Children's author Laurie Knowlton, author of "Why Cowboys Sleep With Their Boots On," will be featured at the 30th annual Writers Conference in Children's Literature Oct. 9-10 at UND.
Other guests will be Andrew Karre, an editorial director for an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group who acquires fiction and nonfiction for children of all ages, and Molly O'Neill, assistant editor for Harper-Collins Children's Books.
The Writers Conference in Children's Literature was founded in 1980 by Emily Rhoads Johnson, a news release said. Her goal in starting the conference was to encourage aspiring writers to publish excellent, creative stories for children.
When Rhoads came to North Dakota, she was the only member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators in the state. Now, 29 years later, largely due to her vision, the list of books and magazine stories published by participants in this conference is growing, a news release said.
Jean Patrick, author and Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators regional advisor for the Dakotas also will attend. She's the author of "The Girl Who Struck Out Babe Ruth" and "Who Carved the Mountain? The Story of Mount Rushmore."
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Janet Spaeth is conference director. She's the author of six novels, a nonfiction book, eight novellas, and many short stories and articles.
Registration for the conference is $85 for members of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and $95 for others. This includes lunch. Each registered participant may submit one manuscript of up to 1,500 words or a synopsis and one chapter of a book for evaluation by a member of the conference faculty or staff. For more information about this and the Emily Rhoads Johnson Award, contact Ursula Hovet,
ursulahovet@mail.und.edu ; or Janet Spaeth, janetspaeth@yahoo.com /.
Conference sponsors are UND Department of English, UND Bookstore and UND Alumni Foundation. All events will be at the Memorial Union Lecture Bowl unless otherwise noted.
Oct. 9
- Reception and early registration, local author and illustrator displays, 6:30 p.m.
- Welcome by conference director Janet Spaeth.
- Laurie Knowlton, author, "The Bones of Your Story," 7:15 p.m.
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- Public reading, 8:15 p.m. (Public is welcome).
Oct. 10
- Registration and continental breakfast, 8 a.m.
- Welcome, opening remarks, Janet Spaeth: 8:30 a.m.
- "Why do Editors Fall in Love?," Molly O'Neill, 8:45 a.m.
- "Authorship in a socially networked world: Survive without losing your soul, your sanity or your shirt," Andrew Karre, 9:45 a.m. (Open to the public).
- Book sales at UND Bookstore, 11 a.m.
- Lunch and shoptalk with Jean Patrick, noon.
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- "Picture Book Patterns: Discover the Structure of Circular Story," Laurie Knowlton, 1 p.m.
- Faculty forum, 2:45 p.m. (Open to the public).
- Emily Award Presentation, 3:20 p.m.. (Open to the public).
- Manuscript evaluations, as assigned, 3:45 p.m.
- Supper, 6 p.m., location to be announced.
If you go
- What: 30th annual Writers Conference in Children's Literature, sponsored by UND Department of English, UND Bookstore and UND Alumni Foundation.
- When and where: Oct. 9-10 at UND Memorial Union and UND Bookstore.
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- Admission: $85 for members of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and $95 for others.
