So, we got the word this week from the SCBWI-Houston conference on who was selected as the winner of the Joan Lowery Nixon Award. There were some outstanding nominees for this mentorship with Joy Preble, but only one could be selected. This year’s winner is Madeline Smoot, from Dallas, Texas. Congratulations, Madeline!

Happy Book Birthday!

Congratulations to Jenny Moyer on her debut young adult novel,

FLASHFALL

by Jenny Moyer

Published by Henry Holt, Macmillan @MacKidsBooks

Orion is a Subpar, expected to mine the tunnels of Outpost Five, near the deadly flash curtain. For generations, her people have chased cirium—the only element that can shield humanity from the curtain’s radioactive particles. She and her caving partner, Dram work the most treacherous tunnel, fighting past flash bats and tunnel gulls, in hopes of mining enough cirium to earn their way into the protected city.

But when newcomers arrive at Outpost Five, Orion uncovers disturbing revelations that make her question everything she thought she knew about life on both sides of the cirium shield. As conditions at the outpost grow increasingly dangerous, it’s up to Orion to forge a way past the flashfall, beyond all boundaries, beyond the world as she knows it.

Hop over to Jenny’s website for a cool theatrical trailer!

Local KidLit Author Events

For Readers

NOVEMBER 16, WEDNESDAY, 5:00 PM: CRESSIDA COWELL, MG AUTHOR 

Blue Willow Bookshop

Cressida Cowell will discuss and sign her HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON series for kids. Her newest book, THE COMPLETE BOOK OF DRAGONS features all of the dragon species from the series plus brand-new ones created just for this book, with color illustrations of each and every one.

NOVEMBER 18, FRIDAY, 7:00 PM: C.C.HUNTER, YA AUTHOR

Barnes & Noble, Champions

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 19, SATURDAY, 4:00 PM: BETHANY HEGEDUS, PB AUTHOR

Blue Willow Bookshop

Bethany Hegedus will discuss and sign BE THE CHANGE: A GRANDFATHER GANDHI STORY, a picture book companion to the award-winning Grandfather Gandhi, written with Arun Gandhi and illustrated by Evan Turk. At Grandfather Gandhi’s service village, each day is filled, from sunrise to sunset, with work that is done for the good of all. The villagers vow to live simply and non-violently. Arun Gandhi tries very hard to follow these vows, but he struggles with one of the most important rules: not to waste. How can throwing away a worn-down pencil hurt anyone? How can wastefulness lead to violence? With the help of his grandfather, Arun learns how every wasteful act, no matter how small, affects others. And in time he comes to understand the truth of his grandfather’s words: Be the change you wish to see in the world.

For Writers

NOVEMBER 15, TUESDAY, 7:30 PM, SOCIAL TIME 7:00 PM: CHRISTIE CRAIG Polish Me Pretty: Five ways  to improve your writing right now

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

For more conference information, visit the main conference pages. If you’d like to be notified of these weekly updates, please use the Subscribe to Updates form on the sidebars!

Agents & Editors @ Conferences

APRIL 7-8: THE PITCH CONFERENCE, MINNEAPOLIS, MN

AGENTS: Andrea Somberg/Harvey Klinger Literary Agency; Anjali Singh/Ayesha Pande Literary; Kate McKean/Howard Morhaim Literary Agency; Lana Popovic/Chalberg & Sussman; Laurie McLean/Fuse Literary Management; Mackenzie Brady Watson/Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency; Victoria Cappello/The Bent Agency; Sarah Lapolla/Bradford Literary Agency; Soumeya Bendimerad Roberts/Writers House;
Stacey Graham/Red Sofa Literary; Steven Salpeter/Curtis Brown; Taylor Martindale Kean/Full Circle Literary

MAY 6-7: DFW WRITERS CONFERENCE, DALLAS, TX

AGENTS: Sharon Pelletier/Dystel & Goderich Literary Management; Brent Taylor/Triada US Literary; Laura Zats/Red Sofa Literary; Michael Stearns/Upstart Crow Literary; Barbara Collins Rosenberg/The Rosenberg Group

MAY 11-13: LDS STORYMAKERS, PROVO, UT

AGENTS: Sara Crowe/Pippen Properties; Elizabeth Harding/Curtis Brown Literary; Ammi-Joan Paquette/Erin Murphy Literary Agency; Nicole Resciniti/The Seymour Agency; Gordon Warnock/Fuse Literary
EDITORS: Michelle Frey/Knopf BFYR; Liz Alley/Deseret Book; Heidi Taylor/Deseret Book/Shadow Mountain; Heather Rubert, Helena Steinacker/Future House Publishing

Retreats & Workshops

JANUARY 16-20: WHO, WHAT, WHEN, & WHY: AN INTO TO YOUNG-ADULT LIT, KEY WEST, FL

AUTHOR: Kristen-Paige Madonia

JUNE 25-AUGUST 5: CLARION SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY WRITERS’ WORKSHOP, SAN DIEGO, CA

AUTHORS: Rae Carson, Nalo Hopkinson, Cory Doctorow