Announcements

UTAH CHILDREN'S WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS

Announcement List--May 5, 2004

This month's author interview is with illustrator Guy Francis

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CONGRATULATIONS

to Anne Bowen, whose picture book manuscript HARLEY HARRISON, TATTLE-TALE, took first place in the Smart Writers W.I.N. picture book contest, judged by Marilyn Singer. She also took second place in the poetry category, judged by Lee Bennett Hopkins.

to Rick Walton, whose picture book BERTIE WAS A WATCHDOG won the Utah Beehive Picture Book award, and was 2nd in the Colorado Children's Book Award and 4th in the Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award competitions. Bertie has also been nominated for the 2004 Nottingham Children's Book Award, in Nottingham, England.

to Shannon Hale, whose book GOOSE GIRL was nominated for the 2005 Utah Children's Book Award, won the 2003 Utah Speculative Fiction Book Award, was nominated for the ALA Teen Top Ten list, was starred as a book of Outstanding Merit in Bank Street's Best Books of the Year, and sold for a full-cast unabridged audio book production.

to Chris Crowe, whose book GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER: THE TRUE STORY OF THE EMMETT TILL CASE was named as one of two Honor Books in the Jane Addams Book Award. It was also named to the 2004 Capitol Choices list.

to Gloria Skurzynski, whose book ARE WE ALONE? SCIENTISTS SEARCH FOR LIFE IN SPACE is a Junior Library Guild selection.

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NEW BOOKS

from Rick Walton, MINI-MYSTERIES, American Girl.

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COMING SOON


June, 2004
from Gloria Skurzynski, ARE WE ALONE? SCIENTISTS SEARCH FOR LIFE IN SPACE, National Geographic Books.
from Michael O. Tunnell, WISHING MOON, Dutton.

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

August, 2004
from Shannon Hale, ENNA BURNING, a YA, from Bloomsbury.

Fall, 2004
from Rick Walton, SUDDENLY, ALLIGATOR, a picture book, from Gibbs Smith.
from Rick Walton, BUNNY CHRISTMAS, a picture book, from HarperCollins.
from Rick Walton, MRS. MCMURPHY'S PUMPKIN, a picture book, from HarperCollins.

March, 2005
from Kimberley Heuston and Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, LIFE IN ANCIENT INDIA, Oxford University Press.

Spring, 2005
from Dana Kessimakis Smith, A BRAVE SPACEBOY (2nd in a series, see A WILD COWBOY), Hyperion.

Fall, 2005
from Sharlee Glenn, JUST WHAT MAMA NEEDS, a picture book, from Putnam.
from Michael Spooner, a historical novel, LAST CHILD (a sequel to DANIEL'S WALK), from Henry Holt.

2006
from Dana Kessimakis Smith, MY DADDY'S A GRIZZLY BEAR, a picture book, from Hyperion Books for Children.

fall 2006
from Anne Bowen, WHAT DO TEACHERS DO? a picture book, from Carolrhoda Books


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NEW SALES

Michael Spooner, a historical novel, LAST CHILD (a sequel to DANIEL'S WALK), to Henry Holt.


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APPEARANCES AND EVENTS

May 3-6, 2004--Ron Woods will be speaking in Wyoming at Laramie Junior High, Moorcroft High school, and Pathfinder High School in Lander.

May 5-6, 2004--Chris Crowe will be speaking and signing at the International Reading Association's annual convention in Reno.

May 5-7, 2004--The 2004 Annual Conference of the Utah Library Association will be held in the Ogden Eccles Conference Center. As in years past ULA offers a wide variety of sessions that may be of interest to School Library Media Specialists and Children's Librarians. Topics include the following:
How to Run a Mock Caldecott.
Special Services Populations: Children With Special Needs.
Works Hop Off the Page: An Introduction to Performance Poetry.
RX * Literature: Books to Help Young Children Cope in Today's World.
Current Trends in Children's Publishing.
Teen Program Poster Extravaganza.
Public Pioneer: Making a Name in Utah.
Secrets of the Pioneer Databases
2004 - 2005 Nominees for the Beehive Children's Book Awards
Pre-registration has begun and ends April 2. For more information go to www.ula.org/conference/2004conf/annconf2004.htm.

May 6, 2004--Chris Crowe will be presenting at the IRA convention, from 9:00 to 11:45 am.

May 7, 2004--Rosemary Wells will be at the Read Leaf Bookstore, 164 S. Main, Springville, at 3:30 pm. Call 489-1390 for info.

May 8, 2004--Carol Williams and Kim Justesen will be presenting "The Insider's Guide to Writing for Kids" in Boise.

May 11, 2004--Ron Woods will be speaking at Taylorview Junior High, in Idaho Falls.

May 12, 2004--Ron Woods will be speaking at Horseshoe Bend High School in Horseshoe Bend, Idaho (the hometown)

May 12, 2004--Becky Hall will be giving a teacher presentation and signing books at Barnes at Noble in West Jordan (7157 Plaza Center Drive--801-282-1324) at 7:00 pm.

May 13, 2004--Ron Woods will be speaking in Meridian, Idaho, at Crossroads Middles School where THE HERO is this year's "All School Read" book.

May 14, 2004--Gloria Skurzynski will be speaking to the students at the Salt Lake Arts Academy, and will be guest speaker for the Utah Women's Forum at their monthly meeting.

May 17-21--Chris Crowe, Carol Lynch Williams, and Kim Williams-Justesen will be on the faculty of a writing cruise sponsored by the League of Utah Writers.

May 21, 2004--SLCC Children's Book Festival. Several Utah authors and illustrators will be presenting, including keynote speaker Shannon Hale, Laurel Brady, Ken Baker, Randall Wright, Sharlee Glenn, Ron Woods and Sherry Meidell. SLCC South Campus, 1575 S. State, SLC, 9am-1pm. E-mail Pamela.Burggraf@slcc.edu for more information.

May 25--Rick Walton will be speaking at Lewiston Elementary in Lewiston, Utah.

May 28-30--Shannon Hale will present, read and sign at CONduit, Salt Lake City's Science Fiction and Fantasy convention.

June 21-24, 2004--Writing and Illustrating Children's Books workshop, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Instructors Ginger Howard and Cheryl Kirk Knoll. For more information go to
www.gingerhoward.com/workshops.htm.

June 28-July 2, 2004--Writing for Young Readers workshop, BYU. Faculty includes Jim Aylesworth, Candace Fleming, Lisa Wheeler, Randy Powell, Sally Warner, Virginia Euwer Wolff, Tracy Hickman, Laura Curtis, Ann Edwards Cannon, Chris Crowe, Carol Lynch Williams, Eric Rohmann, editor Lisa Banim from Peachtree, editor Rebecca Waugh from Dial, and agent Tracy Adams. Several Utah authors and illustrators will also be presenting. For more information go to http://ce.byu.edu/cw/writing.

July 16-17, 2004--BYU Symposium on Books for Young Readers. Guests include Jennifer Armstrong, Lynn Curlee, Karen Cushman, Naomi Shihab Nye, Pam Munoz Ryan, and Robert Sabuda. For more information go to http://ce.byu.edu/cw/childlit.

August 27-28, 2004--Randall Wright will be telling stories at the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival.

March 17-18, 2005--UVSC/SCBWI Forum on Children & Literature. Watch for upcoming information at www.uvsc.edu/conted/c&w or call 801-863-8894.

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ILLUSTRATOR INTERVIEW: GUY FRANCIS

Guy Francis lives in Provo, Utah, with his wife Lorien and four children. He studied illustration at Brigham Young University. For the past ten years he has done a variety of work, including editorial illustration, children's books, and animation. His most recent book is MARY HAD A LITTLE HAM, by Margie Palatini. He spends most of his time drawing, painting, and drawing some more. Every now and then he gets out of the house and heads to the mountains with family.


1--Why did you decide to become an illustrator?

I knew I wanted to draw pictures, but not the kind that hang on walls. You know, the kind for books. Then someone told me that was an illustrator, so I thought, Great! I want to be one of those!


2--Who is your favorite character that you have drawn or written about?

Stanley Snoutowski, the Broadway pig, who made his debut in Mary Had a Little Ham, by Margie Palatini.


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

Some jobs pay the bills, but the subject matter isn't what I would choose. It would be nice if every job was that dream job, but that's just not the way it goes.


4--Do you remember the very first piece of art that you worked up?

I did a lot of drawing clear back to the fourth grade, but my first paying job as an illustrator was an editorial illustration for WordPerfect Magazine. This was while I was in college.


5--Who are your favorite illustrators?

Scott Gustafson, Peter DeSeve, Brett Helquist, Baroness Maryn Roos, N.C. Wyeth, Howard Pyle, Dr. Seuss. The list goes on.


6--Do you have any specific goals as an illustrator?

Well, there's always the Caldecott, but if that doesn't work out, it would be nice to at least have my picture in the encyclopedia when I am dead.


7--What was your favorite book as a child?

ANDREW HENRY'S MEADOW by Doris Burn


8--What are you working on now?
I just finished a picture book called SANTA'S KWANZAA by Garen Thomas, published by Hyperion Books for Children. It's scheduled for a Fall 2004 release. Now I'm working on the Ghostville Elementary series by Marcia Thornton Jones and Debbie Dadey (Scholastic), MRS. MCBLOOM, CLEAN UP YOUR ROOM! by Kelly S. DiPucchio (Hyperion) and Nick and Jack (Canum Entertainment). I have a few other things simmering in the pot, these are just the things burning.


9--Do you ever do projects about UT?

No. Um wait, uh, no.


10--What is the hardest thing about being an illustrator?

Staying an illustrator. Wondering when the next check is coming, keeping up with the deadlines, and getting away from the studio to spend time with the family. It would be nice to get out once in a while.

11--What is the easiest thing about being an illustrator?

The commute. I have two connecting flights (of stairs) to my basement studio. The dress code at the office is pretty casual. And I get to draw pictures for a living. What ould be better than that?


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

Draw all the time. Build up a strong portfolio and find a market suited to your style. And draw all the time.


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SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES

BRING AN AUTHOR OR ILLUSTRATOR TO YOUR SCHOOL
It's not too early to start thinking about bringing an author or illustrator to your school during the 2004-2005 school year. When kids get to meet and learn from real authors they get excited about reading and writing. It's a great way to bring books to life. 
For information on presentations, fees, and contacts, go to www.ucwi.org/visit.htm, or check out the author/illustrator websites below. If you've never held an author visit and don't know what to do, go to www.rickwalton.com/utahauth/bringing.htm for information, guidelines, and advice.

A DEAL FOR SPECIAL CAUSES
If you want to get books into the hands of kids who need them- -e.g., kids in shelters, kids in hospitals, kids in foreign countries, kids in a summer reading programs--we can get you select picture books and joke books at rock bottom prices. You can get hardcover books at prices lower than a cheap paperback. Contact Rick at rick@rickwalton.com for more information.

GET BOOKS INTO THE HANDS OF YOUR STUDENTS
Rick Walton has a supply of deeply discounted books. If you buy one copy for each of the students in your school, Rick will do a day long visit at your school for free. For more information see www.rickwalton.com/aboutric/deal.htm.

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UTAH AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR WEBSITES

Utah Children's Writers and Illustrators -- www.ucwi.org

Ken Baker -- www.bravemonster.com
Ann Edwards Cannon -- www.aecannon.com
Chris Crowe -- www.chriscrowe.com
Alane Ferguson -- www.alaneferguson.com
Guy Francis -- www.guyfrancis.com
Sharlee Glenn -- www.sharleeglenn.com
Shannon Hale -- www.shannonhale.com
Mette Ivie Harrison -- www.metteivieharrison.com
Kim Williams Justesen -- http://hometown.aol.com/kimorchid/myhomepage/profile.html
Sherry Meidell -- www.sherrymeidell.com
Julie Olson -- www.jujubeeillustrations.com
Gloria Skurzynski -- http://gloriabooks.com
Dana Kessimakis Smith -- www.danasmithbooks.com
Will Terry -- www.willterry.com
Laura Torres--www.lauratorres.com
Rick Walton -- www.rickwalton.com
Kevin Wasden -- www.kevinwasden.com
Carol Lynch Williams -- www.carollynchwilliams.com
Randall Wright -- www.booksbywright.com

UTAH WRITER AND LITERATURE ORGANIZATIONS WEBSITES
BYU Children's Book Review -- http://cbpr.lib.byu.edu
Children's Lit. Assoc. of Utah (Beehive Book Awards)-- www.clau.org
League of Utah Writers -- www.luwrite.com
UCTE/LA -- http://community.weber.edu/uctela
UT Council/International Reading Assoc. -- www.utahreading.org
Utah Children's Writers and Illustrators -- www.ucwi.org

If you have a Utah organization related to children's literature, please send it to us and we'll add it to the list.



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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.

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