CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTSFri., March 22 ~ Writing MasterClass with Grace Kendall, at Garden District Hampton Inn, 2:00pm (Optional $75; space is limited.)

Fri., March 22 ~ Illustrator MasterClass with Laurent Linn, 2:00pm at New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts (Optional $75; space is limited.)

Fri., March 22 ~ Icebreaker SocialKidLit Social Night at The Columns Hotel, 5:30pm

Sat., March 23 ~ Conference DayRegistration opens 7:50am ~ Sessions 9am-5pm

Sat., March 23 ~ Seafood DinnerSuperior Seafood following conference, 6:00pmRegister early (Optional $35; space is limited.)

Sun., March 24 ~ PAL Meeting in the Hampton Inn Hospitality Room, 9am (Optional $10)

MANUSCRIPT & PORTFOLIO CRITIQUESSat., March 23, 9am-12pmFace-to-Face Critiques & Portfolio Review: $45Written Author Critiques: $35

PORTFOLIO SHOWCASESat., March 23, 9am-4pm; No fee, see “Manuscript & Portfolio Showcase” for details and tips.

FIRST PAGE/FIRST LOOK PANELSat., March 23. No fee to participate. Manuscripts and digital images of illustrations must bereceived by email by Mon., Feb. 28, 2019. Refer to “First Look” Writing Guidelines for details.

BOOKSTORE SALESOctavia Books is open for cash and credit card purchases. SCBWI PAL members attending may sell one book title through Octavia. Self-published FULL SCBWI members may also sell but must handle their own book sales. Please email with title & ISBN by Mon., Feb. 28, 2019 to: louisianamississippi-ara@scbwi.org

MEALSRegistration fee includes NOLA-style breakfast, hot lunch (JambaLAya, of course) with vegetarian choices, tasty afternoon snacks and door prizes.

LODGING Rooms at the Hampton Inn have been reserved at a reduced rate, located a short streetcar ride away.Address: 3626 St. Charles Ave, NOLA 70115Conference rate: $199 per night (two-night minimum). To book a room, use Hotel Link on Registration page or call 504.899.9990. Rooms held under “Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators” or Group Code: JAM Conference rate available until Feb. 20, 2019.

4521 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70115

Artwork by Sarah Gramelspacher © 2018

Louisiana/Mississippi

JambaLAyaKidLit ConferenceJambaLAya

KidLit Conference

March 22-24, 2019New Orleans

JambaLAya Conference Faculty

Manuscript & Portfolio Critiques are limited. Register today!

Grace Elizabeth Kendall, Senior Editor, FSG Books for Young Readers/Macmillan, works on a range of material from picture books to YA novels, fiction and nonfiction. She publishes exciting projects from debut authors, seasoned veterans, and award-winners, including MAMA AFRICA! by National Book Award Winner Kathryn Erskine, illustrated by CSK John Steptoe Winner Charly Palmer; YOU BRING THE DISTANT NEAR by Mitali Perkins, which was a Walter Honor Book, South Asia Book Award Winner, and a National Book Award Nominee; UNBROKEN: 13 STORIES STARRING DISABLED TEENS, edited by Marieke Nijkamp; and BETTY BEFORE X by Ilyasah Shabazz and Renée Watson. Grace also publishes ongoing series, like the Jasmine Toguchi chapter books by Debbi Michiko Florence and Elizabet Vukovic. And she has a special love for fantasy that questions power structures, as in BLACK WINGS BEATING by Alex London and THE BONELESS MERCIES by April Genevieve Tucholke, both of which received several starred reviews. Twitter: @GraceKendallLit

Jennifer Laughran joined Andrea Brown Literary Agency in 2007 after a long career as a bookseller, buyer and event coordinator. Always on the lookout for sparkling YA and middle grade fiction with unusual and unforgettable characters and vivid settings, she loves funny books, thrilling books, romantic books, books that make her cry, and all-around un-put-downable books … and her true favorites are all of the above. Some clients include beloved and award-winning author-illustrators like Giselle Potter, Don Brown, Raul the Third and Phoebe Wahl; middle grade authors like Daniel Pinkwater, Kate Messner, Alex Gino and Linda Urban; YA authors like Erin Jade Lange, Paula Stokes, Karen Rivers and Ellen Emerson White, among many others. She also has a publishing podcast called the “Literaticast”. Visit www.andreabrownlit.com for more information. Twitter: @literaticat

Laurent Linn, Art Director for Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, began his career as a puppet designer/builder in Jim Henson’s Muppet Workshop where he created characters for various productions, including the Muppet Christmas Carol and Muppet Treasure Island films, eventually becoming the Creative Director for the Sesame Street Muppets, winning an Emmy Award. Currently, at Simon & Schuster, Laurent art directs picture books, middle-grade, and teen novels by creators includ-ing Tomie dePaola, Debbie Ridpath Ohi, Bryan Collier, Raúl Colón, Jonathan Maberry, Taeeun Yoo, and Rosemary Wells. Laurent is on the SCBWI Board of Advisors and is Artistic Advisor for the annual Original Art exhibit at the Society of Illustrators in New York. He is also the author and illustrator of Draw the Line, a YA novel the New York Times calls “Epic.” Follow Laurent: LaurentLinn.com and Twitter: @LaurentLinn

Johnette Downing, recipient of the 2017 Louisiana Writer Award, is a musician and children’s book author dedicated to celebrating childhood, nurturing cultural exchanges and fostering literacy through her Louisiana roots music, books and programs. Called the “Musical Ambassador to Children,” Johnette has performed on five continents and has received twenty-three awards for her twenty-four picture and board books, and ten recordings. Her latest book is Who Got the Baby in the King Cake? with River Road Press. Johnette has garnered multiple awards including a 2017 Louisiana Writer Award, 59th Grammy Award Participant Certificate, Parents’ Choice Awards, iParenting Media Awards, among many others. Follow Johnette on Twitter: @johnettemusic

JambaLAya Conference Faculty

Catherine Frank started as an editorial assistant at Viking Children’s Books, a division of what is now Penguin Random House, just two weeks out of college. She spent more than a decade with Viking, rising through the ranks to become Executive Editor. After eleven years of living in Brooklyn and working in Manhattan, she returned to New Orleans with her family. She now is a freelance editor at Catherine Frank Editorial Services. Catherine edited award-winning fiction and nonfiction children’s books ranging in format from board books to novelties and picture books to young adult fiction. Books acquired and edited by her have received awards and honors including: The Boston Globe Horn Book Award, the Golden Kite Award, the Charlotte Zolotow Award, the New York Times Best Illustrated Award. She actively works with authors, agents, packagers, app developers, and publishers ranging from small presses to the largest trade houses. Follow Catherine: editedbycatherine.com and Twitter: @CatherineSFrank

SCBWI JambaLAya Conference ContactsCheryl Mathis, Co-Regional Advisor, Registration & First Page . . . louisianamississippi-ra@scbwi.org Sarah Campbell, Co-Regional Advisor & Manuscript Critiques . . . louisianamississippi-ra2@scbwi.orgVirginia Howard, Portfolio Critiques & Showcase . . . . . . . . . louisianamississippi-ic@scbwi.orgGary Alipio, ARA, Conference Coordinator & Book Sales . . . . . louisianamississippi-ara@scbwi.org

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Nina Kooij is the Editor in Chief of Pelican Publishing Company, Inc., in Gretna, Louisiana. She edits picture books, middle-grade and YA novels, adult biographies and histories, cookbooks, and music and art books. She has worked with many New Orleans luminaries, including Leah Chase and John Besh, Errol and Peggy Scott Laborde, and Richard Campanella. Her children’s authors include Johnette Downing, the late Dianne de Las Casas, Jim Harris, and the late Mary Alice Fontenot and James Rice. She estimates that she has edited over 230 picture books in her career. Pelican Publishing Company, established in 1926, enjoys national recognition as a medium-sized company with a backlist of over 2,500 titles and fifty to sixty new titles produced yearly. Follow Pelican Publishing: pelicanpub.com and Twitter: @PelicanPub

Freddi W. Evans is an independent scholar, arts education consultant, and award-winning author of books for children as well as adults. She is internationally recognized for her scholarship on historic Congo Square and is the author of Come Sunday, A Young Reader’s History of Congo Square and Congo Square: African Roots in New Orleans, which is the first comprehensive study of the location, the recipient of the 2012 Louisiana Humanities Book of the Year Award, and has been published in French. Evans’s research and advocacy influenced the 2011 New Orleans City Council Ordinance that made the popular name “Congo Square” the official name of the landmark. Her work for children include Hush Harbor – Praying in Secret, The Battle of New Orleans: The Drummer’s Story, and A Bus of Our Own. Her new entrepreneurial venture, “Let’s KNOW” Card Games, targets children and adults and combines her expertise in history, culture and education. Follow Freddi: freddievans.com

Fri., March 22, 2:00pm ~ Writing MasterClass by Grace Kendall in the Hospitality Room of The Garden District Hampton Inn at 2:00-5:00pm. (Optional fee of $75; space is limited).

Fri., March 22, 2:00pm ~ Illustrator MasterClass by Laurent Linn at New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts at 2:00-5:00pm. (Optional fee of $75; space is limited).

Fri., March 22, 5:30-7:00pm ~ KidLit Social Night on the Veranda at The Columns Hotel on St. Charles Ave., New Orleans. This is a casual meetup with a cash bar. Reservations for this night are not required. However, as a courtesy please email RA Cheryl Mathis if you plan to attend. (louisianamississippi-ra@scbwi.org)

Sat., March 23, Registration opens 7:45am–5pm ~ JambaLAya Kidlit Conference at the Academy of Sacred Heart($25 discount for early bird registration until January 15)

Saturday Conference Sessions include:• Opening address by 2017 Louisiana Writer of the Year Johnette Downing• Workshops with Editor Grace Kendall, Agent Jennifer Laughran, Art Director Laurent Linn and award-winning author and scholar Freddi Williams Evans• First Pages Session with Grace Kendall, Jennifer Laughran and Laurent Linn• Portfolio Showcase and Contest judged by Laurent Linn

Face-to-Face Critiques:A limited number of 12-minute one-on-one consultations are available from FS&G/Macmillan Editor Grace Kendall, Agent JenniferLaughran, Pelican Publishing Editor-in-Chief Nina Kooij, and Freelance Editor Catherine Frank. These fill up FAST … so register today. (Additional $45 fee for each)

Illustrator Face-to-face Critiques: A limited number of illustrator critiques will be available from Simon & Shuster Art Director Laurent Linn. (Additional $45 fee for each)

Author Written Critiques: A limited number of written critiques will be available from authors Crystal Allen, Sarah Campbell, Caroline Rose Starr, Leslie Staub and Freddi Evans. (Additional $35 fee for each)

Conference Day Lunch includes:Jambalaya (of course) with both meatless and meatful choices, french bread, chips, salad and beverages. Also coffee and NOLA-style breakfast will be available at registration.

Sat., March 23, Extra! Dinner with the Faculty ~ 6:00pm (optional, see menu):Dinner with the JambaLAya faculty at Superior Seafood Restaurant, a block down the street from the conference venue. (Additional $35 fee for attending with a cash bar)

Sun., March 24, 9am ~ PAL Meeting in the Hospitality Room of Hampton Inn (Additional $10 fee)

JAMBALAYA SCHEDULE QUICK REFERENCE

Cheryl Mathis, Co-Regional Advisor, Registration & First Page . . . louisianamississippi-ra@scbwi.org Sarah Campbell, Co-Regional Advisor & Manuscript Critiques . . . louisianamississippi-ra2@scbwi.orgVirginia Howard, Portfolio Critiques & Showcase . . . . . . . . . louisianamississippi-ic@scbwi.orgGary Alipio, ARA, Conference Coordinator & Book Sales . . . . . louisianamississippi-ara@scbwi.org

CONFERENCE CONTACTS

“FIRST LOOK” Writing & IllustrationsWe will have a “First Look” Session at the Conference where a reader will read First Look Submissions to Editor Grace Kendall, Agent Jennifer Laughran, and Art Director Laurent Linn. Illustration images will also be displayed. The submissions will be anonymous and can be submitted by anyone registered for the conference. No names will be given. The faculty will give impressions from hearing the readings and viewing the images.

NOTE: if you have a face-to-face critique with one of the faculty, you may submit from another work.

PLEASE READ THESE GUIDELINES:

PAGE FORMAT: One Page 1” Margins

GENRE LISTED IN UPPER RIGHT: Picture Book ~ Easy Reader Chapter Book ~ Middle Grade ~ Young Adult

WORDS: Maximum of 200 words; send in complete sentences

ILLUSTRATIONS: JPG or PDF image, fill size max 5 MB

HOW TO SUBMIT: Send a .doc, .docx or .pdf for writing OR .jpg or .pdf for illustration

Email: louisianamississippi-ra@scbwi.org by midnight Thursday, Feb. 28.

Put FIRST LOOK in the subject line.

NOTE: We may EXCLUDE submissions that fail to follow these guidelines.

POST CONFERENCE DINNER (Optional)(Attendance optional ~ with additional fee; ASH Students may purchase with parent/guardian supervision)

SUPERIOR SEAFOOD DINNER ~ $354338 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA ~ Cash Bar 5:30pm; Dinner at 6pm

SAMPLE MENU (subject to change):Iced Tea or Soft Drink

Sensation Salad* OR Soup (Bisque or Gumbo)Entrée Choice of 1: Shrimp & Grits, Blackened Catfish Napoleon**, Tchoupitoulas Chicken** or Vegetable Risotto*

Dessert Choice of 1: Bread Pudding or Profiteroles

*Designates Vegetarian/Gluten Free Items **Designates Gluten Free (or easily modified to be) ItemsMenu will note for all guests with allergies/dietary restrictions to consult with service staff prior to ordering.

(FEE: $35 Dinner Price IS Inclusive of tax/gratuity)

Alcohol Service on Consumption Full Bar Menu Offerings – separate tabs established by each guest for orders.

Questions? Contact RA Cheryl Mathis, louisianamississippi-ra@scbwi.org

MANUSCRIPT/PORTFOLIO CRITIQUESFace-to-face critique sessions last 12 minutes. We cannot reschedule a missed appointment. To ensure a successful critique, see HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR CRITIQUE TIME on web page.

Manuscript Critiques are for conference registrants only and are on a first-come, first-served basis. You may register for ONLY ONE Face-to-Face Critique with Conference Faculty and but can choose multiple for Written Author Critique.

If you are an author/ illustrator, you may submit a manuscript in addition to your portfolio critique session.

Fee for Face-to-Face Critique: $45

Fee for Written Author Critique: $35

Fee for Portfolio Face-to-Face Review: $45

REGISTRATION: You MUST register for the conference AND the critique before submitting.

DEADLINE: All Manuscript Critiques have a submission deadline of Jan. 31, 2019 by midnight.

SEND TO: ALL email manuscripts are to be sent to: LaMsSubmit@gmail.com

NOTE: Portfolios, of course, are to be brought to the conference.

For the Email Subject Line: Last name critiquer. Your Last Name.First Name (Note: Your Submission Should be sent as a single attachment. Example: Kass.Mathis.Cheryl)

PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK THIS LIST BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR WORK.

1) One piece of up to 10 pages. This critique is for the first ten pages of a single manuscript, NOT a section in the middle and NOT selections from multiple works. The submission should be treated as if it is a single submission to an editor at a publishing house. Be sure the manuscript is grammatically correct and polished to the best of your writing ability. If you submit more than 10 pages, those over the limit will be eliminated. The entire submission should be emailed as one document in .doc .docx or .pdf2) Format ALL manuscripts in 12-point Times New Roman with the text double-spaced.3) In the upper left corner of your manuscript: NAME, ADDRESS, CITY/STATE, EMAIL ADDRESS AND GENRE [YA, MG, PB, CHAPTER BOOK, NF]4) The name on your manuscript must match the name you registered under even if you write under a pseudonym.5) For ALL Picture Books (fiction and nonfiction) and Poetry: Submit only the first TEN (10) pages of your manu-script, or a complete manuscript for a single picture book. No synopsis is needed. Do NOT include Back Matter.6) For ALL Middle Grade, Young Adult, and Chapter Books (fiction and nonfiction; this is text only): Submit only the first TEN (10) pages, even if it cuts off mid-chapter, plus a ONE-page synopsis. You MUST include the synopsis or we cannot accept your submission. 7) Include a cover letter (no longer than a half page text) addressed to your critiquer. The cover letter and synopsis are in addition to the 10 pages.8) Illustrators submitting a picture book manuscript may NOT include illustrations, but are permitted to bring a completed dummy to the in-person critique during the conference. They are encouraged to mention a dummy is available for review in the cover letter.

LIMIT: ONLY ONE Face-to-Face Critique and AS MANY Author Written Critiques as you prefer. Illustrators can choose one Face-to-Face Manuscript Critique in addition to portfolio critique and Author Written Critiques as well.

Questions about critiques? Email Co-RA Sarah Campbell, louisianamississippi-ra2@scbwi.org

Baronne Street

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RosaryCampus

Napoleon Playground

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Rosary Courtyard

Favrot ArtsCenter

Rosary Gym

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Parking LotOff street parking; park and walk 1 block to Rosary Campus

JambaLAya KidLit Conference

4521 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70115

DIRECTIONSFrom I-10 West/headed East (also from Airport):• Take I-10E to New Orleans. Take US-90 BUS W (straight) to Carondelet/St. Charles St. Exit• Get off Carondelet/St. Charles Exit• Take right on St. Charles Ave and head to 4521 St.Charles Ave.

From I-10 East/headed West (from Slidell):• Take I-10W into New Orleans. Use Left Lane to take US-90 BUS W Exit (stay left and merge onto US-90 BUS W• Get off at Carondelet/St. Charles Exit• Take right on St. Charles Ave and head to 4521 St.Charles Ave.

NOTE: Conference location is 1 block down the Avenue from Superior Seafood dinner (and Lower School parking lot)

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PARKING: park in Mater Campus lot & walk 1 block OR park on street near campus (Red Arrows)

(From I-10, Hampton Inn, The Columns, Illustrator MasterClass, New Orleans/the French Quarter)

St. Charles Avenue

New OrleansCoffee & Beignet