“Choose Your Own Adventure” and join us as the Golden Gate Conference returns as a one-day event! If you can't attend in person on Saturday, September 28th, 2024 at the Farallon Room at Skyline College in San Bruno, CA, never fear - a virtual option is here! Select presentations from the main room will be live-streamed via Zoom. Recordings will be available to registrants following the event and available for 30 days. Registration closes Wednesday, September 25th.
Virtual Livestream Schedule
Saturday, September 28th, 2024
This schedule is tentative and may change.
All times are Pacific Standard Time (PST).
9:15 - 9:30 a.m. WELCOME
9:30 - 10:00 a.m. “The Lady or the Tiger?” Keynote Speech, LeUyen Pham, author/illustrator
10:00 - 10:15 a.m. Break
10:15 - 11:00 a.m. Craft Sessions 1: (Illustration/Picture Book) “Tips From an Art Director: How to Get Your Foot in the Door”, Tracy Shaw, art director
11:00 - 11:15 a.m. Break
11:15 - 12:00 p.m. Craft Sessions 2: (Novel) “Let’s Fall in Love: Crafting a Compelling Romantic Arc”, Jennifer March Soloway, agent
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 - 1:45 p.m. “Guided Tour of Children's Book Marketing & Publicity”, Sally Kim, agent
1:45 - 2:00 p.m. Break
2:00 - 2:45 p.m. Faculty Panel: “Failing Forward and Failing Up: using perceived setbacks as a springboard for your career”
with agents: Jennifer March Soloway, Sally Kim, and Ian Lendler and editors: Kristie Choi, Ian Tseng and Tracy Shaw, moderated by author Seina Wedlick.
Program Descriptions
LeUyen Pham - “The Lady or the Tiger?” Keynote
In a literary career, you are often faced with many paths to travel without understanding what it means to make that choice. From deciding to write or illustrate a book, to getting an agent or going solo, to quitting your job or writing after the kids go to sleep, down to the types of stories you choose to make, it’s often hard and scary to predict where the path will take you. In this speech, I’ll offer up my own stories, some of my friends’ choices, and advice after having traveled down many of those paths myself.
Tracy Shaw - “Tips from an Art Director: How to Get Your Foot in the Door of Children’s Book Publishing”
Knowing more about the business side of picture books – how we function, what we expect, and best practices – will help you navigate how best to get noticed and achieve your publishing goals. Learn about what really goes on behind the scenes of book production, hear some uplifting success stories, and take notes on my best advice for both new and experienced authors/illustrators.
Jennifer March Soloway - “Let’s Fall in Love: Crafting a compelling romantic arc”
Ah, romance. Whether it’s the main plot or a secondary element threaded through your novel, romance is a wonderful way to hook your readers--and for teens hoping to have a first love, romance can be everything. In this session, we will discuss classic romance tropes—enemies to lovers, the love triangle, just to mention a few—as well as ways to create fun twists on readers’ expectations to keep them guessing and turning the page. Whether it’s a hot and heavy bad romance or a slow burn happily ever after, the best romance is full of tension. Get ready to make your characters (and your readers) swoon!
Sally Kim - “A Guided Tour of Children's Book Marketing & Publicity”
Whether you're looking for an agent or already have several published books under your belt, it's never too soon to think about marketing and publicity. This presentation will give you a behind-the-scenes look at how children's book publishers approach marketing, where it fits into the bigger picture alongside editorial and sales, and how YOU, as an author or illustrator, can build your brand and position your future book(s) for a successful launch.
Registration and Pricing
REGISTRATION:
Registration will be available Thursday, August 1st at 10am.
You must be logged onto your SCBWI account to register for member pricing.
For questions regarding registration, please contact sfsouth@scbwi.org
EVENT FEES:
Standard Premium Member - $75.00
Standard Non-Member/Preview Plan - $100
Registrants of the in-person Golden Gate Day Conference - $5
(Please select this as an add-on when you register at the Golden Gate Day website.)
Add-Ons:
One-on-One 15-Minute Manuscript Critiques (online) - $85.00
First-Look Round Tables - $60.00
ACCEPTED CREDIT CARDS
The SCBWI registration system accepts VISA or MasterCard.
REFUND POLICY:
If you need to cancel your registration:
By September 15th - 100% refund for registration, less a $25 administration fee.
After September 15th - NO REFUNDS.
Manuscript Critiques - NO REFUNDS at all! Only register for a Manuscript Critique if you are sure you will submit one and if you are available for the timeframe listed for each faculty.
Roundtables - NO REFUNDS after September 1st. Prior to September 1st, we can refund minus a $25 administration fee. Make sure you are able to make the faculty roundtable time before you register.
SCBWI Policies for Events
Before you register for our Golden Gate Day Livestream, please read the SCBWI policies on Anti-Harassment and the policy prohibiting recording and distribution of conference materials: https://www.scbwi.org/faq/global/scbwi-policies
Additional Information
After you register for this event, you can find the Zoom link under Member Home > My Events > [This Event] > Meeting Info.
While it is helpful if you have Zoom installed on your device, you do not need a Zoom account to view the meeting. You can simply click on the link and view in a browser. Functionality may be limited without a Zoom account or the Zoom app.
Registrants of the livestream event will be able to send queries and submissions to the participating agents and editors from our main Golden Gate Day Conference. Details will be emailed to the registrants, along with the Zoom recordings, a few days after the event.
Questions? Email sfsouth@scbwi.org
Manuscript and Roundtable Opportunities
Limited manuscript critiques and roundtables are available! Check the Manuscript Critique and Roundtable pages for more information.