Sara Sargent: The Pre-#LA14SCBWI Interview by Lee Wind

"I like to tell authors that even if they’re not writing mysteries, they are writing mysteries. No matter what the genre, every book should have a component of mystery and suspense that makes readers want to keep going."
-Sara Sargent

Simon Pulse Editor Sara Sargent and I spoke about the value of attending the SCBWI Summer Conference, the importance of tension, her breakout workshops and Monday conference intensive and much more.

It was a great discussion, and if you'd like to meet and learn from Sara in person, join us at the SCBWI Summer Conference, August 1-4, 2014. Registration and information here.

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

Bonnie Bader: The Pre-#LA14SCBWI Interview by Lee Wind

Associate Publisher and Editor Bonnie Bader and I had a great discussion about the value to writers and illustrators of attending the upcoming SCBWI Summer conference, in Los Angeles August 1-4, 2014.

We also spoke about how she approaches acquisitions, her planned conference workshops on both narrative nonfiction and levelled readers & transitional chapter books, and her all-day intensive on Monday Aug. 4, "START: How to hook readers from the beginning of your book so they'll never let go."

Bonnie's offering some incredible opportunities to learn and break-through in your writing career -- and you'll have to attend the conference to experience it!

We hope you'll join us. Information and registration are here.

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

Cynthia Kadohata: The Pre-#LA14SCBWI Interview by Martha Brockenbrough

Check out this great discussion between Team Blog's Martha Brockenbrough and National Book Award winner and Newbery Medalist Cynthia Kadohata, where they talk diversity in Children's literature, capturing emotion, great writing advice, and… tacos.

Thanks Cynthia and Martha!

If you'd like to hear and learn from -- and be inspired by -- Cynthia in person, join us at the 2014 SCBWI Summer Conference in Los Angeles, August 1-4. Click here for more information and to register.

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

Team Blog's Suzanne Young Hits The New York Times Best-Seller List!

Suzanne's YA novel The Treatment is #10 on the New York Times Young Adult Bestseller List for May 18, 2014!

Congratulations, Suzanne!

We're cheering you on.

Deborah Halverson: The Pre-#LA14SCBWI Interview by Lee Wind

The first SCBWI Team Blog pre-conference interview is in!

Editor, Author of picture books, novels and the craft books "Writing Young Adult Fiction For Dummies" and the July 2014 release "Writing New Adult Fiction," Deborah will be on faculty doing quite a bit of cool stuff at the upcoming 2014 SCBWI Summer Conference, including a keynote, breakout session and Monday intensive!

Deborah and I spoke about whether "New Adult" is really just YA with more sex, how to craft a youthful narrative voice, what's behind the "Market Report" that Deborah puts together for conference attendees, and the often untapped power of setting.

Click here to read the post - it was a great discussion!


If you want to see Deborah and learn from her in person, you'll have to join us at the 2014 SCBWI Summer Conference in Los Angeles, August 1-4. Click here for more information and to register.

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee