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Illustrators’ discussion group Date: 4 September 2007 Time: 10:00—12:00 Where: Details regarding venue in Johannesburg to respondents Cost (includes tea): For Non-members R30 per person; For SCBWI members R15 per person RSVP: [email protected] by 30 August at the latest. Please use “Illustrators’ discussion group” in the subject line. Description: Children’s book illustrators share ideas

Yesterday I attended a local children’s writers’ conference sponsored by the Kansas Chapter of the SCBWI (Society of Children’s book Writers and Illustrators). It was a wonderful conference with an impressive lineup of speakers - including successful children’s authors, agents, and editors. The presentations were excellent and they reminded me that one of the best ways to learn about children’s writing and publishing is from those who are already successful writers, illustrators, editors, and/or publishers.

Every month, members of the Children’s Writers Coaching Club are provided with many chances to listen, learn, and interact with successful children’s authors and/or illustrators.

Last week, children’s illustrator Elizabeth O. Dulemba was our guest for this month’s teleclass with a children’s illustrator.

Dulemba shared her secrets of success with our club members. And, even those who aren’t illustrators, learned a lot about the way a children’s picture book is created through this teleclass called The Nuts and Bolts of Children’s Book Illustration with Elizabeth O. Dulemba. Visit Dulemba’s website to view some of her amazing children’s book illustrations.

This week, our monthly teleclass with a children’s author will feature children’s educator and author Maureen McQuerry.

McQuerry’s poetry has been published in many journals including: Smartish Pace , The Atlanta Review, Southern Review, North American Review and Nimrod. It can also be found in the anthologies Margins, Pontoon 8 and The Washington Poetry Association collection Tattoos on Cedar. Recently McQuerry won the New Eden Chapbook Competition for her collection Wingward.

In her role as a teacher, McQuerry was appointed the McAuliffe Fellow for WA State in 2000 and that fellowship gave her time to write two non-fiction books, Student Inquiry, and Nuclear Legacy. Nuclear Legacy was written with a class of 8th grade students who all became published authors. The book took McQuerry to Chernobyl, Ukraine to look at how lives were impacted by the world’s largest nuclear disaster. McQuerry’s family spent one summer working in the United Arab Emirates, and another traveling through France and England.

McQuerry’s first YA adult novel, Wolfproof, started with one of the characters in a poem she wrote. The poem “Greenman” was based on carvings of foliate heads found in old churches throughout the British Isles. Eventually the greenman character from the poem worked his way into the story Wolfproof. And if you’re wondering about the title Wolfproof, well, it came from a poem too! The sequel to WP should be out next year.

Every month, members of the Children’s Writers Coaching Club are given the opportunity to attend two LIVE teleclasses like these. Members also receive a CD of each recorded event, so they can listen and learn from that month’s featured children’s author and that month’s featured children’s illustrator whenever they want.

In addition, club members are invited to weekly manuscript critique telesessions, and receive a monthly membership packet with other helpful materials for children’s writers and illustrators.

Best of all - the first month’s membership in the club is FREE - so anyone can try it out for a month to decide if the club is right for them.

To try Level I membership in our club FREE for one month - and receive CDs of both of these exciting teleclasses this month - click on the link in the right sidebar of this page. You won’t be billed a thing for 30 days. If you decide the club is not right for you before then, simply let us know and we will cancel your membership.

Join the Children’s Writers Coaching Club today and start learning from the best. You’ve got nothing to lose - and everything to gain!

Have a great day!

Suzanne Lieurance
Founder, Director, and Coaching Coordinator
The National Writing for Children Center
Home of the Children’s Writers Coaching Club

SCBWI had a stand at the Cape Town Book Fair where members of SCBWI displayed examples of their work.

LeAnne Hardy from Jo'burg was one writer who took advantage of the opportunity to display her books. Other authors included Wendy Hartman and Reviva Schermbrucker.

Illustrators also displayed their books as well as examples of their work. Gauteng illustrators whose work was on display included Joan Rankin and Yvette de Beer. Other illustrators who displayed their work included Marjorie van Heerden and Paddy Bouma.

The stand was very busy throughout the fair. Many people went through portfolios and looked at the books published by SCBWI members. They took down names of writers and illustrators whose work they could commission. A popular attraction were the beautiful posters for sale. These were done by renowned artists such as Piet Grobler and were snapped up by eager teachers and librarians.

The SCBWI stand was next to the IBBY stand which displayed some wonderful examples of South African books. A large number of exciting children's events were also organised.

All in all, children's books were prominent at the Cape Town Book Fair.

Elizabeth O. Dulemba received a B.F.A. in Graphic Design from the University of Georgia after a lifetime of art training. She spent fifteen years in the graphic design industry, mostly with child related businesses, before creating children’s picture books full-time. You can see Dulemba’s work in Glitter Girl and the Crazy Cheese and The Prince’s Diary, named Number 1 2006 Valentine’s Day Pick by Book Sense in conjunction with the Association of American Publishers (AAP). Haley and the Big Blast was released in November 2006, and Paco and the Giant Chile Plant is one of 5 books Dulemba has coming out next year. Visit her web site to learn more and download free coloring pages: www.dulemba.com.

Elizabeth enjoys talking to children of all ages, 1 to 99, about the journey of creating picture books. She also teaches beginning drawing at the John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina. She and her husband, Stan, live in the Atlanta area with two big dogs and a tiny cat who rules them all.

Wednesday night, June 20th, the Children’s Writers Coaching Club will have a special teleclass with children’s illustrator Elizabeth O. Dulemba. Club members can attend the LIVE teleclass and ask Elizabeth questions about illustrating for the children’s book markets. Each club member will also receive a CD of this recorded teleclass.

Join the Children’s Writers Coaching Club today so you won’t miss this exciting teleclass Wednesday. You get to try membership in the club for one month FREE - so what have you got to lose?

Date: 12 July 2007 Time: 9:00—13:00 Where: Brescia House School Cost: For Non-members R80 per person (includes tea & lunch) For SCBWI members R40 per person (includes tea & lunch) RSVP: [email protected] by 5 July at the latest. Please use “Illustrators and writers share their books” in the subject line. Description: Children’s book illustrators and writers share their books. Programme 9:00