Getting Started in Children’s Books 2010 Panel

It’s time to announce CWILL BC’s annual Getting Started in Children’s Books panel. Usually held in February, this year’s panel has been pushed to March 8, 2010.

Here is the poster (also available at print res for download) and the details:

CWILL BC Panel: Getting Started in Children’s Books, 2010

March 8, 2010, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m.
Vancouver Public Library, Central Library, 350 West Georgia Street
Alice MacKay Room

Admission: Free

Interested in writing or illustrating books for young readers? Join seven professional children’s authors and illustrators at this free public event to find out how they broke into this exciting and competitive field and how they built their careers. Audience members will have a chance to ask questions and get practical information on such topics as how to improve your writing, how to find a publisher and submit your work, what agents do, what to look for in a book contract and what the financial rewards are.

Panelists:

Ellen Schwartz (moderator) is the award-winning author of 12 books for children, ranging from picture books to early chapter books to teen non-fiction. Her first two young adult novels will be released in 2010. Ellen also teaches writing for children courses.

Lee Edward Födi has been writing and illustrating stories about magic, monsters, and mystery for as long as he can remember. He is the author and illustrator of The Chronicles of Kendra Kandlestar trilogy. Lee also helps kids sculpt their own stories through creative writing workshops.

Gail Banning
A prosecutor by day, Gail Banning became a published children’s author in 2008.  Her novel Out on a Limb was chosen for Best Books for Kids and Teens 2009 (CCBC) and Resource Links’ Best of 2008, and is short-listed for Surrey Schools’ Book of the Year and the Chocolate Lily Award.

Linda DeMeulemeester
Linda DeMeulemeester’s first book, The Secret of Grim Hill, was named one of the Great Books of 2008 by the Canadian Toy Testing Council and won the Silver Birch Award. She has since published two more books in the Grim Hill series, and the fourth will be released in spring 2010.

Paola Opal
Paola Opal is a freelance artist and graphic designer. She illustrated and co-authored the “Simply Small” board book series, including Totty, Saffy, Saffy Looks for Rain, and Ollie. Her first picture book, One Little Bug, won an Alcuin Society award for excellence in book design.

Shula Klinger
Shula Klinger is the author of The Kingdom of Strange and illustrated Beverly Patt’s forthcoming book, Best Friends Forever: A World War II Scrapbook. Her poetry, nonfiction and journalism have been published and broadcast in Canada, England and the U.S.

Crystal Stranagan
Crystal Stranaghan approaches writing from all sides of the desk. She is the author of six picture books, the publisher of Gumboot Books and a writing and publishing mentor for kids, teens and adults through various creative writing programs. She is also the current president of CWILL BC.