Conferences and Classes
Where I Am Speaking/Teaching in 2024
This page lists online conferences, workshops, and other events where I will be speaking, presenting, critiquing, or otherwise playing a role as faculty, with links to websites for registration if available. I am open to bookings for 2024 and into 2025. Due to my job with Kane Press, my availability may be limited and I will give priority to conferences and events where I have appeared in the past. I am currently booking online events only.
I can address a variety of subjects, from practical (submissions basics, what publishers do) to craft-related (revision, how editors read).
2024 schedule:
April 16 to June 18: Registration is open now for the spring offering of The Crash Course in Children's Book Publishing, online via the Highlights Foundation. This features 10 weeks of live and pre-recorded material, a weekly drop-in discussion time, and a one-on-one mentoring opportunity. Special guests: author Leah Henderson on growing as a professional and creative writing exercises; agent Linda Epstein on writing query letters.
June 25 to August 30: The Illustrator's Edition of The Crash Course in Children's Book Publishing returns, once again me Pat Cummings and me leading students through what illustrators and author-illustrators need to know about the industry, while also offering guidance in creating a portfolio piece. Limited to 25 students.
July 15 and 17: "Successful Strategies for Submitting Your Manuscript to Agents and Editors," a two-evening mini workshop via the Highlights Foundation. This is based on my experience, and on research into what works for children's and YA writers today, and offers writers crucial practical guidance to the children's and YA submissions process in 2024. There will be handouts and a chance to ask questions. $59. This is an updated version of a workshop offered for the first time in January 2024. Online, with a recording available. Registration will open soon.
September 24 to November 26: The fall offering of The Crash Course in Children's Book Publishing, online via the Highlights Foundation. Just like the spring version, there will be 10 weeks of live and pre-recorded material, a weekly drop-in discussion time, and a one-on-one mentoring opportunity. Special guests: author Leah Henderson on growing as a professional and creative writing exercises; agent Linda Epstein on writing query letters. Registration is open.
October 7: I will again moderate an online panel discussion with three active children's book agents. Sponsored by the Metro NY region of the SCBWI. Stay tuned for details about the agents and registration.
November 14 to 17: I will be on campus with Eileen Robinson and Emma Dryden for a Working Revision Retreat--an evolution of the Kid's Book Revision Retreat Eileen and I have offered for years. Expect plenty of time to write, a daily presentation from faculty, optional consultation time, and online revision programming before the Retreat. More details on that to be posted closer to the time, but you can register now.
Other events, including workshops and conferences, to come.
Cross reference: Kid's Book Revisions workshops.