SCBWI New Mexico’s Handsprings Conference: November 11-12

In 2004 I joined the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators after six years of trying this writing thing on my own. The impact this organization has had on my life has been tremendous. I finally felt like I’d met my people and what I was pursuing was doable. The yearly conferences I attended in Virginia and Michigan and Louisiana (and now New Mexico) fueled me up to keep going with my work.

I finally felt like a professional.

This year I stepped aside from a three-year long stint as assistant regional advisor for SCBWI-NM, but I’ve kept on as a volunteer through this year’s conference, which is going to be incredible. Just read below:

From the website:

Registration is now open for the upcoming Handsprings Conference on Nov. 11 and 12, 2016 at the Bosque Conference and Retreat Center: 6400 Coors Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120.  Faculty will include the following publishing professionals:

• Tracey Adams, Agent, Adams Literary
• Molly Idle, a Caldecott Honor picture book illustrator
• Wendy McClure, Senior Editor, Albert Whitman and Company, and author
• Victoria Rock, Editor-At-Large and founding publisher, Children’s Division Chronicle Books

The conference will include an evening social event on Friday and a full conference schedule on Saturday, including keynotes and the opportunity to attend three targeted, breakout sessions. Lunch at the Bosque Center is included in the tuition price for all participants.

Written manuscript and portfolio critiques will be available at an additional cost. Registration opens on-line at www.scbwi.org on August 31, 2016 and closes November 4, 2016. There will be no refunds.

Click through to read faculty member bios, descriptions of the breakout sessions, and, of course, the registration page.

I’ll be a part of a panel discussion, along with my agent Tracey Adams and two more of her New Mexico authors, Kimberley Griffiths Little and Vaunda Micheaux Nelson:

All in the Family: Author/Agent Relationships at Adams Literary. From a panel including several authors with their agent, you’ll gain insight on how an agency and its clients work together.

You don’t have to be a member to attend. You don’t even have to be a writer or illustrator. If you are interested in children’s literature, that makes you eligible. Teachers, librarians, parents interested in children’s literature, as well as aspiring and established authors and illustrators, I hope to see you there!