Informal Kick-off Social (In-Person Only)
🌐 Friday, November 1 @ 5:00 p.m. MDT ❖ Are you based in Santa Fe? Will you be arriving Friday afternoon? Contact Conference Co-Chair and Assistant Regional Advisor Lisa Honeycutt to join in on an informal dinner gathering near the conference hotel: newmexico-ara@scbwi.org. Be prepared to pay your own way at the restaurant.
Creative Cardio: Sketch and Write Workshop (Virtual Only)
💻 Online: Friday, November 1 @ 7:00 p.m. MDT ❖ Pulverize creative block and get into an open and generative headspace in preparation for the weekend’s conference. This guided workshop will include time to share what we create and discuss the joys and challenges of the creative process. (90 min.)
Opening Keynote – Diane Stanley
🌐 Saturday, November 2 @ 9:00 a.m. MDT -- Board Room at Santa Fe Community College 💻 Online: Sunday, November 3 @ 11:30 a.m. MDT ❖ Diane Stanley is the author and illustrator of beloved books for young readers, including an award-winning series of picture book biographies. In her keynote, she will reflect on the arc of a career, charting her own course, and what traits helped her be successful—mostly her passion for the work! (45 min.)
Finding an Agent: How the “Wrong” Manuscript Led Me to Sign with My Agent and to Write About My Ethnic Roots – Susan Wider
🌐 Saturday, November 2 @ 10:00 a.m. MDT -- Board Room at Santa Fe Community College 💻 Online: Sunday, November 3 @ 12:15 p.m. MDT ❖ Join National Jewish Book Award-winning author Susan Wider as she shares her personal Agent Search Plan. Whether you are looking for your first agent or looking to change agencies, Susan's process and suggestions can help you assess your individual readiness, preparedness, and motivation as you formulate your own plan. She will also describe how querying with the "wrong" manuscript resulted in signing with her agent Rosemary Stimola, founder of Stimola Literary Studio, a decision that led Susan to begin writing about her own lost ethnic roots. (60 min.)
Changing Genres and Categories in Publishing – Kit Rosewater
🌐 Saturday, November 2 @ 10:00 p.m. MDT -- Classroom 221 at Santa Fe Community College 💻 Online: Sunday, November 3 @ 12:15 p.m. MDT ❖ Thanks to book bans, paper shortages, and the dwindling midlist, the current landscape of children’s publishing has become a true wild west. This advanced workshop, led by MG and YA author Kit Rosewater, addresses the various paths published authors can take to remain active in the field. We’ll go over Intellectual Property jobs, ghostwriting gigs, and how to expand horizons in tackling a completely new genre and/or category in Children’s Literature. Attendees should come prepared to put together their own portfolios and audition material as we explore various avenues to keep traditional publishing careers on the move. (60 min.)
Pushing Boundaries: Is The Fear of Being Banned Dictating The Stories You Tell? – Khadijah VanBrakle
🌐 Saturday, November 2 @ 11:15 a.m. MDT -- Board Room at Santa Fe Community College 💻 Online: Sunday, November 3 @ 2:15 p.m. MDT ❖ As today's society get more difficult for everyone to navigate, our children and youth can experience and/or witness any number of situations--not all of them positive. Join Khadijah VanBrakle, a Black American Muslim author, as she discusses why tough topics belong in Children's & YA Literature and how to decide whether to add them or exclude them from your stories. (60 min.)
Nonfiction and Biography – Diane Stanley
🌐 Saturday, November 2 @ 11:15 a.m. MDT -- Classroom 221 at Santa Fe Community College 💻 Online: Sunday, November 3 @ 4:15 p.m. MDT ❖ Diane Stanley is the author and illustrator of beloved books for young readers, including an award-winning series of picture book biographies. In this breakout session, she will reflect on aspects of research, subject choice, providing information, and developing an art style to represent the culture she is writing about. (60 min.)
Industry Closeup for Self-publishing and Small Presses: Selling Your Books in Person with RJ the Story Guy
🌐 Saturday, November 2 @ 1:45 p.m. MDT -- Board Room at Santa Fe Community College 💻 Online: Sunday, November 3 @ 5:30 p.m. MDT ❖ Award-winning author RJ Mirabal will review what materials, skills, and management is needed to successfully sell books at in-person venues like bookstores, book fairs, genre conventions, craft shows and community markets. (60 min.)
Industry Closeup for Traditional Publishing: Q&A with Sandra Proudman of Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency
🌐 Saturday, November 2 @ 1:45 p.m. MDT -- Classroom 221 at Santa Fe Community College 💻 Online: Sunday, November 3 @ 1:30 p.m. MDT ❖ Literary Agent and Author Sandra Proudman answers questions about the traditional publishing industry and her list. (45 min.)
Illustration Session with James E. Ransome
🌐 Saturday, November 2 @ 3:00 p.m. MDT -- Board Room at Santa Fe Community College 💻 Online: Sunday, November 3 @ 2:15 p.m. MDT ❖ The Children’s Book Council named James E. Ransome as one of seventy-five authors and illustrators everyone should know. Join him for a unique opportunity to learn from his experience and expertise. (60 min.)
Fast Starts – Chris Eboch
🌐 Saturday, November 2 @ 3:00 p.m. MDT -- Classroom 221 at Santa Fe Community College 💻 Online: Sunday, November 3 @ 4:15 p.m. MDT ❖ Most editors, agents, and readers will judge a story on the first page or two. if you can’t get their attention right away, you’ve lost that opportunity. Understand the promises your first chapter makes so you promise what you deliver and deliver what you promise. Then start with a “grab you by the throat” opening to hook readers on those opening pages. (60 min.)
Closing Keynote – Lesa Cline-Ransome
🌐 Saturday, November 2, 4:15 p.m. MDT -- Board Room at Santa Fe Community College 💻 Online: Sunday, November 3 @ 3:30 p.m. MDT ❖ Lesa Cline-Ransome is the acclaimed author of numerous award-winning picture books that celebrate in story. Join her for an opportunity to learn from and be inspired by her career. (45 min.)
Agent Panel (Virtual Only) -- Susan Hawk, Sally M. Kim, and Quressa Robinson
💻 Online: Sunday, November 3 @ 5:30 p.m. MDT ❖ Susan Hawk of Upstart Crow Literary, Sally M. Kim of Andrea Brown Literary, and Quressa Robinson answer questions about the publishing industry, their wish lists, and fostering creative careers. All three will be open to queries from registered attendees for 3 months following the event. (60 min.)