Date/Time
Date(s) - 04/26/2019 - 04/28/2019
12:00 am
Location
Susitna River Lodging
23094 S. Talkeetna Spur Rd. - Talkeetna, Alaska 99676
A one-of-a-kind boutique retreat for all writers:
Picture book, middle grade, young adult, plus adult.
And Illustrators, too
Come join 40 authors and illustrators at a river front lodge,
2 hours from Anchorage and 2 hours from Denali National Park
(in case you want to add on to your adventure).
Literary agent Fiona Kenshole of Transatlantic Agency
Will present 2 workshops, a Q&A, and offer manuscript reviews.
At this gorgeous and secluded location you will have plenty of time for quiet work.
Optional critique groups meet two to three times.
Both evenings we gather for fireside sharing of stories, poetry, recipes—anything goes really—
And delicious deserts to sweeten your dreams.
Our guest speaker, Ms. Kenshole of Transatlantic Agency represents all authors. Although her website at says she only represents children’s authors, she just sold a book to Abrams, and does have a number of adult clients, including graphic novel writers and mystery writers. Find out more about her here.
Workshops with Fiona Kenshole:
Your Creative Life: An introductory talk to give your creative mind and heart a BIG THAW in preparation for the weekend that includes a peek into an agent’s mind and what she looks for in a submission.
I Want My Hat Back: A workshop on plotting, pace and structure for picture books, using the book by the same name as the mentor text.
Perfect Plot Planning: For authors of middle grade, young adult, and adult works, is fun and interactive, and uses the structure of Pride and Prejudice to show how you can structure plots and sub-plots.
First Pages: Bring up to one half page (about 125 words) of your manuscript for Fiona to read and give instant feedback.
Illustrators Intensive:
Postcards, Portfolios, and Dummies…Oh my! 3 hours on Sunday 11 am – 2 pm
Part 1—Showing Your Work in the Best Way Possible: How to put together a portfolio of work which will capture the interest of picture book art directors. Illustrators should bring their portfolios, and Fiona will touch on style consistency, subject matter and the market.
Part 2—Turn an Idea into a Sellable Picture Book: how to structure and pace your story to compete in today’s market. Fiona will talk a little about the importance of surprise and economy, using recent examples, and we will do some hands on story shaping together. Attendees are welcome to bring their works in progress.
Assignment: Think about your Portfolio and the 5 best images you have in it. Plan to bring physical copies of these to the retreat with you to review with Fiona, but pick your two best images from those that you think would be great for a promotional postcard image. This is to be submitted in advance of the Retreat on April 26th. Please scroll down for how to submit. Due by March 20th. No late work excepted.
PROFESSIONAL MANUSCRIPT REVIEWS and ILLUSTRATION REVIEWS—with Fiona Kenshole—additional fee
Your chance to have a professional look at 10 or 20 pages of your manuscript or one entire picture book (not to exceed 10 pages–or 20 if you choose that option). At the retreat, you will have 15-minutes for an in-person review of your work. Please scroll down to see submission guidelines. Due by March 20th. No late work excepted.
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY 5/26/19
4:00 PM: Official check-in with lodge staff, though your room may be available earlier
3:30-5:00 PM: Dont be a dummy…make one!: “Dummies” for writers (and illustrators, too, of course). Take a fresh look at your manuscript by mapping it on paper. You can also do this on your laptop with clip-art.(lodge)
5:15—5:45 PM: Kind, Clear, and Qualitative Critiques: Prepping for the Weekend for all Authors with Stefanie Tatalias (lodge)
6:00 – 6:15 PM: Welcome & Announcements
6:15 — 7:15 PM Your Creative Life An introductory talk to give your creative mind and heart a BIG THAW in preparation for the weekend that includes a peek into an agent’s mind and what she looks for in a submission. (lodge)
7:30 — 8:30 PM Potluck Dinner (Lodge)
8:30 until ??? Open mic by the fireside—read, sign, or perform something—or bring something to share that represents you—or just come to listen. Anything goes! Wine, hot cocoa, cider, and dessert served. (Lodge)
SATURDAY 5/27/18
8:00 AM Breakfast served (in the Lodge) but bring a plate, bowl, and utensils from your room
9:00 – 10:00 AM I Want My Hat Back: A workshop on plotting, pace and structure for picture books, using the book by the same name as the mentor text. (Lodge)
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Optional critique group session 1
12:00 PM— 1:00 PM: Lunch served (in the Lodge) but bring a plate, bowl, and utensils from your room
2:30 – 3:30 PM: Perfect Plot Planning: For authors of middle grade, young adult, and adult works, is fun and interactive, and uses the structure of Pride and Prejudice to show how you can structure plots and sub-plots. (Lodge)
4:00 – 5:00 PM: Optional critique group session 2
6:00 PM Dinner on your own in fun and funky Talkeetna
8:30 until ??? Explore by the fireside—bring your sense of humor for a small imagination exploration—then anything goes! Wine, hot cocoa, cider, served…but please wow us with a dessert! (Lodge)
SUNDAY 5/28/18
8:00 AM: Breakfast served (in the Lodge) but bring a plate, bowl, and utensils from your room
9:00 — 10:00 AM First Pages: Bring up to one half page (about 125 words) of your manuscript for Fiona to read and give instant feedback.
11:00 AM Check out, but you can stay writing in the lodge!
11:00 — 2:00 PM: Optional Illustrators Intensive with Fiona Kenshole. (Lodge)
Retreat Details
FOOD: We’ve managed to keep the price very low, only $275! (early bird pricing) To do this, we will be having a potluck dinner on Friday. The cabins have kitchenettes for reheating food. Breakfasts on Saturday and Sunday will be simple but hearty. Lunch on Saturday will be a build-your-own sandwich and salad bar. Saturday you will be free to eat dinner in the fun and funky village of Talkeetna. We will gather both Friday and Saturday nights for open mic/story telling for potluck desserts.
LODGING: Susitna River Lodge has lodge suites and cabins. All attendees will have their own bed, of course, though accommodations will need to be shared. There are some private rooms within the cabins, which for an extra fee, can be reserved. Find out more about Susitna River Lodging here.
CRITIQUE GROUPS: If you’d like to be part of a critique group at the retreat, during registration please click that option and also click the category of writing that you will be sharing so we can put you in the right group. Past participants have found these groups invaluable. Being away from home can be a great time to really dive deep; great things can happen!
Submission Instructions for Manuscript Review or Illustrator Review:
Due by March 20th. No late work excepted.
Writers: Please use standard “submission” format:
Send as an attachment to dante.medema@gmail.com
in a DOC or DOCX,
labeled with your last name_title of work, or key word of title. Ex: Tatalias_BestSeller
10 pages (or 20 if you chose this option)
Author/illustrators with a dummy should submit the text as one doc,
and the dummy as a PDF in a folder labeled with your name. No extra charge for reviewing your dummy.
Additionally, you may include a 1-page synopsis (will not be critiqued)
12 pt font, new times roman
1 inch margins
double spaced
Header looks like this: title/last name/page number
Upper left of first page:
Your Name
Your Address
Telephone, or email
1/2 way down first page, centered, TITLE OF BOOK
by Your Name
2/3 down start manuscript
Each new chapter begins 1/3 way down page
Illustrators:
Send as an attachment to alaska-IC@scbwi.org
Images in a PDF
labeled with your last name_illustrator, or key word of title. Ex: Tatalias_Illustrator
Up to four low-res images (72 dpi) in a folder labeled with your name.
Submission Specs for Illustrators Intensive Assignment:
Due by March 20th. No late work excepted.
1) Email to alaska-ic@scbwi.org
2) Attach file either as Jpg, png, tiff, or PDF
3) Save your file name “LastName_IntensivePostcard1”
4) Number multiple submissions (unless your submitting all as a PDF)
5) Use the subject line “AK SCBWI Illustration Intensive postcard submission”
6) Postcard images should be 5 X 7 inches.
7) All images should be 72 dpi RGB (low-res images to reduce file size)
Additionally, be sure to print your images and bring them with you.
Refund/Cancellation Policy: There is a $50 refund charge for any cancellation on or before March 1 , 2017. Any cancellation after March 12, 2018 will be subject to a $100 cancellation fee.
NO REFUNDS WILL BE GRANTED AFTER March 26, 2017.
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