SCBWI Work-In-Progress Award

For Immediate Release

Media Contact:
Kayla Heinen
Kayla.heinen@scbwi.org
 

SCBWI ANNOUNCES SLATE OF WINNERS FOR SCBWI WORK-IN-PROGRESS AND KAREN CUSHMAN LATE BLOOMER GRANTS

Grants Made Available To Writers And Illustrators For Works Not Currently Under Contract

SEPTEMBER 2---The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators congratulates the winners of the 2016 Work-In-Progress Grants and Karen Cushman Late Bloomer Award. Works by authors and artists in the categories of Picture Book Text, Chapter Books/Early Fiction, Middle Grade, Young Adult Fiction, Nonfiction and Multicultural Fiction or Nonfiction are eligible. The Karen Cushman Late Bloomer Award celebrates a traditionally unpublished author over the age of fifty.

Young Adult Fiction: The Edge of the Miraculous by Beth Navarro

Nonfiction: Nikola's Visions: The Extraordinary Life of Nikola Tesla by Cindy Jenson-Elliott

Multicultural Fiction or Nonfiction: Finding Ma by DoanPhuong Nguyen

Picture Book Text: A Father's Love by Hannah Holt

Middle Grade Fiction: Ruby in the Sky by Jeanne Zulick-Ferruolo

Chapter Books/Early Fiction: How To Be a Bad Guy, By Dallas Bottomley by Lauren LeBlanc

Fed up with his friends' obsession with superheroes, 8-year-old Dallas decides to become a villain instead. But when he discovers he would rather stand up for the underdog, he must redefine what villainy means to him.

The SCBWI will propel the winning manuscripts on the path to publication by exposing their work to hand-selected acquiring editors on a secure website for a period of time. This is an opportunity for the winners to gain exclusive access to some of the most sought after professionals in the business.

About (SCBWI)

Founded in 1971, the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators is one of the largest existing writers' and illustrators' organizations, with over 22,000 members worldwide. It is the only organization specifically for those working in the fields of children's literature, magazines, film, television, and multimedia. The organization was founded by Stephen Mooser (President) and Lin Oliver (Executive Director), both of whom are well-published children's book authors and leaders in the world of children's literature. For more information, visit www.scbwi.org.

Somewhere NEXT TO NORMAL might be okay...

This fall, Lauren will make her debut with Ash Theatre Company as Diana in the Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical, NEXT TO NORMAL. The show will go up at Venice Island Performing Arts Center, with dates in late October. More information can be found and tickets can be purchased when you click here. 

Down to the OBX

Lauren will be take the stage tonight--in front of a sold-out crowd--as Jeri Neal in "The Dixie Swim Club," a female ensemble piece that combines the wisdom of Steel Magnolias with the wit of The Golden Girls. The show runs from Feb. 26 through Mar. 6 at SALT Performing Arts in Chester County.

For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit saltpa.com. 

And days of auld lang syne...

Lauren's turn as Mary Hatch in The Resident Theatre Company's production of "It's a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play" went smashingly well. The show raised all kinds of money for the renovation of The Armory in West Chester to be transformed into a professional theatre complex. For more information about that project, visit www.rtcwc.org. 

In January 2016, Lauren will once again travel to Southampton, New York, for the culminating conference for the Stony Brook Southampton Children's Literature Fellows Program. More information about that will be coming along shortly. For information on the KidLit Fellows, visit www.stonybrook.edu.

"George Bailey, I'll love you till the day I die."

This December, Lauren will take the stage as Mary Hatch, George Bailey's lifelong love, in The Resident Theatre Company's production of "It's a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play." Proceeds from the show will help the new professional company settle into its new digs at The Armory in West Chester in 2016. Presale **discount** tickets are available through November 1st. Click here to purchase yours! 

A big thank you to everyone who came out to see SALT Performing Arts production of "Into the Woods," which sold out many performances.

And another big thanks goes to those who came to see Lauren perform at Society Hill Playhouse on the Oct. 20th evening of New Voices Cabaret. It was the biggest crowd they'd had in five years!