Polishing Your Craft & Beach Bonanza Critique Day!
February 24-26, 2006 Orange Beach, AL

Faculty
Deborah Carter, literary agent, Muse Literary Management
Judith Enderle, author, freelance editor, Writer's Ink
Stephanie Gordon, author, freelance editor, Writer's Ink
Tim Gilner, art director, Boyd's Mills Press
Sarah Shumway, associate editor, Dutton Children's Books
Etta Wilson, literary agent, March Media

Friday
"The Terrific Ten" who shared stories, knowledge, and fun with students at Gulf Shores Elementary School as a gift to those affected by recent hurricanes included six Southern Breezers: Robyn Hood Black, Donna Bowman, Joan Broerman, Patricia Cruzan, Jo S. Kittinger, and Paula Puckett. Four of our SM'06 speakers - Judith Enderle, Stephanie Gordon, Etta Wilson, and Cheryl Zach - completed the captivating crew. A special thanks to Joan Broerman for organizing the day!

Excitment filled the classrooms Friday morning with author talks
by Paula, Joan, Jo, Donna, Judith, Stephanie and Robyn.


Joan Broerman, author of WEEKEND GETAWAYS IN ALABAMA,
brought her dragon-fearing dog, Kudzu, (a puppet) to help
first graders act out THE GOOD FOR SOMETHING DRAGON.


Author and agent Etta Wilson read to 4th graders and explained
the publishing process.


Robyn Hood Black enchanted first graders with her first book,
Sir Mike - a dragon story! They also enjoyed romping cowboy songs
and learned how books are created.


Second graders made animal puppets then buzzed and crowed during an interactive, wiggly, fun story with creative direction from Paula Puckett.


Co-Regional Advisor Donna Bowman offered tastes of coconut milk
and peeks at interesting rocks.


Donna Bowman showed students some of natures' good side -
glittering gems and fossils. She let a 3rd grader show students
an 85,000,000-year-old T-Rex tooth.


Donna's student's even performed magic!


Kindergartners were treated to a reading of Lunch with Punch
and When I Grow Up by Jo S. Kittinger.


Co-Regional Advisor Jo S. Kittinger shared her easy readers
with kindergarten students.


(Left to right) Editors Judy Enderle & Stephanie Gordon
of Writer's Ink gave a lively duel reading of Hide and Seek Turkeys,
a book they co-authored.

Friday Night

Connie Fleming, aka "Granny," and Yacky provided a hilarious glimpse
of the publishing industry.


Dinner with Sarah Shumway Friday night.


Stephanie and Judy with their "angels" Hester Bass and Dana Seale.

Saturday

Etta Wilson, March Media literary agent,
talked about the "Circle of Sales."




Tim Gilner enlightened authors as well as illustrators with his talk,
"Picture Books: from Conception to Birth."


Art Director Tim Gillner of Boyds Mills Press gave an extremely witty rendition of the illustration process.


Agent Deborah Carter of Muse Literary Management gave publishing tips.


Editor Sarah Shumway of Dutton Children's Books shared a wealth
of information.


The Informal Critiques prompted engaging brain-storming sessions.


SCBWI Regional Advisor Chair, Cheryl Zach joined our conference
and shared her personal story of survival of Hurricane Camille
during the school visit.


What would we do without our hard working "Genies?"
Dwain Fleming, Neal Broerman and Rick Kittinger.

Saturday Night
Our Saturday night mingle provided great networking time
with speakers and attendees.

Hester Bass, our Fall Conference '06 Coordinator,
signs a book for Angel Coordinator, Robyn Hood Black.


Patricia Cruzan signs a book for Mahala Church.


Judith Enderle, Stephanie Gordon and Cheryl Zach
ham it up during the autograph party.

Networking in the lobby with Tim Gilner before dinner Saturday.


Attendees take advantage of time to talk with Sarah and Tim.


Wanda Vaughn shared her trove of Mardi gras beads.


Deborah Carter and Sarah Shumway participated in a round table discussion that grew and grew Saturday night.


The circle of sharing grew larger and larger after dinner Saturday.


Springmingle is a great place to make friends,
as Margaret and Carolyn discovered.

Sunday Morning

Sunday's eye-opening Q & A session:
(L to R) Donna Bowman (mediating), Debbie Carter, Etta Wilson,
Tim Gilner, Judy Enderle, Sarah Shumway.


The faculty panel fielding questions.


Illustrators who signed up for portfolio reviews also won a copy
of the 2005 Picture Book.


RAs Donna Bowman and Jo Kittinger, along with Book Basket
Coordinator Anne Dalton, present the "Joan Broerman Book Basket"
to Elaine Trull of Horseshoe, NC. Elaine will award the basket of books
to the library of her choice.


We left footprints in the sand and took home shells,
encouragement, and ideas.