Announcements

UTAH CHILDREN'S WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS

Announcement List--July 7, 2003


This month's author interview is with illustrator Julie Olson.


****************
CONGRATULATIONS!

to Julie Olson and Brad Wilcox, whose book HIP HIP HOORAY FOR ANNIE MCRAE was nominated for a 2003-2004 Beehive Award.

to Ann Cannon, whose book CHARLOTTE'S ROSE was named by PEN Center USA as one of the five best children's books published in 2002 by writers living in the western United States.

to Kim Williams-Justesen, who will be graduating with her MFA in Writing for Children from Vermont College on July 28th.


****************
NEW BOOKS

from Anne Bowen, HOW DID YOU GROW SO BIG, SO SOON, a picture book, from Carolrhoda Books.


****************
COMING SOON

August, 2003
from Becky Hall, A IS FOR ARCHES (Sleeping Bear Press).

Fall, 2003
from Kimberley Heuston, DANTE'S DAUGHTER, a Young Adult novel, from Front Street.
from Ron Woods, the Dell Yearling paperback edition of THE HERO.

October, 2003
from Ron Woods, the large-print edition to THE HERO. Thorndike Press.

Spring, 2004
from Sharlee Glenn, KEEPING UP WITH ROO, a picture book, from Putnam.
from Dana Kessimakis Smith, A WILD COWBOY, a picture book, from Hyperion.

Summer, 2004
from Rick Walton, A VERY HAIRY SCARY STORY, a picture book, from Putnam.



********************
APPEARANCES AND EVENTS

July 7-11, 2003--Fourth annual BYU Writing for Young Readers Workshop. 
During the five day workshop, participants will work with successful editors and authors on writing books and stories for readers ranging from pre school through high school. The conference includes morning workshop classes and afternoon lectures on the craft of writing. New this year are an afternoon only option, for those who want to focus on the business of writing, and an illustrators' workshop, which will involve development and criticism of visual art for children.

The workshop teachers have published a total of more than 200
books; they have also won multiple awards, including the Governor
General's Award for Children's Literature (the equivalent of our 
Newbery award), the American Library Association's list of Best 100 Books published in the last 20 years, Publishers Weekly's list of Best Books, Library of Congress list of Best Children's Books of
the Year, and many others. 

The authors are A. E. Cannon, Candace Fleming, Tim Wynne Jones, Lael Littke, Claudia Mills, Rick Walton, Sally Warner, and Lisa Wheeler. Richard Hull, illustrator of several children's books (notably a pair of books by Judith Viorst) will conduct the workshop for illustrators. In addition, the conference faculty includes two editors Nancy Hinkel, Editor at Knopf Crown Books for Young Readers, a division of Random House Children's Books; and Judy O' Malley, Editorial Director for Houghton Mifflin Children's Books. 

Participants will also be instructed by a literary agent, Tracey Adams, of the McIntosh & Otis Literary Agency, and by several other Utah writers and illustrators who will do workshops on their craft.

For more information, call BYU Conferences and Workshops at (801) 378 2568 or check out the Workshop website at
http://ce.byu.edu/cw/writing/. Participants can earn BYU credit by enrolling in this workshop.

Register soon; enrollment is limited to the first 100 applicants.

July 18-19, 2003--BYU Books for Young Readers Symposium--Guests include Bethanne Anderson, Franny Billingsley, Susan Fletcher, Russell Freedman, David Small, Laurence Yep. For more information, go to http://www.ce.byu.eu/cw/childlit.

July 26, 2003--Carol Williams will be presenting in Norfolk, Nebraska at the Norfolk public library's 9th Annual Literature Festival.

August 4, 2003--Carol Williams will be speaking at the Orem Public Library at 7:00 p.m.

August 9, 2003--DreamMakers 2003 Writers Conference, Elizabeth, Colorado. All proceeds from this conference go to the Elizabeth High School music program.

"Our 2003 conference promises to be as amazing as its predecessor. Tom Colgan, (adult editor from PenguinPutnam) will share what it is he is looking for in writer's work a real treat, since he edits for Tom Clancy! Sue Henry, an adult mystery writer, will fly in from Alaska as a keynote speaker. For an additional fund raiser (every penny raised goes to Elizabeth High School's music program) she is willing to provide an autographed set of her books as well as a basket of hand picked Alaskan treats. Last month she phoned me up with an even better idea she generously offered to make the winner of a silent auction into a character in her next book, a gift sure to produce even more funds for our marching band.

Editor Stephen Fraser from HarperCollins will speak and offer manuscript evaluations, as will Renon Hulet, editor in chief of a new magazine with an initial run of one million. Suzanne Patrick Fonda (editor from National Geographic Children's Books) will present this year, as will Marsha Marshall (editor from Lerner Books). Other presenters include authors Gloria Skurzynski (co author and winner of the American Institute of Physics Award among many others), award winning young adult writer Carol Lynch William, award winning picture book author Rick Walton, Alane Ferguson, and Donna Freedman, a freelance writer who has won two first place prizes from the Society of Professional Journalists and has reviewed books for The Philadelphia Inquirer, The New York Times and Children's Literature web site. Edite Kroll, a successful East Coast agent, has agreed to speak on the writing process as well. You can see we have quite a line up!

Information about DreamMakers can be found at www.cardinalpride.com and then by clicking on the DreamMaker icon. Those wishing to attend can even sign up on line!"

August 23, 2003--Rick Walton will be teaching a picture book writing workshop for SCBWI from 9-6, location still to be determined. For information contact Cathi at utidscbwi@juno.com.

August 28-30, 2003--Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, Orem, Utah. Storytellers include Judith Black, Carmen Agra Deedy, Gay Ducey, Elizabeth Ellis, Jackson Gillman, David Holt, Bil Lepp, Barbara McBride-Smith, David Novak, and Tim Tingle. For more information go to www.timpfest.org.

September 8, 2003--Ken Baker will be visiting Northridge Elementary in Orem, Utah.

September 19, 2003--Carol Williams, Rick Walton, Ken Baker, and other Utah writers will be presenting at the Children's Book Festival at Salt Lake Community College.

October 3, 2003--Carol Williams and Kim Williams-Justesen will be presenting in Boise to the Idaho Council of Teachers of English, and to the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.


*********************
ILLUSTRATOR INTERVIEW--JULIE OLSON

Julie Olson was born on the east coast and has progressively traveled west throughout her life. From Washington DC, to Indiana, Julie grew up among trees, humidity and kids. She loved it all (well, except for the humidity). As the sixth of nine children, Julie began very early to seek out her individuality in such a large family. She developed a love for books, for music and for art. The art remained as an ever present hobby until Julie left for college in the west and decided on a major. She blended her love of art and books and decided to make illustration her main focus. Julie graduated with a BFA in illustration from Brigham Young University and has been illustrating ever since. True to her love of kids, Julie and her husband have 2 kids. She's still missing the trees though.

"Come and Play" illustrated by Julie Olson, Publisher: Mondo Publishing, New York, NY expected out in Spring 2003

"Herd of Cows, Flock of Sheep" Written by Rick Walton; illustrated by Julie Olson, Publisher: Gibbs Smith, Inc., Layton, UT 2002

"Hip, Hip Hooray for Annie McRae!" Written by Brad Wilcox; Illustrated by Julie Olson, Publisher: Gibbs Smith, Inc., Layton, UT 2001

"What Could You See?" Written By Janie Spaht Gill; Illustrated by Julie H. Olson, Publisher: Aro Publishing, Provo, UT 1999


1 Why did you decide to become a children's book illustrator? 

I've loved to draw and paint since I was little, creating my first acrylic landscape at age 11. It was always a hobby though and nothing I really focused a lot of time on until I was trying to decide what to major in at College. I looked at what I did well, reading (I couldn't see a future in it although I know differently now), music (but I hated to practice so that was out), computers (too rigid), art....PERFECT. But how to make a living at it was the question. I went back to my love of books and settled on merging the two...ILLUSTRATION.

2 Who is your favorite character that you have ever illustrated?

Annie McRae, because she was spunky, fun and just came out of my head as I read the manuscript.

3 If you could change one thing about being an illustrator, what would it be? 

That's a hard one...not much. But if I could change one thing, I think it would be that I would have so many people wanting me to illustrate for them that I wouldn't know what to do.

4 Do you remember the very first thing you ever drew? 

Well, I've been drawing since before I can remember...my mom tells me I drew little circles with ball point pen all over her walls when I was not more than 2 years old. As far as I can remember, I remember drawing people with a box for the body, circle head and little circles for arms and legs. And I would always make the people I was drawing come to life by speaking for them, like a doll.

5 Who are your favorite illustrators (both in children's work and other places)? 

Just a few of my favorite illustrators are Helen Oxenbury, Lisbeth Zwerger, Scott Gustaffson, Lilian Holban, and Hilary Knight.

6 Do you have any specific goals as an illustrator? 

A dream would be to win the Caldecott of course...but as far as goals go...I'd just like to illustrate at least 20 more picture books in my career.

7 What was your favorite book as a child? 

A few favorites were the Francis books (Holban), and "The Big Tidy Up" by Nora Smaridge (out of print now and very hard to find)

8 What are you working on now? 

A picture book that I wrote and am illustrating about a little girl named Chloe. 

9 Do you ever use UT in your drawings at all? 

I haven't up to this point because of lack of opportunity for many landscape type pictures. I think the few landscapes in "Herd of cows, Flock of Sheep" came mainly from my memories of childhood in Indiana.

10 What is the hardest thing about being an illustrator? 

Finding the time to illustrate or just paint for fun.

11 What is the easiest thing about being an illustrator? 

I get to work from home.

12 What good advice do you have for people who want to be illustrator? 

I'd say 4 things, LOVE TO CREATE ART, take some classes to refine your skills, study the market you'd like to illustrate for, and AGAIN...LOVE TO CREATE ART. Illustrating picture books is NOT a big money maker. It is time consuming and really is a labor of love.



*********************

Are you, or do you know an author or illustrator of books for young readers? Are you sponsoring a children's literature related event? Is there something else related to this list that we should announce? Send announcements to rick@rickwalton.com.

Are you interested in writing for kids? If so, you should join the Utah Children's Writers listserv. Get involved with other writers in discussions about writing, reading, and marketing literature for kids. To join, send a blank e-mail to utahchildrenswriters-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

Please forward this announcement to anyone you would like.

If you had this message forwarded to you, you can receive news of what Utah authors and illustrators of books for young readers are doing delivered directly to you. To join Utah Writers send a blank e-mail to utahwriters-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

To unsubscribe, send a blank email to utahwriters-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com.