Afternoon Sessions

For Full-Day and Half-Day Conference Participants

Those enrolling in the morning workshops (full-day conference) as well as those signing up for afternoons only (half-day conference) will enjoy sessions presented by authors, illustrators, national and local book editors, and agent; a keynote address by Mary E. Pearson; and the Thursday afternoon book signing.

The keynote address will be given by:

• Mary E. Pearson, author
  "Always a Work in Progress—The Makings of Life and Career"
  Description: Missteps, wrong turns, and curve balls that hit you smack in the eye are the ingredients of life and careers–the good news is it's also fuel for the creative mind. Mary shares her missteps, victories, and growth as a writer.

This year’s plenary sessions will be given by publishing industry experts:

• Kate Angelella, Assistant Editor at Simon and Schuster
  "Giving Voice to Your Fiction"

• Jennifer Hunt, Editorial Director at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
  "Being Kid Smart: Writing for Excellence"

• Mary Kole, Associate Agent at Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Inc
  "Finally Getting an Agent: What Separates Hopefuls from Clients in the Kidlit Market"

Breakout sessions will be presented by our morning workshop faculty and guest presenters:

• Kevin Hawkes, illustration faculty
  "If the Art Fits" and "Back to the Drawing Board"| read an interview with Kevin posted at the King's English Bookshop site

• Cheri Pray Earl, beginning writing class faculty
  "From Teen-age Angst to Vampire Romance—The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly in YA Lit"

• Rick Walton, beginning writing class faculty
  "How I Became a Playwright: My Experience Adapting My Book for the Theater"

• Dave Wolverton, aka David Farland, fantasy/sci fi faculty
  "Four Keys to Writing a Blockbuster Novel” and “From Book to Screenplay"

• Brandon Mull, fantasy/sci fi faculty
  "Key Elements of Story” and “Choose Your Own Adventure Talk” (You Choose the Topics) | read an interview with Brandon posted at the King's English Bookshop site

• Emily Wing Smith, beginning novel faculty
  "A Lawyer and a Writer Walk into a Bar: What the Legal World Teaches Us About Voice” and “Narrative Collage: How Diversifying Your Format Can Deepen Your Story" | read an interview with Emily posted at the King's English Bookshop site

• Ann Dee Ellis, contemporary novel faculty
  "Writing a Novel Is a Marathon: How to Endure to the End"

• Alane Ferguson, intermediate/advanced novel faculty
  "The Question: How to Find Your Character's Voice" and "The Dreaded First Chapter: How to Enter Your New World"
  

• Sara Zarr, intermediate/advanced novel faculty
  "Author Charm School” and “The Author-Editor Relationship” (with Jennifer Hunt) | read an interview with Sara posted at the King's English Bookshop site

• Mike Knudson, chapter book faculty
  "Writing for Boys"

• Bonny Becker, picture book faculty
  "Be Wise, Revise” and “Classic Story Structure"

• Kristyn Crow, picture book faculty
  "Picture Books: Writing a Rousing Read-Aloud!” and “Lights, Camera, Action! Considering Visual Scenes as You Write Your Picture Book Manuscript" | read an interview with Kristyn posted at the King's English Bookshop site

• Ally Condie, novelist and guest presenter
  "When You Don't Know the End from the Beginning: Writing Without an Outline"

• Heather Dixon and Matthew Kirby, novelists and guest presenters
  "First Books Panel"

• Guy Francis, illustrator and guest presenter
  "How I Make a Picture Book"

• Sydney Salter, novelist, SCBWI Regional Adviser, and guest presenter
  "Networking Know-How"

• Kirk L. Shaw and Derk Koldewyn, local editors and guest presenters
  "Publishing Panel"

• Will Terry, illustrator and guest presenter
  "This and That: Chatting with Illustrator Will Terry"

Download a preliminary copy of the 2010 afternoon schedule.

This year’s keynote address will be given Thursday afternoon, followed by a book signing. Books by our authors and illustrator will be available on-site for purchase from The King’s English Bookshop.