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Conference ~ 2008
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MEET
OUR 2008
CONFERENCE
FACULTY
|
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REGINA
BROOKS,
President, Serendipity Agency, LLC. Regina has a gift for discovering
talented, new illustrators and identifying new writer voices such as
Derrick Barnes, whose first novel,The Making of Dr Truelove,won
an ALA Award. Serendipity was hailed by Writer's Digest as one of the
top 25 literary agencies in 2004. Prior to founding her agency, Regina
held senior editorial positions at John Wiley & Sons and McGraw-Hill.
She authored Never Finished! Never Done! and Writing Great Books
for Young Adults (2009). Note:Regina will critique portfolios and
manuscripts in all genres. |
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KRISTIN
DALY,
Editor, Harper Collins, became interested in children’s books
as a career in high school when she worked in her local library shelving
(and often covertly reading!) books in the children’s room. In
1999 she became an Editorial Assistant at Golden Books. In 2002 she
moved to Harper Collins where she worked with many talented authors
and illustrators, including Sudipta Bardhan, Audrey Vernick, and Diana
Peterfreund. Kristin edits titles from picture books to young adult
books. In May 2008, she joined the team at Harper’s newest imprint,
Balzer & Bray. Note:Kristin will critique all genres. |
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AMY
LENNEX,
Associate Editor, Sleeping Bear Press, began as a Production Coordinator
almost 9 years ago and 7 years ago she became an Associate Editor. She
has a Degree in Written Communication from E. Michigan and will complete
her Masters in Business Administration later this year. Sleeping Bear
Press has been able to offer first time authors a place on the shelves—Denise
Brennan-Nelson, now with 8 books; Matt Napier, author of Z is for
Zamboni: A Hockey Alphabet with more than 100,000 copies sold,
and Carol Crane, known as SBP’s southeast connection. Note: Amy
will critique all genres. |
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TIM
BOWERS
began drawing at an early age and, even then, his artwork reflected
a strong sense of humor and an interest in animals. Tim attended the
Columbus College of Art & Design where he received his Bachelor
of Fine Arts degree. After college, Tim worked as an artist for Hallmark
Cards and helped launch the popular Shoebox Greetings card line. To
date, Tim has illustrated more than twenty children’s books. His
greeting cards continue to be published by leading card companies in
the United States. Note: Tim will critique portfolios. |
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LYNDA
DURRANT
has seven historical fiction novels for young readers which have won
accolades, starred reviews, and awards, including the ALA, Ohio Library
Assn., Amelia Bloomer Award, Horn Book, Parents Choice, and Banks Street
College of Education Award. Most of her novels are about real people
and how they shaped our national character. All her novels show the
links between Colonial America and the westward migration into the Midwest
to the Mississippi River. Lynda has both Bachelor and Master Degrees
in English from the University of Washington in Seattle. Lynda will
critique middle grade manuscripts. |
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DAWN
FITZGERALD
is the author of seven books. From a PB biography on Vinnie Ream, the
16-year-old artist commissioned to sculpt Abraham Lincoln, to MG sports
fiction, Dawn writes about feisty characters who overcome the odds to
achieve their dreams. Vinnie and Abraham is a 2008 Ohioanna
award finalist, a Book List top ten biography, and a Jr. Library Guild
selection. Getting in the Game is a 2005 NYP Library Best Books
for Teens, while Soccer Chick Rules is a 2008 ALA Popular Paperbacks
for Young Adults pick and a Jr. Library Guild selection. Note:Dawn will
critique manuscripts in all genres. |
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MAUREEN
BRADY JOHNSON
is an award-winning playwright and theatre educator. She is also the
author of three books and has been teaching and directing plays and
musicals for over thirty years. Her play, “Rock, Paper, Scissors”
was a finalist for the National Ten Minute Play Contest for Actor’s
Theatre Louisville. She writes a newsletter for playwrights and a guest
column in her local newspaper. Note: Maureen will critique plays. |
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LAURIE
LAZZARO KNOWLTON
has authored 35 books in the trade, educational, craft, and Christian
markets. Why Cowboys Sleep With Their Boots On is Laurie’s
best selling picture book which won Eastman Kodak’s Premier Print
Award, and has sold over 40,000 copies. She wrote and illustrated God
Be in My Heart; and Red, White, and Blue. The latter was
honored by the Huebner Museum of Children’s PB Art. Bank Street
College chose A Young Man’s Dance as among the best Children’s
Books of 2007. Laurie addresses groups throughout the U.S. and Mexico.
Note: Laurie will critique manuscripts in all genres. |
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DANDI
DALEY MACKALL
won her first writing contest “Why I Want to Be Batboy for
the Kan-sas City A’s” as an 11-year-old, but the team
wouldn’t let a girl be batboy. It was her first taste of rejection.
Since then, Dandi has become an award-winning author of over 400 books
with sales of $4 million in 22 countries. In 2006, Dandi received the
Distinguished Alumna Award from the University of Missouri, where she
earned her BA. Her MA is from the University of Oklahoma. She was an
instructor for Highlights Foundation and the Institute of Children's
Literature. Note: Dandi will critique manuscripts in all genres. |
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BRANDON
MARIE MILLER
has eight published books for young people and has sold articles to
Highlights and Cobblestone. Her books earned excellent
reviews and gathered honors from the National Council for Social Studies,
the International Reading Assn., The Society of School Librarians International,
the Children's Book Committee at Bank Street College, The Society of
Midland Authors, and Junior Library Guild. She received her degree in
American History from Perdue, University. Attendees are asked to bring
samples of their queries/proposals to her session. Note: Brandon will
critique MG manuscripts. |
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M.
LAVORA PERRY wrote
Taneesha Never Disparaging (Wisdom Publications) based on the
main character in one of her self-published books. She sold over 9,000
copies of those books in 2 years. LaVora coauthored, with acclaimed
physician Linda Bradley, MD; the upcoming 7-book series, Teen Sister’s
Health--A Body, Mind, & Spirit Wellness Guide for Girls of Color.
LaVora is a former awarded American Greetings’ card writer and
is the Executive Editor for UPRIS—a company that custom-designs
online health information communities. Note: LaVora will critique middle
grade and young adult manuscripts. |
Authors
will be available for autographing on Saturday, at the end of the conference.
In
case of emergency, speakers may change without notice. |
