Paul O. Zelinksy, Matt de la Peña and Jane Yolen Headline 2nd Annual Picture Book Summit
All Day Online Event for Picture Book Writers Will Feature Top Children’s Writing Experts, Editors and Agents.
Three of today’s most beloved and honored picture book authors will headline the 2nd annual Picture Book Summit, an all-day online writing conference that will take place Saturday, October 1st.
Paul O. Zelinksy (Z is for Moose, Rapunzel, Swamp Angel), Matt de la Peña (Last Stop on Market Street, Ball Don’t Lie, We Were Here), and Jane Yolen (Owl Moon, The Devil’s Arithmetic, How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?) will be the featured speakers at the virtual conference. The event is the result of a collaboration between longtime industry mainstays Children’s Book Insider, Just Write for Kids, 12 x 12 Picture Book Writing Challenge, and the Institute of Children’s Literature.
A portion of all proceeds will benefit Reading Partners, a national nonprofit that equips students with the foundational skills they need to be able to read at grade level by fourth grade.
In addition to live presentations from the superstar picture book authors, Picture Book Summit will also include full, live sessions from four of children’s writing’s most respected educators:
- Children’s author, editor and educator Emma Walton Hamilton will lead Submissions Savvy. Emma will demystify the process of research, drafting that all important query letter, and hitting the send button.
- Children’s Book Insider publisher and longtime editor Laura Backes will teach Creating Memorable Picture Book Characters. Laura will show how to craft characters with spirit, personality, and aspirations that young children will identify with and find immensely entertaining.
- Picture book author and 12 X 12 Picture Book Challenge founder Julie Hedlund will present Verse Curse. Julie will reveal the top crimes of rhyme and how to avoid habits that make your verse worse. Plus “must-have” tips and resources on rhyming.
- Picture book author/illustrator Katie Davis will lead The Positive Power of Procrastination. Katie will teach five keys to getting your picture book written, the difference between active and passive procrastination, and how you can benefit from knowing your “why.”
Picture Book Summit attendees will also enjoy exclusive agent and editor interviews and learn about breaking opportunities in the picture book field.
“If folks loved the first Picture Book Summit – and they sure did – just wait until they see what we have up our sleeves for 2016,” said Jon Bard, Children’s Book Insider’s managing editor and emcee for the virtual event. “Superstar authors, top-flight educators, elite agents and editors and some cool surprises. That writers can attend from the comfort of their own homes, with no travel, hotels or time away from family and writing, makes it even more remarkable.”
Picture Book Summit will take place October 1st from 10:30 am to 6:30 pm Eastern Time (7:30 am – 5:30 pm Pacific). The interactive event (question and answer opportunities will take place throughout the day) will be accessible from any computer, tablet or smart device. A full recording will be available to attendees after the event.
Early Bird Registration for this year’s Summit is now open and will run through August 11. This is a special brief window for your readers to save $100 on registration.
Full details, including instant registration, are available at http://picturebooksummit.com
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Picture Book Summit is a collaboration between longtime industry mainstays Children’s Book Insider, Just Write for Kids, 12 x 12 Picture Book Challenge and the Institute of Children’s Literature. This is the second year for the online conference.
Reading Partners empowers students to succeed in reading and in life by engaging community volunteers to provide one-on-one tutoring. The national nonprofit organization provides proven, individualized literacy tutoring to more than 11,000 elementary school students in under-resourced schools across ten states and the District of Columbia in 2016. Visit readingpartners.org to learn more.
