2011 Events

© Rachelle Gray

2011 MNSCBWI Conference
Story Chemistry: Drawing on the Write Mix

Saturday, October 15, 2011 • 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Metropolitan State University, 700 East Seventh Street, St. Paul, MN

Download a registration form

Read more about conference details and registration information

Are you ready to experiment with something new or find a creative solution to an old project? Well than you’re ready to mix it up with other writers and illustrators at the 2011 Minnesota SCBWI Conference: Story Chemistry: Drawing on the Write Mix!

Join us for an effervescent line-up that includes keynote speakers Dan Santat and Alison McGhee, editors, agents, and of course First Look for Illustrators and First Pages for writers.

Register early and save! And don’t forget to mark you calendars.

Note: MNSCBWI has a limited number of rooms available at the Embassy Suites Hotel, St. Paul, 175 East 10th St.
Phone: 1-651-224-5400

Ask for the MN Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators group rate of $137 for the dates of October 14-16 single occupancy, or make your reservation online. The cutoff date for these rooms is September 22.

2011–2012 MNSCBWI Mentorships

MNSCBWI is excited to announce that the 2011-2012 Mentorship Award is open for submissions! The mentorship program is a competition for members of Minnesota SCBWI in which the prize is a one-year, one-on-one mentoring relationship with an established author or illustrator. The 2011-2012 Writing Mentor is Heather Bouwman and the Illustration Mentor is David Geister.

For more information, download a PDF of the 2011-2012 MNSCBWI Mentorships.

2011 MNSCBWI Summer Workshop

Saturday, June 18, 2011
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Star Bank Community Meeting Room, 250 Prairie Center Drive, Eden Prairie, MN 55344

© Shawn McCann

With presentations by author Andy Hueller and illustrator Shawn McCann.

Cost: $25 members, $35 non-members
Registration will be at the door.
Light refreshments will be served.

2011 MNSCBWI Winter Field Trip

"Stop and Smell the Flowers." Come in from the cold and join the Minnesota SCBWI for our first annual winter field trip!

Saturday, February 12, 2011
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Como Park Conservatory, 1225 Estabrook Drive, Saint Paul, MN 55103

Fee: Free ($2 donation to the Conservatory is suggested.)

Feeling a little uninspired by Minnesota’s dark and dreary winter? Grab your sketchbooks, journals, paints, and pencils for a few hours' respite with the vibrant hues of Como Park Conservatory’s blooming oasis. All are welcome to attend. This event is bound to be refreshing!

Creating Great Graphic Novels

With Editorial Director of First Second books, Mark Siegel

Monday, February 28, 2011
10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

NOTE: The location for the workshop has been changed:
Eden Prairie Community Center
16700 Valleyview Road
Eden Prairie, MN
Room 201
(The community center is near the high school.)


Download a registration form

First Second books, is Macmillan’s acclaimed graphic novel imprint, which BoingBoing dubbed “one of the great literary comics presses of the modern world.” In this most popular workshop for writers and artists, Mark Siegel looks at all aspects of creating great graphic novels and will lead participants through two 90-minute sessions with plenty of time for questions and answers.

Cost: $50 members
$50 students (must show I.D. at door)
$75 non-members

Registration is first-come-first serve by mail only.
Workshop is limited to 40 participants.

Send to: Quinette Cook, MNSCBWI
17449 George Moran Drive, Eden Prairie, MN 55347

In 2006, Mark Siegel launched an ambitious collection of graphic novels in every age category, in a wide range of themes and styles, with talent from all over the world. In its first year, American Born Chinese became the first comic ever nominated for a National Book Award, and soon afterwards, the first to win the coveted librarians’ Printz Award.

Many beloved indie cartoonists make up First Second’s stellar author line-up, from Sara Varon to Scott McCloud, Jessica Abel to Paul Pope, Eddie Campbell to Joann Sfar, and many others — including seasoned talents and newcomers, with projects in fiction and non-fiction, for children and for adults. First Second also draws in top talent from other fields, novelists (Jane Yolen), playwrights (Adam Rapp), screenwriters (Boaz Yakin) and many others, eager to take up this blossoming medium.

In addition to First Second, Mark Siegel has a number of projects of his own, has illustrated several award-winning pictures (Seadogs, Long Night Moon, To Dance) and is currently serializing his own adult graphic novel online (www.sailortwain.com).