Conference Updates & KidLit News, Nov. 8
Just in time for the holidays, Sterling Children’s Books, publisher for the wonderful Evelyn Christensen, is having a Goodreads giveaway for Ev’s new book THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS IN KENTUCKY. There’s a short, happy interview with Evelyn on Nancy Kelly Allen’s blog right now. Go!
Happy Book Birthday!
Today’s birthday greeting go to twitter friend @gailecn!
OUT OF TUNE
By Gail Nall
Published by Aladdin, Simon & Schuster
From the publisher: When Maya’s parents sell their house and move the family into the world’s ugliest RV to travel the country, Maya’s only goal is to get back home — and fast. No way is she going to miss the chance to audition for Dueling Duets, the singing competition show that’s going to surely propel her—and her cowboy-hatted crush—to country stardom.
But Operation Maya Goes Home turns out to be more complicated than she had expected, so Maya sets out on a secret 100-mile bike ride through Yellowstone National Park with her know-it-all little sister, a cute nature-loving boy, and a blue-haired girl named Shiver (a.k.a. the most annoying person ever). Somewhere between the worst muscle ache she’s ever had and losing half of their group to a flat tire, Maya starts wondering if maybe, just maybe, it’s possible to find home in the last place you expected.
Here’s what’s up in the Houston area this week. Scroll down for the conference updates. If you find this information helpful, please share it!
Local KidLit Events
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For Readers
NOVEMBER 10, THURSDAY, 5:00 PM: JONATHAN AUXIER, MG AUTHOR
Blue Willow Bookshop
Jonathan Auxier will discuss and sign his novels for young readers, including SOPHIE QUIRE, THE NIGHT GARDNER and PETER NIMBLE AND HIS FANTASTIC EYES. In his newest novel, SOPHIE QUIRE it’s been two years since Peter Nimble and Sir Tode rescued the kingdom of HazelPort. In that time, they have traveled far and wide in search of adventure. Now they have been summoned by Professor Cake for a new mission: To find a twelve-year-old bookmender named Sophie Quire. Sophie knows little beyond the four walls of her father’s bookshop, where she repairs old books and dreams of escaping the confines of her dull life. But when a strange boy and his talking cat/horse companion show up with a rare and mysterious book, she finds herself pulled into an adventure beyond anything she has ever read.
NOVEMBER 12, SATURDAY, 4:30PM: C.C. HUNTER, YA AUTHOR 
C.C. Hunter will sign and discuss the final chapter of her young adult fantasy series Shadow Falls, MIDNIGHT HOUR. Being a dyslexic witch is a curse in itself, but Miranda Kane’s time at Shadow Falls has helped her harness her magical powers. Now, just as she’s finally mastered them and is preparing to graduate with her friends, a near-death experience threatens to ruin it all.
Miranda awakens in the hospital with a mysterious tattoo that no one can explain. As she struggles to make sense of it and questions her feelings for a certain irresistible shape-shifter and a hot new guy the strange markings begin to spread all over her body, leaving her desperate to find answers. But before she can solve that problem, a new one arises: her sister is missing. Has her sister been kidnapped? Miranda will risk her life to find out. Will she live to share the day she’s worked so hard for with her friends? When the clock strikes midnight, will Miranda make it to her graduation at Shadow Falls?
NOVEMBER 14, MONDAY, 5:00 PM: JOSHUA KHAN, CHILDREN’S AUTHOR
Blue Willow Bookshop
Joshua Khan will discuss and sign SHADOW MAGIC, his book for kids. Thorn, an outlaw’s son, wasn’t supposed to be a slave. He’s been sold to Tyburn, an executioner, and they’re headed to Castle Gloom in Gehenna, the land of undead, where Thorn will probably be fed to a vampire. Lilith Shadow wasn’t supposed to be ruler of Gehenna. But following the murder of her family, young Lily became the last surviving member of House Shadow, a long line of dark sorcerers. Her country is surrounded by enemies and the only way she can save it is by embracing her heritage and practicing the magic of the undead. But how can she when, as a girl, magic is forbidden to her?
Just when it looks like Lily will have to leave her home forever, Thorn arrives at Castle Gloom. A sudden death brings them together, inspires them to break the rules, and leads them to soar to new heights in this fantasy with all the sparkle and luster of a starry night sky.
For Writers
NOVEMBER 12, SATURDAY: HOUSTON WRITERS HOUSE WORKSHOP WITH NIKKI LOFTIN
Southwest Presbyterian Church – 6033 S. Rice Ave., Bellaire
COST: Members $50, Nonmembers $65
Nikki Loftin, author of three novels for young readers: Wish Girl, Nightingale’s Nest, and The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy, presents: The Art and Craft of Writing: Four mini-workshops to help you succeed as a writer.
Morning sessions:
1. Catch me! Hidden Support Systems for Authors
2. Getting Over Your Bad Self: Self-Editing for Everyone—with the mini revision power round
Afternoon sessions:
3. Unforgettable Settings
NOVEMBER 12: WEST HOUSTON RWA WORKSHOP 
Memorial Drive Christian Church
COST: Members-$20, Non-members-$25
Registration Deadline: November 10
Join West Houston Romance Writers of America for this full day workshop!
Morning session: Power Revisions: Taking Your Draft From Woe to Wow, with Pamela Fagan Hutchins.
Afternoon session: Keeping the Fire Alive: Writing for the Long Haul, with Sophie Jordan and Shana Galen.
NOVEMBER 15, TUESDAY, 7:30 PM, SOCIAL TIME 7:00 PM: CHRISTIE CRAIG WOKSHOP
Kirkmont MUD Building, 10102 Blackhawk Rd.
COST: FREE
HBA RWA monthly meeting: Christie Craig will wow you with five tips to make your writing stronger. From using your setting and making it count, to fleshing out your characters by adding a touch of backstory. She’ll offer you concrete ways to adding a layer of emotion to your work that creates reader empathy. Need to add a little more romantic sizzle to your story? She can give you tips that will ramp up your sexual tension. And last but not least, she’d discuss hooks and how you can make it hard for a reader to ever put down your book.
Conference Updates
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Editors & Agents @ Conferences
NOVEMBER 15-DECEMBER 15: WRITEONCON, ONLINE
EDITORS: Stacy Abrams/Entangled; Kendra Levin/Viking Children’s Books/Penguin Random House; Annie Berger/Sourcebooks Fire/Jabberwocky
AGENTS: Suzie Townsend/New Leaf Literary & Media;Roseanne Wells/The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency; Joanna Moult, Amber J. Carave/Skylark Literary Agency; Jenny Bent/The Bent Agency; Elana Roth Parker/Laura Dail Literary Agency; Alyssa Eisner Henkin/Trident Media Group; Tracy Marchini/BookEnds Literary Agency
FEBRUARY 25: ATLANTA WRITING WORKSHOP, ATLANTA, GA
AGENTS: Sally Apokedak/The Leslie H. Stobbe Literary Agency; Marisa A. Corvisiero/Corvisiero Literary; Vanessa Eccles/Golden Wheat Literary; Eric Smith/P.S. Literary; Kristy Hunter/The Knight Agency; Elizabeth Copps/Maria Carvainis AgencyJanell Walden Agyeman/Marie Brown Associates
MARCH 24-26: CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’: A CONFERENCE FOR WRITERS, BREA, CA
EDITORS: Cassi Carver/All Romance (ARe); Michelle Klayman/Boroughs Publishing Group
AGENTS: Laura Bradford/Bradford Literary Agency; Patricia Nelson/Marsal Lyon Literary Agency; Nephele Tempest/The Knight Agency; Jessica Watterson/—Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency
MARCH 25: MICHIGAN WRITING WORKSHOP, DETROIT, MI
AGENTS: Jennifer Wills, Lesley Sabga/The Seymour Agency; Regina Brooks/Serendipity Literary Agency; Sara Megibow/KT Literary; Alice Speilburg/Speilburg Literary; Kirsten Carleton/Prospect Agency; Janna Bonikowski/The Knight Agency; Elana Roth Parker/Laura Dail Literary Agency
APRIL 22: KENTUCKY WRITING WORKSHOP, LOUISVILLE, KY
AGENTS: Brent Taylor/TriadaUS Literary Agency, IncLesley Sabga/The Seymour Agency
MAY 6: SEATTLE WRITING WORKSHOP, SEATTLE, WA
AGENTS: Clelia Gore/Martin Literary Management; Mandy Hubbard, Lindsay Mealing/Emerald City Literary; Carlie Webber/CK Webber Associates Literary Management; Thao Le/Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency; Amy Levenson/Blue Heron Literary; Paul S. Levine/Paul S. Levine Literary; Nephele Tempest/The Knight Agency; Eve Porinchak/Jill Corcoran Literary Agency; Adria Goetz/Martin Literary Management