EVENTS

Whether or not you are a member of SCBWI, you are invited to attend our meetings and get-togethers.

*B&N: Barnes & Noble Bookstore, Texas Ave., College Station. Schmoozes meet in the “Art” corner.

Schmoozes are informal monthly gatherings, with open discussion on a given topic, led by a facilitator. Critique rules are: 5 pages, double-spaced, 5-6 copies, any genre. All meetings are subject to change. For more information, email lizbmertz+scbwi@gmail.com.

Not-For-Beginners Picture Book Author and Illustrator Workshop
June 25-27, 2010 - LaSalle Hotel, Bryan, TX
Enrollment limited to 30 authors and illustrators - Download Registration

Picture book author Kelly Bennett and illustrator Terri Murphy (co-creators of Dance, Y'all, Dance, Bright Sky Press, Nov. 2009) will guide attendees through an intensive exploration of picture books to uncover what makes them successful and how we can make our stories irresistible, too! Hands-on workshop sessions will focus on: Adding that "extra something" to our work; Honing words and pictures with an eye to publication; and Polishing and submitting art and stories.

Attendees will be asked to submit one picture book manuscript and/or illustration samples prior to the workshop. Sessions will begin at 5 p.m. Friday, June 25, and continue until 1p.m. Sunday, June 27. Workshop activities will be scheduled for both Friday and Saturday evenings.

Kelly Bennett is the author/coauthor of 15 children's books including 9 picture books. She has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. For more about Kelly and her work, visit her website: www.kellybennett.com.

Terri Murphy studied at the American Academy of Art in Chicago and creates illustration for children in the educational, religious and trade book markets. She is a part-time youth librarian and the representative in Illinois for SCBWI Illustrators Network offering educational programming and monthly meetings. See samples of her work at www.terrimurphyart.com.

Novel Revision Retreat with Darcy Pattison
November 12-14, 2010 - LaSalle Hotel, Bryan, Texas
Enrollment limited to 24 writers - Registration to open in July 2010

Manuscripts will be due September 1, 2010

To attend the Novel Revision Retreat, writers must have a complete draft of a novel. The length may vary according to each writer’s work. Participants must agree to read three other manuscripts before the retreat and be ready to discuss them. Two books also are required reading: The First Five Pages by Noah Lukeman and Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King.

The retreat will begin Friday evening, Nov. 12, and continue through lunch on Sunday, Nov. 14. Writers should plan to work late both nights.

Darcy Pattison is an Arkansas children’s book author and writing teacher. In 1999, she created the Novel Revision Retreat, which she now teaches across the nation. Translated into eight languages, her four picture books and one middle grade novel have been recognized for excellence by starred reviews, Book of the Year awards, state award lists and more. She is the 2007 recipient of the Arkansas Governor’s Arts Award for Individual Artist for her work in children’s literature. Learn more about Darcy at www.darcypattison.com.

Other SCBWI Events in Texas:
Austin SCBWI: www.austinscbwi.com
Houston SCBWI: www.scbwi-houston.org
North Central/Northeast Texas SCBWI: www.scbwi.org/Regional-Chapters.aspx?R=47
Southwest Texas SCBWI: www.scbwi-swtx.org