Destination Publication: An Awesome Austin Conference for Writers and Illustrators is scheduled for Jan. 30 and sponsored by Austin SCBWI.

Speakers and Events

Keynote speakers are Newbery Honor author Kirby Larson and Caldecott Honor author-illustrator Marla Frazee, who will also offer an illustrator breakout and portfolio reviews.

Presentations and critiques will be offered by editor Cheryl Klein of Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic, author-editor Lisa Graff of FSG, agent Andrea Cascardi of Transatlantic Literary, agent Mark McVeigh of The McVeigh Agency, and agent Nathan Bransford of Curtis Brown, Ltd.

Advanced critique break-out sessions will be led by editor Stacy Cantor of Bloomsbury.

In addition, Cheryl and author Sara Lewis Holmes will speak on the editor-and-author relationship, and Marla and author Liz Garton Scanlon will speak on the illustrator-and-author relationship. Note: Sara and Liz also will be offering manuscript critiques.

Illustrator Patrice Barton will offer portfolio reviews.

Additional authors on the speaker-and-critique faculty include Jessica Lee Anderson, Chris Barton, Shana Burg, P.J. Hoover, Jacqueline Kelly, Philip Yates, Jennifer Ziegler.

Special opportunities include a party with the conference faculty on Friday evening at the historic home of Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith and a barbecue with the conference faculty on Saturday evening at the lake home of Meredith and Clay Davis!

See registration form, information packet, and conference schedule (all PDF files)!