LOS ALAMOS WRITERS GROUP

Want to Ride (or Write) on the Orient Express?

Come to the next LAWG meeting, and Christel Hanson will tell you when and how.
She will present a program on literary journeys and retreats of interest to writers.
There will be a bit of literary trivia fun, too.

(Advance notice: Facilitators for February meetings are Michael Thompson (10th-critique)
and Angie Chipera (24th))

Thursday, January 27
7:00 p.m.
Morning Glory Baking Company
1377 Diamond Drive
Los Alamos

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WRITING for CHILDREN CLASSES

SCBWI-NM Regional Advisor Chris Eboch is teaching two classes through SouthWest Writers.

Chris Eboch is the author of 12 books for young people. Her Haunted series includes THE GHOST
ON THE STAIRS, THE RIVERBOAT PHANTOM, and THE KNIGHT IN THE PHANTOM, which won
the 2010 New Mexico Book Award for Juvenile Book. Her other books include THE WELL OF
SACRIFICE, plus inspirational biographies and nonfiction for elementary through high school students.
She has published two stories in Highlights for Children and dozens of articles in Children’s Writer.
Visit Chris at www.chriseboch.com or  http://chriseboch.blogspot.com.

Introduction To Writing For Children

When you write for children, you have the most appreciative audience in the world.
But to reach that audience, you need to understand the craft and business of writing
for children. In this hands-on workshop, we’ll explore the children’s book markets, discuss
the elements of writing for kids, and develop appropriate ideas. Then we’ll look at the
essential elements of writing for children, and each participant will work on a story. Expect
to leave this workshop with a draft of an article or story, and a list of ideas for future development.

Wednesday afternoons
   February 2, 9, 16 and 23
2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Introduction To Writing For Middle Grade Kids

From Harry Potter to Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Middle Grade novels are a popular and
entertaining genre that can include realistic fiction, adventure, historical fiction, fantasy,
science fiction, humor and more. If you’d like to write for this appealing age group,
this class will get you on your way. We’ll review the genres and special requirements,
work on developing characters and planning a plot, and start writing!

Wednesday evenings
   February 2, 9, 16 and 23
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Each class is $120 for SouthWest Writers members;
$150 non-members (with a 6-month SWW membership)

Both classes meet at the
SouthWest Writers Conference Room
3721 Morris NE, Ste A
  (northwest corner of Comanche and Morris)

Classes are limited to 14 Students. Enrollment ends 1/25.
Sign up online at http://southwestwriters.com/classes.php or register by calling SWW at (505) 265-9485.

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SCBWI-AZ RETREAT
Michelle Parker-Rock
Regional Advisor SCBWI AZ
http://www.scbwi-az.org
RegionalAdvisor@scbwi-az.org

Rediscover, Replenish, Re-Vision:
Friday, May 20, 2011 - Sunday, May 22, 2011
COD Ranch, north of Tucson

A Writers’ Retreat with a Holistic Approach to help you thrive in your writing endeavors
through a blending of craft and life coaching techniques that merge left brain with right
brain, combine practical information with intuitive insight, and mesh creativity with
analytical elements.

An opportunity for seasoned, advanced and published writers of middle grade and YA
novels to escape the routines and demands of everyday life and concentrate on nurturing
and empowering their inner writer while reconnecting with their works-in-progress.

Writers who are interested in this retreat will need to submit the first 5000 words
(or the first 20 pages) of a professionally formatted manuscript of a work-in-progress
and an addendum including the following: an abbreviated single-spaced, one-paragraph
synopsis, a brief summary of prior writing related experiences (published titles with
publishers names and dates; conferences; workshops; classes; etc.) and a statement
of what they hope to gain from this retreat.

Retreat Leaders:
*Kendra Levin
Editor Viking Children’s Books
*Kirby Larson
Recipient of the 2007 Newbery Honor
and the 2009 Christopher Award

Registration includes all retreat activities, food, and lodging.
For more details and registration information, go to
http://scbwi-az.org/Events.html

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BOOK CO-OP MEETING
Paul Rhetts

This month's meeting will feature Barbe Awalt's & Paul Rhetts's presentation, The 2010
New Mexico Book Awards – What We Learned. Also in attendance will be Don James
(tied for Best New Mexico Book) and James McGrath Morris (Best Book) talking about
their books. The honorees for Friends of New Mexico Books and Authors will be announced.

The 2011 New Mexico Book Awards will be opened, and there are two new categories and a
special surprise announcement that everyone with 2010 and newly-released 2011 books
will want to hear!

Friday, January 28
Golden Corral ( Alameda & Coors ).
Meeting starts at noon but people come to eat and network at 11am
Lunch, tip, and tax about $10

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ARE YOUR EARS BURNING?

If so, it may be because someone is talking about you on the Web. Find out who it is
by going to Webmii.com, a collection of media mentions. The site will bring up links
to websites, blogs, videos, social networking sites and news about you and your books.
The site is free.

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HIGHLIGHTS CHAUTAUQUA CONFERENCE
Highlights Foundation, Inc.
www.highlightsfoundation.org

For twenty-six years, the Highlights Foundation has been helping children's writers and illustrators
reach their goals. We invite you to join us this summer, July 16-23.

The intensive, week-long conference at Chautauqua, NY is designed for individuals at all levels of experience,
from beginning to published, seminars, small-group workshops, and one-on-one sessions with some of the
most accomplished and prominent authors, illustrators, editors, critics, and publishers.

For more information, visit our http://www.highlightsfoundation.org/pages/current/chautauqua_top.html
or contact Jo Lloyd, toll free, at 1-877-512-8365.

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MYSTERIOUS NOMINATIONS

The Mystery Writers of America announced the 2011 nominations for the annual
Edgar Award. Winners will be announced April 28 in New York. Nominations in
children's literature:

Best Juvenile
"Zora and Me" by Victoria Bond and T.R. Simon (Candlewick Press)
"The Buddy Files: The Case of the Lost Boy" by Dori Hillestad Butler (Albert Whitman & Co.)
"The Haunting of Charles Dickens" by Lewis Buzbee (Feiwel & Friends)
"Griff Carver: Hallway Patrol" by Jim Krieg (Penguin Young Readers Group - Razorbill)
"The Secret Life of Ms. Finkleman" by Ben H. Winters (HarperCollins Children’s Books)

Best YA
"The River" by Mary Jane Beaufrand (Little Brown Books for Young Readers)
"Please Ignore Vera Dietz" by A.S. King (Random House Children's Books – Alfred A. Knopf)
"7 Souls" by Barnabas Miller and Jordan Orlando (Random House Children's Books – Delacorte Press)
"The Interrogation of Gabriel James" by Charlie Price (Farrar, Straus, Giroux Books for Young Readers)
"Dust City" by Robert Paul Weston (Penguin Young Readers Group - Razorbill)

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AFTER WORDS

"Easy reading is damned hard writing."
Nathaniel Hawthorne

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