You're invited!
March 16th: Daniele Hunter, junior agent at McIntosh & Otis Agency
2025-2026 Schedule:
September 29: BNCWI Member Kickoff at BestCellar Book Bar
At the Audubon Library (Amherst, NY):
October 20: Melissa Ruth Rotert on Finding Inspiration & the Querying Process
November 24: Roberta Worthington on the Self-Publishing Process
December 22: Holiday Party & Creative Prompts
Zoom:
January 19: Mylisa Larsen on Voice Lessons
February 16: editor Kristen Susienka, "A Freelance Editor's Insights into the Author-Editor Relationship"
At the Audubon Library (Amherst, NY):
March 16th: Daniele Hunter, junior agent at McIntosh & Otis Agency
April 20th: The First 250
May 18th: Kevin Kurtz on The Ins & Outs and Ups & Downs of School Visits
June 22nd: Barb from Barb's Book Buddies
September 29: BNCWI Member Kickoff at BestCellar Book Bar
At the Audubon Library (Amherst, NY):
October 20: Melissa Ruth Rotert on Finding Inspiration & the Querying Process
November 24: Roberta Worthington on the Self-Publishing Process
December 22: Holiday Party & Creative Prompts
Zoom:
January 19: Mylisa Larsen on Voice Lessons
February 16: editor Kristen Susienka, "A Freelance Editor's Insights into the Author-Editor Relationship"
At the Audubon Library (Amherst, NY):
March 16th: Daniele Hunter, junior agent at McIntosh & Otis Agency
April 20th: The First 250
May 18th: Kevin Kurtz on The Ins & Outs and Ups & Downs of School Visits
June 22nd: Barb from Barb's Book Buddies
Some of our past BNCWI speakers include:
Editor, Arthur Levine
Author and Editor, Cheryl B. Klein
NYT Bestselling Author, Daniel Jose Older
Author and Illustrator, Debbie Ridpath Ohi
Literary Agent and YA Author, Eric Smith
Art Director and Publisher, Kristen Nobles
Award Winning Author/Illustrator Duo, Lisa Cline-Ransome and James E. Ransome
Story Coach and Author, Lisa Cron
Middle Grade Author, Lisa Moore Ramee
Film Producer and Author, Nina Sadowsky
Award Winning Picture Book and Middle Grade Author, Rajani LaRocca
Literary Agent, Suzie Townsend
Editor, Arthur Levine
Author and Editor, Cheryl B. Klein
NYT Bestselling Author, Daniel Jose Older
Author and Illustrator, Debbie Ridpath Ohi
Literary Agent and YA Author, Eric Smith
Art Director and Publisher, Kristen Nobles
Award Winning Author/Illustrator Duo, Lisa Cline-Ransome and James E. Ransome
Story Coach and Author, Lisa Cron
Middle Grade Author, Lisa Moore Ramee
Film Producer and Author, Nina Sadowsky
Award Winning Picture Book and Middle Grade Author, Rajani LaRocca
Literary Agent, Suzie Townsend
2023-2024 Schedule:
September 29: Special After Hours Event at Alice, Ever After Books
At the Audubon Library (Amherst, NY):
October 16: Award-winning author/illustrator Erica Sirotich
November 20: Award-winning visual storyteller Ariel Aberg-Riger
December 18: Holiday Party with creative prompts, games and holiday treats
Zoom:
January 22: "The Power of Setting" with author Janet Sumner Johnson
February 26: Penguin Random House Senior Executive Editor Sara Sargent
At the Audubon Library (Amherst, NY):
March 18: "Creating Chapter Books That Will Capture Growing Independent Readers" with author Judy Bradbury
April 15: “The First 250”
May 20: YA author and creative writing professor Janet McNally: "Writing Beautiful Sentences"
June 17: Exploring "The Hero's Journey" Story Structure
September 29: Special After Hours Event at Alice, Ever After Books
At the Audubon Library (Amherst, NY):
October 16: Award-winning author/illustrator Erica Sirotich
November 20: Award-winning visual storyteller Ariel Aberg-Riger
December 18: Holiday Party with creative prompts, games and holiday treats
Zoom:
January 22: "The Power of Setting" with author Janet Sumner Johnson
February 26: Penguin Random House Senior Executive Editor Sara Sargent
At the Audubon Library (Amherst, NY):
March 18: "Creating Chapter Books That Will Capture Growing Independent Readers" with author Judy Bradbury
April 15: “The First 250”
May 20: YA author and creative writing professor Janet McNally: "Writing Beautiful Sentences"
June 17: Exploring "The Hero's Journey" Story Structure
2022-2023 Schedule:
September 30: Special After Hours Event at Alice, Ever After Books
At the Clearfield Library (Amherst, NY):
October 17: Author Julie Berry - "A Mind in Charge: Fictional Voice and a Writer's Confidence"
November 21: Author Lisa Moore Ramée (On Zoom)
December 12: A Merry and Write Super Sketchtacular BNCWI Bash with artist and storyteller Kristin Dudish
Zoom:
January 30: Literary agent Savannah Brooks - First Pages
February 27: MG author and teacher Sheela Chari - "How Deep is Your Mystery?"
At the Clearfield Library (Amherst, NY):
March 20: Author Sandi van - "Perfecting Your Pitch"
April 24: Author Dee Romito - "Finding the Story in Nonfiction Picture Books"
May 15: "The First 250"
June 12: Author Amy Ludwig VanDerwater - "Making a Poem" presentation and workshop
September 30: Special After Hours Event at Alice, Ever After Books
At the Clearfield Library (Amherst, NY):
October 17: Author Julie Berry - "A Mind in Charge: Fictional Voice and a Writer's Confidence"
November 21: Author Lisa Moore Ramée (On Zoom)
December 12: A Merry and Write Super Sketchtacular BNCWI Bash with artist and storyteller Kristin Dudish
Zoom:
January 30: Literary agent Savannah Brooks - First Pages
February 27: MG author and teacher Sheela Chari - "How Deep is Your Mystery?"
At the Clearfield Library (Amherst, NY):
March 20: Author Sandi van - "Perfecting Your Pitch"
April 24: Author Dee Romito - "Finding the Story in Nonfiction Picture Books"
May 15: "The First 250"
June 12: Author Amy Ludwig VanDerwater - "Making a Poem" presentation and workshop
2021-2022 Schedule:
October 25: "Worldbuilding in Fiction" with literary agent Laurel Symonds of the Bent Agency
November 22: Q&A with YA author Mindy McGinnis
December 13: "Get Out of the Nine Circles of Hell: Or Revision, Dante Style"
with Stanford writing professor and author Katherine Rothschild
January 24: Q&A with MG author Varian Johnson
February 28: Uniquely Yours: Writing and Illustrating Picture Books Only You Can Make
with author/illustrator Brianne Farley
March 21: A Conversation with Children's Author Leah Henderson
April 25: "Following Your Passion" with author S. Jae-Jones
May 23: "A beginner's guide to writing a graphic novel with with author Kate Karyus Quinn
June 27: BNCWI Book Chat
October 25: "Worldbuilding in Fiction" with literary agent Laurel Symonds of the Bent Agency
November 22: Q&A with YA author Mindy McGinnis
December 13: "Get Out of the Nine Circles of Hell: Or Revision, Dante Style"
with Stanford writing professor and author Katherine Rothschild
January 24: Q&A with MG author Varian Johnson
February 28: Uniquely Yours: Writing and Illustrating Picture Books Only You Can Make
with author/illustrator Brianne Farley
March 21: A Conversation with Children's Author Leah Henderson
April 25: "Following Your Passion" with author S. Jae-Jones
May 23: "A beginner's guide to writing a graphic novel with with author Kate Karyus Quinn
June 27: BNCWI Book Chat