Cooperative Children's Book Center

The CCBC, which is located at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has an active and interesting listserv for anyone interested in children's books.

Each month two topics are discussed, one for the first two weeks, and another for the second two weeks. For the last half of October 2004, the subject is the books of E. L. Konigsburg.

The list is pretty active each day. I switched to the once-a-day digest option to better manage the barrage. People (librarians, writers, students, editors, teachers, etc.) get quite passionate about some of these topics.

Best Children's Books of 2004

Carol Elbert, youth services librarian with the Ames Public Library (APL), will talk about her picks for the best of 2004 on Tuesday, November 16, 7:30 pm in the Farwell T. Brown Auditorium at the APL, 515 Douglas Avenue.

Carol gives this presentation every year and covers the whole gamut of kids' books, from pre-school through young adult. She brings them for everyone to look at and many are available for check-out the evening of her talk.

And one of the best parts is that everyone who attends wins a door prize--one of the many review books Carol is sent throughout the year.

Rocky Mtn Chapter of SCBWI Rocks

On October 2 I attended the Rocky Mountain SCBWI conference in Golden, Colorado. The theme (voice) and the presence of an editor I wanted to meet (Cecile Goyette with Dial) persuaded me to take the trip. My critique group buddy, Phyllis, went too, which made it even more fun.

I snagged a critique with Cecile Goyette that was worth every red cent (of the total registration fee--not just the extra critique fee). She critiqued the first chapter and synopsis of my middle grade contemporary fantasy novel. Although we were limited to 15 minutes, she gave me 3+ pages of single-spaced comments that are helping me rethink and revise.

I also attended a critique workshop October 3 with YA novelist Julie Anne Peters (separate fee, also worth every dime). I tried to read her work before the workshop, but her YA books are quite popular with the Ames Public Library patrons. I didn't want to buy them before the conference because I figured I'd buy them there and get them autographed at the same time (which I did). So I was only able to read one of her earlier middle grade "Snob Squad" books. It was fun, but I suspected it was not representative of her current work, which deals with serious stuff like lesbian relationships and a trans-gendered teen.

For Julie's workshop each of us 11 or 12 participants had to submit the first five pages of a novel and a one-page synopsis. I wasn't sure what to send for critique: my completed MG fantasy that Cecile was looking at or my unfinished YA mystery. While I was deciding, Julie emailed critique guidelines to all of us. She sounded really friendly and approachable, so I emailed back and asked for her advice. She suggested the mystery since the fantasy was already being critiqued. So I sent the mystery, which was still basically a first draft (I did a few quickie changes after my in-person critique group discussed it).

I was pleasantly surprised by the reaction to my piece. People actually thought the voice was strong. Huh. And that I really sounded like a teenager (it's in first person). Double huh. Guess I'll keep working on it.

If you ever get the chance to work with Julie Peters, I encourage you to take it. She's a generous, funny, caring person. Learn more about her at www.julieannepeters.com.

And I highly recommend the Rocky Mountain chapter of SCBWI. The people are warm and friendly. Check out their website at www.rmcscbwi.org. They publish their informative newsletter Kite Tales online too.