Author Cynthea Liu

American Association of School Libraries is having their annual conference and a bunch of AuthorsNow! and Debut 2009 authors, including myself will be on the exhibit floor, ready to meet you!

An exhibits-only pass is only $25-a great way to meet a bunch of authors, get some free books from publishers, and see what's go...ing on in the school library landscape!

So worth it for children's and teen book-lovers, educators, librarians, and writers alike!

I'll be signing at 11:30-Noon in the Penguin booth and 12:45-2:15PM on the exhibit floor for Author Pitstop, Friday, November 6th!

Please let know if you plan to make it. I'm looking forward to seeing you there!Read More

My glorious critique partner Tammi Sauer and I will be running a workshop for SCBWI-Oklahoma. This is a conference you shouldn't miss! Check out all of the fabulous speakers and opportunities. Be there!

SCBWI Oklahoma
Fall Conference in Chandler OK
Saturday, September 12, 2009
First Baptist Church, Chandler Oklahoma

Regist...ration is due by September 8, 2009.
Cost is $25 for SCBWI members, $45 for non-members
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

9:00-9:15 Welcome
9:15-10:00 Evaluation of Your First 150 words
Discover the strengths and weaknesses in your first few paragraphs. Send the first 150 words of your story to our assistant regional advisor, Pati Hailey at patihailey@yahoo.com. Anonymous manuscripts will be selected at random, read aloud and then commented on by a panel of speakers. Put the type of story—picture book, easy reader, chapter book, young adult, nonfiction in the right corner. Do not list your name. No manuscripts will be returned. Deadline for submission is September 1st.

10:15-11:00 Breakout Sessions
Choose from the following:

HOW TO "MAGICALLY" BREAK INTO THE MAGAZINE INDUSTRY
Crave your name in print? Want hundreds of readers--and fast? Break into the high-demand industry of magazine articles and short stories. Discover the process that launched David Roper's freelance career into Highlights and High Five (repeatedly) and landed Amy Dee Stephens in the role of celebrity profiler. (And, yes, you'll learn a little bit of magic along the way!) Amy Dee Stephens and David Roper.

HOW TO KEEP AN EDITOR READING YOUR MANUSCRIPT
A look at common mistakes that cause quick rejection such as weak voice and characterization, absence of conflict, unbelievable dialogue and unprofessional manuscript preparation. Darleen Bailey Beard and Pati Hailey

JEWELS OF THE INTERNET
Unlock the secret riches of the internet to advance your writing career. This workshop will provide keys to a treasure chest stuffed with ideas. Create an exciting internet presence. Learn from the websites of professional writers. What’s the fuss about Facebook? The buzz about book reviews? How do you build a blog? These online tools can help you take your career to a higher level. Leave with lots of resources for implementing your internet identity plan. Jeannie Hagy and Gwendolyn Hooks.


Alternative Ways to Make Money Writing Works for Hire:
Hardy Boys and More
Getting the attention of an editor or an agent is often more difficult than writing your first YA or middle grade novel. Build a writing resume, make friends with editors, and establish yourself as a reliable and versatile writer an agent will want to represent by writing for those tried and true established series you grew up with: Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, Babysitters’ Club, Fear Street! They all are written by hard-working, ambitious, ghost writers who are trying to break into the market and the publishing houses. Book packagers and the trade paperback publishers are always looking for new, eager voices like yours! Larry Mike Garmon


11:15-12:00 Breakout Sessions
Choose from the following:

Write Sophisticated Rhymes for Sophisticated Readers
Do you find yourself wanting to use rhyme, but feeling insecure about the result? This is the session for you. Sharon Martin

QUICK-CHANGE ARTIST: How many hats do YOU have?
Drawing, painting, photography, digital art - and how to use them in different ways to illustrate that point. Kim describes herself as a left-brained artist (when she's not a hare-brained artist, which is also accurate) and a chameleon when it comes to her art. Using a variety of media, she will demonstrate several approaches she has used in illustration and share her experiences with the printed outcome.

Writing Children's Nonfiction - or -
How to Write for Kids and Get Paid
While it's tough to break into children's fiction, nonfiction is quite a different matter. Educational publishers need writers at all different levels and backgrounds. So, if you like chasing down a juicy bit of info that will make a kid keep reading, and you like to get a paycheck, then nonfiction may be the genre for you! Kay Jackson

Repeated Session
Alternative Ways to Make Money Writing Works for Hire:
Hardy Boys and More (see above for details)

12:00-1:00 Lunch
Illustrators will eat together to discuss periodically adding a featured illustrator to our website.

1:00-4:00 Revision 9-1-1
Emergency Care for Your Work-in-Progress
Taking Your Picture Book or Novel from First Draft to Yeah, Baby!
Tammi Sauer and Cynthea Liu

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Join 6th annual gathering of authors and educators interested in the best and newest in young adult literature. Meet featured authors Judy Blundell, Libba Bray, Gennifer Choldenko, Ellen Hopkins and James Owen. Additional authors are Kaza Kingsley, Kerry Madden, Lisa Sandell, Jill Wolfson, Lisa Yee, Michelle Zink, Susa...ne Fine, Jula Keller, Daniel Kraus, Cynthea Liu and Claire Zulkey. Attend breakout sessions on fascinating topics, enjoy a continental breakfast and a full luncheon. Booksigning opportunities and CPDU credits offered. Tickets required, $95 ($75 for full-time students).
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