Picture Book Panel: Eugene Yelchin

Eugene Yelchin (right) on the big screen (that's Dan Yaccarino on the left)

Eugene Yelchin is a Russian-born author and illustrator of children’s books. In 2012, Breaking Stalin’s Nose, his first illustrated novel, received a Newbery Honor award. That same year, Won Ton, A Cat Tale Told In Haiku, which Yelchin illustrated, became an American Library Association Notable Book, among numerous other awards. In 2010, his illustrated picture book Rooster Prince of Breslov received the National Jewish Book Award. Yelchin received a Tomie de Paola award in 2006 at the SCBWI winter conference. Since then his books received starred reviews and were included in the Best Books of the Year lists.

Some great quotes from Eugene:

Eugene spoke about how doing both text and images for his middle grade novel, he knew that his art would come and take the place of mood and setting and description, and

"all I need from text was action and emotion."

He's talking about his friend David Shannon who is able to connect from where he is now to where he was at five, and that connection is alive.  David can go into a trance-like state where he is five years old.

"No, David! was written when he was five and just illustrated when he was forty."

And for kids,

"Lets give them something to read that will speak to them."

The panel covers trends (and should picture book writers and illustrators care about them), the connection between author and illustrator, emotional connection to the text, looking for those moments that will surprise and meet expectations, what makes a classic picture book, if e-books and apps will change how we tell stories, and so much more!

SCBWI Success Stories: How I Did It

MATTHEW KIRBY

After seven years of continuous rejection in the adult writing world, Matthew thought about how many of his joys involved children. That's when it seemed clear that he should be writing for kids. He began to google and look for an organization that could help him do just that, which is how he discovered SCBWI. His publishing connections started with his regional chapter in Utah, where he connected with his agent.

One of Matthew's biggest mistakes is that he almost gave up when he met his agent. Meeting him gave Matthew the burst he needed to keep going.

A great piece of advice Matthew received was to give himself permission to treat writing like a career.

JENNIFER BOSWORTH

Jennifer says the theme of her journey has been, "Fake it 'til you make it." Jennifer took what she learned from writing screenplays, and the idea of high concept, and used it as she wrote her debut novel, STRUCK. 

Jennifer had an interesting strategy to her pitch: she listened to a song to get her psyched beforehand. She had ten minutes to pitch.  She only took about one minute to talk about the book and she used the rest of the time to have a conversation, and ask questions.

Since, her involvement with SCBWI has started. "This organization is so great because it gives you a community of people who understand."

PAMELA WELLS

Pamela's story starts in college with a guy. A guy who broke up with her. She wanted to tell her story. So she began to write it, pouring the story out on the page. In writing her story, Pamela didn't realize many of the rules, but she met with an editor at an SCBWI conference who was interested, and it snowballed from there.

Pamela is the bestselling author of the HEARTBREAKERS and CRUSHES. The movie adaptation of Heartbreakers is scheduled for release in 2013, starring Selena Gomez.

Pamela suggests writing the book you would write for free and you can't lose.

EUGENE YELCHIN

In 2006, Eugene received a Tomie de Paola award at the SCBWI winter conference. Since he's had great success include receiving a 2012 Newbery Honor for BREAKING STALIN'S NOSE.

Eugene says he started with beginners luck. "If you write to please other people you won't get published." Eugene believes publication can't be the goal. You need to write for yourself. You will get an agent, you will get an editor if you write something that will resonate with readers.

"Don't stand in the way of your intuition."