A Spark of Independence


Thank you for bearing with me last week. Pre Book Bound, my head like my fiction (see below) was all over the place.

Now half way through May, we've had some fabulous insights on Everything Indie. Please note our theme is aspirational; we haven't quite and don't expect to, achieve everything Indie by the 31st!



However if you click on the box you'll find:

  • Philippa's inspiration - State of Independence - can't get the mystifying Jon and Vangelis song out of my head.
  • An entertaining interview from Nick with Ali Fraser, creator and publisher of the classy new kids mag 'Stew'
  • And the Simply Super Mike Brownlow reporting on the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co. It's not what it says on the tin…?
This is Indie for me - people with ideas and enough oomph to make them happen.

In April SCBWI announced the first winners of its own indie award, the SCBWI Spark Awardfor publishing through a 'non traditional route'.



Many congratulations to Karen Avivi from Montreal and  Neil Waldman from New York for two beautiful books - an adrenaline rushing YA girl BMX story and a picture book about the love between two brothers and the transformative power of art.


This, from SCBWI Executive Director, Lin Oliver, highlights why Karen is succeeding:

“Kudos for Karen Avivi for going about self publishing in the proper way, using the editorial and design services of professionals in the field. Shredded is the perfect kind of book to publish independently. It’s got a built-in audience of BMX fans and supplies a great story for a specific market. The action is tense, her characters are full, and the writing is full of pace and appeal.” Lin Oliver  

And here's another excellent reason to indie publish and to do it well. I love what Neil is doing with Al and Teddy:


"Proceeds from book sales will go to the Fred Dolan Art Academy, a free Saturday school in the Bronx, that helps young artists go on to college after high school. Every penny earned will be used to buy pencils, erasers, watercolors, oil paints, easels, and healthy lunches for the academy's students." Neil's Amazon page for Al and Teddy 

The Spark Award is open to any self-publishing SCBWI member. You need a hard copy of your book which has to be mailed to the US. All the details and judging criteria can be found here. The submission period for the second award is September 15th to December 15th for any book published in the calendar year 2014. Karen and Neil have set a high standard, who's up for the challenge?


Catching up on the last two weeks...
For those aspiring to make their own picture books and even take the indie route Ask a Picture Book Editor with SCBWI British Isles RA Natascha Biebow and Ellie Farmer from Little Tiger Press is a must as is Margaret Sturton's brilliantly clear instructions on how to make a picture book dummy.   We are so lucky that such talented people are so willing to share their knowledge and expertise. And a big thank you to Anna Violet for sharing her experience of the London Book Fair this year - so useful to know what to expect from attending large high profile events like this.

If you haven't already cheered on eleven-awards-&-counting Teri and Slush Pile champ George do. Both are amazing ladies who work very hard for SCBWI!

Next week:
We have a two parter from Nicky Schmidt on 'hybrid publishing'. Not sure what that is? Check in on Monday and Wednesday to find out.
Friday brings us a new Featured Illustrator…
We're celebrating Candy's Crystal Kite win on Saturday
And on Sunday look out for The Chalkface Challenge 2014! Plus I'm delighted to hand over the editorial to Katrina while I swan off to a campsite in Swanage with the family for a few birthday celebs.

Have a  great week!
Jan Carr





Jan Carr is the editor of Words & Pictures. Her fiction is all over the place, she blogs occasionally and loves to write in magenta. You can contact her at editor@britishscbwi.org.

1 comment:

  1. Nice to have every bit of your brain back, Jan! And enjoy a well-earned week off.

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