Inside Scoop on June 2012 Conference

Don’t be sad if you could not travel to LA for the National SCBWI Conference this week.  Just focus on what is to come and the opportunities that are available for you.

At this moment in time I have confirmed the following editors and agents for the New Jersey SCBWI Conference being held on June 8th, 9th, and 10th 2012 at the Wyndham Hotel and Conference Center in Princeton, NJ. Here is the faculty, so far:
KRISTA MARINO is an Executive Editor at Delacorte Press (Random House Children’s  Books) where she acquires and edits Young Adult and Middle Grade fiction.  She is always looking for strong new voices, innovative concepts, and great stories for her list. She doesn’t do cute- she’s more on the darker edge of fiction (she has not been buying much of lighter fare lately), but she does like works with comedy in them. Many of the works she’s edited in the last few years are trilogies or series, she is now looking for amazing stand-alone books. Recent books she has edited include King Dork by Frank Portman, The Alchemyst, The Magician, and The Sorceress in The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series by Michael Scott, and The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan.
I have asked Krista if she will do the same Intensive that she is giving in LA on Aug. 8th for an Intensive for us – Perfecting Your YA Voice.

SARAH DAVIES, Agent – Greenhouse Literary is based in Washington DC and heads the North American side of the Greenhouse, so if you live in the States or Canada you should submit work to her (see submission guidelines for more information).  Sarah has more than 25 years’ experience of children’s publishing, moving to the USA from London in 2007. She started her career at Collins (before it was HarperCollins), followed by a spell at Transworld/Random House. In 1994 she joined Macmillan Children’s Books in London as Fiction Editor, rising through the editorial ranks to Publishing Director (and member of the Management Board), a position she held until 2007 when she left to start Greenhouse.

Sarah has agreed to do an Intensive Workshop on June 8th and a few Consultative Critiques.

ERIN CLARKE is an Executive Editor at Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, where she has worked for eleven years. Authors and illustrators with whom she works include Markus Zusak, Julia Alvarez, Meghan McCarthy, Lesley M.M. Blume, Anna Alter, Mark Alan Stamaty, Karen Foxlee, Mick Cochrane, Barbara Jean Hicks, and Sue Hendra. Erin is interested in publishing good stories regardless of genre or themes that might be contained in them. She edits six to eight novels per year as well as picture books. The percentage of her first time writers varies. Currently about 20% of her list is made up of first-time writers. She is interested in building a long-term relationship and hopes to do many more books with them.

CATHERINE ONDER–Senior Editor, Disney-Hyperion. She focuses on teen and tween novels, and also edits some picture books. Authors she works with include Geraldine McCaughrean, Jenny Valentine, Georgia Byng, Allan Stratton, Lynn Messina, Eric Carle, Robert Sabuda, and Jane Yolen. She conceived of and edited the first literary monster mash-ups aimed at teens: Little Vampire Women and Romeo & Juliet & Vampires. Catherine was also the editor for The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean, winner of the 2008 Printz Award. Whether funny and light or dark and mysterious, traditional or edgy, she looks for strong narrative and voice, and a clear vision in all manuscripts.

TAMRA TULLER, Senior Editor at Philomel Books.  She does PB, Middle Grade, YA, Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, Edgy.  Smart books with heart and substance and a touch of humor. No fantasy, sci fi, younger MG, preachy or slapstick books. Tamra is interested in picture books, but she really isn’t into rhyme. She does middle grade and young adult novels. Is open to non-fiction, graphic novels historical fiction, but doesn’t do fantasy. As far as YA, she will consider somewhat edgy work, but not extremely edgy. Tamra has worked on books by authors such as Patricia Polacco, Brian Jaques, Mike Lupica, David Shannon, and Jane Yolen.

KAREN CHAPLIN is an Editor at HarperCollins Children’s Books. Karen acquires hardover tween and teen fiction. Some of the projects she has worked on previously include Students Across the Seven Seas series, Zombie Queen of  Newberry High by Amanda Ashby, Exclusively Chloe by J. A. Yang, and the Specialists series by Shannon Greenland. Karen is looking for fun, original series fiction as well as stand alone fiction for the MG and YA markets. While science fiction/​fantasy is not her cup of tea, the genres she is looking for include chick lit, fun action/​adventure series (boy and girl), mysteries, horror/​paranormal, romance, stories with strong female characters (including topics such as sisters and friendships), anything boy-centric, and commercial literary and edgy fiction.

So mark your calendars, you know how time flies.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy