
Talladega
There are lots of
opportunities for members
to show off! In addition
to our regular articles,
columns, and soaring
successes, each issue will
highlight several members
with interviews. If you
are a writer, you have the
chance to interview a fellow
member and include your
byline, or be selected to be
interviewed! If you are an
illustrator, you may submit
work to be considered for
the cover or for the interior
of the newsletter.
For all submission
guidelines, see our website.
www.southern-breeze.
scbwi.org
James Callie
Christine G. Ray
Allison Duncan Stallcup
Nicole Conway
Gerry McRoberts Coffey
Andre Clemons
Eugenia Ann Westbrook*
Margie Johnson
Kirsten Marie Casella
Carol Kinnaird
Tony McGehee
Melissa Swann
Amanda Beshears Cook
Laurie Jean Weil
Chris Fason*
Kathy Louise Maggart
Earl Grasse Fisher
Catherine Emens Black
Melissa S. Shultz-Jones
Tana N. Thompson
FLORIDA
Welcome to all Panhandle members
(many of whom are long-standing
SCBWI members)!
GEORGIA
Alpharetta
Atlanta
Buford
Clayton
Covington
Cumming
Julie Lee
Alizah Anne Sekman
Cara Barineau
Nichelle Campbell
Ryan Lund*
Lyndsay Nicole Milliken*
Laura Beth Mullins
Jody Saka
Megan Jean Sovern
Sarah Stephens
Erin T. Gunti
Charles D. Gandy
Deirdre A. Diamond-Martin
Helen Louise Holloway
GEORGIA Continued...
Dacula
Dallas
Douglasville
Michael Gary Montgomery*
Shawn Leanne Kirby
Rita Graham
Ilka Murray
Duluth
Hope Steele*
Dunwoody
Mariela Gonzalez
Claudia Ovalle
Flowery Branch
Jay Spencer
Gainesville
Charlene Best DeWitt
Griffin
Anne Elizabeth Hendricks
Childress
Hoschton
Amber Spiler
Jefferson
C.J. Clarke IV
Johns Creek
Jaye K. Bright
Jonesboro
Shanna Nicole Miles
Kennesaw
Jennifer Jackson
Lawrenceville
Laura Mink*
Ilka Murray
Lookout Mountain Dave Michah Connis
Macon
Casie Michelle Pace
Marietta
Kelsey Elizabeth Beach
Peggy Brown
Misty Elaine Bateman Holm
Johnnie W. Lewis*
Norcross
Sarah Anna Brown
Thanhthao Tuyen Lam*
Jill Anna Swenson
Pine Mountain
Barbara Weldon Canada*
Sandy Springs
Blythe Loryn Russo*
Savannah
Katie Emily Kath*
Gabi Swiatkowska*
Anne Van Deuson
Smyrna
Vicki Strull
Snellville
Marguerite Vanessa Williams*
St. Simon’s
Gregory Stephen Moore
Statesboro
Lynn Deal Futch
Stockbridge
Taylor Mosbey
Stone Mountain Earl Aldreidge*
Suwanee
Sala Marie Shierling
Kamyra Metcalf
Winterville
Dodd Verrelle
Woodstock
Delilah S. Dawson
Young Harris
Anne Dudly Mather
* Denotes illustrators
27
SCBWI Southern Breeze Newsletter | Summer 2014
SBN Cover Gallery:
Hard Choices...
Prescott Hill | SBN Art Director
I
truly respect that it takes a certain amount of
courage to submit artwork in the hope to be chosen
as our cover illustrator. The cover submissions for this
issue were exceptional, making it particularly hard to
choose just one.
I want to thank those who stepped up and submitted
their beautiful work, by selecting the best of their
submissions to share with you all as SBN covers.
Although they were not ultimately chosen, their
work still deserves to be seen in context.
Southern Breeze News is your showcase,
so please continue to make our choices
very hard indeed.
Nice work, everyone. ramb
Sara Lynn C
Beth Crews
Rommel
28
Cassaundra
Dunbridge