Announcements

UTAH CHILDREN'S WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS

Announcement List--June 2, 2004

This month's interview is with illustrator Sherry Meidell.


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CONGRATULATIONS

to Shannon Hale, whose book GOOSE GIRL won the 2003 Utah Children's Book Award given by the Utah Center for the Book, is a nominee for Tennessee's Volunteer State Book Award for 2005, and is a finalist for the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature.

to Rick Walton, whose book BUNNY CHRISTMAS will be on the cover of the Chinaberry Christmas catalog, and whose book MRS. MCMURPHY'S PUMPKIN will be on the cover of the fall Hearthsong catalog.

to Mette Harrison, whose book THE MONSTER IN ME was selected as one of Bank Street's Best Children's Books of 2003, and whose upcoming book MIRA, MIRROR will be a selection in the Children's Book of the Month Club beginning in September.


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NEW BOOKS

from Gloria Skurzynski, ARE WE ALONE? SCIENTISTS SEARCH FOR LIFE IN SPACE, National Geographic Books.

from Michael O. Tunnell, WISHING MOON, Dutton.



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COMING SOON


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.
from Mette Harrison, MIRA, MIRROR, a YA, from Viking.

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

Shannon Hale, German publication rights for ENNA BURNING.

Alane Ferguson, a YA mystery series, working title: THE BURY GARDEN, to Penguin Putnam. Laura Ziskin, producer of SPIDER MAN and AS GOOD AS IT GETS is filming a pilot this July for a possible television series based on Alane's books.


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APPEARANCES AND EVENTS

June 5, 2004--1:00-3:00 pm, the Read Leaf bookstore in Springville (164 South Main) will sponsor a book release celebration for Sharlee Glenn's new picture book, KEEPING UP WITH ROO (Putnam, 2004).

June 5, 2004--Anita Crane will be teaching a class on Children's Book Illustration: Writing with Pictures, at the University of Utah in the AOCE Life Long Learning Program, from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Fee: $89
Location: 1255 Park Avenue at the Library - Park City
Special Fee: $6
This workshop covers pacing and rhythm, clarifying text with picture readability, and storyboarding a 32-page picture book. (We'll each create a picture book dummy.) Discussions and critiques will help you discover or refine your illustration style. We'll
also examine sample portfolios to see what type of art to display, how to make an art portfolio, and the best kind of handouts to leave behind. We'll cover query letters, sources for publishing house addresses and contact names, and what to include in your
mailing. Handouts will be available for publishing web links, helpful tips on how to get published, organizations and sample query letters.
Please bring your story to class. For more information please write to Anita via her web-site: www.bearlace.com.

June 12, 2004--Kim Justesen and Carol Williams will be teaching The Insider's Guide to Writing and Publishing for Children workshop, in Boise, Idaho at the Log Cabin Literacy Center.

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 25-27, 2004--Shannon Hale will be at the American Library Association conference in Orlando.

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.

July 19, 2004--Kim Justesen will be teaching Introduction to Children's Literature through the U of U Life Long Learning Program in Park City.

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: SHERRY MEIDELL

Sherry Meidell and her husband have raised snakes, dogs, iguanas and five sons in West Bountiful, Utah. She is a member of The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and the Utah Watercolor Society. She loves to illustrate Picture Books. Her first one was "The ABC's of Uniforms and Outfits" by Barbara Williams published in 1992. She recently finished, packaged and mailed off to Boyds Mills Press, "The Great Grape Problem" by Mary Lou Carney. This should be hot off the presses Spring 2005.


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

The decision to become an illustrator has been a life long journey. Reading books and looking at illustrations are some of my first memories. I can still picture in my head the illustrations from my first books. I loved visiting my Grandparents' house and staring at the great illustrations on "The Saturday Evening Post" covers. I loved taking paper and pencil in hand and creating something.

While working as a commercial artist in Salt Lake for Ralph Butler and Associates (it was just me and Ralph, I must have been "the Associates"), I wrote a story and made a book dummy for my little sister. That led me in a search to learn more about illustrating picture books and writing for children.

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

There is an old couple who live on this farm and have too much work. They are seeking a home in a picture book but so far it has been too much work for an illustrator to handle.


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

It can be very lonely work.


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

In the fifth grade we were going to have a visitor from the publisher of Dr. Seuss. We had the assignment to draw our favorite Dr. Seuss character. I drew the South Going Zak. The artwork was held up in the front of the class and admired by the representative of the publishing house. I still have it in my file.

5--Who are your favorite illustrators?

I love the illustrations by N. C. Wyeth and Norman Rockwell. My favorite children's book illustrators are Jerry Pinkney and Charles Santore.


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

The exciting part about illustrating is that there is always something else to learn, always another goal to reach. I would love to have the illustrations from a book accepted into the New York Society of Illustrators Original Art Show.


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

Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss


8--What are you working on now?

"The Great Grape Problem" by Mary Lou Carney to be published by Boyds Mills Press. Two more double page spreads to go and then I'm mailing it off.


9--Do you ever do projects about UT?

"When Pioneer Wagons Rumbled West" by Christine Graham was about getting to Utah


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

Learning from and learning to live with criticism


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

You schedule your own time so it is very flexible. If I want to go running or take a bike ride in the sun I can, unless I've got a horrible deadline breathing down my neck.


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

Get into the sketchbook habit. Carry it around with you and sketch the people and places and critters you see. It is a great resource for ideas and a great way to hone your talent.


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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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