Your weekly news & updates | |
Local Events and Announcements | | |
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We have a new R.A.!
Our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to Sharon Sivinski for her two years of work serving New Mexico and West Texas as regional advisor! Susan Metallo Olivier of Albuquerque is now stepping into the role. Susan is an author, youth librarian, and Publishers Weekly contributor whose debut YA novel, Reasons to Hate Me, will be released Fall 2025. She is thrilled to be giving back to the community that does so much to support her career. You can learn more about her at her website, susanmetallo.com, and you can reach her at the R.A. email address: newmexico-ra@scbwi.org.
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AFTERNOON VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUSE
Newcomers and Old-timers alike, join us for free-ranging conversations on craft, the nuts and bolts of the industry, and a chance to set some accountability goals for yourself.
First Wednesday, March 6, meeting time is 4:00 pm MDT.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://scbwi.zoom.us/j/93445723842?pwd=cG1Wd1RBUmo5eGl5OXF4Y3JybnJuUT09
Meeting ID: 934 4572 3842
Passcode: 952052
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March Shop Talk: Plot
When: March 12th 7-8 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
March’s group discussion on craft centers on plot. Every good story needs a storyline, but how do you walk that line? What happens to the main character along the way? What makes for an engaging beginning, a engrossing middle, and a satisfying end? How do I know my pacing isn’t dragging? Do I have enough structure?
Chris Eboch will spearhead our discussion as we navigate the long road from beginning to end. Bring any questions or comments you have about plot fresh on your mind.
Shop Talks are ZOOM ONLY with no in-person meeting:
https://scbwi.zoom.us/j/92630402188?pwd=UnNNQmIzL0ZrZzFDZ1BycW5veEovZz09
Meeting ID: 926 3040 2188
Passcode: 380848
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Meet & Pitch
Exclusively for people from our Small Regions community
Lori Steel of Red Fox Literary Agency
Get ready for the next virtual Meet & Pitch event with Lori Steel of Red Fox Literary Agency! Learn more about Lori and her agency and get feedback on your 75-word pitch.
Thursday, March 14th
7:00-8:30 pm Central Daylight Time
The 90-minute format will include an introduction to Lori and Red Fox Literary, Lori's manuscript wishlist, Q&A, and a pitch session with participants. (Note: she will be giving feedback on pitches only.)
Cost: $15
After the event, Lori will offer 10 critique opportunities for an additional fee. All Meet & Pitch participants will be able to query Lori for a three-month window after the event. Details will be provided to participants after the Zoom event.
These events are open only to registered members of Nebraska, Hawaii, Alaska, Nevada, Brazos Valley, Inland Northwest, and New Mexico regions.
Questions? This event is hosted by the Nebraska Region. Please reach out to them at nebraska@scbwi.org.
Meet & Pitch events provide small SCBWI regions exclusive access to industry professionals to help you improve your pitches, first pages, and get critiques on picture book manuscripts or first chapters.
Don't wait to sign up!
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SCBWI-NM Third Saturday Online Critique Group
Come join Diane Mittler and a wonderful group of writers on Saturday, March 16, 9:00-11:00 am for this month's Zoom critique group.
● Please send 5 pages, double-spaced or entire picture book manuscripts to
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Diane Mittler at critgroupscbwinm@gmail.com by the Wednesday prior to the meeting. If you plan to attend but do not wish to submit, please RSVP.
● Diane will send everyone's pages ahead of the meeting. Please read them
ahead of time, if possible. If not, no worries. You can read the pages as we
discuss them.
● Anyone can feel free to do a line-by-line critique, but it is not required.
● Please send questions and concerns to Diane at critgroupscbwinm@gmail.com
We are a friendly group and welcome anyone who wants to share their work.
Hope to see you there!
For guidance on participation in a critique group, check out this GREAT discussion from
SCBWI-Wisconsin: https://wisconsin.scbwi.org/critique-group-helpful-handout/
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Join Zoom Meeting
https://scbwi.zoom.us/j/91472051843?pwd=eEpabmc2MGN6S0h1ZitrRHh3eVJtdz09
Meeting ID: 914 7205 1843
Passcode: 689531
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EVENING VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUSE
NM SCBWI is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Virtual Coffee Third Wednesday Evening
Time: March 20, 2024 07:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://scbwi.zoom.us/j/93445723842?pwd=cG1Wd1RBUmo5eGl5OXF4Y3JybnJuUT09
Meeting ID: 934 4572 3842
Passcode: 952052
Newcomers and Old-timers alike, join us for free-ranging conversations on craft, the nuts and bolts of the industry, and a chance to set some accountability goals for yourself.
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Are you struggling to find dedicated time to write? Looking for like-minded folks and accountability? SCBWI-NM is launching a new monthly writing group. This is just one evening a month where we come together and spend two hours writing. No prompts, required sharing, or critiquing– just writing. Bring your laptop or pad of paper and work on your current project. Hope to see you there!
When: Last Wednesday of the month (Mar. 27)
Where: North Domingo Baca Multigenerational Center
Time: 6:30-8:30 pm
Please contact Marti Johns at martijohns23@gmail.com with any questions.
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Webinar! Picture Book Biography:
Finding your Subject and Focus with Laurie Wallmark
The first step in writing a picture book biography is to choose your subject. Sounds simple, right? Not so fast. There are many questions to consider: should that person be famous or a relative unknown; contemporary or historical; be of wide-spread or niche interest; etc.? Now it’s time to choose what aspect(s) of that person’s life to highlight. Again, there are many questions to consider. Finding a focus for your book can be one of the most difficult parts of writing a biography. This workshop will help you with the many decisions you need to make before writing the first word of your picture book biography. Sponsored by Kansas-Missouri SCBWI!
Additional Workshop Details
WHEN
Tuesday, March 12, 2024. 7:00-8:30 pm CT
WHERE
Virtual Event.
Sign up here: https://www.scbwi.org/events/picture-book-biography-finding-your-subject-and-focus-with-laurie-wallmark-KSMO-SCBWI
After registering, you will find your registration confirmation under My Events on your Member Home. The Zoom link for the event will be found under the green Meeting Info button.
COST
$15 USD for Premium Members. $35 USD for Registered Users.
RECORDING
The workshop will be recorded, and the recording will be available for 30 days following the event. Attendees will receive a link and a password by email the week following the event.
REGISTRATION CONFIRMATIONS
Upon completion of payment, you will receive a payment confirmation by email. You will also find a registration confirmation on the website that will include event-specific details. Go to your Member Home and click on My Events under the black bar at the top of the page. All events you have registered will be displayed on this page. If there are additional meeting details (i.e. Zoom links for virtual events or materials required for the event), this information will be found under the green Meeting Info button.
Questions about this event? Contact Michele Helsel or Devyn Douvier, Co-Regional Advisors, SCBWI Kansas-Missouri ksmo@scbwi.org
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The Utah / Southern Idaho Region will be holding a Spring Retreat March 14-17 near Bear Lake, Utah (Half of Bear Lake is in Idaho). We have three editors coming to the retreat! Jessica Anderson from Christy Ottaviano Books, Jonah Heller from Peachtree Publishing, and Deidra Purvis from Free Spirit Publishing. You can find our more and register for the event HERE! | |
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Pocono à la Mode 2024: Moving Through the Middle--annual retreat
Hosted by: SCBWI Eastern PA
Date: Friday, April 19, 2024 - Sunday, April 21, 2024
Time: 2:00 PM ET on Friday through lunch on Sunday (itinerary)
Location: The Highlights Foundation in Boyd's Mills, PA
Intended Audience: Everyone
Cost:
I scream. You scream. We all scream for our annual Eastern PA SCBWI retreat at the Highlights Foundation–complete with an ice cream sundae social and all the publishing professional interaction we could pack into one weekend. Attend workshops and meals with our all-star faculty, including Senior Literary Agent Jennifer Laughran, Scholastic Executive Art Director Brian LaRossa, Simon & Schuster senior editor Deeba Zargarpur, and New York Times bestselling author-illustrator and Caldecott winner Vashti Harrison. Plus critiques, roundtable sessions, socials, and more! Whether you're just getting started or you're Published and Listed (PAL), we'll explore the proverbial middles of the journey and search out our sweet spots so we can move through it all in style.
For more information or to register, visit: https://www.scbwi.org/events/pocono-a-la-mode-2024-moving-through-the-middle
Questions? Please contact ARA Kristen Strocchia, at epa-ara@scbwi.org.
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The Gadsden Independent School District will be hosting one of this year’s New Mexico Battle of the Books competition. The New Mexico Battle of the Books is a reading competition for students in grades 4-8. Students read a combination of 20 books from the designated Battle of the Books reading list and meet with their peers throughout the year. They enter a quiz-style battle, with four rounds, in which they are asked about the books they read. The New Mexico Battle of the Books encourages the youth of New Mexico to read high quality literature, have fun, and compete by demonstrating their knowledge of books. This is an amazing event where we all experience the comradery of these young New Mexico readers; whose common bond is the love of books.
The competition is set to be on April 27, 2023 from 8:00 am-1:00 pm at Gadsden High School. We are in need of volunteers for this day to ensure the students have a fair and safe experience. We are respectfully asking for volunteers from your organization who would be willing to assist us on this day. The volunteer assignments are readers and timers, a 30-45 minute training will be provided virtually.
Below is the link to register. Thank you for your willingness to help us make this a successful event for all! We look forward to seeing you!
Event Details:
Battle of the Books Competition
April 27, 2024
8:00-1:00
Gadsden High School
6301 NM-28
Anthony, NM 88021
Registration link: https://forms.gle/tok7qtEhMjZDS2tD9
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Online, 10-Week
Whole Novel Program
The Whole Novel Workshop offers writers the rare opportunity to have the entire draft of a novel (up to 80,000 words) read with written feedback and a private consultation, along with rich presentations specifically designed for novelists at this stage in their writing journey.
All presentations are recorded for those who cannot attend live.
Please note:
- If accepted to the program, your full novel draft is due on or before May 16.
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Online; April 2 + 4, 7-8:15pm EST each evening
(If you can't attend live, you'll receive the recordings after)
Writing about mental health is about both the impact for our readers, and the experience of our writers. How do we translate our lived experiences while keeping our youth audience centered?
This course offers personal reflections from Crystal and Katie about their experiences in crafting novels that center the emotional needs of their readers.
Katie will also share professional experiences as a pediatric neuropsychologist for teens and young adults.
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Caroline Starr Rose’s verse novel
MAY B. has been picked to represent Kansas for Read Across America’s Fifty Books for Fifty States.
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Got any news? Please share! We love to celebrate each other's victories! | | | | |
