Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators to Host Spring Conference

Professionals from established publishing companies and literary agencies will share their insights about children’s literature at the upcoming Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators conference. The Oklahoma-Arkansas Chapter of SCBWI, a professional organization of writers, illustrators, editors, publishers, agents, librarians, educators, booksellers and others involved with literature for young people holds an annual conference to allow aspiring writers and illustrators to meet publishing professionals in person. This year’s conference will be held on Friday, April 12 and Saturday, April 13 at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. Registration is currently underway at www.scbwi.org/regions/oklahoma-arkansas.

In addition to a full day of professional speakers on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., the spring conference includes a Friday night program for registered attendees. Friday night will begin with a pre-conference session with keynote speaker Kelley Delaney, followed by a panel with other conference faculty. Afterward, there will be a special mixer for attendees to mingle with the speakers.

The SCBWI spring conference also offers a limited number of slots for paid written critiques from editors, agents, and art directors. These spaces fill quickly, and those who wish to participate are urged to register as soon as possible.

All illustrators are encouraged to display their portfolio for conference viewing. Illustrators do not have to pay for a critique to display their portfolios.

Attendees also have the opportunity to purchase one-on-one paid face-to-face consultation with a professional. There will be a limited number of discussion times available. This can be used to ask for career advice, discuss your work, ask them to do a cold read of a first page and give comments, or any topic dealing with writing or illustrating.

Attendees will also have the option of participating in the crowd-favorite illustration postcard contest and the crowd-favorite 40-word pitch contest. Both are free to participate and include the prize of a free one-on-one face session with an editor from Penguin Random House.

All conference registrations include the Friday night sessions, lunch on Saturday, contests, and breakout sessions. Authors and Illustrators may also have currently-in-print and available books for sale at the official conference book table.

Registration is $180 for SCBWI members and $220 for non-members.

 More information and registration forms can be found at www.scbwi.org/regions/oklahoma-arkansas.

This year’s publishing professionals include:

• Kelly Delaney - Senior Editor of Crown Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House
• Matt Phipps - Associate Editor, GP Putnam’s Sons, Penguin Young Readers
• Stephanie Fretwell-Hill - Senior Agent and Red Fox Literary
• Tracy Shaw - Art Director at Little, Brown and Company
• Morgan Hughes - Associate Agent, Fine Print Literary
• Brenda Maier - Children’s Author
• David Corbly - Founder, Open Door Creations

Offsite Faculty:

• Monica Rodriguez - Director of Brand Management and Junior Agent, Context Literary
• Josh Gregory - Editor, Albert Whitman & Company

About SCBWI

Founded in 1971, by authors Stephen Mooser (President) and Lin Oliver (Executive Director), The Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI) is one of the largest existing writers’ and illustrators’ organizations, with over 20,000 members worldwide. It is the only professional organization for those specifically working in mediums of children’s literature, magazines, film, television, and multimedia, and makes an annual presentation of the Golden Kite Awards, the only award presented to children’s book authors and artists by their peers.