WonderCon 2022

Had a great time at WonderCon 2022. I moderated a KidLit author panel and sold my books at a small press booth for the first time. Cosplayers were out in full force.

With fellow children’s authors (l to r): Tim McCanna, Ernesto Cisneros, Sam Subity, and Salina Yoon.

Stunning artwork inspired by Avatar: The Last Airbender

Chainsaw Man. Note the safety tags on the chainsaws.

Not sure who this guy is, but he’s summoning a purple fireball, so…

This is Goat Vs. Fish. He literally walks around interviewing people, asking which animal they prefer. Hilarious.

Grogu from The Mandalorian

Jinx from Netflix’s amazing Arcane series

Another Jinx!

Kim Possible – an oldie but a goodie

Krampus is always a pleasant surprise

Kuiil (and Grogu!) from The Mandalorian

Lady Thor

Lara Croft from Tomb Raider

Merida from Brave

Daenerys Targaryen on a dragon from Game of Thrones

Oscar the Grouch and the Mysterious Galaxy devil puppet

Pickle Rick, my favorite character from the Rick and Morty series

Planet of the Apes ape. Get your damn, dirty hands off me.

Remote-controlled R2-D2 from Star Wars

Rick and Morty-inspired artwork

A rider of Rohan from The Lord of the Rings

Hilarious Saint X artwork

An awesome Sister of Battle from Warhammer 40K

Family of superheroes

Is this what Joe Satriani meant by “Surfing with the Alien”?

Tetris Man

Thor

Vi from Arcane

Jinx and Vi from Arcane

Geralt of Rivia from The Witcher

A bashful young Wonder Woman

Stunning Callisto and Xena from Xena: Warrior Princess

San Diego Comic-Con 2021 Panels

I’m thrilled to share that I moderated two San Diego Comic-Con virtual panels.

The first, Young Adult Dark Fantasy, Sci-Fi & Horror, features bestselling authors Kendare Blake (Three Dark Crowns), Mylo Carbia (Violets are Red), Sarah Beth Durst (The Queens of Renthia), Jonathan Maberry (Rot & Ruin), and Seanan McGuire (October Daye). They’ll share their insights into writing dark speculative fiction and the publishing industry, including book to TV/film.
The video stream can be viewed on YouTube.

The second panel is Meet the Creators and Cast of Netflix’s Norsemen. Norsemen is Netflix’s hilarious historical comedy series—think Vikings meets The Office. Participating in this Q&A are actors: Kåre Conradi (Orm), Trond Fausa (Rufus), Nils Jørgen Kaalstad (Arvid), Øystein Martinsen (Kark), Marian Ottesen (Hildur), and series producers/directors/writers Jonas Torgersen and Jon Iver Helgaker.
The video stream can be viewed on YouTube.

FAQs for 100 Writing Days of Summer

Summer officially begins on Monday, and with it begins the 100 Writing Days of Summer program. Summer is a time of dreaminess, hopefulness, even laziness. It is a time I like to write – because the living is easy. And after writing, I can engage in some of my favorite ways to think – BBQs, a dunk in the pool, a bike ride or a day at the beach. When you’re actively writing, all those activities can also be considered “writing” because you’re incubating your thoughts and ideas. And because when you’re having fun, your brain is open to solution finding, and ideas come more easily.

I’m hoping you want to write with us this summer. I thought this FAQ might help you make the decision. Thanks, and I hope to see you in there, writing your heart out. #100WritingDaysOfSummer

PS. I know it’s a weird summer that already feels too busy, though it hasn’t even started, but a Yes to the program is a Yes to your WIP. Join 100 Writing Days of Summer.

Where do I sign up? Right here!

What is the actual time commitment?

The total time spent writing together is 20 hours in 10 2-hour sessions. The rest is “free range.” You might set your own writing goal that creates a bigger commitment in our opening ceremony, or with a writing buddy.

What is the schedule for the Write/Coach/Write sessions?

The times were chosen to accommodate working people, and people on both coasts and in between. We’re meeting to write…

· Some Thursdays 5-7pm, PDT (8-10pm ET)

· Some Saturdays 8-10am, PDT (11-1pm ET)

What is a Write/Coach/Write session?

When we say Write/Coach/Write, we mean,

Write 45 minutes

Next 30 minutes, have the option of getting coaching help as a group for creative indecision, doubts or dread your brain is serving up with Julia Roberts, creativity coach

Write for the remaining 45 minutes.

Anyone who is on a roll can skip the coaching part, by turning off their speaker, and write on.

How much does it cost?

The price for the program is $299. If you prefer, you can pay over three months, each month at $109.

What do you get?

Every weekday, you get a beautiful email – with a writing tip and a Summery Picture Prompt. Tips were written for this program by the Author Panel, summarizing their experience, insights and best practices

The FB group offers camaraderie, a place to find an accountability buddy, and access to the Author Panel. One author is featured for 10 days at a time, all summer long.

You can also ask a coaching question of Julia Roberts, who is in the FB group every day.

There are 10 2-hour Write/Coach/Write sessions during the summer, held on Zoom.

Opening and closing ceremonies on Zoom

Giveaways

AND… New Writer friends, inspiration, help with your creative process, and a pile of new pages written by Labor Day.

28 Themed Submission Calls – August 2020

Here are 28 themed submission calls for writers compiled by S. Kalekar at Authors Publish.

Emergency Funds Available for Writers

S. Kalekar has compiled a list of emergency funds that may be available to qualifying authors. See the full article at Author’s Publish.

The Impact of California Law AB5 on Writers

If you’re a writer or journalist living in California, the new AB5 law has business/tax implications for you.

Read the full article by Jonathan Kirsch at The Author’s Guild.

50+ Children’s Book Publishers Seeking Submissions

Written by Emily Harstone

All of the publishers on this list publish children’s books. Some just publish picture books, some publish only middle-grade fiction, and some publish a wide variety of genres aimed at adults as well. Some are looking for educational work, others are open to anything. A number of these publishers are large and established. Others are small and just starting out.

Flying Eye

Nobrow Press is a respected publisher of graphic novels and Flying Eye is their children’s book imprint. Flying Eye publishes both fiction and nonfiction picture books. Nobrow Press and Flying Eye are both different from what we normally review because they are looking for either an author/illustrator or an already formed author-illustrator pair with a book to pitch. They do seem to make exceptions, but for the most part they are not interested in matching illustrators with authors.

Allen & Unwin

Allen & Unwin is a large independent Australian Press that is open to submissions on a wide range of topics. They have won a number of Australian publisher awards. They accept based on pitches, and have a system known as the “Friday Pitch” which ensures that at least one editor reviews each unsolicited pitch.

Sleeping Bear Press

Sleeping Bear Press is a well regarded publisher of board books, picture books, middle grade readers, and young adult fiction. They offer advances to some authors. They have good regional distribution in the Midwest and ok distribution in North America. Their books have won a wide variety of awards, all of them are listed here.

Gibbs Smith

Gibbs Smith is an established publisher with good distribution and a focus on cook books, interior design and architecture books, and board books for children. They have published a number of bestsellers, including a board book version of Pride & Prejudice.

For the rest of this list, see https://www.authorspublish.com/55-childrens-book-publishers-seeking-submissions/

Fun at the 2016 Orange County SCBWI Agents Day

I had a great time at the 2016 Orange County Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Agents Day. There were a number of terrific presentations by agents, authors, and an editor. Sorry for the poor photo quality…

Introductory remarks from author Francesca Rusackas, illustrator Priscilla Burris, and author Q.L. Pearce.

Rachel Orr (agent with The Prospect Agency) presenting Voices Carry – Developing your Picture Book Voice

Jessica Sinsheimer (agent with Sara Jane Freymann Literary) presenting how to use Twitter to research, network and become a priority for literary agents

Annie Berger (editor with Sourcebooks Fire / Jabberwocky) presenting Writing Believable Relationships in YA and Middle Grade

I missed the presentation by author Marily Cram Donahue because I was pitching picture books to editor Annie Berger.

Marlene Perez (author) presenting I’m Not Normal and Maybe You Aren’t Either

Q. L. Pearce (author) presenting on scary (but not too scary) picture books

Kelly Sonnack (agent Andrea Brown Literary) presenting Query Letters

Stephanie Fretwell-Hill (agent with Red Fox Literary) presenting straight from the Heart: Knowing Your Emotional Core in the Craft and Business of Writing

Fun at WonderCon 2016

My sons and I made our annual pilgrimage to WonderCon to enjoy great art, revel in geekiness, and meet lots of interesting people. Here’s a sampling

Josh & Harrison outside the LA Convention Center

The BACONNATION food truck. It’s porktastic!

Not to be outdone is the Godzilla-themed MeSoHungry food truck.

Why, yes, I WAS wondering what a Star Trek-cat mashup would look like. Scotty is a Scottish Fold! Chekhov should’ve been a Siberian.

Captain Mexico and Mexican Punisher and a Trump pinata saying “Por ser un pendejo”. Well played, guys.

Harrison as a dwarf barrel-rider from The Hobbit at The OneRing.net booth. He’s got the long hair – just needs a beard and some scale mail.

My sons in front of our books at the Mysterious Galaxy booth.

Josh with a Type-2 Energy Weapon, more commonly known as the Gravity Hammer – a powerful, two-handed melee weapon used by the Jiralhanae in the Covenant Empire. Or so I’m told.

A quick photo prior to our panel. From right to left, authors: Barney Saltzberg, Josh Herz, Harrison Herz, Dan Santat, Bruce Hale, and Lisa Yee. Lisa was not part of our panel, but she is legally required to be present when Dan is in public. 🙂

I secretly brought a furry trapper hat to make a THIS IS NOT MY HAT joke. Little did I suspect that all other four male panelists would be sporting hats. From right to left: Jon Klassen (including priceless expression), Antoinette Portis, Bruce Hale, Dan Santat, Barney Saltzberg, and Henry Herz.

Me looking all moderatory while Bruce Hale answers a question from the audience.

Me looking like the cat that ate the canary because I’m signing books with Jon Klassen, Antoinette Portis, Barney Saltzberg, Dan Santat, and Bruce Hale.

This is Jon Klassen, but THIS IS NOT MY HAT. I’m wearing Bruce Hale’s famous fedora!

Networking in Los Angeles with Fellow Authors

With my long-time friend and Pura Belpre Award-winning author/illustrator Joe Cepeda and new friend author/illustrator Jordan Novak

With the hilarious and talented picture book author of CRANKENSTEIN and SNOOZEFEST, Samantha Berger

Samantha Berger drinking coffee with both hands! ‪#‎caffeine‬

With Angie Karcher, non-fiction picture book author, and founder of RhyPiBoMo.

Normally, seeing Molly Schaar Idle would be the highlight of my day. But then, her son John said he loved MONSTER GOOSE NURSERY RHYMES. *smiling*

With Caldecott Honor winning author/illustrator Molly Schaar Idle AND the author/illustrator of LOUISE LOVES ART, Kelly J. Light. I’m in the middle of a talent sandwich. Notice the Louise doll I’m holding.

With the YA author of TWINKIE PIE, Kat Yeh and YA author Lee Wind. Notice how nicely color-coordinated they are!

With rising star picture book author Marcie Colleen. I am jealous of both her talent and her hair! 🙂

With debut picture book FARAWAY FRIENDS author/illustrator Russ Cox

With the fully-bearded and award-winning BOY+BOT author/illustrator Dan Yaccarino