Wednesday Tweet Round-Up: 40th Annual Summer Conference Edition #LA11SCBWI

My tweet roundup temporarily comes out of retirement today to bring you some great tweets from the recent--and fabulous--SCBWI Annual Summer Conference.

I've included links to a number of conference-goers post-event posts so you can see some varying perspectives. (Everyone's experience is different, after all.) You'll find plenty of photos, highlights and inspiration.

Click on the Twitter handles (@name) to find each tweeter's page should you wish to follow them or read more of what they're saying. Follow the included links to read the blog posts or view the photos offered in these tweets. To peruse the conference conversation on Twitter, search #LA11SCBWI. And be sure to check out SCBWI TEAM BLOG's in-depth coverage on the Official SCBWI Conference Blog. (Lots of great info here--don't miss it.)


WRAP-UPS & RECAPS

@HUnderdown Good, long article from @PWKidsBookshelf summarizing the #LA11SCBWI conference: http://ow.ly/61iBJ

@angelamatteson My brief conference wrap-up post: bit.ly/roA7Rb 

@kimmiepoppins bit.ly/pFiKra SCBWI LA 40th Anniversary Conference-Part 4 Libba followed by Laurie...priceless!

@DeeWhiteauthor Dee White My LA Adventure part one - inspiring Bruce Coville and more wp.me/ppiTq-NA 

@StephanieRuble My notes from the #LA11SCBWI conference - http://t.co/PaHLUiE

@Ani_Lou Notes from the awesome #LA11SCBWI conference - bit.ly/oE12L5

@karensandlerYA #LA11SCBWI - The Wisdom of Agents - Panel Discussion wp.me/p1bmGE-9V

@DiandraMae Finally posted about #LA11SCBWI diandramae.blogspot.com/2011/08/la11sc… There's probably nothing you haven't seen yet, but if you're interested... ;)

@LPP_Media For all of you who followed #LA11SCBWI, check out this fresh wrap of the event: bit.ly/qgu0cm And share your thoughts! 

HIGHLIGHTS & TAKE-AWAYS

@timmccanna Tim's Top 10 Takeaways from #LA11SCBWI timmccanna.com/2011/08/tims-t…

@leewind 5 highlights of my #LA11SCBWI experience - w/quotes & @judyblume ! bit.ly/qET7yu

@mravenbrown: Kill the Baby: A Recap of My Experience at #LA11SCBWI http://ow.ly/603pN with 13 bon mots from the conference.

@novaren In which I blog the Surreal Moments at the SCBWI LA Conference and Beyond. wp.me/pM1Z-1xK

@ingridsundberg: 14 Fun & Fabulous Take-Away's from 2011 SCBWI LA Conference: http://tinyurl.com/3dyhe8l 

PHOTOS

@LisaYee1 Look at all the big name authors at the SCBWI conference! (Some behaved better than others.) lisayee.livejournal.com/171721.html

@LisaYee1 More photos of super famous/super nice KitLit authors and illustrators conferencing & making mischief -- lisayee.livejournal.com/171951.html 

@jayasherguy: Pics from #LA11SCBWI, including me rockin' a pink bunny suit: bit.ly/q6V83r

@inkyelbows  Summary (w/ takeaways & photos) of the amazing Illustrators Intensive at #LA11SCBWI : bit.ly/nOvffl

@alansilberberg: Finally found the time to write about my weekend at #LA11SCBWI. The most amazing 4 days. Thank you all! bit.ly/nhsdtI

POST CON ADVICE

@gregpincus: Here are six social media steps to take after any conference or big event (like #la11scbwi): http://bit.ly/qyFvR5

FAVORITE QUOTES TWEETED BY ME

@alicepope: Norton Juster: For an encoure, I'm going to take out my own appendix while whistling an aria from La Bohème.

@alicepope: Gary Paulsen: When a story goes well the hair stands up on the back of my neck. It's like wolf blood.

@alicepope: David Small: Life is a shit storm. When it rains on you sometimes art is your only umbrella.

@alicepope: Bruce Coville: Writers can reach hundreds of thousands of children. Our work ripples. We have impact. 

@alicepope: I don't think about my legacy. I just want a little tombstone that says: Are you there, God? It's me, Judy.

SCBWI TEAM BLOG Pre-Conference Interview: Jamie Weiss Chilton

Wrapping up our terrific SCBWI TEAM BLOG conference faculty interviews is my chat with former SCBWI staffer turned agent, Jamie Weiss Chilton. Jamie represents children's books exclusively as part of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency team, specializing in teen novels and picture books. (See her bio on the agency website and her interview below for more info on what she's looking for.)

Before agenting and working at SCBWI, Jamie interned at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, and held editorial positions at both Bantam Delacorte Dell and Knopf & Crown Books for Young Readers. Here she talks about nonfiction, Lady Gaga, critiques and more.

All you conference-goers will see her in LA this weekend at the 40th Annual SCBWI Summer Conference! (Don't forget to visit the conference blog for the play-by-play.)


At the Annual Summer Conference you're offering a session called "The Current Marketplace for Nonfiction." Why did you choose this topic? What will conference-goers learn from this session?

Nonfiction is a wonderful genre, one that can have all the power of fiction with the added kick of "I can't believe that really happened!" It's inspiring, shocking, riveting, touching, and entertaining. I'm excited to be presenting a general survey of the nonfiction market, from picture books through YA.

Your bio on andreabrownlit.com says you're looking for "the Lady Gaga of YA fiction." I'm assuming that doesn't mean you'll be on the lookout for the most outrageous outfit at the poolside pajama party. Would you explain this for my readers?

I love the way Lady Gaga has captured the imaginations of and inspired a huge number of people of all ages. To me she exemplifies a new, unique voice taking artistic risks, who has attracted a broad and dedicated fan base. She has reinvented the pop star genre, and I'm looking for writers who do the same in their respective genres.

Are you open to taking on new clients? Is there any particular area you're most interested in currently?

Yes, I am looking to take on new clients, especially of the Lady Gaga sort. I'm open to all genres and am particularly looking for YA at the moment.

You're offering manuscript critiques at the conference. What's you advice on getting the most out of a critique meeting.

I love the way the critiques are run at this conference; I think the setup helps writers and illustrators get the most out of their one-on-one meetings. For those new to critique, I recommend Linda Sue Park's great article The Give and Take of Critique, which is available to members on the SCBWI website.

To get the most out of your summer conference critique, come prepared to listen to your critiquer's advice. That doesn't mean you have to agree with everything, or make all the suggested changes (or even any of them!) but you will get the most out of your session if you approach it with an open mind.

You're a former SCBWI staff member. What was it like attending the Summer Conference for the first time as an agent instead of the conference director?

It was a strange feeling! I had the overwhelming urge to help and had to keep reminding myself that wasn't my job anymore. It's such a pleasure to attend the conference as a faculty member. The SCBWI staffers, TEAM BLOG, all the RA's and the bookstore staffers do a ton of work behind the scenes to make sure the conference runs smoothly. For me, being at the conference from the other side of the desk is kind of like a vacation, albeit a working vacation. : )

Would you please offer some advice (or do's and don'ts) for writers and illustrators interacting with agents in a conference setting?

Do introduce yourself and tell the agent (or editor) about your manuscript. We're at the conference to meet you! Don't hand the agent or editor any materials. We have a lot to keep track of and pack, and most of us prefer electronic submissions (ABLA is an all-electronic agency, as far as submissions are concerned.) And remember that we have a lot of people to meet and talk with, so please be understanding when we need to move along and meet other people. For that reason, have your short, concise pitch at the ready (and it can be really, really simple, like "My YA is The Omen meets The Pink Panther." (I have no idea what kind of book this would be--a strange one--just throwing it out there as an example.)

The 40th Annual SCBWI Summer Conference ...There's an App for That!

Here's some exciting news for conference-goers--the Summer Conference has gone mobile!

Attendees can now download Guidebook for free. This app allows you to quickly and easily keep track of the conference schedule and create your own personal schedule plus it gives you quick access to conference tweets (#LA11SCBWI), maps and more!

The app is compatible with the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Android devices.


There are three ways get Guidebook:

• Download it from the Apple App Store or the Android Marketplace.
• Visit http://guidebookapp.com/getit from your phone's browser.
• Look for an email from SCBWI HQ with an image to scan with your mobile phone.

The SCBWI 40th Annual Summer Conference guide is listed under the "Download Guides" section of the app. I've already been playing around with it on my iPhone, and it's cool and easy to use. If you're attending the event--get the app! It's sure to enhance your experience.

SCBWI TEAM BLOG Pre-Conference Interview: Brenda Bowen

Brenda Bowen

With 25-plus years in children’s publishing--as editorial director of Henry Holt & Books for Young Readers, Scholastic Press, Disney/Hyperion, and Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing--Brenda Bowen began agenting at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates in 2009.

She reps a slew of talented writers and illustrators of picture books, graphic novels, and middle-grade and teen fiction (as well as a few authors who write books for grown-ups). Plus she's written a number of award-winning picture books under the name Margaret McNamara (and is herself repped by Greenburger).

With her wealth of experience and perspectives, who better to serve as faculty at the 40th Annual SCBWI Summer Conference? Here Brenda clues us in on a session she's presenting, offers advice on critique meetings, and gives some helpful Dos and Don'ts.

To learn more about Brenda Bowen, visit her website.


At the SCBWI Summer Conference you're doing a session called "The Art of the Deal: A Publisher and An Agent Take It to the Mattress." Sounds exciting! Please explain what we're in for. (I'm assuming it's in no way a tie-in to the poolside pajama party.)

Alessandra Balzer and I are taking it the mattresses in the metaphorical, or Godfatherly, sense. We're going to duke it out over an acquisition: she'll be the gracious-yet-determined acquiring editor, and I'll be the rapacious-yet-equitable agent. We've come up with one fabricated acquisition and we'll take our audience through the process from submission letter to winning bid. Along the way there'll be a few hiccups, just to keep it interesting and informative. This is a session for people who want to know exactly what it takes to sell and buy a book.

You have decades of editorial experience and are a writer yourself. How does your background effect your agenting style?

Decades! Yes, I suppose it's true. The editorial experience allows me help the author to get her book into shape to show a publisher. I like to make the book as strong as possible without wringing every drop of creativity from the author so that there's something left to give when the editor asks for more changes. Having been an editor for so long also enables me to interpret what publishers are saying (e.g., "Fish on the table!"). Being a writer myself allows me to see things solely from the author's point of view. I can sympathize with their emotions--from torrents of unchecked rage (as a result of, say, a bad review), to childish elation--"They like me! They really like me!" (as a result of a good one).

Are you open to taking on new clients? If so, what areas interest you most? (I read conference notes on someone's blog that said you're not big into YA--true?)

Yes, I am open to new clients, especially in middle-grade and YA. I am big into YA and always have been, what I'm not so into is YA paranormal.

You're doing manuscript critiques during the conference. Can you offer some advice to writers on getting the most from a critique meeting?

Honestly, I think writers should use the time to get whatever they want out of the critique. If you, dear Writers, only want to hear about the good things in your manuscript--say so. If you want brutal honesty, gird your loins. If you want to hear about the market, go ahead and ask. If you want to know what the editor is looking for, lead with that question.

Finally, please offer some Dos and Don'ts for interacting with agents in a conference environment.

• DO remember that agents can't read manuscripts on the spot.
• DO listen: If an agent says, I am just too worn out to hear your pitch right now, don't pitch right now.
• DO bear in mind that agents are as open as possible at Conference, but may be less accessible when they're back at their desks, so if an agent says, Go ahead, talk to me, then...
• DO take advantage of the fact that at SCBWI you can have a real conversation, in person.

• DON'T think that one agent's opinion is every agent's opinion. Publishing is extremely subjective.
• DON'T only ask about ebook royalties.
• DON'T post photos of agents dancing in their pajamas. Please.
• DON'T forget that we need you as much as you need us.

SCBWI TEAM BLOG Pre-Conference Interview: Barry Goldblatt

Barry Goldblatt

A chat with agent Barry Goldbaltt kicks off my SCBWI TEAM BLOG interviews with 40th Annual Summer Conference faculty!

After years working in the rights and contracts departments at Penguin, Putnam, and Orchard, Barry opened Barry Goldblatt Literary in 2000, and set out to find writers whose work made him laugh, cry, scream and jump up and down. He's has been gleefully signing authors ever since--among them award-winners and bestsellers.

To learn more about him, visit his website or follow him on Twitter. Oh--and you can also come hear him speak at the SCBWI Annual Summer Conference! Click here to register.

You've been agenting for more than a decade now. How have the changes in the publishing industry effected your day-to-day work life?
 

I don't know that changes in the industry have had an impact on my daily routine, but the growth of the agency itself certainly has! Back when I first started, with just a handful of clients, I spent the majority of my time every day just reading--client manuscripts, sure, but also submissions and lots and lots of actual published books, usually as galleys. I needed that to get my feet solidly on the ground, to really know what was out there, what was selling (and to whom) in order to become a good, knowledgeable agent who could actually offer something to writers.

Now of course I spend a lot more time dealing with contract negotiations, royalty statements, and lots of other paperwork, and the reading time is a lot more difficult to come by. I also now have another agent working with me, and a full time assistant as well, so there's a lot more interaction with others on a daily basis as well.

Probably the one significant impact of industry changes on my daily work is the amount of it. The fact is, children's publishing over the last ten years has gotten bigger and for the most part better, and it's meant there are more terrific writers to discover, and more great books to sell and champion!

You're active on Twitter. How does participating in that community benefit you as an agent? Do you think it's a worthwhile for writers to tweet?

I find Twitter oddly entertaining. I tried the whole blogging thing as an agent, and it just wasn't for me. I angsted all the time over what to post, how often to post, was what I was saying of any relevance. But 140 characters? I can manage that, and if no one cares about a particular tweet, they'll just ignore it. But the Twitter community overall, especially as it relates to writing/agenting/publishing is both informative and useful, at least for me.

Is it useful for writers? It is, if you like doing it. I see some writers who are clearly uncomfortable with Twitter (or blogging or Facebook), but feel somehow obligated to do it. It's a tool, just like any other, and if it suits your personality, it's a helpful one. But it is by no means an absolute must. Many of my clients use it, to varying degrees: Cassandra Clare (@cassieclare) practically lives there, Jo Knowles (@joknowles) uses it to complement her blogging quite well, and Robin Wasserman (@robinwasserman) gets to satisfy a lot of her cultural interests and share her idiosyncrasies too (plus it led to her meeting Judy Blume!).

You've got an impressive list of clients (including Libba Bray, Holly Black, Angela Johnson and Lauren Myracle to name a few). Are you open to new clients? If so, what's the best way to approach you?

I am always open to new clients. I don't want to rest on my laurels, nor do I want to feel stagnant, and the best way to deal with that is to keep finding new writers to champion. My website clearly lists my guidelines, which are an emailed query with first five pages included in the body of the email.

You're doing manuscript critiques at the Summer Conference. Could you offer some advice to writers on getting the most out of a critique meeting?

 

I think the best advice I have for a writer in those meetings is to go in with an open mind and willing to listen. Do NOT go in expecting to hear "I totally want to represent you" as that's extremely unlikely, and will negate any useful information the agent/editor/writer you're meeting with might have to share. Also, remember as always, it's one person's opinion, and is not the be all, end all of the universe.

You're participating in a panel called "Four Agents View the Current State of Children's Books," as well as a breakout session called "What My Agency Does and How We Do It." Can you give us a taste of what you'll cover?

I imagine there will be a lot of discussion about ebooks and the future of print, because that's one of those hot button topics right now. In my breakout, I plan to give a snapshot into my agency's working philosophy, how we go about choosing what we want to represent, and then what we do to make sure those clients have the best careers possible.

Would you offer some general advice (or do's and don't) for writers on interacting with agents in a conference setting?

Remember that we're not scary, and we're not going to bite your head off if you come up and say hello. However, none of us want to be pitched, unless we're in an actual pitch session, and certainly none of us want to be handed a manuscript.

SCBWI TEAM BLOG Pre-Conference Interview: Mary Pope Osborne

Mary Pope Osborne

SCBWI TEAM BLOGger Jolie Stekly offers our latest pre-conference interview with Summer Conference faculty. Her blog Cuppa Jolie features a conversation with Magic Tree House author Mary Pope Osborne (who is of no relation to me, and, as far as I know, Ozzy).

Here's a bit from Jolie's interview. Click here to read the full post.

I raised my hand high for the chance to interview the incomparable Mary Pope Osborne as part of our SCBWI Team Blog Exclusive interviews.

Mary Pope Osborne is the author of one of the most successful children's book series EVER: The Magic Tree House series. The first Magic Tree House book, Dinosaurs Before Dark, came out in 1992. Now both #46 and #47 are available for pre-order and are as popular as ever.

I first knew Mary Pope Osborne as a teacher. For my students, reading a Magic Tree House book meant they had reached a huge milestone. Once they had read one they could declare, "I'm a chapter book reader." So exciting. Although, not all young readers may know Mary Pope Osborne's name, they know her beloved characters: Jack and Annie. And they can rattle off title after title of her popular books. 

It's not too late to register for 40th Anniversary Summer conference and hear Mary Pope Osborne and other luminaries in children's publishing, share their wisdom. Click here for the registration page.

SCBWI TEAM BLOG Pre-Conference Interviews: Jennifer L. Holm, Lisa Yee, Ellen Hopkins and Emma Dryden

Ahh, summer... Flip flops. Popsicles. Lounging poolside. And of course the SCBWI Annual Summer Conference--which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year! I've taken a

Jennifer Holm

break from said lounging (there's a heat emergency here in the Nati--lounging is required) to clue you in on some terrific interviews with Summer Conference faculty brought to you by the also terrific SCBWI TEAM BLOG.

First, TEAM BLOGger Martha Brockenbrough talked with award-winning author Jennifer L. Holm, who will attend the summer conference to collect the Golden Kite Award for fiction as well as offer a session called It Takes a Family: Writing Historical Fiction Using Family History. Here's a snippet from Jenni's interview. To read the entire interview, click here. 

If you think of excitement as a candy store (which it is), then you can understand instantly the many flavors of excitement. They're not all created equal. Lemon, for example. It's better than nothing. But still.

When I found out I got to do the pre-SCBWI LA conference with Jenni Holm, I was the very best flavor of excited (salted caramel). (Wait, what? You haven't registered? Do it here! August 5-8. Time of your life. Promise.)

Not only am I in awe of her professionally--three Newbery Honors! Bestselling series! Beautiful, hilarious stories--I have been envious of her personally all year.

Lisa Yee

And today, Martha posted an interview with the always delightful Lisa Yee, who, in addition to being a popular author, witty blogger and friend of Peepy, serves on SCBWI's board of advisors. Lisa is presenting a Monday workshop on Creating Compelling Bad Guys and Bullies. Click here for more info. Below is a bit from Lisa's interview. To read the full interview, click here.

Being in a room during a Lisa Yee presentation is a bit like going to a lighting warehouse. The brightness! The heat! It's a thing to behold. But truly. I've attended a number of breakout sessions with her at L.A. conferences, and I always come away feeling inspired, informed, and newly recharged.

I also adore her books: The Millicent Min universe (with inspired companion titles featuring Emily Ebers,  Stanford Wong, most recently Marley Sandesky, about a boy running away from bullies); the pitch-perfect Bobby books, which are illustrated by the unstoppable Dan Santat; and Absolutely Maybe, her first foray into YA. Lisa even has a couple of American Girl titles.

Lisa is seriously funny, but her stories have heart and depth. It's no wonder she was the second recipient of the Sid Fleischman Award (the dearly departed Sid won the inaugural award, which is given to acknowledge the often-overlooked funny books).

TEAM BLOGger Lee Wind has posted a pair of Summer Conference faculty interviews on his blog, too. Click here to check out his video interviews with Ellen Hopkins and Emma Dryden!

SCBWI TEAM BLOG will be offering as-it-happens coverage of the Summer Conference and we'll continue to bring you pre-conference interviews with the awesome faculty. 

In the meantime, don't forget to register. Just click here. There's still room in some of the fantastic intensives, too!

New Intensives Added to the SCBWI 40th Anniversary Summer Conference Schedule

SCBWI has just added new intensive to the already terrific 40th Anniversary Summer Conference line-up. Don't hesitate to register--intensives are popular and fill up fast.

Here are the new additions:

• AM - The Ins and Outs of Chapter Book Series--Jenne Abramowitz, Editor, Scholastic
• AM - Ten Essential Picture Book Elements--How Does Your Manuscript Measure Up? Andrea Welch, Beach Lane Books
• PM - Writing a Synopsis That Sells Your Book--Kelly Sonnack, Agent, Andrea Brown
• PM - Revising Your Novel--Julie Strauss-Gabel, VP & Publisher of Dutton Children's Books

Don't miss out on these amazing opportunities. Click here to register.

40th Anniversary SCBWI Summer Conference Registration Opens TOMORROW MORNING

Synchronize your watches!

 Start counting down...

Registration for the 40th Anniversary SCBWI Conference opens Thursday, August 15th

10AM Pacific time

August 5-8th, 2011 in Los Angeles!

 

New Format! August 5-7th: Conference!

August 8th: Optional Intensives!

Keynote Speakers!

Editors, Agents & Art Directors!

Specialized Workshop Tracks!

The 40 WINKS Saturday Night Poolside Gala!

SCBWI TEAM BLOG live conference coverage!

For more information and registration, visit

 the conference page at SCBWI.org.

Winner Interview Series: Tanya Lee Stone, 2011 Golden Kite Award for Nonfiction

Tanya Lee Stone

When I was about nine years old, quite possibly the most traumatic event of my childhood occurred. One afternoon while I was inside reading a book, my arch nemesis Megan who lived up the street (and who is now a very nice grown up) recruited my little brother as an accomplice and they ravaged my beloved collection of Barbies who were minding their own business on the back porch. They cut off the hair, hands and feet of the dolls. They drew on their faces and bodies with ink. And they destroyed the extensive wardrobe, shredding everything from gorgeous gowns to groovy gogo boots. I was devastated. Wrecked. I cried for days. I'm actually getting choked up as I write this. And there's a small floral-print suitcase under a bed in my house filled with the remnants of the Barbie Incident of 1977--I never could bring myself to throw them away.

From little girls to grown-ups, so many of us have a connection with Barbie, or at least an opinion about her. And the latest author in my Winner Interview Series has written a terrific nonfiction book about the world's most famous doll. Prolific author Tanya Lee Stone's book THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE BARBIE: A DOLL'S HISTORY AND HER IMPACT ON US recently received the Golden Kite Award for Nonfiction from the SCBWI. Today she tells us about her book, shares advice on research, and let us in on what exciting projects are on her plate. (Barbie's pal Ken is not among the topics.) We'll hear more from Tanya during the Golden Kite Luncheon at the Annual Summer Conference. (Mark your calendars!)

First, tell my readers about your book, THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE BARBIE. What let you to write about the iconic doll?

The book covers two main areas of interest to me: the first few chapters tell the story of how Ruth Handler and her husband started the Mattel toy company, and how Ruth came to invent Barbie. The rest of the book explores different themes concerning Barbie such as racial diversity, body image, how people play with the doll, and the controversy that surrounds Barbie.

The idea to write about this icon struck me when my editor Catherine Frank and I were talking about doing another book in Viking's Up Close series. I summarized the criteria--a 20th century icon that has had a big impact on our culture and that kids are familiar with--and said that Barbie fit the bill! (We both agreed she needed her own stand-alone title, though.)

Tanya won a Golden Kite for THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE BARBIE

You've written more than 90 books for young reader including YA novels, picture books and nonfiction. What does winning the Golden Kite Award in the Nonfiction category mean to you?

The Golden Kite is an enormous honor. It is a fantastic feeling to know that my peers chose this book as the winner. I treasure my colleagues in this wonderful field of ours, and I couldn't be happier!

Research is key to nonfiction writing. Can you tell us a little about your research process? What tips would you offer to other writers regarding research?

Oh, we could talk for hours on this topic! My research process includes all the usual suspects--I read everything I can get my hands on--biography, autobiography, newspaper and magazine articles, scientific studies. I also seek out any audio or visual archival information, documentaries, etc. And for this book I put out the word that I was looking for people to go on record about their Barbie experiences.

You got input from a number of people about the impact Barbie has had on them. Can you share a favorite story or two?

It wasn't that a received any one particular story that I found so interesting. What fascinated me was that of the many hundreds of emails I did receive, they were fairly well split down the middle between positive and negative. I did not get more love than hate, and this was true within age groups as well. Just as many teenage girls told me Barbie made them feel badly about themselves as did girls who said it never occurred to them that they should look like Barbie--that she was just a doll.

Your book reveals the evolution of Barbie since she was introduced in 1959. How have you evolved as a writer?

I think I have changed quite a bit over the years. I started as an editor of nonfiction books for kids, then began writing the same kinds of books I had been editing, which was mainly fairly straightforward library market books that took a linear approach to a topic--the life cycle of a butterfly or the chronological treatment of a person's life.

But then I started looking at nonfiction through a different lens and asking myself different kinds of questions. What point of view did I want to consider? What part of a story most spoke to me? I started to think about nonfiction with the same kinds of techniques fiction writers use, focusing on character and plot--the only difference being the characters and plots are true. It was very freeing.

Can you tell us about any upcoming projects? What are you working on and what will we see next on the shelves?

I have two picture books that will be forthcoming--one about Elizabeth Blackwell and the other about Jane Addams (both published by Henry Holt). And the next long-form nonfiction book I am doing is called COURAGE HAD NO COLOR (Candlewick), which is about the first African-American paratroopers in World War II. Like ALMOST ASTRONAUTS, this is a little known story about people who broke down barriers and paved the way for others who came after them.

Winner Interview Series: Alan Silberberg, 2011 Sid Fleischman Humor Award

Alan Silberberg

In a recent post, I announced the winners of SCBWI's 2011 Golden Kite and Sid Fleischman Humor Awards. These award recipients will be present at the 2011 Annual Summer Conference (the 40th Annual!) to be honored and offer acceptance speeches, but the SCBWI HQ didn't want you to have to wait that long to hear from these outstanding authors and illustrators. So in the coming weeks, I'll be offering interviews with our winners...starting today!
To kick off my Winner Interview Series, I talked with Sid Fleischman Humor Award winner Alan Silberberg, author of MILO: STICKY NOTES AND BRAIN FREEZE. Alan is in good company (as you'll see below), and we're thrilled to have him among the talented and funny winners of the Fleischman, the only award espeically for authors of humorous books for young readers, started by, and now decidated, to the late, great author for which it's named.

"I really want to express my gratitude for receiving this honor," says Alan Silberbeg. "You know, a lot of the editing and much of the initial cartooning for this book was done while I was the Thurber House Children's Author in Residence and there's something really wonderful about getting an award for humor that connects back to James Thurber and that amazing experience. Thank you SCBWI. Let's all go out for iced coffees!"

Below Alan tells us about his award-winning book, reveals why he writes for tweens, discusses the importance of humor, and offers a few tips on being funnier. 

Tell my readers about your Sid Fleischman Humor Award winning book MILO: STICKY NOTES AND BRAIN FREEZE. What led you to write for a tween audience?

My book is the funny and heartfelt story of Milo, a quirky kid with a unique look at his life, who is starting yet another school and navigating the brave new world of junior high. He has to deal with everything that goes along with that: the prettiest girl he's ever seen; the new best friend who's even goofier than he is; the annoying girl next door, who isn't so annoying after all. But as Milo makes his way through this new year, he is also aware of the fog he has to push through every day. He is slowly realizing that he hasn't really been okay since his mother died, and the book tells the gradual story of how Milo figures out how to fully grieve and say the goodbye he never got to say. It's a book about remembering and honoring a lost loved one through the eyes of a funny kid, who worries too much.

I think I've always been on the path to writing for tweens. For one thing it's such a great age, when everything is changing and the world just stretches so far ahead of you. It's also an age I can still relate to for some reason. Maybe I'm perpetually stuck at 14, which would explain why my bedroom looks the way it does.


Alan Silberbeg won the 2010 Fleischman Award for MILO


What does winning this award from SCBWI mean to you? Will your acceptance speech at the Annual Summer conference be funny? (No pressure.)

 Winning the humor award named for Sid Fleischman has put me in a state of awe. Also, to have your work selected by peers and stamped with a big, bold, "HA-HA" is still a stunning feeling for me. On a deeper level, because the book is such a personal story and because it deals with the all too real issue of coming to terms with the loss of a parent--it is so gratifying to be recognized for the humor of MILO. The award really reinforces my initial goal to write a funny book that captures the pain of adolescent grief. All along that's what Liesa Abrams (my wonderful editor at Aladdin) had been saying to me. That this story is funny and real and needs to be told.

A funny speech, huh? I'm already worrying about that! But if nothing else--I can always read from my teenage journals. There's definitely some laughs there!

Humor seems to come naturally to you. Is comedy something you’ve always dabbled in?

It's fair to say that I have always had a decent sense of humor. But I am not now, nor have I ever been a good joke teller. I was always the kid who stood to the side of the group and waited for the moment to drop in a perfect one-liner that made the other kids laugh. I think that side of myself really came out after my mom died and I could use it as a defensive technique to avoid getting too close to people. But I always liked being funny. In high school I remember a talent show where this other kid and I were the running gag throughout the night. I got a taste for hearing audience laughter. In college two friends and I formed a comedy group called "Mashed Potatoes" and we did live performances and a radio show. That was when I started realizing how much I liked to write funny stuff and once that switch got turned on, there was no going back.

Why is humor important in books for young readers? Can writers learn to be funnier? Any tips?

In my opinion, humor is important EVERYWHERE, but especially in the books kids read. Funny books have such a special place in the evolving reading lives of kids as they grow up. CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS captivated my son when he was 6 and showed him that he could read on his own and laugh at the absurdity on the page. As a parent, it was powerful to watch that happen. When a book has something serious to say I do think that humor can sometimes be the package that the message gets wrapped inside. And I'm all for that. Not that all books need messages or that all message books need humor. I just think kids need to laugh as much as humanly possible.

Hmmm...Can writers learn to be funnier? That's a tough question because I do believe funny is something you either have or you don't. I mean, look at certain political people: not funny. But let's assume that a writer already has a good sense of humor and can write a funny scene or bits of funny dialogue. I would give the same advice I give to kids in schools--read as much funny stuff as you can and pay attention to what a writer does that makes you laugh. To me, shorter is funnier than longer. Dialogue isn't always funnier than action. And if all else fails, add a kid in a gorilla suit.

You said you’ve heard from past Fleischman Award winners Lisa Yee, Allen Zadoff and Donna Gephart. Give us the scoop—is there a secret club for funny, award-winning children’s authors that you’ve suddenly gained membership to? And what are the meetings like?

I did hear from some of the past winners and that was really nice. Of course, it also made me shudder to realize that I am now in such esteemed company. I mean have you read their stuff? They're really funny! I haven't yet been told what the secret club handshake is but have heard that there might be an initiation test involving hot coals, elf shoes and a rubber chicken.

What are you working on now? Do you have any upcoming project you can tell us about?

 I am just finishing the first draft (yay!) of my next book which is also a middle grade novel that will be illustrated with my cartoons. It's a funny, crazy story about two best friends who get more than they bargained for when they send away for an online cartooning kit.

Mark Your Calendars for SCBWI's 40th Annual Summer Conference! (It's Gonna Be Awesome)

August 5-8...Grab a highlighter and circle the days or pull up your Google calendar and make a note--SCBWI plans to celebrate its 40th anniversary with a bang with a spectacular summer conference.

Keynote speakers include such greats as Mary Pope Osborne, Laurie Halse Anderson, John Green, Donna Jo Napoli, Jerry Pinkney, Jon Sciezka, David Small, Gary Paulson, Norton Juster and Bruce Coville.

Panels of more than 20 top editors, art directors and agents will present the current and future state of the industry, as well as special sessions on electronic publishing. This year’s conference will also feature specialized tracks for nonfiction writers, illustrators, and published professionals (all specialized tracks are available at no additional charge).

A NEW FORMAT
This year, the conference format will be slightly different than in the past. The main sessions--made up of keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and optional manuscript and portfolio critiques--will take place over three days, August 5-7.

The final day of the conference, August 8, is an optional intensive day for a limited number of authors and illustrators. The Writer Intensive will feature three-hour, hands-on workshops on various topics, in addition to a round-table critique of your work led by an editor or agent. The Illustrator Intensive will feature up-close craft demonstrations by seven leading illustrators.

Intensives have limited space and will fill up quickly, so plan to be by your computer on April 15th when registration opens to ensure you get a spot--better mark your calender again.


As always, SCBWI TEAM BLOG will offer live coverage of the event as it happens as well as pre-conference interviews with the amazing faculty so watch this space (and the spaces of the other TEAM BLOG blogs) and prepare to be enticed.