By Cynthia Leitich Smith
Congratulations to RA Debbie Gonzales, ARA Carmen Oliver, Illustration Chair Mark G. Mitchell, and the faculty, volunteers, and attendees at yesterday’s Austin SCBWI Regional Conference, “Something for Everybody,” at St. Edward’s University.
Faculty included: authors Lisa Yee, Donna Jo Napoli, Anastasia Suen, and Chris Barton; attorney Barry Furrow; editor Bonnie Bader of Penguin Young Readers Group (Grosset and Dunlap and Price Stern Sloan); editorial director Diane Muldrow of Golden Books/Random House; senior art director Patti Ann Harris of Little, Brown; publicist Kirsten Cappy of Curious City; agent Sarah Davies of Greenhouse Literary Agency; agent Jill Corcoran of Herman Agency as well as Erin Murphy and Ammi-Joan Paquette (who’s also a children’s author) of Erin Murphy Literary Agency.
Critique faculty included: April Lurie, Brian Yansky, Bethany Hegedus, P.J. Hoover, Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith, Jennifer Ziegler, Jessica Lee Anderson, Margo Rabb, Mari Mancusi, Nikki Loftin and Varian Johnson.
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| Socializing at the Friday night reception. |
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| Raffle items and illustration portfolios. |
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| Opening session. |
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| Jill’s breakout session on query letters. |
The Meredith Davis Member-of-the-Year Award went to writer Shelli Cornelison, the winner of the portfolio contest was author-illustrator Jeff Crosby, and in a surprising turn of events, Greg and I received an award naming us the 2011 Ambassadors for the Austin Kid-Lit Community. We’re deeply honored.
Thanks for the recap, Cyn! I'm glad we were able to surprise you and Greg with the recognition you so richly deserve for your love and support in the Austin Kid-Lit community.
Thanks for EVERYTHING you both did this weekend to make the regional conference a huge success!
Hugs, Carmen
Congratulations on your award! Well, well deserved!
Jen
Thank YOU, Carmen! We are so wowed by everything you do, and so surprised and honored by the award.
And thanks to Jen, too! Hope your travels have been magical!
Awesome Awesome day! Made even more so with your award. Conagratulations. It really is well deserved.