Q: Do you know of any on-line discussion groups specifically composed of children’s book writers?
There is a chat group for children’s book writers on America Online run by Anne LeMieux and Roland Smith. It meets every Tuesday at 9:00 p.m. EST in the Workshop room of the Writer’s Club (keyword – writers). Started less than 2 years ago, the group has over 200 members, including writers, librarians, illustrators and teachers. Children’s authors and illustrators are invited to “drop in” and participate. 2:3/96
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Q: In the last issue of “To Market” readers were asked what reference books they use most in their work. The following is a list of responses. For an additional list of recommended resource books, send for SCBWI’s “From Idea To Completed Project…Resources You Can Use.”
American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 3rd. ed., Houghton Mifflin, 1992, $45.
American Heritage Dictionary, 3rd. ed., Dell, 1994, $12.95 paper. Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market 1996, Writers Digest, $22.95 paper.
The Copyright Handbook, Stephen Fishman, Nolo Press, 1994, $24.95, paper.
Edit Yourself: A Manual for Everyone Who Works with Words, Bruce Ross-Larson, Norton, 1995, $9, paper.
The Elements of Style, William Strunk, Jr. & E.B. White, 3rd. ed. Macmillan, 1979, $5.95, paper.
Indexing Books, Nancy C. Mulvany, University of Chicago Press, 1994, $29.95.
A Manual of Style: The Essential Guide for Authors, Editors, & Publishers, 14th. ed., University of Chicago Press Editorial Staff, University of Chicago Press, 1993, $40.
A Natural History of the Senses, Diane Ackerman, Random House, 1990, $22; $12 paper.
Roget’s International Thesaurus, Peter M. Roget, HarperCollins, 1994, $4.99 paper.
Roget’s International Thesaurus, 5th ed., Robert L. Chapman, HarperCollins, 1992, $18.95.
SCBWI Bulletin, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
The Storytellers Sourcebook, Neal Schuman, edited by Margaret Read MacDonald, 1995, Gale, $99.
Webster’s II New College Dictionary, Houghton Mifflin, 1995, $18.95
Writing & Publishing Books for Children in the 1990s; The Inside Story from the Editor’s Desk, Olga Litowinsky, Walker & Co., 1992, $17.95; $11.95 paper.
These books are out of print, but may be available at your local library.
The American History Sourcebook, Edited by Joel Makower
The Awful Truth About Publishing, by John Boswell
The Storyteller’s Sourcebook, by Margaret Read MacDonald
A Writer’s Guide to Contract Negotiations, by Richard Balkin
4:5/96
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Q: What conventions are important for an author to attend?
State reading councils and regional conferences offer a good opportunity to make contacts for school speaking appearances. SCBWI conferences provide information and networking opportunities with editors, art directors, writers, illustrators, and others in the industry.
Authors can also consider attending major national conventions, such as the American Booksellers Association [now BookExpo America], the American Library Association, and the International Reading Association to learn more about the industry. You can contact these organizations at the numbers listed below for fees, registration information and dates. You can also ask for a list of regional meetings.
American Booksellers Association
800-637-0037
They can provide a list of regional meetings and contacts.
[National convention, formerly the ABA Convention, is now run by BookExpo America – call 800-840-5614 for information]
American Library Association
800-545-2433
Authors and illustrators can register independently for both the January ALA Mid-Winter convention, at which the Newbery and Caldecott winners are announced, and for the larger American Library Association annual convention in June. The ALA also has a list of state library association meetings, which is available on request.
International Reading Association
302-731-1600
Authors and illustrators can attend and can register on-site at the convention. Call for more information.