Attendees can pre-order books by presenters, get autographs, display their published books and hear these great presentations.
BOOK SIGNING
Our author and illustrator speakers will sell and sign books! You can order them beforehand and bring to the event, or buy them there.
DISPLAY YOUR PUBLISHED BOOKS
If you are attending in person and have a published book (or more) that is still currently in print, you may display it at our Published Books Showcase table! Feel free to include bookmarks and/or QR codes to make it easy for attendees to purchase.
PRESENTATIIONS:
Alvina Ling, VP and Publisher of Alvina Ling Books, an imprint of Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Crafting your Book’s Narrative: The Basics of Character, Voice, Structure, and Plot
In this intensive, we’ll explore the essential building blocks of a compelling narrative—character, voice, structure, and plot—and how they work together to create books that resonate with readers. Through a mix of talks, close reading of texts, and hands-on writing exercises, participants will learn how to craft their book’s narrative.
We’ll begin by examining how character and voice shape a reader’s connection to the story. How do you decide what point-of-view to write? How do you develop your narrative voice? Then we’ll explore narrative structure, and from there, we’ll explore plot by talking about how your book’s conflict can inform its plot. And finally, we’ll end with ways you can work to revise your own books like an editor.
Whether you’re starting a new project or refining a work-in-progress, this intensive will give you practical tools and creative inspiration to elevate your writing.
Karina Granda, Art Director at Little Brown for Young Readers
Illustrating Imagination: A Deep Dive on Creating Art for Middle Grade Books
Discover what it takes to create unforgettable middle grade book covers in this fun, fast-paced session for illustrators! Explore the wide range of artistic styles publishers seek, from realistic and contemporary scenes to whimsical fiction, epic fantasy, historical, humor, and beyond. Learn how visual storytelling, character design, color, and composition work across different genres to capture the curiosity of young readers (ages 6-12). Through examples and industry insights, you'll gain a better understanding of the cover process, what it takes to make a cover stand out, and how to adapt your portfolio for today's middle grade market. We’ll also explore the “extra” interior art that makes middle grade so much fun—black-and-white character art, maps, diagrams, and more. Come ready to be inspired and spark new creative ideas!
Carter Hasagawa, Agent at Tugeau 2 Art Literary Agency
Using Mentor Texts
Michaela Whatnall, Literary Agent with Dystel, Goderich & Bourret
The Power of Specificity When Writing Your Pitch
Judy Campbell Smith, Author
Unforgettable Final Pages: Getting Creative with Back Matter in Your Picture Book
She’ll cover reasons to add back matter to a manuscript, common back matter elements, show examples of innovative back matter, and allow time to workshop/brainstorm ideas for your own manuscripts.
Aubrey Hartman, Author
The End Game: Crafting an Ending that Sticks with Readers Forever
This class will reveal the magic recipe for writing a fabulous climax (and conclusion!) that readers will think about long after they turn the last page.
Andrea Loney, Author
Creator Care: Managing Rejection, Expectations, Imposter Syndrome, Writer’s Block, “Champagne Problems”, and More
Another rejection letter? Stuck on what to write next? Book launch not going as you’d hoped OR feeling down after a great debut year? Feeling blocked, worried, overwhelmed, or even annoyed about the twists and turns on your path to publication? In this workshop we will discuss some common internal obstacles that can pop up for both pre-published and published children’s authors and illustrators — particularly the problems that non-kidlit folks might not understand. We’ll discuss how and why these obstacles arise, but more importantly, we’ll learn some tools, tips, and tricks to manage them. By the end of the workshop, participants will leave with a personalized plan for joyful (or at least peaceful) creation and publication.
Priscilla Burris, Author-Illustrator
Staying in the Game
Moving forward when you hit hurdles in your career as an illustrator