Illustrators! Share your #LA16SCBWI Conference Journal Images...

It's an open call. Are you an illustrator attending #LA16SCBWI?

If you'd like to share a photo of your conference notes/sketches, you can leave a link here in comments, or tag your image on either twitter or instagram with #LA16SCBWI.

We can't wait to see - and share - what inspires you, and how you express it!

What are you doing here? The #LA16SCBWI Conference is Happening NOW

So visit the Official SCBWI Conference Blog to follow along!

And, on social media (like instagram and twitter) follow and use the hashtag #LA16SCBWI

"MARVELOUS CORNELIUS: HURRICANE KATRINA AND THE SPIRIT OF NEW ORLEANS" Golden Kite Illustration Award-Winner Giveaway and Conference Countdown

#LA16SCBWI starts tomorrow!

To celebrate, we'll be giving away a copy of the Golden Kite Award-Winning book for picture book illustration, Marvelous Cornelius by John Parra, written by Phil Bildner (Chronicle Books)

In this inspiring book about a real garbage man, John Parra depicts the story of a humble man and the heroic difference he made in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

To enter, just leave your best question for John about the illustrations in this picture book in the comments below, and I'll choose one winning question to ask John at the conference. The author of that winning question will also win a copy of "Marvelous Cornelius: Hurricane Katrina and the Spirit of New Orleans."

Ready to play?

Okay, Go!

"TEDDY MARS: ALMOST A WORLD RECORD BREAKER" Sid Fleischman Humor Award-Winner Giveaway and Conference Countdown

Only two more days until #LA16SCBWI!

To celebrate, we'll be giving away a copy of Teddy Mars: Almost a World Record Breaker by Molly B. Burnham (HarperCollins)

Told in short sections for young readers, this hilarious new series is about a determined ten-year-old boy from a big family who dreams of making it into The Guinness Book of World Records.

To enter, just leave your best question for Molly about the book for young readers in comments below, and I'll choose one winning question to ask Molly at the conference. The author of that winning question will also win a copy of "Teddy Marx: Almost a World Record Breaker."

Ready to play?

Okay, Go!

"ENCHANTED AIR: TWO CULTURES, TWO WINGS" Golden Kite Award-Winner Giveaway and Conference Countdown

Only three more days until #LA16SCBWI!

To celebrate, we'll be giving away a copy of the Golden Kite Nonfiction winner, Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir by Margarita Engle (Atheneum)

In this poetic memoir, acclaimed author Margarita Engle tells the story of growing up as a Cuban-American child, balancing two different cultures during the Cold War.

To enter, just leave your best question for Margarita about the memoir in comments below, and I'll choose one winning question to ask Margarita at the conference. The author of that winning question will also win a copy of "Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings."

Ready to play?

Okay, Go!

"THE DETECTIVE'S ASSISTANT" Golden Kite Award-Winner Giveaway and Conference Countdown

Only four more days until #LA16SCBWI!

To celebrate, we'll be giving away a copy of The Detective's Assistant by Kate Hannigan (Little, Brown)

Based on the extraordinary true story of America's first-ever female detective, this fast-paced adventure recounts feats of daring and danger, including saving the life of Abraham Lincoln!  

To enter, just leave your best question for Kate about the novel in comments below, and I'll choose one winning question to ask Kate at the conference. The author of that winning question will also win a copy of "The Detective's Assistant."

Ready to play?

Okay, Go!

"FOREST HAS A SONG" Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award-Winner Giveaway and Conference Countdown

Only six more days until #LA16SCBWI!

To celebrate, we'll be giving away a copy of Forest Has a Song by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater, illustrated by Robbin Gourley (Clarion)

VanDerwater makes a stunning debut with twenty-six inviting poems leading readers through a vibrant tour of forest-wonders---ferny frondy fiddleheads, a grandfather fossil, a fawn, an owl's first flight. Poetry filled with metaphors, imagery, alliteration and personification show what poetry for children of all ages is about.

To enter, just leave your best question for Amy about the poetry collection in comments below, and I'll choose one winning question to ask Amy at the conference. The author of that winning question will also win a copy of "Forest Has A Song."

Ready to play?

Okay, Go!

"CHALLENGER DEEP" Golden Kite-Winning Book Giveaway & Conference Countdown

Only 8 more days until #LA16SCBWI!

To celebrate, we'll be giving away a copy of Neal Shusterman's "Challenger Deep," which won the 2016 Golden Kite Award for Fiction.

Caden Bosch is on a ship that's headed for the deepest point on Earth: Challenger Deep, the southern part of the Marianas Trench.Caden Bosch is a brilliant high school student whose friends are starting to notice his odd behavior.Caden Bosch is designated the ship's artist in residence to document the journey with images.Caden Bosch pretends to join the school track team but spends his days walking for miles, absorbed by the thoughts in his head.Caden Bosch is split between his allegiance to the captain and the allure of mutiny.Caden Bosch is torn.

To enter, just leave your best question for Neal about the novel in comments below, and I'll choose one winning question to ask Neal at the conference. The author of that winning question will also win a copy of "Challenger Deep."

Ready to play?

Okay, Go!

"BOATS FOR PAPA" Golden Kite-Winning Book Giveaway & Conference Countdown

Only 10 more days until #LA16SCBWI! (Which is sold out!)

To celebrate, we'll be giving away a copy of Jessixa Bagley's "Boats For Papa," which won the 2016 Golden Kite Award for Picture Book Text.

"Buckley and his mama live in a cozy cabin by the sea. He loves to carve boats out of the driftwood he finds on the beach nearby. He makes big boats, long boats, short boats, and tall boats, each one more beautiful than the last, and sends them out to sea. If they don't come back, he knows they've found their way to his papa, whom he misses very much."

To enter, just leave your best question for Jessixa about the picture book she wrote and illustrated in comments below, and I'll choose one winning question to ask Jessixa at the conference. The author of that winning question will also win a copy of "Boats For Papa."

Ready to play?

Okay, Go!

The ALA Awards Speech You Need To Read: David Levithan Accepts The 2016 Margaret A. Edwards Award

"We are collectively an army of empathy."
-David Levithan

David Levithan (tallest person in the center) with the Edwards Committee, just before receiving the award and giving his speech. Photo from School Library Journal here.

David's acceptance speech as shared on his website is amazing, important, deeply felt, and very brave.

Let's all Illustrate and Write On, and be Brave, too.
Lee

Ways to use the color wheel

I've seen color wheels, and knew about the opposites, but triangles and square calculators for color values that would 'work together' was new to me.

"Sessions - Color Theory: Color Wheel" is probably basic art school stuff, but since I didn't go to art school, I found it interesting (even though the video isn't dramatic entertainment...)




What is fascinating is to look at some picture books (and covers of Middle Grade and YA novels) and see how the color theory and combinations talked about in the video underpins a lot of the amazing illustrations we look at every day!

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

25 Things You Need To Know About Writing Mysteries - A Thought-Provoking (And Imaginary Friend-Killing) Post by Susan Spann

From there being three kinds of clues to how we writers have a time machine, and can go back and drop the keys where we need them, there's lots to learn (and consider) in this Susan Spann article over at Terrible Minds.

A few highlights:

"Readers don’t turn the pages because they care about fictitious corpses. Readers want to help the cool kids solve a crime." 

 "THE FIRST RULE OF THE BACKSTORY IS DO NOT WRITE BACKSTORY
 No, seriously. Don’t. Not directly, anyway. Backstory is the cayenne pepper of the writer’s literary spice drawer. A little, added at the proper time, enhances the novel and gives it zing. Use too much and readers dump the entire thing in the garbage bin." 

and

"Every one of your suspects is a liar. The issue is that only one is lying about this murder. The rest don’t want the sleuth finding out they were dressing in drag, having sex with a prostitute dressed as a purple dinosaur, or fertilizing the marijuana grove at the time of the killing. Figuring out what your suspects are hiding is just as important as figuring out “who-done-it” … and sometimes, a lot more fun."

Enjoy, and

Illustrate and Write On!
Lee

Natalie Goldberg: Wisdom As "Writing Down The Bones" Turns 30

Natalie Goldberg (right), in conversation with the poet Steven Reigns

I was so fortunate to hear Natalie Goldberg present and then speak with Steven Reigns in West Hollywood, California last week. It was a brilliant evening, and here are a few highlights of what Natalie shared:

Great writers pass on "their breath at moments of inspiration."

on writing:

"No good or bad. It's a practice. Like tennis. Like anything."

On coming out as a woman who wanted to be with other women:

"Writing broke open my mind."

On writers confusing success and love:

"Don't write to get love, but you can feel love as your write."

On writing practice:

"Get your pen and keep your hand going."

On her success at age 38, and continuing to write and publish,

"I'm always competing with her."

And (maybe my favorite)

"The writer in me is kick-ass."

Natalie's breakthrough book on craft remains "Writing Down The Bones" (now out in its 30th anniversary edition) and her newest book is "The Great Spring: Writing, Zen, and This Zigzag Life."

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee