Advisory Committee
Co-Regional Advisors, Conference Directors, Sara Easterly & Jolie SteklyAs Co-Regional Advisors, Jolie and Sara are often accused of being attached at the hip – an accusation neither minds hearing! Together, they lead the Western Washington chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators. They partner as conference directors and editorial directors for the chapter’s print and online publications, in addition to managing the monthly Professional Series Meetings and a team of volunteers who make up the Advisory Committee. Sara leverages her marketing, PR, and event-management background to assist with the strategic vision for our various events and community outreach programs. Jolie taps into her teaching experience to spearhead the organization’s operations, in addition to fiscal responsibility for the chapter. Sara Easterly is a seasoned communicator with nearly 15 years of experience overseeing branding, public relations, event marketing, advertising, graphic design, and web/multimedia development. She delivers integrated marketing solutions to authors and various corporations and is also a corporate event planner. Her first children's book, LIGHTS, CAMERA, FASHION!, was released in May 2007. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism with a minor in English from Colorado State University, as well as a Writing Certificate from the University of Washington Extension. Sara has served on the region’s Advisory Committee since 2002. Learn more from her website at www.saraeasterly.com. Jolie Stekly wasn’t a kid who lived in the pages of books or dreamed of writing them. But that’s all changed now that she is grown. Now this is her passion. She’s a former elementary school teacher who found she was most happy reading to her students. Now her most pleasant times, besides time with her very supportive family, are moments of quiet writing, meetings with her critique group, and SCBWI meetings and conferences. “They always feel like a breath of fresh air,” she says. Jolie has opened the publishing door a crack by selling to Highlights as well as the Institute for Children’s Literature. She tries to take one step, no matter how small, every day toward the ever-elusive book contract. And no matter how steep and arduous the climb, she doesn’t plan on stopping until she gets there. Jolie has been an active member of the chapter’s Advisory Committee since 2004 and Co-Regional Advisor since 2006. Assistant Regional Advisor, Inside Story Co-ChairJaime Temairik While working on her illustration portfolio, Jaime listens to books on tape and drinks large amounts of coffee. Check out www.chompoblog.com (named after chompo bars) for her art, book, and cupcake recommendations, as well as some "sweet" interviews. Chairperson, Professional Series DirectorAllyson Valentine Schrier Allyson started writing about five years ago after taking a class with Peggy King Anderson (along with so many others… who say, "thank you Peggy!"). She has written 19 books, fiction and non-fiction, for an educational publisher and has had stories accepted for publication by Spider and Hopscotch. As far as trade books go, she is still WFTPC (Waiting for the Phone Call). She says, "I am excited to move into the role of Chapter Chair and hope that I can come close to the fabulous job that Meg Lippert has done for the past few years." Art and Design EditorKirsten Carlson She moved here last year from California, where she had worked at Monterey Bay Aquarium. Her passion for nature, science and art has led her into the world of creating books for children that inspire connections to nature. She has illustrated a book by David Ufer, THE GIRAFFE WHO WAS AFRAID OF HEIGHTS and another, by local writer Ron Hirschi, OCEAN SEASONS. Find out what polar bears, kestrels, lattes and seahorses have in common by visiting her portfolio at www.kirstencarlson.net. Attendance CoordinatorPenny Lent Penny Lent is a bungee-jumper who taught English in Belarus and writing at conferences in four states and dozens of schools. She's a published journalist of 1900 columns/features/photos, a commissioned artist, book author/contributor/ghost of 11 volumes, college instructor, editor for nine publishers, poet, and PNWA Helen Zola Ross Award winner. Penny's currently marketing picture books on weird, wild animals, while taming one husband, two college sons, and two old cats. In her spare time she quilts and paints gimongous flowers and leaves. Chinook Update EditorMartha Brockenbrough Martha Brockenbrough is author of the forthcoming "Things That Make Us [Sic]", to be published in 2007 by St. Martin's Press. It's about bad grammar, the history of English, and the incredibly embarrassing gaffes of politicians, starlets and marketers. It's based on her work with the Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar, which she founded in 2004. (See SPOGG.org for details and laughs.) She also writes the Cinemama column on MSN Movies, and an educational humor column for the online encyclopedia, Encarta. Conference CoordinatorLaurie Thompson Somehow, motherhood transformed this previously mild-mannered, highly paid but dissatisfied software engineer into a passionate, barely paid but extremely happy writer. She hopes her bruised and battered creativity will someday come out of hiding to inspire life-altering fiction, but until then she is thrilled to craft real-life nonfiction stories that educate and inspire. Laurie's work has appeared in ParentMap, KNOW, Faces, WeeOnes, and KONO, and she is currently working on a series of middle-grade biographies. See more at www.LaurieThompson.com. Critique Group CoordinatorLois Brandt Lois began telling children's stories to keep her oldest son from bouncing off the walls while she breastfed his baby brother. She wrote down some of those stories and took Peggy King Anderson's writing for children class. Lois became addicted to writing. In 2005 she won the Pockets Magazine contest with her short story "Soccer Prayers". She has also sold fiction to Highlights and Sparkle magazines. Lois will receive her MFA in creative writing in August 2007 from the Whidbey Island Writers Association. She recently completed her first middle-grade novel, WEARING VIETNAM. Illustrators' Retreat DirectorKjersten Hayes Kjersten spends her days making messes in her studio. She makes paper (wet-messy), cuts paper (confetti-messy), and glues paper (sticky-messy). She has seven years of experience making and selling paper collage works — mostly handbound books — for the fine craft market. If you need a new journal, check out her website at www.kjerstenannahayes.com. For the last few years Kjersten has also been working hard on her illustration portfolio, her biggest passion. Outside of work, she reads obsessively and tries to prove to herself that the world is round by traveling whenever possible. Newsletter Article/Good News EditorJoni Sensel Having learned to read from Dr. Seuss stories, Joni began creating her own. Still unconvinced that fantasy is necessarily fiction, she pays bills by freelance writing for businesses, but she prefers writing for kids. Her first middle-grade novel, REALITY LEAK, will be published by Henry Holt in Spring 2007, and she’s also the author of two picture books. Joni lives with two elderly hounds and an assortment of mice, raccoons, and elk in Greenwater. Resources CoordinatorTom Hunt Tom works in human resources at Puget Sound Energy in Bellevue and maintains the writing dream that led him to a BA in English from the UW in 1984. He is looking for a publisher for his math-themed picture book and working on some chapter books. Tom lives in Seattle with his wife and two children. Secretary/HospitalityKimberly Baker When not attempting to pen the great American picture book, Kim spends her time procrastinating while seeking amusement and wonder with her four year old son. Solitary time is spent writing, crafting, and doodling. She lives in Seattle with her expanding family, two dogs, one cat, and a pond full of fish.. WebmasterDana Arnim Dana is working on several stories and her illustration portfolio while working at her web design day job. She received her BFA from the U of W, and completed their Extension certificate program "Art for the Children's Market". Devouring illustrated storybooks early in life, and then again with her children, set her on the path to contribute work of her own to children's literature. She is an avid gardener, reader and chocolate eater. You can see her artwork at www.DanaArnim.com. Writers' Retreat DirectorMeg Lippert Meg has been a storyteller since she could talk, her parents said. She lived and taught for a year in Tanzania and a year in Guatemala, where she learned many more stories. Scores of her favorite stories have found their way into her 21 published books, including WHY LEOPARD HAS SPOTS: DAN STORIES FROM LIBERIA. Co-authored with Seattle storyteller Won-Ldy Paye and illustrated by Ashley Bryan (Fulcrum, 1998), it won four awards including 1999 Best Book for Older Children from the African Studies Association. Her newest picture books, co-authored with Won-Ldy and illustrated by Seattle artist Julie Paschkis, are HEAD, BODY, LEGS: A STORY FROM LIBERIA (Henry Holt, 2002), an ALA Notable book and nominee for the 2004 Washington Children’s Choice Picture Book Award, and MRS. CHICKEN AND THE HUNGRY CROCODILE (Henry Holt, 2003), selected by the New York Public Library for "Children’s Books 2003: One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing." A former elementary school teacher and professor of children’s literature, she teaches Writing for Children through the UW Extension and journalism to high school students at an alternative school in Seattle. Her website at www.StoryPower.net describes her storytelling and visiting author programs for elementary schools. She lives on Mercer Island with her family. Volunteer OpportunitesThe following Advisory Committee position is open: Bellingham ContactMattie has a degree in English and Drama from Duke University and a masters of arts in teaching from Brown. A graduate of the Institute of Children's Literature, she has attended many conferences and workshops and enrolls in classes whenever she can. With three children at home, discovering the SCBWI WWA network in Bellingham was a godsend, and Mattie became co-representative in May 2005. Before that, she served on the planning committee for a year. She is currently working on a young adult novel, and is active in her critique group. Her experience as a teacher and administrator allows her to donate organizational and creative energy to the Bellingham network. Mattie freelances for the Bellingham Herald and performs in community theater whenever possible. |
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Calendar
- May 18
Spring 2008 Inside Story
University Book Store - September 10
Professional Series Meeting - November 7 - 9
Writers/Illustrators Retreat
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