FEBRUARY 23 WRITER –
RUSS THOMPSON
How long have you been a member of SCBWI? What’s the most impactful thing you have learned from being in SCBWI?
I joined SCBWI in 2017. The people I’ve met have been great. I’ve also learned a lot from the workshops and conferences I’ve attended.
What genres do you write?
I write hi-interest, low-reading-level novels for reluctant teen readers and have self-published seven of them. I’m trying to reach kids who are failing in school and hate reading.
What is your writing process like?
I usually write in the morning. On the first day of a chapter, I try to let go and get everything down on paper. On the next day, I go back and make revisions. During revisions, I read aloud and use the voice recorder on my computer so I can listen to the words. I also use the read-aloud function in Microsoft Word. A big part of my writing process is getting feedback. In addition to SCBWI, I get weekly critiques from the Coffee House Writers Group of Long Beach. I also get feedback from my wife. When I finish a book, I let it sit for about two months while I begin working on a new one. Then I go back to the book with fresh eyes, do more revisions, send it to an editor, and revise some more.
How long have you been writing? How did you first get into writing for children?
I began writing as a freshman in college. Once I graduated and started my career as an educator, I put writing on hold. I taught reading and served as a high-school principal in Los Angeles. I started writing again after I retired in 2015. The hi-low novels I’m writing now are the kind of books my students needed.
Did you go to school for writing or take classes?
I haven’t taken any formal writing classes. But I’ve learned a lot by going to conferences, listening to other writers, getting feedback, reading a variety of fiction, and reading craft books.
Do you have a dedicated writing space?
I have an office in a spare bedroom that is also our laundry room. I can write and wash clothes at the same time.
What would be your dream book to write and get published?
The books I’m writing now are what I love to write. My dream is to keep writing hi-low novels and get them into the hands of kids.
Are you working on any fun projects now?
Nothing special at this time.
Do you illustrate as well or have any plans to do so?
Art is not one of my strengths.
Any tips for writers that are starting out?
Read widely, go to conferences, read craft books, and join a critique group.
Do you currently have an agent? If so, how did you end up with that agent?
I don’t have an agent. But I’m hoping for the best and am now querying again.
Have you won any writing awards?
I have not won any writing awards. But my books have been praised in Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly BookLife Reviews, Foreword Clarion Reviews, and BlueInk Reviews.
List 3 to 5 interesting things about yourself.
I like to go on bike rides. I played football at Whitworth College in Washington. I used to work on cars and rebuild Volkswagen engines.
Where can people find you?
My email address is russthompson95@gmail.com. I have a website at www.findingforwardbooks.com.
JANUARY 23 WRITER –
SUSANNE LABRAKE
How long have you been a member of SCBWI? What’s the most impactful thing you have learned from being in SCBWI?
I became a member of the SCBWI in 2018.
The most impactful thing I have learned is the value of a proper critique. And by that I mean an honest critique, not one meant to placate. Hand-in-hand with that is having learned not to be so in love with my work that I can’t change something that needs to be changed, and on the other side of that same coin, to respect my
work enough to own it and keep what I believe shouldn’t be changed.
The other huge thing is learning the painful art of writing a synopsis – that hurts.
What genres do you write?
That’s a loaded question. I have completed 8 picture books, 3 middle grade (spooky/creepy) short stories and a 70,000 word YA novel, but 70% of my writing time lately has been spent on a couple of adult fiction novels. Does that make me appear schizophrenic? I may have to add a “clearly-out-of-her-mind” character in an upcoming story to mimic myself.
What is your writing process like?
fuss, no internet, no texting, no answering the door, nothing if it isn’t writing. 7 days a week. Then following that (Monday through Friday), off to work.
How long have you been writing? How did you first get into writing for children?
I have been writing my own stories since I’ve been able to write. But, taking it seriously, not until about 15 or so years ago. I grew in a time and place in which writing (like art, music, acting) was not considered a “real” job and not to be pursued as one. It was the “there’s a gifted, starving artist on every street corner, so learn to type” mentality. That being said, I was a late bloomer.
Did you go to school for writing or take classes?
No, I did not.
Do you have a dedicated art space?
Yes, I write sitting in at the far right side, and south end of my dining room table, for the only reason that it simply “feels” right.
What would be your dream book to write and get published?
Anything and everything I complete is my dream book to get published. For me, that is whole point of doing the work.
Are you working on any fun projects now?
Yes, I’m laying out the ground work for my next YA novel. I like this part, the percolating, the laying it all out in my mind—it’s like an internal playground for thought.
Do you illustrate as well or have any plans to do so?
Illustrate, no. Dabble, yes.
Any tips for writers that are starting out?
Write. Write every day. Finish what you begin. Do it again.
Do you currently have an agent? If so, how did you end up with that agent?
No, I’m in the process of querying now.
List 3 to 5 interesting things about yourself.
I am a certified structural welder with a tremendous fear of heights, which made doing my job on high steel quite taxing. I used to work the railroad.
I am bilingual
English/German.
I now work for a mortuary/crematory and often find the dead
easier to work with than the living.
NOVEMBER 22 WRITER –
JAMIE RODARTE
How long have you been a member of SCBWI? What’s the most impactful thing you have learned from being in SCBWI?
Exactly one year! My first meeting was October 2021. Meeting my amazing CPs and the classes offered have been the most worthwhile and impactful aspect of SCBWI for me.
What genres do you write?
I started with a chapter book and transitioned last year to picture books.
What is your writing process like?
How long have you been writing? How did you first get into writing for children?
November 2020, completely blind to the process or any information, I decided to explore writing a children’s book. Writing has always been one of my stronger skillsets and PBs
have a special place in my heart. Eager to jump in, I signed up for the first workshop I could find: a 12-week writing class (3 hours/weekend), surrounded by a handful of adult novelists, and an instructor with no experience in kidlit. Halfway through, I felt even more lost than when I started, a few tears were shed and I wanted to quit, but did I stick with it and grow as a writer? Yes. Was it a bit painful? Also, yes. I began with a rhyming picture book (sound familiar anyone?), but I shifted into a chapter book given the format of the class.
Did you go to school for writing or take classes?
No, I have a B.A. in Social Ecology from UCI. Now, I take as many free and nominal fee writing classes as my schedule allows.
What would be your dream book to write and get published?
Oh, this is a fun question! A Latinx PB version of The Secret Garden.
Are you working on any fun projects now?
I am! A picture book series about…wait for it…BOOKS!
Do you illustrate as well or have any plans to do so?
I painted a few large-scale paintings and took a handful of art classes from HS through college, but the talents of graphic designers and illustrators are far beyond my reach. For the past five years, I’ve taught Art Master classes (4x a year) for my daughter’s school. One day when I have more time, I would love to learn more.
Any tips for writers that are starting out?
Think about exactly what you want. Be as specific as possible. Write it down. Set a date and action steps for how and when you want to accomplish it. Even your smallest efforts are valuable, consider them progress. Shift your goal if you need to, take breaks, be kind to yourself, but above all, remember you can and will accomplish this if you keep learning and continue moving forward. Oh, and once you discover something that could help another writer, pass it on! As a wise Grandma once said, “You may be the first someday, but don’t be the last – make space for more!” (Quoted from Ambitious Girl by Meena Harris and Marissa Valdez). What I think helped me the most was showing initiative and energy towards development, paying it forward (I started a free monthly
one-hour writing exercise class called PB Power Hour*) and making this a serious lifelong career goal.
*Two of our SoCal SCBWI authors are founding planning committee members and hosts, link on my website or in my Twitter bio.
Do you currently have an agent? If so, how did you end up with that agent?
Yes! July 2022 Joyce Sweeney offered a querying class through SCBWI. I contemplated taking it because I had two fulls out, and I had recently taken two other querying classes – I mean, what else is there to know about querying? HA! I signed up
anyway because it’s Joyce Sweeney after all. The moment they began sharing I understood why they are well-known and immensely well-loved in our kidlit world. Fortunately for all the participants (and most especially me), they opened submissions for those in attendance. I waited a few days to be sure I addressed the new (yes, new!) knowledge I gained. Monday afternoon I hit send and I received an enthusiastic reply Tuesday morning. The speed in which Joyce communicates astonishes me…one of their many endearing and standout qualities. From there it was a quick series of back-and-forth, a few weeks of waiting, and an invitation for a Zoom meeting. And by the way, I was dreadfully nervous on the call. Borderline nauseous. Thankfully, Joyce looked past my ruffled feathers and offered me rep.
Have you won any writer awards?
Not yet!
List 3 to 5 interesting things about yourself.
1. I’m a huge animal lover; I save worms from sunny sidewalks, flies from trampoline nettings, and just last week, a juvenile lizard from a sticky rat trap. In fact, these could be great PB ideas!
2. I strongly believe we receive signs from our passed loved ones.
3. Sunday morning family walks and really good iced tea brings me joy.
4. My front door is pink.
5. I try to make affirmations, setting intentions, and manifestations part of my life.
Where can people find you?
Website JamieRodarte.com
OCTOBER 2022 WRITER –
MARILYN CRAM DONAHUE
How long have you been a member of SCBWI? What’s the most impactful thing you have learned from being in SCBWI?
What genres do you write?
I have written one adult gothic, two books of devotionals, a number of short stories, a newspaper column of about 200 short articles, and a few non-fiction books. But my best efforts have been MG and YA novels. That’s where I feel at home.
What is your writing process like?
How long have you been writing? How did you first get into writing for children?
I have been writing almost all my life. I remember, with joy, the day my mother first showed me how to make curvy lines to connect letters. I made lists. I wrote poems that didn’t rhyme or make sense. Just words. That’s all I wanted. To write words. Then I learned to read, and the whole thing suddenly made sense. People write, and other people read what they wrote! I was very ill in the second grade and missed three months of school. My mother regularly took my little wagon up the street to our small town library and brought it back loaded with books. Once upon a time stories. Stories about people like me . . . and people not like me. The relationship between reading and writing, I think, is a magical one. At least it was for me. I won prizes in elementary school for essays. I wrote a fifth grade school play about Pilgrims. I wrote letters. But it wasn’t until I was introduced to SCBWI that I began to think seriously about writing for children. It opened my heart to a new world of adventure and beauty and rhythm and understanding.
Did you go to school for writing or take classes?
Never. In college, I majored in English Literature, which didn’t leave time for creative writing classes. I still remember the evening I sat in the big, old library with its rows and rows of books and those little tables with lamps where I could sit alone and complete the writing assignment for my American Literature class. I had to read “The Bear” by Faulkner and write an essay explaining the importance of Ode on a Grecian Urn to the Faulkner story. I read. And read. A light turned on in my brain. I began to write . . . and wrote some more. When I finished, it was as if I had taken a journey and finally come home. When my professor read my essay, he wrote on it, “You can write.” And I have been writing ever since.
Do you have a dedicated writing space?
Yes. It is a desk under a window in an upstairs bedroom converted to an office. The room is full of paper . . . paper in files paper on the desk . . . paper in stacks . . . paper in the printer. My paper is untouchable . . . that is, I don’t let anybody else touch it. My brain has somehow sorted it all out, and I know where things are. Actually, the whole room is my writing space. One wall is full of books. On the top shelves sit mementos of places I have traveled and relics from my childhood that bring to mind other places . . . other times . . . other people. You might look in this room and think I should sort it all out. “Why?” I ask. It is just the way I want it. It teems with ideas, with the rhythm of words, with the possibility of more books.
What would be your dream book to write and get published?
That’s easy. It would be a memoir that would extend back to ancestors, long gone but not forgotten, their adventures somehow linked to mine. Their hopes were real, their successes and failures the stuff that history is made of. But such books are hard to sell. Perhaps I’ll write it anyway. And hope.
Are you working on any fun projects now?
Yes, It’s called The Sanderlings, and it takes place during the early years of World War 2. That may not sound like a fun project, but for me it an autobiographical adventure. It gives me a chance to write about the summers I spent at my grandmother’s house at the beach. To tell of times long gone, but not forgotten. To create a story of friendship, danger, joy, and sadness. Eight chapters finished . . . more to come.
Do you illustrate as well or have any plans to do so?
Absolutely not. I have little artistic talent . . . except that I seem to be able to rough sketch. And I always rough sketch the settings for my books. This gives me something concrete to hold onto when I move from chapter to chapter. And, from time to time, editors have asked me to furnish them with a rough sketch of, for example, a map of the journey from the east to west coast in the years our country was young. But that’s a far cry from art.
Any tips for writers that are starting out?
We all find out own paths, but I would give a few words of advice: (1) Write as much and as often as you can. Even if you end up deleting a lot of it, it is a start . . . a beginning . . . and you won’t get anywhere without putting the pen to the paper . . . or your fingers to the computer keys. (2) Join a writers’ group. SCBWI is a great way to start. Check out what’s available in your area. (3) Be willing to listen, take advice, and rewrite. Again and again. (4) Check out conference opportunities. You will come away invigorated and full of writing energy. (5) Don’t get discouraged. Rewriting is a way of life for any successful writer. Just tell yourself that at least your first draft is on paper, and the second draft will be even better.
Do you currently have an agent? If so, how did you end up with that agent?
Yes. I have had Kelly Sonnack from the Andrea Brown Agency for a number of years. She has been a tremendous help to me. I met Kelly at a SCBWI conference! We talked, had lunch, and she has been my agent ever since.
Have you won any writer awards?
Yes, I won a monetary award in college for the graduating class most likely to succeed as a writer. But I’m assuming you mean an award for a published work. My historical novel Straight Along a Crooked Road (Walker) was listed as one of the New York Public Library’s best 100 books. “The Crooked Gate” (David C. Cook) received a $2,000 prize for the best book in their new Chariot Books publications.
List 3 to 5 interesting things about yourself.
Where can people find you?
SEPTEMBER 2022 WRITER –
HEATHER BUCHTA
How long have you been a member of SCBWI? What’s the most impactful thing you have learned from being in SCBWI?
I think 2004? It was a long time ago. I’ve learned so much! SCBWI is a fantastic networking community. Ninety percent of the people I’ve met in my writing community have been through SCBWI. I’ve also learned that it’s not a competition. You can root for everyone in this industry because your book will never be swallowed up by someone else’s book. Readers read. If they buy your friend’s book, they’ll probably buy yours, too. I’ll cheer on ANY author. If it’s out there on a shelf, it deserves to be celebrated.
What genres do you write?
YA
What is your writing process like?
My brain works best in the morning. If it’s a lousy draft, it probably came after 5 PM. My writing routine is this: I go to a coffee shop, order my latte, then read my bible for 10-20 mins (it gets my head in the right place and my focus off of my bellybutton so that I don’t enter the day as a “naval gazer.” Ha). Next, I pick up a novel with a similar voice to mine and read it for ten minutes. Then I get my manuscript out and get to work. Sometimes Instagram will get the better of me and I’ll fall into the scroll hole for a bit. But I do my best to stay off of social media until I’ve worked through the current chapter for that day. Every hour I get up and exit the coffee shop and walk for five mins. It wakes my brain up. Keeps me sharp. I’ll stretch every thirty mins for about two mins. My brain likes to snooze if I sit for too long.
How long have you been writing? How did you first get into writing for children?
I wrote my first book in fourth grade. It was maybe 300 words. Of course it was about the love of a horse, not a boy. Fast forward a couple decades. I started trying to be a YA author in 2004. I got an agent in 2008. I sold my first manuscript in 2019. It was about the love of a boy, not a horse.
Did you go to school for writing or take classes?
I attended Loyola Marymount and received my BA in Communications – Screenwriting. Three years in, I realized I wasn’t all that good at screenwriting, but thankfully, finished out that degree. I realized that of all the elements of story, I love voice, but the job of a screenwriter is to remove their voice and tell a story— to use as concise and few words as possible in order to allow the director to create their voice through your story and the visual medium. A beautiful art, but not really for me. I’ve taken classes here and there, mostly to keep me accountable to writing. And, of course, inevitably, I grow as a writer every time.
Do you have a dedicated writing space?
I have many, but I never can stick to one. I have a treadmill desk, a garage desk, and a cute little couch chair looking out into my front yard. Often I abandon all three and take myself to a coffee shop where I don’t get distracted. Even laundry
is more appealing sometimes than slogging through a chapter. I have more pictures of my lattes at the writing spaces than of the actual writing spaces.
What would be your dream book to write and get published?
I think every manuscript that I’m currently working on is a dream book. Anything that gets an ISBN number feels like a miracle. I don’t have any remarkable messages hidden in my books. I write to entertain and to be entertained. I love characters and personalities and quirks. I love adventure. I’m sure that bleeds into every book I write. But I’m not in this to change lives. I just want to create a fun ride that takes people away and into my created world for a bit. It’s an honor any time someone jumps into the world I’ve built. I have friends who’ve bought my book, but when they tell me that they’ve actually read it, I’m like, “Really!? Wow!” I thought they might be buying it just to support me. Lol. I’m not opposed to that. People have busy lives. I would love to write a puzzle book or treasure hunting book that’s believable and not gimmicky — fun and playful in voice rather than dark or creepy. Haven’t nailed down the specifics yet. I’m obsessed with treasure hunting — Forrest Fenn started me years ago, and then Byron Preiss’s The Secret sucked me into full-time armchair treasure hunting. I’ve traveled to so many of his locations and concocted some interesting (and of course, positively accurate Lol) theories. It’s wildly entertaining.
Are you working on any fun projects now?
Always! My first two books were YA Contemporary Romance, both set in Los Angeles. I’ve completely gone off the rails with my third book, and I’m writing a YA football thriller set in Texas. I’m in completely over my head, and the end product may be disastrous! But I’m working my booty off and learning a grip about writing thrillers through the whole process. Can’t ask for more than that, so I know I’ll be proud regardless. It’s called ALL FOR THE GAME and it’s slated (Penguin Teen) for Fall 2024.
Do you illustrate as well or have any plans to do so?
No. And you’re welcome. The world is better off without my illustrations. Lol.
Any tips for writers that are starting out?
Keep writing. Write a lot. Write well. Write terribly. Just write. You’ll improve constantly if you do that. You don’t become a faster runner by only running once. You can’t do 200 pushups daily if you’ve never tried to do even one a day. Also, once you finish, don’t be married to your manuscript. Be married to your love of writing. Think of your manuscript as a fling. Not a spouse. You can leave. You can walk away. It was fun while it lasted, but it’s time to move on to better pursuits. Most of your work will end up on your shelf or your parents’ nightstand. Look at that relationship in terms of what it taught you rather than what it never became. You will forever be joyful as a writer if you have that perspective. And, hey, if that fling gets a ring? Well, then! Marry that girl! My marriage didn’t come until my seventh manuscript. Be patient.
Do you currently have an agent? If so, how did you end up with that agent?
My agent is Michael Bourret from Dystel, Goderich, and Bourret. It was 2008. After deciding he was my dream agent, I had planned to write to him as soon as I crafted a stellar query. Then I accidentally ran into him in the checkout line of a hotel. I proceeded to be a total fangirl and did everything cliche and wrong you could imagine, including asking him if he wanted to take my manuscript home with him right there (I happened to have a copy in my bag, so I thought it was fate! Haha). He politely declined, and, thankfully, didn’t remember the embarrassing interchange when I queried him a few months later. He asked for more pages. I sent more. I never heard back. I received an offer from a different
agency, so I emailed him to let him know. He asked for a few more weeks. I said sure. On the last day of those two weeks, he called me. He started with, “This manuscript needs a lot of work.” I thought he was calling to tell me that I had potential but that he was declining. I said, “Okay, would you like me to work on it and then query again?” He said, “No, I’m calling to tell you I’d like to offer representation if you’re willing to work on it.” I told him I’d think about it over the weekend, while secretly I was doing a crazy happy dance with my phone in hand. We signed the following week. Btw, that manuscript never sold. Neither did the next. Or the next. But he believed in my writing. He stuck by me for over a decade before we actually sold a manuscript. He’s the best. Loyal. Kind. Brutally honest. I’ve sent him entire manuscripts that he’s never submitted to publishers. I’ve worked on them for months, and in the end, he’s said no. Yet I’d never seek representation anywhere else. He knows the business. He knows how to build careers, not just sell books.
Have you won any writer awards?
Beyond the Break was a finalist (top 20) in the Goodreads Choice Awards for 2020 in the YA Category.
List 3 to 5 interesting things about yourself.
I love treasure hunting (like, really really. Like on the level that it might be an unhealthy obsession)
I’ve competed in 69 Spartan races and 6 Savage Races. Obstacle Course Racing is my happy place.
My mom’s first language is Spanish, and my dad’s is German, and I speak neither.
I competed on a game show to pay off my college debt.
My pet peeve is complaining. Or when you have the middle seat in the airplane and your seat partner doesn’t know the rule that the middle seat gets both armrests.
Where can people find you?
Instagram is my jam. I have two accounts. If you just want just the writing side of things, @thisnoveladventure is very “bookish and author-y.” If you want all the things, like me climbing muddy ropes or my dogs eating furniture,
@heather_buchta is the “whole life” account.
I’m never on Twitter (I keep saying I should change that) but my Twitter account is @heatherbuchta
TikTok is @heather_buchta
AUGUST 2022 WRITER –
LORI POLYDOROS
How long have you been a member of SCBWI? What’s the most impactful thing you have learned from being in SCBWI?
I have been a member for 25 years, I believe…oh my gosh, that’s a long time, and one of the first writers I met was our exceptional RA, Bev Plass!
What genres do you write?
Over the years, I have written in so many genres with work-for-hire projects (from fiction–picture books, middle grade– to non-fiction– PB, MG and YA, magazine/short story and educational.) I just published a MG/YA biography non-fiction (QUAKE CHASERS: 15 Women Rocking Earthquake Science) and with novels, I write MG–historical, magical realism, action/adventure, fantasy and my latest WIP is a YA speculative fiction.
What is your writing process like?
My life can get sort of crazy. I’m a full-time high school English teacher at Godinez High School in Santa Ana and I have two young adult children that still need me quite a bit. So, literally, I write whenever I can. I’ve gotten really good at sneaking away for even just 15 minutes, opening the laptop and diving back into my novels. I’m a pretty active person, so sitting is tough for me. Thanks to the advice of the SCBWI SoCal’s incredible Heather Buchta, I bought a used walking
treadmill desk during Covid (that I used to teach remotely during lockdown as well) and I wrote my latest NF while walking. I garden and my backyard patio is super peaceful to me as well, and
I love to write there in the mornings. I also love having my tea (chai with a bit of milk–very British, I know,) candles..YES! And I love having my two rescue pups–Oliver and Addison–next to me. That’s the perfect recipe.
How long have you been writing? How did you first get into writing for children?
I knew I wanted to be a writer when I was in 4th grade–my favorite teacher convinced me to enter a short story I’d written about a lost cat for a writing contest. I lost, but knew I wanted to keep writing. My best friend was going to be the illustrator, and me…the writer! (My BF is still one of my BFs but she’s translated her creativity into being a park ranger.) I wrote my first story for kids in college for a creative writing class. My narrator was a 12 YO girl who’d run away from home and met an older couple, truck drivers going across the country. I didn’t know I was writing for kids yet. I wrote a PB after my first rock climbing Unicorn Peak in Yosemite. I was the last one in our group. Every time I left the rock I’d been sitting on to start to climb, a marmot
would hop up onto hit. He was following me as I climbed, so during the trek, I brainstormed a PB called MARMOT DON’T FLY (which never saw the light of day.)
Did you go to school for writing or take classes?
I majored in journalism and minored in creative writing at CSULB. I’ve taken a ton of writing classes over the years–UCLA extension, Highlights, The Writing Barn, The Writing Pad, and I
had an amazing teacher–a fellow writer and fantastic human being, Marilyn Gould, who passed away a few years ago. I’ve learned so much from my fellow writers, though, and I can’t say or thank them enough for all the wisdom they’ve bestowed on me….
Do you have a dedicated writing space?
Yes. Pictures included.
What would be your dream book to write and get published?
Well, I think I’ve already written it. A while back, I wrote a MG historical that is dear to my heart. My father’s parents immigrated from a little town on the Peloponnese Peninsula in Greece called Nemea. They moved east to west, had five kids and lived in the Maravilla Projects in East LA in the ’40s. When my dad was 15, his mother (my yiayia Mary) passed away. A year later, his father passed as well, so that left the 5 kids, ages 9-19, to fend for themselves. Growing up, I
had heard so many incredible stories about their childhood (and they all turned out to be incredible people.) So I began to interview them about ten years ago. I fictionalized their story, made one of my aunties the MC and added threads of magical realism and a twist on a Greek
myth. Wrote it as a script first and then as a MG novel. It got the attention of Ann Leslie Tuttle @ DG&B and my dream is to share this story with the world. A way to honor the grandparents I never had, the ones I had to recreate through the memories of their own children and with my imagination. FALLING INTO ME is a book about finding your own identity, yet holding tight to family, your roots, and those people that make you who you are. I hope hope hope that I can call
my father, who’s 87 now, and give him some good news. Fingers and toes crossed (and sprinkle a little holy water and basil like in my story.)
Are you working on any fun projects now?
I just finished a first draft of my young adult spec fiction novel. I’m excited to get it into good shape with a freelance editor I’m working with. It’s got everything I love. Unrequited love, time travel, beautiful places like Joshua Tree National Park, overtures of Shakespeare and golden retrievers. 🙂
Do you illustrate as well or have any plans to do so?
I actually majored in art at CSULB for two years. I switched to writing, but so wish now that I would have double majored. I paint just as a hobby–still love it, but could never illustrate–I just don’t have the consistency or talent! Artists RUUUUUUULE!
Any tips for writers that are starting out?
Oh gosh, just keep writing. Write every day, journal, brainstorm, as each piece you write is a stepping stone to the next. Focus on what you can control. I used to go to conferences thinking I would get noticed somehow, and when I didn’t, I felt like a tiny, talentless ant. Then I realized that I had no control over meeting a future agent or editor. But, what I could control was walking away a better writer. So that’s my goal now for every workshop, conference or retreat I go to. And take chances… say YES to everything! I wrote freelance books on motorcycles, video games and even MMA fighting! Things that are so NOT me. But I researched, interviewed and did the work and I got experience, got paid and built my CV that way. Lastly, just don’t give up,
which I know is cliché. But, if you’re writing for the right reasons, you won’t be able to stop– at least I can’t. Writing is beautifully painful. And most of us just want to share our stories with the
world. Keep writing. Keep learning. Keep believing. It will happen. Just keep swimming.
Do you currently have an agent? If so, how did you end up with that agent?
In 2018, I participated in #DVPit with my middle grade novel, FALLING INTO ME. Ann Leslie asked for 50 pages and then the whole MS. Eventually, she passed on the book, yet I inquired about which areas I could work on, which were things I had already begun to revise. I asked if I could revise one more time and send to her… so I did. A week later, I got the magic phone call where she offered representation. I’ll never forget it. I was in my backyard, under our two huge mulberry trees and I felt like I was flying. It had been about 20 years of NOs and finally that one YES meant the world.
Have you won any writer awards?
I’ve won a few SCBWI conference awards for an early PB called DON’T LICK THE BABY, one for an early MG called SUPER NOVA & my MG FALLING INTO ME.
List 3 to 5 interesting things about yourself.
1.When I taught science at the elementary level, I had 30 animals I was in charge of in my science lab–even a Ball Python named Monty and a Great Madagascan millipede named Mili (My students named them!)
2. I’ve been a vegetarian since I was 17.
3. I’ve used ASL to communicate with a chimp, tracked grizzlies in the Yukon and studied maneless lions in Kenya on Earthwatch expeditions.
4. My husband is a very talented BMX rider and announcer, and over the years, I did a bunch of books on extreme sports!
5. I’m obsessed with hiking and backpacking and one of my most favorite places in the world in Red’s Meadow in Mammoth, CA.
Where can people find you?
IG: @polydoroslori
FB: Loripolydoros
Twitter: @lori_polydoros
JULY 2022 WRITER –
NYDIA ARMENDIA-SANCHEZ
How long have you been a member of SCBWI? What’s the most impactful thing you have learned from being in SCBWI?
I’ve been a member of SCBWI since 2020. The class offerings and conferences are very helpful to all, whether a newbie or an established author.
What genres do you write?
Picture books at present, but perhaps a chapter book is in my future. You never can tell!
What is your writing process like?
Usually, I write whenever inspiration strikes or if I have a project I’m trying to finish. I have two young kids, so like many caretakers, my free time is centered around their schedules. Now that school is out, it is a bit harder to find the time, but they are pretty good about letting Mamá get some writing done.
How long have you been writing? How did you first get into writing for children?
I’ve been writing for a little over three years. I was a late bloomer discovering my passion for writing children’s books, just shy of my 40th birthday.
Did you go to school for writing or take classes?
I majored in Spanish not knowing what I wanted to do with my life. But now that I look back, one of the classes I enjoyed the most was a literature/poetry class that I took while studying abroad in Spain. The professor was so inspiring! The first writing class I took was through UCLA Extension. More than a craft class, it was an intro to the world of children’s books. We did a few writing prompts (which I enjoyed and felt good about), and they gave us a swag bag with SCBWI printed on it. The instructor said to join if you are considering becoming a children’s author, so I did that very day.
Do you have a dedicated writing space?
I have an office which I write in, but I also write on my kitchen island (to keep an eye on the kiddos) and on my little patio when I can.
What would be your dream book to write and get published?
Well, we are in the process of that now. NOT FAR FROM HERE is scheduled for Fall 2024 with Candlewick. I feel incredibly lucky!
Are you working on any fun projects now?
I’m working on a pb that explores another part of my heritage, so I’m pretty excited about it.
Do you illustrate as well or have any plans to do so?
I’d love to illustrate a project of mine some day!
Any tips for writers that are starting out?
I am the type of person that loves research. I research the heck out of everything, so when I first started, I looked up every possible book, blog, website, etc., on becoming a children’s book author. Joining an online writing community (whether through SCBWI, Facebook, or Twitter) was a huge help to me, and yes, you have to put yourself, and your work, out there. It can be scary, but everyone starts at the beginning, so you have nothing to lose and much to gain! Also, when querying, I had many no’s. Some stung more than others, and after I’d let myself feel my feelings for about a day, I’d send out more queries. So for every rejection, I’d send out 1-2 more queries right away. It was kind of like “Take that! I’ll show you Agent X!” 🙂
Do you currently have an agent? If so, how did you end up with that agent?
My amazing agent is Lori Steel at Red Fox Literary. I did a few pitch contests, but in the end, cold querying works. She loved the ms I queried with and asked for more work, and after “the call,” we both felt we would make a great team.
Have you won any writer awards?
I won the 2021 Sustainable Arts Foundation Award. This is a grant for artist parents, and I highly recommend checking out their platform and upcoming submission guidelines.
List 3 to 5 interesting things about yourself.
My kids came up with two. 
1) I have an interesting heritage (Guatemalan & Basque). 2) I used to be a “spice guru.”
Where can people find you?
JUNE 2022 WRITER – CARLENE GRIFFITH
How long have you been a member of SCBWI? What’s the most impactful thing you have learned from being in SCBWI?
I have been a member of SCBWI since 2018. The most impactful thing that SCBWI has taught me is that ‘community helps you become a better writer.’ By volunteering, attending conferences, and participating in critique groups over these past couple of years, I’ve developed faster than I ever could have on my own. The SCBWI community not only has given me the keys to success, but has encouraged me to be better than I thought possible. I am so grateful for this organization.
What genres do you write?
I write in a variety of areas, from picture books to young adults. Most are based on fantasy fairytale fiction, but I also like to write mild horror short stories. Currently, I’m working on a YA mythologically based novel that was inspired by a short story I wrote a few years ago.
What is your writing process like?
I’ve been blessed to be a stay-home mom for the most part and find that I write when the kids are in school, but I’m not limited to that time frame. I’m most productive then because I’m not interrupted. For the most part, I write when I feel inspired. There are days I sit and do nothing else (to the chagrin of my family) and other days I write in spurts. I feel it’s important to recognize that trying to write when I don’t feel like it isn’t productive for me. I always find background music without lyrics helps relax me and think clearer. It all depends. If there’s a lot going on around me, I use music to channel it out, but other times I sit and I am so focused I forget to turn the music on. It all depends on how loud my thoughts are that day. LOL I know I sound crazy.
How long have you been writing? How did you first get into writing for children?
I started writing prose when someone gave me a journal at the age of 14 and I continued my journal writing into my young adult years. But I officially started writing as a career with plays. I have been involved in the theater since I was a child, and it just came naturally to me. With my improv skills, I’ve always been able to come up with stories that make sense. So as story ideas popped into my head, I wrote them down and my writing eventually evolved into writing children’s fairytales. Writing for children has always appealed to me because I enjoy stories with good moral values.
Did you go to school for writing or take classes?
I took a writing course through the Institute of Children’s literature when it was a correspondence course back in 2000. And attempted some children’s literature courses at college, but honestly, I’m more self-taught by reading books on writing and working with critique groups.
Do you have a dedicated writing space?
I have my own office space and desk. And because of my husband’s tech skills, I have the best equipment to work with. I haven’t always had my own space. I wrote my first book at my kitchen table with my laptop. If I have a laptop and access to the internet, I’m good.
What would be your dream book to write and get published?
Oh, wow that’s a loaded question. My goals are ever-changing, but for now, I would love to see my Mythological-based novel published and sitting on the shelf next to Percy Jackson or Lore.
Are you working on any fun projects now?
I’m working on two long-term projects right now. The Myth novel and book #2 of my Rose Maidelaiden series that I’ll continue to self-publish. On the side, I work on short stories for contests and picture books when I get ideas.
Do you illustrate as well or have any plans to do so?
I don’t illustrate. I can draw a little, but I’m not accomplished in it enough to illustrate. I can see a picture and copy it, but that’s about it. Unless scribble art is a skill, then I’m a pro.
Any tips for writers that are starting out?
I’m not an expert, but what works for me is when I finish one project, I submit it and then start another one while I’m waiting. (This helps with my impatience, and I continue to work on my craft.)
I always try to remember everything is subjective. A rejection doesn’t mean you’re not good at writing or have bad ideas, it only means you’re not good for their needs. (This is something I learned from theater and auditioning.) It helps me deal with discouragement because we all feel it. What do they say: “For every no, it only takes one yes!”
I believe true failure comes when you lean too much on others for self-approval or when you think you know so much you stop learning. Success comes from one accomplishment at a time, no matter what level you’re at. So, keep going. I measure my success as a writer by being better than I was yesterday. Eventually, I’ll get where I want to be.
These are not new ideas or my own, they just work for me.
Do you currently have an agent? If so, how did you end up with that agent?
I do not have an agent, yet!
Have you won any writer awards?
I won a scholarship in High School for my senior essay. I wrote it as a journal entry about what it felt like to perform on stage rather than a basic traditional essay. At the time it was a big deal for me. I won a 100-word Valentine-themed children’s short story contest once and a couple of editor-choice awards for some poems years ago, but nothing significant, recently.
List 3 to 5 interesting things about yourself.
So, you want to know more about me, do you?
1. I’ve been married for 18yrs and have three kids. (2 boys & 1 girl)
2. I love the performing arts and have been involved with it for over forty years. When I was younger, I would’ve been considered a triple threat. (Singing, dancing, and acting.)
3. I got my Screen Actors Guild eligibility by working in movies and tv. When I turned 21years I decided it wasn’t for me and preferred writing, directing, and teaching. Mostly because I love food and don’t like having to worry so much about what others think about my looks.
4. I’m a survivor of a dysfunctional family and a difficult childhood, but it made me the strong independent women I am today.
5. I love Star Trek, God, and pizza.
Where can people find you?
MAY 2022 WRITER – TIM BURKE
How long have you been a member of SCBWI?
I’ve been a member for eleven years.
What’s the most impactful thing you have learned from being in SCBWI?
That question is like asking “Who’s your favorite guitarist?” Depends—favorite jazz, rock, fingerstylist …?
I guess if I try to go all Yoda, it’s that children’s writing is a balancing act. Whenever Art tries to hang out and get all chummy with Business, all bets are off. Becoming a successful author is unpredictable, fraught with twists and turns, full of more and more ways to move forward. If you hear someone giving you rules for being creative, run for the hills. We tell one another lots of craft rules and industry dicta, which can be helpful up to a point, especially if you are just starting out. I’ve followed a LOT of advice over the years and it has helped me improve and maybe inch closer to marketable. However, ultimately you have to write what you hear in your head, what you feel in your heart. If it resonates with you, it will resonate with someone out there too. Just have to find them.
Hanging out with Steve Moose at winter conference
What genres do you write?
I write Young Adult, Middle Grade, and I’ve also sold short stories to two Adult Crime Fiction magazines: Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine and Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. My shopping lists for the grocery store are some of my best work (tension mounts steadily as you go from fresh fruit to frozen aisle).
What is your writing process like?
I try to write every day, generally starting late AM after taking care of errands like walking and feeding our two comedian mutts.
Computer background for my website by my talented sister-in-law.
How long have you been writing? How did you first get into writing for children?
In college, I was hired to ghostwrite for a psychologist contributing to a self-help anthology. Then around 2004, as green and as clueless as they come, I tackled my first children’s novel. Actually, it was a great premise, but the writing not so much. It’s outrageous that the publishing industry wants decent writing as well; you’d think a good premise would be all you’d need. But the Man was determined to keep me down.
Did you go to school for writing or take classes?
I studied the Teaching of Writing, mostly applicable to the classroom to get kids over the fear of/excited about writing. That field was just burgeoning and getting its feet under it. Really awesome, exciting techniques and material were being developed, so I fell into it at the right time. I’ve never studied writing formally (it probably shows!).
Do you have a dedicated writing space?
My fabulous and long-suffering wife allowed me to have a home recording studio built in part of our unusually large garage. It’s not top-of-the-line or anything, and I’m not turning away Katie Perry or Sting, but it is a true room within a room (very close to completely soundproof). It’s basically my man cave, and this is where I do all my creating—music and writing.
What would be your dream book to write and get published?
A novel that shows kids reading is a blast, a party inside your skull, a laugh-out-loud adventure that leaves them wanting more. The cherry on the top would be if it could show kids they matter and that they have no reason to feel badly about themselves.
Thank you note from one of my ESL students
Are you working on any fun projects now?
I’ve just finished a Young Adult novel with monsters, humor, and a slow burn romance (‘cause nothing says LOVE like getting your spleen torn out). I’m wrapping up, with one of my fantabulous critique groups, the revision of my MG story of a girl who is raised by trolls and then reunites with her human mom and must now figure out all over again how to fit in.
Just diving into an MG which I’m pitching as a young Indiana Jones meets Dr. Doolittle.
This is by our member Steve Bjorkman as a RA retirement gift. It’s an illustration of the main character in my steampunk novel.
Do you illustrate as well or have any plans to do so?
I used to teach a second grader who openly mocked my drawings, so no, I don’t think I’ll strike out into Illustrator Land anytime soon. (Though I have been working through a How to Draw Cartoons book, which is loads of fun.)
Any tips for writers that are starting out?
Most of us probably won’t be waving from limos paid for by a billion dollar writing career (move over Musk and Bezos), so write because it’s in your blood. You simply have to tell stories or you’ll implode. Find readers (kids, friends, neighbors, critique groups) who will enjoy what you write because that will give you the shot in the arm we all need. Don’t compare yourself to other writers; that leads to unhealthy paths. Hang with other writers at least from time to time because they are invaluable resources as well as a support group since they are doing what you are doing and possibly going through what you are going through. Here endeth the sermon. Amen.
The logo and t-shirt for my critique group SCRIBBLICIOUS
Do you currently have an agent? If so, how did you end up with that agent?
Alas, not yet. However, I have just come across a more potent wing of bat and eye of newt … er, umm, recipe, so yeah, you never know.
Have you won any writer awards?
Not to speak of. I did just recently win the Tahquitz Writer Retreat Contest along with another super talented writer Laurie Young, so pretty chuffed to be in such exalted company.
List 3 to 5 interesting things about yourself.
- Music is a major part of my life. I play guitar semiprofessionally and compose/record in my home studio.
My guitarist side.
- The children’s author who got me into reading is completely unknown today when I mention him, despite having written the 26 book Freddy the Pig series as well as short stories that inspired the popular TV show about a talking horse Mr. Ed: Walter R. Brooks. I wouldn’t be who I am without his influence. I’d love to be some kid’s Walter Brooks some day.
- In college, I chased down and turned over to the police a thief trying to steal my wallet out of my dorm room. A pretty fun story. I’ll share it with you over perfectly shaken martinis some day.
- Until the dreaded pandemic arrived, I had played ice hockey all my life. Hoping to get into that again. As a Buffalonian, it’s in my DNA.
Where can people find you?
my website: https://www.timburketales.com
Twitter (though who knows how much longer I’ll be on this now!)
@frankenstrat88
APRIL 2022 WRITER – BEVERLY PLASS
How long have you been a member of SCBWI? What’s the most impactful thing you have learned from being in SCBWI?
I’ve been a member for over 25 years. There are a number of impactful things – I think mostly is plot development, character growth, making your character likable, and that the members in SCBWI are so supportive!
What genres do you write?
I’m currently writing a mid-grade realistic fiction novel about three 12-year-old girls who go to Loyalty Camp, but learn first-hand what it’s like to be treated with unequal privileges. I’ve also written a mid-grade skateboarder story and a YA about teen girls who discover they are twins.
What is your writing process like?
I wish I could say I’m scheduled and consistent. I retired in June and thought I’d be. What I really do is write when my critique group meetings are coming up. Also, since I’m writing about camping, I play river and bird chirping sounds to remind myself of sensory and mood.
How long have you been writing? How did you first get into writing for children?
My first book I wrote was when I was seven about a frog and a dog on a log. I wanted to help my little sister learn to read. The drawings are very simple crayon drawings. Then, when I had kids 30+ years ago, I read to them every night and decided I wanted to give it a try.
Did you go to school for writing or take classes?
I took writing classes through UCI’s extension program. I still see my teacher Lou Nelson weekly for paid critique group meetings. She’s helped me the most with character development and growth. I’ve also attended multiple SCBWI events and a Highlights retreat.
Do you have a dedicated writing space?
I write in my office – one wall is filled with book shelves with mostly children’s books. My desk has a stack of writer books and piles of papers for my home teaching job. How embarrassing. I’m not as organized as I wish.
What would be your dream book to write and get published?
My Camp Loyalty book – I’m trying to tackle a social justice issue in a way that kids could identify with.
Are you working on any fun projects now?
Camp Loyalty.
Do you illustrate as well or have any plans to do so?
No, I’m not talented when it comes to drawing. Decades ago, I self-published a book for speech-pathologists with tons of line drawings. I had to draw each one at least 5 times before it looked like what I wanted it to look like. My students were very honest when they saw my work. So, no.
Any tips for writers that are starting out?
Join SCBWI and participate in critique groups. It’s helpful to learn how to improve what you wrote. Submitting is highly competitive, so you want to submit only your very best work.
Do you currently have an agent? If so, how did you end up with that agent?
No, i don’t have an agent yet.
Have you won any writer awards?
I won an MidGrade writer award at one of our October Writer and Illustrator Days.
List 3 to 5 interesting things about yourself.
-I’m a big chicken when it comes to submitting my pages to agents, and finishing my novel. I’m going to have to get over that!
Where can people find you?