INK Sisters Write

Dear Kim, You know how much I love writing (and receiving) my weekly INK SISTERS letter. This week, however, we must stop the presses. Hold our quills in the air and roll out the welcome mat. This week, Dear Kim, we share our blog with two new writers from the 2016 Debut Author Bash. Follow the Debut Author Bash on Twitter at #16DABash The 2016 Debut Author Bash is a month-long party celebrating new authors. Today we welcome author, Brooks Benjamin to the blog. Brooks  teaches reading and writing by day and is a brilliant author by night. (Maybe not so much "by night", but "by weird hours that fit around a crazy teacher schedule" just doesn't have the same ring.) His first novel,  MY SEVENTH-GRADE LIFE IN TIGHTS  (Delacorte/Random House) hit the shelves this spring. I learned about the book during the winter of 2013/2014 when Brooks and I participated in #PitchWars. His humorous and heartwarming middle grade novel was a favorite. With ...

For my third New York SCBWI conference, I decided to participate in the Friday Intensives, and I am so glad I did. The optional day at both the New York and the LA conference was money well spent.  BEST TIP: i  urge you to spring for the extra day--the industry tips and craft insight addressed are unique to that day. I've sat through a number of Editor and Agent Panels, and the optional day Panels outshine the main conference Panels. *It's a much smaller group and therefore, they're probably more relaxed.   BELIEVE IT OR NOT : Agents and Editors are people too, and a room filled with 1,200 writers and illustrators is intimidating. I don't care who you are or how many times you've presented--butterflies work overtime! Wendy Loggia from Random House moderated Agents Panel.  INTERESTING NOTE: At Random House, there is no cap on the number of projects they can acquire. Wendy is sweet, approachable, and LOVES her books. Rosemary Stimola , S...