Calendar of Events - Northern Ohio Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators-NOH SCBWI

Go to SCBWI International calendar for events throughout the US and around the world.

November 2011
The 2011 Publication Celebration on Nov. 12 was both entertaining and inspiring. As always our honorees showed their passion for writing and illustrating and expressed themselves not only as professional individuals, but as professional individuals who have NOT lost the sense of who they are, where they came from, how hard they've worked and how hard they push themselves to continue working on their paths.

The following is a list of our 2011 honorees and their published works. ISBNs are included for your convenience.

LeeAnn Blankenship--2011 Article in Cricket – “To Speak the Truth”
Sophie Cayless--May 2011 Craft Article in Highlights Magazine
Cinda Williams Chima--The Gray Wolf Throne, Hyperion (August 2011), 978-142311825-1
Jean Daigneau--2011 Article in Children's Writers and Illustrators Market – “Supplement Your Writing Income - Know your options”
Jeannine Garsee--2011 Essay "Fearless" published in Dear Bully: Seventy Authors tell their Stories, Harper Teen, 978-0062060983
Colleen Kessler--Mitchell Lane: A Project Guide to Forces and Motion - 978-1584159650, A Project Guide to Electricity and Magnetism - 978-1584159667, A Project Guide to Sound - 978-1584159704, A Project Guide to Light and Optics - 978-1584159698
Pamela Spremulli--Illustrator for Woof, PublishingWorks (March 2011) 978-1-935557-77-7
Tricia Springstubb--Mo Wren, Lost and Found, Balzer & Bray (August 2011) 978-0061990397

December 2011

No meeting – Happy Writing and Illustrating!

January 2012
January 21--Critique meet with picture book author/illustrator Laurie Knowlton (www.laurieknowlton.com). We will meet from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the Barnes & Noble in Fairlawn. This event is free and open to the public but RSVP is required (contact Regional Advisor Victoria Selvaggio at vselvaggio@windstream.net).

February 2012

February 11-April 7--NEW! WRITING 4 CHILDREN: A 5-class critique session on basic fiction structure with Regional Advisor Emeritus Laurie Lazarro Knowlton. Register now at http://www.regonline.com/writing4children. If this session is full, please sign up for the waiting list. If there is enough interest, a second time slot will open up for this course, during the same time period.

CLASS DESCRIPTION: Do you think in stories? Do you have a love for children's literature? THIS CLASS IS FOR YOU! We will study basic fiction structure. We will write, read, critique and grow. We will get your manuscript ready to submit!

START DATE: First class begins on February 11, 2012* and meets for 5 weeks - EVERY OTHER SATURDAY. End date is May 12, 2012. Participant will receive 5 written critiques.
CLASS SIZE: SPACE IS LIMITED TO 6 PARTICIPANTS with a waiting list for a possible future session later this year.
LOCATION: Barnes and Noble, 4015 Medina Road, Akron, OH 44333
TIME: 10:00am - 12:00pm
COST: $150 for SCBWI member, $170 for non-SCBWI member

Complete details, including Laurie's bio, PLUS additional critique services available which ARE NOT included in this price can be found at the registration link: http://www.regonline.com/writing4children.

*Meeting dates may change depending on participants' schedules.

February 18--Speaker/Workshop Event with Kathiann M. Kowalski --"NOT 'Just the Facts, Ma'am': Writing and Marketing Nonfiction for Today's Youth"

Time: 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. ***Program begins at 10 a.m.***
Location: Holiday Inn Cleveland - South, 6001 Rockside Road, Independence, Ohio 44131
Cost: SCBWI Member $32.00 , Non-Member $42.00

SPACE IS LIMITED for this event. Registrations will be processed on a first come, first received basis. Northern Ohio SCBWI is not responsible for non-received items. Registration begins on January 23, 2012 and ends February 14, 2012. No refunds after February 3, 2012. To register, go to http://www.regonline.com/kowalski.
SPEAKER: Kathiann M. Kowalski will present “NOT ‘Just the Facts, Ma’am’: Writing and Marketing Nonfiction for Today’s Youth.” The workshop will address a range of issues relating to nonfiction writing, such as finding a fresh slant; conducting research and expert interviews; making complex material accessible to children; pitching stories; working with editors; and more. Writers at all levels of expertise are encouraged to attend, and participants should bring writing materials for program activities.

BIOGRAPHY: Kathiann M. Kowalski is an experienced journalist who writes on a wide range of topics. To date, Kathi has written 22 books and over 550 articles and stories.

Kathi obtained her Bachelor's degree in political science from Hofstra University. Her law degree is from Harvard Law School, where Kathi served on the Harvard Law Review. In addition to writing, Kathi has spent 15 years practicing law. She has spoken at professional conferences and authored more than a dozen scholarly articles and papers. Kathi was also a 2008 Science Journalism Fellow in the Biomedical Hands-On Lab program at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Massachusetts.

Kathi's writing has won multiple awards and honors. Attack of the Superbugs: The Crisis of Drug-Resistant Disease (Enslow, 2005) was included by the National Science Teachers Association and the Children's Book Council on their list of Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12 for 2006. The Everything Kids' Nature Book (Adams Media, 2000) won an ASPCA Henry Bergh Children's Book Honor in the Non-Fiction, Environment and Ecology category. Order in the Court: A Look at the Judicial Branch (Lerner, 2004) and Hazardous Waste Sites (Lerner, 1996) won awards from The Society of School Librarians International. Teen Rights: At Home, At School, Online (Enslow, 2000) and Global Warming (Marshall Cavendish, 2004) were listed by The Pennsylvania School Librarians Association (PSLA) on its YA Top Forty Nonfiction Titles lists.

March 2012
March 24--The Artistry of Picture Books with Christopher Canyon (www.jeanetteandchristophercanyon.com)

TIME: 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Refreshments will be provided.
PLACE: Summit Art Space, 140 East Market Street, Akron, OH 44308
http://www.akronareaarts.org/summit-artspace/about-summit-artspace/
COST: SCBWI Member $45.00; Non-Member $55.00 ***Registration begins February 12, 2012.***

Note: Christopher Canyon will review/critique illustrator portfolios if time allows, bring your portfolio if interested and indicate on registration form that you are interested.

CONTENT: Christopher Canyon will present varying approaches, styles, and media he has explored in designing and illustrating picture books. He will be sharing many visual examples in a slideshow presentation including preliminary sketches, journal excerpts, research, design concepts, and final art. Christopher will also be sharing his own personal professional experience of nearly 20 years as a children's book illustrator--as well as his current creative and professional directions within the field of children's literature. His presentation “The Artistry of Picture Books” is geared for all levels-beginner to professional. Participants will not need any supplies.

SPEAKER: Christopher Canyon is a unique presence in the world of children’s literature. His remarkable ability to reinvent his artistic approach for each book he creates is a true reflection of his devotion to the stories and books he illustrates. Whether he is illustrating fiction, nonfiction, poetry or songs his ever-changing styles create the perfect “visual voice” that bring his award-winning books to life for children of all ages. He is best known for his brilliantly adapted and illustrated books of beloved songs by the late singer/songwriter John Denver. Christopher received his formal art education at the Columbus College of Art & Design. It was there where he met his wife (and fellow children's book creator), Jeanette Canyon. When they aren't busily working in their home studio, the Canyons spend their time sharing their books and creative processes at schools and conferences throughout the country. They reside in historic German Village in Columbus, Ohio.

March 27--School-Author/Illustrator Visit Fair

TIME: 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (table set-up begins at 3:30 p.m.)
LOCATION: Kenston Intermediate School, 17419 Snyder Road, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023
http://www.kenston.k12.oh.us/kis/index.html
FEE: $15.00 SCBWI member; $25 non-SCBWI member. Check only. NO cash or credit card.
REGISTRATION: Begins January 27, 2012. Ends March 20, 2012. Download a registration form (PDF).

The Northern Ohio SCBWI is sponsoring a School-Author/Illustrator Visit Fair for SCBWI P.A.L. authors/illustrators to meet and exchange school-visit information with building principals, librarians, literary specialists, county gifted-coordinators, and current PTO/PTA chairs from Northern Ohio public and private schools. There is no formal presentation.

To find out if you qualify for SCBWI P.A.L. membership, see http://www.nohscbwi.org/membership.html.

Registration fee includes:

Reserved table and chair

Table topper with registrant’s name and genre(s)

Mailing List – over 80 school districts, plus PTO/PTA! To receive this list, you must participate completely in the event.

Automatic entry to win a gently used copy of Terrific Connections with Authors, Illustrators, and Storytellers: Real Space and Virtual Links by Toni Buzzeo and Jane Kurtz. (New copy retails at $32.00.) http://www.tonibuzzeo.com/visitstc.html

Refreshments

April 2012

April 21--Critique meet with young adult fiction author Mara Purnhagen (www.marapurnhagen.com). We will meet from 10:00 a.m. to noon. This event is free and open to the public but RSVP is required (contact Regional Advisor Victoria Selvaggio at vselvaggio@windstream.net).

Please note the new location for this event: Chagrin Falls Branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library, 100 East Orange Street, Chagrin Falls. We will meet in the lower-level meeting room. Additional parking is located on the back side of the library and across the street in a parking lot.

May 2012

May 19--The Many Structures of Picture Books with author/illustrator Laurie Knowlton (www.laurieknowlton.com)

June 2012

June 16--TBA

July 2012

July 21--Critique meet with picture book author/illustrator Lindsay Ward (www.lindsayward.com). We will meet from 10:00 a.m. to noon. This event is free and open to the public but RSVP is required (contact Regional Advisor Victoria Selvaggio at vselvaggio@windstream.net).

August 2012
August 18--TBA

September 2012

September 21-22--Annual Conference
Volunteer to help with the conference planning! Contact: Victoria Selvaggio, Regional Advisor, vselvaggio@windstream.net

October 2012

October 20--Critique meet with young adult fiction author Jeannine Garsee (www.jeanninegarsee.com). We will meet from 10:00 a.m. to noon. This event is free and open to the public but RSVP is required (contact Regional Advisor Victoria Selvaggio at vselvaggio@windstream.net).

November 2012

TBA

December 2012

No meeting – Happy Writing and Illustrating!

Would You like to become involved in helping to plan and facilitate meetings or events? Learn more about becoming a volunteer...

©2010. Northern Ohio Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators.
All images are property of the original artist/creator and may not be reproduced without written permission of the owner.