Stuff that’s good to know

The Carnival is Coming!

I’m happy to say I’ll be hosting the Carnival of Children’s Literature for October. Yes, a roundup of a month’s worth of children’s literature links from around the blogosphere–here! You don’t want to miss it. Judging by the links to blog posts that are already starting to trickle in, this is going to be a lot of fun to put together and even more fun for you to read.

So be sure to stop in around October 30 or 31st for some spooktacular reading!
© Lizann Flatt, www.lizannflatt.com
No part of this blog may be used without written permission from the author.

Library Challenge Closes

The Library Lovin’ Challenge is now done. What a flurry of activity here! And what a lot of fun. I know I enjoyed clicking on and reading many different blogs in the last couple days.

Here’s how it turned out:
27 comments by the deadline
@.50 per comment
= $13.50 for each of my two libraries.

 Because I entered this challenge late, I think that’s pretty good. But I think I will round it up to
$20 each
for the Bracebridge Public Library and the Baysville Branch of the Lake of Bays Library.

Thank you to writerjenn for starting this phenom.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to leave a comment to help me in this challenge.

We all love libraries!

© Lizann Flatt, www.lizannflatt.com
No part of this blog may be used without written permission from the author.

Library Lovin’ Challenge

Heard about the Library Lovin’ Challenge going around the blogosphere? Visit the writerjenn blog for more info. I’m jumping in even if I am a little bit late. But better late than never, right? I was inspired to join in by Ishta Mercurio over at Musings of a Restless Mind, so thanks go to her too.

So here’s how it works. For every person who comments on this blog post between now and midnight EDT March 27, 2010, I’ll donate 50 cents to the Bracebridge Public Library AND 50 cents to the Baysville branch of the Lake of Bays Public Library–two libraries that have been instrumental in helping me in my career as a writer up here in Muskoka–up to a maximum of $100 (or $50 each).

If you don’t know what kind of comment to leave, tell me why you love libraries, maybe even these particular libraries, or just a simple “I love libraries!” will work.

My pledge is “per commenter” so one person leaving several comments counts only once. So spread the word. Link to here, tweet this, or whatever, because more comments means more money.

If you want to donate to your own library, or to start your own challenge, please do so. Leave your challenge information in the comments to this post, with a link to your own blog. Then be sure to go to writerjenn and leave your url to be added to the challenge master list.

Again, the complete list of participating bloggers (and list of other sites where you can help libraries just by leaving a comment) can be found at the writerjenn blog at http://writerjenn.livejournal.com/162263.html

Thanks for taking part!

© Lizann Flatt, www.lizannflatt.com
No part of this blog may be used without written permission from the author.

SCBWI Spring Thing 2010

Putting on my SCBWI Regional Advisor hat for a moment to say that

Registration is now open for:

SCBWI Canada East 2010 Spring Thing
Kempenfelt Conference Centre, www.kempenfelt.com
Barrie, Ontario

April 23, 24, 25, 2010

Experience the weekend or join us for the day!

Featuring:

Michael Stearns, Agent, Upstart Crow Literary, www.upstartcrowliterary.com
Ugly But Necessary: Publishing Contracts ˜ Former editorial director-turned-literary-agent-and-agency head Michael Stearns walks you through the standard provisions in a publishing contract and talks about what each one does and why each matters. Will be as exhilarating and bruising an experience as it sounds.
Make Things Happen: How To Kick-Start Your Limp Plot

Alan Jones, Art Director, HarperCollins Canada, www.harpercollins.ca
The Evolution of Children’s Book Covers: Design Trends and Publisher Expectations ˜A two-part workshop for illustrators.
Part I: You’ll be assigned some homework to try your own hand at a cover. Bring your sketch materials to the conference.
Part II: You’ve sketched out your cover idea, now bring it back the next day for group discussion.

RJ Anderson, Fantasy and Science Fiction Author of Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter, short listed for CLA Children’s Book of the Year, www.rj-anderson.com
Revision: The Magic Key to Successful Writing ˜ Learn how to really re-envision and rewrite a manuscript. RJ Anderson attributes her ability to do this as the key to her own success.
It’s A Web World ˜ Panel with other published SCBWI members on making sense of why writers and illustrators are being told to blog, Skype, get on Twitter, Facebook and the like, plus how to decide if you should be there too.

Ontario Arts Council grant officers ˜ Grant programs for Ontario writers and illustrators and how to apply for them

PLUS
* opportunity for one-on-one critiques
* take away a video of the start of your school presentation
* networking and fun and more

Download the complete conference information package and registration form (a PDF file) from www.scbwicanada.org/east

© Lizann Flatt, www.lizannflatt.com
No part of this blog may be used without written permission from the author.