SCBWI-MD/DE/WV EVENT IN CHARLESTON

    








This past Saturday, May 14th, Taylor Books hosted the first-ever local meeting of the MD/DE/WV chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators. 

A HUGE THANK YOU  goes to Regional Advisor, Edie Hemingway, (on the right in the photo), author of the middle grade novel, Road to Tater Hill, who traveled from her home in Frederick, Maryland to help local children's writers network and share their writing experiences with fellow writers.

West Virginia authors Anna Smucker and Marc Harshman spoke about their paths to publication of their first books, Anna's No Star Nights, about growing up in Weirton, WV and Marc's A Little Excitement, an imagined story about a boy who gets more than he bargained for when he wishes life were not so quiet in his rural home. They also spoke about collaborating on their upcoming picture book, scheduled for publication in 2012.

Edie Hemingway gave a presentation on "Reading Like a Writer" and provided helpful pointers on how to apply techniques learned from critical reading of works you admire to your own work. 

I gave a presentation called  "Hitting All The Right Notes"  about how to structure picture books.  I am delighted that Linda Hozdic, Laura O. Reed and Carol Brodtrick have offered to help coordinate future events!   

An additional huge THANK YOU goes to David, Dan, Chris and Jennifer at Taylor Books and to Katie at the Kanawha County Public Library for handling all the logistics that made the event possible.  And, most importantly, THANK YOU to Ann Saville for being the visionary behind Taylor Books, our beloved local independent bookstore/art gallery/cafe/live music performance space.  Charleston would not be the same without this landmark and we appreciate all  you have done for our city.  And, as if that weren't already enough, Ann also prepared a delicious lunch for all the participants, Quiche, pasta salad, her famous scones, brownies and lemon bars.  YUM!