Dan Santat Interviewed by Don Tate: The #LA15SCBWI Pre-Conference Interview

Check out this great interview between SCBWI Team Blog's Don Tate and Caldecott-Winning Author/Illustrator Dan Santat!

They discuss work habits and tools, diversity, and what getting that Caldecott really means to Dan.

We also find out more about Dan's role in the Illustrator's intensive and how he'll be offering two breakout workshops and giving a keynote!

We hope you can join us for #LA15SCBWI! Detailed conference information and registration here.

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

Mike Curato Interviewed by Martha Brockenbrough: The #LA15SCBWI Pre-Conference Interview

Click on over to read this chat between SCBWI Team Blog's Martha Brockenbrough and debut author/illustrator Mike Curato.

They talk day jobs and publishing dreams, polka dot elephants and shows at cupcake stores. Martha even gets Mike's time-traveling advice to himself years ago, which includes this gem:

"Make things that make you smile inside."

Mike's publishing journey is one of our "SCBWI Success Stories" featured at the upcoming 2015 SCBWI Summer Conference on a Friday afternoon panel (that I'll be moderating, and that will also feature Martha herself!)

Mike will also be co-leading a Saturday Breakout session with agent Brenda Bowen on "The Artist Agent Relationship!"

We hope you can join us for #LA15SCBWI – and perhaps it will be the path to your own SCBWI Success Story! Detailed conference information and registration here.

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

Last Call For Manuscript (and Portfolio) Consultations at the 2015 SCBWI Summer Conference!

The Conference consultations are an amazing opportunity.

Rather than the typical wait of months (or even longer!) and then not always even hearing what the editor or art director or agent thought (if it's a pass), this is a chance to get an industry professional (agent, editor, art director or published author or illustrator) to sit down with you for twenty minutes to give you an honest, professional appraisal of your work and discuss the first ten pages of your manuscript!

Note: The deadline for manuscripts is that they must ARRIVE in SCBWI's Los Angeles office ON or BEFORE Tuesday, MAY 26. Manuscripts received after THAT DAY cannot be accepted.

For illustrators, you can get a portfolio consultation (you just have to register and sign up for it by May 26, then you bring your portfolio with you to the conference.)

Are there success stories from the consultations, of agents and editors who've ended up signing projects from what they saw at the consultation? Yes. But even more than that, each consultation is a chance to get that honest feedback, and to grow as an author and/or illustrator. And we all need to keep growing as artists, no matter where we are in our careers.

And for everyone attending, you can sign up for a Social Media consultation with social media guru Greg Pincus.

You can read all about the consultations and their guidelines here.

Here's to the conference (and maybe a consultation, too) being a great experience to move your craft – and career – forward!

You'll find all the conference details and registration information here.

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

Adam Rex Interviewed by Lee Wind: The Pre-#LA15SCBWI Conference Interview

Click over and read this super-cool interview I did with author/illustrator Adam Rex.

Adam and I talk about the movie version of his middle grade book, "The True Meaning Of Smekday," (a little art-house flick called HOME that's grossed world-wide, to date, more than $343,000,000.00)

We delve into how he both illustrates and writes (and find out how he knows which tool to use when.) Adam also gives us some insights into his sessions and keynotes at the upcoming SCBWI Summer Conference in Los Angeles, July 31-Aug 3, 2015.

Not convinced you want to read it yet?

Well, in the course of the interview, I evidently turn into a bird. And Adam wears eggplant.

Check it out.

And if you can, join us for #LA15SCBWI. Detailed information and registration here.

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

Shannon Hale interviewed by Martha Brockenbrough: The #LA15SCBWI Pre-Conference Interview

Check out this great discussion between SCBWI Team Blog's Martha Brockenbrough and best-selling and award-winning author Shannon Hale.

Shannon shares from the heart why she's taken a stand against gender bias in our culture and especially our books. Here's just a taste:

"If I make one change in the world, I hope it's getting more people to question why boys are shamed for/kept away from reading books about girls. The more we question the idea that it's normal and natural and fine, the more we'll realize it's not and things will slowly start to change."
–Shannon Hale

Shannon will be giving a Sunday keynote address "Opening Up The Clubhouse: Boys, Girls, and Genderless Books." She will also be leading a Sunday afternoon workshop, "Writing With Kids: The Marvelous High Wire Act of Writer Parents" and a half-day intensive workshop on Monday, "Building Worlds From The Dust."

Here's the description of that intensive:

E. Shannon Hale – Building Worlds from the Dust

There's nothing like creating a whole new world inside your fantasy or science fiction novel. We'll examine other fictional worlds and discuss tricks and tips to building your own. Assignment: Come with a page or two describing the fictional world of your work-in-progress and be prepared to discuss some of your favorite world-built novels.

Many of the intensives have already sold out, but there's still space as of this writing in others, including Shannon's.

You can find out all the conference details and register here.