SCBWI-NM member Vaunda Micheaux Nelson has won the Coretta Scott King Award for her book, Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshall. It is published by Carolrhoda Books and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. The biography relates the story of a slave who grew into one of the most feared and respected lawmen in Indian Territory in the 1800s. During his career, Reeves made more than 3,000 arrests but killed only fourteen men.

Vaun grew up loving the Old West. In the author's note Vaun describes how she and her siblings "spent hours playing cowboys, eating beans from a can around a make-believe campfire, and straddling whatever we could imagine was a horse." They were avid fans of TV and movie westerns. Exciting though they were, the shows had no roles for blacks that the children wanted to play. "How different my childhood view of myself might have been if, when choosing who got the best parts, we'd fought over who got to play Bass Reeves."

The Coretta Scott King award is an American Library Association Youth Media Award, which include the Newbery and theCaldecott. The award annually recognizes outstanding books for young adults and children by African American authors and illustrators that reflect the African American experience. It encourages the artistic expression of the black experience via literature and the graphic arts in biographical, social, and historical treatments by African American authors and illustrators.

The annual SCBWI-New Mexico Writers and Illustrators Conference will be held on Saturday, April 10, 2010 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the University of New Mexico’s Student Union Building. Anyone interested in writing or illustrating for children or teenagers will find intensive craft advice and great networking opportunities.

We have a stellar lineup of presenters, including Kendra Levin, Associate Editor, Viking Children’s Books; Kate Sullivan, Assistant Editor, Little, Brown Young Readers; Jamie Weiss Chilton, Associate Agent, Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Inc.; and Deborah Kaplan, Vice President, Executive Art Director, Penguin Young Readers Group. As an added bonus, Melissa Turk, artist’s agent and owner of Melissa Turk and The Artist Network, will be available on Friday, April 9 for illustrator portfolio reviews.

Some exciting changes are in store for this year’s conference attendees. Each person attending the conference will participate in a 2 1/2 hour intensive, craft-based workshop led by one of our publishing professionals. Click on the Workshop Details link below for a full workshop description!

The Friday evening social and book launch will be held at the Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center from 6:30-8:30 p.m.  See the info sheet for details!

Space is limited so sign up early. Get your registration in by March 26^th for the early bird discount. A limited number of written manuscript critiques are available, with a submission deadline of March 12. Online registration is not available.  Materials must be mailed.

Downloadable forms and information:

• Handsprings 2010 Conference Brochure
• Individual Critique Information
• Presenters’ Bios
• Workshop Details
• Deadlines
• Map of the Student Union Building
• Parking
• Restaurant Options
• Portfolio Reviews: Melissa Turk
• Friday Evening Social Event and Book Launch