Friday 19th
ADD-ON 9:30 - 11:30 am Intensive with Sasha Illingworth
- Cover Stories: Behind the Scenes of Captivating Design - A behind the scenes look at the cover design process from the perspective of an Associate Creative Director. With a focus on collaboration, creative strategy, and visual storytelling. We will explore how typography, color palettes, and composition come together to craft compelling covers that not only stand out on shelves but also serve the narrative. Prerequisite: Each participant is welcome to bring in a cover they have created for a dummy or a create a cover for a picture book based on the following prompt, "The Days The Colors Mixed” for ages 3-7. Plot: It’s the first day of school and hijinks happen during art class.
ADD-ON 3 pm – 6:15 pm Dummy Review, Pitch Review, or Portfolio Review
- Sasha Illingworth: Portfolio Review, PB Dummy Review, GN Pitch Review
- Sylvie Frank: PB Dummy Review
- Mark Podesta: PB Dummy Review, GN Pitch Review
- Leslie Zampetti: PB Dummy Review
7:30 – 9 pm Ignite the Dragon Flame bonfire and story-off – Carolinas favorite meet-up, Ignite the Spark, gets a magical makeover in our fireside story battle! Join forces with the other members of your Archetypal Society to create a micro-fiction piece that will cast a spell of wonder over the crowd. Details coming soon.
Saturday 20th
9 am – 10:30 am Session with Sylvie Frank TBA
1 pm – 2:30 pm Session with Sasha Illingworth
- From Doodles to Deals: The Art Behind the Books You Love - Join Associate Creative Director Sasha Illingworth for a lively, behind-the-scenes tour of how picture books and novels go from rough sketches to bookstore shelves. Along the way, Sasha will share real stories from bestselling hits and award-winning titles—highlighting the creative sparks, surprising detours, and artistic decisions that shape every book. You’ll walk away with fresh inspiration, a better sense of how the publishing process really works, and creative insights to power your own projects from pitch to print.
2:30 – 4 pm Lab Hours – choose your work-along location and engage with faculty while enjoying some creative time
4 pm – 5:30 pm Session with Sasha Illingworth
- Beyond Picture Books: Expanding Your Illustrating Possibilities - This talk invites illustrators to look beyond the world of picture books and discover the wide range of illustration opportunities across the broader publishing landscape. From graphic novels and chapter books to deluxe editions of young adult novels. We’ll explore how character design adapts across age groups and genres, and dive into the growing demand for illustration in unexpected places—proving that visual storytelling is more vital than ever.
7 pm – 7:30 pm Private Faculty perusal of [your] Portfolio Showcase – select to enter the Portfolio Showcase during registration (included with retreat)
7:30 pm – 9 pm Portfolio Show + Pitch Auction – enjoy the party as we view portfolios and “auction” pitches anonymously for chances to submit (included with retreat)
Sunday 21st
9 am – 10:45 am Joint Session with Sasha Illingworth and Sylvie Frank
- From Pitch to Published: Navigating the Children's Publishing Industry - This collaborative session brings together the dual perspectives of an editor and an associate creative director to offer a behind-the-scenes look at how creators get hired—and stay hired—in the children’s publishing industry. From the initial submission to signing a deal, and from the first sketch to final files, this talk will demystify the process behind the scenes. We'll cover how the editorial and art departments work together, what we look for in new talent, and how creators can best position themselves for success. You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of the current publishing landscape, actionable tips for professional collaboration, and what “being a good partner” really looks like in today’s fast-paced, competitive market.
