Andrew Karre is the editorial director of Carolrhoda Books, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group. He acquires fiction and nonfiction for children of all ages, but he's particularly passionate about YA. Andrew has published Maggie Stiefvater, Simone Elkeles, Carrie Jones, and Laurie Stolarz among many others. You can read more about him at the Carolrhoda blog: www.carolrhoda.com.










Photo by Lisa Novak
© All Rights Reserved

Molly O’Neill is an Assistant Editor at Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Children’s Books. Molly began her career in publishing in the Marketing/Publicity department at Clarion Books. After spending nearly five years working in Marketing, first at Clarion and later at HarperCollins, Molly achieved her long-term goal of moving to the editorial side of the industry, joining the Bowen Press imprint of HarperCollins at its inception in 2007, and joining Katherine Tegen Books in 2009. She is seeking both literary and commercial projects, from picture books through young adult, and looks forward to discovering vivid stories, original voices, and new talent to join her list. Molly blogs about editing, publishing, and the convergence of art and life at www.10blockwalk.blogspot.com.

Laurie Knowlton was born in Cleveland, Ohio. The spring of her fifth grade year, her parents bought a campground, an event that would shape her life. She fondly remembers summers helping her parents out at the R-Farm Lake Club, “a clean family-oriented place.” It was there she says she had her first job, learned the importance of good people skills, and fell in love with the country. Her parents owned the property until she was in high school.

Mrs. Knowlton had been interested in writing early on. She even applied for a position at American Greeting Cards before she decided to become a teacher and attend college at Hillsdale College. It was there she met her husband-to-be (in the first week of school, by the way), but they were not to be married until her graduation.

Mrs. Knowlton and her husband moved to Battle Creek, Michigan, and then relocated to Detroit, where their first daughter, Charlotte, was born. They then moved to Houston, Texas, and loving “the Texas culture, the warmth of the people, and the beauty of the land,” they remained for seven years.

On a trip back home to Ohio, Laurie decided to visit her parents’ ranch for old time’s sake. What she found was a dilapidated version of the idyllic camp she remembered. Vines sadly draped many of the buildings; it had gone wild. Upset at the state of her childhood home, Laurie decided to ask about its owners. She was pleasantly surprised to find that the property was for sale. She talked her husband and family into moving back to the ranch, and one month later, they were happily back at the farm for good.

She named the ranch Roots ‘n Wings, because she feels that those are the two most important things that you can give your children. Roots ‘n Wings Ranch is “presently used as a writer’s retreat, a summer daycamp for kids, a conference center, and a great place to raise her kids.”

It was while in Texas that Laurie got the idea for Why Cowboys Sleep with Their Boots On, watching a cowboy being interviewed about his attire. Fascinated, she jotted down the book’s beginnings on a diaper box.

Jean Patrick
Author
SCBWI Regional Advisor for the Dakotas

Jean L.S. Patrick is the author of several books for children, including The Girl Who Struck Out Babe Ruth, If I Had a Snowplow, Dolley Madison, Cows, Cats, and Kids: A Veterinarian’s Family at Work; and Who Carved the Mountain? The Story of Mount Rushmore.  Her work also appears in numerous magazines, including Highlights for Children, Boys’ Quest, and Fun for Kidz.   Formerly the book columnist for Kids Today, Jean continues to write a weekly children’s book column for the Mitchell (S.D.) Daily Republic.  

Jean has been the SCBWI Regional Advisor for the Dakotas since 2003.   For more information, visit www.jeanpatrick.com.

Janet Spaeth has been writing since high school. Hers is a tale of adaptability. She began small, writing an epic musical about the history of the world. A smart girl, she abandoned that project and moved on to poetry. When a professor told her that poets rarely make a living from their craft, she jettisoned that idea and became a fiction writer. She wrote for children's magazines for a long time, and then began writing for teens and then adults. She's the author of six novels, a non-fiction book, eight novellas, and many short stories and articles, and just recently found the beginnings of that epic musical in an old suitcase. Maybe the time has come…?

6:30 pm

Reception and Early Registration
Local author and illustrator displays

Welcome
by Conference Director Janet Spaeth

Laurie Knowlton, Author
The Bones of Your Story

Public Reading
Participants may read from their work.

Registration and Continental Breakfast

WELCOME! Opening Remarks by Janet Spaeth

Molly O'Neill, Editor
Why Do Editors Fall in Love?

Andrew Karre, Editor
Authorship in a socially networked world: survive without losing your soul, your sanity, or your shirt.

Lunch and Shoptalk with Jean Patrick

Laura Knowlton, Author
Picture Book Patterns: Discover the Structure of Circular Story

Faculty Forum

Emily Award Presentation

Manuscript Evaluations - As Assigned

Supper - Location TBA