Hello, SCBWI-Illinois! The Prairie Wind has seen a summer of change, but things are now falling into place. On the editorial side, several columnists moved on and others were ushered in. And on the technological side, our webmistress Chris Vasilakis has revamped the Prairie Wind’s outer appearance and behind-the-scenes capabilities. Among the changes you’ll notice:
- We have a new address! Be sure to bookmark http://www.scbwi-illinois.org/pub/PrairieWind for easy access.
- Articles can now be found in three places: (1) by issue date in the right-hand sidebar, (2) by active column in the left-hand sidebar (along with current articles), and (3) by retired column in the right-hand sidebar.
- The “front page” has a slightly different format. Now, the (wider) center column will display the current From the Editor, Greeting, Illustrator in the Spotlight, and Tales from the Front articles.
- As has been my habit, I will continue to feature a table of contents in my From the Editor column. But now, you can also click each article’s title to instantly access that article. This will hopefully help readers navigate the site and ensure that no one accidentally misses one word of any issue!
I will never adequately thank all the people involved in producing the Prairie Wind, yet I will keep trying. To all of the Prairie Wind’s regular and guest contributors, Chris Vasilakis (webmistress), Cheryl Bardoe (assistant editor), Paula Nathan (PDF creator), Alice McGinty and Lisa Bierman (SCBWI-IL’s fearless RAs), and Sara Shacter (ARA and my go-to guru): THANK YOU!
Heather Banks
Editor
AUTUMN 2010: TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Greeting: Lisa Bierman continues to show how our chapter is growing together—and points out all the opportunities for us to “buy local.”
~ Our Chapter ~
- Illustrator in the Spotlight: This interview may have taken place in John Aardema’s head, but his career hasn’t—read all about his picture book success.
- Tales from the Front: Writing a book changed Jen Cullerton Johnson’s life in more ways than one. Find out how her book could change your life, too.
- Season’s Crop: Beverly Patt and Ruth Spiro have compiled a list of recently and soon-to-be published books by SCBWI-IL members—in time for book reports and holiday shopping!
~ Happenings ~
- Classes: Autumn is a great time to “spring” ahead and learn something new, and June Sengpiehl has compiled the many educational opportunities out there—local, distant, and online.
- News Roundup: Events, contests, awards, and more—Michelle Sussman puts it all in one place for you.
- Food for Thought: Sallie Wolf is planning a program to help us plan the promotion of our new books—find out more about it here!
- Don’t Miss #1: Autumn—time to enroll in school and, more importantly, the Speakers Directory. Kimberly Breyer and Ozge Gunday supply all the necessary details.
- Don’t Miss #2: Just when our outdoor gardens drift into dormancy, prepare to cultivate your creative garden at November’s Prairie Writer’s Day!
~ Craft ~
- Writing Tips: Jennifer Ward shows us how to create patterns in our stories—and explains why they’re important.
- Critique Group Tips: Being in a critique group has taught Meg Fleming Lentz a lot, and now we can learn from her experience.
- Illustrator Tips: When it comes to illustrating picture books, new columnist Lisa Cinelli believes in learning by example—and she shows us how to do so.
- Writer’s Bookshelf: Pack your bags (and your work-in-progress)—new columnist Kim Winters wants to send us on a revision quest.
- Book Look: Is your manuscript tone-deaf? New columnist Jodell Sadler helps us learn from a middle-grade novel that sings.
~ Career ~
- The Irrepressible Writer: Carol Coven Grannick explains that if we know how to get to Carnegie Hall, we also know how to become better writers and illustrators.
- Promote That Book! Deborah Ruddell and Robin Luebs prove that two heads can be better than one when it comes to promoting a book.
- Kidlitosphere: This interview by Margo L. Dill gives us a glimpse into a popular science fiction and fantasy blog—and the woman behind it.
- Booksellers’ Perspective: Once you’ve read Bob and Paula Morrow’s profile of Books on First, you’ll know why those who live near this bookstore are so lucky.
- A Fly on the Wall: All aboard! Join Kym Brunner as she returns to the Words in the Woods retreat that took place in June.
- Someone You Should Know: Jeremy Dunn, president of ISLMA, explains why this organization is so important to SCBWI-IL.
At the time of writing this, I am still in the “glow” of a wonderful experience at the SCBWI Summer Conference. The array of information shared on such a wide variety of topics was truly an embarrassment of riches. But just as valuable, and no surprise to me, was the pleasure of interacting with fellow members from Illinois. In almost any gathering of our membership, I come away grateful. For lively conversation. For an attitude of openness. For the many ...
Continue Reading Growing Together–Part III
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His home is decorated in shades of oaken browns and charcoal greys, camel beiges and antiqued golds. An oversized clock here, a crumbling cherub there, and florid tables with ornately carved legs prowl the room. A thick light illuminates this tintype atmosphere, where I am to interview one John Aardema, an illustrator of picture books for children.
Initially, SCBWI-IL’s Prairie Wind asked Mr. Aardema to ...
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I live in an urban environment where skyscrapers hem in nature. Animals dwell in cages at the zoos. Gardens and greenery thrive in manicured parks. Buoys block off Lake Michigan. Even the stars disappear under the brightness of streetlights. The hours I spend inside my house on the computer surpass the time I spend outside.
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