Jennifer Brown
Author, columnist, All Around Good Guy... Jennifer Brown has been writing since... well, forever.
Two-time winner of the Erma Bombeck Global Humor Award (2005 & 2006), humor columnist for The Kansas City Star, and Wednesday Featured Blogger for Mom2Mom KC, Jennifer has been out to prove since childhood that being a smart-ass can, indeed, be considered "making a living."
When not rolling her eyes and thinking up news ways to incorporate the words, "Ch-yeah," "Puh-lease," and "Hell-o!" into her writing, Jennifer is hard at work on her young adult fiction. Her debut novel, Hate List, (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) was released September 2009.
Jennifer writes and lives in the Kansas City, Missouri area, with her three wonderful kids, adorable hubby, two cats, a boxer pup, and the best basset hound baby anyone could ever ask for.
Important Links
www.jenniferbrownya.com
Books
Hate List
Session
Plate Spinners (Agents – do I need one – how do I find one? A panel discussion)
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Elizabeth C. Bunce
Elizabeth C. Bunce writes historical fantasy for young adults. Her first novel, A Curse Dark as Gold (Arthur A. Levine Books, 2008), won the William C. Morris Award for a Young Adult Debut, was named a Kansas Notable Book, made Oprah's Book Club list, and was honored by the Smithsonian. She is also the author of StarCrossed (Scholastic 2010) and its sequel, Liar's Moon (forthcoming from Scholastic).
Elizabeth is an accomplished needlewoman with an interest in embroidery and historical costuming, and she lives in suburban KC with her attorney and their dogs. Find out more at www.elizabethcbunce.com
Important links
www.elizabethcbunce.com
Books
A Curse Dark as Gold (Arthur A. Levine Books)
Starcrossed (October 2010)
Sessions:
Illusionista: Building worlds with words
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Sue Ford
Sue Ford has sold over 130 magazine pieces for children and adults. She writes for children under her maiden name, Susan Uhlig. Her picture book Things Little Kids Need to Know was chosen as a 2000 Read, America! Collection Selection. She has been involved with the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators for 18 years. She also is an instructor for the Institute of Children’s Literature. Sue’s website www.susanuhlig.com has writing resources and recommendations of children’s books.
Important links
www.susanuhlig.com
Books
Things Little Kids Need to Know
Session:
The Side Show of Magazine Writing
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Maria Gomez
Maria Gomez is an associate editor at HarperCollins Children’s Books where she has been working since 2005. Before going into publishing, she had been a bookseller for more than five years.
As an only child, Maria’s best friends have always been novels; she’s been in love with the written word since she picked up her first Archie comic book at the age of four. Since her start at HarperCollins she’s worked with authors Katherine Paterson, Gail Carson Levine, Kelley Armstrong, Ken Oppel, Derek Landy, Hilari Bell, and a myriad of other talents.
She’s also acquired a list of wonderful debut authors such as Allan Woodrow (author of the forthcoming 4-book series THE ROTTEN ADVENTURES OF ZACHARY RUTHLESS), Diane Zahler (author of the recently released THE THIRTEENTH PRINCESS and three more forthcoming fairy-tale retellings), Jocelyn Davies (author of the forthcoming A BEAUTIFUL DARK trilogy), and the recently signed Nicole Maggi (author of SHIFT, a teen trilogy).
Maria’s looking to build her list with fresh and exciting middle-grade and teen fiction from both established and debut authors.
Sessions:Under the Big Top: Life at HarperCollins
One-on-one Consultations and Group Critiques
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Bruce Hale
Raised by wolves just outside Los Angeles, Bruce Hale worked as a surveyor, actor, DJ, English teacher (in Japan), and corporate lackey, before turning to a career in writing. Bruce has written and illustrated over 25 books for children, including his popular series, The Chet Gecko Mysteries, and the Underwhere graphic novel hybrids.
His book, THE MALTED FALCON, was nominated for an Edgar Award by the Mystery Writers of America. Bruce’s most recent picture book, Snoring Beauty, landed on Oprah’s Recommended Reading for Kids list.
A Fulbright Scholar (in Storytelling), Bruce is in demand as a speaker, having presented at conferences, universities, and schools across the country. His acting credits include numerous plays and musicals, several TV commercials, and an independent movie, "The Ride" (in which he plays a surfer's agent).
A firm believer in fun, Bruce can often be found hiking, body boarding, or singing jazz in a group called VocalPoint.
Important links
www.brucehale.com
www.brucehalewritingtips.com
Books
SNORING BEAUTY
MOKI AND THE MAGIC SURFBOARD
MURDER, MY TWEET
FROM RUSSIA WITH LUNCH
KEY LARDO
THE BIG NAP
PRINCE OF UNDERWHERE
PIRATES OF UNDERWHERE
FAT CAT OF UNDERWHERE
Sessions:
Friday:
The High Wire Act -- Make Your Story Unputdownable: Secrets of Generating Suspense
Saturday:
Soaring on the Trapeze (Humor)
Stuntmen – Writing for Boys
Taking Off like a Human Cannonball (inspiration)
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Andrew Harwell
Andrew Harwell joined Dutton Children’s Books in 2008. Since then, he has had the privilege of working on such New York Times bestselling series as Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner and The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod by Heather Brewer. Having read three Goosebumps a week as a kid, he was thrilled to edit a recent anthology of short stories with R.L. Stine and contributors from the International Thriller Writers Association called Fear.
Books
Mirror Mirror by Marilyn Singer and Josee Massee;
The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Eleventh Grade Burns by Heather Brewer;
Skippyjon Jones: Lost in Spice by Judy Schachner;
Gilda Joyce: Psychic Investigator by Jennifer Allison;
Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan;
The Best Pet of All by David LaRochelle and Hanako Wakiyama
Sessions:
Under the Big Top: Life at Dutton
One-on-one Consultations and Group Critiques
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Laura Manivong
Laura Manivong never knew she wanted to write books until she met her husband and learned about his background, but the clues were there all along. Her mother and grandfather were writers. Her college professor told her to keep writing, which made her wonder, write what? And her study at Missouri State University, after some detours, led her to a job as a television writer/producer. But after marrying Troy, it began to click. After eight years, two kids, and countless drafts, Escaping The Tiger was done, its pages based on Troy’s experiences as a Lao refugee hoping for a new home.
Laura and Troy live in Kansas City, where she was born and raised, and where he started life over at 19. They share their house with their two lovely, loud children, their louder dog, and ever-shifting piles of clutter. Escaping The Tiger is her first novel.
Important links
www.lauramanivong.com
Books
One Smart Fish
Escaping the Tiger
Sessions:
Plate Spinners (Agents – do I need one – how do I find one? A panel discussion)
Taming the Lion (er…Tiger) –A year in the promotional life of a debut author
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Dian Curtis Regan
Dian Curtis Regan is the author of more than fifty books for young readers. She has published board books, picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, YA novels, and anthology stories. New titles include Barnyard Slam, Monster Baby, The World According to Kaley, This Family is Driving Me Crazy, and Cam’s Quest, the sequel to the bestselling Princess Nevermore. Dian is a SCBWI Member-of-the-Year, was inducted into the Oklahoma Writers’ Hall of Fame, and was honored by having a library in South America dedicated to her. She teaches “Writing and Publishing Books for Young Readers” at the annual West Texas A&M Writers’ Academy. Visit her at: diancurtisregan.com
Important links
diancurtisregan.com
Books
Princess Nevermore
Cam’s Quest
Monster Baby (Clarion)
Barnyard Slam (Holiday House)
The World According to Kaley
CyberPals According to Kaley
This Family is Driving me Crazy (Putnam)
Sessions:
The Strong Man and the Bearded Lady(building characters)
One-on-one consultations
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Tammi Sauer
Tammi Sauer grew up on a farm outside the small town of Victoria, Kansas. While there she chased pigs, kept tabs on the cows, and occasionally danced with chickens. These days, Tammi bawks and rolls with her husband and their two children in Edmond, Oklahoma. When Tammi's not dancing, she's writing revising. Tammi has sold eight picture books to a number of major houses: Bloomsbury, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Simon & Schuster, and Sterling. Her latest book Chicken Dance won the 2009 NAPPA Gold Medal Award, the 2010 Oklahoma Book Award, and was named a 2010 Chicago Public Library Best of the Best book. Tammi is represented by Laura Rennert, Senior Agent at Andrea Brown Literary Agency.
Important links
www.tammisauer.com
www.elvispoultrybooks.com
Books
Cowboy Camp ISBN-13: 978-1402722240
Chicken Dance ISBN-13: 978-1402753664
Mostly Monsterly ISBN-13: 978-1416961109 (This book will be released August 31, 2010.)
Sessions:
Bareback Riders: Staying on the Horse (inspirational; don't give up, having staying power, especially in this tough market)
The Balancing Act of Picture Books
Plate Spinners (Agents – do I need one – how do I find one? A panel discussion)
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Barb Stuber
Barb’s debut novel, CROSSING THE TRACKS, is published by Margaret K. McElderry Books, a division of Simon and Schuster. She also has both fiction and non-fiction accepted for publication in CRICKET MAGAZINE. Barb is represented by Ginger Knowlton of Curtis Brown Ltd. When not writing, Barbara is an art museum docent at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. She lives in Kansas City with her family.
Important links
www.barbarastuber.com
Books
CROSSING THE TRACKS
Sessions:
Making the Bear Dance (show don’t tell)
When Your Editor Says a Character isn't Ready for the Big Top…
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Marietta Zacker
Marietta is thrilled to come to Kansas (one of the few states she has never even driven through!) where she can share her more than 15 years of experience in the world of children’s books. She has worked with authors, illustrators, publishers, educators and readers in creating, marketing and publishing literature that resonates with all children. As an agent, she is passionate about bringing those realms together. She represents authors whose words make her pause, shiver or laugh out loud and illustrators who add a completely different dimension to the story being told. Marietta approaches her work with the knowledge that there are remarkable books of all genres, targeted to all ages, just waiting to be discovered.
Important links
www.nancygalltliteraryagency.com
Sessions:
Under the Big Top: Being an Agent at Nancy Gallt Literary Agency
One-on-one Consultations and Group Critiques