DATE: November 16, 2009 - November 17, 2009
CONTACT: Mio Debnam
CHAPTER: Hong Kong
LOCATION/TIME: see below
What You Need to Know - Your Road to Publication
Alvina Ling, Senior Editor of Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (New York), will present a series of talks on the business of children’s book publishing, packed with tips on how to become a published author or illustrator.
Date: Monday 16th & Tuesday 17th November, 2009
Time: Day 1: 6.00-8.30 pm, Day 2: 6.35-8.30 pm
Location: Meeting Rooms 10 &11, KPMG 8th Floor Prince’s Building, Central
Per day: Day 1 $250 SCBWI members, $280 non members; Day 2 $230 members, $260 non members
Two Day package: $420 for SCBWI members, $480 for non members
EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT – register for BOTH sessions before 19th October and save a further $20: $400 for SCBWI members, $460 for non members
Registration & enquiries: scbwihk@gmail.com
Day 1:
6.00-7.00 My path to publishing, your path to publication
Alvina will share the story of how she became an editor – from childhood influences to a methodical plan, as well as providing an inside look into an editor’s office. She will talk about the mistakes to avoid, and how to get out of the slush pile, as well as the importance of diversity in both the books that are published and the people who make them.
7.10-8.30 The business realities of children’s book publishing in the USA
In this talk, Alvina will cover: topics such as book covers – how and why they are chosen, manuscript auctions, profit and loss worksheets, how books are judged after they are published, some of the negatives of the business, where she thinks publishing is heading, and more—the down and dirty details, the good, bad, and the ugly of how the business works.
Day 2
6.35-7.35 Thinking like your editor
Learn what goes on inside a publishing house through the eyes of a children’s editor with ten years’ experience. Alvina will share a behind-the-scenes view of the publishing process and the challenges and editor has to deal with on a day-to-day basis. She will discuss tips on how to work with an editor through the editorial, production, and marketing stages.
7.45- 8.30 Ask the expert
Need more detailed info or insight? In this moderated session, Alvina will take general questions from participants, about the books she’s edited, publishing, and tips on becoming published.
Alvina Ling is currently a Senior Editor at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers where she has worked for over ten years. She edits children's books for all ages, from picture books to young adult novels, as well as some nonfiction. Books she has edited include Eggs by Jerry Spinelli; The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin; Wabi Sabi by Mark Reibstein, illustrated by Caldecott Award winner Ed Young; Sergio Makes a Splash by Edel Rodriguez, The Curious Garden by Peter Brown; Firegirl by Tony Abbott; North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley, Sound of Colors by Jimmy Liao; Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! The Beatles, Beatlemania, and the Music That Changed the World by Bob Spitz; and The Devouring by Simon Holt.
Alvina lives in NY and enjoys running in Central Park, walking all over the city, having adventures (like skydiving), and eating great food! She contributes to the children's book blog Blue Rose Girls at www.bluerosegirls.blogspot.com.