Our 2010 Mentors

This year's Mentor Program offers a talented slate of mentors ... Here is brief bio of each of the mentors.

Priscilla Burris loved creating art from a very early age. She counts herself blessed to have grown up across the street from her local neighborhood library in Los Angeles, where her love and devotion for children's books was born. Along with the many hours spent there during the school year,  the sweet coolness of the air-conditioned library was a welcome relief from the heat of summer days.
Priscilla has illustrated numerous books and materials for children, parents and teachers, as well as created art for products which include greeting cards, rubber stamps, and apparel designs. Priscilla's artwork and designs are developed both digitally and reflectively.
Priscilla is the author/illustrator of Five Green and Speckled Frogs. Books she has illustrated include I Love You All Day Long by Francesca Rusackas, La Cancion de Gabriella by. Dr. Isabel & Eric Vasallo, and the Tale of Jack Frost by Marcia Thornton Jones. She is the Illustrator Coordinator for Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and a member of the SCBWI Board of Directors. Priscilla is sunny and supportive while being thoroughly professional. For more about Priscilla and her art, see www.priscillaburris.com.
Illustrators, picture book writers

Emma D Dryden was born and raised in New York City and lives in the Manhattan apartment in which she grew up. Emma began her career in children’s publishing in 1986 as an Editorial Assistant at Random House Children's Books. She was then hired as Associate Editor for the legendary Margaret K. McElderry, whose eponymous imprint was a part of Macmillan Children’s Books, and was later named Senior Editor of the imprint. After McElderry retired, Emma was made Vice President, Editorial Director, and in 2005, Vice President, Publisher of Atheneum Books for Young Readers and Margaret K. McElderry Books, imprints of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, a position she held until May 2009.
Over the course of Emma’s career she’s edited nearly five-hundred books for children and young readers, ranging in format from board books and picture books to poetry anthologies, novelty books, non-fiction, middle grade fiction, and YA/teen fiction and fantasy. As publisher, she oversaw the annual publication of more than one-hundred hardcover and paperback titles. Authors and illustrators whom Emma has edited include Ellen Hopkins, Karma Wilson, Susan Cooper, Alan Katz, David Catrow, Raul Colon, Shelia P. Moses, Marjorie Priceman, Lee Bennett Hopkins, David Diaz, and Paul Zelinsky.
Now a freelance editor and consultant under her own banner—drydenbks— Emma also does some writing of her own. She writes poetry, has published several board books and coloring books, shares musings on a blog (http://emmaddryden.blogspot.com), and is currently working on several projects. See Emma's website at www.drydenbks.com/home.html.
Picture books and middle grade novels

Terri Farley: Nevadan, Terri Farley is author of the 24 book middle grade series, the Phantom Stallion. Her work has sold more than a million copies. Her second series The Phantom Stallion: Wild Horse Island, which is set in Hawaii, debuted May, 2007 and continues to enchant her fans. A former teacher, and “a cowgirl at heart”, Terri now spends full time writing, speaking to young writers, and advocating for wild horses. She takes time out of her schedule to mentor two aspiring novelists. She is both master teacher and advocate for her mentees. Find out more about Terri, her books, fans, and work with wild horses at www.phantomstallion.com.
Middle grade novels, young adult novels, and series

Ellen Hopkins: Nevada author Ellen Hopkins has written more than 20 nonfiction children’s books and the YA Novels, Crank, Burned, Impulse, Glass, Identical, and Fallout. Crank was nominated for a 2005 Quill Award and Burned was nominated for the National Book Award in 2006. All of Ellen's novels have been on the New York Times Best Seller List. Winner of numerous awards, Ellen received the Nevada Governor’s Arts Award for Excellence in the Arts in April, 2010. Beyond that, Ellen is Co-Regional Advisor of Nevada SCBWI, and regularly works with aspiring writers offering her support and insight. Ellen is a natural mentor. Visit Ellen at www.ellenhopkins.com or find her on MySpace and Facebook.
Young adult novels, poetry, and nonfiction

Susan Hart Lindquist: Susan Hart Lindquist is the author of three novels for young readers (Summer Soldiers, Wander, and Walking the Rim), an award-winning poet, and a contributor to poetry anthologies compiled by Lee Bennett Hopkins. Recently, her critical essay "More than Just a Broken Line" was published in Flirtin' With The Monster, a collection of essays about the work of best-selling young adult author, Ellen Hopkins. A former SCBWI Regional Advisor and instructor for the Institute of Children’s Literature, Susan is a longtime faculty member of Andrea Brown’s Big Sur Writing Workshop and a regular speaker and manuscript consultant at SCBWI events, including Nevada SCBWI Mentor Programs. See www.loc.gov/catdir/bios/random058/98047429.html for a short bio on Susan Hart Lindquist.
Middle grade novels and young adult novels

Teri Sloat is the author/illustrator of over twenty trade picture books for children.  While teaching in the Alaskan bush,  she joined a team that began the second bilingual center in the US in the mid 70’s. They createdthe first picture books, and readers  in Yup’ik.   While working on curriculum and oral story collections, she took her first step into the arts as the illustrator for these projects, often turning literal work into literary pieces along with the translators. She has now written and/or illustrated over 20 trade picture books, and has begun telling many of her stories as separate pieces on gallery walls, using a variety of mediums. Her books have been awarded by the Ben Franklin Committee, the ALA, the ABA, CBC, and NYTimes.  Her latest book , THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WHO PAINTED THE SKY, is a tribute to art from prehistoric times forward and to the imagination of the child.
This summer Terri had the pleasure of a visiting professorship in the MFA program at Hollins University, teaching a six week course on the creation of picture books. As a consultant to native groups in Alaska, and mentor to other writers and illustrators, her goal is for all of us to find the tools to tell our stories in words and pictures.  For more information about Teri go to www.terisloat.com and www.terisloat.blogspot.com.
Illustrators, picture book writers

Harold Underdown is a freelance editorial consultant. He has worked at Macmillan, Orchard, and Charlesbridge, and has experience in trade and educational publishing. Among the books he has edited are Yumi Heo's One Afternoon, Larry Pringle's and Bob Marstall's An Extraordinary Life, Lisa Rowe Fraustino's Ash, Grace Lin's The Ugly Vegetables, and Sneed Collard's and Michael Rothman's The Forest in the Clouds. He is also the editor for the Young Patriots Series, published by Patria Press.
Harold enjoys teaching, and in that role wrote The Complete Idiot's Guide to Children's Book Publishing, now in its third edition. He founded and runs "The Purple Crayon," a respected web site with information about the children's publishing world at www.underdown.org. He speaks and gives workshops at conferences, including the Highlights Foundation's Chautauqua Retreat, SCBWI's national conferences, and smaller conferences all over the country. For more information, see www.underdown.org.
Picture books, both fiction and nonfiction; middle grade novels and nonfiction; young adult fantasy

Suzanne Morgan Williams has published eleven nonfiction titles for children and a novel, Bull Rider, for ages ten to fourteen. Suzanne’s nonfiction titles include The Inuit, Franklin Watts, Nevada Sea to Shining Sea, Children’s Press/Scholastic, the upcoming China’s Daughters, Pacific View Press. Her novel Bull Rider, Margaret K. McElderry, 2009, was selected for the Texas Library Association’s Lone Star and Tayshas Lists for middle school and high school readers, is a finalist for the Nevada Young Reader’s Award, is a Jr. Library Guild Selection, and won a Western Heritage Award from the National Cowboy Museum in Oklahoma City. A former teacher, Suzanne believes in attention to detail, thoughtful structure, and being open to new approaches to presenting a story. She is Co-Regional Advisor of Nevada SCBWI. For more information, see www.suzannemorganwilliams.com.
Middle grade and tween novels, historic and contemporary, nonfiction

2010/2011 Guest Editor - to be announced: The guest editor is NOT a mentor but will be available throughout the mentor retreat in April and will sit in on mentor group sessions.

The Program

Participants for the program will be chosen by a blind application process. (see The Selection Process tab). The 2010/11 Nevada SCBWI Mentor Program will accept up to 20 participants. Each participant will receive entrance to our 2010 All Nevada SCBWI Fall Conference, October 15, 16, and 17th at Virginia City, Nevada. (Meals and lodging are NOT included in the price of this conference.) They will also participate in a special Mentor Day on October 15th at St. Mary’s Art Center in Virginia City where they will have time to meet each other and have a planning session with their mentor.

Following the conference, the mentors and mentees will exchange critiques and revisions at least 3 times between October 2010 and April 2011 (a schedule will be provided). For picture book writers and illustrators this may include exchange of specific assignments or full revisions of short works or illustrations. For novelists and authors of longer works this includes ONE full reading of your work (in three parts) or three revisions of the same section of your work. Please do not expect to complete two or three full revisions with your mentor during the course of the program. You should expect feedback from your mentor about every two months. Any additional professional contact will be at the discretion of the mentor.

The program will culminate with a 2 ½ day retreat/workshop (meals and lodging provided) for the mentors, mentees, and a guest editor at St. Mary’s Art Center, Virginia City, Nevada, April 1,2,3, 2011. Price of the mentorship program is $850.00 and includes the program as described above. There may be some partial scholarships available, as well as a grant writing workshop (Date TBA) for Nevada applicants who choose to apply for grant assistance from Nevada Arts Council.

Who Should Apply

As with all SCBWI functions, the application process is open to any SCBWI member. This program is for SCBWI members only. Additionally, because the program is being designed and underwritten by the Nevada Region of SCBWI, some weight will be given to members from our region and the immediate vicinity (see the application process). This is NOT an entry level program. It is designed for writers and illustrators who have been working at their craft and are producing publishable or almost publishable work. It would also be helpful for some “lightly” published members who want to improve their skills and branch into a new genre of children’s books. Eligibility of published members is at Regional Advisors' discretion.

Consider applying if you:

• Have been attending a critique group regularly and are beginning to get very positive feedback on your work.

• Have submitted to publishers and received “good rejections”.

• Have been invited to send more work to an editor.

• Have published in other fields or other genres of children’s books and want to break into something new.

• Aren’t sure if you fit any of the above categories, but the program seems made for you, and you are willing to work hard and to respond to constructive criticism and comment.

• YOU MUST HAVE A PROJECT UNDERWAY THAT YOU PLAN TO WORK ON THROUGH THE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM.

• Picture Book Writers – you must have completed at least three manuscripts.

• Chapter Book Writers and Novelists – you must have COMPLETED at least the first full draft of your manuscript. You will be REQUIRED to submit a full draft of your manuscript, by e-mail,  within one week of your acceptance. So you MUST have a finished draft by August 15th. Applicants who are accepted into the program and do not have a completed draft will be replaced by their mentor’s alternate pick.

• Illustrators – you will apply with good reproductions of 3 finished pieces and should have a portfolio of work suitable for children’s books.

It also helps if you like to have fun.

The Application Process

IF you are accepted into the Nevada Mentorship program, you agree to:
Attend the Nevada SCBWI 2010, Fall Conference, to revise your work using input from your mentor and return it for review MEETING ALL DEADLINES, and to attend the 2011 Spring Mentor Retreat.

• you further agree to be as cheerful, kind, and personable as your character allows – this is a long process and you want to come out of it with relationships as well as with better skills.

• to address any concerns about the process to your mentor and then to Nevada SCBWI Co-RAs Suzanne Morgan Williams or Ellen Hopkins.

• You acknowledge that acceptance to the mentorship program DOES NOT guarantee publication or introduction to people other than outlined in our program.

Because the program will conclude 11 months from the application deadline, changes may happen in the participants’ lives. We reserve the right to replace a mentor or editor, should it be necessary during the program. There will be no refunds to participants because of inability to follow through or attend the events EXCEPT in cases of death, serious illness, or family emergency (as determined by the Nevada SCBWI Regional Advisors). In those rare cases, pro-rated refunds will be made if funds are available.

Applicants for the mentor program will send a packet of the following:

• Work Samples –

  • Novelists, longer non-fiction works, chapter books: 3 copies, of up to 20 pages (include a one page synopsis for longer works – 3 copies of this too!) of one work you intend to polish during the mentorship program.
  • Series Writers: As for novelists – send 3 copies of up to 20 pages and synopsis of the FIRST book, and also include 3 copies of a page describing your idea for the series.
  • Picture Book authors: 3 copies each of THREE picture book manuscripts that you intend to work on.
  • Picture Book author-illustrators: 3 copies of each of 3 picture book manuscripts, plus for ONE of the manuscripts also send a dummy (2 copies) and reproductions of two finished art pieces (3 copies each) that go with the manuscript.
  • Other Author- illustrated projects: If you are illustrating a longer work, send three copies of up to 20 pages and a synopsis of that work plus 2 examples of finished art (3 copies of each finished art piece).
  • Illustrators: Send 3 good color copies of each of 3 -4 illustrations (copied to 8-1/2 X 11 paper) that are representative of your work.
    
• ALL Applicants – please DO NOT bind your work, except for dummies which may be stapled. We may need to unbind work – so save your money and our time.

• A completed application form (see the link above to open and print the application forms)

• Regional/Commitment page (included in the application forms) – if you are chosen for the program, you may be asked to verify information you provide.
  
  
• An artist’s statement (include 3 copies - one page, double spaced.)
  
  
• Deposit check of $75.00 made out to SCBWI. (Deposit will be applied to your fees if you are accepted and returned if you are not. Applicants who are accepted and turn down their placement will forfeit the application fee.)

Send this packet to:

Nevada SCBWI Mentor Program
PO Box 19084
Reno, Nevada 89511

DO NOT PUT YOUR NAME ON ANYTHING BUT THE 1st page of the APPLICATION FORM. Your work will be assigned a number and be submitted for blind review during the first stage of the application process.

BE SURE THESE WORK SAMPLES ARE FROM THE WORK YOU INTEND TO PURSUE DURING THE PROGRAM! Novelists, you will be asked to e-mail your complete first draft to your mentor on acceptance.

DO NOT SEND SASE. Application materials will NOT be returned. Send COPIES only of illustration samples!

PLEASE – DO NOT SEND MATERIALS BY CERTIFIED MAIL OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF MAIL THAT REQUIRES A SIGNATURE. Mailings that require signatures cause us to stand in – usually long – post office lines to pick up your application. You will receive an e-mail from Nevada SCBWI when your application is received. If you want confirmation that the application is received from the post office, we suggest you buy a delivery confirmation (purchased at the post office at time of mailing – this allows you to track your mailing online) or if you want proof that you mailed your application at a certain time,  you can buy a certificate of mailing  from the post office at time of mailing. These options may give you piece of mind while respecting our volunteers’ time.

Good Luck! We hope to meet you soon.

The Selection Process

On the application, applicants will choose TWO mentors whom they would like to review their work. ALL work (up to the noted page limits) that is submitted as part of a completed application will be passed to the mentors you select. NOTE: Our Guest Editor (TBA) will be at the Spring Mentor Retreat but is NOT a mentor. Do not select him or her as a mentor.

Mentors will review the work and choose between five and seven applicants whose work interests them in the first round of application. These will be their finalists. In making their selections from the finalist group, there will be some weight given to any finalist who is from Nevada or contiguous regions, who is active in attending critique groups or conferences, or who presents a compelling artist’s statement. (See application.)

Mentees who are accepted into the program will be notified of their acceptance and of their mentor by August 1, 2010. Decisions of the mentors and Nevada SCBWI are final. You WILL NOT receive a critique of the work you submit unless you are selected as a mentee.

Financial Assistance

We believe we are offering an outstanding opportunity at a fair price. If you are accepted to the program, but cost is a concern, we will try to help you:

• Partial Scholarships: One or two partial scholarships may be available, for those with financial need if our Nevada SCBWI budget permits. If you would like to be considered for a partial scholarship, make a note on your application.
  
  
• Grants Workshop: Nevada SCBWI hopes to hold a Grants Preparation Workshop in the summer of 2010 (date TBA), for Nevada members who want to apply for grant money to help pay for their fees. If you plan to apply for a Nevada Arts Council Grant to support your participation in the program, please mark your application accordingly.

Mentor Program Location

The Fall 2010 CONFERENCE (October 15-17, 2010) and the Spring 2011 MENTOR RETREAT (April 1-3, 2011) will be held in Virginia City, Nevada. The Conference will be at venues throughout Virginia City, with rooms available at the Gold Hill Hotel, Edith Palmer’s Inn, and the Silverland Inn (the former Ramada Inn). We will also use the historic St. Mary’s Arts Center for the October 15th Mentor Day and the October 17th novel and picture book clinic portion of the conference AND it will be the site of the spring Mentor Retreat.

St. Mary's Art Center

The entire town of Virginia City is a Historical Monument. It was the center of the Comstock Silver Strike, and the place where Mark Twain did his first writing for the Territorial Enterprise. Today it is a quirky visitor-friendly “ghost town”, complete with Harley Davidson T-shirts, restored museums, tourist kitsch, and a working steam railroad. The St. Mary’s Arts Center is a restored hospital – with a local legend of the “white nun”, a benign ghost who is said to visit from time to time. Virginia City is built on the side of Mt. Davidson at an elevation of 6,220 feet. For more information, visit www.vistvirginiacitynv.com or virginiacity.travelnevada.com.

Main Street - Virginia City, Nevada

What Participants Have Said

I learned to trust myself - the inner creative voice. I loved the sense of community at the retreat. It was magic. This is the best thing I have done for myself in recent memory. - Barbara Marquand, 2006

Loved it, loved it, loved it! It broadened my writing world 100 fold - geographically, by networking and meeting amazing writers and illustrators, and by giving me incredible support and feedback on a project very close to my heart.   -  Fran Slayton, 2006

The Nevada Mentor Program is what I wish I could have had when I was beginning. A platform between writing for myself and hoping to get published, and into the world of those who take their writing seriously and expect to be published, as well as training for how to present your work to editors and art agents with love and responsibility and not excuses. - Teri Sloat, Mentor 2006

From the very begining of my decision to write for children I felt that I learned best by experience, not by reading about what to do. The mentorship program afforded me that opportunity for feedback ... This seemed to exactly fit my learning style. The application process was easy enough but it was a big step for me. I really did keep my fingers crossed for several weeks. It was like winning the lottery. - Sheryll Hoeberg, 2006

I am proud to have been part of such a worthwhile and extraordinary experience. - Christina Tugeau, Mentor 2006

I’ve learned to look at my writing and my book(s) in a new way. Thanks for the amazing opportunity, the warm hospitality, and the belly-laughing session. I love Nevada- Lindsay Eland, 2008

The mentor program far exceeded my expectations. This was a life-changing experience for me. Without this program, my manuscript would be mouldering in the drawer. - Andrea Mock, 2008

My mentorship had so many positives it’s hard to pick one out! - Anonymous, 2008

I’ve made new friendships and contacts here. My mentor was very generous in sharing helpful tips. – Jeannie Harris, 2008

This is a rare opportunity. The final weekend was great! -Tracy Clark, 2008