A note from Liz Mertz, Brazos Valley RA:

Registration is now open for the Writing Intensive with Jill Santopolo on Nov. 3, 2012.  We will meet from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Glory Inn (Still Creek Ranch) in Bryan. 

Writers for all age levels will benefit from workshops on Story Analysis, Character, Voice, and First Pages. Enrollment is limited to 30. Attendees may submit one first page of a manuscript for review.

Registration fee: $150 for SCBWI members; $175 for non-members 

I have attached the flyer with the registration form. It is also available online. 

Feel free to contact me at lizBmertz@gmail.com if you have questions or cannot download the flyer.

Greg Leitich Smith is the award-winning author of the middle-grade novels Ninjas, Piranhas, and Galileo and Tofu and T. Rex, and co-author of the picture book Santa Knows and the YA short story, “The Wrath of Dawn.”  His next middle-grade novel, The Chronal Engine, is a mystery-adventure about three teens from present-day Austin who use their reclusive grandfather’s time machine to travel back to the Age of Dinosaurs to rescue their sister and solve a family mystery.  It is scheduled for publication in March 2012 from Clarion/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.  He will be speaking on world-building in speculative fiction and the intersection of science fiction and fantasy.

Woo hoo, PJ! We’re so happy for you!!!!

DATES (Two different sessions):

• Friday, Oct. 12 to Monday, Oct. 15
• Friday, Oct. 26 to Monday, Oct. 29

DESCRIPTION:

This is an intimate, intensive, three-day writers workshop for aspiring writers of picture books – limited to four students per session – who want to develop a picture book concept, hone their manuscripts, and learn about the publication process. If you’ve been struggling to produce a picture book manuscript, been discouraged by the tight publishing market – and, most of all, want to improve your writing – this workshop is for you. The goal is to inspire you to find both your voice and success in the children’s writers market.  The seminar will be held in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

For more information about this amazing workshop with Dianna Hutts Aston click HERE.

The public is welcome to suggest titles for consideration. To be considered for nomination to the 2013 list, a book must have been published in 2011 or 2012. The nomination period ends October 1, 2012.  To suggest a title, please complete the form at this link: http://tinyurl.com/79zvetq

The Crystal Kite Award is given by the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators each year to recognize great books from 15 regional SCBWI divisions around the world.  Along with the SCBWI Golden Kite Awards, the Crystal Kite Awards are chosen by other children’s book writers and illustrators, making them the only peer-given awards in publishing for young readers. Each member of SCBWI is allowed to vote for their favorite book from a nominated author in their region that was published in the previous calendar year.

Click here to review the list of worldwide winners. While we in Austin wish congratulate all authors and illustrators featured on this illustrious list, we’re sending out a rowdy YEE HAW for Patrice!!!!!

Way to go, Patty. Know your SCBWI family is crazy proud of you!

Introducing the Spirit of Texas Reading Program and Author/Illustrator Directory!

The original idea for the Spirit of Texas Reading Program came from Texas author, Andrea White. Mrs. White envisioned a more robust, dynamic relationship between Texas libraries and Texas authors/ illustrators where authors and illustrators constantly came into Texas libraries either in person or via the internet to talk to students about their books and the writing process.  Mrs. White’s original idea was further developed to include an interactive website, original programming by Texas librarians, and annual awards for Texas authors/illustrators.

Author/Illustrator Directory:  Imagine amazon.com for Texas authors and you have the idea of YART’s Author/Illustrator Directory.  Authors and illustrators enter their name, location, speaking fees and other information into the directory, and librarians around the state “shop” the directory to find local authors to visit their libraries and authors outside their area to do virtual visits.  All Texas authors and illustrators are encouraged to register, not just author’s focused on young adults.  Librarians, authors and illustrators also have the ability to rate the visit & the location within the directory.  Go to www.yartspot.com to register.

Spirit of Texas Reading Program; There are actually 2 lists/programs, one for middle school and one for high school.  Each list will highlight 6 Texas authors/illustrators throughout each year and here is the fabulous part, we will create downloadable, grab-and-go, programming for featured authors and books.  Another great aspect of this program is that YART will post all programs on the TLA websites so that librarians (or anyone with internet access) can download these valuable resources whenever they need them.  Authors/illustrators will also be asked to commit to some library visits throughout the year.  Publishers, authors and community members are welcome to submit suggestions.  Suggestions can feature a single work or a body of work by a Texas author/illustrator.  To make a suggestion, go to https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_US&pli=1&formkey=dHZFOU5XT3RRZVdxdlJjMVNjTS1TQXc6MA#gid=0 to suggest a middle school appropriate title or author, and https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHBCSUN2RjlYNUNvSEFlY3JQWDVoNXc6MQ to suggest a high school appropriate title or author. What does YART mean by Texas author?  By Texas authors, we mean authors who currently live in Texas, who have lived in Texas or who write about Texas.  

TLA Conference Opportunity: Highlighted authors/illustrators will be invited to TLA Annual Conference to participate in either the Spirit of Texas Reading Program- Middle School Conference Session or in the Spirit of Texas Reading Program- High School Conference Session.  At the conference sessions each author/ illustrator featured in the year will be given a recognition plaque and will be asked to talk about their work.

The timeline for each year will be:

• Nominations accepted: August – May
• Featured authors chosen: July
• List published: August – September with the first two authors being featured on the website in September.

For more information, you can visit the YART website at http://www.txla.org/groups/SpiritofTXHighSchool or http://www.txla.org/groups/SpiritofTXMiddleSchool

During TLA last week, our very own Cynthia Leitich Smith was granted the first ever SPOT (The Spirit of Texas Award) for her amazing Tantalize series.

The Spirit of Texas Reading Program-High School is a recommended reading list developed by public and school librarians from the Young Adult Round Table (YART). The purpose of the list is to encourage youths in grades 9-12 to explore a variety of current, quality books from Texas authors and illustrators, develop critical reading skills, and to encourage greater interaction between Texas authors and illustrators, Texas librarians, and Texas youth.

Hip, hip, hooray!!!!! Cyn, you always do us proud!

• Try the 13 Annual Conference of Writing & Illustrating for Young Readers from June 18 to June 22 in Sandy, Utah (apply for the WIFYR Writing Competition & Fellowship Award); 
•  the Southampton Children’s Literature Conference from July 11 to July 15 in Southampton, New York; 
•  or the 17th Annual Postgraduate Writing Conference from Aug. 13 to Aug. 19 at Vermont College of Fine Arts in Montpelier (Cynthia only–one spot left!).