15th Annual Spring Conference
"Opening Doors at Closed Houses!"
Friday, March 2-4, 2007
Atlanta, Georgia

Remember Let's Make a Deal? Prizes hid behind each door. Springmingle 2007, "Opening Doors at Closed Houses," offers you keys to open closed publishing doors! Keynote speaker Barbara Seuling will inspire writers and illustrators with thoughts on heritage: "It's about leaving a mark, or a footprint, in the books we create." A former children's book editor, she is the author and/or illustrator of more than 60 books for children, including How to Write a Children's Book and Get it Published.

Our three guest editors are actively seeking manuscripts!

Michelle Poploff, author and Vice President and Editorial Director for Random House's Yearling and Laurel Leaf imprints and Executive Editor of Delacorte Press, will discuss "back stories" behind recent acquisitions and share query letters that enticed her to read them. She'll lead workshop participants to find creative spins on tried and true themes.

Gretchen Hirsch, Assistant Editor at Harcourt Children's Books, will offer tips on targeting assistant editors for your writing and art submissions. Her breakout session will focus on humor: "Find your perfect comic voice - even if you've never thought about writing humor before."

Editor Claudia Gabel of Delacorte Press will reveal the top five things middle grade and young adult writers should do before writing that novel! Her YA breakout session will explore the "Law and Order method of telling a story - using headlines to generate a compelling plot."

"First Pages" and "First Impressions of Cover/Query Letters" panels will illuminate your journey, and Friday night's "Book Launch" will give recently published members a chance to shine! Formal and informal critiques of manuscripts and portfolios will be offered.

Click the links below for more information:

Conference Schedule
Faculty Biographies
Conference Registration Form
Autograph Party Registration
Critique Guidelines
Hotel and Travel Information

On the registration form, you'll also have the opportunity to purchase one of our new mugs commemorating Southern Breeze's 15th Anniversary with a special logo designed by Breezer Tina Bilbrey:

The mug is 14 oz., with a stainless steel exterior and the logo in black. (The picture looks gold, but the mug is silver.) Order yours in advance to receive a pre-show discount!

And register soon before the doors close. Sound like a good deal?

Robyn Hood Black, Springmingle Coordinator

Robyn sold her first book, Sir Mike, as a direct result of the last Springmingle ('04) in Atlanta! Visit her website at www.robynhoodblack.com.