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Mary Brown owns Books, Bytes & Beyond, a children's bookshop on Glen Rock, New Jersey.

In her 20 years as a bookseller, she's hosted hundreds of author events and is also an expert in developing leveled libraries for use in classrooms. She talked to us about the market today and emerging opportunities for authors, particularly with the introduction of Common Core standards.
 
On the market: Things have changed a lot for bookstores over the years: "We've seen our walk-in, retail business change a little bit," she said. "Now, about 70 percent of our business is school and library." Sales are good, especially in the school and library market. They're less likely to be hit-driven, buying hundreds of titles across the board. "There are a lot of opportunities out there."

On common core standards: Schools are just now starting to get into it. "All of you need to become familiar with these standards." Illustrations, glossaries, and nonfiction elements can all help your book align with these standards. (Learn more about them here.)

What schools are buying: Schools buy mostly in paperback for classrooms, which helps mid-list authors and with back-list sales.

Mary also talked about trends that schools are hungry for in response to the Common Core and what the market wants less of, as well as some specific books that are doing really well in this new environment.

Here's what the inside of Books, Bytes & Beyond looks like.

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Meg Rosoff, the award winning author of THERE IS NO DOG, PICTURE ME GONE, and HOW I LIVE NOW (soon to be a feature film), is the opening keynote of the SCBWI Winter Conference. Which, by the way, has an amazing title: So When Are You Going to Write a Real Book, You Know, For Adults?

Meg is hilarious--starting off by uttering the words that many authors cringe when hearing: "If all else fails, I'll write a kid's book" or "If I had time, I'd write a kid's book." And then Meg mentioned some of the people she would punch in the face (if only in her imagination).

The entire room erupted in hysterical laughter as Meg read from such classics as IF ROAST BEEF COULD FLY by Jay Leno and FIFTY SHADES OF GREY by E.L. James.

Meg is a highly acclaimed author, but her journey is fascinating and inspiring. She talked of failure, of bad reviews, and of writing. Meg discussed the stigma that sometimes comes along with writing for children.



When asked by students about the best book she's ever read, Meg replies that the best books she's  read were read before her twenties. Because as a teenager, she was at the exact right age to have her life changed. Meg read from an email that she received from a reader, and it's the reason she writes for teenagers. 

Some people think of young readers as lesser versions of adults. They don't get it. As an author, you must write truthfully. You shouldn't apologize for writing for teens or children! You're writing about the emerging people your readers will become. And you're changing lives.

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The room is buzzing with anticipation as Stephen Mooser takes the stage at this year's 14th Annual SCBWI Winter Conference.

We are starting the conference with a song: Happy Birthday to the effervescent Lin Oliver.

Of course Lin has the room giggling almost immediately.

Who is here?

The thousand attendees come from 17 countries, and from 45 states. There are 796 woman, 138 mean, and 65  undeclared. Of that, 287 are published authors and illustrators. Some of the interesting professions (other than writer or illustrator): architect, child therapist, clown, floral designer, and even a bug taxidermist.

Lin always welcomes those attending with such warmth and a true sense of community.

Let's get this party started.

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The room is abuzz!

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Shaun Tan grew up in the northern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia, and currently works as an artist, author and film-maker in Melbourne. Books such as "The Rabbits," "The Red Tree," "Tales From Outer Suburbia" and the acclaimed wordless novel "The Arrival" have been widely translated and enjoyed by readers of all ages. Shaun has also worked as a theater designer, feature film concept artist, and wrote and directed the Academy Award-winning animated short "The Lost Thing."  In 2011 he received the prestigious Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in Sweden for his body of work. His most recent publication is "The Bird King."

Shaun will be giving a Keynote address the Saturday February 2, 2013 of the upcoming 14th Annual SCBWI Winter Conference, titled "Internal Migrations."

I was so fortunate in this interview with Shaun to ask him about working in the magical space "between familiarity and strangeness," find out what he does when he has a creative emergency, get his advice about endings that resonate, and so much more! 

I'm in awe of his work, and now I'm even more excited to see Shaun speak in person!

How about you?  There are a limited number of spaces still available for the Saturday and Sunday of the 2013 SCBWI Winter Conference (the Friday intensives have sold out.) You can find out more details and register here.

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

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Robert Brown is National Sales and Program Manager at Scholastic Book Fairs. In 1987 Bob founded Cornerstone Books, Incorporated (d/b/a Books, Bytes & Beyond), located in Bergen County, New Jersey. He joined Scholastic Book Fairs in August 2012. A graduate of the University of Virginia and Dartmouth’s Tuck Business School, Bob has a strong commitment to education, and a desire to help children become lifelong readers.

Bob will be on the Saturday morning (February 2, 2013) Bookseller's panel with Mary Brown, owner, Books, Bytes and Beyond; Jon Fine, Amazon.com, and Peter Glassman, owner, Books of Wonder.  They'll be talking about "What's Selling?"

In this interview, Martha Brockenbrough finds out more about Bob, what sells best at the book fairs, and how Scholastic Book Fairs manage to reach 35 million kids and their families a year!

While the Friday Intensives are sold out, there are a limited number of spaces still available for the Saturday and Sunday of the 2013 SCBWI Winter Conference.  You can find out more details and register here. 

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

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Molly O'Neill is an editor at HarperCollins' Katherine Tegen Books imprint. She publishes literary and commercial fiction in the picture book, middle grade, and YA categories, and will be giving two breakout workshops on the Saturday of the upcoming 14th Annual SCBWI Winter Conference in New York City, February 1st-3rd, 2013, WHAT HOOKS ME.  She'll be talking about her list, and sharing

"...some of what drew me to each of those books, as well as some of the questions I ask myself when I’m thinking about acquiring a project."

On her blog, Martha Brockenbrough interviews Molly and finds out about the market, the types of manuscripts and the quality of writers Molly's looking for...and more!



Thanks Martha and Molly!

Registration for #NY13SCBWI is open (early registration ends January 4, 2013), and space is still available.  Keep in mind, the Winter conference sold out last year.  And the year before... 

Find out more details about the 2013 SCBWI Winter Conference schedule, faculty and registration here.

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

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Yolanda Scott is the editorial director at Charlesbridge. She has edited over 150 titles, working with authors such as Eve Bunting, Tony Johnston, Kathryn Lasky, David McPhail, Linda Sue Park, Jane Yolen, and the late Martha Alexander. She is a former executive board member of the Foundation for Children's Books and the founder of Pubs in Pubs, a networking organization for children's publishing professionals. She has been a children's literature speaker and mentor at Boston College and Simmons College and has judged the Boston Public Library Children's Writer-in-Residence Program (2008-2011).

Yolanda will be giving two breakout workshops on the Saturday of the upcoming 14th Annual SCBWI Winter Conference in New York City, February 1st-3rd, 2013, WHAT HOOKS ME.  In it, she promises to reveal "what makes her run, not walk, to the contracts department."

In her pre-conference interview with me, Yolanda shares what makes a writer a dream for her to work with, her advice for mid-list authors, her vision for the future of publishing and even the kind of island she'd most want to be stranded on...

Registration for #NY13SCBWI is open (early registration ends January 4, 2013), and space is still available.  FYI - the Winter conference sold out last year.  And the year before...  Find out more details about the 2013 SCBWI Winter Conference schedule, faculty and registration here.

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

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