Neal Shusterman tells us about "Challenger Deep" and answers a blog reader's question

Here's my interview with Neal...


And cheers to jpetroroy for asking the winning question, and for winning the copy of "Challenger Deep" that Neal signed just before our interview.

And of course, congratulations to Neal for winning the Golden Kite Award For YA Fiction!

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

ps - jpetroroy, please email me your mailing address at: leewind (at) roadrunner (dot) com.

"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!

Sneak Peek At #LA16SCBWI Keynotes!

SCBWI's 45th Annual Summer Conference, July 29-Aug 1, 2016, will feature keynotes from these bestselling and award-winning authors and illustrators:

Marie Lu



Sophie Blackall



Neal Shusterman



Carole Boston Weatherford



Deborah Halverson



Ellen Hopkins 



Drew Daywalt 



Jon Klasson



Pam Munoz Ryan



and

Jenni Holm



Registration will go live at scbwi.org on April 19, 10am Pacific Time!

We hope to see you there.

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

The 2016 Golden Kite Award, Sid Fleischman Award and Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Winners!

Here are the winners! Look for interviews with them here in the coming months, leading up to the 2016 SCBWI Summer Conference in Los Angeles, where they will be honored--and we'll get to hear them speak when they accept their awards!

For FICTION, The Golden Kite Award goes to...

Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman (HarperCollins)

Caden Bosch is on a galleon that's headed for the deepest point on Earth: Challenger Deep, the southern part of the Marianas Trench. Alternatively, Bosch is a brilliant high school student dealing with schizophrenia...and as fantasy and paranoia begin to take over, his parents have only one choice left.


For MIDDLE GRADE/YOUNG READER FICTION...

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! 


For NONFICTION...

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.


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.


For PICTURE BOOK TEXT...

Boats for Papa by Jessixa Bagley (Macmillan)

In this stunning debut, author/illustrator Jessixa Bagley explores the subtle and deep emotions associated with loss in a heartwarming tale about a boy, his mother, and the boats he carves for an absent father.



The Winner of THE SID FLEISCHMAN HUMOR AWARD is...

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.



And the inaugural LEE BENNETT HOPKINS POETRY AWARD WINNER is...

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.

Congratulations to all the winners!