The Asian American Writers’ Workshop is offering “Where I’m Calling From,” a new writing project for youth that focuses on capturing personal experiences in the form of creative non-fiction, stories based on real life, essays and journals. WICF is open to youth, grades 9 to 12, from all racial backgrounds in New York City and surrounding areas. All youth who participate in WICF will receive an artist stipend of $200, based on commitment, attendance and participation. Applications accepted and admitted on a rolling basis but no later than June 5, 2006. Applicants will be notified applicants by mid-June. See details and application.

“The Blue Hen Book Award is a children’s choice award sponsored by the Children’s Services Division of the Delaware Library Association.” The 2006 Blue Hen Book Award Winners are: Over In the Ocean: In A Coral Reef by Marianne Berkes (Dawn Publications, 2004)(picture book); The Report Card by Andrew Clements (Simon & Schuster, 2004)(chapter book); and Contents Under Pressure by Lara M. Zeises (Delacorte, 2004)(teen)(author interview).

Congratulations to Dr. Loriene Roy, a professor in the School of Information at The University of Texas at Austin. Loriene will serve as the 2007-2008 President of the American Library Association (ALA). According to the UT School of Information News: “Roy, an Anishinabe (Ojibwe) enrolled on the White Earth Reservation and a member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, will be the first Native person to serve as ALA president. She joined UT’s nationally recognized School of Information in 1987 and currently teaches graduate courses in public librarianship, reference, and library instruction/information literacy.” See Loriene’s Campaign.

Electronic Rights by Kohel M. Haver, Literary and Arts Attorney, Kohel Haver & Associates from The Purple Crayon.

“Girl Detective” by Colleen Mondor from Bookslut in Training. Highlighted mystery titles include: Jennifer Allison‘s Gilda Joyce books (publisher bio), Bennett Madison‘s Lulu Dark books (YA Books Central interview), Elise Broach‘s Shakespeare’s Secret (Henry Holt, 2005)(author interview)(recommendation), and Catherine Fisher‘s Darkhenge (HarperCollins, 2006)(excerpt).

“It’s All About the Book…And a Little Luck, Says Couloumbis:” An Exclusive Authorlink Interview With Audrey Couloumbis, author of The Misadventures of Maude March, Or Trouble Rides a Fast Horse (Delacorte, 2005) by Susan VanHecke from Authorlink, May 2006. Note: Maude March is a rare, girl-powered Western novel.

The first chapter to Midnight Sun (Twilight (Little Brown, 2005) retold from Edward’s point of view–I think) is now available on author Stephenie Meyer’s website (author interview). Source: The Interactive Reader.