CONFERENCE ATTENDEE HANDOUTS

Driving Directions to the Roundhouse Market and Conference Center

2600 Camino Ramon, CA

From SFO

Head south on 101 and take 92 East across the Bay. Follow signs to I-580 East and continue to I-680 North. Take the Bollinger Canyon exit. Drive east on Bollinger Canyon (towards Bishop Ranch 1) and turn left onto Camino Ramon (after City Center) Continue straight on Camino Ramon, (crossing over the Bishop Drive and the BR-3 / 2700 Intersections). The entrance to Roundhouse (BR 2600) is located to the left, just past the BR-3 / 2700 Intersection. You will see the lake on the left.

From I-680

Take the Bollinger Canyon exit. Drive east on Bollinger Canyon (towards Bishop Ranch 1) and turn left onto Camino Ramon (after City Center). Continue straight on Camino Ramon, (crossing over the Bishop Drive and the BR-3 / 2700 Intersections).The entrance to Roundhouse (BR 2600) is located to the left, just past the BR-3 / 2700 Intersection. You will see the lake on the left.

From San Francisco

Take 80 East across Bay Bridge to 24 East, Walnut Creek. Exit on to I-680 South. Take the Bollinger Canyon exit. Drive east on Bollinger Canyon (towards Bishop Ranch 1) and turn left onto Camino Ramon (after City Center). Continue straight on Camino Ramon, (crossing over the Bishop Drive and the BR-3 / 2700 Intersections). The entrance to Roundhouse (BR 2600) is located to the left, just past the BR-3 / 2700 Intersection. You will see the lake on the left.

From Oakland Airport

Take 880 south to 238/580 East exit. Stay on I-580 East and continue to I-680 North. Take the Bollinger Canyon exit.

Drive east on Bollinger Canyon (towards Bishop Ranch 1) and turn left onto Camino Ramon (after City Center). Continue straight on Camino Ramon, (crossing over the Bishop Drive and the BR-3 / 2700 Intersections). The entrance to Roundhouse (BR 2600) is located to the left, just past the BR-3 / 2700 Intersection. You will see the lake on the left.

WELCOME TO SCBWI SF NORTH AND EAST BAY'S

REGIONAL CONFERENCE, #OKTOBERFEST23 !

AT THE ROUNDHOUSE MARKET AND CONFERENCE CENTER

2600 CAMINO RAMON, SAN RAMON, CA 94583

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2023 

It's been a four year hiatus, and we're beyond ecstatic to welcome you back in person!

Registration kicks off at 7:15 AM

Conference begins promptly at 8:00 AM

See Conference Schedule for session details.

Schedule Details

(subject to change)

8:00 - 8:20 OPENING REMARKS (Room: TAHOE)

8:20 - 9:10 KEYNOTE: MAGGIE TOKUDA-HALL (Room: TAHOE)

9:20 - 10:15 BREAKOUT SESSION 1

WRITING MEANINGFUL MIDDLE GRADE (Room: TAHOE)

Panel Discussion — Gennifer Choldenko, Mitali Perkins, Victoria Piontek, Lisa Moore Ramée, moderated by Mae Respicio

What does it mean to write the type of book that young readers will clutch to their hearts and remember well past adolescence? How do you infuse your middle grade novel with voice, strong story elements, and emotional resonance? Get inspired—and get ideas!—from this panel of award-winning middle grade authors who share their seasoned craft tips and advice on writing meaningful middle grade, as well as share their different roads to publication. 

PUBLISHING AND THE GRAPHIC NOVEL BOOM (Room: TRINITY)

Alexis E. Fajardo

Graphic Novels are one of the fastest growing (and profitable) sectors in publishing right now. This presentation dives into the rise of the graphic novel in America, examines the current marketplace, and offers tangible tactics on how to position your work to gain traction and visibility in an increasingly tight market. Presented by Eisner-award winning editor and cartoonist Alexis E. Fajardo, cartoonist and creator of the graphic novel series Kid Beowulf and Editorial Director at the Charles M. Schulz Studio in Santa Rosa, CA. 

LAUGH OUT LITERATURE: CREATING HUMOR IN PICTURE BOOKS (Room: SHASTA)

Isabella Kung

Why humor is important, what’s funny to kids of different ages, and how I created NO, FUZZBALL! and NO, SNOWBALL! We’ll look at humor techniques used in 25 picture books.

10:25 - 11:20 BREAKOUT SESSION 2

CRUEL TO BE KIND: WHY YOUR MAIN CHARACTER SHOULD EXPERIENCE CRISIS AND/OR GRIEF (Room: SHASTA)

Ann Jacobus

Writers must give characters a burning desire or goal, with high stakes, and then make it difficult for their protagonists to achieve it. But did you know that good stories also include a significant crisis and/or loss/sacrifice? And that these are necessary before your young character can change, grow, and make your story meaningful and satisfying? We’ll discuss why, and how to depict these, along with exercises to apply to your current WIP. Being hard on your MC will help you deepen your story into one that readers won’t be able to forget.

THE ARC OF PICTURE BOOK WRITING: INSIGHT INTO STORY ARC AND DIFFERENT STORY STRUCTURES (Room: TAHOE)

Meera Sriram

One of the most common challenges while crafting a picture book manuscript is the ability to step back and see the big picture. What is the trajectory of the story arc from inciting incident to satisfying ending? This session will flesh out the classic story structure in picture books and will dive into discussing different types of story structures including cumulative, circular, and other types of storytelling.

SCHOOL VISITS: HOW TO GET THEM, ORGANIZE THEM, AND CRAFT A STELLAR PRESENTATION (Room: TRINITY)

Donna Janell Bowman     

School author visits can be impactful for students and educators while offering authors the chance to connect with their readers and promote their books. But how does an author secure an author visit gig? Once a school books a visit, what kind of preparation is involved? What about contracts, book sales, presentation styles, and honorariums? And how does one stay organized to ensure a streamlined and positive experience for all? In this presentation, Donna will share the tips and tools that have evolved through her own process and hundreds of school visit presentations.

SEQUENTIAL ART ESSENTIALS (Room: TENAYA)

Patrick Lugo 

Sequential art is more than just making comics, it is essential in movie making and in editorial instruction. A cartoon can simply be a funny drawing, but sequential art relies on the use of multiple images in a sequence to tell a story or achieve an effect. There are many written and unwritten rules to doing so effectively and in this session we will cover those often overlooked essential rules and conventions which can make or break the story-telling of an image sequence.

11:30 - 12:35 BREAKOUT SESSION 3

SOLD: CREATIVE ENERGY IN THE EDITORIAL PROCESS (Room: TAHOE)

Panel Discussion — Maggie Tokuda-Hall, Tasha Tripplett, Traci Huahn, Nadine Takvorian, moderated by L. Michelle Quraishi 

You’ve sold your work! Now what? Learn how to navigate the editorial relationship. This panel discussion will show you a realistic roadmap for navigating the editorial process with professionalism, grace and integrity. It will cover how to develop relationships with gatekeepers that shine windows, mirrors and open doors for ALL creatives and readers. You will also learn how to use the creative tension of the editorial process to discover, elevate (and defend) the heart of your story. This session is especially for pre-published and PAL authors of all formats, especially those marginalized in our industry and children’s literature.

EN GARDE! USING CONFLICT TO FIND THE CORE OF YOUR STORY (Room: SHASTA)

Mackenzie Joy and Tony Piedra

As both partners-in-creativity and partners-in-life, we (Mackenzie and Tony) are no strangers to conflict. Working together isn’t always a walk in the park (in fact it can be a knock-down-drag-out sparring session), but the more we find conflict in our collaboration, the more we learn how to harness the benefits of conflict at different stages in the creative process to discover, define, defend, and develop the core of our stories. And these learnings don’t just apply to working with your partner. Learn how to leverage conflict to improve working with with your critique groups, agents, editors, and more.

"ILLUSTRATING A BOOK" BASICS: PICTURE BOOKS, EARLY READERS, AND BOARD BOOKS (Room: TRINITY)

Shirley Ng-Benitez

Learn the basics of illustrating a book, whether it’s a personal project (dummy, and final art samples), or working with a self-publisher, or traditional publisher/house. I’ll share my experiences working on the different genres and aspects of each genre to pay attention to while illustrating for them; each genre’s goal/target audience; pre-project questions to set the illustrator up for a successful project; working with the manuscript, art directors, and editors; series considerations: characters, character consistency; backgrounds; and final artwork management and delivery.

12:35 - 1:30 LUNCH (Room: JUNIPER ATRIUM)

1:30 - 2:45 BREAKOUT SESSION 4

AGENT PITCH SPEED DATING (Room: LOBBY)

Laurie McLean, Jennifer March Soloway, Andy Ross, Stephanie Molina

Experience a literary twist on speed dating as writers get the chance to pitch their books directly to agents. In this dynamic and fast-paced event, writers have precious minutes to captivate agents with their book ideas. It's a unique opportunity to showcase creativity, passion, and storytelling prowess, all while forging potential connections that could kickstart your writing career. 

CRITIQUE SOCIAL (Room: TAHOE & TAHOE FOYER)

Meet with other writers looking for possible critique partners in a directed mingle about what you write and where you are in your writing journey and current project. We all need help along the way, and here’s an opportunity to find critique partners and potential writers’ group members.

CREATIVE TIME - GUIDED PROMPTS (Room: SHASTA)

FINDING YOUR NICHE AS AN ILLUSTRATOR (Room: TRINITY)

Rob Sayegh Jr.

Learn how to authentically embed your personality, style, and vision into your career journey. Whether you're a seasoned illustrator seeking to refine your niche or an aspiring artist striving to establish your mark, this event offers essential insights to help you craft a fulfilling and distinctive career in the world of illustration.

2:55 - 3:50 BREAKOUT SESSION 5

THE JOURNEY TO PUBLISHED (Room: TAHOE)

Panel Discussion — Maggie Tokuda-Hall, Isabella Kung, Shirley Ng-Benitez, Panel Leader: Annie Ruygt

Want to know what the path to being published is really like? From initial inspiration to final publication, hear firsthand accounts of triumphs, challenges, and the invaluable lessons learned along the way. They will delve into the creative processes, collaborative dynamics, and industry insights that breathe life into captivating books. This panel offers a unique glimpse into the world of storytelling. Find inspiration and advice for your own publishing journey. 

MAKING EMOTIONS CONCRETE (Room: SHASTA)

Anne-Marie Strohman

To make emotions real to readers, writers need to go beyond the stereotypical eye roll or shrug. Often the tools for making more effective choices already exist in a rough draft. Manuscripts are peppered with objects and character interests that can be used strategically to communicate a character’s emotions to the reader–and make the reader feel them too. Through exercises based on a current work-in-progress, writers will learn how to use metaphors and objects as concrete expressions of emotion and develop a range of options to incorporate into their work.

THE RIGHT TO READ: BOOK BANNING AND CENSORSHIP (Room: TRINITY)

Panel Discussion — MariNaomi, Sarah Hoffman, and Jasmine A. Stirling, moderated by Ian Hoffman

Book banning and censorship are escalating. During the first half of the 2022-23 school year, PEN America lists 1,477 instances of books banned, an increase of 28 percent compared to the prior six months. Overwhelmingly, book banners continue to target stories by and about people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals. But bans this school year have affected a wider range of titles, including those that discuss health and wellbeing, cover death and grief, and portray violence and abuse. Numerous states enacted wholesale bans, in which entire classrooms and school libraries were suspended, closed, or emptied of books. As book bans gain momentum, they accelerate legislative efforts to restrict teaching about topics such as race, gender, American history, and LGBTQ+ identities—and the freedom to read, learn, and think continues to be undermined for young people.*

This panel of authors who have been banned, or have experienced censorship at the publisher level, will delve into this issue—from what it’s like to be a banned creator, the pressures they’ve faced to change content in their books, and what writers can do to fight back and protect free speech, access to knowledge, and the rights of young readers.

4:00 - 4:55 BREAKOUT SESSION 6

MIDDLE GRADE & YOUNG ADULT BOOKS PANEL (Room: TRINITY)

Panel Discussion — Laurie McLean, Jennifer March Soloway, moderated by Ann Jacobus

Dive into the world of Middle Grade and Young Adult books with our incredible panel of agents who will share top-notch advice on polishing your manuscript, nailing your query, and more. Get the answers to all your questions about publishing trends and how to stand out in the current market. It promises to be a lively discussion of both the creative and business sides of publishing. 

PICTURE BOOKS PANEL (Room: TAHOE)

Panel Discussion — Stephanie Molina, Isabella Kung, moderated by Meera Sriram

Our expert panel of agents shares their insights for writing and publishing your picture book. From crafting compelling narratives to finding the right agent, this discussion will unravel the intricate layers of the picture book journey. Whether you're an author or illustrator, this panel promises an illuminating exploration of the creative and business aspects of the genre.

5:00 - 5:10 CLOSING REMARKS (Room: TAHOE)

TOWNE CENTER BOOKS is the official conference book store.

During the conference, the bookstore will be open from 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM.

Faculty member books will be available for purchase and pre-order.

Please be sure to stop by the LOBBY near the Tenaya Room for faculty signings throughout the day.

About Towne Center Books

Towne Center Books is a locally owned general bookstore, conveniently located on Main Street in Downtown Pleasanton.

We stock the books you need and want.

Some of our most popular sections include Fiction, Mystery, Personal Growth, and Children's Books.

Our store is an excellent community gathering place as we offer book clubs, author luncheons, and writing workshops.

The store was founded by Kevin and Yvonne Greenlee in 1993 and purchased by Judy Wheeler in 1998. In 1920 the building was a French Laundry, in the 1940’s the American Laundry. We thank you, our loyal customers, for the opportunity to have such an exciting and interesting business.

Owner Judy Wheeler has been a Pleasanton resident since 1980. She is active in the Pleasanton Downtown Marketing and Downtown Vitality Committees and a member of the Civic Arts Commission as well as local and national bookseller trade organizations.

Visit Towne Center Books online:

https://townecenterbooks.com/

Pleasanton Location

555 Main Street

Pleasanton CA 94566

925-846-8826

SCBWI Policies

SCBWI Policy on AI

For over 50 years, SCBWI has encouraged and celebrated the creativity, dedication, and lived experiences of our members. This is a bedrock principle of our organization. Therefore, we are opposed to any use of text-prompted generative AI in writing, illustrating or other aspects of creating children’s books until fair policies and regulations are established to protect the work of all human creators. Currently, generative AI developers train their systems on human-made work, unethically using and copying this work without regard for copyright, credit, or compensation. Our position on AI goes beyond these immediate issues. While generative AI is an intriguing technology, we don’t believe it produces unique and meaningful creations. As a community, we craft and cherish transformative books brought to life through imagination and talent, human heart and soul. The power and joys of children’s literature originate from a creator’s inventiveness, talents, and hard-earned skills. We have a responsibility to young readers everywhere to make the immersive books they need and deserve. The stories and art we create have the power to change lives. We make books to share ourselves and inspire others. It is long, difficult, and immensely personal work, and it cannot be any other way. No technology can ever replace your labors, your vision, and your urge to create. Our community wants to see the world through your eyes, and hear your voice. Young people need books as singular and original as you.

Anti-Harassment Policy

The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) is dedicated to providing a safe and harassment-free environment for all of its members and has a zero-tolerance policy regarding harassment, intimidation and discrimination. This includes all harassment, intimidation and discrimination made on the basis of race, age, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, religion, class, body size, veteran status, marital/domestic partnership status, citizenship or any other marginalized identity. Harassment includes verbal comments, written comments, displayed images, or behaviors such as deliberate intimidation, stalking, body policing, unwelcome photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention. The SCBWI Anti-Harassment Policy applies to all situations where the harassment, intimidation, or discrimination denies or limits a person’s ability to fully participate in or benefit from SCBWI’s programs and activities and is applicable to all SCBWI events and all SCBWI venues, including but not limited to SCBWI events, conferences, meetings, meet-ups, critique groups, and online interactions. Harassment, intimidation, and discrimination at any SCBWI event, any one of the foregoing events, or on-line is prohibited. Code of Conduct All participants in SCBWI events and activities, including faculty, staff and attendees, are required to comply with the following anti-harassment code of conduct. The SCBWI Anti-Harassment Policy prohibits harassment, including but not limited to the following behaviors: Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following. Sustained disruption of talks or other events. Inappropriate physical contact. Unwelcome sexual attention. Abusive verbal comments. Quid pro quo – sexual harassment that occurs when one in an authority position requests sex or a sexual relationship in exchange for professional consideration or favors. Harassment does not include respectful disagreement or reasonable and respectful critique made in good faith. SCBWI continues to welcome and appreciate presentation of controversial ideas, free speech, and creative artistic expression. SCBWI encourages members to hold one another accountable to the Code of Conduct and to take the perspectives of others seriously when a disagreement arises. Reporting Procedures Any person who believes there has been a violation of the SCBWI Anti-Harassment Policy can report the offense in one or all of the following ways: All SCBWI conferences will designate one or more Anti-Harassment Monitors (AHM) who will be available during the conference to provide a safe space for reporting and discussion. The AHM will report directly to the conference director. A complainant may request assistance from any SCBWI officer, employee, or regional team member. SCBWI has a dedicated email address for reporting any incident of harassment. Anyone who chooses to report an incident can find the Anti-Harassment Report Form on the SCBWI website (About > Anti-Harassment) or use the following link: _____________. Reports can be filed out anonymously or with identifying information. Reports should include the substance of the complaint, date, and whenever possible, a list of witnesses or a reference to the relevant URLs, if the offense occurred online. Emails will be monitored at all times, including during SCBWI events. SCBWI will fully investigate all complaints, including those made anonymously, and take whatever action is necessary and appropriate to prevent a recurrence. Please note, however, that SCBWI will not be able to follow up an anonymous report with the complainant directly, as SCBWI will not have contact information for the anonymous complainant. SCBWI will make every attempt to respond to a named complainant in a timely fashion. Non-Retaliation The SCBWI Anti-Harassment Policy prohibits retaliation against a member of the SCBWI community for reporting harassment, intimidation or discrimination, or for participating in an investigation relating to any complaint made. The sanctions for retaliation are the same sanctions available to address any other violation of the SCBWI Anti-Harassment Policy. Sanctions SCBWI takes all allegations of harassment seriously. Every report will be investigated by a panel consisting of board members, SCBWI staff, and members at large. The results of the investigation and the recommendations of the panel will be reported to the officers of SCBWI, who will determine, in conjunction with the panel or, when appropriate, in consultation with an independent arbiter, the appropriate sanction. Sanctions for faculty, speakers, staff or board members may include any of the following: -warning the party involved that the particular behavior is inappropriate and must be ceased; -immediate removal from the event; -denial of access to SCBWI spaces and venues on a temporary or permanent basis; -withholding of a contracted honorarium; -prohibition from future speaking engagements; -prohibition from future faculty appointments; -expulsion from SCBWI; -removal from the Board of Advisors or Board of Directors, when appropriate Sanctions for attendees, members, and guests can include any of the following: -warning the party involved that specified behavior is inappropriate and must be ceased; -immediate removal from the event, without refund; -denial of access to SCBWI spaces and venues on a permanent or temporary basis; -termination of SCBWI membership, without refund; -prohibition future SCBWI membership Confidentiality SCBWI will make every reasonable effort to conduct all investigations into allegations of harassment, intimidation, or discrimination in a manner that will protect the confidentiality of all parties. Notwithstanding the above, confidentiality is not absolute, and those with a legitimate business reason to know and be informed of the allegations will be so informed. Parties to the complaint should treat the matter under investigation with discretion and respect the reputation of all parties involved. *SCBWI acknowledges the contributions of Geek Feminism, Science Fiction Writers of America, and WisCon for their work in developing anti-harassment policies.

Membership Refund Policy

SCBWI will refund new memberships or renewals within seven (7) calendar days from the date of purchase. Refund requests will not be issued after this timeframe. Please write to membership@scbwi.org with the subject line MEMBERSHIP REFUND REQUEST, and allow 7-10 days for processing.

Covid Policy for U.S. Events

PARTICIPATION PROMISE: You agree, on behalf of yourself and on behalf of any other person for whom you are obtaining this registration, that you will not attend the Event if, under the CDC's guidelines in effect at the time of the Event, it is recommended that, as of the date of the Event, you stay at home, quarantine and/or isolate (e.g., as a result of your testing positive, developing symptoms, or having a direct exposure to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19). For reference, the CDC's current recommendations are available here: { https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/quarantine-isolation.html}. In addition, you acknowledge and agree, on behalf of yourself and on behalf of any other person for whom you are obtaining this registration, that you will perform daily COVID-19 screening each morning of the event by 8:00 a.m. and will be prepared to submit proof of screening if requested to do so by the venue or the organization. All participants to the Event with symptoms of COVID-19 should not enter or participate in the Event. Further, all participants must comply with Safety Policies, health guidance, and signage at the Event, including wearing a high quality mask (for example, an N95, KN95, KF94, or well-fitting surgical mask) while at the Event.

Covid Self-Screening for Event Attendance

DAILY SELF-SCREENING QUESTIONS: (1) Do you have any of these symptoms that are not caused by another condition? Fever or chills; Cough; Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing; Fatigue; Muscle or body aches; Headache; Recent loss of taste or smell; Sore throat; Congestion; Nausea or vomiting; Diarrhea. (2) If you are not fully vaccinated, have you been in close contact with anyone with COVID19 in the past 14 days? Close contact is being within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period with a person; or having direct contact with fluids from a person with COVID-19 with or without wearing a mask (i.e., being coughed or sneezed on). (3) Have you had a positive COVID-19 test for active virus in the past 10 days, or are you awaiting results of a COVID-19 test? (4) Within the past 14 days, has a public health or medical professional told you to self-monitor, self-isolate, or self-quarantine because of concerns about COVID-19 infection? ***Participants answering YES to any of these questions will not be permitted access to the Event.

Covid Policy for Regions Outside the United States

SCBWI regions outside the US must abide by the Covid policies set by their local governments and health organizations.

Policy prohibiting recording or distribution of conference materials

Audio taping, videotaping, and/or transmitting or aiding in any of the foregoing of any part of an SCBWI conference or event (including, but not limited to, presentations, individual sessions, and networking events) is prohibited. Additionally, the material in all handouts and presentations is copyrighted and may not be reprinted, blogged, written, orally transmitted, and/or reproduced without written permission of the copyright holder only.