Advisory Committee

Co-Regional Advisors, Conference Directors, Joni Sensel & Laurie Thompson

Together, Joni and Laurie 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 amazing volunteers who make up the Advisory Committee. In addition to handling the chapter’s fiscal responsibilities, Joni is the public face and voice of the organization, handling most of the public speaking opportunities as well as gathering and editing information for The Chinook. Laurie is happiest doing the “behind-the-scenes” technical work: twiddling spreadsheets, maintaining databases, and tracking the various to-do lists. They couldn’t do any of it without the enormous contributions of assistant regional advisor, Kimberly Baker. Whatever it is, you can be sure all three of them played a part.

Joni Sensel
Joni is the author of a silly middle-grade novel, REALITY LEAK, and an historical fantasy called THE HUMMING OF NUMBERS, both from Holt. Her third fantasy, THE FARWALKER’S QUEST, will be published by Bloomsbury in February 2009. She’s also the author of two picture books and loads of business propaganda. Joni lives in the woods near Mt. Rainier, where she tries to keep up with her new dog as he chases elk and climbs trees after squirrels. Read more at www.jonisensel.com.

Assistant Regional Advisor and Conference Coordinator

Kimberly Baker
In addition to being an indispensable member of the regional advisory triumvirate, Kim also collects information on events such as classes, contests, and bookstore events for our calendar of upcoming events. Let her know if you have something to add! She's currently working on a middle grade novel. She spends her days keeping up with two small kids, and saves most of the reading and writing for nights and weekends. Otherwise, you can find her exploring, crafting, or slowly renovating a creaky old house. She lives in Seattle with her family and a few furry creatures. Read more at www.kimberlycbaker.com.

Chairperson, Professional Series Director

Allyson Valentine Schrier
Allyson chairs Advisory Committee meetings and our monthly Professional Series Meetings. She 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 fiction and nonfiction books 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)

Art and Design Editor

Kevan Atteberry
Kevan Atteberry is the wizard behind The Chinook’s great look—or its existence in print at all, for that matter. He is also an illustrator, designer, and Flash animator during the day and an illustrator of books—including the 2008 Children’s Book Council’s K-2 Children’s Choice Book of the Year—during his other waking hours. He’s working on the manuscripts for several picture books he would like to sell some day. (Soon, preferably.) He enjoys volleyball, birding, and staying on top of the new music scene. And banana cream pie.

Attendance Coordinator and Teacher/Librarian Outreach Coordinator

Chadwick Gillenwater
Chadwick greets and signs in attendees at our Professional Series Meetings, as well as keeping track of meeting attendance. Otherwise known as Professor Watermelon, he claims to be a school librarian, but in fact, he’s a former real estate agent with a suspicious fondness for flamingos and flies. Apparently he didn’t believe it when The Chinook articles editor threatened to make up his bio information if he didn’t provide it. He was wrong. If you want the truth, you’ll have to ask him at our first Professional Series Meeting this fall.

Bellingham Network Coordinator and Calendar Coordinator

Kjersten Hayes
Kjersten organizes carpools and puts together schmoozes as the Bellingham Network Coordinator, so if you live in Skagit or Whatcom Counties (or anywhere nearby) and you’d like to meet more writers and illustrators in that neck of the woods, contact her! 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 nine years of experience making and selling paper collage works—mostly hand-bound books—for the fine craft market. Kjersten has also been working hard on her illustration portfolio, reading obsessively, and proving to herself that the world is round by traveling whenever possible. If you need a new journal, check out her website at www.kjerstenannahayes.com.

Chinook Update and Good News Editor

Martha Brockenbrough
Martha is the author, compiler, and editor of the emailed Chinook Update, an extension of The Chinook printed newsletter. She is author of THINGS THAT MAKE US [SIC], which will be published in October by St. Martin’s Press. The book is 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.) Martha’s also the founder of National Grammar Day, which happens every year on March 4, as well as the author of the Cinemama column on MSN Movies and an educational humor column for the online encyclopedia, Encarta.

Critique Group Coordinator

Lois Brandt
Lois helps writers connect with the right group of peers for critiques and support. She also weaves together diverse images and events to create stories for children. Her short stories have been published in Highlights, Sparkle, and Pockets children’s magazines, and her story “Soccer Prayers” was the winner of Pocket’s 2005 short story contest.  Lois served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Cameroon, West Africa, and has traveled widely. In 2007, she earned her MFA in Children’s Literature from the Northwest Institute of Literary Arts, a program of the Whidbey Island Writers Association. Lois recently completed her first middle grade novel, WEARING VIETNAM

Illustration Program Coordinator

Laura McGee Kvasnosky
SCBWI WWA is as committed to creating programming for illustrators as it is for writers, and Laura will try to figure out what our illustrators want and then coordinate a special event that meets those needs. She says, “I hope it will include playing ukuleles.” Laura is the author/illustrator of 15 books for children, including the ZELDA AND IVY series. She has taught at Vermont College and was a founding mother of the UW certificate program in Writing for Children. She also founded Inside Story. Learn more at www.LMKBooks.com.

Inside Story Co-Chairs

Meg Lippert
Meg works with Jaime to put on a fabulous Inside Story event twice a year.  She is the author of 22 books of multicultural folk tales, including four co-authored with Liberian storyteller Won-Ldy Paye: WHY LEOPARD HAS SPOTS (illustrated by Ashley Bryan) and HEAD BODY LEGS, MRS. CHICKEN AND THE HUNGRY CROCODILE, and THE TALKING VEGETABLES (all illustrated by Julie Paschkis). A former classroom teacher and professor of children’s literature, she teaches Writing for Children through the UW Extension and Storytelling through Lesley University. Her website, www.StoryPower.net, describes her storytelling programs and school visits. Meg lives on Mercer Island with her husband and looks forward to visiting her daughters, who are both working in Washington, DC.

Jaime Temairik
Jaime co-chairs the Inside Story with Meg. Jaime has illustrated LIGHTS, CAMERA, FASHION!, written by Sara Easterly, and a book for adults by fellow AdCommer Martha Brockenbrough. 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.

Resources Coordinator

Kerri Kokias
Kerri sells SCBWI products, including pens, book bags, window clings, and the Nuts & Bolts packet, at monthly meetings and our annual conference. She began writing picture books when she left her research job to be a stay-at-home mom. She feels it gives her something fun and productive to focus on that's all hers, while using the same energy she draws from to parent. In 2006, Kerri completed the University of Washington’s certificate program in Writing for Children. Recently, her four-year-old daughter giggled and said, “Mom, why are you always reading my books? You’re supposed to read grown-up books.” Although Kerri does read adult literature too, her response was, “My books don't have enough pictures.” 

Retreat Coordinator

Jolie Stekly
Jolie grew up in small-town Montana before moving to the Pacific Northwest where she lives with her husband, daughters, and  parents (yes, parents). After many years of teaching first and second grade, Jolie is now home with her girls and writing, writing, writing. Jolie was the Co-Regional Advisor of the Western Washington chapter of SCBWI from 2006-2009, and she is now responsible for putting together our annual writing retreat. All these things combined have led her to require a good cup of coffee (more than one a day), a cute pair of shoes (no matter how much they hurt), and a great workout (even on the days she’s not teaching her own Bodypump class). You can read more at cuppajolie.blogspot.com/.

Secretary/Hospitality

Annie Gage
Annie takes notes at Advisory Committee meetings and provides us with yummy treats to make our meetings extra tasty. In a 1969 journal entry, she wrote, “I want to write a children’s book…” In 1988, just before entering a master’s program in social work, she was accepted as an Institute of Children’s Literature student, but declined the offer. Finally, in 2000, she tried her hand at writing for kids. Since then, she has sold stories to Ladybug, Highlights, and Trillium Publishing, as well as a grown-up essay to Seal Press. A willing spokeswoman for late bloomers and creative U-turn-takers everywhere, Annie is working on a middle-grade adventure novel. She lives with her family near Greenlake and works at Coe Elementary during the school year.

Webmaster

Dana Arnim
Dana created and maintains our SCBWI Western Washington website. She 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.