Louisiana SCBWI has lots of news.  Pat Hefler, our Assistant RA, and authors Terri Hoover Dunham, Anita Prieto, and author/illustrator Jean Cassels participated in the Jubilee Jambalaya Writers’ Conference in Houma on Saturday, April 5, 2008.  They shared their talents and expertise and spread the news of SCBWI.  The first week of April I was busy speaking at the Children’s Book Festival in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and had an opportunity to spread knowledge of SCBWI.  In Hattiesburg at USM, I met Sarah Campbell from SCBWI Southern Breeze.  She is having a writers’ History/Historical Fiction retreat with editor Carolyn Yoder, June 6-8, 2008 in Jackson , Mississippi.  Some of our LA members are going to attend this event.  If you are interested, contact Sarah: campbell@sarahccampbell.com

    Virginia Butler and David Walker our Mississippi SCBWI members have planned an Author Program with Debbie Miller, who write books on Alaskan wildlife and nature.  She will share her expertise as a nature writer, including research, writing, editing and presenting school programs.  This event will take place February 7, 2009 in Hattiesburg, MS.  Mark your calendars now and plan to be with us.  Check out Debbie’s website: www.debbiemilleralaska.com

    On your calendar this year reserve Saturday, October 4, 2008 the date of our Fall Conference “Path to Publication.” We will have Miriam Hees, editor at Blooming Tree Press, Margie Lerhman, editor at Harry N. Abrams Books for Young Readers, and Helen Lester author of numerous picture books and Art Director from Blooming Tree.  We’ll have critiques of art portfolios and manuscripts.  Join us and learn what the editors want and the techniques of a successful author.  It will be at the Jefferson East Bank Regional Library.

    Welcome to all our new members.  I’m so happy to have new writers join us.  Since Katrina we have many empty places in our hearts.  Dee Roberts, Jeanne de la Houssaye, and Jim Perry we have lost through death.  We miss them and also our members who have left New Orleans for Texas, Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Ireland.  But the news from Ireland is that Maeve McMahon is now the Regional Advisor for Ireland. 

    We are looking forward to forging new bonds of friendship with our new members: Sara Sims, Jennifer Sherlock, Stan Salassi, Sylvia Carraway, Hannah Lane, Eve Brouwer, Katie Coullard, Brittney Dayeh, Daniel Fusecier, Octavia Jones, Donna St. Cyr, and Quaja Bell. We’re happy you found us and we look forward to sharing exciting new achievements together.

    The most recent news to share is that Anita Prieto had her manuscript accepted by Pelican that that Virginia Howard has been selected to create the illustrations for Anita’s  manuscript. WAY TO GO!  Keep the good news coming!