Oklahoma Regional Fall Conference

Date/Time
Date(s) - 10/02/2020 - 10/03/2020
12:00 am

Category(ies)

The Oklahoma Chapter of the

Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) invites you to join us for

THE POWER OF STORY

Conference on October 2-3, 2020
Online Conference

Registration is now open. Registration and schedule links at bottom of page. ⇓

Learn from leading industry professionals in the children’s and young adult publishing business and submit your work to them.

Registration fee for the conference, which will include recordings of all sessions and breakouts for one month, will be $75 for SCBWI members. You must be logged in with SCBWI to receive the member rate. Non-member registration will be $100. All attendees and registrants will have the opportunity to submit to the conference faculty.

A list of submission guidelines to faculty members will be emailed to all registrants the weekend of the conference.

Amy Brewer, Senior Literary Agent at Metamorphosis Literary Agency –

Amy Brewer wears many hats everyday, from senior literary agent and subsidiary rights manager at Metamorphosis, to co-author of the Texting Prince Charming series, to social media manager, and yoga teacher. Her intuitive human understanding can help other writers bridge the communication gap and jump into the publishing world. Her experience in the mental health field and yoga training help her guide and assist clients with stress and anxiety in this highly competitive industry. All of this is pulled together with a multi-tasking and hyper-organized brain, so that at the end of every day she feels accomplished and grateful. She is seeking captivating stories of human experience and books that touch her heart.

Amy will critique a complete board or picture book; or the first ten manuscript pages of a chapter book, an early reader, a middle grade, a young adult, a new adult, nonfiction, a poetry collection, a comic/graphic novel; or an illustrator only website/link/PDF.

Frances Gilbert, Editor with Random House Children’s Books –

FRANCES GILBERT started her career in children’s books when she was still a child,
working in the children’s department of her town library throughout high school. After
graduating from university with an M.A. in English, Frances’s first job in publishing was
as a Book Club Editor at Scholastic Canada in Toronto. She moved to New York in 2000
to set up a children’s editorial division at Sterling Publishing, where she stayed till 2012.
Frances then moved to Random House Children’s Books, where she is Editor-in-Chief of
Doubleday Books for Young Readers. Titles she has acquired and edited include: The
Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine by Mark Twain, Philip Stead, and Erin Stead; I
Don’t Want to Be a Frog by Dev Petty and Mike Boldt; the Hello, World! board book
series by Jill McDonald; Bunny’s Book Club by Annie Silvestro and Tatjana Mai-Wyss;
and Wordy Birdy by Tammi Sauer and Dave Mottram.
In addition to editing children’s books, Frances also writes them: She is the author of the
picture books Go, Girls, Go! (Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster) and I Will Always Be Your
Bunny (Doubleday); the Step Into Reading titles I Love Pink!, I Love My Tutu!, and I
Love My Grandma!; and an abridgment of The Secret Garden (Little Golden Books).
You can follow Frances on Twitter at @GoGirlsGoBooks, where she posts about
children’s writing, editing, and girl-centric picture books.

Frances will critique a complete picture book or board book manuscript.

Natascha Morris, Literary Agent with BookEnds Literary Agency

Natascha spent most of her childhood in a leather chair with her nose in a book. Formerly an editorial assistant at Simon & Schuster, her passion for books across genres and her desire to find amazing talent drove her to make the transition from editorial to literary agent. Her editorial philosophy stems from the idea that all books should be well written and entertaining.  Natascha is primarily looking for picture book, middle grade and young adult manuscripts across most genres, including graphic novels.

Natascha will critique a full picture book, or the first ten pages of a middle grade, young adult, or comic/graphic novel.

 Eileen Savage, Assistant Art Director for G. P. Putnam’s Sons and Nancy Paulsen Books

Eileen Savage is an Assistant Art Director at G.P. Putnam’s Sons and Nancy Paulsen Books, two imprints of Penguin Young Readers. She collaborates on picture books and middle grade novels with many talented illustrators, among them Christian Robinson, Eliza Wheeler, and Ekua Holmes. She is drawn to artwork with compelling characters and a strong visual narrative.  Some recent titles include The Cat Man of Aleppo, Cyclops of Central Park, and The King of Kindergarten. www.eileen-savage.com

Eileen will critique a complete board or picture book; or the first ten manuscript pages of a comic/graphic novel; or an illustrator only website/link/PDF.

Stephanie Stein, Editor with HarperCollins Children’s Books –

Stephanie Stein is an editor at HarperCollins Children’s Books, where she acquires middle grade and YA titles for the Harper and HarperTeen imprints. In her eight years at Harper, she has worked with authors including Anna Bright, Rena Barron, Temre Beltz, Misa Sugiura, Rin Chupeco, Cynthia Hand, and Kiera Cass. She also edits the #1 bestselling Warriors series by Erin Hunter. Stephanie is always looking for genre-savvy fiction with a fresh premise, a clever sense of humor, or an irresistibly immersive world, and loves books that can break your heart—and then put it back together again. You can find her on Twitter @stephlystein

Stephanie will critique the first ten manuscript pages of a middle grade, a young adult, a new adult, nonfiction, or a comic/graphic novel.

In addition, and back by popular demand:

Tammi Sauer, Children’s Book Author –

Off-site Faculty include:

Heather Cashman, Agent with Storm Literary 

Heather has always loved meeting authors and working on their books as a collaborative partner. She was a professional editor for Cornerstones Literary Consultancy, editing middle grade, young adult, and adult books. She’s also helped authors by working as Managing Director of Pitch Wars, #PitMad, and Pitch Madness, as well as being a Pitch Wars mentor.

Before becoming an associate agent at Storm Literary Agency, Heather interned for three years at The Bent Agency and Entangled Publishing. She’s helped authors from the pre-query stage to acquisitions, and she’s also worked as a freelance editor and consultant for traditional and non-traditional publishing. She’s excited to help authors as their agent.  

Heather will critique a complete picture book manuscript, a complete board book manuscript, or the first ten pages of a chapter book, early reader, middle grade, young adult, new adult, non-fiction, or comic/graphic novel.

Eric Smith, Agent with P.S. Literary 

Eric Smith is a literary agent and author living in Philadelphia. An agent with P.S. Literary, he’s worked on New York Times bestselling and award-winning books. Some of his recent projects in the kid-lit space include Ruinsong by Julia Ember (FSG), Who I Was With Her by Nita Tyndall (HarperTeen), Queen of Coin and Whispers by Helen Corcoran (O’Brien), and Surrender Your Sons by Adam Sass (Flux). You can learn more about him and the authors he works with on his website, www.ericsmithrocks.com, and follow him on Twitter at @ericsmithrocks.com.

Eric will critique the first ten pages of a Middle Grade, Young Adult, or Nonfiction.

Registration Information and Extra Opportunities:

Optional opportunities for extra fees during registration include the following:

Option 1 –   $40 for an off-site critique by a speaker or off-site professional of your choice (first-come-first-serve). SCBWI members, for tips on professional manuscripts please see page 10 of THE BOOK: Essential Guide to Publishing for Children (log into www.scbwi.org and click on “Publications”).

Attendees choosing this option are responsible for getting their manuscripts/portfolio links submitted on time and correctly. After you register, you will receive more information and instructions via email from oklahoma-ARA@scbwi.org. No refunds on this option will be issued for late or unsubmitted manuscripts/portfolios.

SCBWI members, for tips on professional queries please see page 15 of THE BOOK: Essential Guide to Publishing for Children (log into www.scbwi.org and click on “Publications”).

Option 2 – $40 for a ten-minute “Face-to-Face Consultation” with a speaker of your choice doing consultations (first-come-first-served). During a ten-minute consultation, you can effectively give a verbal query like a written query letter and open a focused conversation about your work. Or you may choose to read the first page of your work and receive feedback on it. Zoom allows page sharing so that is also an option if you would like to show the page during your consultation. You may decide to ask for advice in advancing your career.

If you’ve never done a consultation or face-to-face, there are many resources out there on how to spend ten minutes with an agent or editor. Make a plan and use this valuable time wisely!

Attendees choosing this option are responsible for opening the zoom link in a timely manner. Only one person may sit in on a consultation with a speaker. Prior to the conference date, you will receive an instructional email from oklahoma-RA@scbwi.com. No refunds on this option will be issued for late or missed appointments.

Option 3 – Illustrator Portfolio Showcase – FREE TO ALL ATTENDEES! This is a fabulous opportunity for illustrators to have their work seen at no extra charge. Click on the option to participate in the showcase to receive detailed instructions on setting up your online portfolio. GRAND PRIZE: The Showcase will be judged by our guest, Art Director Eileen Savage, who will choose one portfolio to receive a FREE CONFERENCE for 2021! This showcase will be on our website for one month following the conference.

ILLUSTRATOR Pre-Conference ASSIGNMENT (LIMITED!): We have a fantastic option to offer you the chance to create a new work to be critiqued by Eileen Savage from an assignment of her own design. After registration, email Jerry Bennett, Oklahoma Illustrator Coordinator, at oklahoma-ic@scbwi.org for more information and to receive the assignment. IMPORTANT: Eileen will only be able to look at a limited number of works, which will be critiqued in order of receipt of works. Final works must be delivered by September 25th for placement in the session.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND that no refunds for conference registration can be given, as this conference is online and will be available to you for one month following the date of the conference.

You can pay by credit card or check. If you are paying by check and wish to add on a critique or consultation, money must be received before critique deadline.

Checks can be sent to:

Gaye Sanders

4142 Cove Dr.

Yukon, OK  73099

https://oklahoma.scbwi.org/oklahoma-fall-online-conference-schedule-the-power-of-story-october-2-3-2020/

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