 What is better than reading and talking with fellow writers about a book that's about writing? Having the author (who is also an extraordinary editor) join the discussion!  At our last BNCWI meeting Cheryl Klein, editorial director at Lee & Low and author of The Magic Words, answered members' questions during a Q&A session led by Jason Hussong. After having read The Magic Words, everyone was eager to learn even more about Cheryl's thoughts on the writing and publishing process. During the information packed meeting, Cheryl generously shared expert industry knowledge on everything from word counts and trends to mapping your book and identifying its core vision. In addition to helping the group with the "hows" of writing, she gave great advice about pinpointing the "whys".  Based on the smiles after the meeting, it was apparent that it was truly the best book club ever!
To learn more about Cheryl, please visit her at: www.cherylklein.com/ You can purchase The Magic Words here. And, Cheryl has a new picture book (illustrated by Tomie DePaola!) coming out in March! (You can pre-order it here.)  BNCWI members jumped into a new season with both feet (and hands full of writing utensils) as local author, Elizabeth Coburn, shared her idea generating expertise.  Writers and illustrators got to work as Elizabeth led the group in a series of story creation exercises, and everyone was eager to share their new ideas with the group.
In addition to the workshop portion of the meeting, Elizabeth shared helpful writing advice. Below is a list of (some of) the resources she talked about: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books by, Harold Underdown Children's Writers and Illustrators Market "How to Get a Great Idea" - TedX Talk by, Matt Diffee To view our full meeting schedule, please click HERE.  BNCWI is on summer break, but last night's meeting provided a list of books to keep you reading
until we meet again. Below are the books mentioned by members at last night's meeting... Picture Books: Llama Llama Misses Mama by, Anna Dewdney Dude word by, Aaron Reynolds pictures by, Dan Santat Sit In words by, Andrea Davis Pinkney pictures by, Brian Pinkney Middle Grade: The Tale of Despereaux by, Kate DiCamillo (pictures by, Timothy Basil Ering) Pax by, Sara Pennypacker (pictures by, Jon Klassen) The first 2 books in the Tunnels series by, Roderick Gordon & Brian Williams Smart Cookie by, Elly Swartz The Spirit of Cattail County by, Victoria Piontex (jacket art by, Rebecca Green) YA: Anna and the French Kiss by, Stephanie Perkins The Names They Gave Us by, Emery Lord The 100 Series by, Kass Morgan Shooter by, Caroline Pignat Adult: Vicious by, V.E. Schwab Varina by, Charles Frazier Classics: Alice's Adventures In Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass by, Lewis Carroll Watership Down by, Richard Adams Dandelion Wine by, Ray Bradbury Charlotte's Web by, E.B. White (pictures by Garth Williams) A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by, Betty Smith And... If you're looking for even more to read this summer, you can start reading Cheryl Klein's The Magic Words:Writing Great Books for Children and Young Adults. (BNCWI will be Skyping with Cheryl Klein in October.)  Our last meeting was another great turnout as BNCWI welcomed prolific author, Lisa Ann Scott, to talk about writing chapter books for a series. Lisa shared an in depth look into her journey from TV news anchor to published children’s author. In addition to sharing her own path to publication, she shared inspirational advice and helpful tips for BNCWI members looking for ways to break into the children’s writers and illustrators market. To learn more about Lisa Ann Scott please visit: http://lisaannscott.com/ You can purchase her books HERE.  On June 2nd, BNCWI members gathered at Beaver Meadow in Java, NY for a writers (and illustrators) retreat.   And, the fun doesn't stop there... Be sure to walk, run, drive, or even ride a tarantula to our next meeting because you won't want to miss it!  Our next meeting is Monday and we’ll be doing a book talk and chatting about favorite lines.
To get ready, start thinking about some of your favorite recent books to recommend, but our main focus will be on favorite lines. As you read, make a note of lines that stand out to you and why. Or pop back into a book you’ve read and pick out some lines that are strong in some way. If you have the book, great, but you can also check it out from the library or read the first few pages on Amazon with “Look inside this book.” Or join us just to listen!  An excited group of authors and illustrators turned out in record numbers to welcome a very special FaceTime guest to our April meeting… BNCWI members were treated to a glimpse behind the publishing curtain as author and editor extraordinaire, Arthur Levine, shared stories and graciously answered questions from an enthusiastic crowd. The group received advice and encouragement as they learned about the collaborative process between authors, illustrators, and editors. Special thanks to Jason Hussong for hosting the night, and for making this amazing opportunity possible!  To learn more about Arthur Levine, please visit: https://www.arthuralevinebooks.com/
To purchase the books Arthur Levine has written, please click HERE. Arthur A. Levine Books is open to submissions directly from authors and illustrators. To learn more please visit: https://arthuralevinebooks.submittable.com/submit  The March meeting was an illustrator takeover as BNCWI artists, Jessie Miller, Patty Wurster, Julia Colangelo, and Kristin Dudish led a presentation on thinking visually. Finding inspiration, trusting the collaborative process, and showing (not telling) were a few of the topics covered during a meeting loaded with information for storytellers of all genres. Members eagerly asked questions and left with new ways to see their stories from an illustrator’s perspective.
To view our full meeting schedule, please click HERE.  Wow! BNCWI was buzzing at the end of last night's amazing Skype chat with literary agent,
Suzie Townsend. Suzie was generous with her time and advice as she gave insightful answers to an eager group. In addition to sharing practical tips and guidance, Suzie offered encouragement to authors and illustrators at every stage of their creative journey. BNCWI members floated out of the meeting on the waves of Suzie's kindness and generosity ready to take on the sometimes stormy seas of the publishing industry! To learn more about Suzie, please visit: http://www.newleafliterary.com/people/suzie-townsend/ or on Twitter: @sztownsend81 To view our full meeting schedule, please click HERE.  Last night's BNCWI meeting was pitch perfect, and members left singing the praises of MG author (and pitch whisperer), Janet Sumner Johnson! During her insightful presentation, the group learned all about what it takes to create a hook that will make agents and editors keep reading. Thanks to
the generous information she shared, everyone got to work crafting and polishing their own pitches. The evening ended on a high note as Janet helped the group understand how to weave the perfect pitch into a query letter that will stand out in the slush pile. Happy Querying! To learn more about Janet Sumner Johnson, please visit her at: http://janetsumnerjohnson.com And, be sure to check out her book, The Last Great Adventure of the PB&J Society. For the full BNCWI meeting schedule, please click HERE.  A packed room of eager BNCWI members listened as Jessica Strawser,
author and editor-at-large for Writer’s Digest, shared helpful industry knowledge during a Skype Q&A. In addition to the humorous stories she shared, the group benefitted from Jessica’s advice on a wide range of topics including: social media, community, trends, writing habits, opportunities, and keeping doors open. Jessica’s warm and inviting personality, combined with a chat that was filled useful information, left BNCWI members inspired to get home and get writing! To learn more about Jessica, please visit her at: https://jessicastrawser.com/ And, be sure to check out her novels, Almost Missed You and Not That I Could Tell. For the full BNCWI meeting schedule, please click HERE. |
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