Driving DirectionsDriving directions and map to U of MN Continuing Education and Conference Center, 1890 Buford Ave., St. Paul, MN, can be found at www.cce.umn.edu/Continuing-Education-and-Conference-Center/Parking-Directions/index.html

Parking Information: Parking is available in lot S108 or the Gortner Avenue Ramp.

Straw, Sticks, or Bricks? How to Build A Solid Story2016 Minnesota SCBWI Annual Conference • U of MN Continuing Education & Conference Center • Sunday, October 23

© 2016 Emily Taylor

Speaker bios

Molly Beth Griffin is a graduate of Hamline University’s MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults, and is a writing teacher at the Loft Literary Center in the Twin Cities. She lives in South Minneapolis with her partner and two kids. Her first picture book, Loon Baby, came out with Houghton Mifflin (2011) and her first Young Adult novel, Silhouette of a Sparrow, came out with Milkweed Editions (2012). Her newest picture book, Rhoda’s Rock Hunt, came out with the Minnesota Historical Society Press (2014). She is working on lots of picture book projects and a new YA novel.

Judith Schachner is the #1 NY Times Best Selling Author/Illustrator of over 23 books for children including Bits & Pieces and the Skippyjon Jones series. She was born into an Irish Catholic working class family from New England were money was as tight as their apartment. She credits her imagination with helping her survive. She can’t ever remember a time when she wasn’t drawing. In many ways, Judy feels that her own life has resembled the fairy tales she loved reading as a child, complete with a happy ending. And the best part of this author/illustrator’s story? She married a prince of a guy and they had two beautiful daughters and just like the mothers in her earliest tales, she plans on living to a ripe old age.

Patrick Collins is the Creative Director for Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. Patrick art directs and designs picture books, middle grade, and young adult novels. Some of the recent picture books he has worked on are: The Fantastic Ferris Wheel illus-trated by Steven Salerno; Feathered Dinosaurs illustrated by William Low; Elvis by Bonnie Christensen; Bunny Dreams by Peter McCarty; and Oh So Brave Dragon by David Kirk. Recent novel projects include: Finding Mr. Brightside, Dear Hank Williams, and the New York Times bestseller: Hitler’s Last Days. Patrick studied art at Northeastern University in Boston.

Andrew Karre is the Executive Editor at Dutton Books for Young Readers. In 2005 he helped launch the YA imprint FLUX. He was editorial director at Lerner Publishing Group from 2008 through 2014, overseeing Carolrhoda Books and founding Carolrho-da Lab. He has published first novels by such noted authors as Maggie Stiefvater, A.S. King, Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, Blythe Woolston, Carrie Mesrobian, and E.K. Johnston. He focuses on YA and MG, fiction and nonfiction. He works from his home it St. Paul. Follow him on Twitter at @andrewkarre.

Melina Mangal works as a library and information technology teacher. She enjoys being in nature and traveling with her family, using ideas and images from her voyages, her own childhood, and her students’ lives to shape her stories. Her books include “A Blue Banner Biography: Rita Williams-Garcia,” and series, “Stories From Where We Live.”

Alex Slater has been with Trident Media Group since 2010. As an agent in the Foreign Rights department, he represented the entire agency’s middle grade and young adult titles. He’s attended the book fairs in Bologna, London, and Frankfurt, and is now building his list domestically. Some of his clients include debut authors like Molly Booth and Dana Langer, and established authors like Ali Novak and L.J. Smith.

Harold Underdown is an independent editor and publishing consultant. He critiques and develops manuscripts and provides other editorial and consulting services for individuals and publishers. As an in-house editor, he worked at Macmillan, Orchard, and Charlesbridge, and has experience in trade and educational publishing. Harold wrote The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Chil-dren’s Book Publishing, now in its third edition. He founded and runs “The Purple Crayon,” a respected web site with information about the children’s publishing world at http://www.underdown.org/.

Sunday’s Agenda

Straw, Sticks or Bricks? How to Build A Solid Story2016 Minnesota SCBWI Annual Conference • U of MN Continuing Education & Conference Center • Sunday, October 23

8:30 am–9:00 am Check-in and Continental Breakfast

9:00 am–11:30 am Session 1 / Choose One

Illustrators Judith Schachner / Illustrator Pigs as Presents: Creating Art Journals •Bringjournals/sketchbooksandyourfavoritenon-digitaltools!

(Writers, MG & YA) Alex Slater / Agent, Trident Media Group Crafting A Compelling Opening •Bringthefirstfive(5)pagesofyourworkinprogress.ReadTHEGIRL FROMEVERYWHERE–Chapter1(seeEventPageonMNSCBWIwebsite) (Writers, PB) Harold Underdown / Independent Editor Revising & Reimagining Your Picture Book •Bring one or two PB manuscripts to the intensive; hard copy or on your device. Read PB’s listed (see Event Page on MN SCBWI website)(Writers, PB, MG & YA) Melina Mangal / Author Beyond the Box: Creative Exercises to Broaden Your Writing Horizons 11:30 am–12:30 pm Lunch (No Bookstore on Sunday)

12:30 pm–3:00 pm Session 2 / Choose One

Illustrators Patrick Collins / Creative Director, Henry Holt Books On the Job Training: Illustration Assignment •Part1:Participantschooseonemanuscript&createcharacter

studiesandasketchofonepage/spread/scenefromthemanuscript.* •Part2:PatrickCollinswillreviewsketchesandgiveafewcomments.* •Part3:Participantscreateafinalpieceofart(Picturebookfinalillustrations

willbeincolor,chapterbookfinalillustrationinblackandwhite).* •Part4:PatrickCollinswillcritiquefinalpiecesattheconference.

(Writers, MG & YA) Andrew Karre / Executive Editor, Dutton Books Balancing Information with Intrigue: The Elements of Chapter One •Bring five (5) copies of the first chapter (max. 5 pages). Be prepared to read it.

(Writers, PB) Molly Beth Griffin / Author Writing the Lyrical Picture Book •Bringaworkinprogress.

© 2016 Emily Taylor

REGISTER FOR SATURDAY, SUNDAY

OR BOTH!Sunday attendees: You choose only one (1) intensive for the morning & one (1) intensive for the afternoon.

Indicate your choice for the morning & afternoon on your registration form.

If you are attending Saturday, don’t forget to sign up for a manuscript

or portfolio review!

Program is subject to change. A current agenda will be provided with

registration materials at check-in.

*Alicia Schwab will coordinate all pre-conference work (Parts 1-3) and is the contact for Patrick Collins. Registration fee is required for PART 1-3

to be processed.Part 1: DUE Sept. 1 (see Event Page on MN

SCBWI website for manuscripts)

SESSION 1 / Choose One

Judith Schachner Pigs As Presents: Creating Art Journals

Alex Slater Crafting a Compelling Opening

Harold Underdown Revising & Reimagining Your Picture Book

Melina Mangal Beyond the Box: Creative Exercises to Broaden Your Writing Horizons

SESSION 2 / Choose One

Patrick Collins On the Job Training: Illustration Assignment

Andrew Karre Balancing Information with Intrigue: The Elements of Chapter One

Molly Beth Griffin Writing the Lyrical Picture Book

Program is subject to change. A current agenda will be provided with

registration materials at check-in.

NAME

ADDRESS

CITY, STATE, ZIP

PHONE

EMAIL

I am (check all that apply)

Writer Illustrator Both

SCBWI member Non-member

CON FERENCE FEES / Saturday Registration:

Postmarked on or before Sept. 23

$150 SCBWI members & students (ID required)

$175 non-members

Postmarked after Sept. 23

$175 SCBWI members & students (ID required)

$200 non-members

TOTAL $ Make check payable to MNSCBWI

Send registration & payment(s) to:Nina Crittenden / MNSCBWI Registration Coordinator 18025 Hummingbird RoadDeephaven, MN 55391

NEW THIS YEAR: A Full Day of Intensives

Sign up for both Saturday & Sunday

and SAVE!

See Saturday Registration form

for more information.

See Event Page on MN SCBWI website

for homework associated with each intensive offered.

See Saturday Registration Form

for Manuscript Review, Portfolio Review, First Pages, and Portfolio Show

information.

SUNDAY registration