Whispering Pines
SCBWI New England
WHISPERING PINES Writers’ Retreat
West Greenwich, Rhode Island
March 23-25, 2012
This retreat, limited to 28 full time participants, is an opportunity
to work intimately with professionals in an idyllic setting.
Weekend registration includes accommodations and meals. You will
have the opportunity to work with others who are committed to
quality children’s literature in small groups and will also benefit
from a thirty minute one-on-one critique with your mentor. You will
also enjoy all of our mentors’ presentations (Saturday and Sunday)
and intimate after dinner Q&A sessions, including a “first pages
activity.” The setting allows for quiet meditation, networking,
or attention to your individual project—you design your own retreat!
Saturday only participants will enjoy a terrific presentation from Jo Knowles, YA Novelist, Michelle Poploff, Vice President, Executive Editor at Delacorte Press, and Yolanda Scott, the editorial director at Charlesbridge. Afterwards, visit with other professionals over a relaxing lunch that boasts an outstanding menu. Although one-on-one critiques are not included for day only participants, group critiques take place all afternoon.
Sunday only participants will enjoy presentations from Suzanne Bloom, Author/Illustrator, Andrea Cascardi, Agent at Transatlantic Literary Agency, and Alexis O'Neill, Marketing/School Visits Expert/Author. Enjoy the company and professionalism of other participants over a delicious lunch.
There will be a book sale each day for your browsing pleasure. Sorry! No credit cards accepted.
For more information, contact:
Lynda Mullaly Hunt, Director at Lyndamullalyhunt@yahoo.com (OR)
Mary Pierce, Registrar at momeraths@verizon.net
Our 2012 Mentors!!!
Alexis O'Neill's award-winning picture books include THE RECESS QUEEN (Scholastic), THE WORST BEST FRIEND (Scholastic), LOUD EMILY (Simon and Schuster), and ESTELA”S SWAP (Lee & Low). She’s also written for Cricket, Spider, Cobblestone, Calliope, Faces, Odyssey, and Writer’s Digest. Alexis teaches at the UCLA Extension Writer’s Program, she’s a Regional Advisor for SCBWI in
Jo Knowles is the author of the young adult novels Lessons from a Dead Girl, Jumping Off Swings, Pearl, and See You At Harry’s (coming May 2012). She has a master’s degree in children’s literature. Some of her awards include the PEN New England Discovery Award, YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, YALSA Quick Picks Top Ten, International Reading Associations Young Adult Choices List, Tayshas List, and
Suzanne Bloom says: Drawing, painting, making things, reading and writing have always been the stepping stones of my life. But somewhere around the age of 40, I declared myself an artist. I claimed the messiness, the devotion, the magpie eye, all in service to the creation of beautiful art that will end up in the hands of children. After 14 books it still feels like the beginning of the expedition, with many more ideas and characters to explore. So in addition to the Theodore Seuss Geisel Award, the PA One Book, the Texas 2X2 (twice), one of my favorite tributes comes from a 3rd grader in Texas who said, "Ma'am, you were born to draw."
Michelle Poploff is Vice President, Executive Editor at Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House. Among the books Michelle has edited are the 2011 Newbery Medal Winner, "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool, Newbery Honor Winner, "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson, and Coretta Scott King Award Winner, "Brendan Buckley's Universe and Everything In It by Sundee T. Frazier, & Newbery Winner Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's "Faith Hope and Ivy June."
Yolanda Scott is the editorial director at Charlesbridge. She has edited over 125 titles and has worked with authors such as Eve Bunting, Kathryn Lasky, David McPhail, Linda Sue Park, and Jane Yolen. She is a former executive board member of the Foundation for Children's Books and the founder of Pubs in Pubs, a networking organization for children's publishing professionals. She is a frequent speaker at writer's conferences, has been a children's literature speaker and mentor at
Andrea Cascardi has been a literary agent for Transatlantic Literary Agency for ten years. However, she began as an editorial assistant at Houghton Mifflin in
Registration Information:
Registrations ARE NOT being accepted for Whispering Pines yet. REGISTRATION OPENS ON DECEMBER 1, 2011. Any registrations postmarked *prior to December first* will not be considered and will be returned.
Weekend Participant Info:
The cost for a weekend slot is $525. The cost includes double-occupancy accomodations, meals from Friday dinner to Sunday lunch, a 30-minute one-on-one critique with your mentor, participation in all workshops/presentations by mentors, peer group critiques, first pages activities and Q&A sessions with mentors on Friday and Saturday nights, and an all around fantastic time!
To reserve your place for the weekend retreat, a deposit of $150 and your application are due by December 31, 2011.
The balance of $375 and your manuscript are due by February 3, 2012.
**Click on "Reservations" button above for printable Registration Form
Check-in at Whispering Pines is between 2:00 and 5:00 on Friday.
Manuscript submissions can be whole picture book manuscripts or the first three chapters and an additional chapter of a longer work with a limit of 25 pages. Again, these are due by February 3, 2012
Day Event Enrollment Info:
The Saturday event fee is $110.
The Sunday event fee is $90.
Saturday and Sunday--day only--participation is $180.
Tuition is due on the receipt of your application. The due date is
December 31, 2011.
**Click on "Reservations" button above for printable Registration Form
For more information, contact Lynda at Lyndamullalyhunt@yahoo.com