The October 18 SCBWI Pro Insider Newsletter provided a helpful list of book fairs and festivals to watch for in the coming year. We are reproducing this information to help give our members an idea of some of the important gatherings in the kidlit business.
1. Bay Area Book Festival
1. Bay Area Book Festival – May 2 & 3, 2020; Berkeley, CA Known for its focus on “literature for social change,” this festival include keynotes, conversations/interviews, panel discussions, storytelling, drawing demos, literary performances, and a limited number of workshop‐style sessions. Festival organizers are currently seeking proposals from authors of literary fiction, memoir, science fiction, mystery/thrillers, young adult fiction, and children’s books. Speaker’s most recent books should bear publication dates between June 2019 and May 2020 (before May 4). Deadline to submit a proposal is December 13, 2019.
2. African American Children’s Book Fair
2. African American Children’s Book Fair – February 1, 2020, Philadelphia, PA One of the oldest and largest single-day events for African American children’s books in the country, this event features nationally known bestselling authors and illustrators. For information on participating in this year’s festival call 1 (213) 878-BOOK or send an email to read@theafricanamericanchildrensbookproject.org.
3. San Antonio Book Festival
3.San Antonio Book Festival –– April 4, 2020, San Antonio, TX This annual event, focusing on the promotion of literature and Texas literary culture, features approximately 95 authors from Texas and beyond, whose books are published within a year of the Festival. All authors invited to participate will be featured in a panel or solo session. Festival organizers accept submissions throughout the year, but preference is given to books submitted prior to January 1, 2020. To be considered, a book must be published within 18 months prior to the start of the Festival.
4. Faye B. Kaigler Children’s Book Festival
4. Faye B. Kaigler Children’s Book Festival – April 1-3, 2020, Hattiesburg, Mississippi This festival is held each spring at the University of Southern Mississippi campus in Hattiesburg, MS. Each year, more than 400 teachers and librarians from across the nation come to the university to hear authors, illustrators, and experts in the field share their knowledge and experience. This prestigious festival hosts the annual Ezra Jack Keats Awards for New Writers and New Illustrators. Deadline for breakout session proposals is in early November.
5. Chippewa Valley Book Festival
5. Chippewa Valley Book Festival – Eau Claire, WI, October 2020 Celebrating the written word through author readings and book signings, school visits, and meals with authors, this event includes workshops and programs for writers of all ages. Held each year in October, the festival features authors presenting at area libraries, schools, and other community locations. The deadline to apply for the October 2020 festival is November 15, 2019.
6. Tuscon Festival of Books
6.Tucson Festival of Books – Tucson, AZ, March 14-15, 2020 This festival features authors and books in two programs – Presenting Stages and Indie Author Pavilions. The Literary Committee is responsible for scheduling all book-related programming on the Presenting Stages (by invitation only). Self-published authors, or those without recent titles are welcome to participate in one of four Indie Author Pavilions (adult fiction / adult nonfiction / children’s books / YA titles).
7. Kennesaw State University Conference on Literature for Children
7.Kennesaw State University (KSU) Conference on Literature for Children and Young Adults –March 16-17, 2020 – Kennesaw, GA This conference provides teachers, librarians, media specialists, and school administrators the opportunity to hear from acclaimed children’s and young adult authors and experts in the field of literacy instruction. Authors and illustrators of children’s books can submit a proposal to speak at the conference up until January 15, 2020.
8. Virginia Hamilton Conference on Multicultural Literature for Youth
8.Virginia Hamilton Conference on Multicultural Literature for Youth – April 30, 2020 – Kent State University, Kent, Ohio The longest-running event in the United States to focus exclusively on multicultural literature for children and young adults. Honoring author Virginia Hamilton, the conference reflects a commitment to promoting cultural awareness and affirming cultural pride while addressing the array of issues which surround the concept of culture.
Source: SCBWI Pro Insider
Thank you to the SCBWI Pro Insider newsletter for providing this information which we are reproducing here for our SCBWI members.