GRAPHIC NOVELS

Eric Shanower is the award-winning cartoonist of the graphic novel series Age of Bronze, a retelling of the Trojan War story (Image Comics, 1998-present). With cartoonist Skottie Young, he is adapting L. Frank Baum’s Oz books to New York Times best selling graphic novels (Marvel Comics, 2008-present). Shanower’s past work includes his own Oz graphic novel series, many other comics, and illustrations for television, magazines, and children’s books, two of which he wrote himself. He lives in San Diego, California. Examples of his work can be found at http://www.age-of-bronze.comor see http://www.ericshanower.com

Strengths: I bring my sense of clear, panel-to-panel storytelling, a broad familiarity with all sorts of comics, and nearly three decades of experience as a professional cartoonist. I’m especially interested in graphic novel manuscripts with well-defined, unique characters involved in stories with lots of potential for visual interest.

PICTURE BOOKS

Joy Chu is a free-lance graphic designer who works on a wide variety of projects, both electronically and for print. Born and raised in New York City, she went straight from college to design trainee at Alfred A. Knopf; to trade designer at T.Y. Crowell (now HarperCollins); to senior designer at Holt. She re-located to San Diego to take a hiatus from book publishing, only to be scooped up by Harcourt as their art director. She has art directed and/or designed over a thousand books for twenty book publishers throughout the U.S. Chu also runs a popular workshop on illustrating children's picture books for UCSD Extension and shares news and interviews on her blog, The Got Story Countdown at http://www.gotstorycountdown.com. She has worked with many award-winning artists. Her work has been cited by the American Institute of Graphic Arts; the American Library Association; the National Book Awards; and Publisher’s Weekly, among others.

Strengths: My strengths lie in my ability to sense a good story and great cinema. I’m interested in working with illustrators and authors who are willing to accept guidance. In particular, author/illustrators who have manuscripts with very short text, illustrators who wish to illustrate a retold story, and experienced authors interested in the visual arc of their manuscript.

Cindy Jenson-Elliott is the author of six books for children, with four more due out in Summer 2012. She has two picture books under contract with Simon and Schuster imprint Beach Lane Books, the first of which will be published in Spring 2013. A teacher credentialed for K-12 in a variety of subject areas, she is a writer of eclectic interests. Her books include two YA nonfiction books about African history and cultures, nonfiction books for grades 3-5 about zombies, cheetahs, camping and fly fishing, four nonfiction easy reader books about pirates, and two picture books for young children, under contract, about gardening. She has written over 100 articles for children and adults about subjects ranging from the arts, circuses and child labor, to puppetry, whale watching, and the business of seismic retrofitting. She currently is working on several picture book manuscripts, as well as teaching science, grades 1-8, in a private school. More info at http://www.cindyjensonelliott.com

Strengths: My strengths include non-fiction research and interviewing; creative idea-finding; and editing kindly. I'm willing to work with just about any type of picture book manuscript, nonfiction, rhyming, non-rhyming, my tastes run the gambit.

Suzanne Santillan grew up reading and loving books in the Los Angeles area. Through her work as a freelance graphic artist, Santillan has created charts and graphs for over 100 library reference books. Her first picture book Grandma's Pear Tree (Raven Tree Press, 2010) was awarded a gold medal for the Moonbeam Children's Book Award in the 4-7 Picture Book category. She’s also co-author of the Writing on the Sidewalk blog at http://writingonthesidewalk.wordpress.comSuzanne was recently nominated as Woman of the Year by the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce in the Arts/Media Entertainment category for her work promoting literacy. Santillan lives in San Diego with her husband and two sons. When she’s not writing she can be found sewing, doing crafts and walking the canyons and beaches of San Diego. More info at http://suzannesantillan.com

Strengths: I am very comfortable working with beginners helping them to shape their manuscripts and cut them down. I try to find the good
in every manuscript and treat the author with respect.

Barbara Skalak as a kid loved the rhythm and rhyme of Edward Lear and is a fan of Jack Prelutzsky, Lisa Wheeler, J. Patrick Lewis, Cynthia Rylant, and Brian Lies. Skalak has been an SCBWI member and involved in critiquing for about 15 years. Outside of children's book writing, she's had stints as a greeting card writer, editor for an academic publisher, and corporate marketing communications editor/proofreader. Currently, she edits manuscripts for the American Journal of Preventive Medicine at UCSD. Barbara has lived on the East Coast, where she grew up, as well as in northern California and Oregon. When she's not writing or editing, you might find her boogie boarding with her son or painting ceramic tiles. She is author of the picture book Waddle, Waddle, Quack, Quack, Quack, illustrated by Sylvia Long (Chronicle Books 2005; with Korean translation and CD, and featured by Scholastic with CD). Her current focus is nonfiction-based, nature-themed poetry collections. A sample can be found on her website at http://www.barbaraskalak.com.

Strengths: I love the rhythm and feel of feel of rhyme. I’m interested in all types of picture book manuscripts (either rhyme or prose, but I do like working with rhyme) or poetry collections.

Sarah Wones Tomp is author of the picture book, Red, White, and Blue Goodbye (Walker and Co. 2005) and the short story "Going Clamming" (Highlights Magazine). She earned a MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, has participated in several intensive writing workshops, and been part of several critique groups. Sarah taught English in a public middle school for several years and most recently co-taught Writing Children's Picture Books for UCSD Extension. She is a co-author of the blog, Writing on the Sidewalk at http://writingonthesidewalk.wordpress.com

Strengths: I think I have the most to offer with fiction manuscripts. I believe in experimenting with different story telling options and I love to play with language – both for the auditory reward and for precision in meaning. I'm willing to work on a manuscript at any stage of the process as long as the writer is open to suggestions.

Andrea Zimmerman is a picture book maker who's written, and sometimes illustrated, a dozen books for young children. Her picture books include a variety of fiction and nonfiction. Trashy Town (HarperCollins, 1999), is an ALA Notable Book and Train Man (Henry Holt, 2012) is the third in a series of picture books she has written and illustrated with her husband. Other work includes a riddle book, a how-to book, a concept book, and a historical biography. She recently co-taught Writing Children's Picture Books for UCSD Extension. This summer she created the cover for the SCBWI Bulletin. More info at www.andreaanddavid.com

Strengths: I love picture books. I think understanding good plotting is very helpful. Having illustrated my own manuscripts, I think I have some insight into writing with the pictures and layout in mind. I could work with writers or author/illustrators.