SCBWI-NE Conference 2011: Keynote Speaker Lin Oliver

By Karen Centofanti

May

5

This is what it says about Lin Oliver on the SCBWI website. She was interviewed by Anna Olswanger:

LIN OLIVER HAS BEEN producing quality family movies, most of them based on children’s books, for over twenty years. But she began her career as a writer of educational children’s books, and out of her own personal need for a conference to train young writers, co-founded the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators in 1971 with Stephen Mooser. As the executive director, she personally produces the annual national conference, and together with Steve, oversees the publication of the SCBWI bimonthly bulletin, supervises the national office, and works with the regional advisors to plan and support regional activities.

Lin also co-writes Hank Zipzer, the World’s Best Underachiever series with Henry Winkler. These hilarious yet heartwarming books are based on Henry Winkler’s life. Henry Winkler is dyslexic, and had a lot of difficulty in school because of his learning challenges. He is just one of many people with dyslexia who grew up to become a very successful adult.

When Henry and Lin write a book together, Henry dictates a story to her from his memory of rich New York City experiences in school, in his neighborhood, and in his apartment building. Sometimes he writes a story longhand and Lin types it into the computer for him, correcting his spelling errors. When the rough draft is completed, Lin and Henry edit and re-write each chapter together before sending it to their editor. They revise again when their editor sends it back to them with notes for revision. They make a great team.

As a reading teacher for students with learning challenges, I was thrilled with the Hank
Zipzer series. My students related well to Hank and laughed at the predicaments he got into.

I had the pleasure of listening to Henry Winkler read one of his Hank Zipzer books on CD, Niagra Falls, or Does It? Henry was a fantastic reader. I can think of no greater way to get kids interested in reading this series than to let them listen to Henry Winkler read any one of his books.

In 2008, I had the pleasure of meeting Lin Oliver at the LA SCBWI Conference. She was warm, friendly, and humble. I’m looking forward to seeing Lin again and listening to her keynote address at our New England SCBWI conference.

Believe!

Karen Centofanti

NESCBWI Conference, May 14-16, 2010

By Karen Centofanti

May

21

The NESCBWI (New England chapter of the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) conference was once again packed with Mega-Stars in the children’s book industry. Keynote speakers included author Cynthia Leitich Smith (Tantalize, Eternal, Jingle Dancer, Rain is not My Indian Name); illustrator Marla Frazee (A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever, Roller Coaster, Walk On!, All the World, and the Clementine series by Cape Cod author Sara Pennypacker); and Allyn Johnston, VP and Publisher of Beach Lane Books, an imprint of Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing.

The rest of the conference faculty consisted of additional well-known authors, illustrators, editors, agents, art directors, writing professors, poets and Newbery Honor winners. They taught one or two-hour intensive workshops on varied topics. The NE-SCBWI conference was so good, that people as far away as Wisconsin flew here to attend it.

Here are some highlights I’d like to share, starting with Keynote speaker Cynthia Leitich Smith:

• Cynthia is best known for her YA Gothic fantasy writing, (Tantalize, Eternal), realistic contemporary fiction (Rain is not my Indian Name), and her award-winning picture book (Jingle Dancer).

• Her “Cynsations” blog has been named one of the top two most recommended by the School Library Association and most read by SCBWI members. She blogs Monday – Friday, except if she’s on deadline. Then she will ask her readers to come back in a month, so she can go into her “cave” to write. (www.cynthialeitichsmith.com).

• Cynthia is from Austin, Texas and is a law school graduate. Her husband is also a lawyer and a writer. They co-wrote a picture book, passing it back and forth without any verbal discussion while writing it!

• Cynthia teaches writing at the Vermont College of Fine Arts.

• Her mentors are authors Kathi Appelt (Newbery Honor winner The Underneath, and Bat Jamboree, Bats Around the Clock, Piggies in a Polka and many others); and Jane Kurtz (Lanie, Martin’s Dream, Johnny Appleseed and many others).

• Cynthia usually starts her stories with a place, before developing character and plot.

• She works in multiple genres, alternating between longer and shorter projects. It helps to clear the characters from her head.

• Her advice: Do one thing each week to market yourself.

I’ll share more highlights from the conference in future blogs. In the meantime, if you are trying to write children’s books, join SCBWI and the New England chapter ASAP! You’ll receive excellent newsletters, have a fantastic website to explore, and you’ll learn about awards and grants. In addition, you’ll find out about the National SCBWI conference held in LA every summer, the winter conference in NY, and about the many other SCBWI conferences held across the US and around the world!

Keep writing, and…

Believe!

Karen Centofanti

Dreams and nightmares

By Mary Grabowski

May

16

For those of you who don’t know what NESCBWI is, well, its New England Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.  This is an amazing group of authors and illustrators in different stages of their careers.  Some talented (and lucky) ones sprinkle their wisdom on us while encouraging us to not give up and move forward with our craft.   While others begin to ponder the idea of writing and what their lives would look like if they did. 

This weekend has been full of ups and downs for me. 

The other day I was listening to something, but I don’t remember what, and somebody said, “Dreams and nightmares, you need to feed them for them to stay alive.”  Wow, well, a couple of days later I’m here at the conference trying to feed my dream and trying to believe it’s not a nightmare.  I love writing.  I love the feelings I get from putting my words down exactly, or almost, the way I really want.  I love imagining how childhood would have been and how childhood could be for somebody else.  I think about getting books signed for the library and the child that opens it believing that the author or illustrator did it just for them.

I am bummed that I feel more lost this time.  I have tried to submit some work and got the rejections  (or should I say, we like it but encourage you to submitt elsewhere letters :)  ). I’m not as focused and sure this time around. 

Maybe this is how dreams are supposed to be.  In literature, the heroine has to have a moment of doubt before the vision and the successful path of the mission becomes clear.   That’s me, a stupid princess waiting in a tower with one window and a way to have her dreams fulfilled, but waiting for somebody to save her. 

Well, I’m done.  I’m gonna save myself.

Mary

Hello, Visitors!

By admin

Apr

17

Welcome to the Cape Cod Children’s Writers (CCCW) website. We hope you’ll stop by to keep up on our scheduled one-day Critique Retreats, our publishing progress, and on our blog topics. We will each take a turn blogging, so there will be a wide variety of topics covered.

Here is our blogging schedule:

            Sunday: Joan Walsh

            Monday: Jeanne Stewart

            Tuesday: Jeannie Benton and Susan Lee Traft will alternate.

            Wednesday: Linda Williams

            Thursday: Christina Laurie

            Friday: Karen Centofanti

            Saturday: Mary Grabowski

We may have an occasional “Guest Blogger,” as we always try to have two alternate members in CCCW. The two alternates come to our meetings whenever one or two of our regular members are unable to attend. If you are interested in becoming a member of the CCCW critique group, contact Joan Walsh and let her know. She keeps a wait list, and openings do occur.

Believe!

Karen

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