18th Annual Winter Conference

SCBWIFebruary 10-12, 2017 | New York City, NY

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017

THE PROFESSIONAL AUTHOR’S FORUMOnce again this year, we are featuring a day-long intensive designed for traditionally published authors or author/illustrators of children’s books. Part presentation, part expert-led discussion, the goal is to explore sensitive career development issues in an intimate setting with peers. Participants will receive detailed documentation of the day, with a summary of concrete strategies that have been revealed and explored. A unique opportunity for SCBWI Members to get advice and answers.

8:00am – 8:30am Registration EMPIRE STATE BALLROOM FOYER Ballroom Level

8:30am – 9:00am Introductions and Goals BROADWAY/ALVIN Lin Oliver, SCBWI Executive Director Conference Level

9:00am – 10:00am          Grassroots Marketing: Engaging Teachers, Librarians, Bloggers and Podcasters Matthew Winner, Author/Blogger/Librarian  

10:15am – 11:15am Marketing Your Book: A Case Study                                      Andrea Beaty, Author

11:30am – 12:30pm Career Building                                      Cynthia Leitich Smith, Author/Blogger

12:30pm – 1:30pm           Lunch (On Your Own)         1:30pm – 2:30pm What Can You Expect From Your Marketing Department, and What They Should Expect From You Chrissy Noh, Marketing Director, Simon and Schuster BFYR

2:45pm – 3:45pm Issues in the Author-Agent Relationship: Frank Talk              Marcia Wernick, Agent, Wernick and Pratt Agency

4:00pm – 4:45pm When to Quit – or Keep! – Your Day Job                                      Erica S. Perl, Author

4:45pm – 5:00pm Summary Discussion Lin Oliver, SCBWI Executive Director

FACULTY:Andrea Beaty is the author of thirteen books for kids including the New York Times bestsellers Ada Twist, Scientist and Rosie Revere, Engineer, which is currently orbiting on the International Space Station as part of the StoryTimeFromSpace.org program. Learn more about Andrea at www.AndreaBeaty.com and on Pinterest @AndreaBeatyPint.

Chrissy Noh is the Marketing Director for Simon & Schuster BFYR, Atheneum BFYR, Margaret K. McElderry Books, Beach Lane Books, Paula Wiseman Books and Saga Press. She was formerly the Development & Marketing Manager at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.

Lin Oliver is a children’s book author and writer-producer of television series and movies for children.  With Henry Winkler, she writes the New York Times best-selling book series Hank Zipzer: World’s Best Underachiever, which is also a hit television series on the BBC, and its spin-off chapter book series Here’s Hank.  She is also the author of the Who Shrunk Daniel Funk quartet, and Sound Bender and

The Shadow Mask, adventure/science fiction middle grade novels she coauthored with Theo Baker.  Her picture book debut was the highly praised poetry collection Little Poems for Tiny Ears, illustrated by Tomie dePaola. Lin’s newest work, the high-octane chapter book series The Fantastic Frame, was just out this spring. She is the co-founder and Executive Director of SCBWI, and a recipient of The Christopher Award. Learn more at www.linoliver.com.

Erica S. Perl is the author of popular and critically acclaimed books for young readers. Her books include Chicken Butt!, Goatilocks, Ferocious Fluffity and When Life Gives You O.J., which earned a Sydney Taylor Notable Award, was an Amazon Best Book of the Month and is on mul-tiple state book award lists. Erica’s newest novel, The Capybara Conspiracy, is an unusual creature, as it is also a play. Erica is a crowd-pleasing presenter at schools and libraries and an outspoken advocate for all kids to have access to dynamic and diverse books. For the past six years, Erica has worked as the Vice President of Publisher and Author Relations for First Book, a position she recently stepped down from to devote her energies full time to her writing. She currently lives in Washington, DC but sold her first picture book while working as a criminal defense lawyer in NYC—no joke! Visit www.ericaperl.com.

Cynthia Leitich Smith is the New York Times and Publishers Weekly best-selling, award-winning YA author of the Tantalize series, the Feral trilogy, and several acclaimed children’s books. She was named a Writer of the Year by Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers in recognition of Rain Is Not My Indian Name. Cynthia is on the faculty of the VCFA MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults. She also serves on the advisory board of We Need Diverse Books. The Austin chapter of SCBWI has instituted the Cynthia Leitich Smith Mentor Award in her honor. Visit www.cynthialeitichsmith.com and www.cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com.

Marcia Wernick is a partner and literary agent at Wernick & Pratt Agency, LLC. She began her career more than 20 years ago working in subsidiary rights and still attends the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. The agency represents authors and illustrators on a wide range of chil-dren’s books spanning all age groups and genres. Marcia works with both writers and illustrators, from picture book authors and/or illustrators through young adult writers. Her clients range from emerging talent to award winners and include Zebo Ludvicek, Anna Raff, and Ed Masessa, as well as Mo Willems, Bryan Collier, and Diane Stanley.

Matthew Winner is an elementary library media specialist in Elkridge, Maryland. He is the co-founder and content director of All The Won-ders, a children’s literature website and more, and host of the All The Wonders podcast, a weekly podcast where Matthew talks to authors, illustrators, award winners, up-and-comers and everyone in between. Matthew is represented by Danielle Smith of Red Fox Literary. For more information, connect with Matthew on Twitter at @MatthewWinner or online at MatthewCWinner.com.