Notes from Chris, from the Spring News Messenger:

Horray, it's spring! The trees are budding, the birds are chirping, and our conference registrars are collecting the mail. If you haven't already made your plans for the conference, study all the information in this newsletter. We have lots of wonderful options, so make sure you take advantage of everything.

Conference coordinator Lucy Hampson and I met two of our keynote speakers in New York recently Chris Richman, and agent with Firebrand, and Ruta Rimas, Editorial Assistant at Balzar & Bray, a Harper imprint, are friendly and enthusiastic ...

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Information for our 2009 HandSprings Conference, April 17th and 18th, is now online. The main web page is here, and you can download the conference brochure here.

See you there!

(excerpt from 23 February 2009 e-lert)

If you're a writer of novels planning to come to the Handsprings conference, it's time to polish up the first 10 pages of that manuscript you'd like to see published. Chris Richman from the Firebrand Literary Agency will be available for several face-to-face critiques during the conference. Richman is actively looking for new novel writers to sign with Firebrand (whose hopeful slogan is "Writing is a solitary activity. Publishing shouldn't be.")

Handsprings, SCBWI-NM's spring conference, will be held April 17 -18, in Albuquerque. We'll post complete conference information and registration forms online and send out a special eLERT about it soon.

Notes from Chris, from the Winter News Messenger:

Twenty one authors and illustrators came together for our annual fall retreat at Hummingbird Music Camp. Twelve arrived Thursday evening fro a lively potluck dinner and spent Friday working (with perhaps a walk or hike to get the creative juices moving). The rest joinged us Friday night. After dinner and a warm welcome, we met in grouops for discussion of the critique process. Saturday morning, three groups of writers met to critique their work. Meanwhile, illustrators shared thoughts and concerns about the creative process, while four writers worked independently.

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Notes from Chris, from the Fall News Messenger:

SCBWI-New Mexico is gearing up for our Fall Retreat. Once again, we return to the beautiful Jemez Mountains, and Hummingbird Music Camp. Last year's format worked so well that we are repeating it, with a slight twist -- writers and illustrators of all experience levels are welcome. We'll split into four groups of five for an intimate, intensive weekend. The writing groups will exchange manuscripts ahead of time, and may get a written critique from long-distance editor Lynne Polvino of Clarion Books. This is a great chance to get feedback from a professional editor, and make a contact at a respected publishing house.

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